Hi I’m Steve, welcome to Military Disney Tips! I have a long association with both the U. S. Military and Walt Disney World. My goal is to offer the best advice I can for the military community to plan for, save money on, and enjoy their vacation at WDW!
My fascination with Disney World started at a young age. In fourth grade my family started taking annual spring vacations to Florida. That first year (1971) we visited the Walt Disney World Welcome Center, WDW wouldn’t open till that fall. But they had lots of info about the soon to open theme park, plus lots of souvenirs. Each year afterwards, until I graduated high school, we’d spend a day at WDW during our spring vacation.
After high school I enlisted in the Air Force and spent four years on active duty. After four years stationed in Texas some personal issues caused me to get out and relocate to Orlando, FL. Not wanting to end my relationship with the Air Force I entered the Air Force Reserve. I’ve been a reservist ever since in various capacities, some part time but mostly full time.
During the three years I spent in Orlando (85-88) I actually worked full time at Walt Disney World! I ordered food for one of the restaurants in the Magic Kingdom Theme Park. That was a very interesting and fun time!
In 1989 I left Disney to pursue a great opportunity in the Reserves, which eventually lead to full time Reserve duty in Ohio. All through the nineties my family and I would visit relatives in Florida and we’d always make time for a one-day visit to WDW. With the knowledge I had gained while working there I was very good at making our visits efficient and memorable.
In 2000 we decided that we’d never really had a "family vacation" we’d always visited family on our vacations. So we decided to live it up. A whole week at Disney World! I did a huge amount of research and the vacation was a great success. We had lots of special experiences that trip! Since then we’ve been spoiled and have returned for many multi-day trips. We’ve stayed at many of the resorts (Disney and others) and tried many of the wonderful restaurants on property.
After the 2000 vacation, people at the squadron and around base started asking for my advice on their Disney vacations. I became the local pro. I always enjoyed helping them plan their vacation.
I’ve since moved back to Florida (just five and a half hours from Disney) but I still had people in Ohio asking for help with their vacations. I thought that if I’m still getting calls and e-mails for advice I must have found my calling.
I decided that it was time for me to start sharing my passion for Disney World on the web with the community that I’ve been a part of for so long, the military/DoD community.
UPDATE: I just retired from the Air Force last March after 31 years.
Visit my Military Disney Tips Main Site for lots more info
Great Blog Steve. I have been going to Shades since 1996. I was an E-5 at the time, and it was about 55 bucks a night. I have seen many changes since, and am going back for the sixteenth time in August. Taking the family and the wife’s sisters family. Third time for them. I just wish they didn’t tamper with Evergreens, it’s not the same. Anyway thanks for the blog, and the heads-up on the Ticket extension. I caught your link over on DisBoards SOG thread. Let me know if you need an on-the-ground update. I enjoy talking to those in the SOG community.
Wow John, you have me beat. My first stay was in 2000, but I think that I was thinking about it in ’96. I know what you mean about Evergreens, while the games are fun for the kids it used to be so much better.
Back in the day, the patio at Evergreens was open, and you could sit outside, enjoy a beverage, and watch the kids at the pool. They even had a smoothie machine going, which is now a towel barn. There was a time, after the expansion, that they considered closing Evergreens entirely. I guess after many complaints, they re-opened with the limited menu they offer now.
I remember my first stay at Shades. After we checked in we went out to the pool. The kids swam and the wife and I had Pina Coladas from Evergreens.
just in case you were’nt aware of the 20% coupon on military.com for luxury airport shuttle , make your reservations at 407 463 4809 (text/cell)
Great tip, thanks David!
Thank you Steve. We are planning a post-deployment trip and your blog is the most helpful one I have found. I appreciate your time, effort, and service.
Thanks Andrea!
I really enjoy being able to help out!
I’ve got lot’s of accumulated knowledge on this stuff, plus it gives me a reason to go to Disney more ofter… “Research.”
Not sure if my first message was forward so I will send it again. Just wondering if there are discount tickets for DisneyWorld & Univeral Studios for myself. Three years in active duty (U.S. ARMY) from 1972 – 1975 Honorable discharge.
Hi David,
There is only one Disney Discount for non-retired veterans and it’s this one from Shades of Green.