Hi Monitta,
Good morning and a warm welcome to planDisney! Thank you so much for your service! It’s an honor to help you plan a well-deserved Walt Disney World vacation for you, your daughter, and your grandbaby. October is a beautiful time to visit the resort, with cooler temperatures, festive fall decor, and just the right amount of Halloween flair sprinkled throughout the parks.
It sounds like you’ve already got the heart of your itinerary planned with visits to Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each one brings its own kind of magic, and seeing it all through the eyes of a grandchild makes it even more special.
Now, on to the planning! Unfortunately, planDisney is not a travel agency, so we cannot book your trip for you, but we can walk you through all of the things to consider and put you on the right path to booking your own Disney vacation. First, let’s take a look at the most important decisions to make, such as tickets and where to stay. As a member of the U.S. military, you’re eligible for some fantastic discounts and benefits that can make your trip both affordable and comfortable. Here are a few things to consider:
Tickets:
Disney offers specially priced theme park tickets for Eligible Service Members through the Disney Military Salute program. These tickets are a great value and can be purchased either through your base ticket office or directly at Shades of Green, the military resort located right on Walt Disney World property.
Resorts:
If you're looking to stay in the magic, there are two solid routes to consider:
- Disney Resorts Collection Hotels – Staying at one of these gives you all the benefits of being on property, like Early Theme Park Entry and seamless access to Disney transportation. Select Disney Resort hotels offer military discounts as well, and those can be found on the Special Offers page. Availability for these rooms is limited, so I recommend booking as early as you can.
- Shades of Green – This Armed Forces Recreation Center offers spacious accommodations exclusively for military families and is located just a short walk or shuttle ride away from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It operates independently from Disney but offers many of the same benefits, and it’s often more budget-friendly.
Once you have these two major decisions figured out, it is time to begin piecing everything together. I recommend starting with the Walt Disney World Vacation Planning page. You can build a vacation package that includes your tickets, resort hotel, and more. If you need some additional assistance, you can contact a Cast Member at the Disney Resort Hotel Reservations and Tickets number listed on the Help Center page.
You’ve picked such a special way to create memories with your family, and I’d be thrilled to help along the way. If you need help deciding which resort best suits your family, which character dining options your grandbaby might love, or what shows not to miss, send another question my way.
Have the best time planning,
Brent