Ways to maximize savings when purchasing direct DVC contract.. (credit card rewards etc)

[davidhr]

For my last direct purchase I opened the business Amex Plat and Business Ink Preferred. I got 459K points back after bonuses and spend multipliers. At a very conservative 1cpp, that’s $4,600 back minus the $790 in fees. I know I can get much more than that. But that’s at least $25 extra savings per point on that 150 points contract.

I prefer unrestricted points in general, but one big reason I’ve moving away from resale (unless I can get cheap SAP) is that I’m getting limited about how much I can put on a card these days.

That Riviera contract was with the great incentives last summer and was like $170 after magical beginnings. After the credit cards bonuses, it was $145 for unrestricted points direct (lower if you get good redemptions, which I do most if the time). Hard to beat that.

I’m hoping for great incentives next December to churn the southwest cards for the companion.

 

[Road_Dog]

Glad to hear yo like the US Bank Altitude. I may look at it again in the future.

I used to be the guy who carried 8 credit cards in his wallet—one for gas, one for dining, one for grocery, etc. to ensure I was min maxing every dollar spent. It got exhausting. I open a large number of business cards a year and have a reselling side operation that earns me plenty of points and miles. For my personal, everyday spend, my life is far less complex if I just stick everything on one card. The USB AR is probably the best one, since so many places accept
Apple Pay (grocery stores, quick dining, pet stores, even my local clinic/hospital for paying medical bills).

Of course, for larger purchases (like DVC) I’d plan out a new card for the bonus, as that return would likely be greater than 4.5%.

 

[WeIcomeHome]

It appears Chase just changed the pay over time option on my cards so it is now a flat monthly fee that equates to about 7.5%. They claim no interest but the reality is the fee is an interest payment based on the initial purchase amount. Safe to say I won't be using pay over time with their new setup.

Now it makes more sense to use the 6 month Disney Visa option to earn 4.5% interest on savings for 6 months and earn 2% instead of 3% in points on the purchase.

 

[VGCgroupie]

It appears Chase just changed the pay over time option on my cards so it is now a flat monthly fee that equates to about 7.5%. They claim no interest but the reality is the fee is an interest payment based on the initial purchase amount. Safe to say I won't be using pay over time with their new setup.

Now it makes more sense to use the 6 month Disney Visa option to earn 4.5% interest on savings for 6 months and earn 2% instead of 3% in points on the purchase.

From what I have always understood it's only the first time you have used pay over time that it offers no fees. Ive gotten it on all my past cards, after I have used it for one transaction any subsequent pay over times will have a fee.

 

[N_kwi]

I just found this thread because I’m thinking of making a direct purchase and possibly doing the 90 day payment option on credit cards for the rewards. I just looked up opening a Chase Sapphire Preferred card to use pay over time for 24 months without fees - but then I remembered I did this already with my Disney Chase card previously. Do any of you know, if I were to open the new card, would I still have that option because it’s a new card? Or is it like a one time thing overall with Chase as a whole? Hope this makes sense. Thanks for any advice!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I just found this thread because I’m thinking of making a direct purchase and possibly doing the 90 day payment option on credit cards for the rewards. I just looked up opening a Chase Sapphire Preferred card to use pay over time for 24 months without fees - but then I remembered I did this already with my Disney Chase card previously. Do any of you know, if I were to open the new card, would I still have that option because it’s a new card? Or is it like a one time thing overall with Chase as a whole? Hope this makes sense. Thanks for any advice!

It has always been per card not per person. But they could change that at any time. I would open the preferred for the sign up bonus assuming the no fee pay over time wont happen and then if it does its a major win.

 

[N_kwi]

It has always been per card not per person. But they could change that at any time. I would open the preferred for the sign up bonus assuming the no fee pay over time wont happen and then if it does it’s a major win.

Thank you!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Just wanted to update it looks like on new Ink biz cards Chase is not offering me or DH a no fee pay over time. It may still work for personal cards, but I don't have any recent new personal cards to try it on.

 

[davidhr]

Just wanted to update it looks like on new Ink biz cards Chase is not offering me or DH a no fee pay over time. It may still work for personal cards, but I don't have any recent new personal cards to try it on.

I was never offered that with business cards. Don’t know if it happens, but for me I have only seen that offer with personal cards.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I was never offered that with business cards. Don’t know if it happens, but for me I have only seen that offer with personal cards.

I had seen reports somewhere that it would offer it but applied assuming it wouldn't happen. Still thrilled with the sub I got on the card, and worth over the Disney 0% for 6 months.

 

[disneylandtour]

It appears Chase just changed the pay over time option on my cards so it is now a flat monthly fee that equates to about 7.5%. They claim no interest but the reality is the fee is an interest payment based on the initial purchase amount. Safe to say I won't be using pay over time with their new setup.

Now it makes more sense to use the 6 month Disney Visa option to earn 4.5% interest on savings for 6 months and earn 2% instead of 3% in points on the purchase.

I believe that equates to roughly 15% APR because you'd be paying 7.5% on the total amount every month, even on the last payment which might not even be 7.5% of the initial balance. It's a "fee," so the interest payment never goes down with your balance.

 

[WeIcomeHome]

I'll be reaching out to Chase soon to ask if the no fee option will be offered again. I never used mine and the free option went away on three different cards which I had confirmed offered a fee free option a few weeks ago.

Plan purchases accordingly or have other financing options ready if you don't have the cash. Nobody should be paying 20 to 30% to borrow money for DVC. Ideally, you shouldn't buy unless you have the cash but not everyone can handle the delayed gratification process.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I'll be reaching out to Chase soon to ask if the no fee option will be offered again. I never used mine and the free option went away on three different cards which I had confirmed offered a fee free option a few weeks ago.

I had one available on a personal card 3 months ago, I have not used it. I will take a look and see if it still an option and let you know.

Plan purchases accordingly or have other financing options ready if you don't have the cash. Nobody should be paying 20 to 30% to borrow money for DVC. Ideally, you shouldn't buy unless you have the cash but not everyone can handle the delayed gratification process.

Correct, personally I would never buy DVC and finance it via Disney or via credit cards.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I had one available on a personal card 3 months ago, I have not used it. I will take a look and see if it still an option and let you know.

The fee free offer isn't there for me anymore either.

 

[MICKIMINI]

You can pay MF's with gift cards. Chase SWA card just sent us a 7x points up to 1K for restaurants and grocery stores through 12/31/24. We have two cards and will be at WDW in the next couple weeks so we will use a chunk of that on ADR's and the rest on groceries. IF I don't spend all 2K, I will buy Dis GC's to pay MF's in 2025.

Save any way you can!

 

[VGCgroupie]

You can pay MF's with gift cards. Chase SWA card just sent us a 7x points up to 1K for restaurants and grocery stores through 12/31/24. We have two cards and will be at WDW in the next couple weeks so we will use a chunk of that on ADR's and the rest on groceries. IF I don't spend all 2K, I will buy Dis GC's to pay MF's in 2025.

Save any way you can!

7x is amazing!!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I made my first redemption. It was a small redemption taking us to Orlando next year. My redemption value is 2.2 cents per point for this trip. Pretty happy! Excited to see how much I can reduce my direct purchase with the points earned.

 

[poohbear158]

I’m literally driving myself crazy trying to figure out a game plan on what cards to apply for to pay my direct DVC purchase. Hubby and I have not had any new cards in years nor have any inquires. Trying to get the most bang for my buck with SUBs. Anyone care to share their approach?

 

[davidhr]

I’m literally driving myself crazy trying to figure out a game plan on what cards to apply for to pay my direct DVC purchase. Hubby and I have not had any new cards in years nor have any inquires. Trying to get the most bang for my buck with SUBs. Anyone care to share their approach?

Are you open to business cards (don’t really need a business to get them)?

They normally have really high sign up bonuses, but require more spending.

For my last purchase I opened the Amex Platinum Business and the Chase Ink Preferred and got a ton of points. Depending how much you need to pay you can open a few more cards if you time it right.

Good thing about business cards is they don’t show up in your credit reports (the inquiries do, but those don’t have a huge impact).

 

[poohbear158]

Are you open to business cards (don’t really need a business to get them)?

They normally have really high sign up bonuses, but require more spending.

For my last purchase I opened the Amex Platinum Business and the Chase Ink Preferred and got a ton of points. Depending how much you need to pay you can open a few more cards if you time it right.

Good thing about business cards is they don’t show up in your credit reports (the inquiries do, but those don’t have a huge impact).

I’m not opposed to business cards as i’ve been looking at Chase ink and Amex Plat business cards.