Disney World’s Military “Special” Isn’t so Special for 2022, While Universal Orlando’s Is!
Lots of military families are saying, “It’s been a good Run Disney, but I’m taking my business to Universal.”
Increasingly Walt Disney World is being seen as trying to milk every dollar they can out of their guests, and some in the military community feel Disney’s target is focused on them.
On top of Disney’s constant large ticket and room rate increases are these recent cost increases or reduction in services which cost guests more:
- Disney World began charging guests at their resorts to park their cars which for 46.5 years had been free. Now it’s $15-$25 per night.
- In 202 Disney World cancelled free luggage transport from Orlando International Airport to your Disney Resort Room and back.
- For 2022 Disney World has cancelled the Magical Express, free transport from Orlando International Airport to your Disney Resort and back.
- Disney converted their free FastPass+ and Max Pass into a 2 tiered pay for shorter lines plan costing a family of four at least $240 for a four day stay and that’s just the intro level, the higher level can cost up to $80 plus tax to have a short wait on a single very popular attraction that is not offered in the intro paid tier.
Throw on top of that recent slights to the military community:
- Late announcements for what was going on with 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets that could not be used,
- Delayed 2021 Salute information,
- A 2022 Salute Salute announcement that came out 2.5 months too late
- Many are unable to get room discounts as resorts have already filled past the point WDW discounts
- And it includes a $30 Salute Ticket Price increase.
Universal Orlando Has always been a Cheaper Option
Rooms at the Universal Orlando Resort have always been cheaper that Disney World’s, with their very best hotels (Premier) priced more like WDW’s moderates AND their Premier hotels include Free Unlimited Express Pass!
Universal Orlando also renewed their awesome Freedom Pass for 2022, with no price increase!
The Freedom Pass is a 365 day pass with no blockout dates that sells for well below Disney Worlds 4-day Military Salute Ticket price!
That’s $200 for an adult 2-park Freedom Pass (with park hoping ability) that is valid every day of the year versus Disney World’s $329 4-day adult Salute Park Hopper, good for 4 days as long as it’s not in the last half of December.
This is an incredibly better value!!!
Is It Time for You to Make the Switch?
Check out this site to get a feel if it is.
We are a new site and are still expanding out content, but we have been in the Orlando theme park info for the military community arena since 2008!
Let us know in the comments if you are thinking about or are going to make the switch to Universal!
Contact our Recommended Travel Agent for reservations:
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Jen Novak is My Recommended Universal Studios Travel Agent! Just click this link to get your QuotePlanning a Universal Orlando Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? Get Our Email Newsletter
Want to get the lowest price on your Universal Orlando Resort Hotel? Contact Our Recommended Military Specializing Travel Agent
We just found oit about Universals year long pass at the end of last year. Wish we had known sooner.
We left disney in 2018. That was our last pass holders year. We thought maybe we would return with just tickets but, after all the increases and cuts and now paying for FP and charging for EVERY LITTLE THING, along with the fact that I no longer feel they like the military or America any more. We won’t be back.
We’re making the switch. We’ve been visiting Disney every year since 2013, but enough is enough. A $30 ticket price increase isn’t inflation. It’s greed. Especially when you have to multiply that by every member in your party. Add in the cost of everything else that’s being added (like transportation from the airport and the Genie+ nightmare) and it’s just too much.
But Disney’s also gouging prices in other ways. Many restaurants are now prix fixe. The higher cost wasn’t as bad for a buffet where you could pick & choose what you wanted, but now Disney tells you what you want. Take it or leave it. And if you have a picky eater (like I do) that’s 10 or older, you’ll be paying adult prices for a kid’s meal.
They keep telling me that it’s MWR that set their ticket prices, not them, but I find that difficult to believe. They can choose to not renew the military discount, but they can’t choose the price they want to charge for it? And if MWR really does set it, then they must love Universal and hate Disney since Universal offers a way, way, WAY better deal.
The magic’s gone. We’re now in the process of booking our trip to Universal later in the year.
Hi there Peg!
Nice to see you here!
You are not alone, lots of folks feel the same way.
I was blown away last year when the Freedom Pass came out. It is a fantastic deal (unless you are in the group where an actual annual pass works for you). But for me, it was great I made 2 trips last year one 2-week and one 1-week, for a $230 ticket with no blockouts.
I paid $488 in 2021 for my WDW FL Res Silver Pass which was blocked Jun-Mid-Aug, Spring Break, and Christmas. I sold my house in FL last year so moving forward will be paying for whatever they are calling the platinum pass now.
Oh and Genie is a mess, hate it. Doesn’t work for me nor do park reservations…
This is off topic (kind of), but since we switched to Universal, I was lost. I’ve always done all my Disney planning and reservations, but I know nothing about Universal and how it all works. So for the first time ever, I contacted a travel agent to help. I used the link you provided for Jen Novak, and I can’t say enough how pleased I was/am with her! She was very helpful, not only in securing our travel package, but in offering suggestions and helpful tips to help making my decision on where to stay easier.
If anyone reading this blog has been wondering how to make the switch to Universal after years and years of Disney familiarity, give Jen a try. You’ve nothing to lose. She made the switch so easy and painless. Thank you, Steve, for having a link to her. I felt I could trust your recommendation and I wasn’t wrong! Our vacation in October is booked & she’s even helping arrange transportation to and from the airport. She’s great.
Hey there Peg,
I’m so glad that you are satisfied!!!
Jen IS great. And she has started focusing only on Universal, her partner does all the Disney stuff.
Universal is a little more challenging in many ways, booking is more complex (the agent site site is awful, Disney’s agent site looks just like the general public sees at least for booking) the whole vacation integration into the app simply isn’t there, only some dining takes reservations and it’s on several 3rd party sites, and all the terminology is different from what we are used to.
But the prices are better and the attractions/vibe more adult. I’ve enjoyed my trips there so far!