Planning a trip to Disney World is always exciting, but finding ways to save money while making the most of your experience can be just as rewarding. If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member, you’re in luck! Marriott Bonvoy offers numerous perks to help you save on accommodations during your Disney World vacation.

Here’s a guide on how to get maximum value on Marriott Bonvoy benefits to make your trip magical without breaking the bank. There are several ways to get a free night at Marriott hotels, including free night certificates, 5th night free on award stays, and using points.

Free Marriott Stays Using Marriott Points

The most popular or known way to have a free night at a Marriott hotel is through Marriott Bonvoy points. Large chunks of points can be earned as a welcome bonus when signing up for co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards such as the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, and American Express Bevy. All of the Marriott credit cards offer a welcome offer with enough points for a free stay.

A great way to take advantage of all of the sign-up bonuses offered by American Express, make sure to sign up for each card in order from the lowest to the highest level cards. If you sign up for the American Express Brilliant card first, you will not be eligible to earn the signup bonus for the American Express Bevy.

However, if you sign up for the Bevy credit card, and then the Brilliant card you will be eligible for the welcome bonus for both cards. Even better yet... have your person 2 or travel partner you both can sign up for all the Marriott cards and be eligible for all of the sign-up bonuses.

Once you have all three cards, make sure to keep track of the bonus categories for each and prioritize using that card for those purchases to earn even more Marriott Bonvoy bonus points. Each Marriott card has different bonus categories, so keeping track of when to use which Marriott card will be important to earn the largest number of points.

Earning more points means you will earn free stays faster. Using your reward credit cards strategically for your everyday spending is key to earning a free Disney World vacation.

How to Earn Marriott's Free Night Certificates

With Marriott co-branded credit cards, you can easily earn free night certificates to use at Marriott properties:

American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card: Grants an annual free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points.
American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card: Offers a free night certificate worth 50,000 points after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card: Provides a free night award worth up to 35,000 points.

These free night certificates can be redeemed for hotel stays within the specified point range at eligible Marriott properties. Additionally, you have the option to add up to 15,000 additional points to the certificate’s value. For example, if you have a 35,000-point free night certificate, you can top it up with 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to book a room worth up to 50,000 points.

This flexibility applies to any level of Marriott free night certificate. Being able to use extra points on a free night night certificate, makes it easier to book a higher-tier stay. To monitor the status of your free night awards in your Marriott Bonvoy account.

Maximizing Marriott's Free Night Certificates

The real beauty of Marriott's Free Night Award Certificates is their flexibility—they can be used at any Marriott property that has a room available within the points range of your certificate.

Strategize with Points: Marriott offers the “fifth-night free” benefit when you book a stay of five nights using points. Use points in increments of five nights to take advantage of this perk. Use a free night reward certificate for nights for extra nights that are in addition to the 5 nights (6th night +). Combining the 5th free night benefit and free night certificates can be helpful for longer stays.
Monitor Expiration Dates: Marriott Free Night Certificates have an expiration date of one year after they’re issued, so keep an eye on these dates and make sure to use them before they lapse.

Understanding Marriott’s 5th Night Free Benefit

One of the most valuable perks of the Marriott Bonvoy program is the 5th Night Free benefit. This allows members to enjoy a complimentary fifth night when booking four consecutive nights using points at Marriott Hotels. In other words, when you redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points for stays of four nights or more, you get an extra night free, making your points stretch further and helping you save on additional hotel stays.

How to Maximize the 5th Night Free Benefit

To fully capitalize on the 5th Night Free benefit, plan your trips in increments of five nights or longer. Whether you’re taking a week-long vacation or a longer adventure, structuring your stays in multiples of five allows you to maximize your points and enjoy extra nights at no cost. For example, if you stay for 10 nights, you only need enough points for 8 nights, and you’ll receive 2 free nights. If you’re planning a longer stay that exceeds five nights but isn’t a multiple of five, consider using a free night certificate for the additional nights.

On Property Marriott Hotels at Disney World

Marriott Bonvoy members are in luck when planning a Disney World vacation. Marriott has 3 hotels considered "on-property" at Disney, which have many of the same perks as Disney Resort guests. These hotels can be booked using award nights, hotel points, or any combination of cash and points. Keep in mind that on Disney property hotels do charge resort fees, even for stays booked completely on points.

With thoughtful planning, Marriott Bonvoy can help you enjoy free hotel stays during your Disney World vacation. Whether through points, free night certificates, or the 5th Night Free benefit, the Marriott Bonvoy program offers several ways to save on accommodations without compromising on luxury or comfort. Start strategizing, enjoy your stay, and create magical memories at Disney World without breaking the bank!

How To Maximize Marriott Perks for Disney World