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

Updated: April 14, 2026, 4:43am CDT

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Table of Contents

Earning Amex Membership Rewards Points
Booking Flights to Orlando With Amex Points
Booking Hotels Near Disney World With Points
How I Booked My Disney Trip Using Amex Points
Final Thoughts

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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 $12,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

BEST LOUNGE CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

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.

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 OfferYou may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 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.  
As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

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 1,550 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
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash and Uber One, Resy, lululemon credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR+ credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts and Amex International Airline Program
Access to Amex transfer partners
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$895 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 $12,000 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.
Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
$200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
$300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
$600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
$209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the 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.
Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
$300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
$895 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:

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

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 OfferAs High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.  
As High As 300,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer. 

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $6,600

Annual Fee

$895

APR

17.74% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Amex Business Platinum Card is a premium travel rewards card tailored for business owners who are frequent travelers with high annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers, like the best airport lounge access at over 1,550 lounges and numerous annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Earn 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 1,550 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Earn 2x Membership Rewards points 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)
Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
Generous statement credits on select purchases with your card (including credits for airline incidentals, prepaid hotels, CLEAR, ChatGPT Business, Dell, and Hilton)
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program
Hotel elite status with Hilton, Marriott, and Leading Hotels of the World upon enrollment

Cons

High annual fee of $895 (rates & fees)
Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
See how you can unlock over $4,000 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
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. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
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.
Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
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.
Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Platinum Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
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.
Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
2X points on purchases at U.S. 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.
5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
1X points on other eligible purchases
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 17.74% - 28.49% 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 as high as 300,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum card. Find out your offer. Terms Apply.

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.

Delta JFK MCO — Image Credit: Delta Air Lines

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.

Virgin Atlantic awards MCO — Image Credit: Seats.aero

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.

Jetblue award rates MCO — Image Credit: JetBlue

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.

Aeroplan SFO MCO — Image Credit: Aeroplan

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.

American Airlines B737 800 taxiing MCO — Image Credit: Alberto Riva

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.

Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista checking in arrival — Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs Area. Image Credit: Jessica Merritt

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.

Hilton DoubleTree Orlando — Image Credit: Hilton

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.

Walt Disney World Dolphin water view — Walt Disney World Dolphin. Image Credit: Jessica Merritt

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.

Walt Disney Swan Reserve Pricing — Image Credit: Marriott

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.

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.

Hampton Inn LBV Price — Image Credit: Hilton

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.