Hotels offer military discounts.
Serving in the U.S. military has its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages include lower pay compared to civilian entry-level positions, working without overtime pay, moving frequently, long separations from friends and family, and dangerous assignments. Businesses recognize the sacrifices military men and women make by offering military discounts. Active duty and retired military personnel can take advantage of discount hotel rates for a vacation to Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Disney Resorts
Disneyland offers a limited number of "room-only reservations" to military for the three hotels on the Disney property. While this option may cost more than staying off the property, Disney offers additional benefits not available to regular ticket holders, such as entering the park an hour earlier. Disney recommends making the reservations as soon as possible since it limits the number of discounted rooms at Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. Military identification is required at check-in.
Disneyland Resort
P.O. Box 3232
Anaheim, CA 92803-3232
(714) 956-6425
disneyland.disney.go.com
Armed Forces Vacation Club
Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) offers negotiated discounts to 3,500 resorts in the United States and 80 countries, including three hotels within minutes of Disneyland. These condominiums and hotel rooms are also subject to space available. Making reservations through AFVC guarantees a preset weekly (seven-day) rates for these units. The military vacation site has links to Dolphins Cove Resort, Peacock Suite Resort and Shell Vacations Club at Peacock Suite Resorts to see resort and unit pictures, a list of amenities, and features in the units.
Armed Forces Vacation Club
7 Sylvan Way
Parsippany, NJ 07054
(800) 724-9988
afvclub.com
Morale, Welfare and Recreation
Military bases have an office called Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) which has discounts for military personnel to area attractions, hotels and travel. For example, Beale Air Force Base, located near Sacramento offers a Military Hotel Ticket Program Voucher to four hotels in Anaheim within walking distance of the park. The MWR requires military personnel make reservations directly with the hotel mentioning the voucher program and then coming to the office to purchase the non-refundable voucher. Check into the MWR at the closest military base, even the U.S. Naval Station in Rota, Spain, offers discounts for hotels in Anaheim, California.
Hotels
Investing some time in making direct calls to hotel chains may save even more money than going through the AFVC or MWR. According to MouseSavers.com, military discounts are often the best rates available. However, it takes a direct call to the hotel and a request for a discount. As with the other options, military need to be flexible because the discount usually is limited to space available and requires a military ID at check-in. Smaller independent hotels may also offer good deals, but also take time and direct calls to inquire.
Tags: Armed Forces, Armed Forces Vacation, Forces Vacation, Forces Vacation Club, military discounts, military personnel, Vacation Club