Disney’s Armed Forces Salute is a fantastic discount available to military members and retirees. This discount includes both ticket discounts and room discounts.
Here are the Top Ten Things that you need to know about the Military Discounted Tickets with this offer.
(Updated 14 November 2023)
See the companion post about Military Discounted Rooms here: Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Room Discounts and the full details page about the Disney Armed Forces Salute.
Note to non-retired veterans; you do not qualify for the Disney Armed Forces Salute, however there are Disney Veteran Discounts that you do qualify for.
1. The Armed Forces Salute is a Temporary Offer
The Armed Forces Salute is a relatively recent innovation by the Walt Disney Company. The first version of the Salute was first offered in 2002 as a partial of the year, during the travel industry downturn after 9/11. It ended once people started traveling again in bigger numbers later that year.
Military members then had to again be satisfied with the slight Regular Military Discount on Disney Tickets that had always been available through Military Base Ticket Offices (and still are).
The Disney Armed Forces Salute returned again in January 2009 as the housing crash/economic downturn came into full swing and the general public reduced their vacation spending. The Salute offers have been renewed, on a year to year basis, since then with a couple of notable breaks.
So if you are considering a Disney vacation within the next couple of years keep in mind that we never know if the Salute will be renewed again or not.
One ticket during each purchase period must be for the use of the member or spouse, the rest can be used by anyone else (family or friends).
Walt Disney World
The 2023 Salute Ticket Offer started on 1 January 2023 and runs through 15 December 2023.
The 2024 Salute Ticket Offer started on 1 January 2024 and runs through 20 December 2024.
Disneyland
The 2023 Salute Ticket Offer started on 9 January 2023 and runs through 15 December 2023.
The 2023 Salute Ticket Offer started on 2 January 2024 and runs through 13 December 2024.
2. What Type of Tickets are available for the Armed Forces Salute?
There are several different Disney Theme Park Tickets available through the Armed Forces Salute for Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
For Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida
4-day and 5-day tickets are available for 2023
4-day, 5-day, and 6-day tickets are available for 2024
For 2023 and 2024 they come in 2 different versions.
- Park Hopper Option
- Park Hopper Plus Option
For Disneyland in Anaheim California 3-day and 4-day tickets are available.
They come in one version.
- Park Hopper Option
- Genie+ Add On
3. What are these Options?
The Park Hopper Option allows you to visit multiple Disney theme parks on the same day. You can start your day at one park then switch to another (as many times as you want), or even take a break in between.
The Park Hopper Plus Option allows the number of Plus entrances equal to the number of days on the ticket (so a 4-day ticket has 4 Plus entrances). These Plus entrances are for the following Walt Disney World entertainment venues:
- The Water Parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach
- General admission into the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
- 9 Holes of Golf at Disney’s Oak Trail 9-Hole Golf Course
- One round of golf a the Mini-Golf Courses: Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course & Disney’s Winter Summerland (prior to 4pm)
Read more about the Park Hopper Plus Options
These Plus entrances are separate from the theme park admissions on your ticket. You may use these Plus entrances on the same day or different days than your theme park admissions. You may use one or more Plus entrance per day (same day returns to the same water park does not deduct another entrance).
Genie+ is Disney’s replacement for FastPass+ at Walt Disney World and FastPass and MaxPass at Disneyland. See our Genie+ Page for more info.
4. What Dates are the Armed Forces Salute Tickets available for use?
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets are valid only within the offer period.
Walt Disney World
- 2023 Salute Tickets 1 January through 15 December 2023
- 2024 Salute Tickets 1 January through 20 December 2024
Disneyland
- 2023 Salute Tickets 9 January through 15 December 2023
- 2024 Salute Tickets 2 January through 13 December 2024
Disney has what they call blockout dates, dates on which these tickets are not allowed to be used.
Walt Disney World Blockout Dates
- 17 December through 31 December 2021
- 9 April through 17 April 2022
- March 24 through April 6, 2024
- November 24 through November 30, 2024
Disneyland Blockout Dates
- 2 – 15 April 2023
- 2 – 15 April 2024
5. Where can I purchase the Armed Forces Salute Tickets?
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets can be purchased several places:
- Your Local Base MWR Ticket Office
- Shades of Green, the Military Owned and Operated Resort on Disney World property
- The Orlando ITT
- Long distance from Camp Pendleton or Shades of Green as well as other locations with a FedEx delivery fee added
- Disney Theme Park Ticket and Guest Relations locations
Tickets that are purchased at Non-Disney locations (except Shades of Green) will need to be activated at a Disney Park prior to their use for entry.
If you have purchased your tickets elsewhere (except Shades of Green) or plan to purchase your tickets at a Disney location all members of the party must be present, as the tickets will be activated at that time and all must be present for this process.
A note on sales tax: There is no sales tax charged at military resellers or Disneyland, but you will pay sales tax at any Walt Disney World location.
You cannot buy these tickets online or via phone from Disney, through your travel agent, at Walt Disney World Resorts, or from the Disney Store.
See:
How to Purchase Military Discounted Theme Park Tickets a Step By Step Guide
6. How many Armed Forces Salute Tickets can I purchase?
Walt Disney World
Qualified individuals can purchase up to a maximum of 6 Salute Tickets during both the 2023 and 2024 Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket offer periods.
Disneyland
Qualified individuals can purchase up to a maximum of 6 Salute Tickets during both the 2023 and 2024 Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket offer periods.
What if you have more that 6 people in your family?
For families larger than 6, Disney states “Exceptions should be made for immediate families larger than six people.” For example, if a family has five children, Disney will allow all members of the family to purchase Disney Military Promotion Tickets, for Mom, Dad, and the five kids. See this post for more info
One of these tickets must be for the military member or spouse. The other tickets may be for anyone the member wants to purchase them for.
This requires the military member or spouse to physically go to the theme park with their party for the activation process.
Note: Disney Pass Holders do not need to have a Salute ticket for themselves. In this case in theory one of the 6 tickets would be “reserved” for the member and cannot be used by others, but this has often not been enforced.
What if the military member can’t go to the Disney Park?
Disney does take into consideration that military spouses might want to take the kids on a Disney vacation while the military member is deployed and they make an allowance for this.
Military spouses are allowed to purchase and activate Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets. The spouse activates the tickets in place of the member.
Again in theory, one ticket is reserved for the member, but rarely enforced.
These Salute Tickets cannot be activated without the member or spouse being part of the party!
NOTE: The Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort offers are totally separate offers. This means that each member is eligible for the number of allowed tickets at each vacation destination during the Salute offer period.
See:
I Don’t Have The Correct ID To Activate Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
Can I Give My Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets to Someone Else to Use?
7. How much do the Armed Forces Salute Tickets cost?
Disney World 2023 Armed Forces Salute Prices
- 3-day Park Hopper – $245
- 3-day Park Hopper with Genie+ – $320
- 4-day Park Hopper – $280
- 4-day Park Hopper with Genie+ – $380
Disney World 2024 Armed Forces Salute Prices
- 4 Day Park Hopper- $369.00 per person
- 4 Day Park Plus Hopper $399.00 per person
- 5 Day Park Hopper $389.00 person
- 5 Day Park Plus Hopper $419.00 per person
- 6 Day Park Hopper $409.00 per person
- 6 Day Park Plus Hopper $439.00 per person
Disneyland 2023 Armed Forces Salute Prices
- 3-day Park Hopper – $245
- 3-day Park Hopper with Genie+ – $320
- 4-day Park Hopper – $280
- 4-day Park Hopper with Genie+ – $380
Disneyland 2024 Armed Forces Salute Prices
- 3-day Park Hopper – $269
- 3-day Park Hopper with Genie+ – $359
- 4-day Park Hopper – $315
- 4-day Park Hopper with Genie+ – $435
These prices are before to tax. You’ll pay these prices at military sales locations and Disneyland, but tax will be added at Disney World ticket locations.
Some bases use local MWR funds to make the price a few dollars less, while others charge a “service” fee making them a few dollars more.
8. How do I activate the Armed Forces Salute Tickets?
Armed Forces Salute Tickets that were purchased at Non-Disney locations such as Base ITT/ITR offices (except Shades of Green) will need to be activated before you try to use them at a theme park turnstile/tapstyle/touch point for entrance.
You can do this at all Disney theme park ticket booths or at Disney Guest Relations locations.
Disney World
- Transportation and Ticket Center
- Magic Kingdom Entrance
- Epcot Main Entrance
- Epcot International Gateway Entrance
- Disney Hollywood Studios Main Entrance
- Disney Animal Kingdom Main Entrance
- WDW Water Parks Entrances
- Disney Spring’s Ticket Center
Disneyland
- The main entrances to each theme park
- The rear entrance to Disney’s California Adventure
- The Downtown Disney Monorail Station to Tomorrowland
All members of the party will need to be present at the time of activation, including either the military member or their spouse who will be activating the tickets.
Why does Disney require the activation process and that everyone be there? They do this to prevent giving them to those who are not eligible or scalping of these large discount tickets…
See this great post on the activation process
Tickets purchased at Shades of Green are Pre-Activated and do not require this process!
9. Are there any restrictions on how the Armed Forces Salute Tickets can be used?
Besides any Blockout dates and the expiration date there are no restrictions.
You can use all the days of your tickets in a row, sporadically over a longer vacation stay, or here and there throughout the year. We’ve done all of these.
The same applies to the Plus visits, you have until the end of the Salute Offer Period to use them all up.
However Disney World has announced that Theme Park Reservations will be required for Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets in 2024!
10. What if I need more days than the Armed Forces Salute Tickets offer?
In some cases you may want to spend more days touring the Disney parks than are available on the Armed Forces Salute Tickets.
At Disney World, one idea is to opt for the Plus Option. The Plus visits can be used on non-park days to fill out a longer stay.
Use back-to-bask Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets if you have a small party. One to three people can use 2 or more Salute tickets each for a longer stay Another option is to buy tickets for the additional days on top of your Armed Forces Salute Tickets. But you should be very careful doing any of these, depending on the options you select for your regular Military Discounted Disney tickets it becomes more costly to add a second ticket versus just opting for the number of days that you need using the regular military discount instead of the Armed Forces Salute.
See What’s the right military ticket for me?
11. A Bonus Question – Can I use Disney Genie, Magic Bands, My Disney Experience, and the Disneyland app with my Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets?
Absolutely!
All of Walt Disney World’s and Disneyland’s Technology is available to those who use military tickets!
All Disney Guests now need to purchase their Magic Bands if they want to use them. Either through their Disney Resort Hotel reservation, Disney Store online, or after arrival.
See our WDW Tech Pages for more info: Walt Disney World and Disneyland Technology Overview
So there you have it
The ten top things that you need to know about Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Tickets, plus one bonus item.
Many of the above items are questions that I’m often asked via email, in site comments, and on facebook.
If you have more questions consider buying my Disney World Guide Book for Military Families, my Disneyland Guide Book for Military Families reading the full Disney Armed Forces Salute Information Page, the Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ, or checking out our FAQ Friday Posts.
Are there any other questions that you have? Leave them in a comments section below!
- Also See: Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Room Discounts
This MDT Post By: Steve Bell Steve is the the Military Disney Tips Founder. He a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way. Check out Steve's Bio. Subscribe to Steve's email newsletter to get website updates and news by clicking this link. |
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? See Our Great Disney Discount and Planning Info:
- Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide
- Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist
- Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide
- Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
- Dining Overview Page
- Transportation Overview Page
- Technology Overview Page
- Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort
Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts! |
Doug says
My father in law is a marine vet and would like to purchase us the discounted Tix but doesn’t want to go himself. If we purchase them at shades of green if we buy only 2 Tix which essentially still leaves my father in law a chance to still buy one later, can he buy us the Tix without actually purchasing one for himself?
Steve says
Hi Doug,
I just want to make sure we are not talking apples and oranges, you used the term vet which is a generic civilian term that means anyone who served, it does not state his actual military status. So we first we need to determine what that status is.
Did he retire from the military with 20 years of service or a medical retirement and have a military retiree ID? In that case he would be eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute and be called a military retiree.
Or did he serve for a period of time and separate (get out)? In that case he would not be eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute (but might be eligible for others, see below) and Veteran would be the common way of honoring his service.
So to the meat of your question. If he is eligible, he would need to accompany you and have his own ticket. The purpose of these highly discounted tickets is for the member to spend time with family and friends in Disney’s parks. Not to give away, buy for, or sell these tickets to those who are not eligible.
If he is not eligible due to lack of military ID there are these other posts to check out:
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/disney-veteran-discount-and-disney-military-discount-eligibility-guide/
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/disney-military-discounts-for-veterans-who-did-not-retire-from-the-military/
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/disney-discounts-and-the-john-mccain-defense-authorization-act/
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/shades-of-green/shades-of-green-stays-for-non-retired-veterans/
Terrence King says
My wife and I purchased 2020 Military Salute tickets from the MWR and haven’t activated them yet. We thought we would be able to go this year before the September 2021 extended expiration date but cannot. Can we pass these along to another active duty military couple to use?
Steve says
Hi Terrence,
You can. It’s the activation process that really matters. One sticking point is if you’ve linked them to yourselves in My Disney Experience, you’ll need to get Disney to unlink them (always a challenge to get them to do so), by calling Disney Internet Help Desk at 800-848-6413, option #3. Or make the couple part of you family and friends in MDE and transfer the tickets to them, if possible.
But if you can go between 26 Sept and 17 Dec you could use then yourselves, see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-armed-forces-salute/using-disney-armed-forces-salute-tickets-in-2021/ specifically the upgrade section.
Michael says
Planning a trip to Anaheim Sept 13&14.. Would like to avail of the hopper deal, but our local MWR (Guam) does not sell tickets. Looking at the Disney site, it seems we need to make reservations (Covid policy) and would need tickets to do so. What are our options? I’m worried we will travel all the way over there and not be able to get into the park if we wait to purchase and make reservations until we arrive in LA.
Are we able to ask a friend (also a military member) stateside to purchase on our behalf? This would enable me to link the ticket numbers to the reservation. Guidance appreciated.
Steve says
Hi Michael,
You have 2 options:
Purchase yourself long distance (suggest Camp Pendleton) and have delivered to yourself (if they will ship there) but probably not time for that now, or have delivered to a friend. They would need to provide you the ticket numbers to link. And eventually the physical tickets.
Have your friend purchase and provide you the ticket numbers to link. And eventually the physical tickets.
See:
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
The following is for WDW but DL’s very similar
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/my-magic-plus/linking-disney-military-tickets-and-fastpass-plus-reservations/
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/my-magic-plus/using-the-walt-disney-world-park-reservation-system/
John Maxwell says
Hello and thanks for all the wonderful information.!
I can’t find specific details on our particular situation: I am the Military member and I purchased tickets for my family and friends at the MWR ticket sales. Our two parties created our own accounts and linked our own tickets and we planned on visiting 4/20 and 4/21, but I mistakenly did not make reservations in time for my party on 4/20. We both have reservations for 4/21.
I live close enough to DL that we go frequently, but the other party is only in for this week. Can I show my ID at the turnstile with them and on 4/20 when we aren’t going while I do not have a reservation for that day?
Steve says
Hi John,
So without looking, it sounds like reservations are all used up for the 20th?
Technically, you are required to activate other’s Salute Tickets when you do yours, not before yours. And as I think you know, activation at DL takes place at first use at the turnstile and uses a day of entrance.
I can’t say either way as this falls outside the rules. It will really depend on the cast member at the turnstile and perhaps the supervisor on duty at the time if the question needs to be elevated.
Alex says
My siblings and I are planning a Disney world vacation for August 2023. My brother, an active military member, is the one who will be purchasing the tickets (hopefully the military salute tickets) if he gets approved for the time off. I was wondering if you knew what happened if he was called overseas or somewhere after he purchased the tickets. Would we still be able to use them? Or are we just out $1500?
Steve says
Hi Alex,
Great question, see this post for my response to this common question:
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/faq/my-military-sponsor-can-no-longer-go-to-disney-can-i-use-the-disney-armed-forces-salute-tickets-they-already-purchased/
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Suzanne Shavers says
We were at Shades in September and were using our 5 day salute tickets. While we were there Hurricane Ian hit! The parks were closed 2 days of our visit. Have we lost the 2 days or can they be used until 9-30-23. or can we used those days on salute tickets for next September. (total of 8 days for us) I’ve tried with Shades and they can not help. So I contacted Disney and just got the run around. Can you give me an answer or tell me who to contact?
Steve says
Hi Suzanne,
So the 2022 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets expire 16 Dec 2022. Per the rules these tickets loose value at the point.
Having said that, Disney can do some “magic” and allow you to use them or thew value later.
The thing is, someone could tell you “Sure, it’s fine.” on the phone and then you get there and the person you are dealing with says no.
I recommend that you contact Guest Relations first to seek resolution. The ideal resolution would be that they issue actual tickets for you at that moment that you can link to your account. Baring that you’ll want something in writing that says you can use the tickets at a later date that you can use in person when you get there.
If you get no love from Guest Relations, then try corporate leadership.
See this page for all contact info: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/how-to-contact-disney-and-disney-officials/
Alex says
Hi, we are a party of 4 going to Disney soon and are planning to get the 4 day salute passes. One member is retired military, however he only plans to visit the parks for the first 2 days with the rest of us. He will be there to activate them on the first day. Will we be able to use our tickets on the 2 days that he is not with us? Thanks!
Steve Bell says
Hi Alex,
Yes, absolutely you can do that!