Disney World on Points, Part 2: Accommodations

For those of you who tuned into my first post on booking flights and buying park tickets to Disney World, welcome back for the second installment, where the main focus will be on accommodation options (including a few mini-reviews of several Disney partner hotels I’ve stayed at), and there are a plethora of them! 

Disney World offers a wide variety of accommodation options to suit every family size (meaning you will have no difficulty finding options for families of five or more), style, and budget. 

Vacation Rentals 

For some families, vacation rentals are great options. They can provide all the conveniences of a home away from home. You can have a kitchen to cook food and save on the cost and hassle of eating out with kids, an onsite washer and dryer to ensure a clean supply of clothes to help minimize the packing, and more space to accommodate the largest of families. 

Choosing this option doesn’t mean you can’t capitalize on some money-saving or points-earning strategies. On the redemption end, you could focus on fixed-value reward programs. Specifically, programs like Scotiabank Scene+ points, CIBC Aventura points, and TD Rewards points can be used to offset costs of flights, car rentals, and accommodations at a fixed redemption rate. The flexibility in redeeming these currencies is key. For example, every 100 Scene+ points can be redeemed against $1 of travel purchases of my choosing.

On the earning side, see if there is an online shopping portal through which you can earn something extra for the booking. For example, you can book an Airbnb through the British Airways Avios shopping portal to collect 3 Avios per dollar spent. If you find a property on Hotels.com, you’ll get a free night for every 10 booked nights, and you can stack the savings by booking through Rakuten to earn cash back as well.

Sometimes, the same rental property is listed on another travel booking site for cheaper, so it’s important to compare sites to make sure you’re getting the cheapest pricing. HiChee is a website that will do the comparisons for you. 

When it comes to paying for your accommodations, consider using a credit card that provides multipliers for travel; for example, the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Gold Rewards Card will both earn 2X points on travel.

American Express Platinum Card

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First-Year Value: $1,141

• Earn 70,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn 30,000 MR points upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• Earn 2x MR points on all dining and travel purchases
• Receive an annual $200 travel credit
• Receive an annual $200 dining credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Annual fee: $799

Hotels

Now let’s talk about hotels. At Disney, hotels fall into four categories, each with their own set of Disney amenities, or lack thereof. How important these amenities are to you will determine which hotels you should consider for your stay. 

• Official Disney World Resort Hotels 
• Official Disney Partner Hotels
• Disney Good Neighbor hotels

1. Official Disney World Resort Hotels 

These hotels are located on the Disney resort and come with all the bells and whistles of Disney quality and service. They range in price, with some very economical options like a campsite at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort for under $100 (all figures in USD) for a family of 4. 

If you’re looking for more comfort in one of their Deluxe Resorts, be prepared to pay for it.

The appeal of staying at one of these properties comes from the benefits that are included:

• Complimentary admission to a Disney’s water park on check-in day (new for 2025)
• Complimentary transportation within the Disney Resort via bus, boat, monorail or the Skyliner gondola
• Early theme park entry by 30 minutes every day of your stay
• Extended evening theme park hours on select nights for guests staying in Deluxe resorts and villas
• Purchase Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance of your stay day instead of the usual 3 days
• Book dining reservations for the entire length of your stay (up to 10 nights) 60 days prior to check-in 
• Ability to purchase a dining plan 
• Complimentary parking at the resort, within the Disney theme parks, Disney water parks and the Disney Springs area
• Free delivery of Disney purchases to your hotel room

Because of these perks and their proximity to the parks, this category wins the prize for convenience and for having a fully immersive Disney experience. Outside of the Disney Vacation Club, these hotels aren’t part of a loyalty program from which points can be redeemed towards your stay, but credit cards with fixed-value reward programs can help cover the costs. One of my favourite credit cards for this is the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card.

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

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First-Year Value: $355

• Earn 20,000 Scene+ points upon spending $2,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn an additional 20,000 Scene+ points upon spending $7,500 in the first year
• Earn 6x Scene+ points at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, and more
• Plus, earn 5x Scene+ points on groceries, dining, and entertainment
• Also, earn 3x Scene+ points on gas, transit, and select streaming services
• Redeem points for a statement credit for any travel expense
• No foreign transaction fees
• Enjoy the exclusive benefits of being an American Express cardholder
• Annual fee: $120

2. Official Disney Partner Hotels

These hotels are located on the Disney resort, or near it, and share a special partnership with Disney. They offer some of the same benefits as the Offical Disney World Resorts:

• Complimentary transportation within the Disney Resort via bus, boat, monorail or the Skyliner gondola
• Early theme park entry by 30 minutes every day of your stay
• Purchase Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance of your stay day instead of the usual 3 days
• Book dining reservations for the entire length of your stay (up to 10 nights) 60 days prior to check-in 

Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Wyndham all have hotels in this category, so if you participate in of any of their loyalty programs, you’ll be able to redeem points for a stay. Four Seasons Orlando is also a participant in the program.

In fact, most of my stays have been at hotels in this category because they allow me to leverage my loyalty benefits while also taking advantage of some of the most valuable Disney perks. A few of the ones I’ve stayed at in this category include the Walt Disney Disney Dolphin & Swan, the Walt Disney Swan Reserve, the Waldorf Astoria & Signia by Hilton Orlando, and the Four Seasons Orlando. They all offer spacious accommodations, with great resort amenities like large pools, are family-friendly, and can easily be redeemed for with points. 

Walt Disney World Dolphin & Swan and Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

For those looking to earn or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for their stays, these are three Marriott properties located on the Disney World Resort; the Dolphin is a Sheraton, the Swan, a Westin, and the Swan Reserve, an Autograph Collection property. The three hotels are located right next to each other, and in fact share most of their amenities like their dining venues and outdoor pools. 

The biggest advantage to staying at these properties is their location, especially if you’re visiting Epcot or Hollywood Studios; Epcot is a 15-minute walk, while Hollywood Studios will take you 20 minutes, or even better, a 7-minute boat ride that embarks and disembarks right outside the Dolphin & Swan. On our day at Hollywood Studios, we didn’t finish the park until after the fireworks, which was close to 10pm – I can’t tell you how glad we were to hop onto the boat and be back in our hotel room all within 15 minutes! 

The Dolphin can accommodate up to five guests, the Swan up to four guests, and the Swan Reserve up to six guests. The Dolphin & Swan has cash rates for $25o+, while redemptions start from 44,000 Bonvoy points a night. The Swan Reserve is slightly more expensive with cash rates starting around $350, and redemptions from 54,000 Bonvoy points a night.

In most cases, paying the cash rate could make more sense if you value a Marriott Bonvoy point at 0.6 cents/point (USD). If you have a 35K free night certificate from a co-branded credit card, like the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card, then this could be a good use of your certificate with a small top-up. Remember to recheck the pricing regularly, as it often fluctuates and you can rebook for a lower rate. 

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

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First-Year Value: $368

• Earn 55,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
• Also, receive an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 Bonvoy points starting in your second year with the card
• Also, receive 15 elite-qualifying nights every year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
• Bonus Bonvoy points for referring family and friends
• Annual fee: $120

If you hold Platinum Elite status or higher, you and a guest are entitled to a free continental breakfast buffet, which can be converted to a full breakfast for an extra charge. My kids aren’t big breakfast fans, so my husband and I enjoyed this perk while they were happy with just a bowl of cereal, some yogurt, and fruit which we brought from a local grocery store beforehand, but these can also be purchased at the hotel’s quick service venues. 

Room upgrades are also possible; we booked a Traditional Guest room with two double beds (adding a rollaway for a total of five guests) at the Dolphin and were upgraded to their Premium Studio King, Larger Guest room upon arrival. The layout is essentially that of a suite, which worked perfectly for some peaceful nights for me and my husband after a long day at the park. 

There is plenty onsite to keep the family entertained. They have five beautiful pools and a waterslide, perfect for days between park visits. Family activities are offered throughout the day, including evening movie showings. There is a supervised kids’ club, Camp Dolphin, for kids aged 5–12 that’s available for a fee – great to have for a peaceful meal or just some adult-only down time. The service is popular and space is limited, so reserve early, prior to your arrival.

Other amenities we found particularly helpful were onsite laundry facilities, a Hertz car rental station onsite (as we decided to venture out to a couple of other attractions), and a 24-hour cafeteria style venue for quick bites or snacks. 

Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Signia by Hilton Orlando 

The Waldorf and Signia by Hilton are located in the Bonnet Creek area, a 15-minute drive away from the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you board the monorail to the Magic Kingdom or catch buses to the other Disney parks. The two properties are connected and share an amazing lazy river and pool system. 

We didn’t use points for our stay as we had booked through Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program (a perk from having an American Express Platinum Card), and scored a booking for around $300 per night, which was a great deal especially when combined with the FHR amenities (noon check-in when available, 4pm late check-out, free wifi, room upgrade when available, free breakfast for two, and a $100 spa credit).

At check-in we were upgraded to a deluxe suite. Children under six dine for free at breakfast. To top it off, I used the spa credit for a nice pair of beach sandals and sunglasses for myself. 😉

Both hotels provide a complimentary shared shuttle service to the parks. The shuttle makes multiple stops picking up and dropping off guests from other hotels, potentially lengthening the travel time to get to the parks (up to 35 minutes). A supervised kids club for kids aged 5–12 was available, but it’s quite pricey. 

Surprisingly, cash rates at the Signia by Hilton are almost the same as at the Waldorf, for $400+ per night, but on points, standard reward redemptions will cost 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night at the Signia by Hilton but 90,000 Hilton Honors points per night at the Waldorf are 90,000  while at the Hilton they will cost 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Standard reward availability is plentiful for both properties.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

If you want a more luxurious Disney experience, then nothing tops the Four Seasons. It is located a 10-minute drive away from the Transportation and Ticket Center, and has its own private shuttle to the parks (no stops at other hotels). 

Aside from the heavy price tag (a standard room runs at $900+), this was hands down our favourite hotel in Disney World. At check-in, kids are given their own little drawstring backpacks with some activities, including a treasure hunt that brings you to different parts of the hotel to collect stamps; collect them all and you’re rewarded with a complimentary ice cream. In the room, they gave each child a bathrobe, tutu, wand, and tiara.

The maximum occupancy for our room was four guests. As a family of five, I wasn’t prepared to pay for a second room so I tried my luck and emailed them asking if they would accommodate a crib in the room for my then-turning-three-years-old daughter (we celebrated her birthday there). To my delight, they allowed it as a one-time exception!

The property is beautifully laid out. Their five-acre water oasis with water slides, a lazy river, fountains, and pools was a hit for kids and adults alike. The kids club is complimentary and great for parents who just need a little “me time” to spend by the pool side or use their spa or workout room. They also feature a Character breakfast on select mornings. 

Unfortunately, Four Seasons is not a part of any rewards program. Occasionally, the Amex Platinum Card has promotions if you book through their online travel portal. One such promotion was spend $900+ (CAD) on a travel booking and get a $300 (CAD) statement credit; combined with the $200 (CAD) annual travel credit, that brought the cost of our first night down to around $400 (CAD). 

My husband and I also both signed up for the TD First Class Travel when they had their signup bonus of 80,000 TD Rewards points. This is worth $400 in value when used on their ExpediaforTD portal, so combined, we had $800 which we used to offset the cost of the other two nights. 

Four Seasons is also part of the Amex FHR program, but the FHR rates were substantially higher than their normal rates for our travel dates (which is not uncommon with the FHR program), so the cost outweighed the benefit in this case. 

If you book any of these hotels, be sure to link your reservation to Disney’s system, My Disney Experience to ensure you get all your early booking benefits. 

3. Disney Good Neighbor Hotels

These hotels meet the Disney standard of quality and are within 22km of the resort. They are part of Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt and Choice Hotels, which makes for plenty of redemption options. From a cost standpoint, they will generally be less than the previous hotel categories. They offer standard rooms and suites, many have kitchenettes and offer complimentary breakfast.

Some of these properties can be booked for excellent rates. When compared to the points redemption, the cash rate for hotels around Disney World tend to be provide better value.

The drawback to these accommodations is that they offer fewer Disney perks and privileges. They only offer onsite Guest Services desk to assist with Walt Disney World vacation planning and ticket sales, in addition to transportation to the theme parks (which, depending on the property, can come with a fee). Not having the advanced booking windows for Lightning Lane passes and dining is the biggest disadvantage in my opinion. 

Another Option to Consider: Timeshare Presentation Packages

One option that many people don’t consider is booking a timeshare presentation package. Most big hotel chains have a timeshare ownership program; for example, Marriott has its Marriott Vacation Club and Hilton has its Hilton Grand Vacations. They offer some great packages, where you pay a nominal fee for several nights at a timeshare resort in exchange for a 1.5-to-2-hour presentation. 

We’ve done packages with both Hilton Grand Vacations and Marriott Vacation Club. To give you an idea of the savings, we bought a five-day, four-night package in a studio room for $199 (USD) back in 2017, which we redeemed at the Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations.

In 2019, we bought a similar package for the Hilton Grand Vacations at Tuscany Village where we paid an extra $50 (USD) per night to be upgraded to a two-bedroom suite that had a fully stocked kitchen, in-suite washer and dryer, and TONS of space, all in a resort-like complex. Both properties are located about 20 minutes from Disney, but for the cost savings, it was worth it.

For one of our packages, we were even refunded the $199 (USD) and were also offered the option of either a $200 (USD) voucher to be used towards a future stay with Hilton, or 10,000 Hilton Honors points. Essentially our net spend was $0. This “free” stay helped us to justify splurging on a couple of nights at the Four Seasons Orlando afterwards. 

This option is not for everybody, as timeshare talks can be high pressure situations where you could actually be persuaded to buy a timeshare. However, if you can stand your ground, then you will walk away with a pretty good deal. 

Conclusion 

Disney is a magical place, but your family trip doesn’t have to break the bank. Covering flights, tickets, and accommodations with Miles & Points can substantially help with the cost but it may require some creativity in mixing redemptions from multiple reward programs. While developing your credit card strategy takes some planning, the payoff is worth it.

For accommodations specifically, there are numerous options across various platforms and loyalty programs, so you can easily find one that suits both your needs and budget. When choosing, consider what matters most to your family – cost, convenience, or amenities.

Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll share some strategies for navigating Disney World without the headaches. Until then, may your Disney vacation be filled with enchanted moments your family will treasure forever!