Hi Karen,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and a warm hello to a fellow military family! We are so appreciative of all the special discounts Walt Disney World Resort offers our military service members, and I’m thrilled you’ll be spending some special time together in such a wonderful place.
Karen, you can absolutely book a room without a ticket package; this is called a room-only reservation. To obtain the current
military discount, you will need to phone the Walt Disney World Reservations number at (407) 939-5684 and let the Cast Member know you’re a military family and hoping to book a military-discounted room. The Cast Member will then be able to tell you what’s available for your dates and then you can choose the hotel that appeals most to you. We’ve used the military discount for most of our stays, and I’ve found some really great deals.
Since you’re looking for a nice hotel with good value, I think Moderate Resorts will be a great fit. My family’s favorite Moderate Resort is
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort - we love the Mexican theme, the gorgeous Lost City of Cibola Pool, and the delicious Pepper Market food court. Another moderate resort that we enjoy for beautiful theme and a great variety of activities is Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. But, Karen, you really can’t go wrong with any of the Disney resort hotels! My advice is to look at photos online to get a feel for the theme and amenities, and then make the phone call so you’ll have pictures in your mind as you speak to the reservations Cast Member. I often call while in front of my computer so I can quickly look up the resort when I hear a price point I like!
Wishing you a magical vacation!
Robyn