Hey there, Amanda!
Thanks for coming to see us at planDisney!
Let me begin with a personal note offering my deep respect and abundant gratitude for the service to our country. I'm sending well wishes for a safe return from deployment and a joyous reunion. Walt Disney World Resort is such a special place to mark any celebration. I think The Most Magical Place on Earth would make for a most memorable place for your children to welcome their father home.
Amanda, I'll share some general ideas and tips here that I hope will be helpful. You might want to begin by looking at the military discounts that are available for
Walt Disney World Resort hotel accommodations and for
theme park tickets. Getting familiar with these offers can give you a general idea for some of the options available to you. You can contact the Walt Disney Resort at (407) 939-7830 for details and availability for these military discount offers and to get assistance with booking.
I think the most important part of your planning might be the need for flexibility in putting together your trip. You have an estimated date for the return date, so that's a start. There are two date-specific parts of your plan you'll want to consider. One part is the dates for your hotel reservations. Another is the dates for the theme park reservations you'll need to make through the
Disney Park Pass system to visit the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. You might want to begin your booking based on the best timing information you have at the moment for when you can take your trip. Should the timing of your plans change, you can modify your hotel reservations and make new theme park reservations based on availability.
I can imagine your reunion trip will be filled with magic. One idea is to capture that magic with a special photo session. The
Capture Your Moment - A Disney Parks Photo Experience offering is ideal for preserving those memorable family moments. You'll also want to keep a eye out for
Disney PhotoPass Service photographers who can snap pics of all your magical moments.
Amanda, another idea I'll offer is to think about adding in fun outside the theme parks. This approach could provide some flexibility if you find that theme park reservations are limited. For example, a day spent splashing in the waves at
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park could be a fun option, and reservations for the water park are not currently required. There are also lots of fun and relaxing offerings at the
Disney Resorts Collection hotels where you can stay in the magic.
Amanda, here's wishing you all a wonderful Walt Disney World Resort vacation. If you'd like suggestions for attractions, dining, and activities as you put together your plans, ask us here at planDisney. Each of us here at planDisney loves to share our favorite recommendations from our own Disney vacations.
Jerry