Disney announces Armed Forces Salute extended until September 2012
Walt Disney Parks Public Relations has confirmed to me that the 2010 Disney Armed Forces Salute will not be extended. To quote my contact “Sales at gate and military base ticket office will come to an end on 8/31 and all tickets expire on 9/30″. Disney also notes that, “Existing exclusive military discounts on all Magic Your Way ticket products are unchanged”. This refers to discounted park tickets available at Shades of Green or your local Base’s ticket office.
This follows NBC Universal’s discontinuation of it’s MIlitary Salute at their Orlando Florida Universal Studios Theme Park. The Anheuser-Busch Here’s To The Heros offer at their nationwide theme parks continues through the end of the calendar year. Anheuser-Busch has offered a free one-day entrance to one of it’s theme parks to military members and up to three dependents since 2005. The Disney and Universal offers only ran in 2009 and part of 2010. The last time both parks ran a similar offer was in the economic downturn after 9/11.
Sad to see it end, it was fantastic while it lasted! Hopefully you’ll be able to take advantage of the offer before it ends. Not much time left, you have to buy your tickets by 31 August and start using them by 26 Sept as they will expire on 30 September.
If you can’t make it by the end of this offer be sure to check back here often for info on any military discounts that do become available in the future, whether from Disney, Shades of Green, Universal, Anheuser-Busch, or other military and non-military discounts which will help you save on your Orlando Theme Park vacation. I’m still waiting to hear from Disney Parks Public Relations if they will have a 2011 Disney Military Salute.
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[...] at MilitaryDisneyTips.com is reporting here that Walt Disney World won’t be extending its Disney Military Salute beyond the current 9/30 [...]
[...] Disney’s Military Salute needs to be booked by August 31, for travel that must be completed by the end of September. See this for more on the Disney Military Salute promotion. Note that MilitaryDisneyTips.com is reporting here that this salute will not be extended beyond September. [...]
I sure hope they offer some kind of greater discount in 2011 than just the Magic Your Way Pass. Even the 40% off the resort hotels was a great addition, because most of the time it is hard to book at Shades of Green when you are on “military time”, because we can’t plan 6 months in advance, especially for R&R. Such an arm and a leg to go to Disney – just from what I’m looking at, if staying at Shades of Green and using the Magic Your Way tix, it is still over $2,200 just for that. Then you have to factor in food and souvenirs. Wow, I’m sure it will be worth it, but that’s a steep price! lol
I know Angela, a Disney vacation can add up quick. I was listening to my favorite Disney Podcast the other day (WDW Today episode 760 – Ticket Price Increase) and they were talking about Disney pricing themselves out of business, and what the break point will be on base ticket prices ($100 they think). Disney has also priced their rooms so high they have to offer incentives (percentage off the room, free dining, gift cards, etc.) all the time now. I honestly think a military offer next year depends on the economy and how it effects first quarter Disney resort reservations. Don’t forget to check on overflow rates through Shades if they are full, then compare that price to the best you can find from disney.
Any word on 2011 yet? Hopefully something will start on October 1st – just after the other promotion expires. Any one hear any rumors?
I’m really getting nervous about what will be offered in October. We booked with Shades for the 1st week in October and are on a tight budget and were really hoping to use some sort of military salute package to buy our tickets. Not knowing what will be offered a month before our trip makes me worry we wont be able to afford to do much . I am very grateful for all the offers we are given ,but wish they would give more of a notice so people can be better prepared
Hi Calina,
I’m sorry to say so, but I’m not hopeful. You never know, it just depends on how easily Disney can fill rooms.
The reasons why I’m not hopeful are: Disney has only offered a Military Salute for 3 of the 9 years since 9/11, and only during economic down-turns. Universal Studios Orlando’s most recent Military offer ended 30 March and was not extended. As I related in this post Disney has said they won’t extend this offer.
Disney still hasn’t said if there will be an offer for calendar year 2011. Both the 2009 and 1010 offers were announced at the very last minute (the end of Dec-beginning of Jan). So we won’t know about next year for quite a while.
Calina I’ll e-mail you to chat about your length of stay etc. to see if we can come up with some ideas for you.
Steve
Im a Marine wife and honestly. We have taken advantage of the military pass salute both in 09 and 2010. To read on here that you think you are getting a short end of the stick or any of you would feel the need for something greater. You have been given a 4 to 5 day pass option for 100a piece for up to 5 people and in 09 the member got thiers for free! I hate to see anyone complain about a generous gift let alone military members and their families. It is in poor taste and shows no gratitude. Do the math people on what those would have cost you alone out of pocket.
On a financial note. Im sure it is great to stay on the resort. you will always be ripped off and for not that great of service. I suggest booking off the resort. Not only will you save your self money..there is your souvenir spending. Besides there are things to see in Orlando other than the park.
Our recent trip involved my husband healing from a benign brain tumor removal. Our trip was fabulous. We always just go to the Magic Kingdom. On our last night my husband was being such a kid and did not want to go. That I went up to the customer service and asked if we could receive a afters hours pass. And they gave it to us with no questions asked.
We had dreams come true every time we go. We rarely hear the word “no” when we are in the park. They are a well oiled machine that is Disney. And their experience takes costs. Just like everything else we get to enjoy in this world and that you all fight so hard for. The last thing I want to ever see is us complaing or being ungrateful for the perks we receive.
How about a Thank you Disney. It was a nice offer.
Heaven forbid we all take that route.
It really was a great deal… Tina you’re right, Kudos to Disney for thinking of us. Unfortunately many of us did not get the chance to take our families during the two years of the offer and would really love to have a really attractive offer even one not as good as the $99 deal. I think it can be a win-win since I’m quite sure Florida’s economy can use the extra tourists.
I hope you have all read by now that tickets discount at Walt Disney World have been extended till October 11 2011. Get out there and take advantage of this great deal. Be blessed that you have the deal to take advantage of. To the men in Chile…BRAVO!!!!
Hi Tina, So far just room only discounts have been announced, we’re still waiting to here official word from Disney on ticket discounts.
After getting this link yesterday (after WDW tix hours) and reading all posts, I called this A.M. – Disney tix person said that as of now the military ‘parks’ portion of the salute program is delayed until further notice and nothing to back up any 1 January or after the new year release rumors. Maybe they know but won’t/can’t say or they absolutely do NOT know. However, the rooms discount (40%, 35% and 30% depending on room type) is still on. We’ve already made our reservations for next July as we hit there during NASCAR @ Daytona weekend. I’ve probably talked to 10 disney reps since 15 September (word of when discounts were supposed to come out) and have told each of them how Disney will be shooting themselves in the foot if they back off from this one!! Even if they press forward and go as rumored w/black-out dates (as some folks have commented will be affected) – you will then get in to less flexibility among military w/all the deployments and moves we have to make. Got a bad feeling about what they’re about to tell or NOT tell us for 2011!