How We’re Saving on Our First Disney World Trip (With Discounted Gift Cards + Points)

Written By Kristin Hale

Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

We haven’t been to Walt Disney World yet, but my kids are huge Harry Potter fans, so when Universal announced the opening of Epic Universe, we knew we were headed back to Florida. And since we were already flying across the country, I figured—it’s time. Let’s finally do Disney World.

We’ve always been more of a Disneyland family. It’s closer, it’s familiar, and we love the charm of the original park. But did you know that out of the top ~25 rides, about 13–15 are totally unique or significantly different at Disney World compared to Disneyland? That means even if you’ve been to Disneyland multiple times, a Disney World trip gives you a whole new experience. And I wanted my kids to see that for themselves.

If you’re just starting to explore ways to save on Disney trips, my beginner's guide is a great place to begin. We combined discounted gift cards, cashback cards, and points to make this trip a lot more affordable—and here’s exactly how we’re doing it.

The Easiest Way to Save: Discounted Disney Gift Cards

One of the easiest ways to save on a Disney trip is by watching for discounted Disney gift cards. Several stores offer them throughout the year—sometimes up to 10% off. Wholesale clubs like Costco or Sams Club will occasionally run limited-time promos, and stores like Target, Best Buy, and even grocery stores often have offers or cashback deals through card-linked apps and bank portals. It’s worth checking in regularly or setting a reminder during major sale weekends.

Disney gift cards can be used for:

Bonus tip: Combine multiple cards (up to $1,000 each, six total) at DisneyGiftCard.com to keep things easy to track.

How to Stack the Deal With Points and Credit Cards

Let’s say you buy a $200 Disney gift card for 10% off, making it $180. Already a good deal. But if you pay with a cashback card and then use 18,000 points to erase that charge, you’ve essentially turned your points into $200 of Disney value—getting 1.11 cents per point instead of the usual 1 cent.

This is one of the few times I suggest cashback cards—especially ones that allow you to transfer rewards to a more premium travel card later. If you aren’t sure what that means, this post might help.

Here’s my favorite cards that earn cash back but can become transferrable points when you pair them with a premium card- like one of these.

Where to Find Discounted Disney Gift Cards

Where to look:

  • Target Circle™️ Card – 5% off gift cards every day

  • Wholesale clubs – Like Sams Club or Costco, when promos run

  • Grocery stores – Use cards with bonus points on groceries

  • Office supply stores – Bonus points with certain cashback cards

  • Drugstores and retailers – Check Chase Offers or bank card deals

Want to double up on savings? Learn how to use shopping portals like Rakuten or Capital One to earn even more.

When You Can Use Points to Pay for Disney Tickets

(Yes, It’s Possible—With Capital One)

Let’s clear this up: most credit card points can’t be used directly for Disney tickets—unless you go through specific portals or workarounds. But if you have a Capital One card that earns miles, you’ve got a sneaky-good option that actually works.

Here’s how:

  • Buy your tickets through a trusted online travel agency like Getaway Today

  • Or bundle your hotel + Disney tickets in one package

If the purchase codes as travel, you can go back and erase the charge using your Capital One miles at 1 cent per point. It’s super flexible—you don’t have to book through the Capital One Travel portal to make it work.

👉 Not sure how to tell if your purchase coded as travel? It usually shows up that way on your statement when the seller is a travel agency, hotel, or vacation package provider. (And yes, Getaway Today usually qualifies!)

Other options that sometimes work:

  • Bilt Rewards lets you redeem points for Disney tickets in their portal at 1.25¢ per point

  • Occasionally, bank travel portals offer Disney tickets directly—but as of now, I’m not seeing any available options that way

Can You Buy Disney Gift Cards With Points?

Not directly. But there’s one exception that works for a lot of families:

  1. Book your Disney tickets through Getaway Today

  2. Use a travel card that earns points on the purchase

  3. Redeem points to erase the charge—or apply it toward a welcome bonus

You can also use a card that earns points redeemable for cash back to buy discounted Disney gift cards—then use your points to erase the charge. It’s one of my favorite simple strategies for saving on Disney if you're not quite ready to dive into transfer partners or travel portals. You’re still using points, just in a way that feels easy and flexible.

Need help figuring out your next move? This guide on choosing the best card for your travel goals might help.

Our Real-Life Strategy for This Disney Trip

Here’s exactly how we’re making this Disney World trip more affordable:

  • Buying discounted Disney gift cards from Sam’s Club

  • Paying with a card that earns flexible points

  • Redeeming points to erase those charges

  • Using Marriott free night certificates to stay on-property for five nights

  • Covering other travel costs with Capital One miles

We’re not using points for every single part of the trip—but combining these strategies makes a big dent in the total cost. And being on-property gives us perks like early park entry and easy transportation, which makes a huge difference with kids.

At certain times of year, you can even find elevated card offers that include up to five free Marriott nights with a single welcome bonus. If that’s on your radar, it’s one of the easiest ways to lock in a longer stay near the parks without paying cash. (And yes, it’s how we’re doing it.)

Want to Make Your Own Disney Trip More Affordable?

Here are a few helpful next steps:

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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Kristin Hale
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The Difference Between Cash Back and Transferable Points—and Why You Might Want Both