How to Use Points for Disney World Tickets (2025 Guide)
Want to save big on Disney World park tickets? Learn how to use Amex, Chase, Capital One for Disney tickets.
Disney World tickets can cost $100+ per person per day, making them one of the biggest vacation expenses for families. The good news? We can show you exactly how to use credit card points to dramatically reduce or eliminate ticket costs entirely.
Important: You cannot buy Disney tickets directly from Disney using points. However, there are five proven strategies that work – and we’ll show you which ones deliver the best value.
Need a complete roadmap? Our comprehensive free Disney trip planning guide walks you through earning and redeeming points for every aspect of your vacation.
Want to see exactly how we save thousands on Disney trips? Check out our complete strategy with real cost breakdowns
Critical Requirement: Tickets Must “Code as Travel”
Before diving into strategies, understand this key limitation: Most point redemption methods only work if your purchase codes as “travel” spending.
- ❌ Disney.com purchases = Entertainment category (won’t work)
- ✅ Third-party sites = Travel category (works for points)
Recommended third-party sites:
- Undercover Tourist – Our top choice for discounts + travel coding
- GetAwayToday – Good customer service
Method 1: American Express Membership Points
Why we recommend this: Most flexible option that works with any Amex card earning Membership Rewards points.
How It Works
American Express partners with PayPal to let you use points at checkout through “Pay with Points.” While not the highest redemption value, it offers unmatched flexibility for Disney tickets.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Shop at Undercover Tourist
- Add tickets to cart and proceed to checkout
- Select PayPal as payment method
- Choose “Pay with Points” in PayPal interface
- Complete purchase – points cover your ticket cost
Real Example:
“We used 45,000 Amex points to cover $450 in 3-day park hopper tickets for our April 2024 trip. While the redemption rate was only 1 cent per point, it saved us $450 in cash we used for Disney dining instead.”
Want to see exactly how much we saved on that Disney World trip? Check out our breakdown of this trip’s cost using our 3 step method.
Pro tip: Before making any online purchase, check Rakuten for cashback opportunities to stack even more savings on top of your points.
We also recommend checking TopCashback as an alternative cashback portal to compare rates and maximize your savings.
💡 Want our complete step-by-step guide? Check out How to Redeem American Express Points for Disney World: Step-by-Step Guide.
Method 2: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Best for: Cardholders with Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve.
How It Works
The Chase travel portal occasionally offers Disney tickets, though availability varies. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can also use their $300 annual travel credit.
When to Use:
- You have Chase Sapphire Reserve ($300 travel credit)
- Chase portal has competitive Disney ticket pricing
- You want to earn bonus points on travel purchases
Limitations:
- Limited Disney ticket availability in portal
- Must code as travel for credits to apply
- Often higher prices than third-party sites
Learn more: How to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards for Disney World Hotels, Flights & Tickets
Method 3: Capital One Points
Best for: Capital One Venture X or Venture Rewards cardholders
How It Works
Redeem Capital One miles at a fixed 1¢ per mile rate toward travel purchases. Simple and straightforward, though not the highest value redemption.
Process:
- Purchase tickets from qualifying travel merchant
- Log into Capital One account
- Apply miles to cover purchase (1¢ per mile)
- Miles instantly offset your ticket cost
Value Assessment:
- Fixed 1¢ per mile (fair value)
- Easy to use
- Better value usually available transferring to partners
Method 4: Bilt Rewards Portal
Best for: Renters who earn Bilt points on rent payments
How It Works
Use Bilt’s travel portal to book Disney tickets directly, or earn statement credits for travel purchases.
Key Benefits:
- Earn points on rent (unique feature)
- Statement credits for travel purchases
- No annual fee
Limitations:
- No sign-up bonus (unlike other travel cards)
- Limited to Bilt cardholders
- Fewer redemption options than major programs
Method 5: Gift Card Strategy (BONUS POINTS)
Best for: Maximizing points on ticket purchases while earning bonus category rewards
How This Works
Instead of using points to pay for tickets, use this strategy to earn extra points on your ticket purchase:
- Buy Disney gift cards at grocery stores using credit cards that earn bonus points for grocery purchases
- Use gift cards to purchase tickets directly from Disney
- Earn 2-4x points per dollar on grocery purchases
Example Strategy:
- Ticket cost: $1,000 for family of 4
- Card: Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless (4x points on grocery purchases)
- Purchase: $1,000 in Disney gift cards at grocery store
- Result: Earn 4,000 Marriott points + pay same ticket price
Best Cards for This Strategy:
- Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 4x points on grocery purchases
- American Express Hilton cobranded cards
- American Express Gold: 4x points at supermarkets
- Chase Freedom Flex: 5x points on grocery (rotating quarters)
Why We Don’t Recommend Disney Credit Cards
The Disney Premier Visa Card earns Disney Rewards Dollars for park spending, but:
- Low earning rates on everyday purchases
- Requires significant spending to earn meaningful rewards
- Better value available with general travel cards
Focus on flexible travel cards that offer sign-up bonuses and transfer to multiple partners instead.
💰 Stack Cashback for Extra Disney Savings
Get cash back on Disney purchases and travel bookings with these tested apps:
Stack these with credit card points for maximum savings!
Tips to Maximize Your Disney Ticket Strategy
Stack Multiple Strategies
Combine gift card earning with point redemptions for maximum savings:
- Earn bonus points buying Disney gift cards at grocery stores
- Use those points for free Disney hotels via transfers to Marriott/Hilton
- Save cash for park tickets or use separate points via PayPal
Plan Your Credit Card Strategy
- Open cards strategically to earn sign-up bonuses before your trip
- Focus on flexible programs (Amex, Chase, Capital One) over Disney-specific cards
- Use bonus categories throughout the year to accumulate points
Real Success Story
“In April 2024, our family used a combination of these strategies for our Disney World trip. We earned 60,000 bonus points from a new Amex card, used the gift card strategy to earn an extra 3,000 Marriott points, and ultimately spent only $1,414 total for flights, 8-night hotel stay, and 7-day park hopper tickets for three people.”
This savings pattern isn’t luck. See our proven results across multiple trips.
If you don’t have enough points for tickets yet, our complete discount Disney tickets guide shows how to save and our stacking strategies.
Next Steps: Complete Your Disney Points Strategy
Securing discounted tickets is just one piece of your Disney savings puzzle. Complete your points strategy
🏨 Hotels: Discover the Top 15 Hilton Hotels Near Disney World You Can Book with Points
✈️ Flights: Learn how to book Disney flights and hotels entirely on points
🎫 Complete Trip: See our detailed breakdown of how we spent $1,414 on our entire Disney trip using points
Want to replicate these results? Our complete Disney travel points strategy breaks down the entire system we used.
Plan Your Disney Vacation with Points—Without the Stress
Skip the hours of research and use the exact system we follow to book Disney trips for nearly free.
- Real trip examples
- 24/7 Disney planning chatbot
- Smart strategies to stack points, cashback & discounts
- Bonus: Plug-and-play templates & guides
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.
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