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

[StephPlum]

I agree with your Costco strategy. I check National but most of the time Costco wins.

Yeah, I just checked National and it was $75 more than what I already have with Costco for my March trip. Guess I'll stick with my current reservation. Though I'll keep checking to see if it goes down in either system. Not hopeful since it is spring break for some and I think that is keeping costs the same as what I booked at a few months back.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Yeah, I just checked National and it was $75 more than what I already have with Costco for my March trip. Guess I'll stick with my current reservation. Though I'll keep checking to see if it goes down in either system. Not hopeful since it is spring break for some and I think that is keeping costs the same as what I booked at a few months back.

I also use Costco and for my last two rentals, September and December 2019....the price went down a lot the week before

 

[StephPlum]

Thanks--I just looked at the cost of express pass for the last weekend in January and omg it was almost equivalent to the cost of RPR!

The more people in the room the better it is to stay onsite and get EP "free" with the room since it covers everyone in the room. If the cost is high that weekend to buy EP then I would say you need EP. It is dynamically priced so the higher cost days represent higher crowds.

I liked RPR having stayed there 4 times. Also have stayed at Sapphire Falls (No EP but has boat taxi). I like both but if I need EP would go with RPR. I am very low needs on hotel rooms, though. Just need something clean and quiet.

Look into the the cost of an AP for one person. There are room discounts that come out and I don't think a lowest value AP (though check on any blackout dates) is much more than 3 day tickets. It might come out cheaper with room discount and EP. I did that twice - bought AP for me, regular tickets for DD/DS and got the room discount and EP. TBH, they didn't look or ask for my AP either time I did this.

 

[StephPlum]

I also use Costco and for my last two rentals, September and December 2019....the price went down a lot the week before

Wow, that is great. I am checking about 2x a week right now. Hopefully I catch a break!

 

[Judique]

@Haley R congrats on your baby boy so excited for you. As for outings talk with your library they may have enough interest for a baby story time. We did that with the children section and they added a baby story time for 2 weeks- 1 year old. If you plan to breastfeed there might be groups also. We made lots of friends from both. Once DD was 1 we started gymnastics. Then when they were 2.5 dance. Swim lessons we started at 4 since I didn’t want to have to get in with them.

I took darling grand daughter last year to swim classes, 2 sessions when she was 3 and 3 months starting the first session. Daughter was asked to go sit in the bleachers. This was at Maryland Park and Planning facility. I took over part way through the first session and I was able to stay pool side but eventually went to the bleachers when there was nowhere to sit.

Earlier when she was quite a bit younger at a private facility daughter had to get in the pool.

I think the age for the public classes was 3. In any case, they were excellent. The facility is the Fairland Aquatic Center near Laurel, Md. (I forget who is in the area.)

 

[Judique]

OMG YES! I was on a Delta flight a few months for work and this old couple was in the exit row. The flight attendant went over the guidelines and said she needed a verbal yes from everyone. She got to the old man and he looks over to his wife and yells "What does this lady want, she's looking right at me?" and the wife responds "Say yes" and he yells again "She won't go away and her lips keep moving, how do I make her go away?" The flight attendant asks again and he yells "Why won't she just go away? Her lips keep moving but she's not saying anything." She then proceeds to start asking around for others that will swap with them and finds a couple to move and goes back to the man and asks him to move and he just yells "Linda, Make her go away she keeps coming over to me."

So, was the flight attendant able to get them to move?

 

[magickingdomprincess]

The more people in the room the better it is to stay onsite and get EP "free" with the room since it covers everyone in the room. If the cost is high that weekend to buy EP then I would say you need EP. It is dynamically priced so the higher cost days represent higher crowds.

I liked RPR having stayed there 4 times. Also have stayed at Sapphire Falls (No EP but has boat taxi). I like both but if I need EP would go with RPR. I am very low needs on hotel rooms, though. Just need something clean and quiet.

Look into the the cost of an AP for one person. There are room discounts that come out and I don't think a lowest value AP (though check on any blackout dates) is much more than 3 day tickets. It might come out cheaper with room discount and EP. I did that twice - bought AP for me, regular tickets for DD/DS and got the room discount and EP. TBH, they didn't look or ask for my AP either time I did this.

We upgraded our 3 day passes a few years ago, the adults were free and the kids were only $10 each, so season passes for only $20 total! Of course their strategy "worked" because we had to go back and use the AP's before they expired, and once we stayed onsite with EP it's hard to go back without it. We let them expire last year.

We have 3 nights planned at HRH this May after 5 nights at Disney. I'd like to upgrade again if it's still super cheap, but we usually vacation in June so not sure if/how we'd be able to use them again. Which reminds me I need to decide on whether to renew our Disney AP's that expire early this June... sometimes it's so expensive to "save" money...

 

[Haley R]

I just got signed up with a pest control company. Had a raccoon in the attic, $800 later he's still stalking me. The guy put a live trap in the attic, sealed all the openings fixed all the soffit damage from him either breaking in or falling through. My Ring spotlight cam caught him walking down the sidewalk between my front door and the driveway. More soffit damage the next day but still nothing in the trap so I guess he's still trying to get back in. At least it's not a tree rat which I hear is another attic concern, I prefer my rats on the ground thank you. Critters in the attic aside, loved the time there was too short but heading back on the 18th
My pool guy has been there like clockwork, the lawn guy I'm not so sure about. The grass wasn't long but I'm not sure how much it grows in the winter. How often does your lawn need mowing?

Right now we are able to wait about two weeks before we need to mow. We were gone for 10 days and still haven’t mowed. In the summer it was much worse.

 

[amalone1013]

Marriott sorta on the ball. The 15 nights for the CC are credited already. Tracker says that we only need 35 nights total to renew Platinum, though.

That'd be awesome cuz we could probably hit that but somehow that feels like a glitch. Unless there's more program changes they snuck in like taking away the meeting nights?

View attachment 462487

Very contradictory -
View attachment 462488

The "Platinum at 60 nights" from the app worries me though. I didn't think there was anything at 60 nights. There was a T&C update in Dec, guess I'll be skimming, but I'd have thought an eagle eyed blogger would have highlighted changes by now.

ETA: Move over MCI; in more Marriott math, I only need 7 nights to reach Gold on my account. I can't even fathom that calculation even as a computer glitch. It has it listed correctly at 10 on the overview page but when I look at details it says 7.
Why can't they glitch something useful like giving 15 nights per CC again?

I had to go look at mine... I was Plat last year but only had 20 some nights so should just be gold this year with the Brilliant status. Plat should expire around the end of February, is that right? Mine shows the 15 cc nights and says I need 26 nights to renew

 

[DaveL]

So, was the flight attendant able to get them to move?

Yeah the man still had no clue what was going on but followed the hand motions. Neither of them would be able to preform any duties had they been required.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

This mama means business

Heck, I’m over 50 and I don’t like to use the phone.

I absolutely hate calling on the phone and it's gotten even worse since I've moved to Florida. Idk if it's just where we live, but no one answers their damn phones and if you leave a message they don't call you back! I'm talking about businesses, too, not personal phone calls. If I ever want something from my doctor I just go in person. We've had a pool cleaning service since we got here (June) and still haven't been billed. We tried calling and they never answered. So I'm waiting for that giant bill to come through.

That’s not ok from your Dr. Do they have online charts/messaging? My moms dr is more responsive that way. Having to go in person to get a question answered would be a red flag for me.

Well, I did. Dh decided he wouldn’t mind tagging along for the trip next week.(Next week!) Now, our trip for 2 is a trip for 5!
I drained my SW points, used my Amex gold credit for EBCI and used More URs to cover a minivan vs compact. Our California Grill adr is cancelled and replaced with Crystal Palace. I was actually about to score a few fast passes for Dh and DS around the same times as my FPs.

Very nervous the crowds will make Dh miserable andI’ll regret this choice but I am so happy my whole family will be there to celebrate if I run the half marathon. (Not sure how thats going to go since the weather is calling for high heat and humidity and I’ve been sick all week)

This is my celebrate life trip. No crowds or toddler meltdowns are ruining my trip! One month ago I was crying while meeting with liver transplant teams and now in a week I get to stay in two of my dream Disney resorts with my family. So grateful and excited.(Also very grateful for my Points! No way would I have paid for the flights if I didn’t have the points. They were over double what I paid for DD and myself)

Congrats! Sounds like a great use of points and a great family time!

Dh has been dealing with a lot of work stress for the past year 2 years 5 years, and it was suggested to him that he take a long weekend every other month or so to disconnect from work.

He just said that one of those long weekends should be at Universal

So I need much help

What are our options for hotels? I'd love to stay in one of their 3 hotels with unlimited Express Pass (we did that in 2013, one night for the 2 days of EP), but if using UR to book an offsite and then buying the EP works better, we'd do that. We only have UR and Hyatt points, nothing for Hilton or Marriott yet.

We do not have enough UR to cash out to stay onsite. We'd be using SW RR and CP (good through this year) to get there.

Does Universal have promotions for their hotels? What time of year would be best to go? Currently we have a WDW trip in March, our son gets married May 2, and we'll be in Australia for the majority of September.

I assume Undercover Tourist is the best place for tickets?

I Think usually the hotels w/EP are much cheaper than staying offsite. USO hotels are on the UR portal, so no need to cash out. Take a look. I booked HRH club level thru UR portal.
Although I find UCT usually has best prices, I would check Sam’s too.

 

[tink1970]

I just returned yesterday from the parents' Golden Ann'y cruise. Just a few thoughts (and to tie it into credit cards...I used a LOT LOT LOT of disney gc obtained at grocery stores -4X MRs, with amex offers on discounts, and with Discover/Chase 5% promotions, stacking at Sam's) on the cruise itself.

1) I think DCL and ABD are wonderful experiences for multigenerational travel. ABD is more expensive and a smaller experience whereas DCL is obviously anything but intimate! If I won the lottery I'd definitely take our extended family on an ABD...then a DCL in concierge level.

2) I really don't enjoy the larger ships as much any more. Granted, we sailed during a holiday so the ship was full but there are just too many people for me to find it a pleasant experience. I know other lines are mentioned here wrt budget but I cannot imagine myself doing another "large" ship cruise (and those lines) willingly. Guess I'm just a grumpy old person, lol. Viking here I come (in about 6 weeks)! That said, I likely won't rush to cruise the 3 new DCL ships-that will NOT be a priority.

3) Concierge Lounge and whether it's "worth it." Still yes, for me on the Dream/Fantasy-fewer people, canned diet cokes, snacks, DH's beloved fancy coffee machine and did I mention fewer people? That said, there are annoying, entitled people everywhere but often in (much) greater proportion on Concierge Level. Also, now the diet cokes are small cans since littles were wasting so much, sigh.

4) I have 2 more DCL cruises scheduled-one is a Baltic in August on the Magic and for now, a Very Merry Halloween in October on the Dream. I'm going to reschedule the Dream cruise to a Magic/Wonder for sometime. I think my Viking cruise Feb/March will help me decide whether they will be receiving my cruise $$ in the future.

It is often said that there is no wrong way to churn or vacation. I think it's also true that you can outgrow a previous favorite way to vacation and that's okay too. I'm not quite there but close with DCL.

 

[amalone1013]

What are our options for hotels? I'd love to stay in one of their 3 hotels with unlimited Express Pass (we did that in 2013, one night for the 2 days of EP), but if using UR to book an offsite and then buying the EP works better, we'd do that. We only have UR and Hyatt points, nothing for Hilton or Marriott yet.

We do not have enough UR to cash out to stay onsite. We'd be using SW RR and CP (good through this year) to get there.

Look into the the cost of an AP for one person. There are room discounts that come out and I don't think a lowest value AP (though check on any blackout dates) is much more than 3 day tickets. It might come out cheaper with room discount and EP. I did that twice - bought AP for me, regular tickets for DD/DS and got the room discount and EP. TBH, they didn't look or ask for my AP either time I did this.

We upgraded our 3 day passes a few years ago, the adults were free and the kids were only $10 each, so season passes for only $20 total! Of course their strategy "worked" because we had to go back and use the AP's before they expired, and once we stayed onsite with EP it's hard to go back without it. We let them expire last year.

We have 3 nights planned at HRH this May after 5 nights at Disney. I'd like to upgrade again if it's still super cheap, but we usually vacation in June so not sure if/how we'd be able to use them again. Which reminds me I need to decide on whether to renew our Disney AP's that expire early this June... sometimes it's so expensive to "save" money...

I quoted everyone but am going to be lazy and write everything together down here

I don't think I've ever been able to work it out where staying offsite but buying EP was cheaper than just getting an EP hotel. We've only done RPR and liked it (though haven't been since they finished the lobby remodel) but we are low expectations for hotels so it's fancy for us.

I'd check Expedia or the UR portal for Uni tickets too. The UR portal should be the same price as expedia, even if they are running a discount. Sometimes Expedia is on cashback portals. I think ours were a few bucks cheaper or the same cash price on Expedia/UR portal than UCT anyways because Expedia had a promo, and then I used URs to buy them. My experience buying with URs I was able to pick them up at the will call kiosks less than 20 mins later.

Last September adult 2 park, 3 day park to park tickets were exactly the same price as a Seasonal 2 park annual passes. We've just gone with Seasonal because the dates have worked for us, and typically at the time we aren't sure when the next trip will be but since it's the same price for AP vs just tickets, I'll grab the APs just in case and any other trips are just gravy. We've also lucked out that they typically do 10% dining discounts for Seasonal APs in September. We've also been able to get the discounted Halloween Horror Night with them too.

This was the second time we've done this, in Sept 2018 we bought 5 day 3 park to park tickets from UCT because we were going to Volcano Bay, upgraded them, and got $6.50 refunded on each. Last time we did our Sept trip and 2 days in January... I'm even more excited about this time because we did our Sept trip, a day in Nov, and they will cover us if we (most likely) go again this Sept.

Another thing to keep in mind is (from what I've read on the boards) that if Universal is running a promo ticket like a buy 2 days, get 3 free, etc, and you buy it from them or UCT or wherever, it is only valued as essentially a 2 day ticket, or what you would have paid Universal for it. UCT typically has a 2 day plus 1 day free ticket that Uni does not sell, and it should be valued as a 3 day ticket. But it is YMMV.

@LuckyMamaInDE I wasn't sure when you said you don't have enough UR to cash out to stay on site, you meant cashing out at 1cpp to cover an on site hotel? Uni hotels are on the UR portal as long as there is availability, if that helps. Oh, and you can book an AP rate before you have an AP in hand... depends on how you feel about that and there is the chance they ask at the hotel.

 

[AmyAnne]

I may not PLAN to go to Europe every year even though it seems as we have, but I know we are bound to go at least once every 3 years. It's a comfort to know that I have pre paid my hotel stay with the AF and don't need to come up with extra money OOP for some spur of the moment trip.

So the points don't expire? Or do you just keep them current by making a purchase (or paying the AF)?

What are our options for hotels? I'd love to stay in one of their 3 hotels with unlimited Express Pass (we did that in 2013, one night for the 2 days of EP), but if using UR to book an offsite and then buying the EP works better, we'd do that. We only have UR and Hyatt points, nothing for Hilton or Marriott yet.

We do not have enough UR to cash out to stay onsite. We'd be using SW RR and CP (good through this year) to get there.

Does Universal have promotions for their hotels? What time of year would be best to go? Currently we have a WDW trip in March, our son gets married May 2, and we'll be in Australia for the majority of September.

I assume Undercover Tourist is the best place for tickets?

You can use URs for both tickets and an on-site hotel (through the UR site, not cashing out).

I liked RPR having stayed there 4 times. Also have stayed at Sapphire Falls (No EP but has boat taxi). I like both but if I need EP would go with RPR. I am very low needs on hotel rooms, though. Just need something clean and quiet.

Agree with this. Plus RPR seemed better than the other two that have EP in terms of double/queen beds (which is what we needed; the others seemed to have more king rooms).

 

[amalone1013]

Arghhh this is the second time I let an auto charge go through on our toll account. At least it's to my CSR. I've just found this is an easy way to organically spend Visa and MC GCs so I've been meaning to use some up.

 

[Alexle2007]

They locked DHs account when I tried to pay 2 real bills and pay me $1500. I had done $1500 before so no idea why this time

The real bills count in that total. So if you tried to do $1000- real, $1000- real and $1500- myself- your account would be locked. I asked what if I had a bill for $4000, The CSR said I would have to break it up $3400 one day and $600 another day. It makes no sense.

 

[elgerber]

The real bills count in that total. So if you tried to do $1000- real, $1000- real and $1500- myself- your account would be locked. I asked what if I had a bill for $4000, The CSR said I would have to break it up $3400 one day and $600 another day. It makes no sense.

They really are the worst. I have $354 left in there I need to get out and close it.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

The real bills count in that total. So if you tried to do $1000- real, $1000- real and $1500- myself- your account would be locked. I asked what if I had a bill for $4000, The CSR said I would have to break it up $3400 one day and $600 another day. It makes no sense.

No. My bills are not that big. Lol. Like $250 and $150 and $1500. Still no idea why unless they locked it for scheduling ahead of my paycheck clearing. (Ie paycheck DD Friday, scheduled transfer for following Monday)

 

[Alexle2007]

They really are the worst. I have $354 left in there I need to get out and close it.

Yes, this setup is less than ideal. But I will say they have a terrific service. The CSRs are always very pleasant. And now that I know how it works, I’ll be fine.

 

[Haley R]

Heck, I’m over 50 and I don’t like to use the phone.

That’s not ok from your Dr. Do they have online charts/messaging? My moms dr is more responsive that way. Having to go in person to get a question answered would be a red flag for me.

Congrats! Sounds like a great use of points and a great family time!

I Think usually the hotels w/EP are much cheaper than staying offsite. USO hotels are on the UR portal, so no need to cash out. Take a look. I booked HRH club level thru UR portal.
Although I find UCT usually has best prices, I would check Sam’s too.

It’s my OBGYN. I think they have an online message system but I haven’t been able to figure it out. I can see where I’ve gotten a message but I wasn’t able to find where I can send one in. If I call they normally call back but it’s not always immediate. I only live about 2 miles away so it’s not too bad driving in