This week was all about deals and deadlines. Disney released its 2027 military tickets, Disney World put out a winter hotel rate starting at $99 a night, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is down to its last two nights. Universal also kicks off its holiday season this Saturday, and Disneyland is adding a new Marvel family to Avengers Campus. Here's what matters if you're planning a Disney or Universal trip.
On Veterans Day, November 11, Walt Disney World released its 2027 Disney Military Salute tickets. Prices before tax are $429 for 4 days, $449 for 5 days and $469 for 6 days, all with Park Hopper, or $459, $479 and $499 with Park Hopper Plus. The Disney World Celebrates America ticket is back at $549 ($579 with Park Hopper Plus). Tickets are valid January 1 through December 21, 2027, with blockout dates of March 21 to April 3 and November 21 to 27, 2027. Disney also announced up to 30% off select Disney World resort rooms for military guests in 2027. Over at Disneyland, Disney says new military room and multi-day ticket offers start November 17, 2026, but the full terms weren't posted yet when we checked. (Walt Disney World military tickets; Walt Disney World military room offer; Disney Parks Blog)
Trip tip: Watch out for the spring break blockout (March 21 to April 3). If your family is planning an Easter trip, pick dates around it. My full 2027 Disney military tickets guide covers who qualifies, where to buy and the 6-ticket limit.
Disney World released a new prepay offer called "Prepay and Save on Your Winter Stay with Nonrefundable Rates." Rooms start at $99 to $139 a night at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort. Port Orleans Riverside 5th sleeper rooms are $199 to $249, Art of Animation Cars Family Suites are $299 to $349, and Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna View rooms are $449 to $499, all per night before tax. The rates cover most nights from December 13 to 24, 2026, and most Sunday to Thursday nights from January 3 to February 25, 2027, for stays of 2 to 14 nights. The catch is in the name: you pay in full when you book, and you can't change or cancel. Park tickets aren't included. (BlogMickey; WDWMagic; MickeyBlog)
Trip tip: This deal is a good fit only if your dates are locked in. If there's any chance your plans could change, a regular discount you can cancel is usually safer. My Disney World $99 winter hotel deal post walks through all four resorts and when it makes sense. Need tickets for that trip? Check Disney World Discount Tickets at Get Away Today, and use promo code FunParkGo for $10 off a package.
Sunday, December 13 sold out on November 12, which leaves only two nights of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on sale: Tuesday, December 15 ($224) and Thursday, December 17 ($229), per ticket plus tax for ages 10 and up. Both nights were still on sale when we checked again on November 13. Kids ages 3 to 9 pay $10 less. Neither night has an Annual Passholder discount. That's 23 of 25 nights sold out, and the party runs 7 p.m. to midnight at Magic Kingdom. (BlogMickey; WDW News Today; WDWMagic)
Trip tip: If you're in Orlando that week, buy now, because the last few nights have sold out within days of each other. If you missed out, Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios still had dates open, and regular park days still have plenty of Christmas décor. My Disney World Christmas guide covers what you can enjoy without a party ticket.
Disney announced the 2027 Disney on Broadway Concert Series for EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, presented by Disney Lorcana, running January 15 through March 1, 2027. Pairings include Michael James Scott and Marisha Wallace (Aladdin), Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland (Mary Poppins and Tarzan), Adam Pascal and Sherie Rene Scott (Aida), Sierra Boggess and Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid), Kara Lindsay and Mason Reeves, and Caissie Levy and Ryan McCartan (Frozen). Dining packages, which include a meal and a guaranteed seat at a same-day concert, cost $38 to $104 for adults and $23 to $52 for kids, plus tax and gratuity. Booking opens December 3, 2026. EPCOT admission isn't included. (Walt Disney World; WDWMagic dining packages; Disney Food Blog)
Trip tip: If you have your heart set on one pairing, check its dates first and book the dining package on December 3. Regal Eagle Smokehouse ($38 adults) is the cheapest way in, but it's same-day only and may not be offered on busy dates. My Disney dining reservations guide has booking tips, and the Lorcana side of the festival is in my Disney Lorcana parks post.
Starting November 20, for a limited time, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and The Thing, plus their robot H.E.R.B.I.E., will make select appearances near Avengers Headquarters at Disney California Adventure. It's the team's first time in the land, tied to Avengers: Doomsday (in theaters December 18). Disney hasn't posted appearance times or an end date. (Disney Parks Blog; WDWMagic)
Trip tip: New characters draw crowds, so check the Disneyland app for times the morning of your visit and get there a little early. Pair it with a ride on Web Slingers nearby.
Holidays at Universal Orlando run November 14, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is back in all three Wizarding World lands, along with Grinchmas in Seuss Landing and Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's. New this year, Epic Universe gets holiday décor, merchandise and food in Super Mario Land for the first time, Snoggletog comes to the Isle of Berk, and Celestial Park adds more Christmas trees and holiday fountain shows. New cabin-style food kiosks in the New York area of Universal Studios Florida will serve pierogies, potato pancakes, fire-roasted striploin and Christmas tree waffles. Earl the Squirrel's new balloon joins the parade in December after its Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut. (Universal Orlando press release; Parks Magic)
Trip tip: The parade runs at Universal Studios Florida, and Grinchmas is at Islands of Adventure, so a park-to-park ticket makes holiday days easier. Epic Universe needs its own ticket. My Universal Orlando holidays 2026 guide has the full rundown, and my Epic Universe review helps you decide whether to add it. For tickets, check Universal Orlando Discount Tickets at Get Away Today.
Universal Orlando announced its 2027 Military Freedom Pass on November 12. It costs $235 for adults and $230 for kids, $15 more than last year, and includes park-to-park admission to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure through December 23, 2027. A version with Volcano Bay ($270 and $265) goes on sale April 1, 2027. Blockout dates are December 25, 2026, to January 3, 2027, and March 22 to 29, 2027. Epic Universe isn't included. The pass is sold only at military ticket offices, not the front gate, with a limit of 6 per eligible member. (Universal Orlando press release; Shades of Green)
Trip tip: Buy the pass before you leave home through your base ticket office or Shades of Green, since you can't get it at the gate. If you want Epic Universe too, plan on a separate ticket. My full guide to the 2027 Universal Military Freedom Pass covers who qualifies, the blockout dates and both military vacation packages. Planning Disney and Universal in one military trip? I can help you put both together.
This was a big week for military families. If you serve or have served, don't look at Disney or Universal on their own. Put the 2027 Disney Military Salute tickets and Universal's 2027 Military Freedom Pass side by side. Both block out part of spring break (March 21 to April 3 at Disney World, March 22 to 29 at Universal), so check your dates against both before you book anything.
The $99 winter prepay rates are a great price, but I only recommend them if your dates are set in stone. You pay everything up front, and you can't change or cancel. If there's any chance your plans could shift, a rate you can cancel is usually the safer pick.
If Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is on your December wish list, buy now, because only two nights are left. And if Universal is on your list, the holidays start this Saturday, November 14, and this is the first year Epic Universe joins in.
I've been planning Disney vacations since 2010, and weeks like this are when a little planning saves the most money. If you'd like help sorting through these deals for your family, reach out here and I'll help you put it all together for free.
Before tax, the 2027 Disney Military Salute tickets with Park Hopper cost $429 for 4 days, $449 for 5 days and $469 for 6 days. The Celebrates America ticket costs $549. They're valid January 1 to December 21, 2027, except March 21 to April 3 and November 21 to 27.
No. You pay in full when you book, and the rate can't be changed or refunded. It covers most nights December 13 to 24, 2026, and most Sunday to Thursday nights January 3 to February 25, 2027.
As of November 13, only December 15 ($224) and December 17 ($229) were on sale, plus tax, with kids 3 to 9 paying $10 less. Check Disney's site, since these could sell out any day.
Booking opens December 3, 2026. Packages run $38 to $104 for adults, and the concert series runs January 15 to March 1, 2027.
Yes. For the first time, Epic Universe has holiday décor in Super Mario Land, Snoggletog in the Isle of Berk and more trees in Celestial Park, from November 14, 2026, to January 3, 2027.
No. It covers Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only. A Volcano Bay version goes on sale April 1, 2027.
Planning a holiday, winter or military trip to Disney or Universal? I've been helping families as a Disney travel agent since 2010, and I'm a College of Disney Knowledge graduate. I've also completed Universal's travel agent training. My planning is free, and I help families all over the country compare dates, hotels and tickets.
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