Week After Turkey Day Shenanigans

[Meeko5]

My very elaborate GC spreadsheet says I've saved 17% so far on a total of $4150 in Disney GCs bought. That's $625 saved right there! I've already used some to pay for MM, EMM, Wild Africa Trek, MVMCP. I could look at it as MVMCP & Wild Africa Trek were basically free for us so far.

That is amazing!!
Had I realized the value of buying the GC's I would have done that with the money I already applied to the balance - I pulled credit card reward money into the checking and then just paid that way. Now I'm sad thinking about the free money I could have got with that free money!

 

[JamieOak]

That is amazing!!
Had I realized the value of buying the GC's I would have done that with the money I already applied to the balance - I pulled credit card reward money into the checking and then just paid that way. Now I'm sad thinking about the free money I could have got with that free money!

Well while you were properly planning things on schedule and had a room booked, I was buying gift cards almost completely unaware of what I should've been devoting my time to! We all have our "if only"s I'm sure.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Hey - did anyone ever get their dream reward dollars for the Disney visa referrals? The $200 GC for DH's account came within a few weeks and I still don't have any rewards in my account...wondering if it's just me??

No, and I finally called. They took a long time checking over things and eventually told me they were forwarding my issue to their marketing dept and I would receive a letter in 7-10 business days with more information and I would also be receiving the $50 rewards. I don't have it yet, I called late last week.

 

[Meeko5]

No, and I finally called. They took a long time checking over things and eventually told me they were forwarding my issue to their marketing dept and I would receive a letter in 7-10 business days with more information and I would also be receiving the $50 rewards. I don't have it yet, I called late last week.

Ugh that's crap!! I need to look back at when the $500 transaction posted to DHs Visa so I can call them with dates and inquire. It definitely didn't take this long last time!!

 

[missnikki411]

Ugh that's crap!! I need to look back at when the $500 transaction posted to DHs Visa so I can call them with dates and inquire. It definitely didn't take this long last time!!

We got the first one right away and the second $50 finally appeared on our September statement. We were going to call if it didn't show up. I still can't believe we paid off $500 of our trip just by getting family to open cards.

 

[Meeko5]

We got the first one right away and the second $50 finally appeared on our September statement. We were going to call if it didn't show up. I still can't believe we paid off $500 of our trip just by getting family to open cards.

So awesome!!

I had a friend tell me she and her husband were going to open the disney visa using my referral - they are going the same dates as us. I want to ask her if she ever did, but don't want to be rude either haha. But if they did, that's an extra $100 for me! I just assumed the rewards would show up if they did, but now I'm not so sure. I'm gonna have to find a way to ask without sounding greedy!

 

[Astryd]

Awesome! We need to discuss this more. I have not yet done much "planning" for that like picking which place to visit at each resort. I think that's going to be a harder decision than FPs!

We have a PPO BOG that morning, so the plan is to stay in MK till about 2ish, then head over to Fort Wilderness and Crockett's Tavern for some Moonshine drinks and to roam around the resort a bit. I haven't been over there since we spent the day at River Country back in 2000.

Then we are heading Wilderness Lodge and Territory Lounge for some drinks and apps and to see the decorations.

Next we will go to GF and Mizner's if it's not too busy, if it is we will hit up one of the other places, but really just going th GF for the decorations. I maybe in the minority, but I really don't care for the GF.

Then we are going to the Poly and Tambu Tambu Lounge and Trader Sam's.

Then lastly to the Contemporay and California Grill for our 8:45pm ADR. I'm thinking of having a cake made and delivered here since we just got married at the courthouse and didn't get a wedding cake. Still not sure yet though.


I would love to head back to Trader Sam's after that but we have a PPO Garden Grill the next morning, I'm sure we are already going to be exhausted.

 

[Melwhit16]

Not making them...I bought them off Etsy for our 2015 trip and still haven't put the pictures in them! I have no artistic talent.

I think I will check Etsy again. I am being picky and want ones that I can add pictures too later.

I've committed to making them for BFF's daughters. Oh god what have I done?! This is a disaster waiting to happen. To Michaels I go!

Let me know what you come up with because I think I am crafty and I am stuck!!! Maybe between the 2 of us we can glue something together

I'm here at McDonald's all set up with 10 minutes to spare! Couldn't sleep at all last night. Seriously, I think I might have a problem.

Yes you might but at least you are surrounded by enablers! Is there a 12 step for Disney?

 

[JamieOak]

We have a PPO BOG that morning, so the plan is to stay in MK till about 2ish, then head over to Fort Wilderness and Crockett's Tavern for some Moonshine drinks and to roam around the resort a bit. I haven't been over there since we spent the day at River Country back in 2000.

Then we are heading Wilderness Lodge and Territory Lounge for some drinks and apps and to see the decorations.

Next we will go to GF and Mizner's if it's not too busy, if it is we will hit up one of the other places, but really just going th GF for the decorations. I maybe in the minority, but I really don't care for the GF.

Then we are going to the Poly and Tambu Tambu Lounge and Trader Sam's.

Then lastly to the Contemporay and California Grill for our 8:45pm ADR. I'm thinking of having a cake made and delivered here since we just got married at the courthouse and didn't get a wedding cake. Still not sure yet though.


I would love to head back to Trader Sam's after that but we have a PPO Garden Grill the next morning, I'm sure we are already going to be exhausted.

Ok...I want to steal this plan! Almost to the T, haha. The moonshine drinks were on my list, plus WL is a must, as well as Trader Sams. I haven't investigated GF or CR options yet. I also was planning to not make an ADR that evening and we'd just get appetizers along the way.

It's great that you can go straight from MK to FW via the boat. My biggest question right now is how to get wherever I'm starting from the BWI. I was going to go to Disney Springs first, but I'm not sure if that leaves us enough time. I guess I have to decide if we want to plan for doing it all in one day, or breaking it up over our 2 break days.

 

[X96msm]

We did this last year, and my 4-year-old son loved it. It was cool to see the MK fireworks from the water, and the pirate captain of our boat was pretty entertaining -- every kid earned a prize for trivia questions. At the end, Peter Pan was waiting on the dock and spent a good amount of time with each family. Add in the treats before the cruise and the photo op with Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, and I think it was worth the expense. Hope you enjoy it if you decide to book!

Thanks!

 

[jlundeen]

Now that I have my FPs reserved (will probably contue to tweek them but at least there are slots filled in now), I will be canceling some ADRs. Will hold on to some until hours for HS and AK are set, and the Star Wars and ROL stuff is finally announced, but for now, I'm going to let a Hollywood & Vine Seasonal Dinner (Mickey Minnie char meal) go. It's for 2 people, Dec 2, at 3:00. Private message me if you want to coordinate, otherwise I'll put it on the ADR Cancellation thread.

 

[heath92681]

Hey - did anyone ever get their dream reward dollars for the Disney visa referrals? The $200 GC for DH's account came within a few weeks and I still don't have any rewards in my account...wondering if it's just me??

My $50 was in my last statement.

 

[jlundeen]

I also have this one I won't be needing:

Garden Grill - Dec 1, 11:45 AM - 2 people
PM if you want it...

 

[Iowamomof4]

Ugh that's crap!! I need to look back at when the $500 transaction posted to DHs Visa so I can call them with dates and inquire. It definitely didn't take this long last time!!

Hey, I just checked and the $50 is there now! It's listed as an "adjustment". Definitely have all the information ready when you call. I called the Disney Visa Rewards number (1-800-300-8575) and spoke to someone there. I explained that my husband had gotten an offer for his friends and family to sign up and they would receive the $200 gift card and he would receive the $50 rewards bonus. I told them the date I had signed up, that I had immediately used the card, and had received my gift card within a couple weeks of making the qualifying purchases but that it had been 12 weeks now and the refer-a-friend bonus still hadn't shown up in his account. As I said, she put me on hold a couple times to check on some things. I also mentioned that I had received the same offer now that I was a cardholder but I was hesitant to share it if they weren't going to be honoring the agreement.

 

[Melwhit16]

How do you check for FP on a day you have them booked already? I am terrified that I will accidentally delete my FEA FP!

 

[Iowamomof4]

How do you check for FP on a day you have them booked already? I am terrified that I will accidentally delete my FEA FP!

Pick one to "modify" and it will show you alternatives. Just don't confirm it unless you're sure.

 

[Melwhit16]

Ok I think I will try it on Turtle talk first

 

[twoolle]

So DH and I decided to pay off the balance of our trip with GC's at Sam's Club - for the quarter starting 10/1 we get 5% cash back at wholesale clubs on my chase freedom card. With the extra 5% cash back that will be like paying $135.83 for $150 in Disney GCs. I'll end up doing a lot of combining balances before I make the final payment (My sam's only carries the 3 pack of $50 cards), but will ultimately save enough money to make it worth the little bit of effort, I think. It's essentially getting 9% off doing GC's vs paying directly from the bank account...

However I'm not doing anything until the week the final balance is due juuuuust in case something happens haha. I certainly don't want to be stuck with $1500 in disney GCs!

We also buy the GCs from SAMs the week the balance is due and pay it off then. Plus we use the points we earn on the credit card for our hotel nights on the drive. Saves us about $300!

 

[Iowamomof4]

I've been going the Disney Vacation Account route w/ gift cards purchased at Target for 5% off. I hope the 2% gift card bonus works out. I've had the account since my last trip but we hadn't opened it in time to receive the bonus back then.

 

[EcknMama]

Fast pass selection went better than expected! On our Epcot day 11/29 the earliest I could get FEA was 8:20pm. I was able to modify it to 7:40. But that was the earliest.