I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Artygal90]

Okay, question for people who redeem Hilton points frequently. I don't quite know how to value my points. I need to stay near Love Field for the night of February 7th and can book the DoubleTree by the airport for 30k Hilton points. I currently have 136k with another 125k coming once DH finishes up his latest MSR. I would need up to 240k points by mid-February for my only other planned Hilton redemption. Should I:

1) Book the DoubleTree for 30k Hilton points (room would be about $145 cash)
2) Book another Hilton that is 20k points but in a less-ideal location, or
3) Book a cash rate elsewhere for about $100/night?

I'm leaning towards option 1 but like I said, I don't have a good gauge for if that's a good value or not.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

9 pages ! Gotta go back and read the whole thread now!
Good thing I’ve already started with vodka in my coffee.

 

[GlamMistress]

Does anybody else love to look at New Years Day wait times??

Here are all the 3 digit wait times currently:

• 210 = 7DMT
• 190 = Test Track
• 180 = Soarin'
• 180 = BTMR
• 155 = FEA
• 150 = Splash
• 145 = Slinky
• 140 = FoP
• 135 = RnR
• 130 = PP
• 130 = Jungle Cruise
• 125 = Tower of Terror
• 120 = Haunted Mansion
• 105 = MF:SR
• 100 = SE
• 100 = Pirates
• 100 = Dumbo

(EDIT: I'm 8 for 8 on pages now!!)

I have been following some of the big accounts on Twitter today and just howling at the crowds. 100 minutes for Mission Space and the queues are like 5 rows out into the walkway. Freaking insanity.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1212133893488480261

 

[GlamMistress]

Update! Magic Kingdom is passing out NYE gear now

https://twitter.com/x/status/1212123597621387264

 

[Haley R]

I have been following some of the big accounts on Twitter today and just howling at the crowds. 100 minutes for Mission Space and the queues are like 5 rows out into the walkway. Freaking insanity.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1212133893488480261

You couldn’t pay me to be there

 

[havaneselover]

On the hotel bathroom discussion from thread 2, my kids are both freaking out over the opaque pocket door in the bathroom with no lock at RRP.

 

[GlamMistress]

You couldn’t pay me to be there

I just showed the photos to DH and I swear he did honestly twitch a little. LOL.

 

[miztressuz]

Okay, question for people who redeem Hilton points frequently. I don't quite know how to value my points. I need to stay near Love Field for the night of February 7th and can book the DoubleTree by the airport for 30k Hilton points. I currently have 136k with another 125k coming once DH finishes up his latest MSR. I would need up to 240k points by mid-February for my only other planned Hilton redemption. Should I:

1) Book the DoubleTree for 30k Hilton points (room would be about $145 cash)
2) Book another Hilton that is 20k points but in a less-ideal location, or
3) Book a cash rate elsewhere for about $100/night?

I'm leaning towards option 1 but like I said, I don't have a good gauge for if that's a good value or not.

I think average Hilton redemption is about .4 cpp (yes, less than half a cent) so if you get anywhere above that it's usually considered a reasonable redemption. IIRC Hilton sells points around .5 cpp so .48 is about what most places I look at end up (and what I'd shoot for). Last redemption for us was .46.

But then again if it's cheap enough I may just pay cash and earn a bunch of points instead to pay for the rooms I don't want to pay cash for later (i.e the $200 and up nights). Depends on if I want it to be a cashless trip or not and how easy it would be to replace the points.

 

[AmyAnne]

Thanks to the person who mentioned about getting a $5 credit from Amazon for a late package (I think it was @Haley R). But now that I Have a $5 credit (supposedly--the chat person said it was in my account), how do I use it? Will it show up automatically at check out or do I have to find the code somewhere in my account?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Oooh boy 9/9 now for comments on pages! This will all come crashing down tomorrow morning when you early risers crush my dreams LOL!

Mostly lurker here I haven’t posted in awhile. We took the upgrade offer on my husbands bonvoy whatever card (from the cheapo no longer available card to the $450 annual fee one) spend $5k get 125k points. I’ll double check the math when I get home but we met that spend last week. Should the points be showing as “earned this year” on his Amex account? Because they’re not. I thought those showed up on the Amex side as soon as minimum spend was met.

The date to meet the spend is Jan 2 and his next statement isn’t til Jan 11 so I’m a little nervous. I had chatted a few weeks ago and that’s when I got confirmation of the Jan 2 date and was told at that time we were at $49xx out of the $5k (and for sure have spent the balance). I will probably try to chat again tonight (I they even have anyone working) but I’m at work til 5pm.

Edit - I’m a moron. They already transferred to his Bonvoy account on Dec 13. Didn’t even think to look there. Duh. Add it to my idiotic move of purchasing child Disneyland tickets instead of adult yesterday - yes, seriously, and we don’t go until August so we’re gonna get hit with any increase since they won’t allow me to upgrade to adult until we’re there. Purchased direct from Disneyland online using discounted gift cards. I tried calling. I was balling on the phone, distraught over this move that was supposed to save me money but will end up costing more. My husband tried calling, no dice. My brother will be there Jan 23 but I’m sure prices go up before then. I’m really much smarter than this. Wow.

I know you're just venting but don't be so hard on yourself! Anybody who can churn certainly isn't a moron or an idiot. I'm sorry you're stuck with all of this crap right now though.

You couldn’t pay me to be there

I legit would love to see it at those levels. Like...fly down just for the day...don't plan on riding anything...LOL!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I've seen the Hyatt card come up a few times. Can someone explain what's great about it? That's our preferred brand but I always just transfer URs to my Hyatt account. We don't stay enough to earn any status, usually <10 nights a year.

Free night and a little status. Despite being the lowest status level, ie peon, we’ve been upgraded when staying Hyatt and sent a basket of fruit and snacks once.

“Bank bonuses” you say?
“YES!” says I!

Bank bonuses have become a thorn in my side. Messed up one last year and I’m pretty sure the one I’m working on now won’t post. It’s been too long (leaving it til January just to be sure, but I’m guessing the account wasn’t ‘open’ in time because the bank took so long to accept and post my opening deposit )

Pottery barn kids said they won’t replace the backpack after looking at my pictures. They agreed to noticing the damage but said there aren’t any recalls on the backpack and noticed some discoloration from me using it. So.....I need a new backpack.

My previous one from college was Eddie Bauer and Dh still uses it because it’s such good quality. I tried finding one like it on amazon and the majority of what they have is lightweight foldable ones. That’s not really what I’m looking for. I want something with a lot of pockets that I can take to Disney but also use for my personal item on planes. Does anyone have a backpack brand they love?

Lands End make a variety of nice backpacks. They are pricey (to me) unless on sale. Make sure to use Rakuten if you order from them.

My city's school department actually doesn't take Visa - it's the craziest thing!
View attachment 461558

One of my utilities says Visa is not supported for auto pay. So it goes on Discover

I was having fun with that earlier too!

I know cookware was discussed quite a while back, but I didn't pay enough attention. I need new pans, my frying pans are shot. I want a non-stick set, but I don't cook enough to spend $$ on the highest end sets. But don't want the cheapest either. Any thoughts?

Got T-fal pan at Costco. Working well thus far.

“Weather”. Not the weather in Chicago although we had a little snow and wind last night. It seemed like a snowball effect. Other people on our flight were cancelled last night to MCO as well and SW didn’t pull there luggage out. They had to drive to MCO to get their bags!!! That would have got me fired up!

I thought the Chicago weather was crappy. Pretty icy last night, quite a few car accidents this morning.

I have been following some of the big accounts on Twitter today and just howling at the crowds. 100 minutes for Mission Space and the queues are like 5 rows out into the walkway. Freaking insanity.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1212133893488480261

Nope, just nope. Too peopley.

You couldn’t pay me to be there

Exactly

 

[mamathompson]

You couldn’t pay me to be there

I would totally do it! Not with my kids, and I wouldn't plan on really doing anything but being there. It would be a fun experience to have I think.

 

[AmyAnne]

I legit would love to see it at those levels. Like...fly down just for the day...don't plan on riding anything...LOL!

I think I've posted before about our first Christmas trip. It was when my youngest was still in a stroller. We knew that there was a chance that Disney would close one (or more) of the parks if the attendance reached a certain point, and we made the mistake of thinking that so long as we got into the park, it would be manageable, because Disney would close the park at an attendance level that was reasonable. Ha. I can still recall the feeling of standing in front of It's A Small World and being totally boxed in--standing still and not able to move in any direction because there were so many people.

We have been to WDW numerous times since then over Christmas but never again the MK on Christmas Day.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I think I've posted before about our first Christmas trip. It was when my youngest was still in a stroller. We knew that there was a chance that Disney would close one (or more) of the parks if the attendance reached a certain point, and we made the mistake of thinking that so long as we got into the park, it would be manageable, because Disney would close the park at an attendance level that was reasonable. Ha. I can still recall the feeling of standing in front of It's A Small World and being totally boxed in--standing still and not able to move in any direction because there were so many people.

We have been to WDW numerous times since then over Christmas but never again the MK on Christmas Day.

Maybe this could be a cool daddy/daughter experience. I've been considering taking my girls on separate trips someday...when they can take care of themselves better LOL!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Maybe this could be a cool daddy/daughter experience. I've been considering taking my girls on separate trips someday...when they can take care of themselves better LOL!

I’m not sure your DD would think “cool dad” if you took her to stand in a gridlocked MK.

 

[AmyAnne]

Maybe this could be a cool daddy/daughter experience. I've been considering taking my girls on separate trips someday...when they can take care of themselves better LOL!

I'm not sure about "cool" but it definitely would be a memorable experience.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I was having fun with that earlier too!

I know cookware was discussed quite a while back, but I didn't pay enough attention. I need new pans, my frying pans are shot. I want a non-stick set, but I don't cook enough to spend $$ on the highest end sets. But don't want the cheapest either. Any thoughts?

I got a smaller version of this pan at Walmart last year and use it daily. I “seasoned” it in the oven and have never had to scrub. I spent a fair amount of time searching for the larger pan. I wanted the metal handles so I can “season” in the oven.

 

[orangecuse]

@elgerber like @CyndiLouWho we like our t-fal!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

2020 goals: none
I have 2020 trips booked, no ideas even for 2021. (Well I have ideas but certain events in 2020 will impact my ideas and whether I can execute them). DH will be 0/24 tomorrow, I’m 1/24. No cards planned. I’m winging it. I’ll start with sipping and proceed from there.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I'm not sure about "cool" but it definitely would be a memorable experience.

Im not sure your DD would think “cool dad” if you took her to stand in a gridlocked MK.

You don't know my older daughter LOL! Armed with rope drop, a fun lunch ADR and 3 afternoon FPs we'd have a fun day and then people watch

This is the same daughter who when presented the option to ride E-ticket's multiple times selects things like Enchanted Tiki Room, Country Bears and Carousel of Progress due to her appreciation of what Walt built and all that Disney World represents historically.

...Yes she is 9...yes it is disturbing how much I have brainwashed her! LOL!

Now my younger daughter....that would be a tragic failure!