Military discount

[KCarr2000]

I just returned from a trip with my oldest son. I originally planned to stay at a motel down the street because it was much cheaper, but then I found out that I could stay at the Disney hotels for 40% off the rack room rate, so decided to do that. Now I am planning a trip with my younger son and thought I'd go the same way. Our options are the second week of December or March. When looking at the crowd calendar, early December is a 3 crowd level, but March is an 8. So I decided on December because we'd have lower crowds and have the Christmas decorations (if they do those this year). But, when I called to make hotel reservations, I was told that I could only get 10% off the rack room rate. The military discounts that are in effect right now are good until the end of October and nothing will be available until after that. It seems weird to me that they would not start a new promotion until the other ended, especially for a time that they are expecting low crowds. I'm thinking that I'll reserve a room at a good neighbor hotel and consider rebooking for a Disney hotel after October if better rates come available.

Also, I am trying to decide if it would be better to have a non-Disney hotel at the main gate and not have early entry or stay at Paradise Pier, which is a bit more of a walk and have early entry. I think the time of year makes a big difference with this decision. If we go in early December and the crowd level is only a 3, then do we need the early entry? I decided on a Disney hotel for my last trip because the crowd level was an 8 and we only had 2 1/2 days. This next trip we will have three full days and I'm thinking the waits will be much less. I will say that it was very tiring starting the day at 7:00 a.m. and going until midnight, so not having to get up for the early entry could be a plus.

Any thoughts?

 

[mamaofthree]

I would personally book the Disney hotel now to guarantee a room. If they renew the military room discount promotion, you can get the rate adjusted later. They won't let you book at 40 percent off right right now because they don't know if they will renew the promotion yet. It's only guaranteed a year at a time, starting over in fall in believe.

 

[jhoannam]

I would go ahead and book an off-property hotel now (with cancellation option) and wait to see if Disney renews their AFS discount.

The park doesn't always open that early/late, specially during their slower season. We will be there in August and won't have early entry because we are staying off-site and using the AFS tickets.

 

[Talldewy]

The current military discount will expire on Oct 4th 2015. In the past Disney has been releasing a new program for the following year (2015-2016) sometime in July. The discount for hotels is also variable with 40% for the deluxe resorts 35% for middle resorts and 30% for moderate resorts.
This link
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/
has an individual who works primarily with the military programs at WDW and has a lot of information for military discounts.

We did use the military discount in 3013 at the Disneyland Hotel and got the 35% off rate, it would appear at DLR the discounts would be 40% for GCH and 30% for PPH.

We did reserve PPH for later this year and hope the rate is reissued for this year.

If I see that the rates have been released in July I will post something unless someone beats me to it.

Good luck

 

[KCarr2000]

Thanks everyone, I think I will go ahead and reserve a good neighbor hotel as well as Paradise Pier, knowing that I can cancel whichever one I want.

 

[Talldewy]

Hello KCarr,


Sorry for the delay,
I just found out this morning (6-28) that Disney has extended the 2015 Military Discount rate until Dec 23 2015. The extended rates came out on June 26, they have not created a new program for 2016 yet.

Good news was that this morning I was able to get the 30% discount at the PPH for our time in October. If you did make a reservation at PPH you should be able to get the reduce rate. I had to call twice before I got someone who could work the deal for me.

Here is link to information; GOOD LUCK

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/offers-discounts/military-room-discounts/

 

[soma151]

Is this the reason you can't get any rooms? Every one books more then one room? I never thought of that? I wanted a pool firework view room for Dec but they had none, should i call the hotel and tell them if one opens i want it? Will that work? Or do i need to just keep checking?