Great news from Disney, they have renewed their Military Salute Discount for dates in 2010!
UPDATE Disney extended their Military Salute Discount into 2011
Starting 3 January until 31 July 2010 U.S. Military Members* can purchase up to six 4-Day Base Tickets for $99 per ticket, plus tax. These tickets can be used by the military member, family members, or friends. The tickets are valid for use through 30 September 2010. There are blockout dates during which the tickets are not valid. The blockout dates are: 27 March – 9 April 2010 at all four theme parks, and 3-4 July 2010 at Magic Kingdom only.
These tickets do not include either the Park Hopper or Water Park Fun & More options, but they can be upgraded to add either option, or both, for an additional $25, plus tax, per option.
Starting 3 January 2010 you can purchase your tickets at Your base’s Ticket/Travel Office, Shades of Green, or Disney Theme Park main entrance ticket windows. If you purchase at your base or Shades of Green you’ll save paying the tax. Tickets purchased at your base or Shades of Green need to be taken to a Disney Theme Park main entrance ticket window to be exchanged for the actual ticket.
There’s been no indication yet if there will also be a Military Room Discount like the 40% one offered in 2009. Also still no word from Universal Orlando on if they’ll offer a Military Salute like they did in 2009.
Our great friends at Anheuser-Busch are again offering their Here’s to the Heros Salute for 2010. They offer free admission to Sea World Orlando, Tampa’s Bush Gardens, or other Busch Parks for the Military Member and up to 3 dependents.
*Disney Military Salute restrictions:
- Tickets are for active and retired US Military including Coast Guard and active members of the Reserves or National Guard, and permanently disabled veterans with a valid military ID card.If the service member is not present, the spouse or unremarried widow may purchase up to five tickets during the validity period.
The tickets may be upgraded to Seasonal (for Florida Residents) or Annual Passes, with credit toward the upgrade based on the actual price paid.
No Expiration Option cannot be added to these tickets. No other upgrades, such as adding additional days, will be available.
Tickets must be used by the same person on any and all days.
This offer may not be combined with any other offer.
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I have a number of complaints about the 2010 Military Salute program. First, I do not like the lack of publicity that this year’s program is getting as compared to last year’s program. The 2009 program was well publicized, the 2010 program has not been well publicized at all with information about it leaking out on to blogs and personal websites. I found out about it only because I asked an individual at the concierge desk at Old Key West over Christmas. One almost gets the impression that they are hoping people will not realize the program has been extended for 2010.
Second, the blackout dates are restrictive and unfair. My family and I will be visiting Disney World in late March over our son’s school break and will not be able to take advantage of the tickets. I find this aspect of the 2010 program to be particularly offensive because I am a Disney Vacation Club member (in fact we just bought 100 more points) and thus your company has made and will continue to make plenty of money off of me.
I realize that the nation is in an economic downturn and that Disney, like any company, needs to make a profit but they could have handled this issue in a much more effective manner. For example, if they feel the blackout dates are necessary, they could provide people with an opportunity to pay $25.00 extra per ticket to be able to use them during the blackout dates or only permit visits to specific parks during the blackout dates as they are doing with the July 2010 dates. This would permit military personnel to still take advantage of this offer even if the only time they can realistically attend is during peak season due to their schedules.
I would also like to know if the 2010 program is going to be offered at Disneyland in California like it was in 2009 as my family and I will be visiting Disneyland late this year.
Thanks for the comment Dan, I think…
It really isn’t a comment on my post though is it?
It looks more like an e-mail you sent to Disney and then copied here.
Some of your points are good some aren’t.
I don’t think that 2010′s offer is any less advertised than last years. Posters and tabletop signs showed up the first week of January in my base’s rec center, just like last year. Three weeks into the year the Disney Military Sales web page is updated, sonner than last year!
The blackout dates I understand, they know they can get full price at a time of year when the parks regularly close due to max attendance. It’s a sign the economy (at least travel to Disney) is coming back.
I do take offense that Disney has only made these offers to the military because of the economic downturn. Anheuser-Bush has had a military offer every year!
Take the kids out of school and go sometime other than spring break, get homework to do ahead, have the kids write a report about Living with the Land at EPCOT. You’ll be so much better off without the crowds!
I too was surprised that the offer wasn’t extended to California but perhaps attendance has recovered there sooner.
Those $99 dollar tickets would normally be $215, that’s over half off. Plus you can upgrade them to a season pass, a good thing for a DVC member. Use your points to come back in less than a year.
Dan, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, think outside the box and make it work.
I just don’t get why it is billed as “renewed for 2010″ when it can only be used during the first nine months of the year.
Hi Jane, It was renewed. The 2009 MIlitary Salute ended just before Christmas 2009. Disney then renewed the offer for 2010. Unfortunately they seem to expect the economy to pick up and feel they wont need to offer the discount to boost attendance after September.
Is the discount offered to Canadian Military as well? We often tap into the Military discounts for other activities and are extremely grateful to be able to.
Hi Colin,
First a thanks to one of our partners to the north. I work alongside of many Canadians here at my base.
As far as I know this offer does not apply to you. Why don’t you contact your morale people or Disney directly to see if there is an offer that applies.
Cheers, Steve
I was wondering because they did this last year – at least in the Disneyland over in CA where i live – if they’ll be giving free tickets to any active service members again this year. So far i haven’t been able to find anything – they did this last year i believe from Jan – June, and since we’re still in the same time frame i figured it would be worth finding out.
Hi Brett,
Here is the link to Disney’s page on this year’s offer. It’s just for Orlando this year, and not free. The info for California was on this page also last year. http://www.disneymilitarysales.com
Sorry, Steve
If the tickets are purchased at the base, does the military personnel still have to present at disney’s gate in order for family to get into Disney?
Hi Betty,
The military member OR their spouse can buy and activate these tickets. The thing is that Disney controls this via the member’s social security number (verified by your ID). There can only be one transaction per social, a transaction being the combination of both purchasing and activating the tickets. You have to buy and activate all the tickets at the same time.
So yes the spouse can buy the tickets and go with your family and friends to disney without the member, but I don’t think they would allow activating another ticket later.
Hope you enjoy your trip if you decide to go!
Steve
We are taking a family trip to Disney World at the end of this month. I’m retired Air Force and my son is active duty. We will be there for 7 days. Can I purchase the 4 day passes (six of us going) and then my son purchase 4 day passes to cover our entire stay? Is this allowable
Hi Brian,
First thanks for your family’s service, that’s great!
And to answer your question. Absolutely, you can each buy six tickets using each of your socials. Then on the first day go to one of the theme parks and activate the first six with one of you as the sponsor for the other five. Then on day five the other vet would activate the second six tickets.
What a great savings that will be for your family, and well deserved!
Hope that you all have a great time, where are you staying?
Steve
Thanks for the response Steve!!!!
I sent an email to Shades of Green and all I got was a canned response about purchasing the tickets. We’ll be stopping by MWR to get tickets this week.
Looking forward to the trip!!!!!
I am retired military and because of a disability i can not travel to DW. If i purchase my tickets here at my local base, can my grandchildren use them at DW without me? I do not have a spouse as she is deceased.
Hi William,
As I undersand Disney’s policy, the military member or their spouse needs to be there at the main gate to activate the tickets. Below is a quote from Disney.
“Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) who purchase Disney’s 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for themselves and their family members and friends will be required to activate those Tickets at Walt Disney World® theme park ticket windows, no later than September 26, 2010, in order for those Tickets to be used. Valid military identification will be required.”
But sounds like you have a special circumstance, I recommend calling Disney World directly to ask. here is there ticket information number (407) 939-1289 or here is the general info number (407) 939-6244.
Good luck, and let us all know the oucome!
Steve
Hi,
My husband is an honoroably discharged veteran. Do you know if Disney will allow him the same military discount? It seems pretty unfair that he put his life on the line in a war and can’t take advantage of the same discount.
Hi Deidre,
The military member must be currently a member or retired (with an ID card). Below is Disney’s policy:
“Active or Retired Member of the U.S. Military
With “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute,” from Jan. 3 to July 31, 2010, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard and active members of the National Guard or Reservists) or their spouses can purchase Disney’s 4-Day Military Promotional Base Tickets…”
Hope this helps, Steve
I am wondering if you know if this will be extended through october? My husband is in Iraq right now and wont be back til late sept so we are planning on going to disney the first week of oct but would really love to be able to get this great deal! i know shades of green has the 40% off ends sept and the park price special also ends then? any thoughts on this please?
Hi Staci,
Thanks for your Husband’s service!
I’m planning to go in early October too (to hit the EPCOT Food and Wine Fest) and I’m hoping they extend it too. One hopeful sign is that Disney extended their deadline for purchasing your Military Salute tickets by a month until 31 August from the previous deadline 31 July.
I’ve had so many people ask this, so I’ll attempt to get an answer through official PR channels. I’ll post what I find out on the blog so keep tuned.
You can sign up to receive an email when new blog posts are added here: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/subscribe-for-email-notifications/
I hope that you have a super time when you go!
Steve
Hello,
Does anyone know if the spouse can purchase up to 6 tickets or it is only six tickets if the military member is also present and 5 if they are not. My mom is a widow of a retired military member. Also, do you have to use the tickets 4 days in a row once activated? We will be there for 7 days and plan on having a couple of park free days in between. Thanks!
Hi Kristina,
The spouse is able to buy all 6 without the member there. Here’s a quote from Disney’s announcement.
“No more than six Disney’s 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets (with or without options) may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (and/or spouse)…”
You don’t have to use the tickets on consecutive days. Last year we used ours on two different trips. You’ll be fine to take the down days or your mom could buy a second set if you felt up to doing parks every day.
Another option for non Disney park days would be the free military 1-day tickets to Sea World (for the member and up to three others). For the extra two tickets Sea World 1-day tickets through Shades of Green are $72 adult/$63 9 and under.
Hope you have a fun trip!
Steve
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Anheuser-Busch-Hero-Salute.html
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Other-Attractions.html
well i think it sucks that it is only valid for disneyWORLD and not LAND. they offered it last year for us military here on the west but this year they don thave it.
First of all , thank you for answering my question .
Do you think or you aren’t sure at this time , Disney will have an discount
for the military men and women next year Jan 2011 ?????
I have 2 adult son and daughter both in the military , either one had a chance to take up this offer .
Thank you …….
Hi Debbie,
I’m still waiting on official word from Disney. But I’ve a feeling that if there is an offer for next year we wont know until very late in December 2010 or early January 2011. Both the 2008 and 2009 offers came out in early January.
Thanks for your children’s service!
Steve
Hi, My retired military cousin purchased the $99 military tickets for himself and my family at his mwr base. He is now unable to vacation with us due to illness. Will we be able to use these tickets or are we out $400?
I’m so sorry your cousin isn’t well. I recommend you contact Disney at: wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com to check on alternatives. The military member needs to be there to activate the tickets. Could your cousin return them to his base ticket office if you can’t use them?
Steve
I noticed that you said you used the tickets for two different trips. We are interested in doing a family trip in May and adult trip in September. Would this be possible? If so how do you go about using them for two different trips?
Hi, well when I made that comment I was referring to the past two year’s offers. But now that I think of it, the 5-day 2009 tickets we did use on two trips. They don’t have to be used on consecutive days, just by the expiration. We did two trips that year. Two days once trip and three days the other time.
If anyone feels that the Disney is discriminating with it’s choice of which Military personnel are allowed benefit of this discount.. please go and sign the petition so Disney can see that some are concerned. thanks and Thank you for writing this article so everyone stays in the know.
Petition
The 4 day military salute tickets states only six tickes max. I have 7 children, so its nine of us all together. How do I go about getting the remaing three.
Hey Neal,
Instructions posted in Disney’s ticket sales booths states: “Exceptions should be made for immediate families larger than five people. For example, if a family has six children, please allow all members of the family to purchase 4-Day Disney Military Promotion Tickets.”
Don’t think you’ll get this opportunity at Shades of Green or base offices. So you’ll have to pay tax at the Disney booth, but you’ll get what you need.