We Don’t Pay Full Price for Disney – Here’s Why

New here? You’re in the right place. Turn credit card points + cashback into Disney trips that cost 70-100% less than retail.

No “best card” lists. No complicated spreadsheets. Just a clear plan.

Start here if Disney feels expensive or confusing.

This post includes affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Our 3-Step Strategy

You don’t need to do all three — and you don’t need to start at the beginning.

Step 1: Earn Points

Welcome bonuses + daily spend on the right cards

Step 2: Book Hotels With Points

Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott near Disney (not on property)

Step 3: Cover Tickets, Flights & Food

Cashback + points for tickets, food, flights

Real Proof From Our Own Trips

We don’t just teach this system — we use it. Below is an example of how this strategy plays out in real life.

ValueWhat We Got
$4,899Total Saved on Latest Disney Trip
$1,342Hotel Stay Booked for $0
$1,992Saved on 7-Day Park Hopper Plus Tickets (for 3 people)
$2,050+Average Saved Per Trip with Incredi-Pass (vs. buying tickets separately)
5 TripsPlanned This Year with One Incredi-Pass

Our Incredi-Passes cost $1,755 each, but they save us over $2,050 per trip compared to buying tickets separately — and they’ve covered all 27 park days this year.

New to using points and cashback for Disney?
Start with the exact framework we use so you can see what applies to your situation.
👉 Get the Free Disney Points Cheat Sheet

Step 1: How We Earn Points for Disney (and Who This Step Is For)

We focus on three things: 

  • Credit card welcome bonuses from AmexChaseCapital One, and more
  • Daily spending on cards that match your actual budget
  • Simple setups — not ones that sound impressive but earn the wrong type of rewards

Ready to dive deeper?

→ How to Use Amex Points for Disney World

→ Using Capital One Points for Disney Tickets & Hotels

Step 2: How We Book Hotels With Points Near Disney

We skip overpriced Disney hotels and book high-value options nearby like:

  • Hotel chains: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott
  • Location: Minutes from parks
  • Perks: Free breakfast, shuttles, family suites

Pro tip: Book Disney partner hotels (Swan, Dolphin) with Marriott points and save $2,000+ per trip.

Browse options: 

→ Hilton hotels near Disney 

→ Marriott properties bookable with points  

→ Hyatt hotels bookable with points

Step 3: How We Cover Tickets, Flights & Food With Cashback + Points

Not everything can be booked with hotel points — but that doesn’t mean you need to pay full price.

Disney Tickets + In-Park Spending

  • Use points and cashback to offset tickets, food, and extras
  • Stack portals + gift cards to reduce in-park spending
  • Redeem points as statement credits when needed

Stack Cashback + Points for Extra Disney Savings

Get cashback on Disney purchases and travel bookings with tested apps — and see how we combine them with points to save $600–$1,400 a year on tickets, dining, and extras.


Stop Guessing. Start Planning.

❓ Which credit cards should you apply for first?

❓ Should you use points for hotels or tickets?

❓ How do you time everything without missing bonuses?

The Disney Points Action Plan answers all of this—customized to your cards, your timeline, and your trip goals.

This isn’t a generic guide. It’s a personalized roadmap built specifically for your family so you can stop researching and start booking.

Get Your Disney Points Action Plan ($147) →

Disney Ticket Comparison: 6-Day Park Hopper Plus vs. Incredi-Pass

Chart showing how much you can save using the Disney World Incredi-Pass

Buying separate Park Hopper Plus tickets for each trip — plus parking at $30/day — would have cost our family  $17,266.

Our Incredi-Passes (including tax and water park option) cost $1,755 each, or $7,020 total. That’s $10,246 saved across 5 trips and 27 park days, bringing the cost down to about $65 per person per park day.

How We Maximized Our Incredi-Pass Value

We originally planned 4 trips in our Incredi-Pass year, but a spontaneous August 2025 trip turned it into 5 trips. That extra trip dropped our per-trip cost from about $1,800 to around $1,400 — without spending a penny more on tickets. By incorporating that additional trip, we also found ourselves exploring various strategies for maximizing travel points for Disney, which further enhanced our savings. With careful planning, we leveraged credit card rewards and promotions to significantly reduce our on-ground expenses. This approach not only made our trips more affordable but also opened up new opportunities for experiences we hadn’t initially planned.

We bought our Incredi-Passes online upfront, then used our year-round savings strategies to cut Disney costs even further:

  • Amex membership, Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton points for hotels
  • Discounted Disney gift cards from warehouse clubs and Top Cash Back portal
  • Use Rakuten and Top Cash Back to earn extra Amex points on everyday purchases

Because the pass is valid for a full year, we skip buying tickets for every trip — saving us over $10,200 compared to purchasing individual tickets and parking for each visit. Learn more about our Incredi Pass trips.

Our Team: Financial Experts Who Understand Money AND Magic

Our team includes a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who knows how to stretch real family budgets using rewards programs.

We also specialize in neurodivergent family travel , including planning tips for ADHD and autistic travelers, sensory tools, and structured days that reduce overwhelm.


Our Transparent Approach

  • ✅ Real costs + real savings from our own trips
  • ✅ Only recommend cards and tools we personally use
  • ✅ Focus on realistic budgets — not elite status games
  • ✅ Clear affiliate disclosure and ethical monetization
  • ✅ Free tools before paid products — always
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