I love credit cards so much!

[vanjust14]

@vanjust14 When you did the Universal ticket promo for the 3 days plus 2 free, did you do just the 2 park USO/IOA tickets?

Yes, we just did the two park tickets. We just used the pools for swimming since we had my DD2 with us. Someday I'd love to try Volcano Bay!

 

[amalone1013]

Yes, we just did the two park tickets. We just used the pools for swimming since we had my DD2 with us. Someday I'd love to try Volcano Bay!

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out if it's better for us to get a 3 park AP for Volcano Bay this weekend, or just buy that ticket separately (and still upgrade to a 2 park seasonal AP, because why not..)

 

[vanjust14]

Ok ladies (or anyone else)...which has the better pool(s) and things to do? No park...just Disney Springs and hotel. BC or BW? My 4yo loved the pool at BLT in May and it was pretty basic. Thinking about maybe doing a character breakfast before heading to port. Cape May?

I've never stayed at BW but I do agree with others that the pool looks scary, lol. I would definitely stay at BC and eat at Cape May!

 

[Calfan]

You will know when it’s time. One thing we regretted is not traveling some before kids but we were together 7 years and then 2 married years before we got pregnant. We were trying to get bills paid down First. We do more trips now that we have the kids though so don’t think you can’t take trips with kids. It just costs more to fly and the food bill! Age was also a factor we knew we wanted 2-4 kids so if we waited any longer it would put us in a higher risk category which we wanted to avoid if possible. I was 29 when we had our first so we were older compared to many of my kids parents

Wow, so many young folks on this thread! I've got your "older" beat, lol. I was just shy of 35 when I had my first baby, and just shy of 37 when I had my second. I was one of those people that could have gone either way on having kids. From the time I got married at age 31, I would tell people that I wanted between zero and three kids. And it was totally true. But a switch flipped when I started approaching my mid-30s, and I knew I wanted to have kids. It was a great decision for us, but I completely agree that there is absolutely no right or wrong on having kids or not and everyone needs to make their own decision. I will say, though, that having a family has not taken away from our ability to travel at all. DD was 6 weeks old the first time we took her on a plane to join my parents and sister for a Hawaii trip. And my kids have been travelling ever since. They were 6 and 8 for our first international trip in 2011, and we have taken at least one international trip with them every year since, along with a variety of domestic trips (and a couple of international trips I have sneaked in with CaliforniaGirl and a hiking trip in Ireland with just DH and me). I completely realize that everyone's economic situation is different, and I am very lucky to have a job that allows me to finance these trips for my family. But I also make the most out of points/miles to bring the cost down where possible. And I can't be quite as picky as others about premium class or the particular aircraft we snag for a premium fare, because I'm always going for 4 seats. So my Swiss Business flights to Africa might not be the cream of the premium crop, but they are going to be a whole lot better than economy for over 20 hours of actual flying time, so I am as happy as a clam

Glad that Delta is moving now due to your tweet! But doesn't it just make you mad that you have to tweet them to get them to respond? And for it to take CS 60-90 days to respond...I would say they must have one person responding but I think it is because they have that many complaints coming in. Hey Delta...news flash, start having real people answer your phones and you won't have that many complaints.

You also reminded me, I need to run to Walgreens and pick up a few gift cards for the CF 3rd quarter.

I had the exact same thoughts on hearing that typical Delta CS response time is 60-90 days!!

Hmmm... I was looking at the United Club card, in anticipation of a possible family trip to Europe in 2020, but then I was thinking I don't need another lux card with a $450 fee (I've currently got the Amex Plat Biz and 2 CSRs in the house). I know, most of those fees get offset with card benefits and I do bank account bonuses specifically to cover the rest of the AFs, but I'm starting to feel a little silly with all these high end cards...

I'm getting to the end of my Amex Lux spend, so feeling the need for another MSR...

The United Club card is a keeper for me. I have had thoughts of cancelling it from time to time, given it's $450 AF on top of the high AFs I pay for Amex Plat (+ now Amex Biz Plat), CSR, etc. But a couple of the benefits ultimately make it a keeper. Getting two free checked bags for the primary card holder and a companion on the same itinerary allows my family of 4 to all get free checked bags, and we fly United enough that this is significant. But it's really the United Club access that gets me. The card let's all 4 of us into any standard United club even when we aren't flying United. Now that we have access for all 4 of us to the Amex Centurion lounges, it might not be as critical, but there are definitely times where we are in an airport with no Centurion lounge or the United lounge is just way more convenient. Or in the recent case of our layover in Houston on our way to Peru (when we actually got kicked out of the Centurion lounge along with everyone else because of a flood in their kitchen), we found that the food selections in the United Club were much better than the Centurion lounge we had just vacated. And I also really love being able to use the Premier check in line at United and getting to call in to a Premier agent as I did yesterday to get our flight upgrades for Africa.

 

[vanjust14]

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out if it's better for us to get a 3 park AP for Volcano Bay this weekend, or just buy that ticket separately (and still upgrade to a 2 park seasonal AP, because why not..)

Gotcha. I know, you really can't beat upgrading to a seasonal pass for $0!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

You can book 30 days forward and that is it if you don't have an AP. Once you are at 60 days, your trip will then populate on the calendar for the entire length of your trip (up to 10 days). Does that make sense?

ETA: I just looked and I can only book through Sept 13th...when our APs expire. I still think above it correct when you have a room booked. Hope someone can chime in.

Yes your correct...when you have a room booked..magically at 60 days out your able to book fast passes

 

[Alexle2007]

Thanks! DS and I have come u with plan while at the pool in VA Beach. Sat- pool and Halloween party, Sun- Epcot to ride Test Track (his favorite ride), HS to ride ToT, RnR and TSM and off to AK for the rest of day to ride FOP, EE and Dinosaur (FOP is the must do) and Mon-pool until it’s time to leave the airport. I’ll take my PP with so maybe we can hop over there while killing time for our SW flight since we will only have a carry-on and we have Pre-check. Looking forward to this time with DS

Well my well laid-out plan just crashed and burned when I went to purchase Halloween party tickets since the party is on Sun and Sat night...now to come up with another option...whether to break down and get a 2 day PH pass or not...I think DS is pooled out since that was this week’s vacay so I might just breakdown and get the ticket so we can do the parks Sat and Sun and Mon the pool until we head to the airport. This trip is quickly getting more expensive! Or maybe we just stay at POR to cover the extra expense on the tickets but will we be happy there...decisions, decisions...

 

[elgerber]

I've never stayed at BW but I do agree with others that the pool looks scary, lol. I would definitely stay at BC and eat at Cape May!

Awwww, no love for the clown pool? BW is my home resort, and I love it more than anywhere in the world. The pool doesn't bother me in the least LOL, but clowns don't bother me much.

 

[DisneyMandC]

You can book 30 days forward and that is it if you don't have an AP. Once you are at 60 days, your trip will then populate on the calendar for the entire length of your trip (up to 10 days). Does that make sense?

ETA: I just looked and I can only book through Sept 13th...when our APs expire. I still think above it correct when you have a room booked. Hope someone can chime in.

Thanks! That makes sense. As long as it works like that, that’s fine. I just don’t want to wake up 60 days out and they’re not there!

 

[vanjust14]

Awwww, no love for the clown pool? BW is my home resort, and I love it more than anywhere in the world. The pool doesn't bother me in the least LOL, but clowns don't bother me much.

LOL! I'm sure if I stayed there I would feel differently but the pics of the clown pool creep me out, haha!

 

[Calfan]

Doh! I missed a call from Delta CS on my cell. That Twitter guy really got things moving! I am one of those people who never answers my phone if I don't know who is calling, and I'm not used to getting calls from Atlanta. She left a message saying she would email me. And I will definitely answer an Atlanta number if she tries my cell again!

 

[tink1970]

Awwww, no love for the clown pool? BW is my home resort, and I love it more than anywhere in the world. The pool doesn't bother me in the least LOL, but clowns don't bother me much

Nope, that pool is creepy! Boardwalk is beautiful and I love the (cheap seats) garden view...but don't swim when I'm there.

LOL! I'm sure if I stayed there I would feel differently but the pics of the clown pool creep me out, haha!

It's worse in real life, I think...it's like a creepy clown monster waiting to eat happy children. Thanks, Stephen King

 

[happ]

RetailMeNot DP: I bought a $100 Disney egiftcard at ShopDisney with a $100 virtual Visa from Swagbucks and received $5 cash back for spending $100.

Ooh, I didn't realize there was a Disney offer. Good to know.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks for very much for posting this! Very helpful! Looks like I'll be able to book our outing flights next month for our June trip, but have to wait to book the return (planning on going 6/6 - 6/15) to use our UO seasonal AP's one more time!

I booked flights for spring break to DL (ours is March 11th-15th) this morning, to replace the Oct. flights I have. I was planning on taking the kids out of school for 3 days in oct for only 16k points, with flights from Wichita to SNA. But, DH doesn't want the kiddos missing any school, so I'm trying to find another time to go. Of course since spring break is so popular the only reasonable flights I could get were from Kansas City (2.5 hour drive) to LAX (direct), for 28k points. Not sure if it's worth it for the extra cost or not. I might just decide to go in July instead, but that would be two major trips one month apart (need to use my 7 night/flight package). Decisions, decisions... Why can't DH just work with me?!?

You're welcome! It's something I keep track of and update with each new release

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I've got your "older" beat, lol. I was just shy of 35 when I had my first baby,

I was 43 when DS was born.

 

[mmmears]

Back from an amazing cruise and trying to catch up. I'm also working on a business idea so I can dip my toes into those cards. We flew to/from Europe in J class thanks to our AMEX points, and I'm so thankful we did since it's such a long flight from CA.

 

[happ]

Southwest flights are out! Not what I was hoping for...some already sold out. May have to venture to the Blue side and see what I can find...or check the vast Frontier.

I'm sorry this happened but I'm glad you posted it. I got the flights I wanted. Interesting thing is I checked again later and it said only 3 seats left on two of the flights that day. Checking just now, the prices have all gone up and it doesn't show anything about the number of seats left!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I'm sorry this happened but I'm glad you posted it. I got the flights I wanted. Interesting thing is I checked again later and it said only 3 seats left on two of the flights that day. Checking just now, the prices have all gone up and it doesn't show anything about the number of seats left!

It wasn't saying "3 seats left" on the flight. That means there are 3 seats left at that price Somebody must've booked those 3 seats and so now they've moved up to the next fare bucket and there are a lot of seats available at that price

 

[1st*toright]

Awwww, no love for the clown pool? BW is my home resort, and I love it more than anywhere in the world. The pool doesn't bother me in the least LOL, but clowns don't bother me much.

LOL! I'm sure if I stayed there I would feel differently but the pics of the clown pool creep me out, haha!

Nope, that pool is creepy! Boardwalk is beautiful and I love the (cheap seats) garden view...but don't swim when I'm there.

It's worse in real life, I think...it's like a creepy clown monster waiting to eat happy children. Thanks, Stephen King

I've never read or seen "IT" and I still think that pool is super creepy - and def. worse in person than the pictures. That said, I do love the Boardwalk area. We've never stayed there - only wandered over when staying at the Swolphin. The Swolphin pool is pretty nice, actually, but we will likely try YC/BC one of these days.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Another thread I hang out on at the DIS is the "Post all SW concerns" thread. I feel I have a certain level of SW expertise to share there I know I see some of you over there from time to time too.

At any rate, I feel bad when these releases come out and I see people unsure what to do with paying cash for flights. Do they book, do they wait, WGA fares aren't available at their desired time, etc. It makes me realize how blessed I am to have lots of SW points and just book whatever and then continue to wait and see if the situation improves. AND even if the flights are expensive it only uses my points, not actual money out of my pocket. This game is soooo good to us sometimes