Walt Disney World is offering some excellent military discounts for 2012. Here is a guide to what discounts they are offering to the military on Walt Disney World Hotel Resorts and Tickets.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute 2012
Disney World has offered excellent discounts on tickets and Disney resort hotel rooms for the military and their families since 2008. The current discounts run until September 2012 and it is likely that some form of discount will be extended through 2013 (we will announce details when we have them).
Who is Eligible for a Disney World Military Discount?
“Eligible Service Members” are active or retired members of the U.S. military. This includes the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard. Permanently Disabled Veterans are also eligible. Spouses of eligible members are able to participate without the member being present.
What are the Discounted Military Disney World Tickets?
Eligible members can now purchase up to 12 tickets during the offer period (at the moment up to 30th September 2012). You can only use up to 6 tickets per military family at any one time. Disney has said that it will make exceptions to this rule but only in a case where a military family has more than 5 immediate family members (so for example if you have 5 or more children).
The cost of the Disney tickets is considerably reduced for military families:
Four Day Park Hopper Tickets or Four-Day Water Park and More Tickets is $138.00
Four Day Park Hopper Tickets plus the Water Park and More Option is $165.00.
There are block out dates for Magic Kingdom in 2012 of 1st to 12th April and again for July 4th. These block out dates do only apply to Magic Kingdom and you can use them for any of the other Disney World parks.
Where do you Buy Military Discount Tickets for Walt Disney World?
You can buy the Military Salute tickets at your local Base, the Disney Shades of Green Resort or at any Walt Disney World Ticket window. If you want to save the sales tax them buy them from Shades of Green or your Base. The Disney World ticket window will add the tax but the military affiliated places will not. That can be a big saving.
Tickets will be activated at the Disney World ticket kiosks by showing your military ID and presenting the voucher ticket. The Disney ticket is not activated until you do this – and you must have all members of your party present at this time.
The validity dates of the tickets have caused some confusion. The rules say that if you buy your tickets now then they must be activated prior to September 30th 2012. In the past the deadline has been extended but you must not rely on this. An expiration date must be taken as the day it really will expire even though in the past the deadline has been extended!
Walt Disney World Hotels Military Discounts 2012
These discounts are valid up to 30th September 2012 and have the same conditions of eligibility as the Disney ticket discounts for the military.
The discounts are off Disney World rack room rates.
40% off Disney World Deluxe Resorts
35% off Disney World Moderate Resorts and Disney Fort Wilderness Resort
30% off Disney World Value Resort hotel rooms
All are of course subject to availability. You can add any of the Disney Dining Packages to these rooms, but this military offer is not combinable with any free Disney Dining offer.
Disney World Shades of Green Resort
Disney’s Shades of Green Resort has been operating as an Armed Forces Recreation Center which accepts guests only from the military and their families. It has not been owned by Disney World hotels and resorts since 1994 but all of it’s guests have exactly the same perks and advantages of any Disney World resort guests.
Rates vary according to pay grade and party size but are some of the very lowest in the whole of Walt Disney World with rates starting at around $100 per night and rising to around $275 for a Family Suite. Shades of Green offers some of the very best accommodation on all of the Walt Disney World property so the rates are a great deal and can save you a whole lot of money on hotel rooms.
Call 1 888 593 2242 for reservations.
MIlitary Discounts at Walt Disney World Swam and Dolphin Resorts 2012
Photo by everythingmouse
The Disney Swan and Dolphin Resorts are offering some great military discounts for 2012. The Swan and Dolphin are in a great location on Disney properly although they are owned and operated by Westin hotels and resorts. Guests do have almost all the privileges of Disney resort guests (with the exception of Disney resort charging privileges.
The location and facilities make the Disney Swan and Dolphin resorts a great choice. You can walk or use the boat transportation to Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios. Bus transportation is offered to all the other Disney parks and resorts.
Room rates start at $139 per night plus tax. If you need a second room then rates start even lower at just $119 per night. All rates are of course subject to availability. Reservations can be made by calling 1 888 828 8850. Use the rate code TROOPS.
Not only are those great room rates offered but the Swan and Dolphin offer other discounts to the military.
50% off food and non alcoholic beverages in the Swan and Dolphin’s restaurants and lounges
10% off food and non alcoholic beverages beverage in Todd English’s bluezoo, Shula’s Steak House or Il Mulino New York Trattoria.
There is a $12 mandatory resort fee per day charged to your room. I am not a fan of resort fees but for this you do get 20 minutes of long distance calls per day, free internet, 2 bottles of water per day and use of the health club facilities.
Unlike other Walt Disney World resorts the Swan and Dolphin do charge for parking at a rate of $11 per day. If you want valet parking the charge is $15. Free parking at any of the Walt Disney World theme parks is included for all Swan and Dolphin resort guest. Just a pity you can’t park for free in their own parking lot!
The Walt Disney World Military Discounts for 2012 are most definitely worth looking into if you qualify!
Photos by kathika
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Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.