Military Disney Tips Blog

By Military for Military

Ears of Experience Military Disney Vacation Experts

Welcome to Military Disney Tips!


Special Info for these Crazy Times:

News for 2021:

Everything is Different at WDW since it Reopened. See Our Trip Reports:


Disney Vacation Information By Military – For Military

You’ve found the number one site on the Internet for Disney Military Discount Information.

We are military and fully understand all the ins and outs of these sometimes complicated and confusing discounts. We’ve been there, done that, and got the Mickey tee shirt!

Well actually very many tee shirts… Really, they’re all I wear.

Celebrating Over 10 Years of Assisting Military Families with Their Disney Planning!

The 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute has finally come out (Tickets and Rooms!)

Universal Orlando announced 2021 Special Ticket and Package Info

The 2021 Edition of Walt Disney World for Military Families is Available!

Disney Guidebooks By MDT

Disney World for Military Families
The Essential Guide to Shades of Green

 

Welcome to Military Disney Tips!

There are a lot of other great (general public) Disney sites out there and they should play an important part in your Disney vacation planning! (I recommend some here)

But you Should Not get your Disney Military Discount Information second hand from civilians!

Here you will find all the information and rules on Disney’s Military Discounts, even the rules that Disney doesn’t tell you about or that Disney call center cast members are confused about.

The Disney Vacation Experience – Relaxation

A Disney vacation is a very unique experience, in that it is so immersive that it is very easy to leave behind the everyday cares, worries, and stress of the outside world.

Disney Parks are the perfect place for a military family to spend time together and think of nothing else. They are the ideal location for a pre-deployment getaway, for reconnecting after a deployment, or for a special treat for the kids while mom or dad is away.

Planning a Disney Vacation however can be a little daunting! Especially with the all the complexities of the various military discounts involved.

Relax, this site is here to help!

 

See all our Blog Posts

Special Content for these times:

And here are some of our newest or most recently updated Pages:

Keep on reading this page to learn more about MDT and all the huge amount of great content that we offer.

Meet Steve

Hi I’m Steve Bell and I have had a very long association with both the U. S. Military and Walt Disney World. My mission is to offer the best advice that I can for the military community to plan for, save money on, and enjoy their Disney vacation!

The short version is: I’m retired Air Force, a current AF Civil Servant, and former Walt Disney World Cast Member (what Disney calls employees). I have spent over 45 years touring Disney’s Theme Parks and I communicate regularly with Disney regarding their Military Discounts.

You can read the full story on my About Page.

 

All About Military Disney Tips

Military Disney Tips’ Mission:

Our Mission is to help military members and their families find out about the sometimes confusing military discounts for Disney’s theme parks, to help them save money, and to have a fantastic vacation.

Military Disney Tips Featured In

Military Disney Tips Has Been Featured In (Click the image for the full Roll Call)


Military Disney Tips was voted the Best Travel Blog in the FLBlogCon 2015 Brighthouse Networks Sunshine Blog Awards – See our Post

Site Overview and How to Find Information

Military Disney Tips will give you all the information that you’ll need to know about Disney’s Military Discounts. Unfortunately Disney is not very good at getting all the info out, so that’s what we’re here for. Disney even spreads incorrect information from time to time.

We also cover Shades of Green, the military only resort on Walt Disney World property. You’ll find extensive info on this great option for your Walt Disney World vacation.

You can use the links below on this page which are divided into various categories. Just keep scrolling down!

Or you can use the menu at the top of every page to find category main pages and the most important info.

The navigation links at the top of the page are organized 2 ways, by Topic area (i.e. Tickets, Hotels, etc.) and by Location (i.e. Disney World, Disneyland, etc.).

A few good places to start are:

Information By Topic

DISNEY’S ARMED FORCES SALUTE

Disney Armed Forces Salute Information

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute is a fantastic temporary discount which has been offered since 2009 on a year-by-year basis.

UPDATE 3 Dec – Disney has announced 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute Info

As we all know things have been all out of the ordinary in 2020, this is true for Disney’s military discounts too!

The 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute for rooms and tickets started on 1 January 2020 and was scheduled to run through 18 December 2020.

Part way through the theme park shutdown Disney extended the period that you could use your tickets through 26 September 2021 (the end of Disney’s fiscal year), but you still needed to buy your tickets by 18 December 2020. No mention of 2021 room discounts was made at that time and as time went on we passed the late September timeframe wen Disney typically announces the next year’s discount.

Finally in early December Disney announced the that there would be 2021 room discounts and they extended the purchase period for the 2020 tickets through 14 February 2021.

 

THEME PARKS AND TICKETS

 

HOTELS AND RESORTS

OUTSIDE THE THEME PARKS

 

DISNEY TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION

DISNEY TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION

FastPass Plus, Magic Bands, & My Disney Experience are all part of what Disney calls My Magic Plus.

Disney Technology Overview Page

FastPass Plus – What all this Disney Technology?

Linking Disney Military Tickets And Fastpass Plus Reservations

Waiting On Your Walt Disney World FastPass Plus Window To Open (what you’ll see online in your account)

What If I Lose My Magic Band?

Disney’s High Tech Smart Elevators 

Mobile Order at Walt Disney World Counter Service Restaurants 

Military FastPass Plus Ticket Options for Disney World

All You Need To Know About Disney World FastPass Plus For The Military Traveler

Disney FuelRod Stations are Available at Disney Parks for Recharging Your Devices

Memory Maker and PhotoPass

How to Use Mobile Order Food with the Disneyland App

Magic Bands and FastPass Plus for Shades of Green Guests

Magic Bands for Shades of Green Guests Worth Buying Them?

 

OUR MOST POPULAR PAGES AND BLOG POSTS

OUR 10 MOST POPULAR PAGES AND BLOG POSTS

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Full Details and Rules

Your Base Information Travel and Ticket Office 

Disney’s Regular Military Discounted Tickets

Shades of Green Overview

Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Discount Tickets

The Orlando ITT Office

Disney World Military Discount ID Guide For Veterans  

What’s the Right Military Discounted Disney Ticket for Me?

 

DISNEYLAND INFORMATION

DISNEYLAND INFORMATION

Disneyland for Military Families – The first ever Guide Book for the Military dedicated to Disneyland. It’s called Disneyland for Military Families.

Your Guide To Disneyland Parking 

10 Reasons Why Disneyland Is Not Just For Kids 

Disneyland’s Flag Retreat

Disneyland Hotels with the Disney Armed Forces Salute

Disneyland’s Good Neighbor Hotels: A Comprehensive List

Disneyland Resort Downtown Disney Military Discounts

Military Discounted Transportation to Disneyland

Disneyland Uses Pictures for Ticket Security

Buy Your Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets at Disneyland Resort Hotels

Buy Disneyland Tickets by Phone and FedEx

What’s the Right Military Discounted Disney Ticket for Me?

Disneyland Regular Military Discounted Tickets

American History At Disneyland 

The Complete Guide To Mickey’s Halloween Party At Disneyland 

Disneyland’s Master List Of Tips & Tricks

See all Blog Posts for Disneyland

 

Shades of Green Resort

Shades of Green Resort Information

There is a ton of information on Shades of Green this site! See the Overview and the few linked pages below. On every page about Shades of Green you will see a links section at the bottom, which leads to many more pages of information.

Shades of Green Overview

Military Members Review and Rate Shades of Green

Shades of Green New Security Gate 

Shades of Green – A Great Alternative to Disney World’s Resorts 

Shades of Green Guests Eligible for 60-Day FastPass Plus

60-Day FastPass Start to Finish How To Guide for Shades of Green Guests 

Use Your Military Star Card at Shades of Green 

Scooter Rentals at Shades of Green

ID Checks on Shades of Green Buses

10 Best Things About Shades of Green

Shades of Green Guest Rooms

Shades of Green Poolside Rooms

Shades of Green Eligibility

Shades of Green Room Rates

Shades of Green Room Discounts

How Do Disney World Resorts Compare To Shades of Green In Price?

Shades of Green Attraction Ticket Sales Office

Shades of Green AAFES Store

How Do I Get to Shades of Green?

 

The Military Disney Tips Blog

Military Disney Tips consists of both a Main Website and a Blog. The Main Site is where I post basic information and things that don’t change much. The Blog is for news type items, announcements, and things that only last for a while, plus some reader FAQs.

Blog Home Page

Recent Blog Posts:

 

Important Blog Posts:

The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide

Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist

Disney World and Disneyland access info for Wounded Warriors

Disney Military Discounts – A Confusing Topic For Disabled Veterans

 

Books by Military Disney Tips

Do you want all of your Disney Planning information in one place, organized in a step-by-step logical manner with an emphasis on Military Discounts and offers? I’ve written 3 Disney Guidebooks just for the Military Community:

Walt Disney World for Military Families – Available in Print, Kindle, and Digital PDF Download
Walt Disney World for Military Families is my full length guidebook that covers everything Walt Disney World has for the Military and covers all the general planning topics too!

The Essential Guide to Shades of Green – Available in Print, Kindle, and Digital PDF Download
The Essential Guide to Shades of Green will let you know exactly what to expect during your Shades of Green stay, Guaranteed! Learn what to expect from a trusted source.

Disneyland for Military Families – Available in Print, Kindle, and Digital PDF Download
Disneyland for Military Families is my newest full length guidebook that covers everything the Disneyland Resort has for the Military and covers all the general planning topics too!

While there is lots of “free” information here on Military Disney Tips, the nature of a website is that it is all on individual pages that you have to find. I do my best to help you do that but if you’d like your information all together in a nifty package, organized in a logical manner, or you just like to hold a book (or ebook reader) in your hand, these are for you!

 

Military Discounts for Your Vacation

Check out these Military Discount Savings Negotiated for You by Military Disney Tips:

Military Discounts On Disney World Stroller Rentals

Military Discounts on Disney World Scooter Rentals

 

Need Help?

Since Military Disney Tips started in 2008, it has grown in popularity and now receives over a million visitors each year!

Individually answering the volume of one-on-one questions that were rolling in became impossible for this part-time endeavor. So I request that you do the following.

If you are having problems finding what you are looking for here are some steps to take:

  • Each area of interest has a Main Page which then has links to all the info on that subject. You can find these pages listed in the Menu at the top of every page. Topics are arraigned by:
    • Topic area (i.e. Tickets, Hotels, etc.)
    • Location (i.e. Disney World, Disneyland, etc.)
  • On this page under the Blue sub-header “About Military Disney Tips” you will find sub sections separated by images divided by Topic area.
  • Use the search feature that is on every page (top of the site and in the Blog sidebar).
  • See the Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ.
  • Review the FAQ Friday Series of Blog Posts.
  • See the Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide
  • Check out our Links and Resources Page.
  • Read comments/questions that others have left before you (and my answers to them).

If you still haven’t found what you need leave a comment yourself. This is the best way to get a response as I see every comment that is left. I approve comments manually and answer as I approve them.

If all else fails, then go to the contact page to see how to contact me.

 

MDT Social Media

Military Disney Tips has a big presence on Facebook. We post all of our new content there as well as older timeless info (on a rotating basis) that people who are new to Disney planning need to know.

Follow Military Disney Tip on Facebook:

Military Disney Tips on Facebook

You will also find us pinning great stuff on Pinterest:

Follow Military Disney Tips on Pinterest:

MilitaryDisneyTips

 

MDT Newsletter

To keep on top of what is going on you can sign up for the Monthly Newsletter. Near the end of each month I’ll send out the Newsletter to let you know what has been going on over the last month on the site and blog. The usual items are news on Disney discounts, Shades of Green, and anything else going on.

Occasionally I will also send out special notices to let you know of special of time sensitive items (like the renewal of the Disney Armed Forces Salute). If you are waiting to hear about a renewal announcement of the Disney Armed Forces Salute, you need to get the Newsletter, you will be emailed as soon as the offer comes out!

When you sign up you will get an initial series of intro Newsletters with introductory Information on Disney Vacations grouped by a different topic each day for a week.

Click here to sign up!

 

Other Orlando & Central Florida Theme Parks

Here is some information on the Military Discounts that are available for the other Orlando Area Theme Parks if you want to branch out from Walt Disney World.

Be sure to check your Base Ticket Office for all ongoing deals!

SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Entertainments’ Waves of Honor Program Offers Active Duty free admission to Sea World Orlando, Tampa’s Bush Gardens, or other Bush Parks for the Military Member and up to 3 dependents.

Regular SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Military Tickets – At Shades of Green. Base Ticket Office’s also offer these tickets at similar prices.

SeaWorld Parks has offers for all Veterans at some of their parks.

Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando 2021 Special Military Discounted Tickets and Packages

Universal Orlando City Walk Military Discounts

Regular Universal Orlando Military Tickets – At Shades of Green. Base Ticket Office’s also offer these tickets at similar prices.

Jen Novak is Military Disney Tips’ Recommended Universal Studios Travel Agent! Just click this link to get your Quote

See our Universal Orlando Overview Page

 

Legoland Florida

Legoland Florida Offers Free Military Ticket


Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? Get Our Email Newsletter

Read about the Temporary Changes to Disney World during their Post-Lockdown Re-Opening

See Our Great Disney Discount and Planning Info: Learn about the Disney Armed Forces Salute the best military discount that there is for Disney. See our Topic Overview Pages:

Disney Guidebooks By MDT

Disney World for Military Families The Essential Guide to Shades of Green

Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent

Save on your Disney Vacation With Military Discounts in 2017

Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!