Military hotels and discounts for armed forces members help lower the cost of travel.
Walt Disney World -- located in the Orlando, Florida area -- is a frequent tourist destination for families, couples and single travelers of all ages and backgrounds. The Disney complex contains a wide assortment of theme parks, entertainment venues, shops, restaurants and various other attractions. Though not an inexpensive destination, vacationers have found discount travel to Disney. One option is discounted military lodging in and around Disney for members of the armed forces.
Armed Forces Retreat Center
Situated directly on the grounds of the Walt Disney Resort, and directly across the street from Disney's Polynesian Resort, sits the military hotel known as Shades of Green. Part of the the Armed Forces Retreat Center hotel collection, Shades of Green is an affordable hotel for both current and retired members of the military. The large guest rooms and on-site amenities allow armed forces members to vacation at Disney without paying the high cost associated with Disney-owned properties. Guests also have access to theme park tickets, an on-site PBX store and transportation throughout the Disney complex.
Disney-Owned Resorts and Hotels
Members of the military, both active duty and retired, can stay at a Disney-owned property on-site at Disney World and enjoy a somewhat substantial savings on the nightly room rate. Disney provides military discounts, which allows military members to save on their vacations. Though Disney runs promotions at various times throughout the year for all guests, the military discount is always available. In addition, Disney also provides theme park discounts to the military for those not purchasing their theme park tickets at the Shades of Green Resort. Some of the Disney hotels include the Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's All-Stars Resort and the Grand Floridian.
Off-Site Properties
The Disney World complex is comprised of more than 30,000 acres. Though situated less than 20 miles from downtown Orlando, the resort boundaries are close enough to the city to make staying at a downtown Orlando or adjacent hotel a viable option. One area that is located closest to Disney World is International Drive. The street is lined with hotels that range from economy grade, such as the Days Inn, to more lavish resorts including the Rosen Plaza and the Peabody Orlando. Military discounts are made available to guests and can help lower the total cost of a vacation.
Time Shares
Orlando and the surrounding area is filled with timeshare properties that are available to guests staying for either a short-term or longer-length stay in the area. Many properties are located close to Disney World, and those that are part of a larger timeshare operation offer military discounts on a regular basis. Larger timeshare properties, such as Marriott's Grande Vista and Cypress Harbour, can make for an ideal vacation setting for military members that want to be close to the action of Disney but far enough away that the other attractions of the area can easily be enjoyed.
Tags: Disney World, armed forces, Shades Green, theme park, armed forces members