Get a Disney World Vacation With Starwood Points!

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Folks planning a trip to Disney World can save Big Money by using Starwood points to book a Nights & Flights package.

Because you can use 60,000 or 70,000 Starwood points and get 5 hotel nights at or near Disney World AND 50,000 airline miles.  That’s enough for 2 round-trip coach award tickets within the US!

And you can easily earn these points with the limited time AMEX Starwood 35,000-point sign-up bonuses on the personal and small business versions of the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express card.

I’ll explain how you can book Disney World packages using Starwood points!

Disney World Packages

Link:   Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

Link:   Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express

Link:   My Review of the Best-Ever AMEX Starwood Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Link:   Starwood Nights & Flights

With Starwood Nights & Flights, you can book 5-night award stays AND get 50,000 airline miles when you redeem:

• 60,000 Starwood points at category 3 hotels
• 70,000 Starwood points at category 4 hotels

These packages are NOT available for other category hotels.

You’ll have at least 40,000 Starwood points after earning the total sign-up bonus and meeting the minimum spending requirements on the personal version of the AMEX Starwood card.  Or at least 43,000 Starwood points with the small business version because of the slightly higher spending requirement.

These offers are good when you apply by April 5, 2017.

So after getting the AMEX Starwood personal AND small business cards and meeting the minimum spending, you will have at least 83,000 Starwood points.

Or you and a partner can apply for one AMEX Starwood personal card each and have at least 80,000 Starwood points after meeting the spending requirements.  You’ll have to combine Starwood points into one account.  To learn how, here’s my step-by-step guide for transferring Starwood points.

Any 2 Starwood card combination gets you enough points to book a Starwood Nights & Flights Disney World package!  And you’ll still have points left over.

For example, 70,000 Starwood points can get you 5 nights at the Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel plus 50,000 airline miles deposited into your frequent flyer account.

Note:   Remember, American Express only allows folks to get the sign-up bonus ONCE per person, per lifetime on ALL their cards.

How to Book a Nights & Flights Package

You can NOT book Nights & Flights packages online.  You have to call Starwood at 888-625-4988.

When you call to book, you must choose the hotel, travel dates, and airline transfer partner at the same time.  And you have to book 14 days in advance for US travel and 30 days in advance for international trips.

You can only get miles from Starwood’s airline partners that have a 1:1 transfer ratio.  So you can’t choose United Airlines because the transfer ratio is not 1:1.  But you can book a United Airlines award flight by selecting Air Canada or Singapore Airlines.

After you redeem points for a Nights & Flights package, Starwood will transfer 50,000 miles to the frequent flyer program you choose.  Then, it’s up to you to book an award flight.

Keep in mind you are NOT required to use the 50,000 miles for the Disney World package.  You could arrange flights on your own or drive to Disney World.  Then, save the 50,000 miles for a completely different trip.

I recommend researching award flight options before selecting an airline transfer partner.  You can use Expert Flyer to help find available award seats.  Or consider using an award booking service.

Depending on your departure city, the best award flight option to Orlando for many folks will be a low-level round-trip coach ticket on:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta

The cheapest coach award flights generally cost 25,000 miles.  But it can increase, especially during peak travel times.

If you’re a short distance from Orlando, you’ll get a better deal with British Airways.  Because you can book flights less than 1,151 miles on partners Alaska Airlines and American Airlines for just 7,500 British Airways Avios points each way (15,000 British Airways Avios points round-trip).

With the 50,000 British Airways Avios points you get from the Nights & Flights package, you’ll have more than enough points for 3 short round-trip coach tickets (15,000 British Airways Avios points X 3 tickets = 45,000 British Airways Avios points).

Eligible Starwood Hotels in Orlando

1.   Stay at Disney World – Walt Disney World Dolphin

The Walt Disney World Dolphin is the only category 4 Starwood hotel inside Walt Disney World!  This is a terrific option if you want more time to enjoy amusement rides instead of driving to the park.

Plus you get these additional perks:

• Advance tee times on championship Disney golf courses
• Character dining
• Complimentary transportation to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Extra Magic Hours benefit (visit the parks after normal hours)
• Free delivery of purchases made in Disney
• Free parking at Disney
• On-Site Disney ticket desks

I searched a 5-night stay in May 2017, which costs ~$1,917 if you pay cash.

So booking a Nights & Flights package would save you the out of pocket expense for the hotel.  And you’ll have 50,000 airline miles, which can save you more money on flights.

Note:   You’ll pay a $25 resort fee per night at the Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel.

2.   Stay Near Disney World

Folks might prefer other Starwood Category 3 and Category 4 hotels located outside Disney World in Orlando if you plan to visit other attractions, like Universal Studios or SeaWorld.

You can choose from these hotels:

• Aloft Orlando Downtown (Category 4)
• Sheraton Orlando North (Category 3)
• Sheraton Suites Orlando Airport (Category 3)
• Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas I-Drive / Orlando (Category 4)
• Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, Lake Buena Vista / Orlando (Category 4)
• The Westin Lake Mary, Orlando North (Category 3)

Some of these hotels have free parking.  And a few include larger suites or villas with kitchens, living rooms, and more space.

That’s a good deal for families looking to save money by cooking your own meals.

Keep in mind, you’ll have to rent a car and pay for parking at Disney parks and other attractions when you stay at one of these hotels.

Bottom Line

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, a Starwood Nights & Flights package is a terrific way to save lots of money.

With 60,000 or 70,000 Starwood points you can get 5 nights at the Walt Disney World Dolphin or nearby Starwood Category 3 and Category 4 hotels.  And you’ll get 50,000 airline miles, which are worth 2 round-trip coach award tickets within the US.

You can quickly earn enough points for these packages with the limited time AMEX Starwood 35,000-point sign-up bonuses on the personal and small business versions of the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express card.  These offers end on April 5, 2017.

Or you and a partner could sign-up for 1 card each.  Then, combine Starwood points for free.

Let me know if you plan on booking a Disney World package using Starwood points!