October 30, 2026
Reader Success Story: Disneyland Under $600!
Pam
I made an offhand comment to my husband about wishing we could go to the Oogie Boogie Bash and was shocked when I looked and there were still tickets available for a night just three weeks away. I started planning!
Flights
- 16,000 points total + 2 Southwest Companion Passes®
- I book basic fares but base the cash price on Choice as my Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Card gives me seat selection at booking
- 16,000 points total + 2 Companion Passes®
Hotel
- Hyatt Place Anaheim Convention Center
- Originally booked using 27,000 points, then realized I had my Citi Strata Elite℠ Card hotel credit still to use for the year so cancelled and got my Hyatt points back and rebooked using $300 credit
- $306.38 (so $6.38 out of pocket)
Other Credits Used
- Venture X travel credit: $153.81 rental car for 2 days
- Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ travel credit: since we opted for a day at Disney instead of Oogie Boogie Bash, I was able to purchase our one day tickets through GetAwayToday, which codes as travel. I was about to cancel my Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ and had toyed with trying to use the travel credit and seeing if it would get clawed back, but I was only willing to try if I had a legit travel expense I would’ve paid anyway, and Disney fit that bill! I made the purchase on a Friday, the travel credit hit my statement the next Monday and I cancelled the card Wednesday. Statement closed Friday and it’s been another full month and the credit has not been clawed back. Meaning our six one-day tickets to Disney cost $348 out of pocket.
- CSR personal lounge access: we both have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® since our home airport has a Sapphire lounge. I haven’t had dinner in the lounge before (because I usually fly out in the mornings) and the food was really good! It was a great place to spend our extra time due to the flight delay. My kiddos ate enough that we didn’t need to grab dinner when we arrived in California and they got their homework done while we waited.
Out of Pocket Costs
- $348 for Disney tickets
- $80 for parking at the hotel
- $48 for parking at the airport
- $67.20 for taxes and fees on airfare
- $6.38 for hotel
Bottom Line
My husband’s grandma passed away a few days before we left and I asked if he wanted me to cancel the trip. He said no, we needed the trip more than ever and it really was the perfect little getaway after a hard week. Disney, the beach, and some time away from work and school and life commitments. It was perfect.
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