Hotel Credit Cards: Marriott vs Hilton vs Hyatt for Disney Area Stays
When using points for Disney area hotels, which hotel credit card gives you the best value? This guide breaks down Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt credit cards specifically for Disney travel, including which Disney area properties offer the best point redemptions.
This guide focuses on how hotel credit cards fit into a Disney World strategy, including points stays and free night certificates. Credit card offers change over time, but the reasoning behind choosing the right card for Disney travel stays the same.
Staying near Disney World using hotel points can save your family hundreds or even thousands of dollars—but which hotel credit card should you choose? With dozens of Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt properties within minutes of Disney World, the right strategy can make your Disney accommodation essentially free.
At Points to Magic, we’ve analyzed hotel point redemptions at Disney area properties to understand that not all hotel credit cards are created equal for Disney travel. The differences in earning rates, welcome bonuses, and available properties can mean the difference between covering your entire stay with points or still paying hundreds out of pocket.
Understanding the Three Types of Credit Cards for Disney Travel
Before we dive into specific hotel credit cards, it’s important to understand where hotel co-branded cards fit in the broader credit card landscape.
This guide focuses on hotel co-branded cards (column 2 in the graphic above)—cards like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and World of Hyatt. These cards earn points directly in their hotel programs and offer valuable perks like elite status and annual free night certificates.
However, transferable points cards (column 1) can also transfer to hotel programs like Marriott and Hilton, though you’ll miss out on the elite benefits. And airline cards (column 3) help cover your flights to Orlando. The best Disney strategy often combines card types: hotel cards for accommodations and transferable or airline cards for flights and tickets.
Important note: Disney-owned hotels can’t be booked directly with hotel points. Instead, you can cover them with Capital One Venture statement credits, cashback apps like Rakuten and TopCashback, or premium travel credits.
See our full guide on how to use points for Disney tickets for step-by-step strategies.
Disney Area Hotel Landscape: What’s Available
Before comparing credit cards, it’s important to know what each chain offers near Disney World.
Location tiers for Disney hotels:
- On Disney Property:
- Disney-owned hotels (free bookings only by statement credits or cashback)
- Marriott Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin – bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points, includes Disney perks
- Disney Springs Area: 10–15 minutes to parks, many shuttles
- Lake Buena Vista & I-Drive: 10–20 minutes, quieter or entertainment-focused areas
- Universal Area: 20–25 minutes to Disney, closer to Universal
Marriott is the only major hotel chain with true on-property Disney stays bookable with points (Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve).
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards for Disney World
Marriott has the widest Disney-area footprint, including on-property hotels, vacation club resorts, and budget extended stays.
Notable Marriott Disney properties:
- Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve – on Disney property with deluxe perks
- Imperial Palms Villas – spacious 3-bedroom villas, no resort fee
- TownePlace Suites Flamingo Crossings – budget-friendly, pet-friendly, includes free breakfast
- Marriott’s Grande Vista & Cypress Harbour – family-friendly vacation club villas
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards for Disney World
Family Spending Strategy:
Start with the Boundless card first to lock in that bonus. Once you’ve met the spend, upgrade to Bevy, then move up to Brilliant. Just make sure you can still meet the minimum spending requirements to earn the sign up bonus on each card.
| Card | Free Night Certificate | Bonus Categories | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boundless (Chase) | 1 free night up to 35K pts | 3x Marriott Hotels, 3x grocery, gas, restaurants (on capped annual spend) | Silver status |
| Bevy (Amex) | 1 free night up to 50K pts (after min annual spend) | 6x Marriott Hotels, 4x Restaurants & Supermarkets (on capped annual spend) | Gold status, strong food, grocery earning |
| Brilliant (Amex) | 1 free night up to 85K pts | 6x Marriott Hotels, 3x Restaurants, 3x Flights | Platinum Elite status, lounge access, annual dining credit |
Family Spending Strategy:
- Start with the Boundless card first to lock in that bonus. Once you’ve met the spend, upgrade to Bevy, then move up to Brilliant — but only if the perks outweigh the $650 fee.
- Use Boundless for groceries and gas while earning the bonus.
- Shift dining + supermarket spend to Bevy once active.
- Keep Brilliant for premium perks + dining credit (if you choose to add it).
Skip the Brilliant?
You can earn plenty of Marriott Bonvoy points and free nights with just Boundless + Bevy. In that case:
- Use Boundless for groceries and gas.
- Shift everything else except for gas, to the Bevy.
Mixing Marriott + another travel rewards card?
Use the Marriott cards for their bonus categories only, and keep everything else on your general travel rewards card. For example:
Other travel rewards card → everything else.
Boundless → groceries & gas (until bonus met).
Bevy → just restaurants & supermarkets.
But make sure your meeting the min spend requirements within the given time frame for the card.
The Amex Brilliant has a high annual fee. Make sure to check that the perks associated with this card out weight the high fee. You can earn enough Marriott Bonvoy points and free nights with the Amex Bevy and Chase Boundless alone.
Check out our lists of Disney World area Marriott Hotels:
- Best Marriott Hotels Near Disney World to Book with Points
- Marriott Vacation Club Resorts Near Disney You Can Book with Points
Our guides and reviews of Disney World Area hotels:
- Marriott Disney Swan Reserve: Staying at Disney with Points
- Guide to Disney Swan Hotel on Points: Book with Marriott Bonvoy
- Stay at Disney’s Dolphin Hotel with Marriott Points
- Marriott Imperial Palms Villas Near Disney With Points
- TownePlace Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings Review | Budget-Friendly Disney Stay
Learn more in our Marriott Bonvoy Points Guide
Hilton Honors Credit Cards for Disney World
Hilton has strong Disney Springs locations and great elite benefits like free shuttles and early park entry. Plus, Hilton cards automatically grant elite status, which means free breakfast savings add up fast.
Top Hilton Disney properties:
- Hilton Buena Vista Palace (Disney Springs, Disney perks)
- Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista (Disney Springs)
- Hampton Inn Orlando (budget-friendly)
- Homewood Suites Orlando (kitchenettes)
| Card | Free Night Certificate | Bonus Categories | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors (Amex No Fee) | None | 7x Hilton hotel, 5x points at Dining, U.S. Supermarkets, Gas Stations. | Starter Hilton card |
| Surpass (Amex) | 1 free night after min annual spend per calendar year | 12x Hilton, 6x Dining, 6x Supermarkets, 6x Gas Stations, 3x Other | Gold status |
| Aspire (Amex) | 1 free Night | 14x Hilton hotels, 7x Flights, 7x Car Rentals, 7x Dining, 3x Other | Diamond status, Hilton Resort Credit , airline credit |
Hilton Credit Cards For Disney World
Family Spending Strategy:
- Start with the no-fee Hilton Honors card first to lock in that bonus. If you start higher, you’ll lose out on the lower-tier welcome offer. Once you have met the minimum spending requirements for the sign up bonus move on to the Surpass.
- While earning the Surpass bonus, make sure to charge groceries, gas, and dining to the card.
- Once Aspire is active, move your airfare + dining there for max return.
Skip Aspire?
If the annual fee isn’t worth it you, skip it, You don’t need the Aspire to unlock real value. The Surpass already gives Gold status, which includes free breakfast for your family (a $50+ daily savings). Surpass alone cover most Hilton families’ needs.
Mixing Hilton + another travel rewards card?
Use Hilton cards only for their bonus categories and keep everything else on your general travel rewards card. For example:
- No-Fee Hilton → groceries/dining until bonus is met.
- Surpass → supermarkets + dining + gas
- Other travel rewards card → everything else.
Make sure you are charging enough to your new cards to earn the sign up bonus (currently for the Surpass it is $3,000 in 6 months, most households will have $3,000 in 6 months on supermarkets, dining and gas).
If Hilton is your only travel rewards cards, charge everything to the Surpass while meeting the sign up bonus, then once your sign up for Aspire (if you sign up for the Aspire) move everything to the Aspire except for supermarkets and gas.
Check out our lists of Disney World area Hilton Hotels:
- 15 Best Hilton Hotels Near Disney World
- Best Hilton Hotels Near Disney World You Can Book with Points
See our Hilton Rewards Guide for Disney.
Hyatt Credit Cards for Disney
Hyatt has fewer Orlando properties but delivers consistently high point value.
Notable Hyatt Disney properties:
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress – upscale, 10 min from Disney
- Hyatt Place Lake Buena Vista – budget, great value (8–12K pts/night)
- Hyatt House Across from Universal – better for Universal, but great extended stay
| Card | Free Night Certificate | Bonus Categories | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| World of Hyatt (Chase) | 1 Free Night (Cat 1–4) | 4x Hyatt, 2x Dining, 2x Airline Tickets, 2x Gym Memberships, 1x Other | Discoverist status, 5 elite nights annually |
Hyatt Credit Cards
Family Spending Strategy:
Hyatt keeps it simple — only one co-branded card.
- Focus dining + airline spend here while earning the welcome bonus.
- Always put Hyatt hotel charges on this card for the 4x multiplier.
- Pair with a general travel card like Chase Sapphire Preferred to transfer Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt for more flexibility.
Skip Hyatt?
If your family doesn’t often stay at Hyatt properties, you might not need the card long-term. But Hyatt points offer some of the best redemption rates near Disney, so even occasional stays can be worth it.
Mixing Hyatt + another travel rewards card?
Use Hyatt card for Hyatt hotel stays + airline/dining until bonus is earned, then:
- Hyatt card → Hyatt stays, dining, flights.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred (or other general card) → everything else, with transfers to Hyatt when needed.
Full details in our Best Hyatt Hotels Near Disney World to Book with Points list and
Hyatt Points Guide for Disney Hotels.
Alternative: General Travel Rewards Cards
While hotel-specific credit cards offer the best benefits for loyal guests, general travel rewards cards provide another option for booking Disney area hotels. Cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture, and American Express Gold allow you to transfer points to hotel partners or book directly through travel portals.
Transfer Options:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: Transfer to Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt (no Hilton partnership)
- Capital One Miles: Transfer to Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards (no Hilton or Hyatt partnerships)
- American Express Membership Rewards: Transfer to Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors (no Hyatt partnership)
Important Limitations: When you transfer points from general travel cards to hotel programs, you earn hotel points but miss out on the valuable benefits that come with hotel credit cards—no elite status, no annual free night certificates, no bonus earning rates at hotels, and no special perks.
Check out our complete list of credit card transfer programs to see which cards transfer to which hotel programs. For more on how to use Chase, Amex, and capital one for Disney World trips see:
- How to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards for Disney World Hotels, Flights & Tickets
- How to Redeem American Express Points for Disney World: Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Use Capital One Reward Points for a Disney World Vacation (2025 Step-by-Step Guide)
When It Makes Sense: General travel cards work well if you want flexibility across multiple hotel chains or prefer the simplicity of one primary credit card for all travel expenses.
Capital One Venture and Venture X can cover more than just hotels – see how to use them for complete Disney packages including park tickets.
Stack Cashback Apps for Extra Hotel Savings
Credit cards aren’t the only way to cover Disney hotels. By stacking cashback portals with your bookings, you can reduce costs, offset resort fees, or even cover entire nights.
- Rakuten can be linked to your American Express account to earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash. Those points can then be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors, adding directly to your hotel points balance. See our full walkthrough here: How to Use Rakuten to Earn Amex Points.
- TopCashback pays out in gift cards, which you can cash out and use toward Disney hotel stays, resort fees, or even Disney gift cards to cover in-park spending.
Many Disney-area hotels frequently show up at 8–12% cashback through these portals. When combined with credit card points, this stacking strategy can make your net hotel cost drop to $0.
Want the big picture? See our guide: How to Use Cashback Apps for Your Disney World Vacation. For even more savings strategies, check out our Disney cashback toolkit.
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.
Head-to-Head Comparison for Disney Travel
- Property Selection Winner: Marriott
- Point Value Winner: Hyatt
- Credit Card Benefits Winner: Hilton
- Best for Families: Marriott (Swan/Dolphin + Marriott Vacation Club properties)
- Best for Pets: Marriott TownePlace Suites Flamingo Crossings – see our pet-friendly hotel guide.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not comparing point vs. cash rates
- Forgetting about resort fees (esp. Swan/Dolphin/Reserve)
- Ignoring free night certificates
- Overlooking pet-friendly policies (many hotels near Disney are not pet-friendly; see our full pet guide).
Choose Your Disney Hotel Strategy
- Most families → Start with the World of Hyatt card (low fee, high value)
- Repeat Disney visitors → Add a Marriott Boundless card for annual free nights + villa stays
- Premium perks → Hilton Aspire or Marriott Brilliant
Ready to start? Pick your chain, grab the right card, and book your next Disney stay for free. Want the complete picture? See our full Disney vacation planning guide with credit card points.
For deeper strategies:
Disclaimer: Credit card offers and point requirements change frequently. Always verify current offers and award availability before booking.
About Points to Magic
Points to Magic is a Disney travel strategy company that helps families save thousands on Disney vacations using credit card points and cashback systems.Our planning approach is informed by professional financial analysis and refined through real-world family travel testing to reduce cost, confusion, and overwhelm.
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