Your Ultimate Guide to Disneyland on Points

Planning a Disneyland vacation doesn’t have to drain your savings account. With the right credit card strategy and points optimization, you can significantly reduce the cost of hotels, flights, and even your Disney tickets. We go to Disneyland at least once a year using points and miles, and we’re going to show you exactly how we do it so you can make the magic happen without the hefty price tag.

While there are a plethora of different ways to fly into the Anaheim area on miles, and there are a ton of hotels you can stay at using your points, this guide will walk you through our favorite places to stay, and airlines to fly. Helping you make the most of your points while also ensuring that you will have an incredible Disneyland trip with ease. We’ll go over exactly how to book a Disneyland trip using credit card points, from securing free hotel nights at properties within walking distance of the parks to offsetting the cost of Disney tickets and making the most of your miles for flights.

New to Points & Miles? You can grab our free Points & Miles Crash Course here! We’ve also included a quick breakdown of some important terms you’ll want to know below.

• Flexible points: Credit card points (like Chase) you can transfer to airlines/hotels
• Award booking: Using points instead of cash for travel
• Transfer partners: Airlines/hotels that you can transfer your flexible points to and book with them. For example, I can transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt and then book directly through my Hyatt account.

Why Disneyland on Points and Miles Makes Sense

Unlike Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim offers something unique: several excellent hotel options within actual walking distance of the park entrance that can be booked with points. This proximity, combined with straightforward flight options and creative ways to use Capital One miles for park tickets, makes Disneyland one of the best Disney destinations for maximizing points and miles. (Although we’d argue that Disneyland Tokyo is a close second.)

The key is understanding which credit card points work best for each component of your trip. Flexible points, airline miles, and even hotel points can all play important roles in different aspects of your Disneyland vacation. (And the good news is that you don’t have to get everything on points; if you want to focus on just flights, that’s great.) You can mix and match what you want to cover in terms of points, depending on your budget. For our Disney vacations, we usually focus on flights first, and then the hotel, and lastly tickets.

The Cards We Recommend for A Nearly Free Disneyland Vacation

Again, there’s no shortage of cards and strategies, but these are the exact cards that we recommend for a nearly free Disneyland vacation and the strategies that we have used to help thousands of families book Disneyland on points. We suggest having a nice mix of cards that earn flexible points and co-branded cards. Here’s a quick breakdown.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Usually, the FIRST card you want to get if you’re planning a Disneyland vacation and you want a totally free stay at a clean and comfortable hotel within walking distance to the parks. This is our most recommended card for beginners, and the welcome offer alone will cover at least 4-5 nights. 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

This is THE card to get if you want to offset (or completely cover) your Disney ticket costs. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card allows you to use your miles to erase travel purchases from your statement, making it perfect for Disney tickets when purchased through authorized resellers. We’ll talk about exactly how to do this below.

A Co-Branded Airline Card 

For us, flying out of Utah, Southwest or Delta is our best option for flying to the Anaheim area. We prefer to take a direct flight into Long Beach (it’s an easy airport and close to the parks) and typically use these two airlines. Depending on where you live and which airline you fly often, it will determine which airline card you decide on. However, we’d argue that even if you don’t have a direct Southwest flight available to you, it’s hard to beat the value that comes with the Southwest Companion Pass, especially for those Disneyland flights.

→See all the Best Cards for Disney on Points here!

Best Hotels Near Disneyland to Book With Points

The hotel strategy for Disneyland is where you can save the most money. Several properties within walking distance of Disneyland park accept points, and some offer exceptional value that makes them true sweet spots. We have stayed at all of them and highly recommend each.

Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort Convention Center

The Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort Convention Center is hands down my favorite hotel for Disneyland that you can book on points, simply because it’s got the best value and you can get your entire stay covered really easily.  It’s about a 10-minute walk from the main entrance to Disneyland park, and this property consistently delivers excellent value for your Hyatt points.

Hot Tip: Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer directly to Hyatt, which is why we recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (or another Chase card that earns flexible points for your stay!) 

Elevated Offer Alert!

These two cards have no annual fee and have an elevated offer of 90,000 points that’s ending soon! You can read all about them here. 

This hotel typically costs 12,000-18,000 World of Hyatt points per night, depending on the season. With cash rates exceeding $300 to $400 per night, you’re getting incredible value from your points. The property features spacious rooms (many with kitchenettes), free breakfast, and a welcoming atmosphere that works perfectly for families.

What makes the Hyatt House such a sweet spot is the combination of walkability and point value. You’re saving not just on the hotel but also on parking fees at Disneyland (currently $35 per day) since you can walk to the parks. Plus, earning Hyatt points is relatively easy thanks to transferring those Chase points. 

The free breakfast alone saves a family of four at least $50-$80 per morning, which adds up quickly over a multi-day Disney trip. Everyone can fuel up on waffles, bacon, and eggs before heading to the parks, and you’re not starting your day already hundreds in the hole on food costs.

Want to book the Hyatt House on points? → Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, transfer your points to your Hyatt account and book! See the top cards we recommend (including the Chase Sapphire Preferred) for Disneyland here!

Why we love this property & recommend it above the others for points!

• You can enjoy your entire stay for free by using Chase Ultimate Rewards transferred to World of Hyatt, with no taxes or fees. 
• It’s within walking distance, so you won’t have to pay for parking at the parks or on-site.
• The free breakfast.
• The rooms with kitchenettes. 
• It’s really easy to earn these points, especially with these elevated offers here.

Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort

The Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort is another solid option, especially if you already have Marriott Bonvoy points or if you were able to get the 5 Free Nights Award Certificate Offer, which comes around at least once a year. This property is also within walking distance (we clocked it at 12 minutes from the main gate).

Award rates here typically range from 35,000 to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. While that might seem steep compared to the Hyatt House, Marriott points are valued differently. If you’re already in the Marriott ecosystem, this is the property we would choose.

The Sheraton offers standard rooms suitable for families. Its convenient location means you can head back to your room for a midday break without a lengthy commute. This is especially valuable when traveling with young children who need naps or when you want to avoid paying for lunch inside the parks.

If you have Marriott status, they have a club lounge that is great for extra snacks and filling up to offset food costs inside the parks.

The Westin Anaheim Resort

The Westin Anaheim Resort deserves a quick mention as another Marriott Bonvoy option, and it’s fantastic for families that want a more luxurious experience without paying the top dollar at a Disney resort. While it typically requires more points than the Sheraton (often 50,000-80,000 points per night), it’s also directly across from the Disneyland entrance and is a block away from the Disney resorts themselves. The Westin offers upscale accommodations and has views of the park and fireworks. We loved being able to use the Grand Californian exit when returning to our rooms in the afternoons and evenings. 

The lounge is beautiful here, with a gorgeous view, and overall, we really loved this property. However, it is a bit of a points splurge for what you get, considering what you could do with the amount of Marriott points it usually takes to stay here. 

Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort – Convention Center

For those with Hilton points or American Express Membership Rewards, the Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort, Convention Center is your best bet near Disneyland. This property typically costs 50,000-70,000 Hilton points per night. While that’s more points than the Hyatt option, Hilton points are relatively easy to earn through credit card welcome bonuses and the Hilton Honors program. Plus, for every 1 American Express Membership Reward you transfer, you get 2 Hilton points.

What makes this hotel particularly valuable is its suite setup, which includes full kitchens. You can prepare simple meals and snacks in your room, which helps offset the high cost of dining at Disney Parks. The property also offers a complimentary breakfast and is conveniently located approximately a 15-minute walk from the Disneyland Park entrance. (This is a bit further than all of the other properties on this list, and it’s just right on the cusp of what I would consider too long of a walk, but it is a serious sweet spot for those of you who have Hilton points)

Honorable Mention: Travel Portals

If these options don’t work for you, it’s worthwhile to check the different bank travel portals. One of our favorites is the Chase Travel Portal, and it never hurts to see what you can book directly through the portal. 

Flying to Disneyland: The Southwest Companion Pass Strategy

The flight component of a Disneyland trip offers another opportunity to maximize your points and miles, and it’s hard to beat the value that comes with the Southwest Companion Pass for your flights into either SNA or Long Beach Airport.

Why the Southwest Companion Pass is Perfect for Disneyland

The Southwest Companion Pass allows one person to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees of about $5.60 each way) on every Southwest flight you book. For a family Disney vacation, this effectively cuts your flight costs in half, and it’s one of the best deals in the travel rewards world.

You need 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year to earn the pass, and with the right credit card combination, you can achieve this through welcome bonuses alone.

This strategy works exceptionally well if you have a larger family and flights are what eat up most of your budget. 

You can get our free Southwest Companion Pass Guide here!

Flying into Long Beach Airport

Here’s a tip that many Disneyland visitors overlook: fly into Long Beach Airport (LGB) instead of LAX when possible. Long Beach is a smaller, more convenient airport that’s actually closer to Disneyland than Los Angeles International Airport and is typically cheaper than flying into John Wayne Airport. Southwest regularly flies into Long Beach from many major cities, making it a perfect pairing with your Companion Pass strategy.

The drive from Long Beach Airport to Disneyland takes about 25-30 minutes in normal traffic, compared to 45-60 minutes from LAX. The airport itself is stress-free, with quick security lines (we’re talking like 5 minutes) and super easy rental car pickup. After a long day of travel with kids, these conveniences matter. There are a total of 8 gates, and it’s the ideal option for a Disney trip and we try to prioritize flights here as often as possible. 

SNA (John Wayne Airport) is another good option; however, flights here are usually much more expensive, but it is still worth checking.

Alternative Flight Options: Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, and American Airlines

While Southwest should be your primary focus if you want the companion pass, Delta flights into Long Beach, SNA, or LAX are great options. If you have American Express Membership Rewards points, you can transfer them to Delta SkyMiles for flights into Southern California. Alaska Airlines flights (bookable with miles from partners) also work really well for Disneyland trips, particularly if you have a stash of ATMOS miles.

Hot Tip: Compare and Find the Right Airline Program for You!

Always compare the best options for you and your departure airport. For our family, Southwest almost always wins when it comes to Disneyland, but your situation may be different! If you’re looking for help building out a unique strategy tailored to your situation, check out our consultation options here. 

Offsetting Disney Tickets with Capital One Venture Miles

Here’s where things get really interesting: You can effectively use your Capital One Venture Miles to pay for your park tickets through a simple booking strategy.

How the Capital One Venture Card Works for Disney Tickets

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Venture X Credit Card allow you to erase travel purchases from your statement using miles at a rate of 1 cent per mile. The key is making sure your ticket purchases code as travel, making them eligible for this statement credit.

Two authorized Disney ticket sellers that consistently code as travel are Getaway Today and Undercover Tourist. When you purchase Disneyland tickets through these vendors using your Venture card, the purchase will appear as a travel expense on your statement. You can then use your Capital One Miles to cover that charge.

Why This Strategy Works So Well

Park tickets are often the largest non-negotiable expense of a Disney trip. A single-day ticket to Disneyland can cost $110-$150, depending on the date, and multi-day tickets quickly multiply that cost. For a family of four planning a 3-day visit, you’re looking at over a thousand dollars, just for tickets.

By using venture rewards credit card miles to offset this cost, you’re freeing up cash for other trip expenses or simply making the entire vacation more affordable. The Venture card currently offers a substantial welcome bonus of 75,000 miles (worth $750 in travel) after meeting minimum spend requirements, which can cover a significant portion of your Disney tickets.

Hot Tip:

You cannot cover your ticket purchases if you buy your tickets through Disney, because it does not code as travel, but rather as entertainment. So, make sure to use your Capital One card at checkout with an authorized Disney Ticket seller that codes as travel, and you’ll be able to use your miles to help cover the costs. 

Booking Through Getaway Today vs. Undercover Tourist

Both Get Away Today and Undercover Tourist are authorized Disney ticket sellers, which means you’re getting legitimate tickets at competitive prices. Getaway Today often runs promotions that offer slight discounts or added perks, such as gift cards, while Undercover Tourist provides a straightforward booking experience with a price-match guarantee.

Both sellers have proven track records of coding correctly, but always double-check your statement before using miles to erase the purchase. 

Maximizing Your Capital One Miles for Disney

If you’re planning a Disneyland trip for your family, you might consider having one adult apply for each card (if both of you can qualify) to maximize your welcome bonuses.

Between two welcome bonuses, you could accumulate 150,000 Capital One miles, which equals $1,500 in travel expense credits. That’s enough to cover park tickets for most families, even on a longer trip.

Putting It All Together: Sample Disneyland Trip Budget

Let me show you how these strategies work together to achieve real savings. Here’s what a 4-night Disneyland trip for a family of four might cost using points and miles:

Hotels: 4 nights at Hyatt House Anaheim = 60,000-80,000 World of Hyatt points

• Cash value: $1,200-1,600
• Cost in points: 48,000 – 60,000 Hyatt points (earnable from one credit card welcome bonus!)

Flights: Round-trip for a family of four using the Southwest Companion Pass

• Three tickets on points: 20-50k Southwest points
• One companion ticket: $11.20 for the taxes/fees
• Cash value: $2,000 – $2,500
• Cost in points/cash: 20,000 to 50,000 Southwest points + $11.20

Disney Tickets: 3-day park hopper tickets for four people

• Cash price: $1,632
• Cost with Venture miles: 163,200 Capital One miles (obtainable from two Venture card welcome bonuses and a little bit of spending)

Total Cash Value: $4,800-5,700

Additional Tips for Maximizing Your Disneyland Points Trip

Consider the Annual Travel Credit

The Venture X card comes with a $300 annual travel credit, which can be used for any travel expense, including hotels, flights, or even rental cars for your Disneyland trip as long as it’s booked through the Capital One Travel Portal. This effectively reduces the annual fee and provides additional value beyond the welcome bonus, AND you can use it toward your trip.

Book Early for Best Options

While last-minute award bookings can work for Disneyland hotels, booking early usually gives you the best selection of room types and dates. Hotel points availability near Disneyland can be limited during peak season, especially around holidays and summer vacation. Booking early can be incredibly important for the Hyatt House property, as it can fill up quickly. 

Time Your Visit Wisely

If you have flexibility in your travel dates, consider visiting Disneyland during the shoulder seasons. This usually means lower point requirements at hotels and better flight availability with your airline miles.

Common Questions About Disneyland on Points and Miles

Can I really book Disney tickets with credit card points?

Yes, but not directly. Disney doesn’t accept credit card points for park tickets, which is why the Capital One Venture strategy is so valuable. By booking through authorized resellers that code as travel, you can use venture miles to erase the purchase, effectively using points for tickets.

What if I don’t have a Companion Pass yet?

You can still use Southwest Rapid Rewards points to book flights without the Companion Pass. However, pursuing the pass makes sense for families since it provides tremendous value on every future flight, not just your trip to Disneyland. If Southwest doesn’t make sense for you, figure out what airline offers the best flight options for Disneyland, and prioritize that airline loyalty program and start earning those points. You can also book a consultation here if you need specific help!

Are there other airline options besides Southwest?

Absolutely. If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to United. American Express Membership Rewards can transfer to Delta SkyMiles. We also love JetBlue, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines for flights to and from California.

What about rental cars?

If you’re staying within walking distance of Disneyland and don’t plan to visit other Southern California attractions, you may not need a rental car at all. This saves money on the rental itself, as well as the daily parking fees at Disneyland. However, if you do want a car, you can use points to cover rental cars through most bank travel portals but we suggest using your points for flights and hotels as you typically get a higher return.

Can you use Chase Points for Disney Tickets?

Yes, but not directly. You can technically use Chase Ultimate Reward points for Disney tickets as part of the “Pay yourself back” feature, or you can cash out your points and get your tickets that way. We don’t recommend doing this with your Chase points because they can be worth so much more by using them for flights and hotels.  

Is getting Disney Gift Cards with Amex Points a Good Idea? 

This is our least favorite way to use our American Express Membership Rewards, and we rarely recommend it because the value of your points diminishes significantly when cashing them out for gift cards. You are much better off using your points for your flights and hotels. You’ll save way more money in the long run doing it this way.

Final Thoughts on Your Disneyland Points and Miles Strategy

Visiting Disneyland on points and miles requires planning, but the savings can be substantial. By focusing on these key strategies: Booking hotels with Hyatt points or Marriott Bonvoy points, flying Southwest with the Companion Pass, and using Venture rewards credit card miles for Disney tickets, you can drastically reduce what is typically one of the most expensive family vacations.

The best time to start planning is now, so you give yourself time to earn your points and redeem them. Even if your Disneyland trip is months away, starting your credit card strategy early ensures you’ll have the points you need when you’re ready to book, and you’ll be able to snag availability for the exact property and flights you want to book!

Remember, this isn’t about gaming the system; it’s about staying within the rules and being strategic with your everyday spending and choosing credit cards that align with your travel goals. Make sure you pay your cards off in full each month, and you’ll walk away saving thousands of dollars. Thousands of families visit Disney parks every year using points and miles, and with the right approach, you can (and should!) be one of them!