Planning a theme park vacation can feel overwhelming, especially when you start adding up hotels, tickets, and flights.

Simple Roadmap – No Stress

I created this simple roadmap because I know points can feel overwhelming when you’re first starting. There are so many cards, programs, and strategies that it’s easy to get overwhelmed before you even start.

My goal is to make this simple. I’m showing you the exact roadmap I would use to help my own family book a theme park vacation with points.

SIMPLE ROADMAP:
🏨 Hotel: Apply for Marriott cards → Earn points → Book your hotel
🎢 Tickets: Apply for Capital One cards → Earn miles → Cover tickets
✈️ Flights: Apply for Chase cards → Earn points → Book flights

Before You Start

This strategy works best if:

✔ You can pay your credit cards off in full every month
✔ You have a trip planned (or want to start saving points for one)
✔ You are new to points and want a simple place to start

Step 1. Use Points for Hotel Stay

Goal: Cover your hotel stay near the parks

My go-to strategy is using Marriott points to stay close to the parks.
One of my favorite cards for this strategy is:

Here’s the plan:

• Person 1: Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Person 1: Refer Person 2 for the SAME card
• Person 2: Use Person 1’s referral link and apply for the same card

With this plan, you’ll likely be able to cover 5 – 7 nights.

My top picks for using these points:

Walt Disney World:
🏨 Marriott Swan & Dolphin – our favorite Marriott hotels for staying close to the parks.

Disneyland: Several Marriott hotels are within walking distance of the parks.
🏨 Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort – a great option that’s an easy walk to the parks.
🏨 The Westin Anaheim Resort – our favorite for a more luxurious stay.

Step 2. Use Points for Disney Tickets

Goal: Cover your park tickets

Capital One makes this incredibly simple.
Use the Cover Travel Purchases feature to cover eligible travel purchases with miles.

Here’s the important part:
Your Disney or Universal ticket purchase must code as travel.

If you buy directly from Disney or Universal, purchases usually code as entertainment instead, making them ineligible.

Many travelers use sites like Undercover Tourist because these purchases code as travel and therefore can be covered with Capital One miles.

One of my favorite cards for this strategy is:

Here’s the plan:

• Person 1: Apply for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Person 1: Refer Person 2 for the SAME card
• Person 2: Use Person 1’s referral link and apply for the same card

3. Use Points for Flights

Goal: Cover flights to your theme park vacation

Flexible points are my favorite way to book flights because you have more options.

Here’s the plan

• Person 1: Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Person 1: Refer Person 2 for the SAME card
• Person 2: Use Person 1’s referral link and apply for the same card

This card earns transferable points. So, the best part?
You are not locked into one airline. You can choose the best option from your home airport.

My favorite airline transfer options:

✈️ Southwest
✈️ United
✈️ JetBlue

Here’s how it works:

1. Search for flights on airline websites
2. Find the best option
3. Transfer your points
4. Book directly with the airline

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Potential Savings

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card annual fee: $95 each
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card annual fee: $95 each
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: $95 each
If you open 2 of each of these cards, those annual fees are $570

But these cards could help you cover thousands of dollars of a theme park vacation.

And remember…
You do not have to keep every card forever.
(Although these are three of my favorite cards, and they are cards I personally keep long term.)

If you decide to use these cards, I would appreciate you using my links. ❤️
I spend a lot of time creating these free guides, and when you use my links, it helps support Fancy Travel Pointers at no extra cost to you. thank you!