Why are Pop Century Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort Not Part of 2022 and 2023 Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts?

When Walt Disney World announced the 2022 Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts last week, many were surprised to notice that Pop Century and the Caribbean Beach Resorts were not included in the discount for the coming year. This has continued for 2023!

Many have written me to ask why.

Disney of course will not state why, but here are my thoughts.

While honoring the military factors into Disney’s decision making process slightly (mostly from a public relations perspective I feel).

The Disney Armed Forces Salute is renewed each year only after Disney’s Revenue Generation Board has met to look at the upcoming year.

All discounts (military or general public) are offered by Disney to attract bodies when and where they need them. That’s why the Salute has never been available during the 2 weeks of Christmas to New Years and often not during the busiest period of Spring Break.

And it’s also why the Salute Room Discounts have become so fluid in recent years (both military and general public). If a resort can do well without a discount it is not included in the offer.

Walt Disney World has always excluded some resorts and room types from the Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts. The New, at the time, Riviera was not included in the 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute, but it is for 2022. Disney must have found that the attraction of the new expensive resort wasn’t what they though it was.

Pop Century and the Caribbean Beach have become more popular recently due to their skyliner access and I assume WDW is having little trouble filling their rooms. WDW Doesn’t need to offer a discount to attract bodies there.

Even before the opening of the Skyliner, Pop Century had become my favorite and recommended Value Resort due to it’s slightly better food quality/options and the even better options right across the lake at Art of Animation. While both have only a food court they were better than the All-Stars. And Pop is more centrally located making bus travel times slightly shorter. Now with the advent of the Skyliner access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios is awesome!

Before the Skyliner the Caribbean Beach was not my preferred Moderate Resort, Port Orleans French Quarter was, due to its small size (for a Moderate) and multiple modes of transportation (Disney Bus and Water Taxi).

Alternatives

If you had your heart set on Pop Century, and that is your target budget, your options are limited!

1. Check for a General Public Discount at Pop. You might find one.
2. Switch your sights to the less convenient All-Stars Resorts.
3. See if a Salute Discount is available at one of the less popular Moderates that that brings it just or almost into your budget range

Note the non-suite, Little Mermaid rooms that sleep 4 across the lake at Art of Animation have never been part of the Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts!

Options for the Caribbean Beach are are more plentiful.

1. Check for a General Public Discount at Pop. You might find one.
2. Port Orleans – Riverside and Port Orleans – French Quarter Resorts are comparable to the Caribbean minus the Skyliner access, but do have Water Taxi Service to Disney Springs.
3. The Coronado Springs Resort is more remote (the All-Stars being to only Resorts farther out). Only bus service here
4. See if a Salute Discount is available at one of the less expensive Deluxes (Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge) that that brings it just or almost into your budget range. This is less likely than a Moderate coming into range of a Value budget with a discount

Another Option might be to switch to the Universal Orlando Resort, which offers cheaper options for the military community.

In Closing

Well, to wrap up, those are my thoughts and suggestions.

I’d love to hear your’s in the comments section below!

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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 Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide

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