How Capital One has made earning and using miles for Disney trips much simpler

I have a deep love for Disney. Whether it's Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruises, I enjoy it all.

My wallet, however, doesn't always share the same enthusiasm for my vacation choices. Disney offers many experiences, but it's rarely categorized as inexpensive. While there are methods to use points for a Disney vacation, options tend to be more limited compared to other travel.

Nonetheless, Capital One might have just altered the landscape.

You can now find official Disney World and Disneyland hotels in the revamped Capital One travel portal. This offers two benefits: you can book directly and apply your Capital One miles to the charges, or earn up to 10 miles per dollar on your Disney hotel bookings using the appropriate Capital One card.

Here’s what you should know.

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Using Capital One miles for Disney hotels

With Disney hotels featured in the Capital One travel portal, you can easily redeem your Capital One miles at a rate of 1 cent per mile for these bookings.

For instance, a two-night stay at the Disney World Yacht Club, priced at $1,160 (tax included), would require 116,000 Capital One miles.

When comparing prices and availability with Disney's official website, I noticed that while they were often similar, they weren't always the same—so it's wise to compare both pricing and room options.

The exciting part is that while it's great to use your Capital One miles this way, it's not the most groundbreaking news. You can always redeem them at the same rate to cover any travel expense on your statement. This means you can book your Disney hotels through a Disney vacation planner, directly with Disney, or through any method you prefer, and then use your Capital One miles at 1 cent per mile to offset the charge.

What I believe is the more significant news actually relates to earning miles.

Earn as much as 10 miles for every dollar spent on Disney hotel reservations

With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can accumulate up to 10 miles for each dollar spent on hotel bookings made through the Capital One travel portal.

For instance, if you want to book that same two-night stay at the Yacht Club, which costs a hefty $1,160, you would earn 11,600 Capital One miles at a rate of 10 miles per dollar with the Venture X card.

Official application link: Apply for the Capital One Venture X to receive 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account.

If you fully utilize Capital One's transfer partners, TPG estimates those miles to be worth 1.85 cents each, equating to about $214 in rewards from that booking. That’s a return of 18.5% if you value rewards similarly to TPG.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also offers a bonus through the Capital One travel portal, providing 5 miles per dollar spent, which amounts to a 9.25% return in rewards—quite impressive for Disney reservations.

But that’s not all!

Lastly, the new Venture X offers a $300 annual credit—but there's a catch.

The catch is that it can only be redeemed through the Capital One travel portal. If you're looking to book a Hyatt or Marriott hotel, this condition can be disappointing, as using a third-party platform (i.e., the portal) means you won’t earn points or enjoy status perks from a direct booking.

However, for Disney enthusiasts, using that $300 credit towards a Disney hotel (like the newly updated mid-century modern Incredibles rooms at the Contemporary) has no downsides since there are no points or status nights to earn with Disney bookings anyway.

In summary

Securing a fantastic deal using points or miles for a Disney vacation can be tough, but Capital One is simplifying the process. You can now redeem miles for your Disney stay and earn up to 10 miles per dollar on your Disney resort hotel booking. This exceptional return can effectively give you a head start for your next Disney adventure.

Feature image by Summer Hull/Dinogo.