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Steve Bell Founder and Editor in Chief Military Disney Tips

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Hi, I’m Steve Bell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Military Disney Tips website.

Military Disney Tips has been serving the needs of the U. S. Military Community for their Disney Destination Vacations for over 17 years!

My mission is to offer the best advice that I can that is specific to the U.S. military community to help them plan for, save money on, and enjoy their Disney vacation!

I started writing about Disney Military Vacation Discounts back when there was no military information whatsoever on the internet. Other copycat websites have come and gone over the years, But I’m still here, though Google is making it very hard!

You will also find other sites that cater to Disney for the general public, military-related sites, and even general public sites that have a page or two of Military Disney Discount content. Most of their content is just copied and rewritten (from me or Disney)  and the majority of them have No Actual Experience with Disney Military Discounts!

On the other hand, I have had a long association with both the U. S. Military and Disney Theme Parks.

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 trenches at the Magic Kingdom)
  • I’m a Retired DoD Civilian (23+ years, most of that time concurrent with my military service)
  • I’m now a DoD Defense Contractor
  • I’ve been touring Disney’s Parks since 1971
  • I use all the same military discounts that the U.S. Military Community does!
  • I have been staying in Disney’s Resort Hotels since 2000 and have stayed in all of them!
  • I’ve made too many trips to Disney’s Vacation Destinations to count.
  • I’ve been featured on dozens of Disney and Military websites, military magazines and newspapers, radio and TV.
  • I’ve presented at Blog Conventions, been awarded Best Travel Blog, and been part of the Inc. 500/5000 Military Entrepreneur Program.

Details Below

Qualifications, Experience, and Expertise

Online Publications

Guest Posts on Other Sites:

Featured or Mentioned on:

  • MilitaryTimes.com –Waypointers offer a surreal hike, some salty history and Disney with a twist
  • YourFirstVisit.net – Dave at YourFirstVisit.net did a great writeup on our military community still waiting on the Disney Armed Forces Salute. Still No Word on Disney Armed Forces Salute Extension
  • ArmyWife101.com – Thanks to Krystel for several mentions and links in her Top 10 Military Discounts for Military Families To Use When Traveling To Orlando Florida
  • HH6CamoCHix.com – In Disney Vacation Discounts for Military Families: Summer of 2014 on HH6 Camo Chix, there is a nice mention of MDT!
  • DisneyTouristBlog.com – Recommended for Disneyland Military Planning Info on the Disney Tourist Blog
  • TouringPlans.com – I was featured and quoted in a great post about the renewed Disney Armed Forces Salute on the Touring Plans Blog
  • A nice mention of our Facebook page on the USAA Blog in a post by Briana Hartzell in her post on Savvy Summer Savings
  • I was quoted on WMAZ Channel 13’s website in their piece on the renewed Disney Armed Forces Salute
  • Military1.com – A really nice mention on Military 1 by Kristine from USMCLife, “I highly recommend that you check out Military Disney Tips because it’s run by a Veteran and he is considered an expert of everything Military and Disney.”
  • Mentioned in USAA’s Bolg Post, Save Big with Disney Armed Forces Salute and SeaWorld Heroes Salute. By Wendy Poling
  • MyMilitaryLife.com – My info on the new Disney Armed Forces Salute was featured by Janine Boldrin on Military Family Life
  • DisneyFoodBlog.com – Recommended for military planning info on the Disney Food Blog
  • DisneyTouristBlog.com – Recommended for Disney World Military Planning Info on the Disney Tourist Blog
  • Featured in the Orange County Register’s OC Deals section
  • Featured post in the tenth Dismarks Blog Carnival.

Print Publications

  • I was contacted to provide quotes for the print edition of Stars and Stripes’ artile on Shades of Green: US military has its own private resort at Walt Disney World
  • I was quoted in the 6 June 2016 print edition of Military Times Off Duty Section (Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times)
  • I was featured in the November 2014 edition of Military Families Magazine – Get Out of Town, 5 Places to Create Unique Holiday Memories by Janine Boldrin
  • I was quoted in the 5 August 2013 Military Times Off Duty Section (Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times).
  • I was featured for a second time in the 25 June 2012 Military Times Off Duty Section (Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times)
  • I was featured in the May issue of the Reserve & National Guard Magazine. Download a copy of the article here

Podcasts and Interviews

  • I was featured in a special Veteran’s Day edition of the Special Mouse Podcast. We talked about many different subjects like: the history of MDT, the Disney Armed Forces Salute, Shades of Green
  • I was interviewed on all things Disney Military Discount related by HH6 Camo Chix – HH6CamoChix.com
  • Shannon from WDW Prep School interviewed me for her great site. I think this is one of the best interviews I’ve done! There were lots of great topics, check it out!
  • I was interviewed for Navy Wife Radio – Military Wife Radio Listen for my Top 10 Tips
  • I was featured on Semper Feisty Radio, the internet radio program of the USMC Life website
  • I was interviewed by Terri from Chip and Company about the new Disney Armed Forces Salute and other military discounts, Disney’s Armed Forces Salute allows for Continued Special Vacations
  • I was interviewed by the Disney Dose for their first-ever Disney Blogger interview
  • I was quoted in the 21 May 2012 Military Times Off Duty Section (Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times).

Awards and Recognition

  • I was asked to become a founding member of Military Times’ new Social Site, Military Waypoint, and created 3 Posts to help them get rolling
  • Military Disney Tips Was Voted the 2015 Best Travel Blog in the Brighthouse Networks Sunshine Blog Awards
  • I was honored to be the Florida Blog Con’s Featured Blogger for the month of December 2014
  • I was selected as one of 80 Military Entrepreneurs selected for the Inc. 500/5000 Military Entrepreneur Program
  • I served as the official moderator of comments and questions on YourFirstVisit.net’s military family pages!
  • I received the November 2012 Mouse Approved ™ Award, for Disney Web Site Excellence!
  • YourFirstVisit.net proclaims: Military Disney Tips is the best place on the internet for military families to navigate their way through Disney Discounts!
  • Military Disney Tips was selected as one of the 50 Best Disney Blogs by Zen College Life.

Speaking

  • I was a featured speaker at Florida BlogCon 2018 on the main stage, speaking about website and blog monetization

Disney Guide Books

I’m the author of the first-ever Disney Guide Books written specifically for the U. S. military/veteran community. These full-length, in-depth books cover all aspects of planning a Disney vacation in the manner that only the military community does. Focusing on all of the available discounts and how planning a Disney vacation differs from how the general public does it.

And I also put out a General Public Version as well:

Advocacy

I have long advocated with the various theme parks and other companies for better and more useable military discounts. Here are the most noteworthy:

Disney – In 2011 I began working with the Sales Director at Disney Military Sales to assist with getting the word out about their new Disney Armed Forces Salute and on the subsequent Salute Renewals. In 2012 after covering Disney’s Heroes Work Here Orlando Job Fair, then President of Disney Parks U. S. and France, Meg Crofton asked me to begin working exclusively with Walt Disney World Media Relations moving forward.

This began a 5-year mutually beneficial collaborative period. Disney asked my advice on many issues and queried me on what our community would think about changes they intended to make, such as offering a 3-month extension to the 2015 Disney Armed Forces Salute in order to convert Disney’s fiscal year offering to a calendar year offer.

My absolute best advocacy was in 2012 when I engaged with Disney World regarding their Military Discounted Tickets for their after-hours parties (Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party & Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) While Disney did offer military discounts for these parties, the tickets had to be purchased in person (This was before the days of buying military tickets long-distance). Military families often found these events sold out before they even arrived to buy their tickets. Bryan (from WDW Media Relations) and I started the program for military families to be able to buy their discounted tickets in person even if the event night in question was already sold out. This program lasted many years until Shades of Green began selling these tickets long-distance.

Universal –  I have worked with Universal Orlando’s Military Sales Department for over 4 years regarding issues with how their Resort Destination enforces eligibility and several rules differently than their policies stated online. Most importantly, being able to share with my readers exactly what they will experience while there (that might differ from what is published).

Westgate Resorts – I worked with the Sales and Digital Marketing Department for several years in order to promote and cover their wildly popular Free Stays for Military, which over time evolved into a special homecoming weekend with events and Big Name entertainers and bands.

Steve at work in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Reader Comments and Thanks

– Just a quick note to let you know we really appreciate your site, updates & the attention to details behind each of your postings to all things logistical at WDW.  Our experience was spot on at the SOG in which we shared with you in our email post last month. Your information & data is simply outstanding & accurate to anyone who plans a visit to the resort regardless of their newcomers or seasoned WDW vacationers status.  Before our recent trip we reviewed both your static as well as your recent visit updates where your readers can take your advice, guidance, & recommendations to the bank, we did! – Walter C.

– I have learned pretty much EVERYTHING from Steve and his tips over the past several years! I get the newsletters and read them even when I have no trip, to try to keep – Krystal R. J.

– Thanks so much for the help to the Military families. – LCDR Steve B

– I just want to thank you for all the wonderful info you have provided!! We have made several Disney trips in the past 12 years being military and the trip we just took was the first one we actually saved a significant amount of time, energy, and money thanks to all the tips you have given!! Thank you again!!!  – Jessica L.

– We used your information for a last minute trip. We only had a two week planning period before we left and it was great thanks to your website. Ed A.

– Hey Steve thanks for the guide! Had this guide been an option when selecting my hotel I wouldn’t have even considered a WDW Resort. Luckily in the end I chose Shades of Green and will be visiting in October. I bought the ebook not sure what to expect. If anyone military affiliated is unsure about whether or not to stay at SOG I highly recommend they purchase the ebook. I already knew a lot of the … – Allison M.

– Thanks for the quick reply sir….We leave in 2 hours…..lol….Awesome site with unparalleled great information. Brian W.

– This is a great book.  My family and I go to SOG several times a year since we live near the Orlando area, There is information about SOG that I wasn’t aware of because when we go we generally just do the same things as before. Thanks for the great work you do on behalf of the Military, Active and Retired, Disney lovers! – Colleen L.

–  First I want to thank you for everything that you do for us. I, like many other service members and families, have directly benefited from the countless hours you’ve spent networking with your Disney connects. – Jeremiah P.

– Thanks for your time – you’re web site is a great tool for all military members to use. – Brian M

– Thank you for your updates and your quality time with the blog . I know it’s time consuming among other things you’ve got going on . Keep up the good work. – Debbie

– Hi Steve
, Thanks for the great info. Have already started planning a trip in the spring. Great job getting the news out. – KC

– Steve, thank you for your hard work for all the information and help you’ve given us. – Debbie

– I am finding your website very informative and helpful. – Brenda N.

Why I Do This

I started Military Disney Tips in 2008 to fill a need and share my Disney knowledge with my community.

When I started there was no other Disney Military information on the internet! Shades of Green (Disney World’s military resort) at the time had an awful 6-page website hosted on an Army URL (with lots of numbers and random letters in it). Over the years, many sites that do not actually work in this niche have posted a page or two about Disney Military Discounts (mostly copied info, without any first-hand knowledge). Stay clear of these sites, as I say, “Don’t get your Disney Military Discount Advice from  Civilians!”

It has been my honor to serve our community all these years!

Steve Bell Military Disney Tips

You can find me online here

My Military Content:

There is some more info on my history on the About Page.

My Family’s That Disney Family Content @ThatDisFam

This MDT Post By: Steve Bell

Steve is the Military Disney Tips Founder. He is a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! He has been writing about Disney for the US Military Community here for 18 years. Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way possible.
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