How to Save Money on Disney Hotels & Resorts (Family-Tested Tips That Still Work)

If you’re trying to save money on Disney hotels, there are more options than most families realize, and some of them can make a huge difference in your overall trip cost.

Dreaming of a Disney vacation but not the price tag that comes with it? After several trips with our kids, some paid fully out of pocket and others using points and creative strategies, I’ve learned there are ways to save money on Disney hotels and resorts without losing the magic. From renting DVC points to using Marriott rewards at the Swan and Dolphin, we’ve tested many tricks to stretch our vacation budget. Here are our family’s money-saving tips for Disney hotels.

Our first few Disney trips were paid the old-fashioned way with savings and a little help from our Disney Rewards Visa. We put as much of our spending as possible on the Disney card and then paid it off each month (never ever carry a balance if you can help it!) which earned us Disney Dollars to spend in the parks. But once I discovered the world of travel rewards and credit card points, everything changed. What started as finding small ways to save at Disney eventually turned into learning how to fly, stay, and explore the world using points. These Disney hotel hacks are where our journey began, and they can help your family save thousands too.

Ready to start saving? Let’s look at the best ways to stretch your Disney hotel budget, from on-property perks to off-site steals.

Planning both Disney and Universal? Check out how we saved money at Universal using points and miles.

Want to see all our Disney World planning tips in one place? Head to our Disney Planning page for hotels, Lightning Lane strategies, and what to know before you go.

1️⃣ Stay on Disney Property (and Pay with Points Later)

Booking directly through Disney is often the simplest way to stay on property, especially if you’re choosing between Value, Moderate, or Deluxe Resorts. You can easily book through the Disney website, pick your favorite resort, and pay upfront with your credit card.

When we first started, we stayed at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and All-Star Movies. Both were fun, convenient, and full of that Disney charm, but we were paying cash each time. Later, I realized I could use my Capital One Venture card for these stays, then redeem miles afterward using the “travel eraser” feature. It’s one of the easiest ways to offset a big Disney expense without complicated transfer partners.

✨ Stack the Miles Tip: If you use your Capital One Venture or Venture X card, every $1 earns 2 miles. After you book your Disney resort, you can “erase” the charge within 90 days for up to 100% of the cost using miles. It’s perfect for those first few trips before you dive into transfer partners or advanced points redemptions.

👉 If you’re thinking about opening a  Capital One Venture Rewards Card card, here’s my referral link. You’ll earn a welcome bonus, and I may earn points too (at no extra cost to you).

💡 Why this is a great strategy:

• You earn flexible miles on every purchase.
• You can book directly with Disney (no third-party headaches).
• It’s easy to combine with other rewards, or Disney gift cards for extra savings.

Pro Tip: You can even apply the same “travel eraser” method to your park tickets, shuttles, or off-property hotels, as long as they code as “travel” on your statement. For park tickets to be coded as travel, you need to purchase through a 3rd party that codes as travel. Our favorite to use is Undercover Tourist. Tickets purchased through the Disney website code as “entertainment.”

Before booking directly through Disney, I always check Tripadvisor to compare Disney resort prices and recent guest reviews side by side.

Before booking dining, check out my Beak and Barrel review — it’s one of the newest restaurants in Magic Kingdom, and knowing whether it’s worth paying for can help with planning.

2️⃣ Use Marriott Points for the Swan & Dolphin and Save on Disney Hotels

One of the easiest ways to save money on Disney hotels while still enjoying deluxe-level perks and unbeatable location is by booking the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts with Marriott Bonvoy points. These sister hotels sit right between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, within walking distance or a quick boat ride to both parks.

When we stayed at the Disney Swan (2025), we used a mix of Marriott Bonvoy points and Chase Ultimate Rewards that we transferred to Marriott to top off our balance. It was an amazing value with beautiful pools, excellent dining options, and the unbeatable convenience of being able to walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, take the Friendship Boat, or connect to the Skyliner via the nearby EPCOT-area resorts.

✨ Stack the Miles Tip: Because Swan and Dolphin are Marriott properties, you can book them with points or through the Chase Travel Portal using your Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card. This option earns you valuable travel points and gives you access to early park entry and extended evening hours, just like guests staying at Disney deluxe resorts.

💡 Why it’s such a sweet spot:

• Bookable with Marriott points or Chase points (transferred or via portal).
• Deluxe-level amenities for fewer points than a Disney deluxe resort.
• Perfect location near two parks + easy transportation options.
• You can often find availability even during busy seasons, which can be tricky with DVC rentals.

If you don’t have enough Marriott points, you can always transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards from cards like Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred at a 1:1 ratio. It’s an easy, flexible way to top off your balance for a magical stay.

If you’re thinking about opening a   Chase Sapphire Preferred® , here’s my referral link — it’s my favorite beginner-friendly travel card for families, and you’ll earn a welcome bonus that can go straight toward your next Disney stay.

When Marriott award availability doesn’t line up, we’ve often found better cash rates by checking Booking.com before booking direct. Hotels.com can also be worth a quick look, especially if you’re collecting free nights through their rewards program. I then compare park ticket prices on Undercover Tourist so I can see what the full trip will actually cost

If you’re considering the Swan or Dolphin, check out why we love the Swan and Dolphin for Disney trips.

3️⃣ Rent DVC Points to Save Money on Disney Hotels

If you’ve ever dreamed of staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, like Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, or the Polynesian, but couldn’t justify the price tag, there’s a secret Disney insiders know: renting DVC points.

DVC stands for Disney Vacation Club, Disney’s version of a timeshare program. The best part? You don’t have to be a member to rent points from someone who is! Sites like David’s Vacation Club Rentals, or DVC Rental Store connect travelers with owners looking to rent out their unused points at a discount.

When we rented points for stays at Animal Kingdom Lodge (2018) and Saratoga Springs (2021), we were able to stay at a deluxe resort for about the same price as a moderate one, saving thousands compared to Disney’s direct rates. Renting DVC points is one of the smartest ways to save money on Disney hotels while still enjoying deluxe perks.

✨ Stack the Miles Tip: Renting DVC points often cuts your lodging cost by 40–50% off Disney’s listed price for the same room. You’ll still enjoy all the deluxe resort perks like Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, and easy park transportation.

💡 A few things to know before renting DVC points:

• Reservations are made under your name, just like any other Disney stay.
• You can still use the My Disney Experience app to link your reservation and make park plans.
• You’ll usually pay in full upfront and sign a non-refundable contract, so make sure your dates are firm.
• Use a trusted rental company with clear terms and verified owners.

⚠️ Real-life lesson: When we rented points during the COVID era, our school district temporarily banned out-of-state travel. Because DVC rentals are final, we couldn’t cancel, but our rental company worked with us to delay the trip a few months. That experience taught us to always double-check refund policies before committing.

If interested in learning more about renting Disney DVC points to stay at a deluxe resort, read renting DVC points to stay deluxe at Disney for less to see how we’ve rented DVC resorts and dramatically cut hotel costs.

 4️⃣ Use Hotwire or Priceline for Off-Property Stays

Long before I knew about points and DVC rentals, I scored an amazing deal using Hotwire, and it’s still an easy travel hack for saving big. These sites offer “mystery” hotel deals, where you see the star rating, area, and amenities before booking, but not the exact hotel name until after you pay. If you’re looking to save money on Disney hotels by staying off-property, Hotwire and Priceline can be fantastic options.

When we used Hotwire, we booked two nights near Disney. Our mystery hotel turned out to be the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista Resort, and it was such a win. The stay included complimentary breakfast, an evening reception with free drinks, and a shuttle to the parks, all huge perks for families.

✨ Stack the Miles Tip: Look for hotels in the Lake Buena Vista or Bonnet Creek areas to stay close to Disney without paying on-property rates. Many of these are Disney Good Neighbor Hotels, which means they’re officially approved by Disney and offer quality standards plus shuttle service to the parks.

💡 Why it’s worth considering:

• You can save hundreds compared to Disney-owned resorts.
• Hotwire and Priceline sometimes feature well-known chains like Embassy Suites, Hilton, and Marriott.
• Free breakfast and larger rooms make these ideal for families.
• Great for short stays or arrival-night deals before switching to a Disney resort.

🪄 Pro Tip: If you want to use points, book through your credit card’s travel portal (like Capital One Travel or Chase Ultimate Rewards) instead. You’ll see the hotel names upfront and can pay fully or partially with points.

If you don’t love mystery bookings, you can often find the same Lake Buena Vista and Bonnet Creek hotels listed by name on Expedia or Hotels.com for competitive prices.

5️⃣ Rent a Vacation Home on VRBO or Airbnb

For families who want extra space and a full kitchen near Disney, VRBO is one of the easiest places to find condos and townhomes minutes from the parks. Often they are just minutes from the parks and cost less than a single Disney moderate resort room, and you’ll get a full living room, laundry, and even private pools.

✨ Stack the Miles Tip: Use a Capital One Venture, or Venture X card when booking your Airbnb, or VRBO stay. Because these code as travel, you can erase the purchase later with miles using Capital One’s travel eraser feature. It’s an easy way to make your off-property stay effectively free after redemption.

💡 Why this is a great option:

• Perfect for families who need space to spread out (especially with older kids).
• Full kitchens help cut down on park food costs.
• Many homes and condos have pools, game rooms, or resort amenities.
• You can combine this strategy with a few on-property nights for the best of both worlds.

If you prefer more hotel-style amenities, look for vacation rental resorts like Windsor Hills, Reunion, or Margaritaville Cottages — all close to Disney with family-friendly perks like lazy rivers, restaurants, and playgrounds.

🪄 If you’re new to travel rewards and want a simple card that makes trips like this possible, I highly recommend the Capital One Venture Rewards Card. 

Pro Tip: Airbnb stays sometimes don’t show up in traditional travel portals, so Capital One’s “erase travel” feature is a great way to save if you can’t book directly with points.

6️⃣ Book Off-Property Hyatt Hotels with Points

If you’re looking for comfort, free breakfast, and to save money on Disney hotels near the parks, booking an off-property Hyatt hotel can be one of the smartest ways to save. Many of these family-friendly properties cost as little as 8,000 Hyatt points per night, making them an incredible deal compared to even Disney’s value resorts.

We tried this approach for our Universal trip in 2023 and it worked out great! Same concept, just outside Disney! Properties like Hyatt Place Orlando / Lake Buena Vista, or Hyatt House Orlando / Lake Buena Vista are just minutes away from the parks, include breakfast, and often feature free parking (a huge plus near Disney).

✨ Stack the Miles Tip: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio from cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Ink Business Preferred. Even better, you can book directly through the Chase Travel Portal if you don’t have enough Hyatt points. It’s flexible, simple, and lets you redeem exactly as many points as you want.

💡 Why this strategy works:

• Free breakfast + no resort fees = massive family savings.
• Bookable entirely with points, or through the Chase portal.
• Hyatts in this area are often Category 1–4, meaning 8K–15K points per night.
• Still close enough to enjoy the parks without paying Disney prices.

If you’re thinking about starting with a points card that transfers to Hyatt, I highly recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred®. 

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to link your World of Hyatt and Chase accounts before transferring points. It’s instant, but transfers are one-way, so confirm availability first!

Tripadvisor is especially helpful for comparing off-property Hyatt hotels near Disney, since you can see shuttle info, parking fees, and family-friendly amenities in one place.

Holiday trips can get expensive fast, so what Disney feels like at Christmastime (and when to avoid it) breaks down when prices spike and when they don’t.

✨ Wrap-Up: Making Disney More Affordable (and Still Magical)

No matter how many times we visit Disney, the magic never fades, and the price tag keeps going up and up! But the good news is that no matter how you choose to save money on Disney hotels, a little creativity goes a long way.

We’ve done it all from budget-friendly stays at the All-Star Resorts to luxurious DVC villas for half the cost, to off-property gems that gave us more space and savings. Whether you’re using points and miles, DVC rentals, or classic deal sites like Hotwire, there’s a strategy for every family and every budget.

No matter which strategy you choose, it’s always worth doing a quick price check on Booking.com, especially for Swan & Dolphin or off-property Disney Good Neighbor hotels. For tickets, Undercover Tourist is our go-to comparison when we want the purchase to code as travel.

The key is finding what matters most to your family, the location, amenities, or flexibility, and matching it with the right rewards, or savings approach. Over the years, our savings on hotels have stretched our vacation budget, so we can spend on the extras that make trips even more magical!

✨ After all, the less you spend on your room, the more you can spend on churros, Mickey ears, and memories that last a lifetime!

If you’re trying to decide which parts of a trip are worth paying extra for (and which aren’t), I break that down more in how we decide where to spend vs save on family trips

If you loved these hotel-saving tips, you’ll also love easy ways to add extra magic to your Disney vacation for fun, inexpensive ways to make your visit even more memorable.

While in Orlando, if you’re also visiting Universal, read how we saved money at Universal using points and miles

We also use points for trips like how we visit New York City on points.

🪄 Disclosure: This post contains my personal referral links for the credit cards mentioned. If you apply through these links, I may earn points or rewards at no additional cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own.

Walt Disney World Resort family travel photography © Stack the Miles. All family and attraction photos were captured during our Walt Disney World vacations. Select scenic and landmark images courtesy of trusted stock sources and tourism archives.

Sharing is caring!