Hello Debbie, and welcome to planDisney! We're so glad you're here!
First off, I want to thank you and your family for your service, and the sacrifices you've made. My husband is a proud Air Force veteran! So good news here, you do not need to wait until July to make your
theme park reservations. Once you have your tickets secured, I'd visit the
theme park reservations calendar to view available dates, and secure those as soon as you can for your visit, you can do this up to 120 days in advance, which would be around late March.
If you're in need of a place to stay, there is a
special offer right now for eligible US military personnel on
Disneyland Resort Hotel rooms. There are also Disney approved
Good Neighbor Hotels to explore as well that could also be a great option for your family. You really cannot go wrong with either option!
I also want to mention that you should definitely try to attend the special Flag Retreat ceremony that takes place at
Disneyland Park. It will take place in Town Square which is just after you enter the gates past the Disneyland Railroad station, and before you walk down Main Street, U.S.A. You can check the daily
events schedule for the time of the ceremony on the day of your visit, and it's such a special ceremony where guests and Cast Members pause to honor both our country and those who have served. I saw how much it meant to my husband, it was such a wonderful tribute.
I hope this information is helpful for your planning Debbie, I'm wishing you a wonderful trip this July. Please do not hesitate to come back and ask us any other questions!
Have a magical day!
Melissa