All Rights Reserved, BonusTracker: Best credit card bonus offers, When to use miles or points vs. paying cash (using our points calculator with newly added features! She said it was the best job she'd ever had. Points will be debited from your Membership Rewards account, and credit for corresponding dollar amount will be issued to the American Express Card account used. Mobile Order used to be one of our favorite Disney tips, but now it's really How different will the crowds be in Disney World next year? Check out our Disney Recipes In the lounge, youll also see some fun technology like a touch screen that displays park info and wait times and allows you to change the color of the floor leading to the meeting space. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Send Money & Split Purchases: Venmo and PayPal, Credit Intel Financial Education Center. American Express Credit Cards, Rewards & Banking We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. This is obviously less than the 1 cent you get by booking air travel through the portal (and way less than some international business class flight redemptions), but it will sometimes be the best value you can get using AMEX Membership Rewards points to book hotels. You wont want to miss some of the out-of-this-world snacks and drink options when you are visiting Disney Star Wars Galaxys Edge. Weve Eaten at Every Restaurant in Disneys Animal Kingdom. How to access American Express lounge benefits. Pay with Points: To use Pay with Points, you must charge your eligible purchase through American Express Travel to a Membership Rewards program-enrolled American Express Card. For those who cant or wont spend $75,000 per year on their Platinum card, a potential solution is adding authorized users to your Platinum card. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. The crowd can be elbow to elbow then, so try to go earlier in the day. 56 Must-Read Disney Dining Secrets from Disney Food Blog, Disney World and Disneyland Food and Wine Festival Details, Disney Recipe From the Vault: Main Street Cinnamon Rolls, Top 10 Disney Dining Tips From the Experts, Cheeseburger Spring Rolls Disney Worlds Most Popular Snacks, Meet the Politically Connected Republican Allies DeSantis Appointed to the Disney World District Board, HUGE Price Increase at Cinderellas Royal Table in Disney World. This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Here are the BEST Read this before hitting the parks with your MagicBand+! Three to consider are: Since the Hilton nightly rates vary by hotel and date without a published table, it can be challengingto find sweet spots. They may be able to get it for you after 5 PM. The AMEX Travel Portal can be used to book hotels at most chains, but here are some sample redemptions for Disney resorts: At most hotels, you can expect to get a value of~0.7 cents per point when you pay with points. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Building your business credit: 5 steps to success, Quick Points: Hyatt Globalists get free parking on award stays, What are points and miles worth? 2. Enrollment required. Chase VIP Lounge is open during the Food and Wine Festival and the Flower and Garden Festival to anyone with a Chase credit card. We love to be immersed in the atmosphere and plied with clever cocktails, and youll find both at Ogas. Hilton claims their nightly rates will not exceed the former rates, and they offer a handy tool for checking what those rates were. For 2023 guest privileges, your 2022 spending is the deciding factor. Delta Sky Club lounges. MADE IN ENGLAND. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. The person who used to staff the lounge was also an AmEx employee, not a Disney CM. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. This matters because if you paid with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and your $500 ticket purchase coded as travel, you'd earn 1,500 Ultimate Rewards points -- and you could even use the card's annual $300 travel credit towards the charge. Additional reporting by Joseph Hostetler and Ryan Smith. Take either take the stairs or the elevator to the VIP lounge where youll be given complimentary beverages and amazing views of the indoor queue and Advanced Training Lab. These lounges are accessible with ownership of certain credit cards like the Platinum Card from American Express for access to the Centurion Lounges, or, in the case of the Sapphire Lounges by the Club, sometimes with Priority Pass membership. If you aren't sure how a charge will code, using a strong card for everyday spending isn't the worst plan. Universal Studios American Express Lounge - WDWMAGIC Here are some Disney World-specific credit card tips: The information for the Disney Visa card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. If youre planning a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, getting the most out of these transfer partners can be the key to saving Big Money! Trader Sams also serves up some awesome apps with those delicious drinks, and dont leave empty-handed order your drink in a souvenir glass when they are available. For many, this is unfortunate news to go along with shelling out $695 each year for the Platinum card (see rates and fees). One of the perks of the recent Hilton changes is the introduction of a pay your way points and money option. DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide to EPCOT in 2023. The cash total for that stay would start at ~$1,455 for 5 nights. Using Starwood points with 5th Night Free, however, the stay only requires 40,000 Starwood points (10,000 Starwood points per night X 4 nights plus 5th night free). Drinks here take on the Pacific Northwest theme of the resort, including a Northwest Iced Tea (think Long Island Iced Tea) and some native beers. It can be a bit of an undertaking to make your way to Disneys Caribbean Beach Resort if you arent staying there, but Banana Cabana Lounge may just make it worth a trip. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Disney World Restaurant Search Tool Participating suppliers and PDV benefits are subject to change. Nestled in the Pacific Northwest setting of the resort, the open-air bar has both a table service lounge and a walk-up quick service counter. Well show you the best ways to visit Disney with American Express Membership Rewards points! Check here before booking an award fare. These Are the BEST. I thought they had one below the DVC Lounge.. (Above Imageworks) But Maybe I'm Wrong. The ultimate guide to American Express Centurion Lounges, solo travelers may be thrilled by a reduction in lounge guests, Amex adds live capacity indicators for Centurion Lounges, Authorized users on the Business Platinum. American Express Lounge. Like this post? Related: Why you might want to use a Disney Vacation Planner. We really want to try the maple crme brulee. You may have to hunt a bit to find Tutto Gusto, but look for the red Wine Cellar awning at the back of the Italy Pavilion. AmEx lounge access may include Sky Clubs when flying Delta. Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Guide to lounge access with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Weve tried ALL the places at Walt Disney World where you can score a delicious drink and amazing appetizers, and these are the places we think are the top bars and lounges at Walt Disney World. See membershiprewards.com/terms for the Membership Rewards program terms and conditions. *, With Platinum Destinations Vacations, get one extra Membership Rewards point for every eligible dollar you spend on a qualifying vacation package.1. Enrollment required. AMEX lounge - in Universal Studios - do people use it? The card also provides 2% cash back in the eligible category you spend the second most in that month, making it a pretty solid option for when you take a big theme park trip. Weve Eaten at Every Magic Kingdom Restaurant. American Express offers a calculator to help you with that math. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. Weve Eaten at Every Disney Springs Restaurant. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Kraft sponsored The Land, Kodak sponsored the Imagination pavilion, and The Seas, sponsored by United Technologies, featured one of the most elaborate lounges with an acrylic grand piano . Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The Walt Disney World Dolphin Has a Great Location, and a 5-Night Award Stay Costs 24,000 AMEX Membership Rewards Points per Night! A great tip is to go earlier in the evening to avoid the fireworks rush, because as long as you return with your receipt, you can still access the observation area to watch the fireworks. How do I find and add Amex Offers to my Card? American Express Lounge: We used this several times. The AMEX Offers For Disney Restaurants Are Back And They Stack With Required fields are marked *. You might have a PROBLEM renting an electric wheelchair in Disney World. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Insider Tip When you're not at the theme parks, take advantage of the hotel's daily scheduled activities. The Snakebite Sliders answer the Whyd it have to be snakes? question, and washed down with something from the secret drinks menu, youll never want to leave! Boasting a lineup of over 200 Tequilas, this small but mighty location will entice even the most critical cocktail connoisseur with a collection of creatively magnificent margaritas. When you return to the lounge, check out the conference room, which has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Test Track entrance, the external acceleration test area, and Spaceship Earth as well as the Imagination Pavilion and The Land. Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a Apply Now button or Learn More button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. Terminal 1, International. Escape Lounges The Centurion Studio Partner. Learn More About Cruise Offerings and Plan Your Trip Today. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Does Disney have an Amex lounge (or any lounge for certain card holders) like Universal does? And ask your server if you can get the Ohana style bread pudding. When you're not at the theme parks, take advantage of the hotel's daily scheduled activities. The resort offers 18 restaurants and lounges, with options ranging from the premium Shulas Steak House to the family-friendly Garden Grove. Is Disneys Wilderness Lodge the right resort for you? We also have a handy workaround to get your guests into the lounge for free. How do I Earn Membership Rewards Points? Lufthansa lounges. Making Advance Dining Reservations at Disney Restaurants Hi Rebecca! A Red Ventures Company. A lounge based on a love story? The Hollywood Brown Derby is a perennial favorite at Disneys Hollywood Studios, but just in case you havent been able to score a table, the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge is the perfect backup plan. For many families, the dream is tostay at a Disney resort. American Express Lounge For more information please visit americanexpress.com/travelterms. And for Disneyland, your best bets are John Wayne Airport (SNA) or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Additional Amex perks include 10% off merchandise purchases of $75+, 10% off . This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. If you look to your left, youll see a sweeping entryway, which leads to the door for this lounge. This means there are easily billions of dollars spent annually on theme park tickets alone, not to mention all the other related costs. The menu varies seasonally, so you are likely to find a seasonal soup, plus theres always a charcuterie and a mouth-watering dessert. BREAKING: Universal Is Building a NEW Theme Park Experience in Texas! Not quite a pool bar, Geyser Point Bar and Grill is just near the main pool at Disneys Wilderness Lodge. Food at Tutto Gusto features Italian flavors such as Petto di Pollo, comfort food made with a creamy, cheesy sauce over pasta with grilled chicken. Spend the day exploring the theme parks, with complimentary shuttle service available to all Walt Disney World parks. Benefit restrictions vary by property. As you enter the discreet door, the first area you see is a foyer where guests enter a pin or press the call button. As with Marriott and Starwood, this is a good way to save on cash or extend your points, but youll need to make sure youre getting good value for the points you save! Often, theme park tickets will code as entertainment purchases, but that isn't always the case. Children younger than 13 cant be added as authorized users, so this is a noticeable devaluation for families who must shell out $30 to bring each kid into the lounges some of which have dedicated family rooms. Take a relaxing break during your afternoon and enjoy complimentary light snacks, drinks, a full-time concierge and more. Latest Walt Disney World News Coming Soon Remy's Ratatouille Adventure - Late 2020 Epcot Space Restaurant - 2020 TRON Coaster . While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, our site does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. Even more tastes of the tropics can be found in the Hawaiian Mule or the Polynesian Mai Tai, but if youre looking for a bite, youre in luck. Get access to the American Express Lounge In Universal Studios when you buy any Universal Orlando Multi-Park Ticket or Annual Pass with any American Express Card. Which Character Meal is Right For You? To book flights on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. As the story goes, Indiana Jones long-trusted pilot discovered this waterfront gem while hunting for the Fountain of Youth in Florida. here Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation. Through our unique partnerships with Avis/Budget, Christie, Coca-Cola, Edgewell Personal Care, Haagen Dazs, Macy's and Niagara guests can enjoy exclusive offers and benefits. At low season, rates at the Dolphin will be ~$140 per night, so youll only be getting a value of less than 0.5 cents per point. For example, if youre flying JetBlue, Delta, or Virgin America, you can transfer your points directly to that airline. How do I Redeem Membership Rewards Points. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Content provided by Loungebuddy (opens in a new window) Terms & Conditions We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. First, you can pay with your points when you book travel through the American Express Travel Portal. I believe you can't get into the GM lounge unless one of you is a GM employee. Scat Cats Club is a soulful, jazz-filled, joy of a lounge located at Disneys Port Orleans Resort French Quarter. Book a Cruise: Browse Cruises & Destinations - American Express Base21 Siemens VIP Center, the official name, is accessed through a door inside Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future, the post-attraction gaming area. Starting then, the card will no longer award 3x on travel and 2x on entertainment but instead will award 3x on air travel, hotels and gas stations along with supermarkets and restaurants. American Express - Experiences Entertainment will no longer be a bonus category on that card. Our guide to calculating their value, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, American Express Membership Rewards points, JetBlue, Delta, or Virgin America, you can transfer your points directly to that airline, you can transfer points to Aeroplan, ANA, or Singapore Air, you can transfer points to British Airways, you can transfer points to Virgin America. Because the AMEX Travel portal offers ~0.7 cents per point pretty consistently when you pay with points forhotel bookings,youll need to carefully compare these options depending on the specifics of your stay. Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is the world's most popular theme park -- and it's also one of the most complex when it comes to maximizing dollars spent with the best credit card. ), How much are Amex points really worth? For starters, you'll earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after making at least $ 6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of account opening. Our travel experts and partners have the destination expertise and the inside access to book everything from a day of sightseeing to your entire trip, including flights, lodging, and even dining reservations. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be traveling on the itinerary booked. Best credit cards for Disney and Universal vacations If you want to linger a bit longer, though, try to avoid popping in for a nightcap on your way out of EPCOT or in the midst of a rainstorm. Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members Platinum Travel Service 800-525-3355 1. Partner With Disney Food Blog DISCLOSURE: I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend. Because AMEX Membership Rewards points are so valuable, its important to make the most of them when you book travel. Having fun at a theme park is pretty easy, but finding the best deals and maximizing the benefit of your expenses are more nuanced tasks. So Ive asked them to share their tips on booking trips toWalt Disney World and Disneyland using AMEX Membership Rewards points. Although American Express airport lounge access is complimentary through these cards, the barrier to entry is high due to their annual fees.The Platinum Card from American Express carries a $550 . We're here with the TOP restaurants from Disney Springs! Trader Sams Grog Grotto brings to light Sams devotion to drinks, his mad love for mixology. Thank you for your support. Plus Ups are excluded. He writes travel and product reviews, deep dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more. Click here to see the latest new menu items coming to California Grill! You are using an out of date browser. If you didnt spend at least $75,000 on your card last year, you cannot bring complimentary guests into the lounge from now on. Of course, this hasn't been a normal year. You may be detecting a pattern with our addition of Disneys Hollywood Studios Ogas Cantina to the list of our favorite bars and lounges. Experience Credit: $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities, A room upgrade at check-in, when available. Thats a lot of points, but youd be getting a value of over 1.2 cents per point! Post all SW questions concerns, etc. Advance reservations are recommended for certain experience credits. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. You can almost feel the beach breeze. You'll also get five points per $1 spent on . And thats just how we like it! Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Weve got the recipe! American Express Lounge | The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - DISboards.com Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Youll first enter a holding room, which is decorated with construction photos and concept art from the attraction. Past Disney World and Disneyland Food and Wine Festival Coverage. Starwood operates 3 hotels very close to Disneyland. But it's tricky. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Using Pay with Points, the best rate is 208,195 AMEX Membership rewards points. If you're going to drink one drink from each EPCOT pavilion, these are the drinks We're ranking ALL of the Disney World hotels! The Hotel Collection (THC) benefits are available for new bookings of two consecutive nights or more made through American Express Travel with participating properties and are valid only for eligible U.S. Consumer and Business Gold Card, Platinum Card and Centurion Members (Delta SkyMiles Gold and Platinum Card Members are not eligible). Rooms and suites are chic and modern, featuring neutral dcor with bold pops of blue. Learn more. Plus, expansions are also underway in Seattle (SEA). Independent Walt Disney World Vacation Information. #1 Does Disney have an Amex lounge (or any lounge for certain card holders) like Universal does? You know how we love a good cheese option on a menu, and Territory Lounge offers up a Chardonnay fondue, a slightly boozy, super creamy snack option that comes served with practically perfect pretzel bread. Children under two, however, can enter for free when accompanying an adult. American AdventureBackstage Magic TourCast MembersEPCOTEPCOT Flower And Garden FestivalEPCOT International Food And Wine FestivalFastpassFuture WorldImagination!MagicBandMission: SpaceMission:SpaceNightclubs & LoungesSpaceship EarthTest TrackThe American AdventureThe LandThe SeasToursWorld Showcase. If a charge for a purchase is included in a Pay Over Time balance on your Linked Account the statement credit associated with that charge may not be applied to that Pay Over Time balance. The one piece of Disney World advice you want to take when you get here is this look up. American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., when acting solely as a sales agent for travel suppliers, is not responsible for the actions or inactions of such suppliers. The bar has a bright, tropical feel with some comfy seating options, and the eats here are pretty darned delicious. AmEx Global Lounge Collection: What to Know - NerdWallet With the 3:1 transfer ratio, youll have to transfer30,000 or 36,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points per night booking these resorts. Minimum redemption 5,000 points. Disney World has bars and lounges in many of the resorts, at some of the theme parks, and definitely at Disney Springs, and it can be a difficult decision to pick a place to get your drink on. To continue your theme park vacation planning: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. The lounge area itself is bright and modern with shades of blue accentuated with geometric shapes. Final . For a trip to Walt Disney World, youll want to fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). Joined Aug 11, 2016 Feb 5, 2017 #3 NYDisneyKid said: The Wilderness Lodge is already beautiful, but with the waterfront views offered at this location, and the fireplace to warm up to on a cool evening, its easy to see why this ranks among our favorite spots. If you want to be extra sure, price your tickets from Undercover Tourist as they have always coded as travel for me. She now heads up a variety of special projects at TPG when she isn't exploring the world with her own two girls. The shareables, like the house-made guacamole and the roasted corn dip, are crowd pleasers; and the entrees like the poke bowls and the steak frites pack a flavorful punch (just ask for the fries on the side if you go for the steak frites to avoid losing some of the crispness of the fries).