Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members Platinum Travel Service 800-525-3355 1. Since early in the Starwood-Marriott merger, youve been able to transfer your Starwood points to Marriott points at a 1:3 ratio. It's also a pretty good card to use for theme park lunches since it awards 2x points per dollar on dining. Of course, this hasn't been a normal year. Eligible travel purchases do NOT include non-prepaid car rentals, non-prepaid hotels, ticketing service or other fees, or interest charges. 1. Platinum Card Members can enjoy access to more than 1,400+ airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, including flagship locations through The . Instead the statement credit may be applied to your Pay in Full balance. Each advertiser is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its ad offer details, but we attempt to verify those offer details. Privacy Policy, Recommended Disney World Restaurants for First-Timers, Recommended Disneyland Restaurants for First-Timers, BIG Change Comes to Magic Kingdom Park Map, The PROBLEM You Might Have When Renting an ECV in Disney World. To book flights on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. For example, before transferring Membership Rewards points to airline or hotel partners, youll want to compare to the cost of booking flights and hotels through AMEX Travel and paying with your points. Click here to see the latest new menu items coming to California Grill! Benefits are valid only for eligible U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum and Centurion Card Members (Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members are not eligible). All rights reserved. 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. *Value of Rewards based on TPG valuations and not provided by the issuer. 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. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Because AMEX Membership Rewards points are so valuable, its important to make the most of them when you book travel. When youre evaluating your options for hotel bookings, youll always want to compare against paying with points. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear. Theres a large window that overlooks the brake testing section of the attraction and two design-your-own-vehicle stations. It feels like weve just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the top bars and lounges at Walt Disney World, and thats probably because we have. The Mandara Spa is a Balineseinspired oasis, with a full menu of body therapies, massages, facials, and beauty treatments. To qualify for complimentary guest privileges, you must spend $75,000 on your Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum Card each calendar year. If youre granted access, the door will open and fog will cover the entryway. You can also subscribe without commenting. You are using an out of date browser. A better option will usually be to transfer AMEX Membership Rewards to Starwood and then from Starwood to Marriott. This means by transferring from AMEX to Starwood to Marriott, you can effectively transfer your AMEX Membership Rewards points to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio. Corporate Partners | Universal Orlando Resort Feeding Frenzy at Jock Lindsays Hangar Bar. This tough ratio can make it hard to get great value using your AMEX Membership Rewards points this way, but youll occasionally find Starwood hotels that make it worth it. It automatically awards 3% back in the category you spend the most in that month -- and two options are for entertainment and travel. Pretty sure there is no Amex, they don't partner with them, they partner with Chase. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Need a guide to EPCOT for your 2023 trip? AmEx lounge access may include Sky Clubs when flying Delta. But it's tricky. Here's your road map to maximizing theme park ticket purchases by using the right credit card. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. The person who used to staff the lounge was also an AmEx employee, not a Disney CM. Guide to lounge access with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Relax in the beanbags as you watch the ride in action, then take the backdoor entrance to the ride for a quick access. When you're not at the theme parks, take advantage of the hotel's daily scheduled activities. Even if youre set on using your points for a hotel stay, it can be difficult to find sweet spots transferring points to hotel partners. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. How do I Redeem Membership Rewards Points. Some of that content may also contain ads, including links to advertisers sites, and we may be paid on those ads or links. Even if you earn fewer points, that might be a worthy trade-off to keep money in your pockets. What could be better than listening to Polynesian music while sipping a fruity tropical drink out of a pineapple? Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding will almostmake you forget the Ohana bread pudding (the recipe was created by a chef from Ohana, so its not like youre cheating or anything if you love this one just as much). The menu takes your average bar food and makes it both elegant and enticing. How much we spent: A breakdown In total, we spent just. Rooms and suites are chic and modern, featuring neutral dcor with bold pops of blue. Plus, expansions are also underway in Seattle (SEA). 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. Hilton has a variety of hotels on or near Walt Disney World property. If its a full-on prime rib dinner youre looking for, youve found it here. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Unfortunately, that is admittedly rare. Strategically using one of the best credit cards for theme park tickets will mean that you can earn bonus cash back or some extra miles and points to put toward the next family vacation. 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. BREAKING: Universal Is Building a NEW Theme Park Experience in Texas! California CST#1022318; Washington UBI#600-469-694; Iowa TA#669. For example: Check out this post on the best ways to use AMEX Membership Rewards points for flights in the US. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. When you click on that hyperlink or button, you may be directed to the credit card issuers website where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer. Transferring AMEX Membership Rewards points to airline partners is often a great option for flights to Disney. If you don't want to overthink things, this card is a really good bet. What is in these lounges? We also include editorial content to educate consumers about financial products and services. By cutting free guests, Amex is seemingly working to reduce overcrowding. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Some parts Copyright The Walt Disney Co. However, because all of this is clear as mud, we have received some reports of theme park ticket purchases with the Savor card coding as travel. For 2023 guest privileges, your 2022 spending is the deciding factor. So, your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms on this site. Here's why. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Lufthansa lounges. Truly memorable is the wine flight, so dont miss that if you go! Disney World tickets bought online from Disney: Entertainment. Plus Ups are excluded. Cynthia, when purchasing tickets or booking rooms and packages through the Walt Disney World Resort website, Guests are welcome to make a payment using PayPal, as well as the following forms of payment: Visa Mastercard American Express Discover Card Diners Club Charge Card JCB (Japan Credit Bureau) Disney Gift Card Now, after years of negotiating with the airport for a larger lounge space, American Express has opened up one of the largest Centurion Lounges in its network. For more information visit membershiprewards.com/terms. 1lilspark DIS Veteran Joined Apr 7, 2016 Feb 5, 2017 #2 They have a visa lounge at Epcot during food and wine that's it MrGoofy101 Stitch Likes Toys. Ken and his wife Emily write about using points and miles (and saving money) on Disney trips at Mousehacking.com. One of the perks of the recent Hilton changes is the introduction of a pay your way points and money option. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in USD or the local currency equivalent. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. 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. 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. Awwww, yes, please! Banana Cabana at Disneys Caribbean Beach Resort. Create your own Sangria. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. Not quite a pool bar, Geyser Point Bar and Grill is just near the main pool at Disneys Wilderness Lodge. The most important trick to using AMEX Membership Rewards points to book flights is knowing which transfer partners can book flights on which airlines. Delta Sky Club lounges. 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 . We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. As you enter the discreet door, the first area you see is a foyer where guests enter a pin or press the call button. My daughter is going next week on March 11 sh | planDisney 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! Hilton claims their nightly rates will not exceed the former rates, and they offer a handy tool for checking what those rates were. If you aren't sure how a charge will code, using a strong card for everyday spending isn't the worst plan. These lounges are tucked away and likely unnoticed by those that don't know to look for them. The resort offers 18 restaurants and lounges, with options ranging from the premium Shulas Steak House to the family-friendly Garden Grove. transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to 3 hotel chains, you can convert Starwood points to Marriott points at a, sometimes be able to get great value from your points, Walt Disney World Swan and the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Sheraton Park Hotel At The Anaheim Resort, Sheraton Garden Grove Anaheim South Hotel, Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center, Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Area, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando Disney Springs Area, Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista / Orlando, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort Convention Center, Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim-Main Gate Area, Best Hilton credit cards: Improved weekend night certificates, earning rates and more. Room upgrade is subject to availability and is provided at check-in; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. DISCLOSURE: I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend. Check out the secret bathrooms of Disney World! Jocks has become known for holiday specialties, so you want to look for seasonal menu items and festive decor. Although the food menu is a little bit limited right now, there is no limit to the tropical goodness the Tambu Lounge can get into a glass with a little rum and some ice. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. In most cases youll get more value from transferring AMEX Membership Rewards points to airline partners than to hotel partners. 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! Bonuses you may receive with your Card on other purchase categories or in connection with promotions or offers from American Express may not be combined with this offer, such as 5X bonuses for Platinum and Business Platinum Card Members. 5 Things to Know About AmEx Lounge Access - NerdWallet Siemens took over sponsorship of Spaceship Earth from AT&T (formerly Bell System) in 2005. Eligible purchases through American Express Travel exclude non-prepaid car rentals and non-prepaid hotels. Independent Walt Disney World Vacation Information. Although things can change, here are some TPG data points on how theme park ticket purchases have coded in the past: Related: These are the best restaurants at Disney World. This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. These Are the BEST. An expanding network of airport lounges, the American Express Global Lounge Collection is dedicated to offering Platinum Card Members more lounge options than any other card on the market*. Weve Eaten at Every Magic Kingdom Restaurant. However, youre going to get the most value out of a transferon stays of at least 5 nights at Hilton, Marriott, and Starwood hotels. You will find no shortage of places to meet friends before dinner or to grab an evening cocktail at Walt Disney World, but some of the bars and lounges are just a bit more memorable even after an E-ticket evening of imbibing. 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! Heres what you should know about the change in guest policies at Centurion Lounges effective today. Universal Studios American Express Lounge. American Express Green Card: Best for earning Amex rewards; . For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here. 5:00am - 12:00am . Additional reporting by Joseph Hostetler and Ryan Smith. 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. 3. 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. There are 2 ways to book hotels with AMEX Membership Rewards points. The club will take you right to the heart of Bourbon Street, with live jazz music playing several nights a week (usually Thursday through Monday), and NOLA famous cocktails like the Southern Hurricane and the Sazerac. For official Disney information, visit Disney directly. 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. Book a Cruise Through American Express Travel and Sail Away on the Adventure of a Lifetime. Escape Lounges The Centurion Studio Partner. Check here before booking an award fare. 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. 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. I see that there are lounges at Epcot - what are the requirements to get in them? NEWS: Registration Dates ANNOUNCED for 2023-2024 runDisney Races, The Harsh Reality Behind Mobile Ordering in Disney World, Five Big Reasons You Might See An Empty Disney World in 2023. Learn More About Cruise Offerings and Plan Your Trip Today. The Citi Premier Card awards 2x Citi ThankYou points per dollar on entertainment charges and 3x ThankYou points per dollar spent on travel charges. Go next level with your knowledge of Disneys Animal Kingdom, Check out our review of the Connections Cafe in EPCOT, See what other sips were sweet on at Ogas Cantina. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. I'm afraid that I don't know what the original requirements for entry were, but American Express no longer sponsors The American Adventure, so the former lounge is now mainly used for private and cast functions. Make the Brown Derbys grapefruit cake at home! Experience Credit: $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities, A room upgrade at check-in, when available. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. Best credit cards for Disney and Universal vacations When you order through my link, it helps me to continue to offer you free stuff. Sign up for our free daily newsletter! Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee? If you believe this has occurred, please contact us by calling the number on the back of your Card. Before you decide which credit card to use for your theme park tickets, be sure and check for any Amex Offers that might save you money. Plaza Premium lounges. The cocktail menu features the timeless classics well made, like an Old Fashioned, but the food really shines here. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Disney Vacation Club Member Lounges - 5 Things You Need to Know