I love credit cards so much!

[disneymagicgirl]

Couple of updates:

My TD bank bonus just posted. Now I need to clean up my accounts and close some older accounts like BMO. Then once they are cleaned up I’ll be opening Suntrust and TD in my SOs name. Elements hasn’t posted but I think they are cracking down on their direct deposits so I’m assuming I won’t get that bonus.

MS is my life right now. I stopped going to Walmart twice a day and have settled for once. The rep that denied me at night was back a few times I tried at night. I saw her and immediately walked out lol.

I booked a Disney trip in December and got a Magical Rate. When I was looking on the Disney website the best deal we found was $250 a night for Saratoga. So if I was using URs at 1.5 rate the trip would have been about 96,000 URs.(three nights and deluxe dining) My rate now is $1200 for a three nights at Port Orleans French Quater and Deluxe Dining. So 120,000 URs to cash out which I probably will. I’m getting Disney Giftcards though for at least 10% off. Some of the RMN deals are 40% off though. Worst case I’m assuming I’ll actually redeem 100,080. Not that far off from booking direct through Disney at the 1.5 rate. The resort did go down to a moderate but my SO calls Saratoga springs a moderate anyway.

Can you pay the Magical rates with gift cards? If so that’s awesome!

 

[speedyfishy]

I mostly agree about SSR. Now if they would get a refurb and if you were able to stay in the Congress (?) section, that puts it up a notch for me. I stayed there with the Downtown Disney view and the easy walk and the spotless room right when it first opened and I enjoyed it. I've done a few nights here and there in recent years where I'm off in the boonies and I then 'feel' that moderate idea. For me 'deluxe' at Disney means being close to great amenities such as the parks and restaurants. BCV, BLT and BWV satisfies that, even though the rooms are pretty much inline with SSR. The one thing I do enjoy is the kitchenette in any DVC studio - feels more homey to make a cup of coffee than a regular hotel room does.

I love SSR! It was the first resort I stayed at so it will always be special to me. He agrees that in order to be a deluxe you have to be closer to a park. Plus there is also no signature restaurant at SSR or even a character meal. I still love it thought but French Quater is nice too.

 

[speedyfishy]

Can you pay the Magical rates with gift cards? If so that’s awesome!

Yeah they told me they accept Disney Giftcards for payment. I paid my deposit with a credit card though.

 

[GlamMistress]

Well I've had a busy morning so far. One of the things I got accomplished was booking my flight to Barcelona for August! The flight I wanted was already gone on the super saver fare (or whatever American calls it) so I took my second choice and booked two Main Cabin Extra seats for $69 each. With tax the two tickets were 60,000 American miles and $149.

Now another week wait for the return booking! #ThanksBarclays

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Ok so my friend with the 720's score I was going to rec. she try for the CIP, how should she fill out the app? If she's the bookkeeper in her Dh's biz, but not called a co owner- or under her own name ss#? since she has a side childcare biz of her own right now? (and for her DH who is high 600's,could he try for the FR card to get his own credit score moving up? or a discover card? what's a good start for him?

I’d tell her to do sole prop with her name and social, based on the childcare.
Does her dh have any history with chase? He may want to try discover and see how his score looks after using that for 6 months.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We have been going back and forth about getting DVC, this is probably why they don’t want you to walk out the door without buying while there but I am trying to understand this use year and booking window and whether it is difficult to get reservations for say Aulani or Vero Beach in June or Aug. so let’s say I get a use year of Oct, my home Resort is Copper Creek, in order to take advantage of the 11 month’s out, I would need to book Sept. But DS has school in Sept so I would be looking probably to book either June or Aug but I may not be able to get them since that would be either 8 or 10 months out? But then I usually book my airfare first with SW before my hotel since the airfare can be all over the place pricing wise but SW’s schedule isn’t out 8 or 10 months in advance...or am I just overthinking this and I should just buy the 120 points and be done with it? Especially since I already have this Plat that I need to make the spend on and justify the outrageous AF to DH...

Others who own can chime in, but I’ll give you my thoughts on it.

It won’t work for me as I would like to use it.
Every time I try to rent points there is nothing available. If inowned I’d want to use it to hop down for several long weekends a year. With kid schedules I don’t know 11 months out when we would pop down. By the time I know, there is likely nothing available, as evidenced by my many attempts to rent. Haha. I wish it wasn’t so hard to book semi-last minute. Alas, I will have to depend if Hotwire or cashing out ur or discounted Disney GC for my trips.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Yeah they told me they accept Disney Giftcards for payment. I paid my deposit with a credit card though.

Ah-mazing!!

 

[Judique]

We have been going back and forth about getting DVC, this is probably why they don’t want you to walk out the door without buying while there but I am trying to understand this use year and booking window and whether it is difficult to get reservations for say Aulani or Vero Beach in June or Aug. so let’s say I get a use year of Oct, my home Resort is Copper Creek, in order to take advantage of the 11 month’s out, I would need to book Sept. But DS has school in Sept so I would be looking probably to book either June or Aug but I may not be able to get them since that would be either 8 or 10 months out? But then I usually book my airfare first with SW before my hotel since the airfare can be all over the place pricing wise but SW’s schedule isn’t out 8 or 10 months in advance...or am I just overthinking this and I should just buy the 120 points and be done with it? Especially since I already have this Plat that I need to make the spend on and justify the outrageous AF to DH...

If June and August are your preferred travel times, you want a use year that is June or prior to June - possibly an April use year. The idea is that if you have to cancel that your points still have a usable 'life' for you to rebook. Once you have points, 11 months is built in - for a June reservation in 2019, I could have booked in July of 2018 and used 3 different use years of points to make the reservation if I had them available as in not already used them. That's where banking and borrowing comes in. I could use 2018 banked points, 2019 same year points and I could also borrow from June of 2020's points - why you want time if you have to cancel, as the 2018 points, once banked would expire by May 31, of 2020.

Booking and use year are two different things. If you have points available, you can book up to 11 months out. This is important at many of the resorts for the peak times mostly. Vero is peak during spring break but easier to get in June. Aulani seems to almost always have rooms available. These are two of the easier to book resorts.

Since most resorts are at Disney, DVC points are best bought for a WDW stay, not a Vero, Aulani, trade out, DCL stay. And, if you have a preferred resort at WDW, that's the one you should buy at.

Also, do not discount resale. Resale can be very cost saving. If I were looking to buy in to an existing resort, I would be buying resale, in combination with a 75 point direct purchase to get the direct benefits of the minor perks DVC ownership offers - which by the way can disappear at any minute. Edited to correct as @GlamMistress tells me this has increased from 25 - to 75 points.

Since DVC is a purchase of an 'interest' versus a lifetime, I would look at how long you expect to use DVC. I'm 65 - my resorts will not be mine when I'm approximately 88 and my heirs will not have to be saddled or blessed as the case may be by inheriting my points. So, buying SSR if you want to use for Aulani which expires in 2054 (if I remember correctly) may be a better option for some, or for an older individual buying a resort that expires in 2042 might be the right move.

Take your time and read. The Timeshare Store which sponsors the Dis DVC boards is a good source of info as is the DVC boards. Don't jump right in - it may be a costly error and may not save you money. On the other hand, it might be just what you want. Its definitely an individual decision. This can all be extremely confusing at first look.

edited for missing adding 'June' to my first sentence.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I also started with transferring URs to SW. And I just booked a rental car for the first time with the CSR yesterday (have done hotels though). Still a little nervous about picking it up because it's my card and DH is the driver, though I know other people have done it without a problem. Had to book a long weekend to FL in Jan for DH and I, because I felt the need to use the CP as much as possible. It's like when you buy a disney annual pass and end up planning way more trips than you otherwise would have. So SW points, CP, URs for car, and free stay at mom's vacation house. Plus parents are retiring in Dec and offered to watch the kids. Good times.

Same situation here - wife's CSR, I'm the driver on the car. Seems like we won't have any issues though

 

[Judique]

I wonder how they are going to market the Rivera when they are start selling that location? Besides being a Skyline stop, it seems like a bad location. Plus the name is tacky. Reminds me too much of Vegas...

Just like anything else, we have to wait and see what the pluses will be. Caribbean Beach actually has a pretty convenient location although you cant really walk anywhere. But for people with cars its very close to Disney Springs and Blizzard Beach and Hollywood Studios and the Boardwalk area and has easy access to offsite offerings.

'I' don't like that Riviera has come because of the skyliner and its possible impact on International gateway access. I'm a BCV and BWV owner and used to walking into Epcot through a mostly empty gateway when I'm at my home resort. It may be okay if it were just coming from Riviera but the stop at DHS will probably mean continuous people traffic making the much easier 'hop' to Epcot, especially at Illuminations timeframe. The boats take 30-40 minutes - the skyliner - quick!

 

[elgerber]

I haven't done anything with the RMN yet. Can you use Amex cards with it?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I booked a car rental thru my CSR for upcoming Maui trip....I must have missed the discussion on the thread tho....anything I should keep in mind?

Nothing special - I was just unsure doing it since I never had before so I asked for some advice here.

Can you pay the Magical rates with gift cards? If so that’s awesome!

I paid in full last year with gift cards. I also paid this year with my Disney Rewards redemption card. No issues whatsoever - if Disney accepts it as a payment method they will basically

 

[Alexle2007]

I haven't done anything with the RMN yet. Can you use Amex cards with it?

Yes. Everything but Discover.

 

[eeyoreland]

In terms of a sign-on bonus, is the CSP still one of my best bets? I don't want to double dip and I don't want to open a business card. I know about the whole Disney UR debacle, but again, just wondering which card will give me the best sign on bonus. I don't want something like the Southwest card that for the most part can only be used for SW flights. Thank you!

 

[Albort]

Same situation here - wife's CSR, I'm the driver on the car. Seems like we won't have any issues though

the only problem i see in this is having to pay to be the extra driver(maybe). I rented a car once in anchorage and they wanted like $30 more to add a driver. Seattle, they never did and fairbanks, they said they could but didnt.

 

[Judique]

I love SSR! It was the first resort I stayed at so it will always be special to me. He agrees that in order to be a deluxe you have to be closer to a park. Plus there is also no signature restaurant at SSR or even a character meal. I still love it thought but French Quater is nice too.

My first love was the Polynesian and I used to stay there exclusively and club level. I got over myself and started looking for other adventures but always like going back. We are doing one night at older daughter's last minute request in November before our BWV food and wine stay.

 

[platamama]

MS is my life right now. I stopped going to Walmart twice a day and have settled for once. The rep that denied me at night was back a few times I tried at night. I saw her and immediately walked out lol.

lol I went twice yesterday and felt so stressed out. I wanted to not see the same person, so did a morning and night trip...well, the night guy was the cust svc manager and I was sure I was going to get thrown to the curb. But it all went through with no issues at all. So that makes me feel a bit more emboldened. Will probably do it again today, only because I have a time sensitive need to have the mos to pay my contractor who charges a 3% fee for CC. After paying that company, I'm not sure I want to keep this up but with all the MSRs coming my way (and in the midst of 20k MSR right now) I probably need to.

Are you doubling how much you do with a once a day visit to make up for not going twice?

 

[jhoannam]

Tell me I'm safe to close my Chase business checking account: Opened March 9th, received the bonus May 15, I can send a secure message and have it closed correct? Can I tell them where to send the money or should I transfer the money out before I SM them to close?

 

[GlamMistress]

If June and August are your preferred travel times, you want a use year that is June or prior to June - possibly an April use year. The idea is that if you have to cancel that your points still have a usable 'life' for you to rebook. Once you have points, 11 months is built in - for a June reservation in 2019, I could have booked in July of 2018 and used 3 different use years of points to make the reservation if I had them available as in not already used them. That's where banking and borrowing comes in. I could use 2018 banked points, 2019 same year points and I could also borrow from June of 2020's points - why you want time if you have to cancel, as the 2018 points, once banked would expire by May 31, of 2020.

Booking and use year are two different things. If you have points available, you can book up to 11 months out. This is important at many of the resorts for the peak times mostly. Vero is peak during spring break but easier to get in June. Aulani seems to almost always have rooms available. These are two of the easier to book resorts.

Since most resorts are at Disney, DVC points are best bought for a WDW stay, not a Vero, Aulani, trade out, DCL stay. And, if you have a preferred resort at WDW, that's the one you should buy at.

Also, do not discount resale. Resale can be very cost saving. If I were looking to buy in to an existing resort, I would be buying resale, in combination with a 25 point direct purchase to get the direct benefits of the minor perks DVC ownership offers - which by the way can disappear at any minute.

Since DVC is a purchase of an 'interest' versus a lifetime, I would look at how long you expect to use DVC. I'm 65 - my resorts will not be mine when I'm approximately 88 and my heirs will not have to be saddled or blessed as the case may be by inheriting my points. So, buying SSR if you want to use for Aulani which expires in 2054 (if I remember correctly) may be a better option for some, or for an older individual buying a resort that expires in 2042 might be the right move.

Take your time and read. The Timeshare Store which sponsors the Dis DVC boards is a good source of info as is the DVC boards. Don't jump right in - it may be a costly error and may not save you money. On the other hand, it might be just what you want. Its definitely an individual decision. This can all be extremely confusing at first look.

edited for missing adding 'June' to my first sentence.

You have to own 75 direct points for member benefits now.

 

[striker1064]

We have been going back and forth about getting DVC, this is probably why they don’t want you to walk out the door without buying while there but I am trying to understand this use year and booking window and whether it is difficult to get reservations for say Aulani or Vero Beach in June or Aug. so let’s say I get a use year of Oct, my home Resort is Copper Creek, in order to take advantage of the 11 month’s out, I would need to book Sept. But DS has school in Sept so I would be looking probably to book either June or Aug but I may not be able to get them since that would be either 8 or 10 months out? But then I usually book my airfare first with SW before my hotel since the airfare can be all over the place pricing wise but SW’s schedule isn’t out 8 or 10 months in advance...or am I just overthinking this and I should just buy the 120 points and be done with it? Especially since I already have this Plat that I need to make the spend on and justify the outrageous AF to DH...

I think I might be confusing your line of thought, so please feel free to correct me.

You can book at any time. You don't have to wait until the month of your UY to book. Just because you have an October use year, doesn't mean you have to do all your bookings in that month. That's just when your old points expire and you have access to new points. The month only determines which UY's points you'll be using to book your reservation. If you wanted to book a vacation at Copper Creek for June, for example, you'd want to book in the previous July. If you wanted to vacation in any other resort - including Aulani or Vero Beach - you would only be able to do that once the 7 month window opens. So for a June booking that would be the previous November.

Another thing to consider about Copper Creek... it's a beautiful resort, but the vast majority of the points at CCV are in the cabins, which most people do not have enough points to book. There are a lot of 75 and 100 point contracts being sold, which means there will be a ton of demand for the few studios that are actually available at CCV. At some resorts you can get away with booking at 9 to 10 months and still get a studio. At CCV, that may not be possible - I would guess once it's sold through, you will absolutely need to book at 11 months if you want a studio. The economics of the points distribution at DVC resorts is a fascinating and separate subject that's still worth consideration.

The bottom line is, you need to be able to book 10-11 months out if you own DVC to guarantee the accommodations you want. If you do not book in that time frame for CCV, it is possible and maybe even likely that you will not get into CCV. And, if you buy CCV direct, but can't book CCV and end up having to book a different resort, you are in essence wasting money - because every other resort can be had for a cheaper price per point via resale. This is possibly now true for CCV as well, I'm not sure, I haven't checked resale sites in a while.

If you know you'll have to travel in June, July, or August, that's not so bad - you just will know you need to book CCV in the previously July, August, or September to make sure you get the room type you want. But Vero or Aulani in the summer months could be a problem.