Photo by Joseph NilatS on Unsplash
In this article:
Disney vacations are a rite of passage for military families, thanks to discounts and the heavy military populations in Florida and California near the parks. They make an unforgettable destination to celebrate mom or dad’s return from deployment and are ideal for family reunions when a PCS takes you far away. A Mouse House vacation also makes the perfect family Christmas present!
But most people need a little help planning the trip. Folks who love planning the adventure can go DIY. This little go-to guide will help you work through the details, so keep reading. But you might go a different route and work with a military spouse Disney vacation planner.
For a special Disney occasion, a professional who stays updated with the latest military travel discounts, travel dates, reservations, times, and everything in between can be an invaluable resource when you feel like you’re in over your head with Disney details.
Kristin Van Osterom of Wishdrawals Disney Planning, a military spouse of 14 years, helps military families navigate their Disney trip planning with some in-the-know advice and tips. She’s an experienced travel pro and lifelong Disney enthusiast specializing in creating (without a fee) the magical Disney trips military families dream about. She is the mastermind behind many of the tips included in this article.
Before Planning Your Disney Trip
When you’re starting to think about your trip, you might hear about some perks or opportunities that sound super exciting. Keep in mind there are similarities between the parks, but there are differences, too.
Don’t assume one program, military discount, or event translates equally between the two. For example, they each have mobile apps to help enhance the magic, but they are separate and unique.
Budget Your Trip and Determine Your Family’s Priorities
Don’t be tempted to fall into the “Go Big or Go Home” trap when planning a Disney vacation. You’re not alone; the temptation happens to everyone. It’s only natural to want to pack in as much as you can in one trip.
It’s important to realistically prepare your budget early on and use it to guide your hotel research to create your things-to-do list.
Travel pro Kristin recommends choosing a resort or hotel choice first. Are you a family that likes to hang out at the exciting hotel pool and enjoy the amenities on the property? Or, are accommodations the least important detail on your list, and you’d rather spend money on delectable dining experiences?
Of course, there are no right or wrong answers, but your choices should reflect your family’s priorities to guarantee a memorable Disney experience.
Learn About the Disney Military Salute Program
Basically, it’s the program that helps military families visit Disney World and Disneyland at heavily discounted prices. It’s hugely popular, not only for the tickets, but because it includes discounted rates for overnight stays.
Stay up to date with each park individually because their dates and prices change.
Important notes about the Military Salute Program:
- To buy the discounted tickets for both parks, you’ll have to visit your closest U.S. military base ticket office.
- Park reservations are required.
Photo by taylor gregory on Unsplash
What to Know Before You Go to Disney World
Get ready; there’s a lot to learn! Start by getting familiar with all four parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. This helps your planning and could sway you to choose one resort over another.
My Disney Experience App
It’s all about the My Disney Experience App.
The app is a one-stop shop for everything you need at Disney World. It’s comprehensive, so take some time to get familiar with everything it has to offer. In the app, you’ll find:
- Disney Genie and Disney Genie+
- Personalized itinerary
- A tip board to track wait times
- Dining and attractions reservations
- Contactless dining choices
- In-park navigation
- Showtimes
- Park hours
- Virtual queue
- In-app chat
- Mobile check-In
- Digital room key
- Bus arrival times
Dining Reservations
It’s not easy, and probably not possible, to walk into a Disney World restaurant for a meal without a reservation. So it’s a good thing you can make your plans 60 days in advance for traditional sit-down dining or the treasured dining with Disney characters experience.
Disney World Resorts
To plan your stays, it’s helpful to know Disney World has four categories of resorts: Deluxe, Moderate, Value, and Campgrounds. Then, you can tailor your experience to the amount of money you want to spend on lodging.
Don’t forget, through Disney’s Military Salute, you’re eligible for resort discounts. Typically, the discounts are bigger for Deluxe resorts and smaller for Moderate and Value resorts. Resort discounts are limited, meaning your favorite resort might have sold out of military rates for the dates you’re interested in.
It’s helpful to know that military guests may reserve up to three rooms with this discount in case you wanted to help family and friends with a deal. Keep in mind that the military member or spouse must be present at check-in.
Resort military discount reservations can only be made over the phone, and it’s common to have long wait times. However, Disney vacation planners can take care of this for you, so there’s no need to listen to hold music!
Pro Tip: If you’ve already made your resort reservations without the military discount, ask your Disney planner if there’s an option to retroactively add the discount.
Shades of Green
If you're in the military, you’ve probably heard about Shades of Green, part of the Armed Forces Recreation Center collection. It’s the resort on Disney World property dedicated to military families. The fees are reasonable, and the rooms are large enough to accommodate families.
Shades of Green has been a military family favorite for years, thanks to convenient dining and its location next to Disney'sPolynesian Village Resort, which means there’s easy access to the monorail.
Know that the service member’s rank calculates Shades of Green’s fees. Check other Disney resort fees against Shades of Green; you might get a better deal for a location you like better.
How to Choose A Disney World Resort
Finding the best resort solution takes planning. First, narrow down what’s essential, like location, affordability, or amenities. Here are some tips for choosing from some of the best places to stay.
- Best for the proximity to Magic Kingdom and the monorail: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney's Contemporary Resort. For families with little kids, these resorts’ locations cut down on so much walking.
- Best for families who want a BIG experience: Animal Kingdom offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience and views overlooking animals roaming the savanna from your balcony.
- Best for pool lovers: If you specifically want to plan a day or two at the pool, try Beach Club or Yacht Club Resorts.
- Best for niche location experiences: For guests who want a little more locale added to their stay, try Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside, and Port Orleans French Quarter.
- Best for budget-conscious guests: All Star Movies Resort, All Star Music Resort, All Star Sports Resort, Art of Animation Resort, Pop Century Resort.
- Best for Skyliner access: Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney's Riviera Resort. All have easy access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Disney World Terms to Know
The My Disney Experience App is just the start of new things happening in Disney World.
Disney Genie: You’ll find the Disney Genie inside the My Disney Experience App. Disney created it to help families curate the best strategies for visiting all of their favorite sites. It gives you suggestions on where to go and when.
Lightning Lane Pass: This in-app purchase allows guests to bypass the long lines for rides and skip to a shorter wait time for family favorites.
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass replaces Disney Genie+ in July, 2024 and allows three uses of the lightning lane.
- Lightning Lane Single Pass is good for one use.
Virtual Queue: This is available in the app and is a way to request access to an attraction later in the day and enjoy others while you wait.
What to Know Before You Go to Disneyland
Disneyland has its own set of fervent fans who appreciate the manageable size and laid-back vibes of the two parks: Disneyland and California Adventure plus Downtown Disney, a retail area. Add in the rich history that includes walking the paths of Walt Disney’s original masterpiece, and a trip to Disneyland takes on a special meaning.
Disneyland App
Disneyland’s app Disneyland includes Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lanes. You can make reservations, order ahead, and take advantage of standby lines and sometimes a virtual queue for the new rides.
Disneyland Dining
You can make reservations 60 days in advance for reservations on the property.
Disneyland Resorts
Disneyland has three on-site resort hotels:
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: Considered a Deluxe hotel with close proximity to the California Adventure Park.
- Pixar Place: This Pixar-themed hotel offers convenient access to the Downtown Disney District.
- Disneyland Hotel: Nostalgic Disneyland themes and quick access to Downtown Disney.
Those staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels get early access to theme parks. There are also Disney-approved hotels off the resort called Good Neighbor Hotels.
Photo by Sandro Gonzalez on Unsplash
More Tips for Your Trip to Disney
1. Arrive early at the parks.
Get to the parks as close to opening as possible. The earlier you are, the shorter the lines will be. Minimizing line waiting is the key to a fun vacation with children! Crowds start picking up at 10 a.m.
2. Take breaks as needed.
Some suggest leaving the parks at naptime, but see if your child will nap in the stroller. There are many quiet, air-conditioned places to hang out, or sometimes it's just fun to stroll around and people-watch while the baby naps. However, be mindful of your children and their needs. If they seem overstimulated, maybe a restful afternoon at the resort will be just what they need.
3. Use Baby Swap.
The rides with height requirements offer Baby Swap. One person goes through the line (either standby or Lightning line) and asks for a Baby Swap ticket. Then, after the ride, the other person, who was waiting with the baby, rides without waiting in the standby line. Baby Swap is good if you intend to ride bigger rides. It's even more fun when you have an older child because they get to ride the big rides twice!
4. Bring pajamas.
If your kids are younger and have earlier bedtimes, bring pajamas and change them before the nighttime shows. Then they can fall asleep, and you don't have to worry about changing them before bed.
There you have it—a fantastic start to planning your Disney trip! It takes a while to get familiar with the terms and strategies of everything the parks offer, but with help, you can certainly pull off a vacation to remember.
By Dawn M. Smith
