How to Use Points & Miles to Book a Disney Vacation in 2025 (Canadian Edition)

Canadian travellers can save thousands on a Disney vacation by using credit card rewards, airline points, and hotel loyalty programs. Learn the 2025 strategies here.

Planning a Disney vacation from Canada can feel like you’re watching your loonies and toonies vanish faster than popcorn on Main Street U.S.A. But savvy travellers know there’s a better way — using points and miles to cover flights, hotels, and even some park costs.

If you’re a Canadian in 2025 looking to make Disney more affordable, here’s your step-by-step strategy.

1. Choose Your Destination Wisely

From Canada, your two main Disney destinations are:

• Walt Disney World (Florida) – Usually more flight options from major Canadian cities, great for longer stays.
• Disneyland Resort (California) – Shorter flights from Western Canada, fewer park days needed.

Pro Tip: If you live near the US border, flying from an American airport (e.g., Buffalo, Bellingham) can cost fewer points and open up better award availability.

2. Pick the Right Canadian Credit Cards

Not all points programs are equal for Disney travel. Here are strong contenders:

Aeroplan (Air Canada)

• Earn through cards like the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card or TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite.
• Fly direct from many Canadian cities to Orlando (MCO) or Los Angeles (LAX/SNA).

RBC Avion

• Flexible points that can be transferred to British Airways Avios, WestJet Rewards, or even used directly for flights.

American Express Membership Rewards

• Cards like Amex Gold or Platinum let you transfer points to Aeroplan, Avios, and Marriott Bonvoy.
• Flexibility is key — especially when flight award seats are scarce.

WestJet Rewards

• Earn with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.
• Great if you live near a WestJet hub like Calgary, Toronto, or Vancouver.

Here’s how popular Canadian loyalty programs stack up for Disney-bound families:

Program	Best Use for Disney	Canadian Travel Tip
Aeroplan	Flights to Orlando or LAX via Air Canada & Star Alliance	Book U.S. partner airlines to avoid high surcharges
WestJet Rewards	Direct flights to Orlando or LAX	Use WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for free checked bags
RBC Avion	Transfer to WestJet or British Airways	Watch for 30–50% transfer bonuses
American Express Membership Rewards (Canada)	Transfer to Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy	Amex Cobalt earns 5x points at grocery stores (including gift cards)
Scene+	Redeem through Expedia for flights/hotels	Good for non-chain hotels near Disney
Marriott Bonvoy	On-property Disney partner hotels	Some offer free shuttles to the parks

3. Book Flights with Points

Example Redemptions (as of 2025):

• Aeroplan: 12,500–25,000 points one-way economy from Eastern Canada to Orlando; 7,500–12,500 from Western Canada to LA.
• Avios: Fly from Vancouver to LA for as little as 9,000 Avios one-way on Alaska Airlines.
• WestJet Dollars: Redeem directly for flights, with no blackout dates.

Tip: Always check taxes & fees — some award tickets from Canada have $150+ in surcharges, especially on certain carriers.

4. Save on Disney Hotels with Points

While you can’t usually book Disney-owned hotels with points in Canada, many Disney Springs area hotels are part of major chains:

• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace (Hilton Honors)
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista (Wyndham Rewards)
• Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress (World of Hyatt)

For Disneyland California:

• Fairfield Inn Anaheim Resort (Marriott Bonvoy)
• Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort (Hyatt Points)

5. Use Points for Park Tickets (Indirectly)

While you can’t redeem Aeroplan or Avios directly for Disney park tickets, you can:

• Use credit cards with a travel statement credit (e.g., Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite) to erase ticket purchases.
• Buy Disney gift cards at Canadian retailers (Costco, Shoppers Drug Mart) and pay with a travel rewards card.

6. Maximize Your Earnings Before You Go

• Pay for groceries, gas, and recurring bills with your rewards card.
• Use shopping portals like Aeroplan eStore to earn bonus miles on Disney merchandise before your trip.
• Book car rentals through your points portal for bonus earnings.

7. Combine Points & Cash

If you don’t have enough points to cover everything, split your booking:

• Use points for flights (often the biggest savings).
• Pay cash for discounted park tickets through an authorized reseller like Undercover Tourist.

Sample Savings: Toronto to Orlando, March Break 2025

• Flights: 50,000 Aeroplan points (family of 4, round trip) – taxes ~$300 total.
• Hotel: 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for 5 nights near Disney Springs.
• Tickets: Paid cash, offset with $500 in travel credits.

Savings: ~$2,200 CAD compared to paying full price.

Final Word

For Canadians, points and miles are a powerful way to make Disney vacations far more affordable. The key is picking the right credit card, being flexible with travel dates, and stacking your redemptions smartly.

The magic of Disney is priceless — but with a bit of points strategy, it can be a lot cheaper.

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