If you are booking a Disney Armed Forces Salute room discount, should you choose a Room Only reservation or a Disney vacation package? For most eligible military families, I recommend booking a Room Only reservation. A Room Only reservation provides more flexible payment and cancellation rules, and eligible military families can purchase their deeply discounted […]
How Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Really Work (2026 Guide)
Disney’s advertised Armed Forces Salute room discount is the maximum you could receive—not the discount Disney promises for every reservation. 2026 Armed Forces Salute Room Discount Update The Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discount continues in 2026, and Disney’s variable “up to” discount model remains in place. Instead of receiving one fixed percentage based only […]
Is Shades of Green Worth It? 2026 Reviews & Ratings from Military Families
Thousands of military families have already taken this trip. Their experiences can help you plan yours. Military members and their families who have never stayed at Shades of Green often wonder what the military resort at Walt Disney World is really like. That is exactly why Military Disney Tips collects ongoing feedback from guests after […]
The Best Rooms at Shades of Green: A Room Request Guide
The Best Rooms at Shades of Green: A Room Request Guide There is no single best room at Shades of Green. The good news is that there really aren’t any bad room locations at Shades of Green. This guide is about choosing the room that best matches your priorities. Shades of Green allows room requests […]
Shades of Green Standard Rooms: Military Disney Guide
Shades of Green Standard Guest Rooms are some of the largest standard rooms at Walt Disney World, and for many military families, they are the main reason the resort works so well. If you are comparing Shades of Green with Disney resorts, the Standard Room is where the conversation really begins. The room rate matters. […]
Shades of Green Poolside Rooms: Are They Worth It?
Shades of Green Poolside Rooms are not larger or more upgraded than Standard Rooms. The rooms themselves are identical. What you are paying for is location. If you are considering a Poolside Room at Shades of Green, the real question is not, “Is the room better?” The better question is, “Will my family actually benefit […]
Disney Military Discount Eligibility Guide: Which Disney Discounts Do You Qualify For? (2026)
Disney military and veteran discounts can be confusing because different discounts use different eligibility rules. If you are trying to figure out whether you qualify for Disney military tickets, Disney military resort discounts, Shades of Green, Disney Cruise Line military rates, or veteran-specific Disney options, the first thing to understand is this: There is no […]
Shades of Green vs Disney Resorts: Which Is Actually Cheaper in 2026?
Comparing Disney World Resorts to Shades of Green is not just about finding the cheapest room. One of the biggest decisions military families make when planning a Walt Disney World vacation is whether to stay at a Disney Resort or at Shades of Green. At first, this looks like a simple price comparison. Check […]
Disney Room Only Reservation Versus a Package What’s the Difference?
It’s very important to know the difference between Disney’s Room Only and Package Reservations! Flexibility is often very important to US Military Families, and your selection affects your payment and cancellation schedules. What’s a Package? A Disney package is normally when you combine another option with your Disney Resort Room Reservation. The other option(s) could […]
Disney World Disney Springs Hotels offer Military Discounts
The Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels are seven hotels located near the Disney Springs shopping, dining, and entertainment area in the Walt Disney World Resort. These National Chain hotels celebrate America’s military with up to off 20% room rate discount at all member hotels. Both active and retired U.S. military personnel, including active and retired […]
Shades of Green Walt Disney World’s Military Resort Room Rates
Shades of Green, the Military Only Resort on Walt Disney World property sets their room rates by pay-grade. You’ll find Shades of Green has reasonable room rates when compared to many of the Disney World Resorts and other hotels in the local area. Rates are based upon your pay grade or status, with junior members […]
Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Room Discounts for 2026
Disney’s Armed Forces Salute is a fantastic discount available to military members and retirees. This discount includes both ticket and room discounts. Here are the Top Ten Things that you need to know about military discounts on rooms using this offer. See our companion post about Military Discounted Tickets here: Top Ten Things You Need To Know […]
Disneyland Military Tickets 2026: Prices, Rules, and How to Buy
If you’re a U.S. military member or spouse planning a Disneyland vacation in 2025, great news: Disney offers not one but two military ticket programs. First is the powerhouse savings of the Disney Military Promotional Ticket (Disneyland’s version of Armed Forces Salute). Second is the Regular Military Discount Ticket that’s sold year-round at base ticket […]
The 2026 Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide
Here is Military Disney Tips’ Walt Disney World Planning Guide that will guide you through the process of preparing for your vacation. Hi there, I’ve written this guide and checklist to help guide military members and their families through the complexities of getting ready for a Walt Disney World vacation. This checklist has milestones and […]
Top 8 Reasons to Use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner In 2026
A Disney vacation is the perfect place for a military family to spend time together and think of nothing else. It’s 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 Walt Disney World vacation can be […]
Shades of Green – Disney Deluxe Resort Comparison
Welcome to the third installment of the Shades of Green – Disney Resort Comparison Series. This post wraps up my series intended to help you determine the differences between Shades and the Disney Resorts. I hope that you’ll find them helpful. Be sure to post comments and questions below. Also please see How does Shades of […]
Shades of Green – Disney Moderate Resort Comparison
Welcome to the second installment of the Shades of Green – Disney Resort Comparison Series. This is the second post on the differences between Shades of Green and the Disney World resorts, this series is offered in the hope it will help you with your Disney trip planning. Also please see the other 2 posts […]
Shades of Green – Disney Value Resort Comparison
This is the first installment of the Shades of Green – Disney Resort Comparison Series Also please see How does Shades of Green compare to Disney in Price and the other 2 posts in the series: Shades of Green – Disney Moderate Resort Comparison Shades of Green – Disney Deluxe Resort Comparison Readers often send me questions […]
What to Expect on the Day Disney Announces the Disney Armed Forces Salute
While the military anxiously awaits to find out if Disney will renew the Disney Armed Forces Salute for another year, I thought it would be good to review what to expect if and when they do. Salute Renewal History This post is based on my and my readers’ experiences during the previous Disney Armed Forces […]
Walt Disney World Room View Categories – Do They Matter at Value and Moderate Resorts?
Walt Disney World has numerous room categories at all of their Resort Hotels. In this post we’ll look at which matter and which don’t at the Value and Moderate Resorts. There are many different room categories at the various resorts, and they all have a corresponding price point. The goal of this post is to […]
Sponsoring Guests at Shades of Green
Everyone who is eligible to stay at Shades of Green, the Military Resort at Walt Disney World can sponsor extra rooms for family and friends! The Shades of Green Resort is an Armed Forces Recreation Center Resort located right on Walt Disney World property near Orlando Florida. Sponsoring a room means allowing family and friends […]
Planning Your 2024 Disney Vacation for Military Families
Merry Christmas to all! Finally, all the shopping and preparation for Christmas is over. All the presents have been opened and the kids are enjoying all of their new toys. This is traditionally (based on my historical traffic numbers) the time that Mom and Dad start to plan for next year’s vacation. In an effort […]
Why are Pop Century Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort No Longer Part of the Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts?
Starting in 2022 Walt Disney World’s Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts are no longer available (at all) for the Pop Century and the Caribbean Beach Resorts. NOTE: THis is no longer true for 2026! Many have written me to ask why. Disney of course will not state why, but here are my thoughts. […]
Where to Buy Military Disney Tickets
Military Ticket Purchasing Guide: Save Money On Disney World Tickets Disney Military Tickets can save military members and their families big money at both the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida and the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim California! Welcome to the Military Disney Tips guide to how and where to purchase your military tickets […]
Shades of Green’s Shifting Military Discounts
The Shades of Green Resort is an Armed Forces Recreation Center located on Walt Disney World property near Orlando Florida. Shades of Green opened it’s doors on 1 February 1994 in the resort that was previously known as the Disney Inn/Disney Golf Resort which was owned by Disney World. (Updated January 2023) Room Rates Shades of Green […]