Hi there, Karen!
Welcome to planDisney, and thank you for your service. Over the years, as a local to Disney World, I’ve seen so many of my visiting family and friends experience the theme parks for the very first time. There is nothing that matches that feeling when you walk down Main Street U.S.A. and see the beautiful Cinderella Castle glimmering in the distance. I hope that you can get this moment with your kids sooner than later!
If you make the trip down to Florida and want to visit for more than one day, I highly recommend looking into the military discounted tickets. My partner is a military veteran and he is tapping into this deal this year. You can check out this year’s options on the
U.S. Military 2026 Tickets page. As you can see, if you’re an eligible service member, this is a wonderful way to purchase tickets for up to 6 of your family members. You can buy these tickets at your nearest military base or at
Shades of Green near Disney World.
I’m a big fan of all-things-Disney, too, and before you visit, you’ll want to download the
My Disney Experience app to make sure that you see and do as many of the experiences that you’ve been dreaming of. You can find everything from ride wait times to food menus to your linked ticket and hotel reservation information. Looking for a specific character meet-and-greet or wanting to try an iconic Disney treat, like a DOLE Whip? You can find it all in the app.
Also, if you stay at a Disney hotel between May 26 and September 8, you can take advantage of the
free water parks perk. This means that on your check-in day, you can visit a water park at no extra cost for everyone in your room. My family did this last year and it was such a good deal.
AN EXTRA GEM: When I’m saving for a longer vacation at Disney, I like to find discounted Disney Gift Cards at department stores and then combine them in on the
Disney Gift Cards website. They can be used almost everywhere at the Disney Parks and you can put up to $1,000 on one card.
Karen, I hope that you make your way to The Most Magical Place on Earth soon. Mickey Mouse hugs and memories that will last a lifetime are waiting for you! Y’all are going to have a blast. If you have any more questions at all, I would be more than happy to
help you here at planDisney.
Magic always,
LeAndra