Hi, I’m Steve Bell and welcome to Military Disney Tips!
I have had a long association with both the U. S. Military and Disney Theme Parks.
My mission is to offer you the best advice that I can specific to the U.S. military community to plan for, save money on, and enjoy their Disney vacation!
What makes Military Disney Tips different than all the other Disney sites?
- I’m a Retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (E-9 with 31 Years of service)
- I’m a former Walt Disney World Cast Member (3 years in the Magic Kingdom)
- I’m a Retired DoD Civilian (22+ years, most concurrent with my military time)
- I’m now a DoD Defense Contractor
- I’ve been touring Disney Parks since 1971
- I use the all the same military discounts that you do
- I’ve made too many trips to count and stayed in all Disney Resort Hotels
- I’ve done the research for you
The History of Military Disney Tips
My fascination with Walt Disney World started at a young age. In grade school my family started taking annual spring vacations to Florida to visit family. That first year (1971) we visited the Walt Disney World Welcome Center. WDW wouldn’t open untill 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.
Walt Disney World Welcome Center – Lake Buena Vista, FL, 1971. My sister, mom, me, and my great uncle.
After high school I enlisted in the Air Force and spent four years on active duty. After four years stationed in Texas I became a single parent. Having a one year old and being a Strategic Air Command, Aircraft Crew Chief pulling nuclear alert (living on base in the alert facility 2 or 3 days at a time) did not work well as you can imagine. So I chose to get out and relocate to Orlando, FL where my parents had moved to. Not wanting to end my relationship with the Air Force I switched to the Air Force Reserve. I was a reservist for the remainder of my career in various capacities, some part time (while I worked at WDW) but all the rest was in various full time capacities.
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 (the Tomorrowland Terrace, now called Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe). That was a very interesting and fun time!
In 1989 I left Disney to pursue a great opportunity to fly with the Reserves, which eventually lead to full time Reserve duty in Ohio. All through the nineties my family and I would visit our 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 fun, efficient, and memorable.
Steve inflight at “the office”
This was before the explosion of the internet (and Disney sites) and the only people who knew secrets and little known facts were Disney cast members and their friends. These were our golden years of touring the parks!
In 2000 we decided that we’d never really had a true “family vacation” we had always visited relatives on our vacations and squeezed in a 1-day WDW day-trip. 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 so lucky to 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 had become the local pro. I always enjoyed helping them plan their vacations.
In 2007 we transfered back to Florida (just five and a quarter hours from Disney) but I still had people in Ohio calling to ask 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 on the web with the community that I’ve been a part of for so long, the Military/DoD community.
I started this site in early 2008 and it has been a huge success. I work on it part-time and really enjoy doing so.
Steve’s Retirement Photo
In 2016 we actually moved back to Ohio for a great civil service job and to be near our kids and now grand daughters. So now I get to commute to WDW via plane instead of car.
In 2021 I also retired from civil service and switched over to being a contractor for the Air Force.
In a few years though this side job will be my only full-time one!
Steve “working” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
My goal for this site is to help you!
Please support the operation of this site by sending me a tip. I really appreciate your support if you can!
Or see this post on other ways that you can support the site.
You can subscribe to my email newsletter to get website updates and news by clicking this link.
MDT Celebrated Over 10 Years of Assisting Military Families with Their Disney Planning in 2018!
Contact Info & Press/Advertiser Info
Not Just Disney anymore!
In 2021 I branched out to Universal Orlando, which I’d covered only peripherally prior:
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This MDT Post By: Steve Bell Steve is the the Military Disney Tips Founder. He a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way. Check out Steve's Bio. Subscribe to Steve's email newsletter to get website updates and news by clicking this link. |
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? See Our Great Disney Discount and Planning Info:
- Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation GuideÂ
- Military Disney Tips Disney Packing ChecklistÂ
- 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
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Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent
Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts! |
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.
Steve,
We are planning a 10 day trip in Sept. If my wife and I purchase APs and I purchase Salute 4 days for my adult sons who are only staying four days then flying home would the APs satisfy the requirement to attend the parks with the boys.
Yes they sure do Dallas, as they are a more expensive option. I have a FL Seasonal pass and get the AFS tickets for my wife, who doesn’t go as much… All that darn research I have to do 😉
We will be at WDW in January and staying at the campground. My husband is not retired, but honorably discharged from the Army. Is there any discount at the campground and what about tickets? Thanks for your help.
Hi Brenda,
Unfortunately WDW does not offer a military discount the campsites.
Steve great resource!! Thanks for it. With the Stars and Stripes tickets does it come with Genie or is that only available with MYW?
Hi Mike,
Shades of Green does have Military MYW tickets with Genie+ but not the Stars and Stripes.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/regular-military-discounted-magic-your-way-tickets/ Just updated this page…