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

[disneybirds]

For this time of year definitely worth it to overpack.

We have used the dryer pretty much everyday...Kali River Rapids is closed but not Splash and jackets and pants have been casualties. And then of course last night my oldest who is a real life Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter universe) showered in the master bathroom while other girls showered in other bath. She didn’t notice a washcloth covered the drain and flooded the entire bathroom floor of our BLT one bedroom. Needless to say I was up late last night washing and drying all the towels. Kids!

Our BLT standard one bedroom gives us a view of the lake and trees and looking over once in balcony the parks. It is on the side of tennis courts. So glad I saved the points and just got a standard room. With fireworks so early at 8 we haven’t seen them yet from the room but still it is pretty sweet to have the view but not have to had to pay for it.

Have you been up to the Top of the World Lounge? I know your girls would love the 7 layer cake!! We go up sometimes during the fireworks, but if they are earlier in the evening we tend to go after.

 

[wendow]

I hate credit cards, don't know why. It's better for me to get a loan, so I just do it online. Credit cards are a good option but I think that loan is much more safe.

We are opening credit cards for the sign up bonuses for free (cheaper ) travel. I think most here pay their balances off each month.

 

[vanjust14]

Eh that sounds like too much work lol. We probably just won’t use it then

It's really not that bad. The tram you take to get to the lounge is next to the tram you take to get to the SW gates, and the lounge is not far from when you get off the tram. If you have TSA precheck, going through security again is a breeze.

 

[elgerber]

I have been glossing over all the Marriott card stuff, since I am shut out of all except the SPG Lux I believe for at least a year. I do love having Marriott points, and hopefully eventually I can get a card for more LOL.

 

[miztressuz]

Marriott Overhauls Cobranded Cards, Last Chance to Grab SPG Amex - TPG

@Albort alluded to changes coming to the Starriott cards over the weekend, and TPG confirmed major changes to the cards in this article posted today.

Highlights to save you the click (you may want to click anyway as there's a lot of info and new card design art):

• Amex and Chase are announcing updates to their respective lineups of SPG and Marriott cards. New branding is being announced today, but you won’t see it reflected on Amex and Marriott marketing until mid-February. If you’re an existing card holder, you’ll receive the updated cards starting in March.
  
• Cards across both issuers are getting Bonvoy branding and hideous new designs (bonvoy, SPG purple!),
  
• Amex SPG personal card will be closed to new applications after 2/12/19, will become the Marriott Bonvoy Amex. The Marriott Bonvoy Amex will retain its existing perks for card holders who are approved before the 2/12/19 cutoff, and the $95 annual fee remains. SPG Amex cardholders will get a new limited-edition card design, with an abstract, city-inspired motif, by artist Tony “Rubin” Sjöman. This design will be available starting in May, and existing card members will automatically receive the new design at that point.
• SPG Personal spending bonus. For those who opened the SPG Amex before 1/23/19, you can register to earn up to 100,000 bonus points — 25,000 points for every $25,000 you spend on the card, for up to 100,000 points through the end of the year.
  
• Marriott Biz will also be ending applications after 2/12/19. Existing cardholders will keep benefits and the same $99 annual fee. The signup bonus will remain 75,000 Marriott points after $3,000 MSR.
• A new no-fee Marriott Bonvoy card will launch this summer (Chase’s mass consumer card?)
• Marriott Premier Plus card will be rebranded the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card on 2/28/19. Benefits and annual fee to remain the same. New card design.
  
• SPG Lux to be rebranded as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. New METAL card design. New $100 luxury credit for eligible stays at St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton properties coming to the SPG Lux and Ritz-Carlton cards on 3/28/19. You must book a stay of two nights or longer and use a special rate code to get the credit; room rates are explicitly excluded.
• SPG Biz and Marriott Biz. Addition of the ability to earn a second (35k points) free award night on both business cards after spending $60,000/year. Annual fee increase to $125 on the SPG Biz, which is being rebranded as the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex.
• Limited-time 100,000-point welcome bonuses will be available for the three cards (SPG Lux, SPG Biz, and Marriott Premier Plus) that are remaining open to new applicants beyond February.
• SPG Lux and SPG Biz will have a 100k Marriott points welcome bonus after $5,000 MSR for signups between 2/13/19 to 4/24/19.
• Marriott Premier Plus will have a 100k Marriott points signup bonus after $5,000 MSR starting on 2/28/19.

Key Dates:

• 2/12/19: Last day to sign up for the SPG Amex and the Marriott Biz.
• 2/13/19: Marriott Bonvoy branding officially live; 100k points offers available on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex (SPG Lux) and Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex (SPG Biz) through 4/24/19.
• 2/28/19: 100k points offer available on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card (Marriott Premier Plus) from Chase
• 3/28/19: $100 luxury credit available on Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (SPG Lux), free night after $60k in spend available on the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex (SPG Biz), Bonvoy Business Amex annual fee increasing to $125
• 4/24/19: 100,000-point offers end on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex (SPG Lux) and Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex (SPG Biz).

Still updating.

Wow that's a lot of changes to take in right now, I guess the Marriott T&C fine print won't be the only thing making my head hurt today. Of course, I knew the SPG card would come up before March. Was hoping they'd be a little slower on it since I'm 4/24 until May. If I grab it as my Feb card(instead of a Chase card) that really throws off my modified roadmap... we'll have to move to option D or E and I haven't come up with those yet since Bonvoy has been so all over the place. gah.

But offhand
"SPG Personal spending bonus. For those who opened the SPG Amex before 1/23/19, you can register to earn up to 100,000 bonus points — 25,000 points for every $25,000 you spend on the card, for up to 100,000 points through the end of the year."


Sounded good until you hear you have to spend 100k to make 100k (albeit it's on top of the 200k+ you'd make on the card, but still, hysterical. ) I guess spending has drastically reduced after the program changes and they are desperate to get the numbers back.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I was pretty decided on dumping SPG personals and Marriott personal and keeping SPG Biz cards, for now. But I don't want to pay an extra $30 lol

I don't either lol. I guess really what I need to do is get DH his own SPG Biz before the increased annual fee starts. Looks like I'll need to do some CC tetris over the next month or two to determine what's the best choice for new cards and when.

 

[marsh0013]

Of course FOMO coming out in the Marriott/SPG cards. My husband already has Marriott biz, SPG biz and SPG personal. I only have SPG biz. So it's my last chance to get the SPG personal. But I might rather the increased offer on the SPG lux. And I'm at 4/24, with cards dropping around July (1), Aug (1), and Oct (2). I'll have to post all stats when I'm home with my spreadsheet lol.

 

[PolyRob]

• Cards across both issuers are getting Bonvoy branding and hideous new designs (bonvoy, SPG purple!)

Seriously, who designed these cards?

I get the rewards outweigh the look, but doesn't Marriott want positive brand recognition? Can you imagine someone coming up to you like "OH you have the SPG Bonvoy card with the Picasso style airplane?! WOW!" I don't think so.

 

[tink1970]

New METAL card design. New $100 luxury credit for eligible stays at St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton properties coming to the SPG Lux and Ritz-Carlton cards on 3/28/19. You must book a stay of two nights or longer and use a special rate code to get the credit; room rates are explicitly excluded.

Surprising no one, I'm sure but I am so very sad that my SPG Biz/Lux will no longer be purple! My current line up of two purples, one pink, and platinum looks SO PRETTY. Why, Amex, whyyyyyy?????

I wonder if they'll think I'm an idiot for canceling (not this year since I'll be grandfathered with the lower AF but next) b/c the card is now an ugly color?

And, finally, another size concern...will the R-C be as heavy and able to moonlight as a weapon? Seriously, y'all these are important questions!

 

[striker1064]

Well, we all thought there was no way Marriott's naming could get even worse than "Bonvoy." We were wrong. Boundless! Brilliant!

I eagerly await until DW and I can apply for the SPG Lux or whatever they call it at that point but we're still a year away.

Also, we got a 6 pack of beignets and a mint julep and it was $13!!!

Sometimes, I don't know if I should laugh or cry that I've gotten so used to living in DC that I think "You ONLY have to pay $13 for a cocktail AND you got a snack with it????"

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

I don't see a lot of talk about the Costco Citi Visa on this board. Why is that?

 

[amalone1013]

Sometimes, I don't know if I should laugh or cry that I've gotten so used to living in DC that I think "You ONLY have to pay $13 for a cocktail AND you got a snack with it????"

Ahhh, but this is the DLR Mint Julep, so no alcohol!

 

[Lain]

I don't see a lot of talk about the Costco Citi Visa on this board. Why is that?

Costco stopped offering the free cooler bag signup bonus.

 

[speedyfishy]

Sometimes, I don't know if I should laugh or cry that I've gotten so used to living in DC that I think "You ONLY have to pay $13 for a cocktail AND you got a snack with it????

Mint juleps at Disneyland have no alcohol. If they did I would agree that’s a great price lol

 

[amalone1013]

I don't either lol. I guess really what I need to do is get DH his own SPG Biz before the increased annual fee starts. Looks like I'll need to do some CC tetris over the next month or two to determine what's the best choice for new cards and when.

Now I'm kind of annoyed that apparently I could have still gotten the Marriott Biz for both of us had I cancelled our Personals, but now won't have 30 days before it goes away.

 

[miztressuz]

So now that I see the pictures of the cards, what was AmEx thinking? I like the Chase Boundless card better. And Yikes on the SPG Personal...

From TPG "To drum up some excitement for the new Bonvoy branding across its portfolio — and presumably to inspire you to sign up for the Bonvoy Amex before it’s no longer available — the issuer collaborated with mural and studio artist Tony “Rubin” Sjöman on a limited-edition card design, with an abstract, city-inspired motif. This design will be available starting in May, and existing card members will automatically receive the new design at that point."
It actually had the opposite effect on me! I saw the picture and thought "well, do I really need 75k more Marriott points?" before I even read that It's not a selling feature (although it could be a nice piece of art, it's just weird on the CC for some reason)

And the SPG Biz is no longer the keeper card. If I get a 35k a night on the personal that's staying at $95 and has all the same earn rates I guess I'm keeping that one instead. I'm not seeing a justification for the increase in AF on that card with the new changes. Maybe because it has the increased earning categories over the personal versions? (And just cuz AmEx can ) Oddly enough, it may actually sway us to keep the Marriott Biz that we just picked up for the points. With the slightly higher AF @ $99 I was thinking of keeping both SPGs and the old Marriott and kicking the Marriott biz to the curb. That way both free nights would be on the same account to make it easier to use together. After year #3 that's not worth the extra $30 bucks as far as I can see now. Still needs more thought but gut reaction says bye-bye SPG Biz in 2020, which will be sad as it was my first ever business card.

 

[PolyRob]

Costco stopped offering the free cooler bag signup bonus.

My Costco Amex was converted. I wish I got the cooler bag haha

 

[Alexle2007]

All of this talk about Shake Shack has been debating whether to go there for lunch today to use my Gold credit or still to my original plan to go to Cheesecake Factory on Fri for dessert and cocktail after dinner at PF Chang's with DS since we have our free dessert coupons we need to use.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Sometimes, I don't know if I should laugh or cry that I've gotten so used to living in DC that I think "You ONLY have to pay $13 for a cocktail AND you got a snack with it????"

Ahhh, but this is the DLR Mint Julep, so no alcohol!

Hahaha I was wondering! I was like dang $13 for all that, that's a steal!

I never drink and DH orders maybe two drinks in an entire year when we go out. He ordered one at Lamplight Lounge when we went to DLR last year and I think it was $14. He did say it was really good and that it was a very heavy pour.

It'll be really funny to see how the new dining plan works for us now that alcohol is included. My mom will order a drink if she sees something fruity and sweet enough on the menu. In-laws don't drink at all. We'll be there during my BIL's birthday and he'll be 22, so he's in prime drink-around-the-world, party phase of life. I'm sure he'll take full advantage of the "free" alcohol lol.

 

[platamama]

I don't see a lot of talk about the Costco Citi Visa on this board. Why is that?

I think it is actually a great card. But we're all about the SUB here, and the Costco Citi Visa just doesn't cut it as @Lain alludes to.

LOL @SouthFayetteFan I would have never known about that acronym if you hadn't brought it up!