Orlando Travel Credit Cards to Save on Flights and Hotels

Orlando, Florida, is an expensive destination: a family of four can easily spend a thousand dollars a day on theme-park tickets, food and extras. That reality makes many family trips to Orlando feel like once-in-a-lifetime events. Still, Orlando remains hugely popular—Canada sent a record number of visitors in 2023—because the city’s parks, restaurants, shopping and attractions offer a lot of value and variety for travellers.

I visit Orlando nearly every year (save for a pandemic pause), and I’m not what some call a “Disney adult.” I enjoy the parks, but I also go for the food, shopping and the ever-changing lineup of attractions. The main reason I can keep returning is that I use loyalty points and credit cards strategically to cut major travel costs—especially flights and hotels. With the right combination of programs, you can make multiple trips more affordable.

How to travel to Orlando on credit card points

When I book flights to Orlando the first place I check is Aeroplan, Air Canada’s loyalty program. Aeroplan lets you book most available Air Canada seats using points, and during off-peak times I’ve seen one-way Toronto-to-Orlando tickets for as low as 9,000 Aeroplan points plus taxes. Peak travel dates can require many more points, so flexibility helps reduce the cost.

My wife and I use the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card to earn Aeroplan points on everyday spending. The card also waives the first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight travel companions on the same itinerary—a benefit that can offset the annual fee and save roughly $150 for a family.

Another useful option is the WestJet RBC Mastercard line, which includes companion vouchers that let a travelling companion pay a set base fare plus taxes and fees. If both parents hold eligible WestJet cards, each could have a voucher, and that can add up to substantial savings. WestJet points earned on the card can also be used to reduce ticket costs, and some card versions include the first checked bag free for the primary cardholder and guests on the same itinerary.

The best credit cards for getting around Orlando

Because Orlando’s attractions are spread out, renting a car is usually the most practical choice. Major rental companies operate at Orlando International Airport, and Alamo often offers competitive rates. If you collect bank travel rewards—BMO Rewards, TD Rewards, RBC Avion or American Express Membership Rewards—you can sometimes book car rentals through those issuers’ travel portals and pay with points.

I prefer to save points for flights, so I usually charge car rentals to a travel credit card that provides primary or secondary car rental insurance when I pay with the card. That saves time and money on purchasing additional insurance at the rental counter.

When I stay at on-site hotels at Universal Orlando or Walt Disney World, I often skip the rental car because both resorts provide extensive free shuttles and internal transportation. Many hotels also run shuttle services to nearby attractions. For occasional off-site trips, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are usually affordable options.

What to do in Orlando

Orlando keeps evolving—new lands, rides and attractions open regularly—so there’s always something fresh to experience. Recent additions include areas like DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios, which thrilled my daughter with characters from shows and movies she loves. With so many choices across theme parks, museums, beaches and dining scenes, planning priorities is essential.

If theme parks are your focus, choose which ones to target: Universal Orlando includes the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, while Disney World hosts areas such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Tron Lightcycle/Run. For activities beyond parks, the Kennedy Space Center is about an hour away and offers behind-the-scenes tours, while New Smyrna Beach provides a quieter seaside option than busier beaches like Daytona.

Orlando’s culinary scene has matured—since the Michelin Guide arrived in 2022 the city now features nearly 50 Michelin-recognized restaurants, from intimate omakase counters to vibrant global street-food offerings. For a lively local neighbourhood, try Mills 50, known for its diverse restaurants, street art and nightlife.

When I pay for dining and purchases abroad, I use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card to avoid the typical 2.5% charge on many Canadian cards. That simple step saves money across meals, souvenirs and incidental expenses.

How to use credit cards to save on your stay

With loyalty points, hotel nights in Orlando can be nearly free (resort fees and parking may still apply). I look at Marriott properties first because I hold a Marriott Bonvoy American Express card, which includes an annual free night (up to a points limit). American Express Membership Rewards transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, making it easy to top up stays using transferable points from cards such as the American Express Cobalt.

I often stay at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve within the Swan and Dolphin complex. These hotels give on-site benefits like early theme-park access and a range of family-friendly amenities. For lower-cost options, Marriott’s Residence Inn and Courtyard brands can start at around 15,000 Bonvoy points per night, and Marriott’s five-night reward rules give one night free when you book five consecutive nights with points.

Aeroplan’s HotelSavers program is another option to reduce point costs at select partner hotels, and Aeroplan cardholders sometimes get their fourth night free when booking three nights on points.

More ways to save in Orlando

If flights and hotels are covered by points, theme-park tickets become the largest remaining expense. Watch for promotions: Universal Orlando and Disney World both run seasonal offers on tickets and hotel packages that can include bonus days, room discounts or perks like Universal Express passes at participating hotels. Official attraction and tourism sites often list current offers on dining, shopping and local experiences that can help stretch your travel budget.

In short, Orlando can be pricey, but using the right credit cards and loyalty programs makes repeat visits more realistic. With planning, flexibility and a few loyalty strategies—flight redemptions, companion vouchers, hotel points and no-foreign-fee cards—you can cut major costs and still enjoy everything Orlando has to offer.

Read more about travel:

• How to save money on a Disney Cruise
• Travel hacks to help you save money on your next trip
• How to stay on budget this summer, wherever your vacation plans take you
• How to book a long-term vacation rental