Several months ago, we showed you how to get a family of four to Disney World. Now we’re showing you how to get a family of four to the original park… Disneyland.
Both parents will have to get identical sets of credit cards for this to work — and each of them will need at least a 720 credit score. Plus they’ll need to be able to manage a spend of $3,500 per month (they can probably get some help using tricks like Amazon payments. But if they can manage all of this, they can get a family of four three days at Disneyland for $190.
There are multiple ways to figure out each trip. It’s like a big puzzle with several pieces that could fit. We give ideas for how it can be done and encourage you to share with us other ways it can be done. This week, we single out one specific way to fly to Los Angeles, but we also show other ways it can be done with other cards.
HIS APS: Four cards — US Airways Premier World MasterCard, Citi Hilton Reserve Card, Hilton HHonors Card from American Express, Chase Sapphire Preferred
HER APS: The same four cards— US Airways Premier World MasterCard, Citi Hilton Reserve Card, Hilton HHonors Card from American Express, Chase Sapphire Preferred
ITINERARY OVERVIEW: The family can leave from anywhere in the lower 48 (we chose Atlanta as a sample) on Friday, August 23. By getting an early morning flight, they can squeeze in Friday park time. They will get 3-day Park Hopper tickets, allowing them access to both Disneyland and California Adventure. They’ll spend all of Saturday and Sunday at the parks. And they’re get two rooms for three nights at the Hilton Anaheim, which is right across the street from park. They return home on Monday, August 26.
TOTAL TRIP VALUE: $4,407
HERE’S HOW THE DO IT:
August 23-26: Round-Trip for Four from Anytown U.S.A. to Los Angeles
Cost: $2,140 ($535 per person)
Method: US Airways Miles
Cards:
- US Airways Dividend Miles Premier World MasterCard(x2) – 80,000 US Airways Miles
- Mister receives 40,000 miles after his first spend on his card
- Missus receives 40,000 miles after her first spend on her card
Explanation: The official offer for the US Airways card gives you 40,000 miles after first spend for a fee of $89. The Chairman’s preferred link also gives you 40,000 miles after first spend, but without the fee. However, the Chairman’s card also discounts the award travel. So typically, a low-availability ticket would cost 25,000 miles round trip, however, the Chairman’s card allows you to book for 20,000. That means that with 80,000 miles, four tickets can be bought.
Additional Options: Four low-availability Delta tickets cost 100,000, which can be covered by two Gold Delta SkyMiles from American Express cards, each receiving 30,000 miles after a $500 spend within three months on each; plus two Business Gold Delta SkyMiles from American Express cards, each receiving 30,000 miles after a $500 spend with three months on each. Alternately, United offers a Saver Economy ticket, four of which can be gotten for 80,000 miles, covered by two United MileagePlus Explorer cards, which gives you 30,000 miles each for a spend of $1,000 within three months each; plus a Chase Sapphire Preferred card — Ultimate Rewards transfer into United miles — where you can receive 40,000 UR after spending $3,000 within three months. Lastly, four MileSAAver tickets on American cost 100,000 AA miles which can be covered by two unofficial Citi AA Visa cards that offers 50,000 miles each after a $3,000 spend each within three months.
Out of Pocket Cost: $0
August 23-25: Hilton Anaheim
Cost: $959 ($239 per room per night)
Method: Free Weekend Nights
Cards:
- Citi Hilton Reserve Card(x2) – 4 Free Weekend Nights
- Mister receives two free weekend nights after spending $2,500 within four months.
- Missus receives two free weekend nights after spending $2,500 with four months.
Explanation: Located across the street from Disneyland, the Category 6 Hilton Anaheim is perfectly situated to the park. With two Citi Hilton Reserve cards, the parents can get two free weekend nights each, giving them one room for the kids and one for themselves.
Out of Pocket Cost: $190 (credit card fees)
August 25-26: Hilton Anaheim
Cost: $478 ($239 per room per night)
Method: Hilton HHonors
Cards:
- Hilton HHonors Card from American Express (x2) – 81,500 HHonors points
- Mister receives 40,000 HHonors points after spending $750 within three months.
- Mister receives 750 HHonors points from his spend at a minimum of one point per dollar.
- Missus receives 40,000 HHonors points after spending $750 within three months.
- Missus receives 750 HHonors points from her spend at a minimum of one point per dollar.
Explanation: As a Category 6 property, rooms at the Hilton Anaheim cost 40,000 per night. With two Hilton Amex cards, these folks will have enough points to get themselves and their kids a third night.
Out of Pocket Cost: $0
Disneyland and California Adventure
Cost: $830 ($215 per ticket for adults, $200 per ticket for children)
Method: Ultimate Rewards
Cards:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred (x2) – 86,000 Ultimate Rewards points
- Mister receives 40,000 UR points after spending $3,000 within three months.
- Mister receives 3,000 UR points from his spend at a minimum of one point per dollar.
- Missus receives 40,000 UR points after spending $3,000 within three months.
- Missus receives 3,000 UR points from her spend at a minimum of one point per dollar.
Explanation: To be clear: statement credits is not a great redemption of Ultimate Rewards points. We value UR points at about 1.9 cents, so to redeem them at a penny a point is not ideal. But if you want to get your credit cards to pay for Disneyland, then it’s certainly an option.
Using the site MouseSavers, we found 3-day Park Hopper tickets for $215 for adults and $200 for children, for a total of $830. At a penny a point, to cover $830 you would need 83,000 Ultimate Rewards points. By picking up two Chase Sapphire Preferred cards, you get 86,000 points.
Out of Pocket Cost:$















