It’s no secret that Disney World has gotten very expensive. Between flights, hotels, tickets, and food, you could easily spend $10,000 or more on a one-week vacation.
And I don’t know about you, but our family definitely doesn’t have $10,000 to spend on a one-week vacation.
If you’re itching to take your family to Disney and want to know the best way to make it happen on a budget, you’re in the right place. I won’t be sharing tips like “pack your lunches”, or “buy souvenirs at the dollar store”. Instead, I’ll tell you exactly how to use points and miles to save THOUSANDS, so that you and your family can experience true Disney magic.
(Make sure you read through for the bonus tip!)
Flights to Disney World on a Budget
The best way to cover flights to Disney World is by opening a flexible-points credit card. (If you’re completely new to points and miles, download my free 30-page guide that explains the basics.)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred will earn you 75,000 bonus points after you meet the minimum spend. These points can be transferred to Southwest to get you 2-3 roundtrip flights, just pay taxes and fees of $5.60!
But if you’re interested in a Southwest promotional offer for BOGO flights until February 28, 2027, that could save you quite a bit, too!
Disney World Hotels on a Budget
There are two great options for using points and miles to book hotels for your Disney World vacation.
Transfer Chase points to Hyatt
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns points that can also be used to book Hyatt hotels, which is actually one of the most valuable redemptions in the points world!
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando is a Category 4 Hyatt hotel, which means it can be booked for as low as 12,000 points per night!
We stayed at this hotel the last time we went to Disney, and the kids loved it! They do offer a shuttle to the parks, but we opted for a rental car. On your rest day, enjoy the resort’s waterslides, rock climbing wall, pool, or splash pad.
Since Hyatt does not charge destination fees on award stays, your stay will cost you exactly $0, saving you a ton on lodging for Disney World!
Swan and Dolphin Resorts Through Marriott
Currently, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card is offering (5) 50,000-point free night awards after meeting the minimum spend. This is a great offer that you could use for Disney World. Read more about the offer here.
These nights can be used to book the Swan, Swan Reserve, or Dolphin resorts. Since these are considered onsite hotels, you’ll receive perks like early theme park entry. You’ll also be walking distance both Epcot and Hollywood Studios!
However, unlike the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, these hotels do charge a resort fee, which is around $50 per night. So although these hotels won’t be free, you may consider whether the benefit of being close to the parks outweighs the nightly fee.
Either way, you’re saving hundreds by using points to book lodging.
Disney World Tickets on a Budget
It can seem impossible to save money on Disney tickets. But let me reassure you! The right credit cards can get you major savings on Disney tickets.
And no, it’s not a Disney credit card.
One of the easiest cards to use for Disney World tickets is the Capital One Venture (first, run the preapproval tool). This card is currently offering 75,000 bonus miles + a $250 travel credit to be used in the portal.
After meeting the minimum spend on this card, you’ll have earned 83,000 miles. These milescan then be used to essentially pay yourself back for purchases that code as travel, up to $830. This post explains exactly how to erase your travel purchases.
The caveat is that Disney tickets purchased through Disney do NOT code as travel, which means they must be purchased through a website like Undercover Tourist.
Several years ago, we used 90,000 miles to “erase” $900 in Disney tickets. These miles helped make a Disney trip possible for our family and gave us so many wonderful memories!
Bonus tip: Consider referring your spouse or travel partner to each of these cards to earn referral points + double bonuses, which will help cover MORE of your trip!
Rental Car for Disney World on a Budget
I recommend 2 ways to cover your rental car when trying to do Disney World on a budget.
The first is the Capital One Venture that I mentioned above. The current bonus offers a $250 travel credit. This credit can be used to cover all or part of a rental car in the travel portal. (Since the annual fee for this card is $95, they are practically paying you to hold the card for the first year!)
The second card I recommend would for anyone who travels. The Capital One Venture X offers a 75,000 bonus after meeting the minimum spend. Although the annual fee is higher at $395, it comes with a $300 travel credit in the portal, 10,000 anniversary points, and unlimited airport lounge access for the card holder – not to mention 2x miles on every purchase.
In 2026, it may feel like Disney World on a budget is an oxymoron. However, when you earn and redeem credit card points in valuable ways, Disney World actually becomes a possibility!
As always, feel free to message me over on Instagram if you have any questions!
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It’s no secret that Disney World has gotten very expensive. Between flights, hotels, tickets, and food, you could easily spend $10,000 or more on a one-week vacation. And I don’t know about you, but our family definitely doesn’t have $10,000 to spend on a one-week vacation. If you’re itching to take your family to Disney […]
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