• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Universal Orlando for Military

By Military for Military

  • Home
  • Theme Parks
    • Universal Studios Florida
    • Universal’s Islands of Adventure
  • Hotels
  • Tickets
  • Transportation
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Contact
  • Get a Quote

Is Disney Pricing Military Families Out of a Disney Vacation?

22 November 2021 by Steve 5 Comments

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.”

Is Disney Pricing Military Families Out of a Disney Vacation?

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.

Is Disney Pricing Military Families Out of a Disney Vacation?

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:

My Recommended Universal Orlando Travel Agent Use a Military Expert for your Universal Studios Vacation! Jen Novak is My Recommended Universal Studios Travel Agent! Just click this link to get your Quote

Planning 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 


Filed Under: Universal Orlando Resort Military Discounts Tagged With: Universal vs Disney

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Samantha Ramsey says

    4 January 2022 at 16:36

    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.

    Reply
  2. PegP says

    8 January 2022 at 20:23

    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.

    Reply
    • Steve says

      9 January 2022 at 08:42

      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…

      Reply
  3. PegP says

    12 January 2022 at 11:38

    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.

    Reply
    • Steve says

      12 January 2022 at 13:35

      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!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Get a Quote from a Universal Orlando Military Vacation Expert

Military Discounts

Scooters/ECVs
Universal Orlando Military Discounts on Scooters and Wheelchairs

Strollers
Universal Orlando Stroller Military Discount

Recent Posts

  • Universal Orlando 2023 Freedom Pass for the Military Community
  • 2023 Universal Orlando Freedom Pass Information
  • Universal Orlando 2022 Freedom Pass for the Military Community
  • Military Prices on Universal Orlando’s 2022 Halloween Horror Nights
  • What’s the Right Military Discounted Universal Orlando Ticket for Me?

Pages

  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Policy
  • Meet the Universal Orlando for Military Team
  • Newsletter
  • Shades of Green an Armed Forces Recreation Center
    • Shades of Green Resort Military Attraction Ticket Sales Office
      • Military Discounted Universal Orlando Resort Tickets
  • Universal Orlando Resort Hotels
    • Universal Orlando Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
    • Universal Orlando Loews Royal Pacific Resort
    • Universal Orlando Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
    • Universal Orlando Resort Adventura Hotel
      • Universal Orlando Resort Adventura Hotel Multi-function iPad
    • Universal Orlando Resort Cabana Bay Beach Resort
    • Universal Orlando Resort Hard Rock Hotel
    • Universal Orlando Resort Hotels Tested by Universal Orlando for Military
    • Universal Orlando Resort The Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites
    • Universal Orlando Resort The Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites
  • Universal Orlando Resort Main Campus
  • Universal Orlando Resort Military Discounted Tickets Overview
  • Universal Orlando Resort Military Tickets
  • Universal Orlando Resort Transportation
    • Universal Orlando Resort Bus Service
    • Universal Orlando Resort Water Taxi Service
    • Universal’s Orlando Resort’s SuperStar Shuttle
  • Universal Orlando Resort Vacations by a Military Expert
  • Universal Orlando Resorts Theme Parks
    • Universal Studios Florida
    • Universal’s Islands of Adventure
  • Your 2022 Introduction to Universal Orlando Resort Security

Support Universal Orlando for Military | Contact | Why are there ads on this site?
Marketing Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Copyright Statement
© Copyright 2007-2022 Universal Orlando for Military is a Magic Shell Media LLC Website
See my General Public Universal Orlando Site: Universal Orlando Guide
U.S Military Veteran Owned Business

FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: In order for us to maintain this website, some of the links in the post above may be affiliate links. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally and/or believe will add value to readers. Universal Orlando for Military is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with: NBC Universal, Universal Studios Orlando or any of their affiliates, nor the Shades of Green Resort or the Armed Forces Vacation Club.

Buy American!