Military Tickets and Dining Plan

[4xmom]

I have booked my parents at GF for our trip in Nov. My father is retired military and last trip got us the military tickets since we doing DVC. No DVC this time so I booked packages so we could have the dining plan (really hoping for free dining but will keep it either way). My parents love the dining plan for the ease of it. My mother orders what she wants without even looking at prices (big deal for my dad that she will do this). Is there a better way for to do it though? They need tickets, room and dining plan. And my mother is set on GF after touring it in Sept. My dh, kids and I will be in the cabins. My father is cool with the cost that it is at now, but if I can save them money then he will love me all the more! lol Or maybe let me niece join them.

 

[McMonsters]

We are military and have yet to find a discount better than the room only Disney military discount and the military salute tickets from the MWR/Shades of Green. We also add the dining plan at cost. If they do offer free dining, you will lose your room discount, you can't do both, so you'll need to do the math on whats going to be the bigger savings. Have a great time!

 

[POOHsie]

I have booked my parents at GF for our trip in Nov. My father is retired military and last trip got us the military tickets since we doing DVC. No DVC this time so I booked packages so we could have the dining plan (really hoping for free dining but will keep it either way). My parents love the dining plan for the ease of it. My mother orders what she wants without even looking at prices (big deal for my dad that she will do this). Is there a better way for to do it though? They need tickets, room and dining plan. And my mother is set on GF after touring it in Sept. My dh, kids and I will be in the cabins. My father is cool with the cost that it is at now, but if I can save them money then he will love me all the more! lol Or maybe let me niece join them.

Yes and no to your questions. Your father can reserve rooms at WDW with his retiree military ID card. I presume this is his status. I think he can get up to 3 rooms, but I'm not sure if they have to be at the same resort. You will have to ask that question of the Disney person helping you. If you could reserve at 2 different resorts at the same time, there's the question if your father has to get there when you check in at the Cabins.

There is a ticketless package called the "Military Dine" that consists of the military room discount and paid dining plan. Tickets aren't included in the plan because of available military discount tickets. Those tickets are only for 4 days, and might not meet your requirements. Look at Undercover Tourist or a Military facility for savings on MYW tickets.

Now for the (temporary) bad news. This year's Disney-Military discount programs only go through September 27th. Any renewal of this program will be announced in July or August.

I would make arrangements now, at full price or any discount already publicly announced or AAA. If you reserve a package now, that can be changed to another package (such as the military package). If you reserve room-only now, that can't be converted to a package reservation. You would be starting over. Room availability might come into question. In July-August, if a new Disney-Military discount program is announced, call back Disney and alter your reservations. There's no guarantee of a renewal of the Military discounts, however for the last 5 years at least there has been a program. Military discount at deluxe resorts 40%, moderates 35% (this includes Ft Wilderness Cabins), and values 30%.

You have to do the math for total cost of room per day - Free Dining vs Military Room discount. Use this Mousesavers link to get the 2014 rack rate cost for resort rooms, by category of room, season, and weekday/weekend. Note: Mousesavers 2014 Rack Rate Chart includes tax! http://www.mousesavers.com/2014-disney-world-resort-room-rates-season-dates/

This link is to the Disboards Dining Plan Sticky, "2014 Dining Plan Prices and Brochure *UPDATED BROCHURES*" with adult/child prices for all levels of the Disney Dining Plan. Note: Dining Plan daily rates already include tax. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3172886

 

[4xmom]

Thank you so much! I usually hate any kind of math, but sat right down to figure this out. For my parents it will be cheaper to use military tickets and room discount and pay full price for dining. For us, free dining would be a lot cheaper (4 kids that are Disney adults!). Good to know though that I may have options if we don't get free dining. I have to call about different rooms in different places still. Him being there would be no problem. Thank you again! I was lost. I am use to doing DVC with military tickets and full price dining plan. No DVC this trip had me lost.

 

[POOHsie]

Thank you so much! I usually hate any kind of math, but sat right down to figure this out. For my parents it will be cheaper to use military tickets and room discount and pay full price for dining. For us, free dining would be a lot cheaper (4 kids that are Disney adults!). Good to know though that I may have options if we don't get free dining. I have to call about different rooms in different places still. Him being there would be no problem. Thank you again! I was lost. I am use to doing DVC with military tickets and full price dining plan. No DVC this trip had me lost.

You're welcome. I didn't know your kids' ages for computing dining. Seems like Deluxe is usually better to get the 40% room discount than Free Dining. Moderate depends on # of kids and their ages.