Episode #38: How to Save Hundreds on Disney Trips (Plus Earn Free Flights & Hotels)
How to Save Hundreds of Dollars on Disney Trips
Disney is magical.
The memories, the excitement, the experiences… it really is one of those trips your kids will talk about for years.
But it’s also expensive.
Between park tickets, hotels, food, and especially Disney cruises, the cost adds up quickly.
The good news is you don’t have to stop going to Disney.
You just need a smarter way to pay for it.
We’re heading on a Disney cruise, and instead of just paying for it, I used a simple system to:
• Save money upfront
• Earn thousands of points
• Turn one trip into another
Here’s exactly how to do it step by step.
Step 1: Buy Discounted Disney Gift Cards
This is the easiest and most beginner-friendly way to save money.
Disney gift cards can be used for:
• Park tickets
• Resorts
• Disney cruises
• Food and experiences
And you can often buy them below face value.
Where to find discounted Disney gift cards:
• Sam’s Club
• Costco
• Sometimes Target or Walmart
Current example:
• $500 gift card for about $484.98 → save ~$15
• $200 gift card for about $190 → save ~$10
That may not sound like a lot, but if your trip costs $5,000…
You’re saving $150+ instantly.
From the Sam’s Club website May 2026
Step 2: Stack Gift Cards Slowly (Without Feeling It)
If your trip is months away, don’t wait until the last minute.
Start building your Disney fund slowly.
Every time you’re at:
• Target
• The grocery store
Grab a:
• $25 gift card
• $50 gift card
At Target, use a RedCard and get 5% off every purchase.
This strategy:
• Spreads out the cost
• Keeps your budget intact
• Builds your trip fund over time
Most families are surprised how fast this adds up.
Step 3: Combine Your Gift Cards
Once you’ve collected multiple gift cards, combine them online.
Disney allows you to:
• Merge balances
• Load up to $1,000 onto one card
This makes checkout easier when paying for your trip. Just write on the card how much is now on it once you combine.
FOLLOW THE BELOW PICS & STEPS:
STEP 1: Log into your Disney account and scroll down to find “Manage Your Cards”
STEP 2: Click on ‘Add a Card’ and you can enter the gift card number, then combine amounts to add all on to one card. $1,000 is the most you can have on one card.
Step 4: Use the 5x Credit Card Strategy (Advanced but Powerful)
This is where the real magic happens.
Instead of just saving money…
You can earn free travel.
The Card to Use
The strategy centers around:
Chase Ink Cash Business Credit Card
Before you skip this part, here’s what you need to know:
You DO NOT need:
• An LLC
• A business license
You CAN qualify if you’ve ever:
• Babysat
• Sold items online
• Done a side hustle
• Walked dogs
That counts as a business.
Current offer on this card as of May 2026. This card usually has an elevated offer once a year of $900 or 90k points.
Why This Card Works
Welcome Bonus
At the time of this episode:
• Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 in 3 months
If you also have:
• Chase Sapphire Preferred
• or Chase Sapphire Reserve
You can convert that into:
→ 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points
5x Points at Office Supply Stores
This is the key.
The card earns:
• 5x points at Staples
• 5x points at Office Depot
And those stores sell Disney gift cards.
Step-by-Step: How to Use This Strategy
Step 1: Apply for the Chase Ink Cash card
Step 2: Go to Staples or Office Depot
Step 3: Buy Disney gift cards using the card
Step 4: Earn 5x points on every dollar
Example:
• Spend $1,000 → earn 5,000 points
Step 5: Use those gift cards to pay for your Disney trip
Step 6: Hit the $6,000 spending requirement
This triggers:
• 75,000 bonus points
What You Earn (Real Example)
If you spend $6,000 on a Disney trip:
• 75,000 points (welcome bonus)
• 30,000–35,000 points (5x earnings)
→ Total: around 110,000 points
What That Gets You
You can use those points for:
Flights:
• Southwest
• United
• Other airline partners
Hotels:
• Hyatt (best value)
Example:
• 110k points = up to 7 hotel nights
• Or multiple flights for your family
What I Did
For our Disney cruise:
• I used this exact strategy
• Earned over 50,000 points
• Used those for free Southwest flights
So one trip helped pay for another.
That’s the goal.
Step 5: Work With a Disney Travel Agent
This is something I always recommend.
A good Disney agent:
• Tracks promotions
• Applies discounts automatically
• Helps plan everything
And it costs you nothing.
I’ve worked with Rachel multiple times, and she handled our Disney cruise completely.
If you want to hear more about what she does, listen to Episode 4.
You can email Rachel for more info: simplemagicrachel@gmail.com
Step 6: Travel Off-Peak
Timing matters more than most people realize.
We booked our cruise:
• Right before peak summer
And saved thousands.
If you can travel:
• Before summer
• After holidays
• During shoulder seasons
You’ll often get much better pricing.
Final Thoughts
Disney doesn’t have to feel out of reach.
With a few smart strategies, you can:
• Save hundreds upfront
• Earn free flights or hotel stays
• Turn one trip into multiple experiences
Start simple:
• Discount gift cards
Then level up:
• Points strategy
Want to Learn More?
If you’re new to points and miles:
Listen to Episode #2 for my crash course on earning free travel!
Be sure to grab my FREE roadmap guide to start earning points for free travel below!
Grab my FREE guide on earning Points &. Miles for nearly free travel!
Grab my FREE guide on the must have travel apps for a stress free journey + my favorite apps and shows to keep kids entertained on the go!
