Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel Using Marriott Points

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If you’re looking to enjoy the magic of Disney World with a mix of comfort and luxury—but want to use travel reward points then The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel is a great choice. Disney-owned resorts are often difficult to book with points and can quickly drive up the cost of your family vacation.

Fortunately, there are Marriott Hotels at Disney World, with three of them are located right on Disney property. These include the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan, and Swan Reserve, all of which can be booked using Marriott Bonvoy points.

• Ideal Location: Walk to Epcot or take a short boat ride to Hollywood Studios.

• Benefits: Early theme park entry and complimentary transportation to Disney parks. In addition, guests can purchase a Multi-Pass 7 days prior to your park visit

• Luxury Amenities: From large pools to world-class dining and a beautiful spa, the Dolphin provides an upscale experience. You can use any of the amenities at the Walt Disney World Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin hotels which include a Groptto pool with a waterslide and waterfall, a spring pool, a white sand beach, a kiddie pool, a state-of-the-art Spa and fitness center, and multiple dining options. At the end of a long park day, it is nice to have several dining options available at the resort.

• Family-Friendly Amenities: Family fun can continue using the resort’s ping pong tables, game room, air hockey, and jogging trails. Also, hotel guests get access to Camp Dolphin which is a kids club for children 5-12.

All of this, combined with the ability to use your Marriott Bonvoy points for your stay, makes it an attractive option for Disney visitors. Dolphin guests receive the same benefits as guests of Walt Disney World Deluxe resorts, except for being able to purchase a dining plan. Learn how to maximize Marriott perks for Disney World including elite status benefits.

Transportation Options from the Dolphin Hotel to Disney Parks

The hotel offers complimentary bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs.

A Disney Water taxi is available at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. In addition, guests of the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort receive free parking at Walt Disney World’s Theme parks, if you are looking to have a car. Keep in mind that Dolphin does charge a parking fee. Other deluxe resort perks are available to Dolphin guests, such as early entry and extended evening hours (select nights).

Dolphin guests receive other on-property perks such as being able to purchase lighting lanes at 7 am and purchase a Multi-Pass 7 days prior to your park visit. Visitors of Walt Disney World Theme parks, not staying at Disney Hotels, can only purchase multipasses 3 days before a park visit.

The Dolphin Hotel offers guest rooms with double beds and rooms have a maximum occupancy of 5 people. If you have a large family then the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve may be a good option for you, as their Signature Suites have a maximum occupancy of 6 people (double queen plus a sofa bed). The Disney Marriott Dolphin does offer some larger rooms, however, they are not available to reserve using Marriott Reward points.

Booking the Dolphin Hotel with Marriott Bonvoy Points

1. Plan Ahead: The Marriott Dolphin is a popular choice, especially during peak seasons like holidays and summer vacations. To secure your desired dates, it’s best to book as early as possible. Marriott Bonvoy allows you to book up to 12 months in advance using points.

2. The number of points required for a stay at The Marriott Dolphin varies depending on the season and room type. Typically, a standard room might cost between 50,000 to 75,000 points per night. However, if you’re flexible with your travel dates, you can take advantage of off-peak pricing, which can significantly reduce the number of points needed.

3. Take Advantage of PointSavers and Promotions: Marriott often runs promotions that allow you to save points or earn bonus points. Keep an eye out for PointSavers, which offers discounted point redemptions on select dates. Additionally, if you hold a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, you may receive special offers or bonus points that can be applied toward your stay.

• Combine Points with Cash: If you’re short on points but still want to experience
  The Dolphin, consider a Points +Cash booking. This option allows you to use a combination of points and cash, making it easier to afford longer stays or room upgrades.

• Extend Your Stay with a Fifth Night Free: Marriott Bonvoy members receive the 5th night free when booking a stay of five consecutive nights with points. This perk is a fantastic way to stretch your points further and enjoy an extended vacation.

• Utilize Elite Status Perks: If you hold Marriott Bonvoy elite status, you’ll enjoy additional benefits during your stay at The Dolphin. These perks may include room upgrades, late checkout, complimentary breakfast, and access to exclusive lounges. The more you stay with Marriott, the more perks you’ll receive, so it pays to be loyal.

• 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: Utilize a partner to maximize your travel rewards credit cards. This strategy allows both you and your partner to earn travel rewards credit card signup bonuses on the same type of travel card. For example, if you sign up for the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless rewards card, meet the minimum spending requirement, and earn the credit card signup bonuses, your partner can then sign up for the same card and earn the bonus too. Just ensure that you don’t add your partner as an authorized user on your account, as this could disqualify them from earning their own sign-up bonus. To learn more about using a travel partner or our Person 2 strategy check out Guide To Maximize Travel Reward Points for Disney World.

• Boost your Marriott point earning with everyday spending: Use Rakuten for online shopping to earn Amex Membership Rewards points, then transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy. Set your Rakuten account to pay you in Amex points instead of cashback – this turns regular purchases into Marriott points for your Dolphin stay. Want to learn how to learn how to convert Rakuten earnings to Amex points? Check out our step-by-step guide to Converting Rakuten earning to American Express Membership Reward points. Did you know you can use Amex Membership Rewards for Disney Park Tickets? Learn how in our Step-By-Step Guide to American Express Points for Disney World. 

• TopCashback is another great option for earning cashback on gift card purchases. TopCashback is perfect for buying Disney gift cards with 5%+ cashback to use on your trip. See our complete cashback apps strategy for Disney here.

• Free Night Certificates: Many Marriott credit cards offer a free night certificate. These are a great way to add nights to your stay that are not a multiple of 5 (see point 3 above). Utilize a travel partner to earn multiple free night certificates on multiple credit cards to score more free nights. Multiple award nights can be earned by the same person using different credit cards.

• Monitor Your Points Balance: Keep an eye on your Marriott Bonvoy points balance and expiration dates. Points typically expire after 24 months of inactivity, so make sure to stay active by earning or redeeming points within that period.

• Resort Fees: While your stay might be covered by points, the Dolphin does charge a resort fee and parking fee, including stays booked with points. Even with paying a resort fee, you will still save hundreds to thousands of dollars by using points for your stay compared to other on-property resorts.

Looking to offset meal costs? Consider hotels near Disney World with free breakfast on points for additional savings. Want to see these strategies in action? Read how we used the Dolphin and points strategies to achieve a Disney World vacation for just $1,414 for our family of four.

Final Tips for Booking the Dolphin Hotel with Points

Staying at the Marriott Dolphin Hotel using Marriott Bonvoy points is one of the smartest ways to experience Walt Disney World in style. With a strategic approach, you can enjoy the luxury of this beautiful resort while taking full advantage of being a Marriott Bonvoy member.

Whether it’s upgrading your room, getting the fifth night free, or enjoying elite member perks, the Marriott Dolphin provides an unforgettable experience right in the heart of the magic. Create memorable moments equivalent to string at Deluxe Disney Resorts at a fraction of the cost. So pack your bags, gather your points, and get ready for an extraordinary Walt Disney World vacation experience!