Dream Weekend: How I Booked a Disney World Trip for Less With Amex Points

There’s no way around it: a trip to Walt Disney World is expensive. Between theme park tickets, food, and hotels near the parks, costs add up fast. Still, for families like mine, watching our kids light up at Disney makes it totally worth it.

The good news? You don’t have to pay for everything out of pocket. With the right credit card strategy, you can use points and miles to cover flights and hotels, cutting down your biggest expenses.

Here’s how it’s done with Amex Membership Rewards points.

Earning Amex Membership Rewards Points

American Express Membership Rewards points are one of the most flexible ways to save on travel, and there are several strategies to boost your balance.

For starters, there are many American Express cards with generous welcome bonus offers, this is often the fastest way to accrue a large number of points. Cards like The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express or The Platinum Card^® from American Express can offer whopping 6-figure welcome bonuses after meeting minimum spend requirements, giving your points balance a strong head start.

For example, I recently applied for the Amex Platinum card with the following welcome bonus offer:

• Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel^® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel^®.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club^® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Business owners should consider the Amex Business Platinum card:

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible travel purchases like flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid short-term rentals booked through AmexTravel.com
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection (as of 10/2024).
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024.
• Unlock over $2,000 in statement credits with business and travel benefits annually* on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply. Learn more. *After meeting qualifying spend thresholds
• New! Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
• New! Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com
• 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• Use the Business Platinum Card^® and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

However, everyday spending is another key way to earn lots of points: the American Express^® Gold Card earns 4x points at restaurants (up to $50,000 per calendar year) and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

Referral bonuses help grow your balance, too. By referring friends or family to apply for Amex cards, you can earn bonus points if they’re approved. Combining welcome bonus offers, strategic everyday spending, and referrals, you can accumulate many points toward flights, hotels, and other valuable redemptions.

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 250,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum card. The current public offer is 150,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Booking Flights to Orlando With Amex Points

With multiple airline transfer partners, travelers across the U.S. can use their Amex points to book domestic flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO). Whether flying nonstop from a major hub or connecting from a smaller airport, transferring Amex points to airline partners can provide significant savings compared with paying cash.

Delta SkyMiles

Amex points transfer to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio, offering a straightforward way to book domestic award flights. Delta provides a large network of nonstop and connecting flights to Orlando, and award pricing can be competitive, particularly for those who plan ahead and remain flexible with dates.

If you’re lucky, you can even snag rock-bottom award rates with Delta to Orlando (MCO) starting at just 3,600 miles one-way. For example, we found a flight from New York (JFK) to Orlando in October 2025 at that price.

If you hold a Delta co-branded credit card, you’ll enjoy a 15% discount on award flights, bringing the cost of this ticket down to only 3,000 miles — an incredible deal for getting to Disney. This makes Delta a reliable choice for families seeking points to cover their flights to Orlando.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Points transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio, and Flying Club allows you to book Delta-operated flights at reduced award rates.

In fact, you can book Delta flights with Virgin at a fixed cost of just 7,500 points in economy from several U.S. cities. It’s a valuable option when Delta’s program, which uses dynamic pricing, shows inflated rates for the same flights.

This can make award travel to Orlando more attainable, even on short-haul routes, and offers a unique way to maximize value for flights operated by one of the largest U.S. carriers.

JetBlue TrueBlue

Amex points transfer to JetBlue TrueBlue at a 5:4 ratio (so 1,000 Amex points equal 800 TrueBlue points). During a JetBlue sale, you can score flights from major U.S. cities with direct service to Orlando for just under 3,500 points each.

TrueBlue’s revenue-based award structure makes it easy to find competitive award pricing for domestic flights, giving travelers flexibility for flights to Orlando from a wide range of cities nationwide.

Air Canada Aeroplan

If you’re a United Airlines flyer or live near a United hub, you can often transfer Amex points at a 1:1 ratio and book direct flights to Orlando using Air Canada Aeroplan instead of United miles.

Award rates cost 15,000 points one-way for longer routes like San Francisco (SFO) to Orlando.

British Airways Avios

Points transfer to British Airways Club at a 1:1 ratio, and because Avios uses a distance-based award chart, you can often book American Airlines flights for much less.

With hundreds of U.S. cities served, award flights on American Airlines to Orlando can often be booked for fewer points than standard cash fares, making Avios a smart option for Disney travelers looking to maximize value.

Booking Hotels Near Disney World With Points

Membership Rewards points have a value of about 2.2 cents each, and you’ll generally get better value for your points when you transfer them to airlines. You’ll typically get just 0.5 cents in value for transfers to Hilton Honors and 0.7 cents for Marriott Bonvoy. However, there are situations where hotel transfers can still make sense.

Standard transfer ratios are 1:2 to Hilton Honors (1,000 Amex points equal 2,000 Hilton points, worth about 0.5 cents each) and 1:1 to Marriott Bonvoy (1,000 Amex points equal 1,000 Marriott points, worth about 0.7 cents each). On paper, these transfers usually result in a net loss compared with airline redemptions.

That said, there are 2 times when hotel transfers shine:

• Topping off an account if you’re just short of an award night.
• During limited-time transfer bonuses, such as the up to 25% bonus Amex to Hilton promos that is currently available through September 23, 2025.

Below, we’ll explore how Hilton and Marriott transfers can make a Disney trip more affordable and flexible.

Hilton Honors

Families looking to stay near Disney World can use Amex points at budget-friendly Hilton properties, like the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando – Disney Springs Area or the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs Area.

These hotels are close to the parks and within walking distance of Disney Springs. They offer award nights starting around 36,000 Hilton points, making them an accessible option for families who want convenience without spending hundreds per night in cash.

By transferring Amex points to Hilton, particularly during a promotional transfer bonus, travelers can cover a full night with points, saving hundreds in cash while keeping the convenience of being close to the parks.

Hot Tip:

Even if you only plan a 4-night stay at Disney, it’s worth booking 5 nights with Hilton points. Thanks to Hilton’s fifth-night-free perk on award stays, you’ll pay the same number of points and score the fifth night of your stay for free.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott offers several Disney-area options, including the Walt Disney World Swan Resort and Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, the newer and more upscale Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, and other hotels within walking distance of EPCOT and near Disney Springs.

The Swan Reserve regularly has cash rates above $300 per night, but it can offer good value with award nights for rooms that sleep up to 4, starting at around 40,000 points.

Generally, award nights at these properties typically range from 40,000 to 60,000 points, and transferring Amex points to Marriott can help families bridge the gap if they’re short on hotel points.

Several Marriott options offer spacious rooms at an excellent value for families willing to stay a little further from the parks, but within a 15-minute drive of Disney World.

Properties like the Orlando World Center Marriott, Courtyard Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village, and SpringHill Suites Orlando by Marriott Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village have award nights starting at just 15,000 points, making them an affordable way to enjoy Marriott’s amenities while staying close to Disney World.

Even when only covering a few nights, using Amex points for Marriott hotels can make a Disney trip more manageable. The best time to transfer points is during an Amex-to-Marriott transfer bonus, which helps you stretch your Membership Rewards and get the most value while funding your stay.

» Related: The Best Places To Stay in Orlando, Florida, for Your Disney Vacation [2025]

How I Booked My Disney Trip Using Amex Points

Full transparency: I live in South Florida, and while I much prefer flying for most trips, I usually drive to Orlando. So for my last visit, I didn’t book an award ticket.

If I were flying, I’d take full advantage of the Delta SkyMiles program, which offers award flights from Miami (MIA) to Orlando (MCO) for around 3,000 miles each way. Even better, if you have a Delta co-branded card, you can get 15% off award flights and get these flights for even less.

For this trip, I focused on hotel savings instead. I transferred Amex Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors while it was offering a 25% transfer bonus.

With this promotion, I received 2,500 Hilton Honors points for every 1,000 Membership Rewards points. That meant I could book the well-reviewed Hampton Inn Orlando/Lake Buena Vista, which sleeps 5, for less than 17,000 Amex points per night, which is an amazing deal for a Disney-area hotel.

I could have splurged on a fancier hotel, but all we needed was a clean place to sleep near the parks, and the free breakfast was a nice bonus.

Final Thoughts

Disney will always be a pricey vacation, but it doesn’t have to drain your wallet completely. While transferring Amex points to Hilton or Marriott isn’t always the best value, it can make sense, especially with a transfer bonus. Pairing that strategy with other redemptions, like covering flights, allowed me to offset hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars.

For me, the real win was turning what could have been an all-cash trip into one that was largely points-funded. With the right planning, even a notoriously expensive Disney weekend can feel much more manageable, all without losing any of the magic.