Military Discount

[MattRyan]

Hi, I know that the current offer has been running from Fall 2014 and will continue until October of this year. At what point will they allow people to book with this discount for nights from Fall 2015 until October 2016?

I'm planning on going in December and know the block out dates will probably be Christmas Even until New Years.

Can I book the hotels now and then have the discount applied when the new Oedipus is announced. Is there a chance I will not be able to add it? Can I book a package and then later change it to a room only reservation with the discount or would I have to make a new reservation?

Thanks

 

[twodogs]

I think they release the discount, if they renew it, in July for the fall and the following spring/summer. You can reserve now, but it has no bearing on getting a military discount room, as when you call to "add it on", they will actually only be able to do this if your resort and exact room type are available with the military discount. There is not a total number of military discounts to be applied to whoever asks first, for whatever resort or room type. There are a limited number of discounted room types at certain resorts, and when these are booked, they are booked. Reserving a room prior to the discount being announced means you'll have that room, but you might not get a discount in the end. I have personally never been able to get a military discount on a 1 or 2 bedroom villa at BLT, but could fairly easily get a 2 bedroom villa with the discount at AKL.

To your last question, I am unsure. The deposits and cancellation terms are different with RO and packages. If you are eligible for military room discounts, you would also be able to get military tickets (in most cases), which typically are much less expensive, and it is not considered a package since the tickets come from your base ITT office or Shades of Green or the ticket window at the parks. For WDW, the military salute tickets (best discount) are only 4 major park days and 4 "other" park (like water parks). There are discounted military Magic your Way tickets for longer numbers of park days, but the discount is not nearly as good. Military Salute tickets are also limited to 6 per service person/year.

My advice is to know what resorts and room types you are happy with, but don't book anything (unless you can afford to pay full price if the discount is not available, then by all means, book it). Stalk these boards and the Disney military board (links on this board) to see when the room discounts are announced. Then call Disney to book on the day they announce the discount (you can't book military rate online). This is your best chance.

 

[aaarcher86]

Are you planning on doing he DP? With the military package, you can't include tickets so you'll have to get those separate. If you're not going to do a DP you could book a room only, but that doesn't guarantee you can add the discount later. They can add it on if it here are available rooms with the discount.

If you'll go either way is go ahead and book to make sure you'll get what you want, and modify when they renew the military rates. If you'll on,y to with the discount I'd wait.