I love credit cards so much!

[disneymagicgirl]

So all of us Swolphin fans can cry some more, I ran the math on my reservation in September.

For 6 nights at the Dolphin:

• pre March @ 10kpts = 2.96cpp
• March - July @ 12kpts = 2.47cpp
• Aug @ 50kpts = 0.59cpp (x3 = 1.77cpp)

Swan too, just for kicks:

• pre March - July @ 12kpts = 3.39cpp
• Aug @ 50kpts = 0.81cpp (x3 = 2.44cpp)

I assumed these were going to increase (location, location, location) but I am surprised they are priced the same. I haven't stayed at either, but seems most people prefer the Swan.

 

[miztressuz]

Before August 1st I can get a a Category 8 cert + 100K miles for 340K, and after August 1st it will cost 750K??? I can't be interpreting this correctly.

A current Cat 8 only costs 40k per night. After Aug 1 a Cat 8 is 60 - 85k per night. Would that explain the discrepancy?

 

[platamama]

Before August 1st I can get a a Category 8 cert + 100K miles for 340K, and after August 1st it will cost 750K??? I can't be interpreting this correctly.

A current Cat 8 doesn't translate to a Cat 8 in August.

For example, one of the current Cat 8 hotels I'm looking at will become a Cat 5 in the new system, and another one will become a Cat 6. It all depends on how Marriott decided to sort the hotels into their new category. So you'll have to check that list that was released this morning and see what's going to happen to the hotels you're interested in. The link has been provided in a couple posts today already, and is on DoC's site.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Starpoints are on sale until 7/20. Has your DH and DD18 bought some this year? Not too late to set up an account for them.

So I just updated my spreadsheet with current amounts and we have 410,581 marriott (some are spg but added in as marriott) total, together.

Package with tier 5 Ritz is 540k MR (7 nights hotel/120k SW points).
Hotel only for 6 nights (what I booked) 280k MR.

So I am actually not as far away from the package as I thought. I'd need to buy 43,140 SPG points. DH hasn't bought any yet and I can even buy about 25k more myself. I'd purchase 43,500 spg for $1009.63.

Can one of you math whiz friends figure out if it is worth it to buy spg in this case?

ETA: Don't worry about it....hotel not "large" family friendly it seems. On to figure out somewhere else to redeem a package before the increase...

 

[amalone1013]

Looking at planning a disneyland trip likely early 2019, wondering if anyone has opinions about the staying at the above hotels...would be my first trip to DL, or if there is some better options without using starwoods/marriott points?

In the early stages of planning the trip thinking of visiting disneyland, san diego and possibly ending the trip in phoenix/tucson, if anyone has opinions or advise. Thanks

We stayed at the Hyatt House back in April for 12k points per night, which I transferred from my UR points. I did a little review here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...t-cards-so-much-thread.3680669/#post-59178586

I assumed these were going to increase (location, location, location) but I am surprised they are priced the same. I haven't stayed at either, but seems most people prefer the Swan.

I'm surprised too. I was surprised when they did that back in March. We've just stayed at the Dolphin, but there's just the two of us, so double beds aren't the end of the world plus we've typically gotten a King room. But in my head it's like, Dolphin is Sheraton/convention hotel/double beds (which works, because you might be sharing with a coworker at a convention...)/huge hotel, and Swan is Westin/smaller/more intimate/queen beds... so I really feel they should be different. Cats 5 and 6, maybe, no higher!!!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Found the answer!
You must deposit between $50–$200 to receive your bonus money. You can deposit it all into one account, or split it between both—your choice. Your bonus money will be deposited into to whichever account you choose to fund.

Example: if you put $100 into your Fidelity Cash Management Account and $100 into your Fidelity Account, you will receive a free $100 from Fidelity in each account.

This seems like a super easy bonus. $200 deposit into the cash account get $200 in 7 days account and money needs to remain in the account for 9 months. No fee. Didn’t see the option to fund with a credit card, but I still think it is a good bonus.

We both have rollover IRAs at fidelity, so I assume that is the investment account. But do you think I can open the cash management account and fund $200 and get that match?

 

[jhoannam]

How long are SPG to SPG transfers taking? DH's Marriott bonus should post on 7/20... I need to transfer his points to my account to book the travel package before 8/1... what a huge and horrible devaluation.

 

[linzjane88]

Man now that summer is here I CAN NOT keep up with this thread! Too many warm days in the pool and too many adventures to being had. I bought a new Honda Pilot a few days ago. My first brand new car EVER and my only my second car I have ever owned. I ran the wheels off my other car and was in the 'I don't want a car payment' camp very firmly but it was getting to the point where I cringed every long drive feeling like maybe today was the day the 175k mile car was going to give up on life. I am excited every day I get up to maybe go drive somewhere . It was a no go on having any part of the purchase on a credit card though . I tried!

Also, we are adding a deck onto our pool and I was trying to figure out the best use of points for it. Then I realized my newly acquired Ink Cash has a 0% financing for 1 year and I still have MSR to meet on it. I don't normally care about APR because I don't carry balances but this is going to be a big project so having a few months to cushion it will be amazing. AND the contractor is my grandpa so I just added an employee card for him to use and had it expedited. It was on my doorstep within 24 hours!


Question for you SW CP'ers: We are doing a late Jan trip to WDW with our friends. Both myself and my friend *should* be rocking a CP by travel dates (if we follow our oct/nov plan) but not likely by the time we book. There will be 4 of us total with 2 CP's. Whats the best way to accomplish it with minimal cash outlay? I am thinking if I use my UR's->RR to book all 4 tickets then when we add CP in before the trip I will just get the points back into my RR account. BUT I don't know if I will be able to use 2 CP's on one reservation. If that isn't allowed I could have my DH and BFF booked together on UR then she can use her CP for them and I will do the same for me and her husband. I don't care about having UR's committed to a SW account because that's mostly who we fly anyway.
And going further down the rabbit hole, to a place that's likely frowned upon on the Dis as a whole (but not here my miles and points swindling buddies), my friends might just be moving in with me when they renew their upcoming drivers license and then they can upgrade to the DVC Gold. Hard times, you know.

One more thing: I am not one to MS (much) or resell (at all) because I find the process time consuming and obnoxious. Until I ran into Target to acquire a cart full of unnecessary random goods and I stumbled upon the Bose SoundLink Revolve+, marked down to $149 from $299 . Bought one for myself but on a whim got home and listed it--it sold within 5 minutes for $195 (little did I know the price Ebay suggested was for the Revolve non+ edition so someone got a steal of a deal but I still made a few bucks). Went back and bought the other 3 on the shelf and one is currently at $203 with 5 days left.

That is all. Now it's back to grown upping. I get a whole lot more Disboards time when it is rainy outside. The sun comes out and I am compelled to be productive!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

The family of 5 conundrum! 5 for a table please. “That’ll be about 30 mins” Up walks family of 4. “Right this way!” ...Personally no I would not try to sneak a 2 year old into a Ritz. They advertise great kids programs, personalized service, heck some Ritz have special check-ins just for kids- they’re going to notice. Will they care when they notice? is not your ultimate question- Can you afford it if they do care and call you on it? is really the q here. The hotel policy there specifically states

• Maximum occupancy for guest rooms is three adults or two adults and two children ages 17 and under.

Even a fam of 4 if both kids are 18 need 2 rooms at that hotel! You can always contact them and explain you have 3 kid but one is only 2 do they count? (it sounds like yes since adult occupancy is only 3 but it never hurts to ask).

The bolded is insanity. I didn't read that deeply, just saw the occupancy 4. I may call and see what they say. No hotel is worth $2000/night for my family. I've been to that beach 3 times already. Too bad most places aren't as easy to book for 5 as Disney!

ETA: I just recalled that DMIL and DFIL were at this resort in the last couple of years and were very upset with the service...or lack thereof. I am slightly lower maintenance than them though.

 

[peel]

A current Cat 8 only costs 40k per night. After Aug 1 a Cat 8 is 60 - 85k per night. Would that explain the discrepancy?

A current Cat 8 doesn't translate to a Cat 8 in August.

For example, one of the current Cat 8 hotels I'm looking at will become a Cat 5 in the new system, and another one will become a Cat 6. It all depends on how Marriott decided to sort the hotels into their new category. So you'll have to check that list that was released this morning and see what's going to happen to the hotels you're interested in. The link has been provided in a couple posts today already, and is on DoC's site.

I knew there was more to the equation. I don't have any current plans to use a cert so I hadn't been paying attention to the category levels.

 

[speedyfishy]

We both have rollover IRAs at fidelity, so I assume that is the investment account. But do you think I can open the cash management account and fund $200 and get that match?

Per comments on Doc they said you are eligible if you have an IRA just can’t be a taxable brokerage account or cash account.

ETA you open the cash and the investment account through the link at the same time, but you are still eligible because the investment account is a taxable account which is different from the IRA.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Good planning - and you got your 5th night free too!



Thanks for posting! Dang, DoC is on a roll this morning. Time to head over there and obsess... ETA: OMG it's worse than I thought.

 

[peel]

A current Cat 8 doesn't translate to a Cat 8 in August.

For example, one of the current Cat 8 hotels I'm looking at will become a Cat 5 in the new system, and another one will become a Cat 6. It all depends on how Marriott decided to sort the hotels into their new category. So you'll have to check that list that was released this morning and see what's going to happen to the hotels you're interested in. The link has been provided in a couple posts today already, and is on DoC's site.

.

 

[platamama]

How long are SPG to SPG transfers taking? DH's Marriott bonus should post on 7/20... I need to transfer his points to my account to book the travel package before 8/1... what a huge and horrible devaluation.

I agree it's horrible.

I've had DH transfer his Marriott points to me so that I can redeem for travel packages and it was instant. Required a phone call by him though.

 

[peel]

I agree it's horrible.

I've had DH transfer his Marriott points to me so that I can redeem for travel packages and it was instant. Required a phone call by him though.

I've attempted twice now to transfer DH's SPG points to me via the website and it hasn't worked. I was trying to avoid having him call, but I've lost confidence in the online transfers.

 

[DaveL]

Just officially finished my CF quarterly bonus buying my $4 lunch at Kroger! Good thing I left my salad on my kitchen counter today.



Maybe others will feel differently from me, but I do think that’s a really nice offer from Disney. I read your original post and totally understand your initial concerns and think Disney acted absurdly. But if there’s one company out there that I really do think takes its customers complaints to heart, it’s Disney.

And who am I kidding, I’d never say no to two free nights at disney!!

I agree. I am hopeful for the best at this point and most likely will continue on with the existing reservation. I think just what had me worked up was with the manager on site just telling me to fill the survey out when I return home while I was still on site having issues was the best route to take.

Edit: And just think I just might have had to open a new CC to get points to stay at the Dolphin/Swan.

 

[vanjust14]

Wow, this does seem worse than I expected. With Swan and Dolphin moving to new category 6, does that exclude it from the fifth night free?

 

[Lain]

How long are SPG to SPG transfers taking? DH's Marriott bonus should post on 7/20... I need to transfer his points to my account to book the travel package before 8/1... what a huge and horrible devaluation.

It’s supposed to take 5 days.

 

[peel]

It’s supposed to take 5 days.

Or never.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I guess this may be because I've never really stayed at any of the higher end Marriotts/Starwoods, but I'm actually happy with some of the changes I'm seeing. Several of the Marriotts I've used for horse show hotels have dropped in valuation. The Marriott near Universal in Orlando has also gone down 5,000 (still overpriced for point valuation, but whatever). I have 7 Marriott stays booked this year and everything has stayed the same or dropped except for the NY Marriott Marquis and a Fairfield in near IAD, which I'll stay at before the point increase.