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

[VGCgroupie]

I will update the main post with the best current options soon.

Yesterday I did a straight forward booking, no transferring to an international carrier of 5 flights and got a 1.54 cents per point value out of it. Pretty solid!
Transferring to an international carrier has yielded me 2.5 cents per point before. Thats how/where you get the most value.

Im watching the price I paid for my direct contracts go down down down with each redemption. Right now I haven’t utilized all my points earned for my direct purchases yet, but as of now my direct contracts are

59.8% paid towards breaking even on my VGC
51.8% paid towards breaking even on my VDH

Both were bought under 2 years ago. This is factoring in redemptions made with points earned from using a credit card on purchase, dues paid, cash value of my stays (current available discounts included) and for my VDH I include any savings I receive due to being a blue card holder

 

[Takeitforgranite]

I haven't seen it mentioned here, though I haven't made it through all 22 pages, but bank bonuses can be a good way to earn some cash to help offset DVC purchases. Any of you guys who can navigate CCs bonuses responsibly can do bank bonuses. They typically only require a soft credit pull.

My plan is to purchase direct soon with a Disney Visa and make use of the 6 month, 0% interest. In the meantime, I plan on opening a new Chase savings and checking account using this offer:

https://www.chase.com/personal/offers/checking-savings-900

 

[VGCgroupie]

I haven't seen it mentioned here, though I haven't made it through all 22 pages, but bank bonuses can be a good way to earn some cash to help offset DVC purchases. Any of you guys who can navigate CCs bonuses responsibly can do bank bonuses. They typically only require a soft credit pull.

My plan is to purchase direct soon with a Disney Visa and make use of the 6 month, 0% interest. In the meantime, I plan on opening a new Chase savings and checking account using this offer:

https://www.chase.com/personal/offers/checking-savings-900

I earned well over 1 million points on my 300 point direct purchase.
*pops collar*

 

[davidhr]

I haven't seen it mentioned here, though I haven't made it through all 22 pages, but bank bonuses can be a good way to earn some cash to help offset DVC purchases. Any of you guys who can navigate CCs bonuses responsibly can do bank bonuses. They typically only require a soft credit pull.

My plan is to purchase direct soon with a Disney Visa and make use of the 6 month, 0% interest. In the meantime, I plan on opening a new Chase savings and checking account using this offer:

https://www.chase.com/personal/offers/checking-savings-900

Bank bonuses are also nice. Just good to keep in mind that those are taxed.

 

[Takeitforgranite]

Bank bonuses are also nice. Just good to keep in mind that those are taxed.

Yeah. I've been doing it for years, along with CC bonuses. I'm fortunate to be able to easily set up direct deposits with my paycheck, so most of bonus accounts are primarily direct deposits. With general savings rates creeping down, the savings bonuses are looking more appealing.

I use a spreadsheet to track key account dates, rules, minimums, etc.

 

[juliebee]

I only have a few cards but am planning a direct purchase within the next month. Would either of these be a good choice to use or should I open a new card? My preference would be to get airline miles out of the purchase. I have the Alaska Airlines card and the Chase Disney card. The other airline we sometimes use is United, but I don't have their card, I guess it's also by Chase.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I only have a few cards but am planning a direct purchase within the next month. Would either of these be a good choice to use or should I open a new card? My preference would be to get airline miles out of the purchase. I have the Alaska Airlines card and the Chase Disney card. The other airline we sometimes use is United, but I don't have their card, I guess it's also by Chase.

I would for sure get a new card for your purchase.

Hawaiian will now give you Alaskan Miles. You could go that route. Th highest I have seen lately is 80k points.

You can get a card that allows for transfer to airlines, Chase cards will transfer to United. The Chase Sapphire Reserve will get you 4% back on your direct purchase and 125K bonus miles. This card has a very high annual fee though so you will need to be sure you can offset the fee with the benefits it offers. After a year if you dont want that high annual fee you can downgrade your card to a different Chase card.

 

[Chili327]

I would for sure get a new card for your purchase.

Hawaiian will now give you Alaskan Miles. You could go that route. Th highest I have seen lately is 80k points.

You can get a card that allows for transfer to airlines, Chase cards will transfer to United. The Chase Sapphire Reserve will get you 4% back on your direct purchase and 125K bonus miles. This card has a very high annual fee though so you will need to be sure you can offset the fee with the benefits it offers. After a year if you dont want that high annual fee you can downgrade your card to a different Chase card.

Yea, I was going to suggest the other sapphire card? ($99?)

 

[BLTStitch]

Yea, I was going to suggest the other sapphire card? ($99?)

I think only reserve give 4x points over travel. The other one is less. I let my husband refer me with his sapphire preferred card, so he got 15K referral bonus. In November I read someone saying there might be in breach offer for up to 200k bonus (personal, not business). Not sure if anyone got it. Just want to share. In terms of the high fees, I’m surprised I can easily use the benefits in a good way to try something new - used stubhub for a Disney on ice show ($150 is prob worth just $100, because I could buy same tickets from official website cheaper); booked a weekend trip in Chicago using edit; door dashed pick up for food and grocery deliveries; not used the open table yet, but the restaurant choices are decent, including one we used to go often. Plus for first year, you may be able to get 3 times benefits as they follow calendar year.

 

[WeIcomeHome]

I agree using signup bonuses is the way to go. The Chase Sapphire Reserve signup bonus is worthwhile the first year even with the high annual fee. 4% back on your DVC purchase is likely 2x to 4x more than any other card. They have a super easy $300 back on any travel purchase.

Bonus ways to offset the annual fee cost even more if any apply to your normal plans.. 1. If you don't yet have or need to renew TSA precheck there is another $80 to 100. 2. There are 2 $150 stubhub credits if you attend sport events， concerts， or theater shows. 3. Then there is another 2 $150 credits for select high end restaurants (this may be worthwhile if you already go to qualifying restaurants). 4. The edit credits ($500) are only worth it if you already splurge on high end hotels/resorts otherwise it isnt worth it because the total cost of the stay is way higher than the credit.

There are a few other credits as well but the ones above are the bigger ones I see more people being able to utilize and find value.

 

[Xalthon]

Could I get confirmation on a couple things?

First, is it true that you cannot get the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you currently are a Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholder? Assuming that's true, can I downgrade my CSP (and keep my Chase points on that downgraded card), then a week later get the CSR, and transfer the points from my downgraded card to the CSR?

 

[WeIcomeHome]

Correct you can only have one Sapphire card per person at a time. If you're married you can have one and your spouse can have one.

There is a time limit on how often you qualify for the sapphire sign up bonuses. I don't recall the exact details. Thinking it was once every 2 or 4 years? But downgrading to a freedom unlimited card to keep your points is allowed. You would be able to retransfer over to your new sapphire card. The main downside with this transfer approach would be losing some grandfathered redemption options for points from the old sapphire reserve system.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Could I get confirmation on a couple things?

First, is it true that you cannot get the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you currently are a Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholder? Assuming that's true, can I downgrade my CSP (and keep my Chase points on that downgraded card), then a week later get the CSR, and transfer the points from my downgraded card to the CSR?

There are new rules with Chase. You can now hold both but you have be sure you are Willie for the bonus. https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve-bonus-eligibility/

 

[VGCgroupie]

Yea, I was going to suggest the other sapphire card? ($99?)

It’s better to go reserve then downgrade after a year due to the extra sign up bonus plus the extra 2% on the DVC purchase.

 

[Steelers0854]

I think only reserve give 4x points over travel

Just to clarify, the Reserve now only gives 4x on Hotel and Flights booked directly with the provider, currently they are classifying the DVC transactions as hotels so qualify for the 4x points.

 

[Xalthon]

There are new rules with Chase. You can now hold both but you have be sure you are Willie for the bonus. https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve-bonus-eligibility/

Thank you for the link. So reading that, I can't get the Reserve bonus if I currently hold a CSP. So, will my plan work to downgrade my CSP, then wait a bit (not sure how long), and then apply for the CSR? And my current Chase points ultimately will be fully usable with the CSR, right?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Thank you for the link. So reading that, I can't get the Reserve bonus if I currently hold a CSP. So, will my plan work to downgrade my CSP, then wait a bit (not sure how long), and then apply for the CSR? And my current Chase points ultimately will be fully usable with the CSR, right?

It depends on when you got the bonus for your current CSP. Needs to be more than 48 months ago, but could still possibly not be offered due to new lifetime rules. But Chase has started to notify you prior to submittal if you will qualify for the bonus so that’s good.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I only have a few cards but am planning a direct purchase within the next month. Would either of these be a good choice to use or should I open a new card? My preference would be to get airline miles out of the purchase. I have the Alaska Airlines card and the Chase Disney card. The other airline we sometimes use is United, but I don't have their card, I guess it's also by Chase.

I opened three new cards for our purchase and split up the payments over 90 days (60? I can't remember, whatever the max was) to use them all. Bonuses ahoy

 

[LittleBitGoofy]

I've already got CSR and my wife has the CSP. We primarily fly United and both have travel cards for that airline already.

What's the next card(s) we should consider for SUBs for a possible direct purchase?

 

[nephykupo]

I've already got CSR and my wife has the CSP. We primarily fly United and both have travel cards for that airline already.

What's the next card(s) we should consider for SUBs for a possible direct purchase?

You could go for another bank's cards like AMEX or go for some hotel cards like Hyatt or Hilton. Although, I would go with whatever you would use for the next few vacations.