The Best Tips for Military Families at Disney

Disney on a Budget

Disney World is one of the most magical places on Earth. From the smells, the treats, the rides, the characters, and the smiling and friendly staff, Disney is a favorite vacation location for us.

Want to know how we did Disney in a week for less than $2,500 for a family of 4 (at the time it was 3 adults, both parents, a grandparent, and 1 child)? I will share my budget and tips for how we made amazing memories in the happiest place on earth!

We love Disney so much, my daughter and I have been 4x in the last two years with a combination of different family members and friends.

Disney on a Budget

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Buy Military Tickets

  • We bought Military Tickets through the ITT office at our local base. The great part of this was that we plugged this into the MyDisney app and were able to order our Magic Bands ahead of time.

This also let us choose our Fast Passes, which saves you major time.

You can get these tickets also at Shades of Green; however, if you are not staying there – plan to get there, park, go in, stand in line, buy tickets, etc.

I do not recommend this if you plan on going to the parks the first day you get there – as this is wasting valuable time.

You can also get military rates at the park, but you will pay taxes on it.

  • One exception is the Florida Resident Tickets.  If the member has a home of record in Florida, this can be a cheap option as well. 
Disney Tips on a Budget

Call Disney Reservations

We did not stay at Shades of Green.  We went during Spring Break – one of the busiest times of year.

They were completely booked. 

However, we still stayed on the grounds.

Staying on the grounds means you don’t have to pay for transportation or parking at the gate ($20 per park).

  • By calling Disney, they will give you military rates  (usually up to 40% depending on the class of hotel) on your stay. 

When you call, they will ask you if you prefer Value, Moderate, or Deluxe rooms and will find you the cheapest resort with availability. 

My daughter was into Disney movies at the time so we chose the Disney All-Star Movie Resort – we got it for less than a $100 a night (about $94).

On another note, we also stayed in Coronado Springs during our Christmas stay and got a great rate ($120) because they were doing construction – which we did not care because we were in the park.

They gave us these cool pins as well. If you, or child, collects pins – these were a fun addition that you can’t buy at the shops or kiosks.

Bonus Pins

Bring Your Own Food

  • When you can, bring your own food. We chose not to do the dining plan.

BUT, we still ate on the grounds every day.

We even had breakfast at Be Our Guest (the Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant), and several other quick service Disney restaurants.

However, this area we could save money by bringing food with us. We were within driving distance, so we could use this to our advantage.

We bought food from the store that we could supplement for snacks and mostly breakfast.

If your room has a full freezer/fridge – take advantage of frozen breakfast foods, for example.

Cereals, croissants, pastries, and bagels are great for some breakfast meals where you do not have to pay in the park.

  • We also brought tons of snacks in our backpacks (Sun Chips, packets of nuts, Motts gummies, really any snack food that doesn’t melt in the HOT Florida sun! This saved us from buying tons of ice cream, popcorn, and pretzels.

Bring a Backpack

  • A backpack can serve as a diaper bag for young children, but it also helps with older children too.

If they are old enough, they can carry their own string back pack (like this one).

  • We carried bottled water (we brought a case with us) in our backpack as bottled water is about $4.00 a bottle in the park (obviously, tap water is free, or go to Starbucks – they give you free water).

We stuck all of our snacks in there as well.

Backpacks are also a great place for holding ALL the things that will occupy your time in the long lines (should you go during a high season time).

Prepare for Lines, Heat, and Rain

Long lines in peak season means bored children. 

Many rides have entertaining features, but there are some that well, are less thrilling.

  • Bring things to occupy their time. 

We brought bubbles, stickers and a notebook, and a cheap digital camera.

  • It is hot in Florida – of course. You can fall victim to the heat. Be sure to pack sunscreen and these cool mini-spray fans. 

We each had one, which are powered on batteries – and could mist ourselves whenever, wherever.

  • Also prepare by bringing ponchos. Ponchos in Disney World are much more expensive. Get yours here.

It is Florida and can rain at any moment – be prepared for it! Usually when it rains, the parks clear out, so use that time to jump in line for rides.

Check out this Disney Crowd Calendar from Touring Plans here to help you plan.
Prepare for Rain

Disney Magic

  • To add to the experience, we packed Disney trinkets that we found at the Dollar Tree and Walmart (coloring books, figurines, stickers, stuffed animals like Minnie/Mickey).

This limits how much you buy in the parks – which will be way more expensive.

Each night after she went to bed, we stuck a Disney item out for her to find in the morning – starting the magic each morning.

If you are driving to Disney, you can find a lot of Disney items at the neighborhood Walmarts for a great price (collectibles, t-shirts, etc.).

Our Disney Budget

Hotel Stay – $94 per night for 5 nights = $470

Tickets through ITT – 5 days @ $984 or 4 days @ $904 for 3 adults, 1 child

Food – Lunch and dinner – $30 per person per day – $600

Character Dining Experience (Breakfast) – $140

Gifts (from home) – $20

Other incidentals (snacks, gifts, parent’s Starbucks) – $280 = 4 people at 5 days – $14 per person per day

Grand Total – $2,494

Can you spend more? Of course! Did we experience Disney on this budget? Most definitely! See some of my pro tips below!

Enchanted Tales with Belle

Other Fabulous Tips

Umbrella Strollers

If you have a child under 5 – it is ideal to have a stroller of some sort.  I have brought both of my strollers on different occasions.

Disney is HUGE.  That is a lot of walking, no matter how many times you go back to the hotel.

Your child will be whining, your arms, shoulders, and neck will hurt from picking them up. Trust me, stick them in it and everyone will be happy!

Buy a cheap $20 umbrella stroller and take it with you. 

It folds up on the buses if you stay on one of the many gorgeous properties, and when you have to do stroller parking – it takes up little room.

Not only that, but you can use it to reserve some space for the parades. 

Park Hopper Tickets

When you purchase your tickets – be sure to add Park Hopper. 

For Military tickets – it is usually included and well worth it. 

Sometimes you want to do Animal Kingdom in the mornings and Magic Kingdom at night.

Animal Kingdom is VERY WARM especially from about March to October.  So hitting it before peak sun is great.

Also, the animals tend to find shady parts to lie in during afternoon hours, which makes the Safari Ride not as enjoyable. 

But there are a lot of exhibits to see neat things – and of course, I hear the new Pandora area is fabulous.

FastPass Perks

Magic Bands & Fast Passes

See that orange band on my daughter above?

Those are Magic Bands. You can get them even with ITT tickets.

They are the best technology Disney has come up with. 

Your hotel room card, your Fast Pass, and your Credit Card can all be stored on this wristband.

You can select who has the Credit Card on their band (if you are worried there band may fall off).  However, we never had an issue (even with 3 year old wrists).

You don’t have to carry cash with you, they just touch the Mickey and it goes straight onto your hotel bill.

It also stores your Fast Passes – which you MUST do if you want to maximize your time.

Fast Pass reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance.

Popular rides (Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain) go quick, so make sure to book them.

You can also book passes to see characters.

She loved seeing all the princesses and her favorite Disney Jr characters (they are at Hollywood Studios). 

Once you use your 3 Fast Passes you can get more that day (but generally, it is what is leftover).

Get the MyDisney App

If you have a Smartphone – you MUST have the MyDisney App.

Download it on every adult phone.

It has maps of the parks, wait times of every ride and character experience, times for the parades, and park hours.

You can also link your reservations so that you have access to your Fast Pass reservations.

Experience Disney During the Holidays

This is not a budget tip, but more of a confirmation if you are asking yourself this question. Should we do a special event?

Disney World has different special events throughout the year.

No-So-Scary Halloween

Very Merry Christmas Party

Star Wars Galactic Nights

We took a special trip last year to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  It was an additional expense, but we loved it. 

You get in at 4pm and experience Magic Kingdom decorated for Christmas.

Why did we enjoy this?

Limited crowds – so lines were much shorter.

Free goodies.  They have the BEST Snickerdoodle cookies and hot chocolate. Seriously!

Characters are out in the park, and there is a short line to see them. 

Disney Springs has Christmas trees decorated with all the major movie themes.  Great to see them in the morning and go to the park in the evening.

Fireworks In Magic Kingdom

Best Fireworks Location

One of the best experiences at the Magic Kingdom is their nightly fireworks. 

However, it is BEYOND crowded.

Everyone crowds to main street or the circular area right in front of the castle about 30-45 minutes before it starts. 

However, we found a great area to see the fireworks as our own little secret (especially if you have seen the show before).

If you go to Adventureland, find the Swiss Family Treehouse.  The bottom has a great view as well as the top (and it was filled with 3 families) – much more enjoyable.

However, you don’t get to see Tinkerbell fly.

If you HAVE seen the fireworks – this is the time when the busiest rides have hardly any wait – take advantage.

Go to Epcot

I hear the question asked, “If we can’t do all of the parks, which one should we drop?”

Do not choose Epcot to drop – if you have small children. 

Here is why…

Epcot is filled with many countries – all with food and places to sit.  You know what kids love? FOOD!

Epcot Treats

Not only that, but there are some very fun rides at Epcot. 

The “Golf Ball” at Epcot was one of my daughter’s favorite rides – it is slow, but it takes them on a neat journey through time. 

You also have the Frozen ride, Soarin™, The Land – which you ride on a slow moving boat and see all the hydroponics and greenhouses they have, the boat in Mexico (with Donald Duck), Finding Nemo (and the aquarium after it), Fast Track, and Mission Space.  

If nothing else, hit it on it’s late hour days and do a 1/2 day with your Disney Park Hopper.

Epcot

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Kelsey Ramirez

About the Author

Kelsey Ramirez is a Real Estate Broker in western Washington. She is also a veteran elementary school teacher, military wife, and mom to two daughters.  She is the founder of The Military Move, a military-based website to help families in the PCS process. Kelsey loves to travel, write, and create amazing content.  She has her Masters in Technology, which she uses to learn all new things digital.

With three decades of military support, Kelsey’s mission is to help new and existing military families in their unique adventures through all military topics including PCSing, budgeting, school choice and rights, housing, and especially just being a military spouse.

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5 Incredible Tips For Your Next DITY Move

5 Tips for a DITY Move

Seven years into the Coast Guard as a significant other/spouse and I was on PCS #3.  Already knowing we had acquired more than our allotted weight amount, I had the brilliant idea of doing a DITY (Do It Yourself) move. 

Ha!

For any of you that have done a DITY move, you either find the positives, or you hate it and choose to not do it again.

Okay, Kelsey – so what is your story? 

My mother had moved in with us – yes, how lucky of my husband.  So we got all the wonderful antique pieces that better be wrapped beyond wrapped to ensure no damage comes to it, and her 10 year-old dog.  

Let me paint this full picture for you.

We were going to move 3 adults, 1 toddler, 2 dogs, 2 vehicles, and yes, the truck.  No, it gets better. Which leads into my 5 incredibly awesome tips to make sure your DITY moves goes much smoother than mine – trust me!Tips for DIY Moves

Tip #1 – Do Not Underestimate Your Stuff

So my husband and his co-workers are packing up the truck. I provided beverages and pizza.  Apparently, they budget trucksupplied their own adult beverages too because when I saw the way they packed the truck – well let’s just say it isn’t the way I would have done it.

I think at the point when I saw the rental truck 90% full and we still had 35% sitting in the garage – I freaked out.  Yes friends, we now went from the BIGGEST truck they would rent to us to the realization that we needed a 2nd truck (oh and a trailer for one of the cars as someone had to drive the 2nd truck).  That $750 hurt.  After all, one reason we do DITY moves is to make some money (which ultimately we did), but oh my goodness! Look at the guides the rental companies provide – we had a 3 bedroom house with a 3 bedroom truck – nope, did not fit.  Give yourself a buffer!

~ I recommend Budget – they provide great military discounts.

Look at the guides the rental companies provide and give yourself a buffer

Tip #2 – Downsize and Donate

Have your kids not played with their “favorite” toys in 8 months? You haven’t worn that ball gown that you wore to the ball in two years?  The reclining couch is on its last hinge?  It is time for a yard-sale or time to gift younger members from your unit your stuff.  This decreases that weight you will probably need, and not to mention, who wants to keep moving stuff that is not being used over and over.  Free yourself.  It is very liberating unless you are my 4-year-old who feels we need to keep every “treasure.”

Tip #3 Have a Packing Game Planboxes

This is one that I find is to alleviate YOUR stress in the build-up phase to your move.  There is a lot of stuff that you are not using in your home.  Start packing all that stuff – bookshelves, kitchen dishes, extra linens, clothes, etc.  Create a plan where you pack x amount of boxes per day.  We did 5 boxes a day.  By the time it was moving day, we were not so tired from packing everything the two-three days before. Create a plan and stick to it.

Tip #4 – Pay for Packers and Unpackers

moversMy husband tells me every time we move (and we have moved more than three times due to changes in housing at the same unit), he’s “got this.”

That’s great for a 50-mile radius, but not when you are moving 500+ miles.  If you have all your stuff packed like the game plan in tip #3, those packers can properly pack your truck, your husband/wife can relax as can you (and if he/she is on deployment and you have children – this is really a necessity), and you do not have to watch the insanity. 

I did not do this – I WAS stressed watching that truck get packed. 

I think it is because my idea of an arrangement and his idea are not aligned.  I did, however, hire unpackers. 

This was the best money spent. 

They met us there, I pointed, they placed the boxes and furniture wherever it needed to go.  Much smoother on the end side.

Tip #5 – Plan out Your Trip Before the Move

Depending on how far you are moving (cross-country or one state away), be sure to plan out how far you will travel each day.  Do not try to travel too far as this is not a road trip in your family mini-van.  The rental trucks move slower especially if you are moving larger loads.  You will want to consider what hotels/motels are on your route if you do not have family or friends you can stay with. Don’t forget to look for pet-friendly hotels if you are traveling with fur babies.

Kelsey Ramirez

About the Author

Kelsey Ramirez is a Real Estate Broker in western Washington. She is also a veteran elementary school teacher, military wife, and mom to two daughters.  She is the founder of The Military Move, a military-based website to help families in the PCS process. Kelsey loves to travel, write, and create amazing content.  She has her Masters in Technology, which she uses to learn all new things digital.

With three decades of military support, Kelsey’s mission is to help new and existing military families in their unique adventures through all military topics including PCSing, budgeting, school choice and rights, housing, and especially just being a military spouse.

Continue Reading