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Apache is functioning normally

June 24, 2023 by Brett Tams

The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is a type of timeshare program run by The Walt Disney Co. that lets members exchange Vacation Points — which they purchase — for hotel rooms, villas and suites at Disney resorts.

Some of the biggest Disney fanatics love it, as there can be outsized value for those who maximize redemptions at official DVC resorts every year of their contract. That said, it’s far from a good deal for most people. For instance, members have been caught off guard by annual dues increases that aren’t exactly well-advertised.

But it’s not all about money, and by providing opportunities and experiences that you otherwise can’t get anywhere else, DVC can offer benefits beyond just financial savings. So with that, here are the pros and cons of Disney Vacation Club.

Pros of Disney Vacation Club

The upfront costs (at least $32,550 in 2023) and risks are high, but even those who either breakeven or lose money might still come out “ahead” given the other DVC benefits, many of which are pretty underrated.

Rentals are large and luxurious

The Grand Villa, located within The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (Photo courtesy of Disney)

Rooms, suites and villas are generally more spacious and have more amenities than standard hotel rooms.

Discounts and freebies on other Disney lodging

While NerdWallet doesn’t recommend redeeming points for Disney trips outside the official DVC portfolio, DVC members can find steep discounts if they book such trips in cash.

Discounts on dining, shopping, tickets and tours

A passenger wearing a Togruta headpiece sits at the holo-sabacc table in the Sublight Lounge onboard the Halcyon starcruiser in Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World. (Photo courtesy of Disney)

DVC members get discounts at hundreds of restaurants and shops. Discounts are usually 10%, but they’re occasionally higher. DVC members can also find discounts at after-hours theme park parties, backstage tours, and on activities like golf and dessert cruises.

Surprise gifts

Disney occasionally surprises members with small gifts, like pins, buttons and beignets.

Access to DVC member lounges

The entrance to the first-ever Member Lounge at Disneyland Resort in California, named “Disney Vacation Club Star View Station – a Member Lounge.” (Photo courtesy of Disney)

DVC has a few members-only lounges sprinkled throughout Disneyland and Disney World. Perks vary by lounge, but you might find free refreshments, premiere views and rare Disney memorabilia.

Members-only events and trips

Disney’s H2O Glow After Hours transforms Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park into an energetic glow-filled party. (Photo courtesy of Disney)

You might snag a reservation to Moonlight Magic, an after-hours party limited to DVC members. There are also paid DVC-only trips including cruises, which often sell out.

Cons of Disney Vacation Club

Aside from the huge upfront cost, these other pitfalls don’t necessarily have a dollar figure associated with them.

Redeeming beyond DVC properties is a terrible deal

Since the non-DVC resort redemptions end up devaluing your points, such redemptions should be limited. If you love Disney but would rather get your fix at an international park, skip DVC.

Points expire

While you can bank and borrow points from either last year or next year, the process comes with its own rules and limitations. Generally speaking, plan on using your allotment of Vacation Points each year — as points otherwise expire.

You’re committed for decades

DVC contracts are long. You could give your contract to friends or family later in life, but it can be a hassle and warrant additional financial concerns.

Selling your contract typically comes at a loss

If no one wants your DVC contract “gift,” then you may be able to sell your DVC points. That’s also complicated. DVC reseller website DVC Resale Market has nearly 800 resale listings available, where many properties sell for discounts of 50% or more. Reselling also involves other selling costs (e.g., a licensed real estate broker).

Further, anyone who’s on the financing deal can only transfer ownership once their mortgage loan is paid in full.

Renting Disney Vacation Club points can be complicated

Perhaps you’re not vacationing this year. If so, you can rent out unused Vacation Points to someone else, as long as it’s not for commercial purposes (Disney has a policy against a “pattern of rental activity,” though rentals every once in a while are OK). There are plenty of third-party DVC rental websites, but while you’ll recoup some costs of unused points, you’ll still usually come out in the red.

After all, buyers expect to snag Vacation Points at a discount and these websites take a cut of profits. The going rate that major DVC rental websites pay owners tends to be about $18 per point.

Your heirs are likely saddled with paperwork when you die

If you want someone to inherit it (and they want it too), add that person as a joint owner. But adding their name after the initial contract was set up requires paying a title company or attorney to assist with recording a new deed.

If you die before adding someone to your contract, then your family will need a probate attorney.

Multiple people per contract can get messy

Multiple families might also share one contract to reduce upfront overhead costs and alleviate pressure to take every vacation at Disney (one family could use the points one year, while another family claims them the next).

But contracts binding multiple people can get messy.

Splitting up points in divorces or friend splits can be painful. Disney won’t let you divide your Vacation Points. Though you might divide points and payments in your own, separate agreement, it might be better to use an attorney if you can’t agree.

Have a contingency plan if one party stops paying their share, as you’ll still be on the hook for unpaid dues (Disney doesn’t care who flaked). If your contract’s balance is unpaid for long enough, Disney can foreclose on the deed, which can negatively impact your credit scores.

You might just remove their name from the deed, but that saddles you with their portion of the costs — and it also incurs a fee to change the name on the deed. Even if it doesn’t get to foreclosure levels, one party refusing to pay their share can bring interpersonal fallout, which might be the biggest cost of them all.

The bottom line

DVC is certainly for some people, but it’s not for everyone. NerdWallet got pretty, well, nerdy, with its calculations to understand how much a DVC point actually costs if you join today. Check out those figures over at NerdWallet’s guide to whether DVC is worth it to assess if you’ll find financial savings in joining DVC versus just booking future Disney vacations in cash.

But not every benefit of DVC is purely financial. So despite carrying its fair share of cons, the pros of joining DVC can alone be worth it for some Disney fans.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 23, 2023 by Brett Tams

Contrary to what one might assume, United Airlines has more classes than just first, business, premium economy and economy. In fact, each of those cabins is divided into multiple fare classes, all designated with a different letter.

While it might seem like alphabet soup, the airline can use fare classes to know how and when you booked your ticket and how to upgrade it — if that’s what you want to do.

Let’s take a look at the United fare class chart, how to find the fare class on your ticket and why it’s smart to pay attention to your fare class in the first place.

What is a fare class on United?

All United cabins of service are divided into fare classes — sometimes called fare buckets — to keep track of the number of tickets sold on each flight as well as which seats are still available.

For example, if you’ve ever found a great deal on airfare and then the price went up before you could buy it, it’s likely because that first fare class sold out, even if there are still tickets available in that particular cabin.

Though there are similarities across airlines, each one labels its fare classes slightly differently. Here are United’s fare classes for each class of service on a paid ticket:

First/business class

Full fare: J.
High fare: C, D.
Discounted fare: Z.
Deep-discounted fare: P.

Premium Plus

High fare: O.
Discounted fare: A.
Deep-discounted fare: R.

Economy

Highest full fare: Y.
Full fare: B.
High fare: M, E, H, U.
Discounted fare: Q, V, W.
Deep-discounted fare: L, K, S, T.
Lowest discounted fare: G.
Basic economy: N (on domestic flights).

Note that tickets booked with miles come with their own separate set of fare classes.

How do I find my fare class on United?

When you’re shopping for a ticket on United, the fare classes are listed under each ticket type.

For example, in the screenshot below, the top flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, has the following fare classes: S in economy, R in premium economy and P in business. The bottom flight has the following fare types: S in economy, A in premium economy and D in business class.

If you’re shopping for a flight on an online travel agency’s website, such as Expedia or Orbitz, you should be able to locate the fare class under “Details” once you select your flights but before you enter your credit card number.

This ticket from Chicago-O’Hare to Frankfurt, Germany, has a fare class of S in the economy cabin.

🤓Nerdy Tip

When possible, book your flights directly with the airline. This way, you avoid having to deal with a third-party booking site in case you need to change or cancel the flight or if there’s a cancellation by the airline.

Why should I pay attention to fare classes on United?

There are some good reasons to pay attention to which fare class you’re booking. For one, your fare class can determine how quickly you earn elite status and whether you’re eligible for an upgrade.

Elite status qualification

Certain fare classes earn more elite qualifying miles and segments, which helps United MileagePlus members qualify or requalify for airline status faster.

Here’s how many Premier Qualifying Miles (PQMs) and Premier Qualifying Segments (PQSs) you’ll earn by booking specific fare classes on United.

Purchased fare class	Premier Qualifying Miles	Premier Qualifying Segments


P, O, A, R, Y, B
M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, G

As you can see, purchasing a first, business, premium economy, or full-fare economy ticket earns a bonus on both PQMs and PQSs. Basic economy tickets earn only 50% PQMs and 0.5 PQSs toward Premier elite status with MileagePlus.

Upgrade eligibility

To be eligible for an upgrade, you’ll need to have booked in the right fare class for the type of upgrade you’re requesting.

Complimentary Premier upgrades

If you’re a MileagePlus Premier flyer, tickets booked in certain fare classes are eligible for instant complimentary Premier upgrades (available on select routes). For example, economy tickets booked in fare classes Y or B for all Premier members, and tickets booked in fare classes Y, B or M for Premier 1K members, qualify for immediate upgrades to the premium cabin at booking.

The following routes are eligible for complimentary Premier upgrades:

Continental U.S. (except premium transcontinental routes).
Hawaii from Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Central America.
Guam and Micronesia.

Outside of instant upgrades, you can increase your chances of getting a complimentary Premier upgrade when you book a higher fare class than a fellow Premier member at the same status tier.

MileagePlus upgrades

If you’re not an elite flyer with United, you still have the option to upgrade a flight with MileagePlus miles. Depending on the fare class, your Premier status level and your flight route, you might be asked for a cash co-pay on top of the miles redeemed.

For example, tickets in fare classes B, O or Y don’t include a cash component. Tickets booked in most other fare classes will require a cash co-pay.

PlusPoints upgrades

Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members receive PlusPoints that can be used to upgrade United flights. Platinum members receive 40 PlusPoints upon reaching their status tier, and 1K members get another 280 PlusPoints, totaling 320 PlusPoints toward upgrades.

United charges 40 PlusPoints for upgrades from economy to Polaris business class and 80 PlusPoints for upgrades from discounted economy to Polaris on long-haul flights. So, if your ticket’s fare class is S, T, L, K or G then you’ll need 80 PlusPoints for an upgrade to Polaris. Otherwise, you’ll just need 40 PlusPoints for your upgrade.

Additionally, if you’re a Premier 1K member, some fares make you eligible to skip the waitlist and confirm an upgrade right away, as long as your flight is on an eligible international route and is more than 30 days out. Those fares include:

From United economy to United Polaris business class: Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V and W.
From United economy to United Premium Plus: Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L and K.

When crediting miles to a partner program

Another time you should pay attention to fare classes is when you’re crediting a flight to a partner program. Say you’d rather earn miles with Air Canada Aeroplan, who is a Star Alliance partner of United, and you want to know the earning rates.

You’ll earn the following number of Aeroplan points and Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs) when crediting paid United flights to Aeroplan:

If you’re a member of multiple airline loyalty programs and can’t decide where to credit your flight, check out WhereToCredit, a website that shows you how many miles you’d earn in any frequent flyer program for a particular flight. This can help you make sure you’re earning the highest possible number of redeemable miles.

Let’s say you’ve booked a United economy ticket in fare class V and want to know where to credit this flight. Go to the WhereToCredit website, select the airline and fare class and view the results.

Based on the results, you’d earn 5 miles per base dollar spent on the ticket with United MileagePlus (as a general member), 50% of the flight distance with ANA Mileage Club and Miles & More and 75% with all the other partner programs, so you can take your pick of the programs earning more miles.

How can I book specific fare classes on United?

Travelers often don’t care which fare class they book as long as the ticket price is low. However, if you’re chasing status or want to book an upgradeable ticket, there are ways to search for specific fare classes on United.

Go to United.com and select “Advanced search.”

Enter your flight search details as usual and scroll down until you see a “Fare class” box. Fill in the fare classes you’re looking for and click on “Find flights.”

On the results page, you’ll see the regular search results for all other booking classes as well as a column with the requested fare classes.

This way you can compare ticket prices and decide whether booking a specific fare class is worth it or not.

United fare classes recapped

The United fare class you’ve booked can make all the difference between qualifying for an upgrade or not, how much the upgrade is going to cost in miles or cash, and how many miles and segments toward elite status you’ll be earning.

United makes it easy to find your specific fare class before or after you book a flight. It’s smart for United elites in particular to pay attention to fare classes, as booking the right one could make you more likely to score an upgrade.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 23, 2023 by Brett Tams

Love throwing down your credit card at dinner and regaling your friends with all the details of its perks?

Many credit card issuers have their own version of a referral program that allows current cardholders to recommend, or refer, a credit card to someone else. If the other person is approved for the recommended card, both parties stand to benefit, usually in the form of credit card points or cash.

Chase’s program — aptly named Refer-A-Friend — encompasses cash-back, travel, airline, hotel and business credit cards. Referring friends to one of Chase’s cards can be a pretty easy way to rack up thousands of extra rewards points without spending a dime. However, Chase imposes limits on the number of points or cash you can earn from referrals in a year, and a referral isn’t always the right move for all involved.

Here’s how Chase’s Refer-A-Friend program works.

How to Refer-A-Friend with Chase

The process of referring a friend to a Chase credit card is straightforward: You can send out the referral from Chase’s website or in the app.

To navigate from the website:

Go to https://creditcards.chase.com/refer-a-friend.
Select the “Refer friends now” button for the card that you’d like to recommend.
When prompted, enter your last name, zip code, and the last four digits of your own credit card.
Copy the unique URL, and send it to your friend by email, text or social media.

To navigate from the app:

Log in and select the account for the card that you want to refer.
Select “Refer a friend.”
Copy the unique URL, and send it to your friend by email, text or social media.

What to consider when you’re referring

As with many things in life, just because you can — doesn’t mean you should. When each successful referral results in a windfall of credit card points, it can be tempting to hand out referral links like candy on Halloween, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind.

Is the card a good fit for your friend?

Consider whether the card fits the other person’s lifestyle. For example, if your friend isn’t a frequent traveler, a Southwest card may not make sense. Suggesting a flashy new rewards card may be the wrong move when it comes to friends who are struggling with credit card debt, too.

There are limits

The maximum amount you can earn in referrals is limited per card you hold: The more Chase cards in your wallet, the more potential referral bonuses you can earn. These limits reset each calendar year. Here’s what’s offered as of June 2023.

Chase credit cards with Refer-A-Friend bonuses

Any Disney Visa card. (100 Disney Rewards Dollars for each approved friend up to 500 Rewards Dollars per year.)
Any Chase Ink card. (40,000 points for each approved business up to 200,000 points per year.)

A bonus isn’t a sure thing

It sounds simple enough, but you won’t get the referral bonus if your friend doesn’t apply for the card using your link. Even if you’ve taken the time to patiently explain all the ins and outs of the card’s rewards, if your friend forgets and applies on the Chase website instead of your link, you won’t get the credit. You also won’t earn a referral bonus if your friend’s application isn’t approved, or if you’ve reached the referral limits already.

You may have to pay taxes

In most cases, the rewards you earn from your credit card aren’t taxable — they’re viewed as rebates on spending, not as income. But rewards earned from referral bonuses are treated differently. The credit card issuer may issue a 1099 for the cash value of any rewards you earned for referrals.

How to apply with a Refer-A-Friend link

The process to apply for a card using a referral link is simple. But before you do, quickly compare credit card offers to make sure you’re actually getting the best deal. The value of sign-up bonuses can vary, so check Chase’s website and others like NerdWallet to see how the referral offer stacks up.

Then, if you decide to apply for the card using the referral, you’ll just need to visit the link that your friend sent you. If you’re approved, you may receive a response within minutes of submission. However, it can take up to a couple of weeks to get the physical card in the mail.

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 22, 2023 by Brett Tams

June mortgage outlook

The economic outlook is hazy any month of the year, but June’s uncertainty is murkier than usual. The unpredictability is driven by two unknowns: the fate of the federal government’s debt ceiling and what the Federal Reserve will do at its June 13-14 monetary policy meeting.

Mortgage rates could rise through the first half of June, then level off or fall in the second half after the market digests the results of the mid-month Fed meeting. This forecast assumes that the debt ceiling issue will have been resolved before a government default. A default would push mortgage rates higher.

In a default, all bets are off

Sometime in the first two weeks of June, the federal government could run out of cash to pay all its bills, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, unless policymakers successfully address the debt limit. But the think tank adds a note of complication: It says the Treasury might be able to avoid running out of money until July or even early August if enough tax receipts come on June 15 and it delays some pension contributions.

Uncertainty over the debt limit — including how long the global markets will have to hold their breath waiting for a resolution — does nothing to relieve mortgage rates and could push rates higher until the situation is resolved.

If policymakers don’t act in time and the federal government can’t pay all its bills, “a default on our debt would produce an economic and financial catastrophe,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a February speech before the National Association of Counties. Interest rates for all types of loans would be expected to rise, and some predict mortgage rates would spike.

The Fed is meeting either way

The Federal Reserve‘s next step adds yet another element of unpredictability. The central bank’s monetary policy committee is scheduled to meet on June 13 and 14. At the start of the Memorial Day weekend, the futures market was signaling a roughly 3 in 5 chance that the Fed would raise short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point.

In the run-up to the meeting, mortgage rates might rise as investors hedge the possibility of a Fed rate increase. But if the central bank keeps short-term interest rates unchanged, we could see mortgage rates settle lower, in the financial markets’ version of a sigh of relief.

What other forecasters say

Fannie Mae’s economic and housing outlook for May predicted “a modest recession beginning in the second half of this year,” brought on by higher interest rates engineered by the Fed. However, it expects mortgage rates to start dropping in the second half of the year.

Freddie Mac isn’t predicting a recession but forecasts slower economic growth and higher unemployment. “In this scenario, long-term interest rates move largely sideways, staying in a range similar to where rates are today, perhaps moving up or down by around half a percentage point,” it said in its May economic, housing and mortgage market outlook. By “long-term interest rates,” Freddie is mainly talking about mortgages.

The Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors join Fannie in predicting a decline in mortgage rates starting in the second half of 2023 and continuing into 2024.

What happened in May

At the end of April, we predicted mortgage rates had “room to fall in May as the end draws near for this cycle of Federal Reserve rate increases.”

But they didn’t find room to drop. Persistent inflation, the prospect of a Fed rate increase on June 14, and anxiety about the debt ceiling nudged mortgage rates higher. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed about one-quarter of a percentage point from the first week to the fourth week of the month to almost 7%.

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 22, 2023 by Brett Tams

Planning travel can be a daunting maze. Guidebooks, by their nature, send all readers to the same destinations. And web searches can yield an unhelpful mess of content.

Yet some tech-savvy travelers are finding success using artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT and Bard to inspire and plan their vacations, treating these services like free, on-demand travel agents.

“I liked the idea of ChatGPT because it gives you a very clear list,” says Alpa Patel, an avid traveler based out of New York City.

Patel has been planning a family trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, for the summer. After getting frustrated with the cookie-cutter travel websites served up by Google, she had an idea: Why not ask ChatGPT for some advice?

“I started with the best places to stay and it gave me a list of neighborhoods, along with the best hotels. I actually picked my hotel through that list,” Patel says.

Set your preferences

Although Patel enjoyed the simplicity of these responses, she quickly found another reason why AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be useful for travel planning: customization.

Google was giving her endless recommendations for the Scottish Highlands, but Patel’s younger son gets carsick, so she didn’t think it would be feasible for him to spend hours in a car to get there. She found ChatGPT was able to give her reasonable alternatives.

“I very specifically asked, ‘What are good day trips when you have a child who suffers from car sickness?’ It came up with some ideas that you could go to by train,” she says.

Steven Kreimendahl, co-founder of the blog Travel to Blank, was planning a trip to Japan in the spring with his wife and mother-in-law and used ChatGPT’s personalized recommendations to consider the group’s different travel styles.

“My wife and I love traveling all day, while my mother-in-law prefers a slower form of travel,” Kreimendahl says. “I gave ChatGPT as much detail as possible and let it run with that.”

This approach differs from traditional ways of researching travel ideas. It requires some creativity on the traveler’s part to identify their niche interests, such as 1950s architecture in New York City or the best tonkotsu ramen in the Ginza neighborhood of Tokyo. Rather than simply reading a list of ideas, trip planning with AI chatbots involves feeding it the preferences that matter to you.

“The more information it has, the better response you’ll get,” Kreimendahl says.

Push back and verify

Unlike real travel experts, artificial intelligence models can’t get their feelings hurt. That means it’s OK to shoot down ideas you don’t like — in fact, it’s encouraged.

While web search results essentially reset with every new query, the language models powering chatbots can carry on long conversations, remembering and responding to questions and feedback throughout.

“Sometimes it’s really broad, like, ‘just relax for the day,’” Kreimendahl says, citing ChatGPT’s recommendation for a multiday itinerary. “Don’t be afraid to dig in deeper and ask for more specific requests.”

And while these models are great at generating ideas and answering simple questions, nothing they say should be taken as, well, true. ChatGPT, for example, is based on historical information up to 2021, so you can’t expect it to provide the latest details, which you might find with a search engine like Google. The chatbot may recommend a restaurant that closed during the pandemic or a train line that isn’t running on your travel dates.

For example, Kreimendahl was visiting Japan at the end of cherry blossom season, and ChatGPT didn’t know when or where these blooms were actually happening.

Get inspired

AI chatbots like ChatGPT might seem like technological wizards, but they’re still quite limited in what they can do. Don’t expect them to know current flight prices to Dubai or book a reservation at a restaurant it recommends.

However, some travel companies are working on integrating AI chatbots with the booking process. Expedia recently introduced an integration with ChatGPT that saves its recommendations in the Expedia app.

“Any hotels recommended in the conversation powered by ChatGPT will automatically save to a new ‘trip’ in the app that travelers can go back to when they’re ready to shop and book their trip, adding on flights, activities, cars, etc.,” said Rajesh Naidu, senior vice president and chief architect at Expedia Group, in an email.

These integrations are in their early days, so travelers will still have to do the actual booking legwork. But the fun of using AI chatbots lies in the ideas they can generate and the collaborative approach they foster.

“It’s the ideation stage,” Patel says. “It’s giving me the inspiration for what to look deeper into.”

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 22, 2023 by Brett Tams

For families with infants, toddlers or young children, having a set of wheels — specifically, a stroller — can make all the difference while visiting a theme park. Happily, for those visiting the Happiest Place on Earth, strollers are allowed at Disneyland.

Disney encourages families to bring their strollers to the park, but guests should be mindful of the Disneyland stroller policy and its restrictions. Here’s what you should know.

Are strollers allowed at Disneyland?

Disneyland is a family-friendly theme park, and the comfort of young guests and their families is highly supported. If you have younger family members in your guest party, rest assured that strollers are permitted at Disneyland.

However, Disney enforces a few rules about strollers at Disneyland.

Disneyland stroller policy

First, the stroller’s dimensions must be no more than 31 x 52 inches (79 x 132 centimeters). Although this size restriction can typically accommodate a standard single-seater stroller, some double strollers might not fit within these guidelines.

Disneyland stroller restrictions explicitly note that strollers beyond this size and wagons — including “stroller wagons” — are not allowed.

Additionally, any trailer-type vessel that’s pushed or pulled isn’t permitted.

Disneyland stroller rules inside the park

In terms of using strollers at Disneyland, you can bring strollers into Disneyland’s tram from the parking lots to the Main Entrance Esplanade.

During the tram ride, your child must be removed from the stroller. An additional safety-based Disneyland stroller rule includes no strollers on escalators. However, guests are welcome to bring strollers onto available elevators and ramps.

Finally, there are designated Disneyland stroller parking areas throughout the park. Typically, there are signs to easily spot stroller parking.

If, for any reason, your stroller is impeding the flow of foot traffic or operations, cast members are permitted to move your stroller.

Alternative Disneyland stroller options

If you’re unsure about whether your stroller qualifies, or if you’re unable to bring your own stroller, Disneyland has you covered. You can conveniently rent a stroller before entering the park.

🤓Nerdy Tip

If you’re park hopping, Disneyland strollers can be used at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

Rentals are $18 per day for a single stroller, and $36 per day for a Disneyland double stroller.

You can find the rentable strollers on the east side of the Disneyland main park entrance gates. Use your Disneyland app to locate the stroller rental location if you’re having trouble finding it.

This alternative can help families enjoy the parks, stress-free, while giving younger guests a break from walking throughout the day. Plus, you don’t need to haul the Disneyland stroller back to your hotel or car upon leaving.

Tips for strollers at Disneyland

Here are a few tips that will improve your experience using a stroller at Disneyland:

Measure your stroller before your visit. This saves you time and hassle — no one wants to bring a stroller all the way from the parking lot only to have it denied entry.
Don’t keep valuables in an unattended stroller. Stroller parking areas aren’t monitored or guarded by cast members.
Ensure that strollers are out of the way. Only park strollers in a designated Disneyland stroller parking area or they might be moved by a cast member.
Attach a visible marker on your stroller. An identifiable balloon or fabric sash are good examples. This will allow you to easily identify your stroller in case there are similar strollers in the parking area.
Save the location of your stroller on your phone. You can “pin” the location of your stroller on your maps app to avoid forgetting where you left it. Another option is to discreetly place an Apple AirTag inside the stroller in case it’s moved for any reason.
Hang on to your rental receipt. If you lose your rental stroller, you can get a free replacement as long as you show your rental receipt.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of strollers are allowed at Disneyland?

Disneyland’s stroller policy is fairly broad. Strollers that are within 31 x 52 inches in size are permitted, but it can’t be a stroller wagon or have a wagon affixed.

Should you bring a stroller to Disneyland?

If you have young children in your party, it’s a good idea. Having a stroller at Disneyland gives weary young guests some rest from walking around the park and is a convenient option for parents and guardians.

How strict is Disneyland on strollers?

Disneyland’s stroller rules are not strict in how its policy is worded. For example, it doesn’t restrict guests based on the number of seats in the stroller, or whether it folds or not. However, Disneyland is strict in not permitting strollers that exceed the maximum stroller dimension of 31 x 52 inches, as well as its no-wagon rule.

Are there strollers at Disneyland?

Yes. If you need a stroller for your next visit to Disneyland Park, you can use Disney’s stroller rental service. It offers single- and double-stroller options, for $18 or $36 per day, respectively. Rentals are available next to the main entrance, before entering Disneyland’s gates.

Strollers at Disneyland recapped

You and your child can stay comfortable all day long whether you bring your own stroller or rent a Disneyland stroller from the park.

As long as you familiarize yourself with Disneyland stroller regulations — and adhere to them — you shouldn’t have any issues with using a stroller during your next visit.

(Top photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 21, 2023 by Brett Tams

Secured credit cards are good options for those with bad credit (FICO scores of 629 or lower). They’re easier to get approved for because they require you to put down a refundable security deposit, which becomes your credit line and eases the risk that the card issuer is taking by lending you money.

But coming up with that deposit, often around $200, can still pose a hurdle.

The Yendo Credit Card, issued by Cross River Bank, works a lot like a secured credit card, but instead of a cash deposit, it’s secured by an asset: your car.

For those who lack the liquidity for a cash deposit — and can’t afford to tie up that money for months on end — this might sound appealing. But using your car as collateral, even if it’s just for a few months, is a move that warrants careful consideration. After all, your automobile is among your most important assets, as it allows you to get to and from a job. And if you default on your payments with the Yendo card, it’s possible that your car could be repossessed. (More on that later.)

Here are five things to know about the Yendo Credit Card.

1. Your car is your collateral

The Yendo card isn’t the only asset-secured credit card on the market, but it may be one of the only ones specifically tailored for automobile owners. Eligible vehicles that can be used as collateral for the Yendo card include:

Light-duty trucks.
Sport utility vehicles.

Furthermore, the vehicles must meet these requirements:

Must be 1996 or newer.
Must be in working condition.
Must be owned by the card applicant. If you leased the car or took out a loan to purchase it, it can’t be submitted as collateral.

To be approved for the Yendo card, you’ll need to upload pictures of the car in the Yendo app, then drop the title off at one of Yendo’s partner locations or mail it to Yendo via FedEx. (Yendo covers the shipping costs.)

Your credit limit on a Yendo card will depend on the year, make, model and condition of your vehicle and will range from $450 to $10,000. If Yendo determines that the value of your car isn’t at least $450, you can’t get the credit card. Only one vehicle is allowed per credit line.

2. Owning a car isn’t the only requirement

Potential Yendo cardholders have to check a few more boxes to qualify. Applicants must live in the U.S., Washington, D.C., or a U.S. military location and have either a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN); however, U.S. citizenship isn’t required.

You’ll also need to provide proof of income to demonstrate an ability to pay your credit card bill, but Yendo doesn’t disclose the minimum income required to get the Yendo Credit Card.

🤓Nerdy Tip

The Yendo card joins a list of credit cards that can be used almost immediately upon approval. Most Yendo applicants, within 30 minutes of being approved, will receive a virtual credit card that can be used to make online purchases or with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.

3. You can get the title back …

Yendo will return the vehicle title to you as long as you’ve completely paid off the credit card balance and ask Yendo to close the account.

In this way, the Yendo Credit Card acts like a secured card that returns the security deposit to the cardholder if the account is closed in good standing.

4. … Or you could lose your car

Yendo founder and CEO Jordan Miller said in an email that repossession is a possible consequence of missed payments — but only after the issuer has exhausted all other options to recoup the outstanding balance. He also said that one missed payment will not trigger a repossession as long as the cardholder communicates to Yendo about their financial hardship.

Even if losing your car isn’t a likely outcome, some people may still be wary of putting up a vehicle as collateral. For those who don’t want to take that risk, other secured cards may be more appealing. The OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card requires a $300 security deposit, but you can pay that over 60 days. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card also allows cardholders to pay the deposit in installments, and it’s possible to get a $200 credit limit with a $49 security deposit, depending on your creditworthiness.

The point is, you may not need $200 to get started with a secured credit card.

🤓Nerdy Tip

As of this writing, the Yendo Credit Card reports to two of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax and Experian, but not TransUnion.

5. There’s an annual fee

The Yendo Credit Card doesn’t require a cash security deposit, but it does charge a $40 annual fee that’s waived in the first year. And unlike the deposit for secured credit cards, annual fees aren’t refundable.

A solid $0-annual-fee alternative is the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card. It earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and eligible cardholders can eventually qualify to upgrade to a traditional, non-secured Capital One credit card (and get their deposit back).

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 21, 2023 by Brett Tams

Multiple holders of the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card — a card aimed at those with fair-to-good credit — received unwelcome news last week: Their no-fee cards will be replaced with a different Petal card that charges an $8 “monthly membership fee,” equivalent to $96 a year, as well as other fees for late payments, returned payments and certain transactions.

It’s the second shake-up for Petal cardholders in as many months. In May, some holders of the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card were informed that their accounts, too, would start being charged an $8 monthly fee.

Here are the latest details on what’s changing.

Only certain cardholders are getting downgraded

Petal confirms that only select cardholders received this notice, but the company declined to share the specific criteria that led to the change in terms.

“This change applies only to this specific segment of existing Petal 2 members,” the company said in an email. “It does not apply to all Petal 2 members, and it does not apply to new Petal 2 applicants. For new applicants, and those who were not notified of a change, Petal 2 continues to be a card with no fees whatsoever.”

Affected cardholders will have their Petal 2 account replaced by a Petal 1 Rise account that charges the $8 monthly fee and earns the same rewards as Petal 2 — up to 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The annual percentage rate on the card will remain unchanged, according to Petal.

The Petal 1 Rise is a card originally conceived for users with poor-to-fair credit. Given this change, there will now be two versions of the Petal 1 Rise: the version for the downgraded Petal 2 cardholders and the one for everyone else that has a $59 annual fee and earns rewards only with specific merchants.

Although the company didn’t specify why terms are changing for certain cardholders, it did provide some context.

“While changes like these are not taken lightly, it is a relatively common industry practice for issuers to make changes to the products they are able to offer based on the economy and other factors,” Petal said. “Such changes have been very rare for Petal but may happen from time to time.”

Cardholders can opt out

Petal 2 cardholders who don’t want to be downgraded to the Petal 1 Rise can opt out via Petal’s app or by contacting the company, but doing so will result in the account being closed. An account closure can have a negative impact on your credit because it can reduce the age of your active credit accounts and/or increase your credit utilization ratio, both of which are factors in credit scores.

For many cardholders, it will make financial sense to opt out, especially if they’ve improved their credit enough to qualify for a different card with no annual fee. Timing is important, though. Applying for a new, lower-cost credit card before the Petal account is closed could enhance their prospects for approval.

Those who decide to keep the card and transition to the Petal 1 Rise will continue to use the same login information to manage their account. The new card is expected to be in mailboxes by Aug. 1, 2023, the same date the monthly membership fee goes into effect.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Cardholders should redeem cash-back rewards before opting out or else the rewards will be lost when the account is closed. Cardholders who transition to the Petal 1 Rise will continue to keep their cash-back rewards, according to Petal’s FAQ page.

What this means for Petal 2 cardholders

Credit cards change terms like credit limits, rates or incentives all the time, but for affected holders of the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card this is a major negative in nearly every way.

Instead of “no fees,” it’ll now cost nearly $100 a year to carry the card. That’s far more expensive than other credit cards for fair credit, and even more than some cards for bad credit. Petal’s alternative option to close the account to avoid that fee may disrupt many credit journeys that the company initially set out to help.

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 20, 2023 by Brett Tams

Your passport book is nearing its expiration date or perhaps full of stamps, and you need to renew it. Or maybe you’re applying for your first passport.

In either case, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has procedures in place for a passport application or renewal. To avoid having your application rejected, you must follow the directions to a T, including those for taking your passport photo.

Obviously, you want to look nice for your photo, but are you allowed to wear makeup?

Here’s what you need to know about passport picture requirements, plus tips to achieve the best results in front of the camera.

Passport photo makeup allowances

Wearing makeup in a passport photo is not against the official rules set by the DOS.

However, there are several unwritten rules about wearing makeup in passport photos, and you’ll want to follow them to help ensure your photo and application is accepted.

Tips for wearing makeup in a passport photo

Your skin tone must look natural

Your passport photo must reproduce skin tone accurately, so we don’t recommend using a foundation that is too light or too dark for your skin tone.

Additionally, using self-tanner or skin-lightening products right before taking the photo is not advised. You don’t want your everyday look to depart drastically from your passport photo when going through immigration.

If possible, use a translucent foundation that looks natural and doesn’t dramatically alter your skin.

Use products with no or low sun protection factor (SPF)

High SPF products, such as sunscreen, primer, foundation or facial powder, can cause a white cast on your face when a flash is used. We recommend using no- or low-SPF base products to avoid looking pale or shiny when wearing makeup for a passport photo.

Additionally, apply a setting powder to absorb excess oil and give your skin a matte texture.

Go easy on the contouring

If your everyday makeup ritual includes contouring, we recommend doing a light contour with a big fluffy brush to avoid a drastic change to your face. You don’t want to go overboard here and use a dark shade.

Using bronzer and neutral-color blush to balance out your face shape are perfectly fine.

Don’t draw on your eyebrows

Your brows frame your face, and changing their shape can change your look entirely. You may want to use a brow gel with a tint for more definition, but it’s not recommended that you change their shape.

Instead of drawing on eyebrows, stick to enhancing what’s already there. Your passport lasts 10 years, and you want the photo to look like you until it expires.

Don’t apply fake lashes

To keep your eyes looking natural, apply mascara to your natural eyelashes and don’t use fake lashes for your passport photo.

Additionally, if you usually wear cat eye eyeliner, we recommend doing a small wing close to your natural lash line instead of an exaggerated wing.

Passport picture requirements in the U.S.

The DOS has published a list of passport photo requirements for first-time applicants as well as mail renewals.

Here are the guidelines for passport photos:

Submit one color photo, taken in the last six months.
Use a clear image without filters.
Have someone take your photo or use a tripod. Selfies aren’t accepted.
Take off your glasses.
Stand in front of a white or off-white background without shadows, texture or lines.

The Department also provides some photo examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos.

Acceptable passport photos include:

Clear, color photos that are properly exposed and reproduce accurate skin tones.
The head is centered, and the photo is of the right size (2 inches x 2 inches).
Photo is sharp without any visible pixels or printer dots.
Applicant is facing the camera with a neutral face expression.
A child’s eyes are open and facing the camera (unless it’s a newborn).

Unacceptable passport photos include:

Applicant is wearing glasses.
Background is cropped out with the help of photo editing software, altering the outline of the head, face and neck.
Applicant is wearing a hat (coverings worn for religious or medical purposes are allowed).
Applicant is wearing a uniform or camouflage attire.

Can I take my own passport photo?

You can take a passport photo at multiple locations, including at a photo vendor, such as CVS or Walgreens, or a passport acceptance facility.

You also can ask a family member or a friend to take a photo for you, as long as it fits the requirements. As a reminder, you can’t take a selfie, but yes, you can take your own passport photo.

Passport picture requirements don’t forbid makeup

Ready for your close-up?

If you’d like to wear makeup in a passport photo, feel free to do so, but remember to keep your look as natural as possible. The last thing you want is to get your photo rejected when applying for a passport or attract unnecessary attention from an immigration official in an already-stressful situation, even if all your paperwork is in order.

In any case, the goal is to capture a timeless look to last you as long as the passport is valid.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 20, 2023 by Brett Tams

For many travelers, our pets are part of our family. While we might not bring Fido along on a vacation, we don’t want to leave him behind for an extended stay or when we’re moving to a new place.

Checking a pet into the cargo area of a plane can cause anxiety — for both pets and their humans. So, the natural question many pet-owning travelers might have is: Can I buy my dog a seat on an airplane?

That answer depends on which airline you’re flying. Let’s take a look at airline policies on buying a seat for a pet, plus a workaround if the airline won’t let you buy your dog an airplane seat.

Size limitations for carry-on pets

Before we dig into specific airline policies, we need to address the biggest limitation of flying with pets: size requirements. Almost every airline restricts carry-on pets to a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you.

Additionally, airline policies generally require that there’s enough room for your pet to stand and turn around in their carrier. Plus, most airlines restrict which species can be carried on as pets.

Put together, these policies generally limit travelers to carrying on small dogs and cats.

There’s one notable exception, though. JSX lets you carry on medium-to-large dogs up to 79 pounds as long as you purchase an extra seat for them. Even better, JSX allows free travel for small-size cats and dogs that fit in a carrier under the seat in front of the owner.

Airlines that let you buy your dog a seat on an airplane

We could only find two airlines that will sell you an adjacent seat specifically for your pet: JSX and JetBlue Airways.

JSX

JSX passengers can bring up to a 79-pound dog on board with them after purchasing an additional seat.

Even better, the dog isn’t restricted to a carrier if you purchase an additional seat for them. You simply have to keep them leashed.

However, even though you bought the seat for your pet, your pet isn’t actually allowed to sit on the seat. Instead, they must sit in the floor space in front of the seat you purchased for them.

JetBlue

JetBlue also specifically allows travelers to purchase an extra seat for their pets, though the pet must still be small enough to fit in a carrier.

While your pet’s carrier must be stowed under a seat for taxi, takeoff and landing, JetBlue lets you place their carrier on your extra seat during the flight.

Alternative: Buy an extra seat

Although some airlines won’t let you technically buy an extra seat for a pet, you might be able to purchase an extra seat for yourself. These policies are typically intended for passengers looking for some extra space, comfort or privacy.

Here’s a brief list of airlines that let you purchase an extra seat and the terms the airline uses for this seat purchase:

Alaska Airlines: Comfort Seat.
American Airlines: Extra Seat.
Delta Air Lines: Extra Seat.

Even if you buy an extra seat for your pet, most airlines require that your pet stays in its carrier the entire flight. That means your dog won’t be able to sit directly on the airplane seat, even if you purchased that seat for them.

Still, buying an extra seat can let you stretch out a bit. You can place your pet’s carrier under the extra seat, or you can simply use the extra seat as a buffer from other passengers.

Earning miles for pet travel

At NerdWallet, we love earning and redeeming points and miles. So, we naturally need to address the question: Can your pet earn miles from travel?

We aren’t aware of any airline that rewards miles directly to your pet. However, some airlines reward humans for bringing their best friend along. For instance, JetBlue TrueBlue members get rewarded with 300 bonus points for a pet booking.

Overseas airlines are a bit more generous with rewarding pet travel. For example, Japan Airlines offers travelers 500 bonus miles per flight for their pets.

Meanwhile, the Korean Air Skypets program rewards travelers with stamps for purchasing pet travel. Those stamps can be redeemed for discounts on pet travel, up to a completely free flight for your pet.

You might also earn extra miles if you opt to purchase an additional seat for extra space. For example, Alaska Airlines passengers purchasing a Comfort Seat will earn miles for their own seat and the additional seat.

Likewise, Delta SkyMiles members can earn miles from an extra seat, but you’ll need to submit a request for mileage credit after travel. Just note that you won’t earn elite-qualifying miles from the extra seat.

Other considerations when flying with a dog

Confirm with the airline that your pet can be carried on your flight. Several types of airline seats don’t have adequate storage space for pets, particularly in premium cabins. Plus, many airlines limit how many pets can be carried onto the same flight. So, contact your airline to make a pet reservation and confirm your seat has appropriate storage for a carry-on pet.
Do your research before sedating your pet for travel. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends against sedating your pet for travel in most cases. And several airlines won’t allow you to carry on a pet that’s been sedated or tranquilized.
Don’t show up at the last minute. Flying with a pet can make air travel even more difficult. You’ll potentially need to fill out or show paperwork at check-in, take extra time at security, plus don’t forget to work in one last bathroom break for your pet before boarding. Make sure that you arrive at the airport early enough that you have time for all of these steps.
Avoid grooming your pet during travel. Keep in mind that some of your fellow passengers may have pet allergies, and they likely wouldn’t have gotten notice that a pet is on their flight. Be considerate and avoid grooming your pet during travels to reduce the amount of dander put off into the airplane cabin.

More resources for traveling with dogs on planes

Different airlines have different policies with respect to traveling with dogs. Here’s a closer look at how pet policies vary across airlines:

If you’re considering flying with a dog

Most airlines only let travelers carry on small dogs and cats, and you’ll generally have to pay for the privilege of storing them under the seat in front of you.

If you want more space, some airlines let you buy an extra seat that you might be able to use to place your pet’s carrier on during the flight. However, your pet generally needs to stay in its carrier the whole trip.

JSX is the only airline we could find that lets travelers carry on a larger dog (up to 79 pounds) and travel outside a carrier. All you need to do is purchase an extra seat for your pet and keep them leashed at all times.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com