Walt Disney World Guide for Military Families (Tickets, Hotels, Dining & More)

24 March 2022 by Steve Bell 2 Comments

Last updated: March 2026. This overview page is periodically reviewed to keep Walt Disney World planning information accurate for military families.

Military Disney Tips Walt Disney World Overview

Walt Disney World is a huge vacation destination, and planning a trip can feel overwhelming even before you factor in military discounts, Shades of Green, ticket options, transportation, and the many different resort choices. This page is designed to bring all of that information together in one place.

Use this Walt Disney World Overview as your main hub for military ticket information, resort and hotel options, transportation, dining, Disney technology, and things to do outside the parks. If you are planning a Walt Disney World vacation as a military family, this is a great place to start before diving into the more detailed guides linked throughout the page.

If you only read one page first, start with our Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide.

Before you decide on tickets, hotels, or dining, it helps to start with the basic planning pieces. These guides cover trip prep, packing, and a few often-overlooked practical details that can make your Walt Disney World vacation run more smoothly.

• Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist
• Your Introduction to Disney Resort Destination Security – Plus Some Tips

Walt Disney World includes four theme parks, each with its own personality, attractions, dining, and planning strategies. If you are new to Walt Disney World or just want a refresher before your next trip, these park pages are the best place to begin.

• Walt Disney World Theme Parks Overview — Start here for the big picture.
• Magic Kingdom — The classic castle park and the heart of many first-time Walt Disney World vacations.
• EPCOT — A mix of attractions, festivals, and World Showcase dining and culture.
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios — Home to Star Wars, Toy Story, thrill rides, and some of Walt Disney World’s most popular attractions.
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom — A unique blend of attractions, animals, and immersive themed lands.

Military families visiting Walt Disney World usually choose between Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets and regular military discount tickets. The right choice depends on your eligibility, travel dates, how many tickets you need, and whether the sponsor will be present.

Start here:

• Military Discount Theme Park Ticket Overview
• Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Tickets
• Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ
• How to Activate Your Disney Armed Forces Salute Theme Park Tickets
• Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Blockout Dates
• Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets

Helpful ticket decision guides:

• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide
• What’s the Right Military Discounted Disney Ticket for Me?
• Top Ten Things You Should Know About the Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket Discounts
• Florida Resident Military Discount Tickets and Passes
• Disney Non-Theme Park Tickets
• Park Hopper Plus and Water Park & Sports Option Information

Where to buy Walt Disney World tickets:

• Disney Ticket Center at Disney Springs
• Buy Military Discounted Disney Tickets Long Distance
• Disney World Military Discount ID Guide
• Shades of Green Attraction Ticket Sales Office
• WDW Ticket Options Available Through Shades of Green
• The Orlando ITT Office and Navy Exchange

Where you stay can shape your entire Walt Disney World vacation. Military families often compare Disney’s Armed Forces Salute room discounts, Shades of Green, Disney-owned resorts, the Swan and Dolphin, Disney Springs area hotels, and other nearby options.

• Hotel & Resort Overview
• Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts
• How Disney’s Military Room Discounts Work
• Room Package vs. Room Only Reservation
• Walt Disney World Owned Hotels
• Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts – Figuring Your Actual Cost
• Top Ten Things You Should Know About the Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts
• Top 8 Reasons to Use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
• Shipping Items to Your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel

Shades of Green is one of the biggest reasons military families seek out Military Disney Tips in the first place, so it deserves its own section here. It is the military-owned and operated resort on Walt Disney World property and is often one of the best overall lodging values for eligible families.

• Shades of Green Overview Page
• 10 Best Things About Shades of Green
• The History of Shades of Green
• Shades of Green Eligibility
• Shades of Green Rates
• Shades of Green Discounts
• Military Members Review and Rate Shades of Green
• How Does Shades of Green Compare to Disney Resorts in Price?
• Shades of Green Compared to a Disney Value Resort
• Shades of Green Compared to a Disney Moderate Resort
• Shades of Green Compared to a Disney Deluxe Resort
• Split Stays at Walt Disney World Resorts and Shades of Green
• Shades of Green Rooms
• Shades of Green Poolside Rooms
• Shades of Green Suites
• Shades of Green Junior Suite Video Tour
• Shades of Green Pools
• Shades of Green Dining
• Shades of Green AAFES Store
• Shades of Green Ticket Sales Office
• Shades of Green Transportation
• How Do I Get to Shades of Green?
• Shades of Green Gym
• Non-Retired Veterans Eligible to Stay at Shades of Green

Other Walt Disney World area lodging options:

• Disney Swan and Dolphin
• Swan Review
• Dolphin Review
• Disney Springs Area Resort Hotels Offer Military Discounts
• Armed Forces Vacation Club — Low-cost weekly condo rentals.

Transportation is a huge part of a Walt Disney World vacation, especially if you are staying at Shades of Green, flying into Orlando, or planning visits beyond Disney property. These are the core transportation guides for Walt Disney World travelers.

• Your Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation
• Transportation Overview
• Disney’s Minnie Van Service
• Mears Connect
• Disney’s Monorails
• Disney World’s Friendships
• How Do I Get to Shades of Green?
• Orlando International Airport’s USO Welcome Center
• Our Orlando International Airport Guide
• Disney Springs’ High-Tech Parking Garage
• Shades of Green Transportation Overview
• Shades of Green Bus Loading Area
• Shades of Green Bus Stops at the Theme Parks
• Magic Kingdom Parking for Shades of Green Guests
• EPCOT Parking for Shades of Green Guests

Dining is a huge part of the Walt Disney World experience, from snacks and quick-service meals to signature dining and Disney Springs restaurants. Military discounts on Disney-owned dining are limited, but there are still smart ways to save.

• Dining Overview
• Dining at Walt Disney World for Military Families
• Disney Springs Military Discounts
• How to Save on Disney World Dining for the Military Traveler
• Disney Dining Plan Overview
• 11 Reasons Why We Don’t Recommend the Disney Dining Plan
• Foodie Dreams Come True at Disney World’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

Shades of Green Dining:

• Shades of Green Dining Overview Page
• Mangino’s Steakhouse
• Garden Gallery
• Evergreen’s
• Java Cafe
• Express Cafe
• Chip n’ Dale’s Deli

Disney technology touches almost every part of a Walt Disney World vacation now, especially for Lightning Lane, Mobile Order, Memory Maker, and app-based planning. These guides will help you understand the tools before you arrive.

• Disney Technology Overview
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass
• Lightning Lane Premier Pass
• Disney’s PhotoPass and Memory Maker
• Memory Maker and PhotoPass+ Military Discounts
• Linking Disney Military Tickets and Theme Park Reservations
• Disney Introduces MagicMobile Service
• Privacy and Identity Concerns for Military Families at Disney

There is plenty to do around Walt Disney World beyond the four theme parks. These guides cover Disney Springs, golf, mini golf, cruises, and other ways to round out your vacation.

• Outside the Parks Overview
• Disney Springs Military Discounts
• Walt Disney World Golf with Military Discounts
• Walt Disney World Mini Golf
• Disney Cruise Line Military Discounts
• Military Family Disney Cruise Line Trip Report

• Disney World Military Discount ID Guide for Veterans
• Free or Low-Cost Ideas for Your First, Last, or Any WDW Day
• Magic Kingdom’s Daily Retreat Ceremony
• The Magic Kingdom Tunnel
• Hurricanes and Storms at Disney World and Shades of Green
• Disney’s Call Center Is Very Often Wrong on Military Discounts

Continue planning your Walt Disney World vacation:

• Military Discount Theme Park Tickets — Compare Salute and regular military ticket options.
• Hotel & Resort Overview — Compare Disney resorts, Shades of Green, and other lodging options.
• Disney Dining Overview — Plan meals, ADRs, and dining discounts.
• Disney Transportation Overview — Figure out airport transfers, parking, and getting around.
• Disney Technology Overview — Learn how Lightning Lane, Mobile Order, and other tools fit into your trip.
• Outside the Theme Parks Overview — Explore Disney Springs, golf, cruises, and more.

• Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
• Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
• The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide

• Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
• Dining Overview Page
• Transportation Overview Page
• Technology Overview Page
• Shades of Green, WDW’s Military-Only Resort

The Mouse Experts is a travel booking company specializing in Disney vacations. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!