Member Success Story: Rob’s $11,000 Savings on a Dream Disney Family Vacation
American Express is a Travel Freely advertiser. All points prices were correct at the time of publishing.
For many families, Walt Disney World feels like the ultimate dream vacation…and the ultimate budget-buster. Between flights, a hotel, park tickets, and food, costs can spiral well past $10,000 before you know it.
But for Rob and his family of four, a week-long trip to Disney World cost a fraction of what most families pay. By combining Delta SkyMiles®, Capital One® miles, and a few savvy booking strategies, Rob saved more than $11,000 compared to retail pricing.
Here’s how he did it.
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Tell Us About Yourself
I live in Boston, MA with my husband Eric and our two kids, ages 11 and 9. Over the years we had signed up for a credit card here and there for an introductory bonus, but never really thought to keep going. That changed when my friend Jeremy introduced me to Travel Freely. I read all the advice, opened my first card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, and kept going!
Tell Us About Your Trip
We traveled to Florida and visited Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. Our kids are at the perfect age for Disney, and we figured February break was the right time to bring them back (we had gone in 2021) for memories that would last forever.
We flew direct from Boston to Orlando and stayed at Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom, a gorgeous 2-bedroom villa that ended up being the perfect home base for the whole trip.
What Kind of Points & Miles Did You Use for These Trips?
Nearly Free Flights with Delta Miles
I opened the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and earned the welcome bonus available at the time after meeting the minimum spend. I then referred Eric, who earned his own welcome bonus, and I received a referral bonus on top of that.
The miles earned on those cards more than covered our direct Boston-Orlando flights (we paid just $11.20 per person in taxes), saving roughly $1,600. Flying Wednesday to Wednesday also helped us avoid peak February-break crowds and find better award availability. Note: Welcome offers and referral bonuses change over time. The current public offer may differ from what Rob and Eric earned, so always check the latest offer before applying.
A 2-Bedroom Disney Villa for a Fraction of the Price
Because we prefer the space of an Airbnb-style setup when traveling with kids, we booked a 2-bedroom villa at Animal Kingdom’s Kidani Village through Disney Vacation Club (DVC).
Quick note on how this works: DVC is Disney’s vacation ownership program, similar to a timeshare. We didn’t buy into DVC ourselves. Instead, we rented points from an existing DVC member through a third-party rental service, which is a common way non-members can access DVC properties at a significant discount versus Disney’s retail prices. A few minutes of research can connect you with reputable rental brokers if you’re curious about this option for a future trip.
- DVC rental price: about $6,100
- Typical Disney retail price: about $12,000
That was nearly $6,000 saved on the room rate alone, before we factored in points and miles.
Using Capital One Miles to Cover Lodging
On top of the DVC rental savings, we used Capital One miles to offset a big chunk of what was left.
As mentioned, I opened the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and earned the welcome bonus available at the time. Eric opened the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and earned his own welcome bonus. Across both cards, plus ongoing spend, Capital One travel-portal bookings, and a Hertz rental booked with President’s Circle status, we accumulated roughly 300,000 Capital One miles over the summer.
Here’s how Capital One miles work: When you pay for travel on a Capital One Venture card, you can apply your miles to that purchase as a statement credit to reimburse yourself. Each mile is worth one cent toward eligible travel, so 100,000 miles knocks $1,000 off the bill.
By charging our DVC stay to our Capital One cards and applying about 300,000 miles as a statement credit, we reduced our out-of-pocket lodging cost from $6,100 to roughly $3,100, an additional $3,000 saved with miles.
Note: Welcome offers change over time. The current public offer may differ from what Rob and Eric earned.
Stacking Savings on Park Tickets and Food
Beyond points and miles, we also looked for creative ways to bring down ticket and dining costs:
- Bought 3 park tickets through Undercover Tourist, which included $40 in Dining Dollars per ticket
- Used those Dining Dollars to purchase discounted Disney gift cards at 14% off
- Used the discounted gift cards to buy our fourth ticket at over 15% off, saving about $85
- Applied ~$1,500 in credit card reward dollars to bring ~$2,200 in park tickets down to just over $1,500
My biggest regret: not buying more discounted Disney gift cards ahead of time. They can be used everywhere at Disney (food, shopping, and experiences) at 14% off, which could have saved hundreds more during the trip.
Cards used: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
How Much Money Did You Save Using Points and Miles for Your Trips?
Our family saved on this trip in two ways: with points and miles, and with smart, traveler-savvy strategies that any traveler can use.
Savings from points and miles ~$4,600:
- Flights: ~$1,600 saved
- Lodging offset with Capital One miles: ~$3,000
Additional savings from smart booking strategies ~$6,700+:
- DVC rental vs. Disney retail pricing: ~$5,900 (renting points from a DVC member instead of booking direct with Disney)
- Park tickets and Disney gift card stacking: ~$800+
Total savings vs. retail pricing: ~$11,300+
What Were Some of the Highlights of Your Travel Experiences?
Riding TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom was an absolute highlight, and the evening fireworks felt truly magical.
We were also grateful to experience the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster one more time before its planned closure in March. It was an incredible thrill for the whole family.
At Animal Kingdom, Avatar Flight of Passage was breathtaking. It was so immersive it felt like flying on a banshee. The kids were all smiles when they got up close with Pluto for photos and hugs.
One of the most unique experiences was a nighttime safari at our resort, where we used night-vision goggles and rode in a safari van to see the animals after dark. During Kilimanjaro Safaris, we saw hippos, elephants, lions, and more – a reminder that Disney magic isn’t just about rides, but about wonder.
Our stay at Kidani Village turned out to be the perfect home base for a number of reasons:
- Space: Up to 2 bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen to make breakfast before hitting the park (or the pool) and save even more money. We had Instacart deliver all our groceries to the hotel before we even arrived, and they lasted us all week.
- Savanna views: Animal views right from the room, just like Jambo House
- Nighttime safari: An on-site safari experience with night-vision goggles
- Atmosphere: Quieter and more relaxing than the main resort areas
- Pool: A great pool and water slide for the kids
- Service: Disney’s famously exceptional customer service throughout
It balanced park excitement with real relaxation, which made the week feel like a true vacation.
What Advice Do You Have for Someone Just Starting with Points and Miles?
Get a credit card that aligns with your spending and travel habits. Get a co-branded card for an airline you’ll likely fly often, and a card that gives you points redeemable for travel. Maximize those points by redeeming for the highest-value options.
Also, use the Travel Freely app to keep track of your cards, when they renew, and when annual fees hit, so you can decide whether to downgrade or keep going. It also helps you stay within the 5/24 rule; which, in my excitement for more and more points my first year, I actually hit!
How Has Travel Freely Helped You Achieve Your Free Travel Goals, and What Do You Like Best About the App?
As our collection of cards and annual fees started to grow, Eric joked that he was getting confused keeping track of everything. That’s when I introduced him to the Travel Freely app, which he now uses to:
- Track all of our credit cards in one place
- Monitor annual fee dates
- Stay organized with our points and miles strategy
It’s made the whole process feel simple and manageable, and I’m always checking Travel Freely to see which next card best fits our family’s upcoming travel goals.
Final Thoughts
Rob’s story is a powerful reminder that a Disney vacation doesn’t have to cost what Disney charges. Points and miles did the heaviest lifting on flights and a big chunk of lodging, and Rob layered in additional savings by being a thoughtful, well-prepared traveler. The result: a magical week for a family of four at a fraction of the retail price.
👉 Inspired by Rob’s story? Start tracking your cards with Travel Freely today – it’s free, beginner-friendly, and built to make stories like this possible.
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Cards that helped Rob and his family experience their dream travel experiences:
