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How to Use Points for Disney World Tickets (2025 Guide)

Danielle

July 24, 2025

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Ultimate Guide to Redeeming Points for Disney World Tickets

Note: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to us at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.

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.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

• The #1 most flexible method using American Express points (our top recommendation)
• Why you must buy from third-party sites (not Disney directly)
• Exact step-by-step process for each major credit card program
• Smart gift card strategy to earn bonus points on ticket purchases
• Real example: How we saved $800+ on our family’s Disney tickets

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:

1. Shop at Undercover Tourist
2. Add tickets to cart and proceed to checkout
3. Select PayPal as payment method
4. Choose “Pay with Points” in PayPal interface
5. 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.”

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:

1. Purchase tickets from qualifying travel merchant
2. Log into Capital One account
3. Apply miles to cover purchase (1¢ per mile)
4. 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:

1. Buy Disney gift cards at grocery stores using credit cards that earn bonus points for grocery purchases
2. Use gift cards to purchase tickets directly from Disney
3. 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)

Important: This doesn’t reduce ticket costs but generates valuable points for other parts of your trip.

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.

Tips to Maximize Your Disney Ticket Strategy

Stack Multiple Strategies

Combine gift card earning with point redemptions for maximum savings:

1. Earn bonus points buying Disney gift cards at grocery stores
2. Use those points for free Disney hotels via transfers to Marriott/Hilton
3. 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.”

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 with:

🏨 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.