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Universal Studios Florida

Armed Forces Vacation Club May Blowout Sale

The Armed Forces Vacation Club, often shortened to just AFVC, is a great way to save on your theme park vacation stays. AFVC is part of Wyndham Worldwide and they offer 7 night stays at condominium-style timeshare resorts in more than 80 countries to active and retired members of the armed forces, department of defense employees, and select civil servants. Other civil servants who do not qualify can use the sister program Government Employees Travel Opportunities.

Both programs regularly offer week-long stays for $369 ($349 if you book online). But during their May Blowout Sale the price has dropped to $299 per 7 nights. That’s just $42 dollars per night. Many Armed Forces Vacation Club properties offer home-like conveniences, such as balconies or terraces and fully equipped kitchens. And also provide amenities you aren’t likely to get with a typical hotel or motel room, such as on-site recreational facilities, swimming pools, fitness centers, game rooms, gift shops, restaurants and organized activities. (more…)

Military Disney Tips Featured in May’s the Reserve & National Guard Magazine

Military Disney Tips Featured in the Reserve & National Guard MagazineRecently I was contacted by Janine Boldrin for an interview to be used in her upcoming article for AmeriForce the Reserve & National Guard Magazine on “Sizzling Summer Savings: Expert Tips For Your Next Trip.” She wanted to find out what were the best ways for military members to save on Disney vacations.

I gladly accepted the opportunity to get savings info out to a wider audience. Janine asked me lots of great questions. I passed on the information about the current 2011 Disney Armed Forces Salute, unfortunately the 2012 extension of the Disney Military Salute was not announced prior to the article being submitted, so that info wasn’t included. I also passed on information about the great savings available at Shades of Green and the Armed Forces Vacation Club, and that military discounts were available at Anheuser-Busch parks and Universal Studios Orlando.

Janine interviewed three military travel experts with different focuses for the piece. Also interviewed were:

Joy Awe Editor-in-Chief of Buzz Off Base, an events, travel and entertainment guide for U.S. military and civilians living overseas. Joy has a fantastic looking site that everyone stationed in Europe should check out.

And Diane Fish of Twin Fish Interline Travel which specializes in helping service members match up with the best military rates that are available through Club Med and various cruise lines for great vacation packages.

You can download your copy of the article here or go to the AmeriForce website to view it as well as all the other articles in the May issue. Also look for the Reserve & National Guard to show up at your unit. You can subscribe to the magazine for your unit here.

If you are new to Military Disney Tips Start Here

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute FAQ

Information on Shades of Green – the Military Hotel on Disney World property

For up to the minute news follow us on facebook and twitter.

Free Disney Planning & Reservation Checklist

Sea World Busch Gardens Military Salute 2011 & 2012 – Orlando Military Discounts Series

Anheuser-Busch's Heres to the Heroes Military SaluteHere’s to the Heroes Extended throughout 2012.

Welcome to this second installment of the Orlando Military Discounts Series, which will cover Anheuser-Busch’s Here’s to the Hero Salute for Sea World and Busch Gardens for 2011. The first installment covered Disney’s Armed Forces Salute and the next will cover the Military Discounts still available for Universal Orlando’s theme parks, and finally the post I’m going to call “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” will wrap it all up.

Recently many people have been searching the web for information on Sea World Military Discounts for 2011 and Busch Gardens Military Discounts for 2011. These theme parks and several others are owned by the Anheuser-Busch Company, a proud supporter of our US Military.

Anheuser-Busch has offered Free One-Day Sea World Military Tickets and Busch Gardens Military Tickets, as well as tickets for their other parks to the military since 2005. A tradition that they have continued every year through 2011.

This Fabulous Offer Has Been Extended For 2012 at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and other Busch Theme Parks

Here are the specifics on Anheuser-Busch’s 2011 Here’s to the Heroes Salute. This offer is free one-day admission to one of their theme parks: Sea World (Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio*), Busch Gardens (Tampa Bay, Williamsburg*), Sesame Place*, Adventure Island, or Water Country USA for themselves and up to three direct family members. Dependants may take advantage of the offer without the sponsor present.

* Sea World San Antonio, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Sesame Place are operated seasonally.

This offer runs on a calendar year basis and currently expires on 31 December 2011. It’s available to all five armed services, Active, Reserve, or National Guard. Members can register ahead of time online or at the theme park ticket booths. Those 10 and over must present military or dependant IDs. There are no blockout dates with this offer. Parking is $14.

I want to compliment the Anheuser Busch Company on it’s great offer of a Military Salute year in-year out since 2005, as well as all the other things they do to support our troops!

If you are new to Military Disney Tips Start Here

Check Here for further info on the Here’s to the Heroes Salute and Sea World Orlando.

Next time look for the Military Discounts still available for Universal Orlando’s theme parks

If you missed the first installment of this series it’s located here:
1. Disney Military Discount 2011 – Orlando Military Discounts Series

If you are new to Military Disney Tips Start Here

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute FAQ

Information on Shades of Green – the Military Hotel on Disney World property

For up to the minute news follow us on facebook and twitter.

Free Disney Planning & Reservation Checklist

Disney Military Discount 2011 & 2012 – Orlando Military Discounts Series

Disney announces Armed Forces Salute extended until September 2012

We are half way through the fiscal year, the traditional cycle on which Disney has run it’s Armed Forces Salute (sometimes called Disney’s Military Salute). There are roughly five and a half months left on this current offer, which expires 1 October 2011. I still get lots of questions on Disney’s Salute as well as Anheuser-Busch’s Sea World and Busch Garden’s Hero Salute, and the long departed Universal Orlando Military Salute. So I thought it would be a great idea to post a series of review pieces on each of the different park’s current offers.

This first installment of the Orlando Military Discounts Series covers the Disney Armed Forces Salute for 2011. The next installments will cover Anheuser-Busch’s Here’s to the Hero Salute for Sea World and Busch Gardens, next I’ll cover the Military Discounts still available for Universal Orlando’s theme parks, and finally the post I’m going to call “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” will wrap it all up.

Here are the specifics on Disney’s 2010-2011 Armed Forces Salute, this current offering is available at both Disney World in Orlando Florida and Disneyland in California. Important to note there ARE blockout dates. The Military Salute offer involves both theme park ticket discounts and resort room discounts in two separate parts of the program.

Room discounts are available through Disney Central Reservations or your travel agent.

Theme park tickets may be purchased at Disney Theme Park ticket windows with tax added. Or at Shades of Green (in Orlando Florida) or your Base’s Ticket Office with no tax added.

The available Discounts are as follows:

For Walt Disney World

Park Tickets – You may purchase Up to six Disney World theme park tickets, including a ticket for the military member. The tickets options are:

• Four-Day Park Hopper Ticket for $138.00
• Four-Day Water Park and More Ticket for $138.00
• Four-Day Park Hopper Ticket plus the Water Park and More Option for $165.00.

These tickets (including any options) may not be used on the following blockout dates: 17 – 23 April 2011, and 4 July 2011 at the Magic Kingdom Theme Park

Resort Room Discounts

• 40% off Deluxe Resorts
• 35% off Moderate Resorts and Fort Wilderness Cabins
• 30% off Value Resorts.

Resort room discounts are not available on the following blockout dates: 17-30 April 2011

For Disneyland

Park Tickets - You may purchase Up to six Disneyland theme park tickets, including a ticket for the military member. The only ticket option is:

• Three-Day Park Hopper Ticket for $99.00

These tickets may not be used on the following blockout dates: 17 – 23 April 2011, and 1 – 4 July 2011.

Resort Room Discounts

• Up to 40% off Resorts

Resort room discounts are not available on the following blockout dates: 17-30 April 2011

Further details are:

Theme Park Tickets must be purchased by 28 September 2011 and Activated by 1 October 2011. 1 October is the last day these tickets will be valid for use, so you need to have a plan to use them (and all options) prior or forfeit those days.

When you purchase tickets at your base ticket office or Shades of Green you’ll be given paper tickets, these tickets will be exchanged for plastic tickets at the theme park ticket window. Disney’s rules say you can only make one purchase, so you’re not allowed to come back to buy more later. You need to get all you need (up to six) at once.

These paper tickets are then taken to the theme park ticket window to be exchanged and activated. You may only activate up to six tickets and all adults must show some form of ID. And of course one individual must be the military member or the spouse. Disney records the member’s social to prevent activation of any further tickets during this offer.

Spouses who are each military members are eligible for a total of 12 tickets, six each.

I think I’ve answered most of the questions that I usually get, most have to do with ticket activation. If you have other questions, just post a comment and I’ll reply back.

If you are new to Military Disney Tips Start Here

Check Here for up to date information and news on a 2012 Disney Armed Forces Salute.


Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets – Are They Always The Right Choice

There is further fine print from Disney and it’s located here.

Next time look for Anheuser-Busch’s Here’s to the Hero’s Salute for Sea World and Busch Gardens

If you are new to Military Disney Tips Start Here

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute FAQ

Information on Shades of Green – the Military Hotel on Disney World property

For up to the minute news follow us on facebook and twitter.

Free Disney Planning & Reservation Checklist

2011 Military Discount Packages For Universal Orlando

New Military Discounted Vacation Packages are available for Universal Orlando in 2011.

Here is the most current post on Universal Military Discounts

Packages start at $229.00 per adult for  3-day/4-nightvacation packages.

Packages include:

  • 3-Night accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel
  • 2-Day Base Ticket^ to both Universal Orlando theme parks – one theme park, per day
  • Access to the live entertainment^^ at Universal CityWalk®

PLUS, Early Park Admission† to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ before the rest of the general public!

You can upgrade to one of three AAA Four-Diamond On-Site Hotels and SKIP THE REGULAR LINES^^^ for FREE! With Exclusive Military 4-Day/3-Night On-Site Hotel Getaways starting at $379** per adult!

Universal’s on-site Hotels are:

  • Loews Royal Pacific Resort
  • Hard Rock Hotel
  • Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

If you’d like to see the full details and dates as well as restrictions click on: 2011 Universal Military Discount