2018 Armed Forces Salute Resort discount warning!

[LINDATHEPOOH]

To my fellow armed services people, please be aware the 2018 discount program has changed! In the past we were given a flat % off a room- 30 on value, 35 on moderate, and 40 on deluxe with a few blackout dates. For 2018 the discounts are now going to be determined by how badly Disney needs to fill the rooms. If a deluxe room isn't selling well, you'll probably get the 40% discount but if it's filling up fast you may only get 30% or 35%. I don't know who made the change or why but just be aware. Maybe price out some of the package deals that are offered during the year. They may turn out to be cheaper!

 

[dansdad]

That's why the wording is "up to xx% off". I've found that the % off can vary between room types at the same resort. It's been that way for as long as I can remember.

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

That's why the wording is "up to xx% off". I've found that the % off can vary between room types at the same resort. It's been that way for as long as I can remember.

We've been using the military discount for as long as its been in existence. We've always gotten 40% off the Deluxe hotels no matter the time of year or room type. If your discount varied you may have been getting overcharged at times. Now, my husband is 100% service connected disabled Vietnam Veteran but I don't believe that means we were getting any more consideration than any other veteran.

 

[dansdad]

We've been using the military discount for as long as its been in existence. We've always gotten 40% off the Deluxe hotels no matter the time of year or room type. If your discount varied you may have been getting overcharged at times. Now, my husband is 100% service connected disabled Vietnam Veteran but I don't believe that means we were getting any more consideration than any other veteran.

Not overcharged. Just happened to want a room type that wasn't available for the full 40%. There were plenty of other choices for the full 40%. And the vast majority of trips have been the full 40%.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

I actually came out better for my 2018 reservations, but I may have been lucky. Based on mousesavers 2018 rack rate page, I saved 33% instead of 30 percent. BUT..........since Disney has jacked up rates overall, and now has bumped up Sunday and Thursday rates, my trip prices are still higher than I would like!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

One of the military sites has also reported some folks have been getting slimmer discounts for 2018 bookings.

Thanks for the heads up here!

 

[Lilyrampant]

we got 35% off of our Poly room for April 15th

 

[BabyFu18]

When I called, the rates didn't seem to be as steeply discounted as previous years so I called back to speak to a different person and the rates still didn't seem right to me, so I asked about it and was told it was 40% off (I was looking at deluxe only) but that the discount is only on the nightly room rate and I'd have to pay the full taxes on the rack rate price (which is why they said the price was higher than what I was calculating). When I did my calculations on the nightly room rate with 40% off and then added back the full taxes (on the rack rate price) I did get the same price as I quoted on the phone but it certainly made the prices seem like more than we have paid in the past.

 

[dansdad]

When I called, the rates didn't seem to be as steeply discounted as previous years so I called back to speak to a different person and the rates still didn't seem right to me, so I asked about it and was told it was 40% off (I was looking at deluxe only) but that the discount is only on the nightly room rate and I'd have to pay the full taxes on the rack rate price

What you were told is not correct at all. Unless they're doing something illegal, the tax you pay is a percentage of the rate you were actually charged (discounted rate).

 

[Tink6584]

To my fellow armed services people, please be aware the 2018 discount program has changed! In the past we were given a flat % off a room- 30 on value, 35 on moderate, and 40 on deluxe with a few blackout dates. For 2018 the discounts are now going to be determined by how badly Disney needs to fill the rooms. If a deluxe room isn't selling well, you'll probably get the 40% discount but if it's filling up fast you may only get 30% or 35%. I don't know who made the change or why but just be aware. Maybe price out some of the package deals that are offered during the year. They may turn out to be cheaper!

We received a 30% for both deluxes,
August 27-Sept-4
Polly and Beach Club
We tried Garden View for both and we were told it was unavailable, but Club Level was available for those dates. GF was available at 35% and AKL was also available 25% both standard view.
So we pick Polly and Beach since we will mainly be at Epcot and MK.
We ask for moderate and was told nothing was available but All Stars are
having a special at that time. Again we said no thanks.
We think %’s are like there Resorts
Rake rate levels. High Season less %
Middle Season average % and low seasons higher%.

 

[BabyFu18]

What you were told is not correct at all. Unless they're doing something illegal, the tax you pay is a percentage of the rate you were actually charged (discounted rate).

I'm going to call back tomorrow and see if I can get some more info to clairify, but I ended up not booking anything because the rates never lined up with my calculations, hopefully the people I've spoken to thus far are wrong and I can actually get a price quote for the correct 40%! If they changed the rate discount they should just be transparent about it, it's so confusing seeing some people have gotten different percentages off depending on the resort (within the same category).

 

[Momoftwins+1]

They are using the "up to %" in its truest sense this year. We received 35% at two deluxe for June. It isn't decided by the CM. The discounts are for the most part less this year.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Wow....I have not booked for next year yet. We have been getting the 40% on deluxe for years. For the past few years we had to very flexible on our dates and the call center has been very helpful in finding us discounted rooms. I wonder if it's better to have the ITT try and book the room or just call and hope for the best. Happy that they are still offering the military discounts on rooms and tickets!

 

[Tink6584]

Wow....I have not booked for next year yet. We have been getting the 40% on deluxe for years. For the past few years we had to very flexible on our dates and the call center has been very helpful in finding us discounted rooms. I wonder if it's better to have the ITT try and book the room or just call and hope for the best. Happy that they are still offering the military discounts on rooms and tickets!

No.Sorry. We were told it’s base on tiers and what is available . Guest Service call us back because we were trying to get 40%. We are just lucky we are going.
Please see above

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

No.Sorry. We were told it’s base on tiers and what is available . Guest Service call us back because we were trying to get 40%. We are just lucky we are going.
Please see above

But it's always been based on availability. Harder when other discounts are out there for the time and resort you want. We have had to be flexible in the past and have gotten the 40% for deluxe. Will have to see how next year goes when we decide to book again.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

I noticed this as well. We also have been using the military discount at least once a year since it first came out and we have ALWAYS gotten 30% value, 35% mod, 40% deluxe, no matter what room type we booked or what time of year. Of course there were times that the room type we wanted just wasn't available for our dates so we took what room type was available, but the discounts for us were always those percents off. I am very grateful that they are still offering the military discounts, but I don't like that you won't really know what rates you are looking at paying until you call. At least in the past I could figure out what the cost would be before I called and we could make the decision of where to stay ahead of calling.

 

[12disneybee]

hi
can you book military discount via the phone? Military person will have ID and be with us when checking in. I guess we wont be able to do online check in huh?

 

[Tink6584]

Please read link below
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html#resort


Hope this answer any question you have.

 

[Tink6584]

But it's always been based on availability. Harder when other discounts are out there for the time and resort you want. We have had to be flexible in the past and have gotten the 40% for deluxe. Will have to see how next year goes when we decide to book again.

The deluxe are up to 40%

 

[toonaspie]

Given how the discount rates for next year are for the regular folk, I'm not surprised by this change at all. And I'm willing to bet that with my choice of resort and dates, my family will probably save something like $5 a night.