The happiest place on earth just got a little happier for those who served in our U.S. military and armed forces. Walt Disney World now offers possibly one of the best military discount travel deals around with their military promotion ticket rates and reduced resort room prices. You can now go spend time with Mickey Mouse and Cinderella and not have to worry about lightening up your wallet. In this Disney Ultimate Guide post, you’ll also learn a little more about the Disney resorts that qualify for the Disney military discount, as well as some extra information about the best rides and modes of transportation. I’ll even let you in to a little secret hidden Disney World gem.
Here’s some more information about this awesome Disney World military discount below.
$138 4-Day Park Hopper Tickets for Members of the U.S. Military now through September 30, 2013
Walt Disney World Resort is saluting U.S. military personnel by offering 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for just $111 each. Plus for just $27 more, you can add both the Park Hopper** and Water Parks, Fun & More options. For information regarding Military Promotional Tickets or to make room reservations, military personnel may call (407) 939-7830 or contact participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
**In case you didn’t know, the park hopper option allows you to visit all the parks in one day. A normal ticket with only allow you to visit just one park a day, but the park hopper options gives you the opportunity to visit all 4 in one day if you wanted to. It’s a fantastic option!
Save 40% off of Select Disney Resorts
Plus, you can also save up to 40% at select Disney Resorts for Members of the U.S. Military Special savings on select Walt Disney World Resort hotels! Active and retired U.S. military personnel, including Nation Guard, Reservists, and the U.S. Coast Guard, can take up to40% off when they book by September 30, 2013.
For information regarding Military Promotional Tickets or to make room reservations, military personnel may call (407) 939-7830 or contact participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
Please note the blackout dates
- NONE!
The Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Below, you’ll learn a little more information about all the Disney owned properties.
Deluxe (The priciest of resorts but they offer the most amenities, such as shopping, spa services, fine dining, and huge rooms.)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: A hotel placed right in the center a 43 acre safari ground with live roaming animals? Yep, that’s right!
Disney’s Beach Club Resort: A New England style lake house hotel.
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn: An elegant lakeside hotel influenced by the 1940′s Atlantic City boardwalk.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort: A modern lakeside hotel just footsteps away from Magic Kingdom
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa: Disney’s flagship resort based on the elegant Victorian era
Disney’s Polynesian Resort: A taste of the Hawaiian and Polynesian islands (…or South Pacific) is brought to life in Orlando
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: A resort that captures the adventure of the National Parks
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort: A Martha’s Vineyard themed resort
Moderate (A good choice for those looking to not be too cheap but also not splurge. Some even have some great pools).
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort: American frontier themed resort with log cabins
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: A tropical beachside paradise
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort: An American-Southwest themed resort surrounding a beautiful 22 acre lake
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort- French Quarters: A resort inspired by the historic French Quarters of New Orleans, LA
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort- Riverside: A resort inspired by a rural Louisiana alongside a picturesque river
Value Resorts (If you’re traveling with young kids and are on a budget, then these value resorts are just for you. Cheap room rates, interactive hotels, and unique themes make this a great place for families with young kids.)
Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort: A resort that features great icons of Disney films
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort: A resort that celebrates the love of music
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort: A resort that features great icons of fun sports
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: A resort that allows guest to become part of their favorite Disney animation films such as Finding Nemo, Cars, Little Mermaid, and the Lion King
Disney’s Pop Century Resort: A huge resort that celebrates pop culture of the 20th century
The 4 Main Parks and 2 Water Parks
I’ll just go ahead and let Disney do all the talking. Just check out each park’s video below (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, and Typhoon Lagoon).
The Hidden Gem of Walt Disney World
As late winter and spring vacation months start to roll around, families all around the world flock to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World is a fantastic destination that enables adults, families, and friends to relax, forget about work, build lasting memories, and just let loose their inner child. Planning for this trip, however, can be both exciting and hectic. There is always one big factor that goes into every Disney World trip, the budget. For those of you who already know, your Disney World vacation can be quite pricey. Food is expensive, tickets are costly, and most importantly, room prices can range from somewhat budget conscious to sky high. But for a select few, there is one hidden gem when it comes to selecting a resort, The Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World.
Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) located on Walt Disney World’s property, right next to Magic Kingdom. Unlike some popularly themed Disney World resorts, The Shades of Green has an unusual peaceful setting, featuring a peaceful wooded setting surrounding 586 oversized guest rooms, cascading waterfalls, lush tropical gardens, spectacular views from private patios and two world class golf courses diffused throughout the resort. They also have a bus service to all parks and those who stay at this resort qualify for the Disney’s magical hours. The biggest wow factor is the prices. Room rates run from $95 to $131 for a standard room, and these prices don’t increase during the holidays.
So what’s the catch? Shades of Green is only for Armed Forces members and Families (active duty, retired, reserves, and separated), Department of Defense employees and civilians, and Public Health and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps employees. However, if you know someone who is eligible to stay at this resort, they can sponsor up to three rooms for you. Ultimately staying at the The Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World will allow you to save a fortune on your Walt Disney World trip, thus allowing you and your family to enjoy more amenities from shopping and show tickets, to a memorable dinner inside Cinderella’s Castle. This hidden gem should not be forgotten!
Getting to Walt Disney World
If you’re not driving to the Happiest Place on Earth, then be sure to take advantage of these modes of transportation that offers a military discount.
Rental Cars and Shuttles
If you didn’t already know, when you book your stay at any Disney Resort, you receive complimentary transportation to WDW via Disney’s Magical Express charter buses. Disney will even handle you baggage and make sure that it’s in your room straight from the airport. Now if you aren’t staying at a Disney Resort, such as Shades of Green, then here are a few rental car agencies that offer military discounts.
- Alamo: Government / Military Program
- Avis: Government Military Program
- Budget: Government and Military Rates - Use offer code U08880
- Dollar: Government Rates- For military on leisure, please enter DR0061 in the Corporate # box on Dollar.com. If available, the discount will be included with the Base Rate on the RATES page.
- Enterprise: US Government Rental Program
- Hertz: Government and Military Travelers
- National: Government & Military Program
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Thrifty: Government Programs
Airlines
Here are all the airlines that fly to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and offer a military discount or special perks and privileges reserved only for military personnel:
AirTran Airways- Waived baggage fees for active service personnel. When Active Duty ID is presented, you will have your 1st, 2nd and 3rd bag fees waived, in addition to oversize and overweight fees for those three bags. The bags must not exceed 100 pounds or 80 inches each. Standard baggage fees apply for all bags checked in excess of three.
American Airlines- Offers special military rates when you call 800-433-7300 for more details. They also offer a military baggage allowance. For more info, click HERE.
Alaska Airlines- Offers a bag fee waiver for Active Duty military personnel with ID. Specific baggage information may be found on their website, alaskaair.com under travel information/baggage.
Delta- Special or unpublished fares for which passengers can qualify through special marketing programs or occupational status. Some of these fares can be purchased at delta.com, while others must be booked with a representative, as these fares require proper documentation before the ticket can be issued. Unpublished fares such as bereavement, military or government travel require special documentation and can only be booked with a representative. For further assistance, please contact Delta Reservations at 800-221-1212 for domestic travel or 800-241-4141 for international travel.
Frontier Airlines- Military fares are offered to passengers carrying valid Active Duty identification cards and/or separation papers in certain markets. Frontier has designed these fares to help our active duty Military personnel, who often must plan/book travel without advance notice. Please contact the Reservation Call Center, 800-432-1359, to book. These special fares are refundable, which allows the military passenger flexibility in case their orders change. Also, Frontier Airlines does not charge baggage fees to Active Duty military personnel, Reservists traveling with orders, and military personnel traveling in uniform. This policy does not extend to family members or traveling companions. For additional baggage information, please click on the following links:
http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/plan-book/travel-info-services/baggage.do
Jet Blue- Will waive change/cancel fees for active members of the military and members of their immediate family traveling on the same itinerary if their travel plans need to be changed or cancelled due to deployment or transfer.
Southwest Airlines- Proud to offer Military Fares for the men and women (and their dependents) of our Armed Forces. In order to purchase a Military Fare, you must be on active duty and be able to produce valid identification when you travel. Please call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) if you are interested in obtaining a Military Fare or any additional information.
United Airlines- United does offer Military discounts in select markets and routes. It is not a general discount of any ticket price. In most, not all, markets the discount will apply to any active member of the military including dependents (ID will be required at check in). To take advantage of these discounts or to check on fares you will need to contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) where specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
U.S. Airways- Military personnel who are on Active Duty status or who have been discharged within seven days qualify for free baggage allowance. Only the following military agencies qualify for the free baggage allowance: Department of Air Force, Department of Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Department of Navy, and academies of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. The standard maximum free baggage allowance is three (3) checked bags plus the standard carry−on allowance per passenger. Military passengers may check three (3) bags (free of charge) which exceed the 63 inch/157 cm dimension (but less than 81 inches/306 cm) and weigh 100 pounds/45 kg or les each. All military personnel in uniform may use the First Class counter to check in for their flight. For more information, click here.
Now if you really want to save a large amount of money off your travel expenses, be sure to check an eBook written by MDC’s own Adam Bryan, Travel Bargains, Deals and Steals: How to Save Hundreds, Even Thousands of Dollars on Your Next Trip.
Well that’s it!
Thanks for reading our Disney World Military Guide. I truly hope that you found it to be extremely helpful. Once again, thank you so much for your support and have a fantastic time to possibly the greatest place on earth, Walt Disney World Resort.
Stay tuned in the near future for more Disney information. (Hint: Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, and the Disney Cruise Line)!!
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