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House swapping isn’t for the faint of heart — you’ll send keys to complete strangers and leave them alone in your house for days at a time! — but thousands of independent travelers are slowly discovering the joys of this inexpensive (and slightly voyeuristic) way to travel. Read the full story

Tucked between the Magnolia and Palm golf courses, very close to the great mouse’s home, Magic Kingdom, rests a resort dedicated to hosting America’s military.

Florida’s Shades of Green was originally built as a luxury resort known as the Disney Inn. In 1994 the Department of Defense leased the property and turned it into an exclusive oasis for retired and active military personnel, Defense Department civilians and their families. The name Shades of Green is meant as a nod to the well-recognized camouflage colors of the military and serves to encompass all branches of the armed forces.

Ticket discounts vary and can be as little as 6.5 percent and as much as 30 percent. If you’re looking for the best deal and the best discount, more is usually better. Look for passes that cover several days and several parks. The Park Hopper and Magic Your Way tickets seem to offer the best deals all around.

To purchase your discounted military tickets for Disney, check with your local MWR office, get a quote from them and keep shopping. It is not uncommon for prices to vary from base to base. If you’re already in Orlando, check their local Navy Exchange which has a small ITT/MWR base near the airport. Or, those last minute people can pick up their park passes at the Shades of Green resort, but remember this means you won’t get to do any additional discount shopping.

If you’re thinking about a group vacation, your military discount will count for the entire group as long as 50 percent of the people are qualified to receive military benefits. Active and retired armed forces members as well as their dependents qualify.

California’s Disneyland doesn’t have a hotel dedicated to the military, but the Disneyland Resort does offer military personnel a discount. A word of advice here, book early as this hotel fills up quickly. Ticket discounts are still available in California and checking with your local MWR is the easiest way to determine the rates.

If you’re thinking about a vacation that’s a little more exotic, consider a Disney Cruise. The mouse gives some good discounts on their cruises but they’re based on availability and some restrictions may apply. Check dates with Disney Cruise lines to find the best time to cash in on your discount and then research some other specials, the military deals might not always be the best.

(Photo via flickr cc)