Updated Disney Gift Card Deals and More

[Limes96]

My Lowes does sell Kroger gift cards.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

So I wonder how many peeps bought DGC vs Visa GC at Staples.

We're doing both since we have a number of the offers. I think I'd still be getting some DGC even if we didn't have an upcoming trip (2.5 weeks from now!)---those offers are really nice discounts for paying our DVC dues.

 

[afan]

@bernina

You saw Post #813, right?

And how true, Kroger sells Lowe's but Lowe's doesn't sell Kroger. It would be nice if they did especially when we get CC offers to use at Lowe's.

My Lowe's sells Fred Meyer (Kroger).

 

[MinMou]

I used to use a website that showed which GC discount site (Raise, Cardpool, etc) had GC's for different stores, etc. in stock, and the highest discount available for each site. Does anyone know what that might be, if it is still available?

 

[havaneselover]

Only Visa gift cards for me. I can turn those into Disney at Kroger and get fuel points so that's a better deal for me. But mainly using Visa gift cards to buy money orders to pay my mortgage and maybe deposit a few money orders.

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

More Ways To Save

Credit Cards that offer Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck Credit

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In this segment of "More Ways To Save" we explore credit cards that offer TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credits, to save you the $100 or $85 application fee.

Here are top five travel credit cards that offer Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck credit, ranked from lowest to highest annual fee:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card ($95 annual fee, waived the first year)
• Bank of America Premium Rewards Visa credit card ($95 annual fee)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual fee)
• Citi Prestige Card ($495 annual fee)
• The Platinum Card from American Express ($550 annual fee). Additionally, American Express has its own list of cards that can help you pay for trusted traveler programs.

Make a Folder
If you have multiple eligible cards , you can use different cards to pay for different family members’ application fees and have them reimbursed. Just remember to keep track of which family member uses what reimbursement benefit since you’ll want to use that credit again in four or five years when you need to re-enroll.

This seems to be a popular subject on various Travel/Credit Card websites as many have updated for 2020 travel, be sure to check your favorite sites. Lastly, if you plan on opening up a new cc, check out I love credit cards so much! v3.0 thread hosted by @SouthFayetteFan .

Resources: cnbc , nerdwallet and cntraveler.

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Staying on topic, you might want to read this article too "TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry vs. CLEAR: What’s the difference?"

TSA Precheck speeds up security screenings for flights departing from U.S. airports. As the name suggests, it’s operated by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. A five-year membership costs $85.​

Global Entry provides the benefits of TSA Precheck plus faster U.S. customs screening for international travelers arriving at U.S. airports. It’s run by a different agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A five-year membership costs $100. While more comprehensive, its requirements are more stringent and include a passport and an interview.​

CLEAR uses your eyes and fingertips rather than traditional IDs to verify your identity when you travel. The most expensive program of the three, CLEAR costs $179 for an annual membership and does not include TSA PreCheck, like Global Entry does.​

​

Mobile Passport App can help you after touching down from a flight abroad. This free app guides passengers through submitting passport data on arrival in the U.S. and transmits it to CBP for approval. After a few seconds, users will receive a barcoded receipt and can follow the signs designated for the Mobile Passport lane (it will be the one without any waiting) for expedited entry into America. The basic version of the app remains free, but you'll need to enter your data for each trip manually. Otherwise, you can opt for the premium version, Mobile Passport Plus, for $14.99 a year, which safely stores your data for future flight.​

​

Resources: cnbc , airfarewatchdog​

NY residents remember we are currently barred from applying for Global Entry! The only thing we're allowed at the moment is pre-check. So keep that in mind for some of these CC offers.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

oops

 

[FoxC63]

Only Visa gift cards for me. I can turn those into Disney at Kroger and get fuel points so that's a better deal for me. But mainly using Visa gift cards to buy money orders to pay my mortgage and maybe deposit a few money orders.

That's interesting. When using VGC at Kroger do you use self check out? How much do they charge for money orders and which bank? @bernina have you done this as well?

 

[pillow]

Only Visa gift cards for me. I can turn those into Disney at Kroger and get fuel points so that's a better deal for me. But mainly using Visa gift cards to buy money orders to pay my mortgage and maybe deposit a few money orders.

Same here. Between DH and I, we have the offer on 13 cards. @FoxC63 I convert the Visa gift cards to money orders at Food Lion (they charge 46 cents per mo with a max of $500 per mo). It works out to $180 off my mortgage when adding up all the different offers.

 

[FoxC63]

I hope others are seeing the various options they may have when redeeming their CC offers. I'm still learning! My mortgage is paid in full however I could use a money order to pay my property tax.

 

[Ryoukoe]

Wow I love the idea of paying for your mortgage with a money order, which you get from Prepaid Visa. I didn't think a lot of places would allow you to use a card like that though...did you have to search around the find this place? Or am I wrong, and you can do a money order anytime using a Prepaid Card?

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

Wow I love the idea of paying for your mortgage with a money order, which you get from Prepaid Visa. I didn't think a lot of places would allow you to use a card like that though...did you have to search around the find this place? Or am I wrong, and you can do a money order anytime using a Prepaid Card?

I think the post office and such will let you but the Prepaid Visa needs to cover the whole transaction if I'm not mistaken you can't split it. So for example you have a $200 Prepaid Visa and they charge you $1.50 per money order. When you go to the window you have to ask for a $198.50 money order, because then the total comes to $200 even.

ETA: I've never done this but thank you to @havaneselover for the idea.

 

[pillow]

I think the post office and such will let you but the Prepaid Visa needs to cover the whole transaction if I'm not mistaken you can't split it. So for example you have a $200 Prepaid Visa and they charge you $1.50 per money order. When you go to the window you have to ask for a $198.50 money order, because then the total comes to $200 even.

ETA: I've never done this but thank you to @havaneselover for the idea.

This is generally what I’ve found but Ymmv . . . Most places don’t want people using Visa gc’s to pay for money orders. Typically once you start paying for a money order with multiple swipes, alarm bells go off.

My Food Lion has consistently allowed me to use the Visa gc’s with pin to get money orders. And they are only 46 cents per. We usually get 2 x $499.54 money orders and pay with 5 $200 Visas.

I’ve been to other Food Lion locations that didn’t allow it though, so it really is YMMV.

 

[iujen94]

New to the Staples prepaid Visa game, so please pardon my newbie question .... I’ve got the Staples offer on 3 Chase business cards. Can I go in and buy 3 prepaid Visas in 3 separate transactions? Based on the offers I’ve got, the Visas would be for $100, $100 and $170 (assuming you can set the amount of the Visa??). Or is this the kind of thing where I need to make 3 separate trips to Staples?

 

[FoxC63]

I believe many locations are YMMV, you just need to test them for yourself. And what might work for me in my area of MI may not work for @bernina in her corner of MI. It never hurts to try.

Whenever I went to Kroger CS counter and swiped my card, they always look at the card I'm using. ALWAYS. Though that's not going to deter me from trying. I just need a good deal to secure a $200 VGC.

 

[FoxC63]

New to the Staples prepaid Visa game, so please pardon my newbie question .... I’ve got the Staples offer on 3 Chase business cards. Can I go in and buy 3 prepaid Visas in 3 separate transactions? Based on the offers I’ve got, the Visas would be for $100, $100 and $170 (assuming you can set the amount of the Visa??). Or is this the kind of thing where I need to make 3 separate trips to Staples?

It depends on the store and cashier. You'll need to find this out on your own as others have had luck buying 3 in separate transactions at the same store, others have reported the opposite, Manager/cashier only allowing one transaction at their location. Good Luck and be sure to post back!

 

[pillow]

New to the Staples prepaid Visa game, so please pardon my newbie question .... I’ve got the Staples offer on 3 Chase business cards. Can I go in and buy 3 prepaid Visas in 3 separate transactions? Based on the offers I’ve got, the Visas would be for $100, $100 and $170 (assuming you can set the amount of the Visa??). Or is this the kind of thing where I need to make 3 separate trips to Staples?

Some Staples locations set limits. Mine limits me to only 1 per day. Good thing though is that they can split tender at the register. So in your situation, I’d buy a $200 card and have them split between the 2 cards with the $100 offer. For the second transaction, I’d buy a $200 Visa and charge to the card with the $170 offer.

 

[bernina]

That's interesting. When using VGC at Kroger do you use self check out? How much do they charge for money orders and which bank? @bernina have you done this as well?

I haven't purchased the fixed value VGC at Kroger which earn fuel points. I usually just get Disney.

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

New to the Staples prepaid Visa game, so please pardon my newbie question .... I’ve got the Staples offer on 3 Chase business cards. Can I go in and buy 3 prepaid Visas in 3 separate transactions? Based on the offers I’ve got, the Visas would be for $100, $100 and $170 (assuming you can set the amount of the Visa??). Or is this the kind of thing where I need to make 3 separate trips to Staples?

It has to be separate transactions. At least at my Staples. I agree with @pillow for the strategy. But the cashiers my stop you after the first or second transaction because of the gift card/fraud scams. (Which everyone is on high alert for now that it's tax time.) I always bring DH or someone with me if I need to make more than 2 transactions. you can sometimes fudge multiple transactions if you're using business cards (I own my company, but I sometimes fib and say "my manager says they have to be two separate transactions for the expense reports") and the cashiers will usually just let it go and do the transactions. But it has to be on the biz cards.

 

[FoxC63]

Just Saying..

Universal just added AP discounts for June at Loews Portofino Bay and others. Saved me $257 for our trip!

Edit: Darn, my link isn't working. Let's try this...
Universal AP Discounts
And we have lift off!!! Just add the dates & # of guests.