Are you a military family that would love to take your family to Disney World but don’t think you can afford it. Here are some tips to do Disney for the military. Time to do Disney the Military Way!!
Disney has discounts available for military families!!
Use this step by step guide to do Disney the Military Way!
Step 1 ~ Tickets
The first thing you need to have a great Disney vacation is tickets. Disney offers tickets to military families at a discount rate. The Armed Forces Salute tickets are available to all eligible service members. Eligible members are active or retired members of the U.S. Military, including the National Guard, Reservists, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS), and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Spouses of Military Service Members also qualify if they are able to present valid and active U.S. Military IDs, in the absence of active or retired Military Personnel or Commissioned Corps Member. The 2018 price for a 4-day ticket is $226 and a 5-day ticket is $246. The Park hopper plus option can be added for $40 more. The Park Hopper plus option adds the same number of plus visits as the number of days as your ticket. These visits can be to the water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports, the mini golf courses, or a round of golf at Disney Oaks. If you buy a 4-day park hopper plus option ticket, you get 4 theme park days and 4 plus options. Plus options can be done all in the same day, on a day you went to a park or extend your trip by using them on separate days. Tickets can be purchased tax-free at any military base ticket office. Tickets can also be purchased at the park.
Prior to entry to the park, the tickets must be validated at any theme park guest relations by the service member or spouse. 2018 tickets are valid through December 19, 2018.
Read more on the Disney World Website
What’s Next?
Step 2 – Hotel
When looking for a lodging option you have 2 alternatives to staying on Disney property.
The military manages it’s own hotel ~ Shades Of Green. The price of rooms is on a sliding scale based on rank. The rooms are some of the largest on Disney property.
Disney also has a multitude of properties of their own. During certain times of the year, they offer discounts to military members. Prices vary by hotel and time frame. You can read more about it on the Disney World Website.
Step 3 ~ Memory Maker
As you are spending time in the parks you will notice that there are photographers everywhere. Disney offers something they call a Memory Maker. A Memory Maker is unlimited digital downloads of all your Disney PhotoPass photos and videos. The cost for this ranges from $169-$189 but for military members, it is available for only $98. Military Memory Makers can be purchased from Guest Relations. Read more about Memory Makers Discount.
Step 4 ~ Magic Bands
Magic Bands are the new way that Disney enables you to link everything in one place. It links your park passes, resort key and photopass all in one place. Military members may not receive a magic band directly from Disney because they are issued with purchases of room and tickets. You can, however, purchase them at any Disney Store or online. You can link your purchased Magic bands to your account. Read more about Magic Bands here!
Step 5 ~ Fastpass
Fastpasses allow you to schedule 3 attraction entry windows per day during your Disney stay. These can be scheduled 60 days in advance for Resort guests and 30 days for all other guests. When you have used the 3 scheduled passes for the day you may schedule 1 more at a time for the rest of the day. Fastpasses are not available for all attractions.
Follow these steps and you can have a great Disney World vacation!
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