Ahoy, Barb!
Welcome aboard planDisney! And first off, thank you for your service. It sounds like you’re charting the course for a wonderful spring adventure, and I completely understand wanting to find the best treasure—aka that
military discount! So let’s set sail on the details.
You are exactly right that military rates (as well as other
Special Offers, which I recommend checking out!) are generally available on select sailings. While there’s no guarantee that your specific date will have a military rate released, I’ve learned to “just keep swimming” and keep an eye out. Sometimes those discounts appear closer to two months before sailing, other times it’s a little earlier—usually in that two-to-six-month range. That’s why waiting can feel a bit like Captain Hook watching the clock—full of suspense!
The tradeoff with waiting, though, is that booking later could leave you behind the tide when it comes to reserving
Port Adventures, spa treatments, adult-exclusive dining at Palo Steakhouse or Enchanté, and other popular onboard fun. Those windows can open before military rates appear, so you’ll want to decide if locking in your plans early outweighs the possibility of saving big later.
I noticed something that may help steer your decision: there are actually two 4-night Bahamian sailings on March 23, 2026—one
aboard the Disney Wish and the other
aboard the Disney Dream. Both currently show plenty of stateroom availability, which is usually a good sign when it comes to the possibility of discounted rates popping up. I even spotted that military discounts are popping up for February 2026 sailings, which gives me hope that March may follow suit. Still, it’s not something we can guarantee, even with pixie dust.
And when they do appear, the savings can be pretty magical. To give you a real-world comparison, I checked a December sailing on the Wish that’s currently offering a military rate. In that example, a
Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah for four Guests came in nearly $1,700 less than the regular fare. That’s a lot of Mickey Bars, or maybe even a souvenir popcorn bucket (or two!) to take home.
I hope this helps you weigh whether to book now or hold out for possible discounts. My family has had great luck with military rates, but we’ve also booked early for peace of mind—it just depends on whether you’d rather sail smoothly into planning or hold the anchor for a chance at treasure.
Sea ya real soon with boo-tiful nights and frightfully fun days,
Dustin