Stay at the Disney World Dolphin with Marriott Points
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post..
If Disney World is on your family’s trip list, this points and miles strategy is for you!
Here you go! Remember, even as credit card welcome offers change, this strategy will work as long as the amount of points needed adds up to the amount needed for your stay. I update this post whenever the offers shift, so bookmark it and check back before you apply.
Step 1: Pick your card
Determine which card currently offers the best welcome bonus. These offers change often, sometimes month to month, so treat the numbers below as a snapshot and always double check the current offer on the issuer’s site before you apply. The strategy itself holds up no matter how the specific numbers shift.
Player 1 opens a Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card. As of this update, it’s offering 4 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus up to $100 in statement credits for airline purchases through mid-2027. The card has a $95 annual fee. Confirm the live offer at chase.com before applying, since this card has swung between 2 and 5 free nights over the past couple of years.
Or the American Express Business card. Right now it’s offering up to 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points: 75,000 points after spending $6,000, plus another 50,000 points after an additional $3,000 in spend ($9,000 total) within the first 6 months. This card’s offer is points rather than free night certificates at the moment, so if you go this route you’ll be booking your stay with points instead of combining certificates. The annual fee is $125. This offer has included free night certificates in the past and could again, so check americanexpress.com for what’s live when you’re ready to apply.
Step 2: Add a second cardholder
Player 2 opens a Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card. As of this update, it’s earning 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (again, confirm this is still current before applying). This card has a $250 annual fee, but it comes with an anniversary-year free night certificate, which makes it a long-term keeper and valuable beyond year one.
Step 3: Combine your points
Combine points and any free night certificates into one account using Marriott’s points transfer tool to book your stay.
Free night certificates let you book a room for up to 50,000 points per night. If you’re looking at nights that cost more, you can top off with points from your Bonvoy account. Marriott now allows you to top off free night certificates with up to 25,000 points per night (this increased from the old 15,000-point limit), so you can cover nights valued up to 75,000 points using a certificate plus points.
Booking time!
Get ready to book your stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, a Marriott property and Disney Deluxe Resort Hotel in the EPCOT Resort Area. Booking this property lets you take advantage of the on-property perks you love:
- Early park entry lets resort guests enter any of Disney’s four parks 30 minutes before opening.
- Disney Resorts provide complimentary transportation to the theme parks and Disney Springs, plus free self-parking if you drive.
- Guests staying on property can buy Lightning Lane passes starting at 7 a.m. on the day of their park visit.
The Dolphin has double beds rather than queens and is the only property that allows 5 to a room since a rollaway bed is permitted, which is its biggest selling point for larger families!
The Dolphin also has laundry facilities, a spa, a kids club, a cafeteria, and a convenience store.
Final thought
Once you book your nights, plan for the daily resort fee, which currently runs $50 per night (up from $40 in past years, so budget accordingly). This is still an excellent price for Disney when you’re paying with points instead of cash.
Remember, if you’re paying with points and not free night certificates, staying four consecutive nights at Marriott and booking with points gets you a 5th night free. This makes your points stretch even farther! Just note the 5th-night-free perk applies to point bookings, not to stays paid for with free night certificates.
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
I found out about points and miles accidentally.
I was researching index funds and happened upon the points and miles community through creators who also post about budgets, financial independence, and investing.
Points and miles allowed those people to travel and work toward financial independence simultaneously.
Thank goodness I got started when I did. The past almost two years of travel have been something we will never forget.
Earning points and miles through credit cards is only a good choice if you have the financial discipline to use them, like cash/debit cards.
Since we started traveling with points and miles, we have had more money going into our investment and savings accounts than ever.
Now I'm excited to teach you!
Welcome
I am excited you are here
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