We’re Going to Walt Disney World!
I am so excited! We decided this past summer that we are going to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando as a graduation gift for my stepdaughter. Last week we finally booked our trip!!
It has been 3 1/2 years since we’ve been there. By the time we go this year, it will have been 4 years. Our trip is this December. So we’ll finally get to see the whole place decorated for Christmas!
Free Dining
Every once in a while, Disney offers their Free Dining Plan. There is usually a catch like right now you have to pay full price for your room and park tickets as a package to get the free dining. It can be worth it, though. The problem is that since they are offering the free dining there will be more people there than usual during that period.
I love the Dining Plan. You can eat at most of the Walt Disney World restaurants by using the dining plan and not have to worry about carrying cash or credit cards with you. There are several options. For the free dining offered this year, if you are staying at a Value Resort you get the Quick Service plan. For moderate or deluxe resorts you get the standard Dining Plan. For the Quick Service plan, each day you get 1 snack and 2 quick service meals that include a non-alcoholic drink and dessert. (not breakfast) You can also upgrade to the standard Dining Plan or the Deluxe Dining Plan.
The dates for the Free Dining plan are the following:
- August 23 through October 1, 2016
- November 15 through 21, 2016
- November 26 through 28, 2016
- December 10 through 21, 2016
There are room exclusions to get the free dining, so check with your travel agent or at the Disney website.
Military Room Discount
Disney has always been good about offering discounts for military personnel. I was extremely excited to find out about this years’ Military Room Discount!
Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort doesn’t come cheap! In my opinion, it is so worth it. Especially if you can get a great deal. And let me tell you, we got a great deal! We are going for 10 nights and getting the Quick Service dining plan. Our military rate for that is less than the regular rate for just the room, no dining or park tickets! Score!
If you are active duty or retired US Military, including the National Guard, Reserves, and Coast Guard, definitely check out the website for more info!
Which Offer is Better?
Unfortunately, you can’t use the Military Room Discount AND the Free Dining plan together. That would have been awesome, but even one or the other is still generous. When we were making decisions about our trip I called and got prices on both. Since we were needing more than just a basic room for 4 adults, it worked out for us to use the room discount. It may work out better for you to get the free dining. Just call Disney and get the prices for both. They are really nice and helpful.
Military Park Ticket Special
For the last few years, Walt Disney World has offered special prices for park tickets for military members. This year you can get a 4-day ticket with the Park Hopper option for $196 plus tax per person. This is seriously such a great deal! You can even add the Water Park Option for just $34 more.
We figured out that for us to have 7-day park tickets, (the other days we’ll be at Universal Studios), it is actually cheaper for us to just pay for the Magic Your Way 7 Day park tickets. Otherwise, we would have had to add on 3 days to our 4-day military tickets and it would have cost about $100 more per person.
I am going to get our tickets even cheaper because I am going to buy them from Undercover Tourist. That will save us about $30 total. Not a huge savings but every penny counts!
Walt Disney World Vacation
I looked back through my blog and I realized that I never wrote about our last trip to Walt Disney World. So over the next few weeks, I will be sharing that trip with you as well as giving you some tips about planning your own Walt Disney World Vacation!
When is your next Walt Disney World Vacation?
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