Complete Guide: Marriott Points for Disney World On-Property Hotels 2025
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World is exciting, but the costs can quickly add up. One way to ease the financial burden of getting to the theme parks while still getting the thrill of on-property benefits is learning how to use Marriott points to stay on property at Disney World.
This strategy allows you to enjoy proximity to the parks, luxurious amenities, and the reliability of Marriott service, all while making the most of your hard-earned points (and limiting cash spending). Marriott offers 3 hotels that are considered on-property at Disney World: The Marriott Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, Marriott Walt Disney World Swan, and Marriott Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotels.
Why Stay at Marriott Hotels on Walt Disney World Property?
Staying on Disney property offers numerous benefits, such as quick access to the parks, early theme park entry privileges, and complimentary transportation to all theme parks. You also get perks associated with Disney Deluxe Resorts, such as free parking at Disney theme parks and extended evening hours (extra hours in the parks on select nights).
In addition, guests will be able to reserve lightning lane selections 7 days prior to your visit, and non-Disney resort guests can reserve 3 days prior to a theme park ticket. However, staying on property can also be quite costly if paying with cash. This is where Marriott Bonvoy points offer the perks of getting on-property benefits at a fraction of the cost.
Marriott hotels on Disney property provide these perks along with the opportunity to use Marriott Bonvoy points, making them a smart choice for both budget-conscious travelers and those seeking the benefits of an on-property experience.
To learn more check out our beginner’s guide to Disney with points, or see our complete Disney savings strategy with real trip examples and transparent cost breakdowns.
Before using your hard-earned Marriott points, read Swan Hotel reviews from Disney families, check Swan Reserve guest experiences, and browse Dolphin Resort reviews to see which property best fits your family’s needs.
How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points for Disney World
Before diving into how to use your points, it’s important to understand how to earn them. New to earning Marriott points? Start with our comprehensive guide to earning Marriott Bonvoy points for Disney World for step-by-step earning strategies.
Co-Branded Marriott Credit Cards for Disney World
Sign up for a co-branded credit card, such as the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, or American Express Bonvoy Bevy, which offer generous welcome bonuses and points for every dollar spent. Chase and American Express also offer business travel credit cards, including the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business card. To learn more about hotel co-branded credit cards read our full guide: Hotel Credit Cards: Marriott vs Hilton vs Hyatt for Disney Area Stay.
Marriott Hotel Stays and Elite Status
Earn points by staying at Marriott properties. Points are typically awarded based on your spending, and elite-status members can earn even more.
Transfer Points from Chase and Amex
If you have a Chase credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer these points to your Marriott Bonvoy account. American Express Membership Rewards points can also be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy.
Maximize Everyday Spending to Earn More Marriott Points
Charge all of your everyday expenses to travel rewards cards. If you’re not using a travel rewards card for daily purchases, you’re missing out on valuable travel benefits. Maximize earning points by charging all of your everyday spending to travel reward cards. If you are not charging an expense to your travel reward card… you are missing out on travel benefits.
Take it a step further: use Rakuten and TopCashback for your everyday purchases to earn extra cashback on top of your credit card points. This creates a triple-stack: Marriott points from hotel-branded cards, credit card bonus points, and cashback from apps. We use this strategy for groceries, gas, and regular shopping – it all adds up toward your Disney trip!
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.
Marriott Hotels on Disney Property: Swan, Swan Reserve & Dolphin
Location and Disney Perks
Each hotel has unique features, such as room types (double vs. queen beds) and proximity to amenities. The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, Swan, and Dolphin hotels are ideally located within walking distance of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, making them a convenient option for park-goers. Being able to walk to the parks can save time compared to waiting for transportation.
Make the most of this prime location with our complete EPCOT planning guide and Hollywood Studios Star Wars experience tips.
These hotels also offer multiple pools, a game room, health clubs, and world-class dining. Additionally, all three hotels provide complimentary shuttle buses to the Walt Disney World parks.
- Points Cost: Redemption rates typically range from 50,000 to 70,000 points per night, depending on the season and availability.
- Why It’s Worth It: The location is unbeatable, and you get Disney perks like Early Park Entry. With the new Disney lightning lane system, being on property has significant perks. Plus, the resorts offer high-end dining and luxurious amenities.
Important Fees and Considerations for Using Marriott Points on Disney Property
There are a few downsides to these hotels. The Swan, Swan Reserve and Dolphin hotels are not eligible for the dining plan, since they technically are not Walt Disney World Resort hotels. In addition, the 3 hotels do charge a resort fee plus tax of approximately $51 per night. The 3 hotels also charge a nightly parking fee (currently $36 for self-parking), however, you do get the benefit of free parking at the theme parks if you are staying at the Swan, Swan Reserve, or Dolphin.
While booking these hotels on points will save you a ton of money compared to paying cash for an on-property resort, there is a cash outlay of at least $50 per night plus parking if you have a car. So if you are looking for a truly free hotel stay, there are wonderful Marriott hotels that are off property and do not charge a resort fee. If your looking for more space and no resort fee, check our Marriott Vacation Club properties.
Explore our complete guide to the best Marriott hotels near Disney World on points for off-property options without resort fees. Looking to offset those resort fees? Consider Disney hotels with free breakfast that you can book with points to save on meal costs.
For families prioritizing budget savings, see how to achieve a complete Disney World trip for under $450 per person by combining off-property hotels with smart planning strategies.
Tips for Maximizing Your Marriott Points
- Book Early: Point redemption rates fluctuate based on demand, so it’s wise to book as early as possible to secure the best rate.
- Look for Off-Peak Rates: If your travel dates are flexible, consider staying during off-peak times when point redemption rates are lower. Park tickets and arifare will also be lower at off-peak times.
- Stay for multiple of 5 nights: Marriott offers the 5th night free for all stays booked completely on points. Note that the this option is available for consecutive nights on award stays using points. If you have free award nights (earned with some cards), these are great to add on to stays that are greater than 5 nights intead of using points for the 6th night.
- Take Advantage of Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status: If you have elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, you can enjoy additional perks such as room upgrades, late checkout, and enhanced point earnings on your paid stays, which can make your points go even further.
- Take advantage of Sign-up Bonuses: Be strategic with your credit card choices. After meeting the spending minimum for one card’s sign-up bonus, consider applying for your next travel rewards card that earns Marriott points (or other type of travel reward).
- Take advantage of a travel partner strategy: Both you and a partner can apply for the same travel rewards card separately to earn multiple sign-up bonuses. Just be sure not to add your partner as an authorized user on your account, as this could disqualify them from earning their own bonus.
- Stack everyday cashback: While earning Marriott points, use Rakuten for online shopping and TopCashback for gift card purchases. Buy Disney gift cards through TopCashback to earn 5%+ cashback, then use those gift cards for Disney expenses like dining, merchandise, or even park tickets. Learn our with our Disney cashback strategy and Cashback App Toolkit for Disney World Savings.
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.
Want to see these strategies in action? Read how one family used these exact techniques to achieve a Disney World vacation for just $1,414 including on-property stays and park tickets. For frequent visitors, consider how the Disney Incredi-Pass can cut costs in half when combined with on-property stays.
A Magical Disney Stay Using Marriott Points
Using Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at Marriott hotels on Disney property is a savvy way to experience the magic on your family vacation without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking for a luxury retreat or a budget-friendly option, there’s a Marriott property to fit your needs.
By earning points strategically and redeeming them wisely, you can make your Disney vacation both memorable and affordable. See our complete systematic approach to combining hotel points, credit card strategies, and Disney savings for maximum impact.
CPA-Level Financial Review
Every credit card recommendation analyzed for genuine value, not commission rates. We’ve personally used these cards for our Disney area hotel stays.
About Points to Magic
Our team at Points to Magic is led by Danielle, a CPA with 19 years of financial expertise. We specialize in helping families save thousands on Disney vacations using credit card points and cashback strategies. Every recommendation is personally tested through our own family trips.
Learn More →How many Marriott points for Disney World on-property hotels?
It typically requires around 50,000 to 70,000 Marriott points per night for Disney World on-property hotels, depending on the specific hotel and time of booking.
Do Marriott Disney hotels charge resort fees?
Yes, Marriott Disney hotels typically charge resort fees and parking fees.
What Disney benefits do you get at Swan, Swan Reserve and Dolphin?
Swan and Dolphin guests enjoy Disney benefits such as Early Theme Park Entry, complimentary transportation to Disney theme parks, and access to Disney’s Extra Magic Hours (limited to select dates).
