AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners when you visit our site, click on a link, when you are approved for a credit card, or when an account is opened. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers. Offers for Bank of America cards mentioned in this post have been updated as of 01/02/2025
Offers for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, Disney® Visa® Card, Disney® Inspire Visa® Card, Disney® Premier Visa® Card and The Hyatt Credit Card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
I'll state this upfront: I'm a Disney fanatic. While I like to travel to faraway destinations with points and miles, I take a few trips a year to the Disney parks to see what's new and experience my favorite attractions. But if one thing is pretty obvious about Disney, it's not cheap.
This guide is designed to teach you how to save money at Disney World.
The Best Ways To Save Money at Disney World
While Walt Disney World features some amazingly themed resorts owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company, many points options are available that include the same or similar benefits as those on Disney property. Credit card rewards, frequent flyer miles, and discounted Disney gift cards are also options to help you save money.
The more of these strategies you combine, the more affordable your Disney vacation can become.
Purchase Discounted Disney Gift Cards
My top tip on how to save money at Disney World — discounted Disney gift cards. They can be used to pay for almost anything at Walt Disney World, including tickets, Lightning Lane passes, food, souvenirs, and room costs at all Disney resorts. Disney has a site to combine multiple gift cards, up to $1,000 per card, with the ability to store up to six cards. This makes it easier to keep track of them.
An easy place to start is Target — especially if you have a Target Circle Card. This gives you an easy 5% discount on every purchase, including Disney gift cards.
You can also find discounted Disney gift cards at wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam's Club, which occasionally run additional promotions.
Make sure to check your Chase Offers since you could find targeted promotions for retailers that sell Disney gift cards.
Your credit card's bonus categories can also help you save. For example, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card earns 5% cash back on Disney gift cards bought at Best Buy when electronics stores is one of your selected bonus categories.
Leverage Credit Card Bonus Categories
If you're already buying Disney gift cards, don't stop at the discount. Use the right credit card, like one that earns bonus rewards at grocery stores, so you can stack bonus rewards on top of your savings.
Other bonus categories can work, too. For example, cards that earn bonus rewards at office supply stores can help you rack up extra points when purchasing Disney gift cards at Office Depot or Staples. Likewise, cards with bonus earnings at drugstores or home improvement stores can help you earn more when buying gift cards at retailers like CVS, Walgreens, Home Depot, and Lowe's.
There are a few downsides to using Disney gift cards you should be aware of. First, you'll miss out on any purchase protection benefits your credit card may offer. You'll also need to keep track of multiple gift cards throughout your trip.
Pro tip: hang onto all your gift cards until after your trip. If you need a refund, it will typically be issued back to the original gift card used for the purchase.
Compare Booking Park Tickets Directly With Disney to Third-Party Options
Park tickets are one of the biggest expenses of a Walt Disney World vacation. Before buying directly from Disney, it's worth comparing your options.
Tickets can be purchased either directly with Disney or through approved Disney vendors like Undercover Tourist. These third-party vendors are usually available on shopping portals, offering you a small return on purchases. I recommend comparing the different ticket packages through both avenues, as the better deal can vary depending on your travel dates, ticket type, and the size of your group.
Another option is to redeem Capital One miles for ticket purchases through Undercover Tourist. Because these tickets code as travel, you can redeem your miles at 1 cent each toward the purchase. While you'll usually get better value by transferring Capital One miles to airline partners, redeeming them to lower the cost of your Disney vacation can still be a smart move.
If you're paying cash, consider putting the purchase toward a new card's welcome bonus. A Disney vacation can easily help you meet a spending requirement.
Booking a Disney ticket+hotel package may also code as travel. That means you can redeem miles from cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card at 1¢ each toward recent travel purchases. The same applies to redeeming points for travel purchases on cards like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card (no longer open to new applicants).
Finally, if your card has annual travel credits, you may be able to use those if the purchase codes as travel.
Use a Disney Visa card
If you visit Disney regularly, one of Chase's Disney Visa cards may be worth considering. Chase offers three Disney co-branded credit cards, each with perks designed for Disney fans. Benefits include exclusive Disney Visa cardmember character experiences, 10% off select merchandise, dining and recreation when using your card, 15% off select guided tours and promotional financing on select Disney vacation packages.
- Disney® Visa® Card: No annual fee
- 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all card purchases
- Disney® Premier Visa® Card: $49 annual fee
- 5% on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com
- 2% on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most other Disney U.S. locations
- 1% on all your other card purchases
- *Rewards are issued as Disney Rewards Dollars
- Disney® Inspire Visa® Card: $149 annual fee
- 10% in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com and Stream.ESPN.com
- 3% at gas stations and most U.S. Disney locations
- 2% at grocery stores and restaurants
- 1% on all other purchases.
- Includes a $100 annual Disney theme park ticket statement credit, 200 Disney Rewards Dollars after qualifying Disney Resort or Disney Cruise Line spending, and up to $120 per year in Disney streaming credits.
*Rewards on all three cards are issued as Disney Rewards Dollars.
You could also use the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which earns 4X points on hotels and 3X points on dining. In my experience, purchases charged to my room while staying at a Disney Resort coded as hotel purchases, earning 4X points.
Related: The Pros and Cons of Chase's Disney Visa Credit Cards
Stay Close to the Parks for Early Access — Or Save Money by Staying Further Away
Staying at a Deluxe Resort
One of the best ways to maximize your day is to start in the morning (called “rope drop” by us park nerds). Saving money at Disney is important, but so is how you spend your time!
Every official Disney Resort hotel includes 30-minute early theme park entry, and Disney Deluxe Resorts offer extended evening hours on certain dates. While you may think that only Disney-owned resorts have these perks, think again!
My go-to hotel complex is the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve. These properties are within walking distance of both EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. In my opinion, this is an ideal use of Marriott Bonvoy points and Free Night Awards. Better yet, guests receive the same early entry and extended evening hours as those staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts.
Hotels that offer early entry
As I mentioned, some non-Disney hotels also offer valuable perks, such as early entry to the parks. My favorite properties near Walt Disney World are in the Bonnet Creek area, including the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Guests also get access to the facilities at the adjacent Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek property, which has a nice pool and lazy river.
This property usually costs 90,000–100,000 Hilton Honors points or $900-plus per night — an excellent use of the Hilton Free Night Reward certificates.
You can get one free night annually from the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, along with complimentary Hilton Diamond status. You also can earn an additional free night award from spending $15,000 in a calendar year on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Three other Hilton properties in the Disney Springs area offer early entry, which are also bookable with points. They are:
- Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando – Disney Springs® Area
- Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
In addition, there are three other hotels bookable with other points currencies that include early entry:
- Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa
- Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Area
- Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs Resort Area
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
$0 introductory annual fee, then $150Rates & Fees
(Terms Apply)
- 12X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
- 6X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
- 4X bonus points on U.S online retail purchases
- 3X bonus points for all other eligible purchases on your card
$550Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly through select rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card
Staying off-property
Yet another way to save money at Disney is to take advantage of a wide range of properties in Orlando that cater to varying budgets. Just know that you'll miss out on some perks, like early entry or extended evening hours at the parks. Moreover, transportation may not be as reliable or as frequent as you'd like, meaning you'll need a rental car or rideshare services. When making your trip budget, factor in these extra costs when comparing staying off-property with staying in the bubble.
My favorite off-property resort is the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. This used to be one of the best uses of a Category 1–4 Hyatt free night certificate available, but sadly, it's jumped up to a Category 5, so you'll need to use points or a Category 1–7 Hyatt free night certificate now.
The The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees) offers a Category 1–4 free night award each year, and you can earn a second by spending $15,000 or more on purchases within a calendar year.
Related: Hotel Credit Cards Offering Free Night Certificates
- Earn up to 75,000 Bonus Points. Earn 45,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays - 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Member FDIC
- Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
Manage Stress — and Unexpected Expenses — by Choosing Your Flights Carefully
Most travelers visiting Walt Disney World will fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). I highly suggest leaving plenty of time to get through security here. TSA PreCheck or CLEAR+ are worth getting. You might also be able to fly a budget airline, such as Allegiant, to Orlando's Sanford International Airport (SFB).
Florida weather can be unpredictable, and afternoon thunderstorms frequently disrupt flights, especially during the summer. Trying to find direct flights is highly advisable here, especially since a delay can quickly derail your connection — which has happened to me several times. It's worth making a backup plan for these situations or making sure you book with the right credit card that covers travel delays.
Orlando is served by most major U.S. airlines, so there are plenty of options whether you're paying cash or redeeming miles. Award prices tend to climb during peak travel periods, so booking early can help you lock in lower rates. Even after you book, keep an eye on prices —many airline loyalty programs now let you cancel and rebook award tickets without change fees if the price drops.
Bottom Line
A Walt Disney World vacation probably won't be free, even if you maximize your points and miles. But that doesn't mean you can't significantly reduce the cost.
Whether you're using discounted Disney gift cards, redeeming hotel points, booking award flights, or taking advantage of credit card perks, every little bit adds up. Combine enough of these strategies, and you'll spend less on your vacation without sacrificing the experience.
Page Contents
- The Best Ways To Save Money at Disney World
- Purchase Discounted Disney Gift Cards
- Leverage Credit Card Bonus Categories
- Compare Booking Park Tickets Directly With Disney to Third-Party Options
- Stay Close to the Parks for Early Access — Or Save Money by Staying Further Away
- Manage Stress — and Unexpected Expenses — by Choosing Your Flights Carefully
- Bottom Line
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees), Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees), and The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
