The best hotels near Disney World you can book with points
Choosing the right hotel for your Walt Disney World vacation is no easy feat. In addition to the more than 25 official Disney World hotels, there are dozens of properties in the surrounding area at a variety of price points that offer perks like early theme park entry and complimentary shuttle service to enhance your vacation.
However, finding the right one is almost as difficult as finding Nemo's dad if you're a blue tang with short-term memory loss.
Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets
To help you, in true TPG fashion, we've created a list of our favorite hotels near Disney World that participate in major loyalty programs, so you can earn or redeem points and enjoy elite status benefits. TPG staffers have stayed at most, if not all, of the hotels in the Cinderella Castle vicinity.
The hotels below provide a mix of Disney benefits and hotel loyalty perks that make them, as Mary Poppins would say, "practically perfect in every way."
Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve
The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels are sister properties conveniently within walking distance of two Disney theme parks: Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. (Bus and boat transportation is available, too.)
Each of the three resorts has its own distinct style and amenities, but they share a kids activity center, arcade, playground, spa, and massive pool complex with a waterslide and waterfalls.
Because of their proximity to Disney World, they offer Disney benefits like 30-minute early theme park entry and extended evening hours on select nights. Guests are eligible to purchase and begin booking Lightning Lane selections at the same time as guests staying in official Disney World hotels, seven days prior to check-in.
Guests who are members of the Marriott Bonvoy program can book these properties using Marriott Bonvoy points. If you hold Marriott elite status, you can access additional benefits. I've received upgrades to balcony rooms, bonus points earnings and late checkout thanks to my Marriott Gold Elite status; I received this status automatically with The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment is required).
Rates at the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels start around $230 per night. Marriott Bonvoy members can book award nights starting at 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
The Gaylord Palms is a sprawling resort with beautiful glass atriums, a 3-acre water park and guest rooms with decor inspired by the Sunshine State. The resort is less than a 10-minute drive from Walt Disney World, and shuttle service to all four Walt Disney World theme parks is included in the resort fee.
Related: Ho-ho-holiday fun: Tips for visiting 'Ice!' at Gaylord Hotels
In addition to the water park, Gaylord Palms offers amenities and activities like a full-service spa, daily yoga classes, an arcade, an augmented reality scavenger hunt and seasonal events during Halloween and Christmas that will keep you plenty busy whenever you're away from the parks.
Based on current points pricing, you could use the 35,000-point certificate that you receive at each annual account renewal with the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees) to cover a one-night stay.
Rates at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center start around $329 per night. Marriott Bonvoy members can book award nights starting at 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs Area
The Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs Area is one of seven Disney Springs hotels. This property has a sky bridge that directly connects to the shopping, dining and nightlife of Disney Springs; it also provides continuous daily shuttle service to Disney's theme parks. Guests of all Disney Springs hotels also get a 30-minute early theme park entry.
This property has a large pool complex with a lazy river, a heated pool, an adults-only pool, a poolside bar and grill, and a kids splash pad. After several summertime trips to Orlando, I can assure you an afternoon swim (and a poolside cocktail) is a must.
There are several dining options, including a grab-and-go venue where you can get your morning Starbucks before hitting the parks. Several room types are available, including rooms with a view of Disney Springs, the pool or Epcot's nighttime fireworks.
Hilton Honors members with elite status can get their fifth night free on award stays. If you don't travel often enough to build up the nights needed to reach elite status, you can fast-track your way to Hilton status with a card like the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees) or the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150; see rates and fees).
Rates at the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace start around $230 per night. Hilton Honors members can book award nights starting at 47,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
If you are looking for a points hotel near Disney with rooms and amenities designed for families, look no further than the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. In addition to standard rooms and suites, this property has Loft Family Suites with one king-size bed, bunk beds and two sofa beds. These rooms sleep up to seven guests.
This upscale property also offers a full-service spa, fitness center, several on-site dining options, separate family and adult pools, a kids club, and an outdoor game yard with a rock wall, minigolf and more. In regard to Disney benefits, the nightly resort fee includes shuttle service to and from Disney's theme parks (reservations are required).
Marriott Platinum or Titanium elite members can put their status perks — such as late checkout, suite upgrades and complimentary breakfast — to good use at this property.
Rates at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa start around $345 per night. Marriott Bonvoy members can book award nights starting at 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Orlando World Center Marriott
There is so much to do at the Orlando World Center Marriott that you could almost forget about the world-class theme park just a couple of miles down the road. The hotel's Falls Pool Oasis has a lagoon-style pool, splash pad, hot tub and three waterslides.
The adjacent 200-acre River Falls Water Park boasts three multirider tube slides, a lazy river and a zero-entry area where young kids can splash safely. Entry to the pool and water park is included in your resort fee.
The hotel also hosts daily activities for families, including wild animal encounters, poolside activities and crafts. There is also a nightly laser show. On select nights, you can attend a Mermaids & Glow Party where kids can swim with mermaids.
From this property, you can drive to Disney World in less than 10 minutes; alternatively, you can save money on parking and take the hotel's shuttle (included in the resort fee; reservations are required). Certain room types offer a view of the nightly laser show and Disney's nightly fireworks.
Rates at the Orlando World Center Marriott start around $222 per night. Marriott Bonvoy members can book award nights starting at 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is a bit farther from Disney World than the other hotels on this list (about a 15-minute drive or free shuttle ride away). Still, it's a great choice for travelers wishing to earn or burn World of Hyatt points for their Disney vacation.
In addition to all the fun of Disney, guests can play a round on the hotel's award-winning golf course; visit the full-service spa and fitness center; swim in the lagoon-style pool complete with a waterslide, whirlpools, waterfalls and a splash area for kids; or dine at the three on-site restaurants.
The hotel has a $49 daily resort fee, which covers transportation to Disney as well as hotel activities like pickleball, bike rentals, nonmotorized water sports equipment rentals, rock climbing, minigolf and more. The good news is that there are no resort fees on award redemptions for World of Hyatt members.
World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) holders receive an annual Category 1-4 free night certificate after their cardmember anniversary and can earn a second Category 1-4 free night certificate after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year. This could net you two nights at this World of Hyatt Category 4 property.
Rates at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress start around $270 per night. World of Hyatt members can book award nights starting at 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Conrad Orlando at Evermore Orlando Resort
Not only is Conrad Orlando one of the newest points hotels near Disney World, but it's also one of the most luxurious.
The resort is less than 3 miles from Disney World, and theme park transportation is included in the $50 daily resort fee. Also included are kayak and paddleboard rentals, daily bottled water, and discounts on golf club rentals and spa treatments.
The pool area here rivals those at most Disney World hotels, with an 8-acre crystal-clear lagoon, sandy beach and a splash pad. Despite being so close to Disney, you'll feel more like you are on a tropical beach far from the theme park capital of the world.
In addition to standard guest rooms, the resort offers family suites with bunk beds, wellness rooms and poolside rooms with direct access to the resort's pool.
Rates at the Conrad Orlando start around $439 per night. Hilton Honors members can book award nights starting at 90,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Bottom line
There you have our top points hotels near Disney World. Earning points — or redeeming some for free hotel nights — makes the Most Magical Place on Earth even more magical.
While booking a stay at a points-friendly hotel is the most obvious way to use points toward your Disney World vacation, we have a few other tricks up our sleeves, too. There are a few ways you can use points to buy Disney tickets or redeem travel credits to cover part of your trip with our favorite credit cards for Disney.
Related reading:
- 14 of the best hotel pools in the US
- Best hotel credit cards
- Comparing the best hotel elite status tiers and how to earn them
- Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?
- The best hotel loyalty programs for families
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Surpass, click here.
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