Need advice regarding veterans discount

[BarbLynnM]

My daughter is hoping to join us when we’re coming down to the Fort in February, and originally planned on staying at Shades of Green as she’s a Vet on 100% disability. Unfortunately, Shades doesn’t have reservations during the time we’ll be there (Feb. 9th - 19th), so she’s looking at a moderate or value resort.

There’s some confusion as she was told that the Vet’s rates for Feb. aren’t available yet, and for some reason they wouldn’t give her a current Vet discount for that reservation. Also, if she reserves now, if she pays full price in order to have assure a room for that time period, she was told she wouldn’t be able to get the discount retroactively when she arrives.

I’m questioning whether her info is accurate, as I thought that if a new rate that would be lower than what one originally reserves for came out, one could retroactively get that rate on check in. Or am I off base?

 

[Marrila]

Here is a link to the current information about eligibility for the military discount at WDW. The new offer (if renewed for the next year) usually pops up sometime in Sept or Oct.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/military-hotel-discount-2025/details/

 

[lanejudy]

I’m questioning whether her info is accurate, as I thought that if a new rate that would be lower than what one originally reserves for came out, one could retroactively get that rate on check in. Or am I off base?

If she reserves a room now it will be at rack rate because I don't think there are any room discounts available yet for Feb. Once the new 2026 discounts come out she probably can re-book using the discount. It's not guaranteed because only so many rooms are allotted to the discount at each resort. I definitely would NOT wait until check-in, as by that point the discount for those dates is not likely to still have availability.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The info she was given is accurate. You can’t get discounts on arrival and they can’t give you a discount that doesn’t exist (discounts have dates of validity and the current discount does not include dates for next year). She could try to call when the discount is released and have it applied or cancel and re-book (idk what the refund rules are for military rates). However, just because a discount is released covering her dates and resort doesn't mean she will be able to get it. Cute Disney World game they play, they only release X number of rooms for discounts on X dates. This means rooms can be available at the rack rate, but nothing could be available at the discount rate.

If I were in this position I would book whatever I was comfortable paying rack rate for now in order to guarantee a room. Once military (or even general public) discounts are released covering her dates she can call and if there is availability they can change her reservation or cancel/re-book her.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

See if this helps:
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/walt-disney-world-swan-reserve-military-discount-review/

 

[BarbLynnM]

Update since my post: Thank you all for your responses.

My daughter’s military site was giving her info that I don’t think the cast member I spoke with had, and this has gone beyond my experience with Disney, so she’s going to work with a cast member to figure out what she can get, when and where.

She already has Shades of Green from the 5th to the 12th, but we don’t get there till the 9th. She’s looking at checking for reservations daily at SoG, or she’ll end up booking a split stay.

Again, Tks for the information

 

[BarbLynnM]

See if this helps:
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/walt-disney-world-swan-reserve-military-discount-review/

I’ve sent that link to her..thanks!