What are you doing with My Points

[magic kingdom park]

I was just wondering if anyone can tell me what they are saving my points for if you were trying to use them for your disney trip, or what was the best value to spend your points, I was trying to save enough to get the $25 Rainforest Cafe gift certificate but it doesn't look like I will have enough by Oct. Any disney ideas for this?

 

[jcemom]

I originally tried to cash out for things directly related to my Disney trip--restaurant GCs, webbies that I used to buy Disney Store GCs with the intent of getting Disney Dollars. Not only did I find it to be too inconvenient for me, but we didn't go off property to use the restaurant GCs and I never made it to the DS to cash in my GCs there and just ended up using them for DS merchandise, not to mention that I had to add money to my webcert account to cover the $1 "hold" they put through...ugh.

Anyway, what I do now with almost all RPs is to cash in for a GC I KNOW I will use. At MyPoints I've been cashing for KMart GCs. Then, I "buy" the GC from myself. For example, I just got a $50 KMart GC in last month, so I "paid" myself $50 from my checking account (and put that into the vacation fund) for that card and will use it to do my regular shopping that I would have paid for from the checking anyway. It's kind of like cashing in my points for cash. Does that make sense?

 

[CajunDixie]

I usually cash in for a gas card or a restaurant gc. Go to Spend Points then Quicklist by Partner to easily see all your options. I really like the Chili's card since its good for 7 different restaurants. The Target gc is great if you need film, sunscreen or snacks to take on the trip. B.Daltons is good for picking up any guidebooks or just books for entertainment for the trip. BDaltons is also one of the best point values....$5=750 points, $10=1250 points, $25=2750 points.

Don't cash in your points too soon. You never know when they'll put an awesome point reward out there. For example many of hear got great deals at Tupperware while earning some prime points.

 

[Dznypal]

I print out the page from webcertificate that has my account # and other info

I take that to TDS and have them put the # in manually and buy$DD I have $100 in my Disney fund from just that alone.

Now that we have ressies for our Oct trip I jst call with that account # and have them put in on my room account.

just as easy and less to pay when we get there!!!

 

[magic kingdom park]

okay so how do I get disney dollars? I am kinda it takes me some time to catch on to this, but that sounds like the best idea?

 

[Dznypal]

first go to webcertificates and printout your account page showing your account # and name address etc.

next go to TDS and tell the CM you want to buy $DD and ask them to punch in your account # manually (instead of swiping it)

Ive done this many times most of the time there is no problems but there have been a couple of times that the CM insists on having the actual plastic card Im cheap so I cant see spending $6.95 on a card!!!!

anyways I just either go to another store or try on a different day and get a different CM most of time they're interested in rewards and how they work

and they manually punch you # in and ring up your $DD

sometimes it takes alittle explaining but is sure is worth it in the end.

I know others on this board have tried it after I had success with it so if you have ?'s please ask


hope this helps and let me know what happenes good luck

 

[kathmzh]

I have also ordered gift cards, in $25 increments, from the disney store online with my webcertificate account. There is no shipping fee.

 

[CajunDixie]

I have also ordered gift cards, in $25 increments, from the disney store online with my webcertificate account. There is no shipping fee.

Some stores won't exchange the gift cards for Disney Dollars though. And the cards can't be used at WDW.

Be sure to compare the points it takes to redeem for different items....$25 Webcertificate costs 3500 points while the Chili's $25 only costs 3000 points. And be sure to keep your webcertificate active to avoid penalties for non-use.

 

[hulabird]

Me and my DH have been using our mypoints to get webcertificates and then we are using those to purchase Q&C lunch vouchers from hotwire savings club.

It is working out great so far!

 

[magic kingdom park]

how many points do you need to buy those vouchers and how can I get this info. Thanks

 

[Mish19]

Usually I get webcertificates and sometimes put it towards Disney or end up just ordering other stuff online. Since I just booked a trip to WDW I will put my webcerts towards phone payments to pay off the trip. I was only able to print up my webcert and bring it to TDS once and get DD. The last time I tried it the manager was so unbelievably nasty and eventhough I was sweet as can be he was a jerk and would not budge. I ended asking for his name so I could let the higher ups know he turned down over $65 in a DD purchase because he wouldn't TRY.

Oh BTW, I've gotten around the extra $1 service charge they sometimes charge with certain purchases. After I make a purchase and get denied due to lack of funds I call webcertificates customer service and they reinstate the dollar AND they add another dollar for me to make my online purchase.

 

[powellrj]

I have been using them at the end of the year to buy $10 gift cards that I save for emergency gifts for the kids when they need a last minute gift.

 

[hulabird]

magic kingdom park

Were you referring to the Q&C lunch vouchers? There is a whole thread about them on the Budget Board, they are $11.50 each and you can purchase them at the hotwiresavingsclub.com, it is $1 to join for 30 days and after that it is $7.95/mo. and you can cancel at anytime. They sell vouchers and also PHP's, Seaworld and US tickets and giftcards and movie tickets.

 

[psupple]

Has anyone traded their MyPoints points into webcertificates and then used that to rent a car, say through Travelocity, Expedia or Hotwire? I thought that would be a good way to apply the money directly towards a trip to Disney!

Pam

 

[bear74]

I plan on using them to get gas gift cards.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Last year I redeemed for a Rainforest Cafe gift certificate and then when we went to WDW we never went to RC!!!!! We don't have an RC here so I had to find another resteraunt that I could use it at. I felt like it was a waste because I don't go to that resteraunt very often and went just to use the certificate.

Now I stick with redeeming it at places I frequent at home like Olive Garden/Red Lobster, Starbuck's and Bath and Body Works.

 

[Eilonwy]

Last year I redeemed for a Rainforest Cafe gift certificate and then when we went to WDW we never went to RC!!!!! We don't have an RC here so I had to find another resteraunt that I could use it at. I felt like it was a waste because I don't go to that resteraunt very often and went just to use the certificate.

I've redeemed for Rainforest GCs and used them to buy TShirts in their store next to the restaurant. I always look for their sale/clearance merchandise. Last trip I used it at the Downtown Disney location. Trip before that I used it at the Animal Kingdom one.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I'm saving for a Chili's GC to suprise DBF

 

[patsal]

So far I have just over 20,000 points. I am saving up to get the US/IOA one day tickets. 4000 more points and I'll have enough for 4 adult one day passes! I hope to get at least two more, then DH can cash out his Priority Club points for two one day kids tickets and we get two days at US/IOA for free. I plan to stay on site using a discount from the Entertainment book for a Friday and Saturday between DVC resorts next year!

 

[magic kingdom park]

wow, how did you get that many points?????? I thought you had to redeem them at the end of each year or you lost them.