For those of you active-duty, reserve, retirees and even sometimes Department of Defense employees--there are some AMAZING deals on stays at Disney that won’t break the bank! Many companies salute our military families with some awesome discounts. Consider this article a key to unlocking some incredible magic for your next family trip to Disney World. These are all deals we've used for magical stays at Disney and we hope they work for you too! As always, links to the actual hotel or deal are imbedded for your convenience.
Credit: Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog , and check out their Shades of Green Review.
This is a four star military resort nestled between two award winning golf courses just a short walk from the Polynesian Resort. This is a top notch resort on par with most of Disney's Deluxe resorts for less than half the cost. You will not find a resort with bigger rooms for a better price at Disney. Each room has a balcony or patio, ceiling fans, and fridge. And it has some of the best pools at Disney! From the Mickey shaped Millpond pool which has a big water slide and a water playground, to the tranquil Magnolia pool for more relaxed play. Both pools are heated year-round!
Another big plus? The Sunrise Package! this could be the beat breakfast at Disney, and probably the most reasonably priced when it was open. We’re talking omelettes and chocolate chip pancakes made to order, unlimited beverage refills, fresh house-made pastries and a well stocked buffet with something for everyone! We are anxiously waiting to hear when they will bring it back after its COVID hiatus. We'll update when we find out!
We also love the location and transportation at this resort. You can walk a short distance to the Polynesian Resort and hop on the Resort Monorail to get into the Magic Kingdom or use Shade's bus service which is the most punctual and reliable of all the bus services on resort (just remember to bring the special ticket they give you at check in and a photo ID). We also like walking to the Polynesian to pick up a Pineapple Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai and then sit on the beach area to watch the fireworks across the lagoon at the Magic Kingdom. You will also find the cheapest overnight parking on property at just $13 a night (about half of what most on-property hotels charge)! This also gets you free parking at the actual parks-- a big plus if you plan on using a car. Shades of Green will also have Early Park Admission come October 1st for the Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration.
Heads up! This place is VERY popular! They are pretty much booked up through January 2022, so if you would like to stay here, PLAN AHEAD! Prices per night for January 2022 ranged from $154-194 depending our your military rank/status. Click here to check out their website. , call them at 1 (888) 593-2242 or email reservations@shadesofgreen.org.
Credit: Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog and check out their review of the Swan and Dolphin!
We love this place and we keep coming back! They usually offer a GREAT military deal and it comes with all of Disney's on-property perks. Call the ACTUAL RESORT to get the best deal.
Tall enough to be seen from Exhibition Everest in the Animal Kingdom, this iconic four star resort is actually three hotels! The Dolphin and Swan are two sibling hotels with the Swan Reserve soon to make a third. All three will have Early Theme Park Entry when it comes online October 1, 2021. With what is arguably the best location at Disney World, it sits on Crescent Lake: walking distance to BOTH Epcot AND Hollywood Studios. This is KEY! And if you don't want to walk, there's a water taxi or friendship boat service that runs about every 20 minutes between Epcot, the resorts around Crescent Lake and Hollywood Studios. Buses to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom also run frequently. The pools are GREAT, and there's even a small playground. The rooms were refurbished recently and we love their clean modern design. Most rooms sleep 5, and there are some suites as well. The Dolphin has mostly double beds and king sizes where as Swan has queen and king size beds. Service is exceptional. Heads up: there is a $39 resort fee which includes internet, in-room bottled waters for your party (this is actually a big perk 'cuz some Orlando water has an off-putting after-taste), access to fitness center and pools, plus a few other perks like a free swan paddle boat rental at their lagoon. Self-parking is also pricy, usually $29 a night. Our next stay here we are experimenting with NOT having a car so as to avoid this extra fee and take full advantage of the resort's excellent location.
Even with the resort and parking fees, it is consistently cheaper than most Disney deluxe resorts while offering the same amenities and exceptional location. Click here to checkout their website. Also, here's the reservation number: 1-888-828-8850, and if that takes you to a Sheraton call center, call the local number and ask for reservations: 407-934-4000. Again, you get a better rate speaking to the actual resort!
Resorts around Crescent Lake, the BoardWalk. Credit: Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog Go check it out! Its our go-to resource for all things Disney.
Disney's Military Discount
Disney offers great discounts to military members, sometimes up to 30-40% off rack rates for Deluxe Resorts--a bit less for moderate and value resorts. The current deal runs through December 31, 2021 but they have something every year. We've used this offer to stay at both the Animal Kingdom Villas, Kidani Village and the Beach Club. Both were incredible, memorable, magical stays! We love the location of the Epcot Resorts around Crescent Lake such as the Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk Inn. They are walking distance to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios and the Boardwalk itself is a charming place worth a visit of its own! Themed after early twentieth century Coney Island, it has restaurants, an ice cream parlor, shops and, often-times, street performers in the evening (waiting to hear if they've brought this back yet). Yacht Club and Beach Club share what has to be the BEST pool at Disney: Stormalong Bay, including Shipwreck waterslide, a lazy river, hot tubs, and actual sand! (its really finely ground granite that settles nicely on the pool floor but the effect is the same!). While the rooms are on the small side, they are lovely and still sleep 5! This place even SMELLS incredibly good. ( I asked about it. They have a signature scent designed for each of the deluxe resorts...Who does that? Disney does.) We have some serious nostalgia for this place. If anything, I might be just a wee bit homesick for the Beach Club!
Stormalong Bay at Beach Club and Yacht Club- Credit: Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog.
This discount is also available on moderate and value resorts. I would give the Carribbean Beach Resort a try. They have access to the Skyliner to swiftly take you into Epcot or Hollywood Studios, and a cool pirate/fort-themed pool area. We haven't stayed here yet but it's on our list because of its great location and transportation options.
To book this deal, call Disney at (407) 939-7830. Disney only offers a set number of rooms and resorts for this military discount offer, so it is advantageous to BOOK EARLY.
These are far and away the best deals you will find using your military discount, but it comes with a few caveats. These are vacation rental resorts that are off property and are based on availability, usually going by 7-night increments Sunday-Sunday or Saturday-Saturday. Also be aware--if you don't do your research, you could book some thing that is a SOLID 45-minute drive to the parks! Some of these resorts are a bit dated, but if that doesn't bother you, its typically $379 for a week. A FULL WEEK! And sometimes its cheaper! You can't really find a better deal than that. This is a fabulous option if you don't mind driving to the parks and you want to do Disney World on a dime! You will see name brand hotels like Hilton and Wyndham along with standard vacation rental condos, and they are all over the world, not just Kissimmee! We've done this a once and it did the trick for when we needed a shoe-string Disney vacation and it worked great. Click here to check out their website.
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