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

[ten6mom]

Wait they are clips? I’m so confused?

Great Clips is an inexpensive hair cut place, at least around here.

And I actually go there!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

@*WDW*Groupie* - love your new avatar! Is that you on the tightrope (?)?

Thanks! Yes that's me. The Matterhorn is behind me (it was an overcast day). It's one of my favorite pics and was taken on an ABD.

 

[calypso726]

Is it possible to use the resort credit for an extra night? Asking because DH is still interested in the Aspire, but I worry about using that resort credit.

@mmmears - I thought I had added your post to my response with @ten6mom's post but realized it didn't attach. I didn't want you to think I wasn't responding to your question. Quoting my response below.

Keep in mind that not all Hilton are considered resorts for the purpose of the credit. The Hilton Tokyo Bay is considered a resort. Advance purchase rates will not trigger the credit but most Hilton resorts don't have advance purchase rates as an option. Below is the list of resorts.

https://www3.hilton.com/en/resorts/index.html?WT.mc_id=zkdCSAA0US1CI2REP4Resorts5US7BR840893

This is a pretty amazing group!!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Thank you @wanderlust7 for finding the info.

@*WDW*Groupie* - I don't recall when you got the card but you can double dip the credit like we did if you have no other use for it in the meantime. Our card anniversary date is January 18 which is the date the Aspire was released. I was waiting on pins and needles for it. So when the following December rolled around I sent the email to the Conrad Rangali Maldives requesting a pre-payment of $250 towards my room and PlanePrincess did the same. The credit was triggered for that card anniversary year. Then, when we took the trip in March we charged the sea plane to the room which triggered the second credit and already had a pre payment of $500 from our two $250 credits the year before. I assume you can do the same with the boat ride. Your resort on on my list for the next Maldives trip and I plan to pay the boat ride with the resort credits.

Thanks so much @calypso726 . I got the card last December and haven't used the credit yet this year. So I will definitely be e-mailing the resort to make a pre-payment "for accounting purposes".

The boat ride is super expensive (but it is a yacht from the pics I've seen on TA, so I guess they can be forgiven lol). From what I've read this resort is amazing (how can it not be with a 2,500 sq. foot "room" on the beach with our own private pool) and I'm looking forward to it. I plan on doing some yoga / meditation there, so will have to get limber before we leave (yoga isn't part of my exercise routine, mainly because I don't have the time to add it on). I will be happy to provide a review when we get back!

 

[Hoosier John]

You are most likely to get the 100k Amex Plat if you don't have any Amex cards. That said, DH and I both had the 100k Plat and we were longtime customers.

If you want to get started with Amex and the offers, there are better cards. The Blue Business Plus earns 2x Membership Rewards on everything, no AF. The Amex Everyday earns Membership Rewards with no AF, is a personal credit card. Support links available on DisChurners.

Thank you!

I have a 64 with 1 GB available. I def need to size up. I'm glad to see I do not have the oldest phone here. Mine is a 6 and I bought it in September of 2015 right after the 6s came out. My kids like to tell me THEY have the oldest phones ever and I am like well they are newer than mine, so they can't be that old. lol Though 2 of them will also be 4 years old at Christmas and the other will be 3 at Christmas so they probably do have older than most of their friends. I am really surprised at the price point of the 11, it is not that bad I think. I can't believe I am saying a $700 phone is not that much...

Pretty sure my iPhone 4S will make everyone feel better about their phone (and I've been pulling 10 GB a month since 2012 thru it, and the screen is not cracked)

Now I'm gonna start something I can't finish: At what age should a child get their first phone? (Thinking she deserves a perfectly good 4S) Bahaha

 

[alryan]

I have a phone problem, too, but the opposite--I hate to get rid of my current phones and have had my current one almost 5 years. I know it's only a matter of time before it has to be upgraded but I dread that, in part because it will mean I need to go through all of the photos on my phone. Which brings me to a question--does anyone know an easy way to get prints made from photos on the iphone? My current method is to email the photo to myself, download it onto my computer, then upload it to Costco or Walgreens or Shutterfly. I would be surprised if there is not some more efficient way to do it.

I absolutely love Google Photos. No need to transfer photos from your current phone or worry about your photos taking up storage on your phone. Every picture you take with your phone automatically gets uploaded and saved to Google Photos. I know some people don't like the facial recognition or worry about privacy, but I love it. I currently have 10 years of photos on my phone that I can easily search and bring up a photo at any time. I am in the process now of scanning older photos.

 

[afan]

Great Clips is an inexpensive hair cut place, at least around here.

And I actually go there!

I have too cause there's a girl there that could actually cut my hair how I wanted. The last lady there messed it up and now they are only open til 5 and have had a help wanted sign forever. My hair is easy to cut and I explain exactly how to do it cause I've been getting it cut that way for over a decade. I know what I like and what works for my hair, drives me nuts when they think they can do better their way and then it takes longer and they end up dping what I said. But some people can't use thinning shears either

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Thank you!



Pretty sure my iPhone 4S will make everyone feel better about their phone (and I've been pulling 10 GB a month since 2012 thru it, and the screen if not cracked)

Now I'm gonna start something I can't finish: At what age should a child get their first phone? (Thinking she deserves a perfectly good 4S) Bahaha

There is no right or wrong answer with respect to age. Dh decided (w/o talking with me first) to get dd an iPhone when she was in 5th grade. I will say that she was one of the last in her class to get a phone. Since she was heavily involved in riding at the time it did help me tremendously with being able to communicate with her at competitions / when she was done at the barn. Then there's my sister who just got her dd a phone in June (of this year) and she is 17. Her ds had to beg for a phone for years (he's almost 16) and she finally got him one for Christmas last year. Both kids did have iPods with wifi though. She also claims that her dd was always losing / breaking the iPod, which is why she didn't get her a phone sooner. Her sweet 13 year old is still patiently waiting for a phone.

I have an old phone as well (as least by Apple standards); it's a 7Plus. Still works great so I don't feel any pressure to get a new one.

I do have a 4 series Nike iWatch, which I love. Only got it because my 2 series fell on the back patio right before we left for Japan and the screen cracked. Apple couldn't replace before we left, so of course I HAD to get a new one (I'm addicted to my iWatch -- you can't see it but I'm wearing an original series 1 in my avatar). I was able to sell the (brand new) replacement watch for $170.00 cash when we got back, which offset the cost somewhat. I will be watching for details on the new watch very carefully when it comes out.

 

[calypso726]

Thanks so much @calypso726 . I got the card last December and haven't used the credit yet this year. So I will definitely be e-mailing the resort to make a pre-payment "for accounting purposes".

The boat ride is super expensive (but it is a yacht from the pics I've seen on TA, so I guess they can be forgiven lol). From what I've read this resort is amazing (how can it not be with a 2,500 sq. foot "room" on the beach with our own private pool) and I'm looking forward to it. I plan on doing some yoga / meditation there, so will have to get limber before we leave (yoga isn't part of my exercise routine, mainly because I don't have the time to add it on). I will be happy to provide a review when we get back!

Excellent! I am looking forward to your review!

 

[LB002]

Back on the Delta Vacations topic...

I am ready to cancel my package (Tickets are all linked. I never got a WDW email, but the "Confirmation #" in my Delta account worked in MDE). I tried to just cancel online with the "cancel this trip" button, but it says my cancellation fee is more than the original trip cost and my refund is -$421 (I am expecting a $329 voucher). I bought the insurance, so is there a different process to cancel through the insurance?

Has anyone cancelled yet? When I called my option was to cancel the entire package (tickets included) and get a voucher, but tje insurance cost was non refundable. I was OK with that (although I prefer to keep the tickets) BUT they calculated the insurance cost at 4x the cost I paid on my receipt! So instead of $148 it was almost $600. The person I spoke to couldn't do anything for me except reschedule or cancel the whole package and give me the reduced voucher. She suggested I call back during business hours to speak with finance team.

My other option is to cancel the travel insurance (you have 10ndays to cancel the insurance) and just eat the cost of the flight/hotel ($256) and keep the tickets.
I wonder if they'd refund $148 or $600?!?!?

 

[WVMomof3]

Thank you!



Pretty sure my iPhone 4S will make everyone feel better about their phone (and I've been pulling 10 GB a month since 2012 thru it, and the screen if not cracked)

Now I'm gonna start something I can't finish: At what age should a child get their first phone? (Thinking she deserves a perfectly good 4S) Bahaha

I probably would still have my 4 if my DD didn't spill Gatorade all over it. I somehow managed to save it with rice, though the screen had a funky bluish tint forever after. Then it stopped charging so I youtubed and replaced the battery myself. That didn't solve the problem so I youtubed and replaced my charging port. I was pretty darn proud of myself. But it was pretty much crap at that point. So I waited until the 6S came out and bought the previous 6 model. I made it last a whole year after the gatorade incident.

Kids and phones- definitely very personal. My kids are 21, 19 and 17 and I already feel like that is an outdated datapoint lol. But I gave mine phones in 5th grade when they started staying after school for sports. They all started with basic flip phones. My oldest DD starting working at 12 refereeing soccer so when she wanted an upgrade to iphone in high school I made her pay for half. Somehow the other 2 got out of paying for theirs and just got them as presents when they were in highschool. Actually, DS got his in 8th grade as a Christmas present (it was a buy one get one free deal) and all 3 kids were mad at me for that one. lol The girls thought it wasn't fair and DS really wanted a computer and had no desire for an iphone.

 

[alryan]

This amazes me because every time we've been to MCO it has been a nightmare of people and chaos and long lines. We never use ME because DH always wants his own car to be on his own time.

Wow, that is crazy. I always hear these stories but have not ever experienced this at all. We have had precheck for a few year now, so maybe that skews my view.

The lines at MCO are what makes me think I need precheck!

 

[LB002]

My Delta voucher came today. Looks like the part I put on my credit card isn’t included so I’m expecting that to be refunded. I will call since they didn’t give me back my insurance and I did cancel in under 24 hours but either way I’m happy!!! Got the vouchers exactly one week from cancelation (and it reflect the double mile value!!!)

When I called last night they said the part you put on CC should be in the voucher and not refunded BUT I tried to cancel using the insurance and not in 24hr (my tickets took 6 days to come)

 

[PolyRob]

Finally caught up! All the luggage talk really makes me reconsider the Samsonite set I have from Costco that I have been using for years! It has 360 wheels and it is really lightweight sooo I guess if it isn't broken, I shouldn't fix it?!

As for the Apple talk...

This year is a tough decision. My iPhone X is my primary camera (the one I have with me always), so I appreciate the significant upgrade to the cameras, but true 5G wireless won’t come out until next year’s model and I don’t do phone upgrades every year anymore.

I was getting a new phone every year, but Apple is getting insane with their $1000+ phones. So it’s now been two years for me. The battery is shot. I’m always on my phone though lol. I think I’m getting the new one this year. It looks like Verizon will give us $450 for our old phone and $200 to switch so that will help. I’m still looking out for other deals though.

...not to mention they are still selling phones with 64GB. $1,000 "pro" phones with only 64GB. I love my apple devices, but that is just absurd.

Lol...I’m the opposite and hope they keep the less expensive options ....my phone is just a phone..to talk and text .....I have a 64GB with 43.2GB available.....the iPad mini is what I use all the time..but it’s still a 64GB with 42GB available

I have a 64 with 1 GB available. I def need to size up. I'm glad to see I do not have the oldest phone here. Mine is a 6 and I bought it in September of 2015 right after the 6s came out. My kids like to tell me THEY have the oldest phones ever and I am like well they are newer than mine, so they can't be that old. lol Though 2 of them will also be 4 years old at Christmas and the other will be 3 at Christmas so they probably do have older than most of their friends. I am really surprised at the price point of the 11, it is not that bad I think. I can't believe I am saying a $700 phone is not that much...

Thank you!



Pretty sure my iPhone 4S will make everyone feel better about their phone (and I've been pulling 10 GB a month since 2012 thru it, and the screen if not cracked)

Now I'm gonna start something I can't finish: At what age should a child get their first phone? (Thinking she deserves a perfectly good 4S) Bahaha

I am having major FOMO about an iPhone upgrade. I currently have an iPhone XS Max and have barely looked at the new features because I was so busy earlier today. I basically know there are three cameras and an option for green. Lack of 5G makes me hesitate, but the last time I skipped an iPhone upgrade year was 2013 (addition of TouchID and I still regret it today) so I will most likely do it. It really is a big chunk of change! I always consider going on the iPhone upgrade program, but last minute buy it outright and trade-in the old model. It is better to feed my Apple addiction with an iPhone rather than the Apple Card, right?

 

[gottalovepluto]

...you like to fill them with wdw shower mounted toiletries as a souvenir?

You know multiple people have to have already done that....

 

[PolyRob]

So I had asked for opinions about AofA before I booked it for our recent trip and I wanted to no reply with my thoughts. It seemed like the majority here don't care for it for various reasons. Pop seems very popular everywhere.

My thoughts were....I actually loved the resort theming. It had a great smelling lobby too, which is a Disney thing I guess. I did get really tired of the walk to the LM rooms, so on that point I agree. I thought the food choices in the food court were lame. After the first day, I figured out I needed to be ordering kids meals b/c they came with drinks and sides for less money. The main pool and splash pad were highly entertaining for DD3. She loved the room, of course. I felt very immersed in Disney, which was great! Bus service was great...no issues except some of the stops were so far away. I did think the shower in the room had soap scum or something, but the texture of the tiles was a bad choice for cleanliness. ETA: We had the one night where doors slamming were keeping me up, but that was it. Our noise machine kept it reasonably quiet the rest of the trip.)

Our last night we walked to Pop b/c I hadn't been there in a decade plus and I was hoping for better food choices. Most of the food was the same, so that was unfortunate. I didn't care for the theme of the decor around the resort. I let DD3 swim a bit while we were there (gasp, pool hopped) and she had fun, but the pool is nothing special at all. I guess I'd stay there for $100/night and skyliner access on a short trip, but I wouldn't be excited about it.

Now DME....wth is wrong with that service this year? They consistently want to pick me up 3.5 hours before my flight. I refused to deal this time and we took an uber...alone...and I was so scared the whole time. They guy was super nice, but I just don't trust people. Ha! It cost me about $50 with the carseat fee. We left the resort about 2 hours before the flight and had no one at all ahead of us in the precheck line (as is usual) and there wasn't even anyone in the regular line. I got to the gate and it was a ghost town. We still had an hour to kill sitting there. I don't buy that traffic, long security bull they sell me about DME. They simply cut back and are trying to save money. On 5 trips this year, with 2+ hours at the gate, they can't convince me otherwise.

So glad you liked the resort! AoA actually had a very unique QS and most of it was recently taken away:
https://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2019/08/major-menu-modifications-debut-at.html
I agree, the walk is a bit much. I was in a LK room and only explored the Nemo section in July because it was just so hot!

 

[Hoosier John]

Hi, I'm new to the boards and to credit card rewards. I have a goal of funding our Disneyland trip. I don't have a date in mind yet, but ideally before my 18mo son turns 3. I will be utilizing player 2, but I'll be the only one playing the game. My wife and I have decent scores sitting right under 800.

Here are my main goals:

1) Disneyland tickets for 2 adults and 1 child for 5 days (The little guy should be free)
2) Hotel stay - We like the Park Vue Inn, If there is something closer and better that I can use rewards for I'm interested
3) Potential flight: I'm not sure if my wife wants to fly or not. We live about 7 hours away and typically drive, but if rewards handle the flight she might be interested

I need some advice as the best way to go about achieving these goals. I know it's lame, but as a full time worker, full time student, and father of 2 young children I just can't find a lot of free time to research and fear that I might be missing something in my strategy. I have several older cards that are not relevant to the rewards game:

07/06 - Capital One Teamstercard
01/07 - Chase Amazon Rewards
08/07 - Discover
11/11 - Best Buy Citicard
10/13 - Chase Freedom
04/15 - Target Redcard
05/18 - Costco Citicard
12/18 - Old Navy
05/19 - Kohl's
09/19 - Capital One Venture Rewards

I will utilize those when not trying to get minimum spend for the bonus categories, but my 1st major player is the Capital One Venture rewards. I'm 1/3 of the way through the minimum spend on this card and would love some advice as to which card I should pursue next for my wife. Looks like I can only get one more card myself until I hit a 5/24. Only one of those cards has been opened in my wife's name so it might be smart to start on Chase. My player 2 strategy is just to get a card for myself, hit minimum spend, and get a card for my wife, hit minimum spend and repeat. Any advice on card strategy or Disney planning strategy is welcome and greatly appreciated. I apologize for the long winded post.

Here's some more information about me:

What amount of spend would you put on a card monthly (i.e. groceries, gas, insurance, cable, cell phone, other expenses)?
Roughly $1,600
Do you currently payoff your CCs in full every month or do you carry any balances/pay any interest?
No interest ever
What airport(s) do you typically fly out of?
Not much of a flyer
Do you have a Hotel Rewards program preference?
Just joined The Best Western Rewards
Do you currently have any travel points in any program? (if so, which programs and how much)
Currently Point Broke
What at your specific goals for churning credit cards? (i.e. Disney World Trip, Cruise, European Trip, Cash Back to pay-off a mortgage or student loans, etc. - you can have multiple goals too!)
Disneyland vacation for family of 4 - Kids are 6 and 18 months
New TV (After the trip is thoroughly enjoyed)

to the Board Nuggies!!!

I'm fairly new here, but it looks like you are organized and in good position for keeping your options open, especially with respect to the Chase 5/24 rule. I don't do much in the way of flights or hotels, so the CIP was my choice for flexibility from cash to travel to transfer, and because of the nice SUB. It is a business card, and I used a rental house as my business. Presumably about any side-hustle you might have, or be thinking about starting this year could qualify. Others will have to help out with options like AmEx and airline cards.

I wanted to mention that WDW has a place where babies can get their first haircut. Not sure if DL has that or not, but if so, that might fun. They do kids and adult too.

 

[wanderlust7]

Has anyone cancelled yet? When I called my option was to cancel the entire package (tickets included) and get a voucher, but tje insurance cost was non refundable. I was OK with that (although I prefer to keep the tickets) BUT they calculated the insurance cost at 4x the cost I paid on my receipt! So instead of $148 it was almost $600. The person I spoke to couldn't do anything for me except reschedule or cancel the whole package and give me the reduced voucher. She suggested I call back during business hours to speak with finance team.

My other option is to cancel the travel insurance (you have 10ndays to cancel the insurance) and just eat the cost of the flight/hotel ($256) and keep the tickets.
I wonder if they'd refund $148 or $600?!?!?

Sorry to hear it's been such a pain for you!

I've cancelled, but I didn't take the insurance. Refund amount shown was as expected (lost the flight cost).

@kidsfirsttrip 's also seems fine, but they cancelled before 24 hours.

So you need a DP of someone who bought the insurance and cancelled after 24 hours. Anybody? @AmyAnne or @NewbieMom ?

 

[elgerber]

There is no right or wrong answer with respect to age. Dh decided (w/o talking with me first) to get dd an iPhone when she was in 5th grade. I will say that she was one of the last in her class to get a phone. Since she was heavily involved in riding at the time it did help me tremendously with being able to communicate with her at competitions / when she was done at the barn. Then there's my sister who just got her dd a phone in June (of this year) and she is 17. Her ds had to beg for a phone for years (he's almost 16) and she finally got him one for Christmas last year. Both kids did have iPods with wifi though. She also claims that her dd was always losing / breaking the iPod, which is why she didn't get her a phone sooner. Her sweet 13 year old is still patiently waiting for a phone.

I have an old phone as well (as least by Apple standards); it's a 7Plus. Still works great so I don't feel any pressure to get a new one.

I do have a 4 series Nike iWatch, which I love. Only got it because my 2 series fell on the back patio right before we left for Japan and the screen cracked. Apple couldn't replace before we left, so of course I HAD to get a new one (I'm addicted to my iWatch -- you can't see it but I'm wearing an original series 1 in my avatar). I was able to sell the (brand new) replacement watch for $170.00 cash when we got back, which offset the cost somewhat. I will be watching for details on the new watch very carefully when it comes out.

The new watch details were released today too. About time they offer mix and match so you can get the band you want with the face you want. I can’t justify upgrading from my 3 series. I love to have the newest but can’t find a good enough reason on the watch upgrade.

 

[Haley R]

Wait they are clips? I’m so confused?

I was talking about great clips the hair cutting place. I was trying to think of a terrible place to have a gc to. Apparently it didn’t come across that way