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Step by Step Guide: Use Amex Points for Disney World [2025]

Danielle

October 19, 2025

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How to Redeem American Express Points for Disney World Tickets

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World is an exciting time, but the costs can add up quickly. What if I told you your everyday spending can earn you points towards a free or low cost Disney World vacation. Here is where American Express membership Reward points come into play to significantly reduce your out-of-pocket cost to make your Orlando vacation more affordable.

Redeeming points for a Disney World vacation add a touch of magic to your trip, and allow you to enjoy the wonders of the theme parks without the worry about breaking the bank.

Points To Magic is here to help you understand how to efficiently use your Amex Membership Rewards points for making the most of your Disney World vacation. From park tickets, to flights, to hotel stays, a strategic approach can maximize your Amex rewards for your dream Disney Vacation. For comprehensive Disney vacation planning with multiple point types, also check out our guide to using credit card points for Disney vacations. Want a quick overview of all your money-saving options? Our 5 Disney World on Points & Cashback Tips gives you a fast checklist of the top strategies to slash your Disney costs.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of using American Express points, covering everything from Disney World park tickets to flight options and hotels. While some redemption options offer more value than others, we’ll highlight the strategies that will stretch your points the furthest.

Get ready to unlock the secrets to creating the ultimate Disney World adventure with your Amex Membership Rewards points!

How to Earn Amex Membership Rewards Points for Disney World

Understanding American Express Membership Rewards Points and how to earn them is important for maximizing your credit card benefits. Amex offers several cards that earn Membership Rewards points. Here’s a quick overview of key cards and their bonuses:

Each card offers distinct bonus categories. For instance, the American Express Gold Card earns 4X points at restaurants, catering well to food enthusiasts. Meanwhile, The Platinum Card focuses on travel, with 5X points on flights.

Choosing your card based on spending habits will maximize your points accumulation, helping you earn free park tickets faster. This knowledge is vital for making eligible purchases and using statement credits via travel portals.

Want to see Amex points in action? See our budget-friendly Disney trip plan in action using Amex points for 2 Disney World tickets.  New to earning credit card points for Disney? Start with our complete guide to earning credit card points for Disney World vacations to understand welcome bonuses, partner strategies (Person 2 approach), and maximizing everyday spending across all card types.

Earn Amex Membership Reward points on Rakuten for Disney World

Earn valuable Amex Membership Rewards points with Rakuten by converting your cash back option to Amex points. This simple switch can significantly boost your rewards when shopping at your favorite retailers.

How to Convert Cash Back to Amex Points on Rakuten:

1. Log into Your Rakuten Account: Open your Rakuten profile.
2. Navigate to Account Settings: Under “Account Settings,” choose to change your earning preference from cash back to Amex Membership Rewards points.
3. Link Your Amex Card: Ensure your American Express card is linked to your Rakuten account to start earning points immediately.

This will allow you to earn extra American Express membership reward points at hundreds of online stores, in addition to the American Express points earned for the actual charges for the purchase.

For additional details on optimizing your rewards with Rakuten, check out ourcomprehensive guide on Rakuten. You can also use Rakuten our referral link to start earning more today!

Want to maximize your Amex earning even further? See our complete guide to Rakuten cashback converted to Amex points and our Disney Cashback Toolkit for stacking strategies.

How to Redeem Amex Membership Rewards Points for Disney World Theme Park Tickets

Planning a trip to Disney World can be magical, but costs for theme park tickets can add up quickly. If you’re an American Express cardholder with accrued Membership Rewards points, you have options to offset some of these costs. American Express has partnered with PayPal, allowing you to use your points for purchases wherever PayPal is accepted, while this is not the best use of American Express membership rewards, it’s still a better option than using points for a statement credit.

Note that the Disney website does not allow you to pay via Paypal, you must use a third-party site for this option. For additional ways to save on Disney tickets, see our discount Disney World tickets guide.

Redeeming Points via Undercover Tourist for Disney Theme Park Tickets

How to Use Amex Points via PayPal at Undercover Tourist:

1. Select your Disney World tickets on Undercover Tourist or GetAwayToday (or another eligible third-party site).
2. Choose PayPal as your payment method at checkout.
3. When prompted, select American Express Membership Rewards points to cover all or part of the purchase.

While redeeming Amex Membership Reward points via PayPal will help offset the cost of Disney World ticket purchases, keep in mind that you will get a higher conversion rate for Amex Membership Reward Points when transferred to travel partners (such as Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors) or used through the Amex Travel Portal than PayPal checkout. However, many have people need to just reduce the upfront costs of Disney World travel expenses to be able to afford their trip, this can be a convenient option.

While not the top choice for maximizing your points, this route offers a convenient way to enjoy Disney World without upfront ticket expenses.

How to Redeem Amex Membership Rewards For Disney World Hotels

While booking hotels directly through the Amex travel portal is an option, transferring these points to partner hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors often yields better rate for your points.

Key Benefits of Transferring Points:

• Better Valuation: Often receive more value per point when transferring to Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors compared to booking directly.
• Optimal Locations: Access to top hotels such as Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, and Walt Disney World Dolphin properties ensures proximity to the magic.

Transferring Amex Membership Reward points to a transfer partner for a free stay that matches your travel needs is a great way to save money on your Disney World vacation. For comprehensive hotel options, check out our Best Marriott Hotels Near Disney World on Points and The 15 Best Hilton Hotels Near Disney World guides – both Marriott and Hilton are American Express transfer partners.

When transferring points, keep these tips in mind and consider our plan a free Disney World trip using reward points guide for comprehensive trip planning strategies that combine flights, hotels, and tickets.

For complete details on using transferred Amex points, see our guide to earning Marriott Bonvoy points and maximizing Marriott points for Disney. For Hilton strategies, check our Hilton Honors rewards guide and maximizing Hilton points.

Using Amex Membership Rewards for Flights to Orlando

Amex Membership rewards points can be transferred to a variety of airline partners, providing a direct path to booking your trip to Orlando International Airport.

American Express Partner Airlines include:

• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Alitalia MilleMiglia
• ANA Mileage Club (All Nippon Airways)
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Delta SkyMiles
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Rapid Rewards
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

When transferring points, keep these tips in mind:

• Transfer Points: American Express allows you to transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points directly to partner airlines’ frequent flyer programs. This can enhance your booking flexibility, offering you more options than using points for a single airline.
• Booking Directly: Once transferred, you’ll need to book directly through the airline, using miles which may offer lower fares or additional benefits compared to the American Express travel portal.

Be sure to check point transfer ratios and any associated fees before proceeding.

Strategies for Earning Points on Dining and Entertainment in Disney Parks

Here’s how you can maximize your rewards while spending on dining and entertainment while in Disney Parks:

Purchase Disney gift cards at vendors that fall under the bonus catagories of your American Express card. For example, if you have the American Express Gold card, purchase Disney gift cards at grocery stores. Not only will you get extra points, for money you will spend in the parks, you can also spread out the cost of the trip. For example, if you buy a $50 gift card each week at the supermarket in the months leading up to your Disney World trip, it may help ease the cost of dining and entertainment while in the parks.

You can combine the values of all the gift cards purchased at Disneygiftcard.com and save it on your phone or Apple wallet.

By strategically earning and redeeming points, you can enjoy all the wonders of Walt Disney World while keeping your wallet happy. For additional money-saving strategies, see our How to Use Cashback Apps to Save for Your Disney World Vacation guide. We used cashback apps as a part of our exact system we use to cut Disney trip costs.

Other Cards to Consider to Complement your Amex Membership Rewards

Each of the above cards offer significant sign up bonuses, as well as other benefits such as status, statement credits, free hotel stays, etc. By combining your credit card rewards from various travel rewards credit cards, you can accumulate a substantial number of points through sign-up bonuses and take advantage of the unique benefits and perks offered by each card.

Sign up bonuses are the fastest way to accumulate large numbers of reward points. Consider using a partner (person 2) in earning sign up bonuses. To learn more about our Partner 2 strategy check out our maximize credit card points for Disney trips.

Looking to compare all your options? Our best hotel credit cards for Disney World guide compares Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt cards to help you choose the right mix.

Make Your Disney Dreams Come True with American Express Membership Rewards

Utilizing American Express Membership Rewards points to book your Disney World adventure is a great way to turn your dreams into reality. Whether you’re redeeming Amex Membership Reward points for park tickets, flights, or hotels each option offers unique ways to save.

For real-world examples of putting these strategies into action, check out our How I Used Points To Score A Disney Trip for $1,414 case stud. Don’t miss our quick 5-tip Disney savings checklist that covers cashback apps, hotel points, and other money-saving strategies to maximize your savings.

Pack your bags, gather your points, and get ready for an enchanting Disney World adventure that’s as magical as it is affordable thanks to credit card travel points!