I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Killer Fish]

Wanted some advice on a next card.

I was all set to apply for CIP #3 when I saw the DOC article that had the Chase Southwest Performance card 80k signup will be extended until 10/16/19. I was planing on grabbing the companion pass early next year and was not sure if I should wait to do that.

I am currently at 4/24 but will be down to 2/24 by December. I also don't think I will actually have any real use for the Companion Pass until late May at the earliest as travel will be slowing to almost a halt with baby 2.

My thought would just be to go for CIP #3 and if the bonus drops on the new SW card oh well and can still just get one of the business cards and one personal (have not had a personal bonus since 2/2016) to get the CP for 20/21. Does that logic make sense? I also now have 10 Chase cards (2 Biz/8 personal) which I hope will not be a big deal. I have seen some higher numbers than that on here.

 

[Haley R]

I would check out the DCL thread. There is a lot of good info there and people typically post the menus, euc there. And keep in mind, they are very accommodating in the dining rooms. Our waiter realized DH really enjoyed the escargot and was able to get it for him every evening and would just check in with him at the end of that night’s meal to see if he would like them the next evening. And definitely try the Palo brunch. It is sumptuous! And the rainforest room is a hidden gem.

ETA: That is how I found the Disboards when we were going on our 1st DCL that I booked last minute and quickly needed to learn about them.

We’ve watched some vlogs of people on cruises so we have somewhat of an idea how things look and work. I do know about the rainforest room. Does that cost extra? I don’t think we’ll do any dining that costs extra just because Dh was already iffy about spending the money on the cruise in the first place

 

[DisneyMandC]

I actually really like mission space orange. I’ve never done the green side but Dh and I always do the orange one

It's been a long time since I've done it, but I also liked it when I did it. I may try it again on this trip. I have told FIL that's the one ride he's not allowed to go on. My mom and MIL won't ride it either, but I think BIL wants to try it. The only thing that gives me motion sickness at WDW is Star Tours, which is a real bummer because I love Star Wars and would love to see all the different versions.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I've never been to WDW.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Looks like my Capital One Venture is in the mail today!

For those of you who did the Great Southern Bank account, how long did it take to get your app approved? Put one in on Friday night for DH and it said they'd let us know. Shouldn't have any geographical issues. DH is traveling this week so hopefully he remembers to forward me the email when he gets it.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wanted some advice on a next card.

I was all set to apply for CIP #3 when I saw the DOC article that had the Chase Southwest Performance card 80k signup will be extended until 10/16/19. I was planing on grabbing the companion pass early next year and was not sure if I should wait to do that.

I am currently at 4/24 but will be down to 2/24 by December. I also don't think I will actually have any real use for the Companion Pass until late May at the earliest as travel will be slowing to almost a halt with baby 2.

My thought would just be to go for CIP #3 and if the bonus drops on the new SW card oh well and can still just get one of the business cards and one personal (have not had a personal bonus since 2/2016) to get the CP for 20/21. Does that logic make sense? I also now have 10 Chase cards (2 Biz/8 personal) which I hope will not be a big deal. I have seen some higher numbers than that on here.

That is a really tough call. I’ve pondered the same decision myself and I can tell you that CIPpy has won out so far. The fact that you don’t plan to use the CP in the first 4 months of 2020 tends to lead me to agree that CIP is your best move.

 

[Judique]

@speedyfishy - if you know a Safeway that will sell the Visa gift cards using a credit card, will you pm it to me. My go to one won't do it anymore.

 

[Haley R]

@Haley R I don't know if anyone answered your questions about driving to the port or changing your onboard account. Parking at the port is really convenient. I would either park right at the port or take a Lyft. I found the options involving shuttles were a pain. And you can set your account up as a cash count and later add a car or call in and add gift cards to your onboard account. I haven't had a card on file for my last couple of cruises.

Thanks for the response! I thought taking a lyft from our house would be a good idea but I didn’t realize it would cost so much. We’ll most likely just end up driving our own car and parking.

I didn’t see the option for cash so I’ll have to go back and check. I only saw where it wanted me to enter my cc info

 

[miztressuz]

Hey guys! So today I got an email from Amex with the subject line: Small Business owners – We’d like your feedback. It offered a $20 check for a 10 minute survey about possible revamps to the SPG/Bonvoy Biz. From DoC posts about similar Amex surveys, I knew I had to select that I was a business owner (and not just employed full time) in order to qualify. It also asked a little about my business, the hotels I’ve stayed at, which brands, how many times in the past year, and what loyalty programs I belonged to, etc., in order to be eligible.

The survey presented 12 different variations of new benefits on the Bonvoy Biz, while keeping the $125 AF and existing 4x bonus categories, and asked how likely would the benefit changes make me spend more on the card, and whether the benefits listed made the card better than other cards. What caught my attention were some card options included a $100/$125/$150 travel, Marriott or resort credit, while other versions included a token amount of Uber credit with your stay, capped at some number per year; some versions included a 50k FN anniversary certificate and the ability to earn a 50k FN cert by spending $60k, while others kept the 35k FN certs; the ability to earn Platinum Elite status by spending $75k; the ability to spend your way — something like $30k — to a room upgrade, higher % bonus points on stays, and late checkout (which seemed kind of redundant to me if you have a high enough Elite status); and 3x Marriott points on non-category spend (basically restoring the base spend value of the old SPG cards) but capped at either $30k or $50k a year, then back to 2x. There were a few options that bumped up Marriott category spend to 12x! I replied that I was most likely to increase my spend on cards with the 3x base rate and the 50k FN certs. The travel or resort credits are also interesting and would effectively negate the AF, but they don’t really encourage ongoing spend.

Anyway, Amex seems to be thinking about revamping the Bonvoy Biz! We shouldn’t expect to see all of the above make it onto one card, but they’re some of the ideas that Amex is considering.

I find it amusing how much effort AmEx is having to put into the cards now.

A couple random thoughts, with no real substance or analysis -
1. How I don't get picked for the cash surveys? I had a couple for this card and they'd only donate the $10 or $20 to charity. Haven't seen this latest one yet.

2. Even if it gave the 3x earnings back in some form, is 3x Marriott still worth earning? Does Marriott still have the redemption options/value it did before Bonvoy? (side note, auto correct automatically changed that to "Bonvoyed" on me - auto correct knows)
It's only 1 additional point over current rate, is that enough to make it a daily driver again like they were used to before? I hazard a guess that the root cause of AmEx's problem is the new Bonblah program and not so much the nerf from 3x to 2x (although that didn't help)

3. If AmEx actually changes the Marriott earn rate, could that mean a change on another card? When the new joint card issuance between Chase and AmEx launched, all the new cards got the same earn rates. Is that something contractual to keep the competition civil or was that just a launch front? Maybe now with a year behind them all bets are off and each can do as they need to keep up the revenue? While AmEx and Chase buy the points from Marriott, Marriott obviously doesn't want a glut of points out there otherwise they most likely wouldn't be the ones overseeing the card sign up restrictions. (It could be logistical but generally if a sponsor can stay out of it they would and they could have stayed out of it)

This could be interesting. Hopefully something good happens in about six months when I'm eligible to get the Chase card

 

[Haley R]

It is so great going with parents like this. My parents joined us on our late may trip this year. They only took us once as kids...I was in 2nd grade. We did MK and Epcot. We stayed offsite as well.
They had a great time and I love that I have pictures of them riding and experiencing wdw with the grand kids. I don't know that they will ever go again, but I'm glad they did it once. They just aren't big travelers...other than visiting us in Nashville.
My dad did say they might come to the big celebration WDW is throwing for my 40th birthday in 2021.

Dh said that $291 is still money to pay and my parents would have to buy tickets too. I think we’ll probably just end up going to Epcot for the day instead. Since we live here they can come some other time for wdw

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We’ve watched some vlogs of people on cruises so we have somewhat of an idea how things look and work. I do know about the rainforest room. Does that cost extra? I don’t think we’ll do any dining that costs extra just because Dh was already iffy about spending the money on the cruise in the first place

If you are on FB, search for your cruise date FB group. Usually is is something like, November 15 Disney Fantasy cruisers....or something to that effect. Lots of good info. Sometimes drama. It is a crapshoot, but I always join.

 

[Haley R]

It's been a long time since I've done it, but I also liked it when I did it. I may try it again on this trip. I have told FIL that's the one ride he's not allowed to go on. My mom and MIL won't ride it either, but I think BIL wants to try it. The only thing that gives me motion sickness at WDW is Star Tours, which is a real bummer because I love Star Wars and would love to see all the different versions.

I don’t get motion sickness on any ride. Dh only gets sick on rides that spin but only if he can visually see the spinning. Since you can’t see the spinning on mission space he’s normally okay. He doesn’t like doing rides back to back though. When we do AH he has to take breaks and sometimes I go alone

 

[Haley R]

If you are on FB, search for your cruise date FB group. Usually is is something like, November 15 Disney Fantasy cruisers....or something to that effect. Lots of good info. Sometimes drama. It is a crapshoot, but I always join.

We have a Facebook from our old band that we use. I’ll try looking up our cruise and see if there is anything. Thanks! I was in a dvc group before because I was looking for conformed reservations and I left the group if that tells you anything

 

[elgerber]

The one that’s heavier than the Amex Platinum and the CSR!

Yup, at least according to their application packet! Funny, I showed that part to DH, he had asked what made that card so special, so I told him that's why.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I just realized that starting 10/11, when spirit begins their BNA-MCO nonstop route, we will have alot of budget airline competition at BNA. Frontier, SW, Allegiant, and Spirit will all be offering nonstops to the Orlando area. I'm hoping this keeps pricing low with all the competition. I just peeked at SW to MCO for fall break (I'm late but that's how I roll) and it is astronomical. Not to worry though, I can mix it up and with different airlines each way and come up with a pretty decent fare. Awesome!

 

[DisneyMandC]

Dh only gets sick on rides that spin but only if he can visually see the spinning. Since you can’t see the spinning on mission space he’s normally okay.

I'm the same way! Teacups are a hard no.

 

[miztressuz]

We’ve watched some vlogs of people on cruises so we have somewhat of an idea how things look and work. I do know about the rainforest room. Does that cost extra? I don’t think we’ll do any dining that costs extra just because Dh was already iffy about spending the money on the cruise in the first place

Rainforest room is extra. I believe you can still buy day passes from the Gifts option. They are around $20 a person after tax/gratuity. Not always available to buy just a day on board, they sell the week passes mostly which is a couple hundred for a couples pass. Our last couple cruises we just bought a couple day passes ahead of time, and you can use GCs for it. Personally for a first time, I think the week pass is over kill, but popping in for a day to try it out would be good.

I wouldn't feel you're missing anything by sitting out on Palo/Remy on your first time out. There's plenty to do and see, even in 7 days. Unless you decide cruising totally sucks, it won't be your last DCL.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Is it possible to give you 7 night Marriott cert to someone else? I see that there is a cat 4 Fairfield in steamboat. I could give it to DH for him and the boys and they could stay a whole week...or not if they don't want to, but I don't have other plans for the cert yet.

 

[PolyRob]

I'm the same way! Teacups are a hard no.

So funny! I am the exact opposite. If it is real motion and not simulated I am good. I guess lower lines on certain attractions for all

 

[Alexle2007]

@speedyfishy - if you know a Safeway that will sell the Visa gift cards using a credit card, will you pm it to me. My go to one won't do it anymore.

Wow, I have no problem with the one near me and the one closer to work.