✈️🏰 The Magic Kingdom Meets the Bonvoy Empire: Can You Really Use Marriott Points for Disney Hotels? 🐭✨
Hold onto your mouse ears, points people! This is the question that keeps loyalty members up at night: Can I leverage my hard-earned Marriott Bonvoy points to snag a sweet, sweet spot right in the middle of that magical Orlando chaos? The answer, like a good rollercoaster, has its thrilling ups and downs, but here’s the real tea. It’s not a straight swap for a Disney-owned resort, but there's a killer loophole that's practically a hidden Mickey!
For years, the dream of booking a Disney Deluxe resort with your Bonvoy points has been a total pipe dream. Those Disney-owned properties? They play by their own rules. But fear not, because the galaxy’s greatest loyalty program has a few properties that are practically a VIP handshake into the Disney World bubble. We’re talking about the famous, or maybe infamous, Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve hotels!
These three resorts are the only hotels on Disney property that participate in a major hotel loyalty program, meaning they are your ticket to using those points! It's like finding a golden ticket, only instead of chocolate, it's a hotel room. Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of how to make this happen, so you can ditch the cash and stack the points.
Step 1: Locate Your Points-Powered Pad
You gotta know where the magic is actually redeemable. Forget about the Grand Floridian; we’re focused on the fabulous three owned by Marriott/Starwood.
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| Can You Use Marriott Points For Disney Hotels |
1.1 The Holy Trio: Swan, Dolphin, & Swan Reserve
These hotels are the golden geese of the Disney points world. They are Westin (Swan), Sheraton (Dolphin), and Autograph Collection (Swan Reserve) properties, and they are literally on Walt Disney World property, chilling right between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. That location? Chef's kiss.
Pro Tip: Being a guest at these hotels gets you certain Disney perks that most off-site hotels can't touch, like Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe Resort guests (which the Swan Reserve qualifies for). You’re basically a Disney resort guest, but you’re booking with Marriott Bonvoy points. It’s a win-win, baby!
Tip: Check back if you skimmed too fast.
1.2 Search Strategy – Think Marriott, Not Mickey
When you're searching, you need to use the Marriott Bonvoy website or app. Seriously, if you search on the Disney site, it's all cash rates, and your points will just sit there like a forgotten toy in the attic.
Go to Marriott’s website.
In the destination box, type: "Walt Disney World Resort," or one of the hotel names specifically.
Crucially, check the box that says "Use Points/Awards." Don’t forget this step, or you’ll be seeing dollar signs instead of point values!
Step 2: Mastering the Points Redemption Game
This is where you become a true points Jedi master. You've found the hotels, now you need to figure out the best way to drop those Bonvoy points like it’s hot.
2.1 The Points Tally: What's the Damage?
Award nights at the Swan and Dolphin generally fluctuate based on "standard," "off-peak," and "peak" season pricing, just like any other Marriott. You're typically looking at something like:
Swan & Dolphin: Generally starting from around 44,000 to 75,000+ Bonvoy points per night.
Swan Reserve: Often slightly pricier, but hey, it's the new kid on the block and a bit more upscale.
Remember the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" perk! This is where you score a free night when you book five consecutive nights using points. That's a huge discount, making your whole trip feel like a major score.
2.2 The Pesky Fees and Taxes Talk
Tip: Rest your eyes, then continue.
Okay, here’s the sore thumb in this whole glorious points party: Resort Fees and Taxes.
Heads Up! Even when booking with points, the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve generally do not waive the mandatory nightly resort fee and the parking fee. Bummer, I know. You'll need to pay these with cash or a credit card when you check in or out. Always factor that into your total trip cost, so you don't get hit with a surprise bill that makes you go, "Holy moly!"
2.3 Snagging the Free Night Certificates
Got a 50k or even a 35k Free Night Award (FNA) from your Marriott co-branded credit card? You can often use these! You can even "top off" your certificate with up to 15,000 Bonvoy points to hit a higher redemption rate. So, a 50k certificate can be stretched to 65k points—pretty sweet for snagging a room on a busy weekend.
Check your dates and point cost.
If the room is 65k or less, you can use your 50k FNA + 15k points from your account.
This is often the highest value redemption you'll get, so zero in on those dates!
Step 3: Finalizing the Fantasy Booking
You're at the finish line! The points have been selected, the dates are locked, and your inner child is already doing the 'Happy Dance'.
3.1 Confirming and Linking to My Disney Experience
Once you hit that final "Book Now" button on the Marriott site, you’ll get a confirmation number. This is super important because it's how you unlock those Disney guest benefits like advance Individual Lightning Lane reservations.
QuickTip: Stop scrolling, read carefully here.
Wait about 2-3 days for the reservation to process in the Disney system.
Call the hotel directly or use the Disney website/app to link your Marriott confirmation number to your My Disney Experience account. Boom! You’re officially plugged into the Disney planning grid.
3.2 Parking Your Ride (If Applicable)
If you're driving, remember that the parking fee is another non-waived cost. This is true for many on-site Disney hotels, so it’s just part of the price of admission to park near the magic. Just be prepared to see that charge on your bill. It stings a little, but the convenience is worth it!
3.3 The All-Important Fifth Night Free Check
Just one final, super-important reminder: If you booked for five consecutive nights using points (not a mixture of points and Free Night Awards), make sure your total points balance reflects that glorious fifth night free benefit. It should be automatically deducted, but it never hurts to double-check that your points haven’t been snatched like a dropped churro.
And there you have it, folks! The complete, no-holds-barred guide to transforming your stack of Marriott Bonvoy points into a truly awesome Disney World vacation. Now go forth, book the dream, and enjoy those sweet, sweet Disney perks without shelling out a ton of cash!
FAQ Questions and Answers
How do I link my Swan/Dolphin reservation to my Disney account?
Tip: Reread key phrases to strengthen memory.
You typically need to wait 2-3 days after booking on the Marriott site. Then, you can call the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Guest Services or use the My Disney Experience app/website to link your Marriott confirmation number to your Disney profile, which will unlock certain on-site perks.
Are the resort fees waived when I book with Marriott points?
No. Bummer news, but resort fees and parking fees at the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are generally not waived even when you book an award stay using Marriott Bonvoy points or Free Night Awards. You will be responsible for paying those fees upon check-in or check-out.
What Disney perks do I get by staying at the Swan, Dolphin, or Swan Reserve?
You get a great slate of perks, including Early Theme Park Entry (30 minutes early access to all parks daily), and Extended Evening Hours on select nights (for Swan Reserve guests, as it's classified as a Deluxe resort). You also get complimentary transportation to the parks.
Can I use my Marriott points for any other Disney-owned hotel, like the Polynesian Village Resort?
No, absolutely not. Disney-owned resorts do not participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program. The only properties on Disney World turf you can book using Bonvoy points are the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve.
How can I make my Marriott Free Night Certificate go further at these hotels?
If your certificate has a lower value (like 35k or 50k points), you can often "top off" its value with up to 15,000 points from your Bonvoy account. This lets you use a 50k certificate for a room costing up to 65,000 points, which can be the difference between a cash booking and a points score during higher-demand seasons.
Would you like me to find the current estimated points cost for a specific date range at one of these Disney-area Marriott hotels?
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