These articles were originally written in 2011 but they have been updated and are still very applicable today as the Disney Armed Forces Salute has been renewed through 28 Sept. 2013 and Anheuser-Busch’s Here’s to the Heroes is extended through the end of 2012. Sadly there has been no status change for Universal Studios.
I get lots of questions on Disney’s Military Salute as well as Anheuser-Busch’s Sea World and Busch Garden’s Hero Salute, and the long departed Universal Orlando Military Salute. So I thought it would be a great idea to post a series of review pieces on each of the different park’s current offers.
 The first installment covers the Disney Armed Forces Salute for 2012-2013.Military discounted room rates and Theme Park tickets.This Salute Offer has been re-offered now until 28 September 2013. |
 The second installment covers Anheuser-Busch’s Free one-day admission to one of their Theme Parks for military members and their families.This Offer has been extended now until the end of 2013. |
 The third installment covers the Military Discounts still available for Universal Orlando’s theme parks New Offer for 2012-2013. |
 The fourth installment, There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch, at some theme parks Is a mini history of free military admission to Orlando theme parks. |
 The fifth installment, The Ultimate Post Deployment Orlando Vacation is your guide for combining all of these discounts. |
Hi Steve,
Thank you so much for all of the hard work you put into this site. It has helped me so much in planning our post deployment vacation.
I wanted to let you know that Shades of Green is running a special discount right now for OEF/OIF US Military and DOD Civilians which includes a 20% discount on your room rates as well as 20% off of your dining options at the Shades of Green Resort as long as you were in theater for a minimum of 270 consecutive days. Military & DOD Civilians would have to bring a copy of their orders and present them upon check in.
That brings a $123 room for an E6 down to $98.40 per night. That is a great deal for post deployment families.
http://www.shadesofgreen.org/OEFOIF.htm
Thanks so much Deborah,
I’m so glad you found helpful information on the site! I really enjoy doing it and hearing from others in our military community who enjoy the same things. I’ve made lots of great friends through the site.
The OEF/OIF special is a great deal, Shades has been running it for years. It was even 40% for about a year and a half. That ended last year.
Thanks again! Steve
Hi Steve! Great site and information for all military and former military planning trips to Disney. Just wanted to say our first two trips to Disney we stayed at the Shades of Green and had a fabulous time! This past year, the hotel was booked so we tried a Groupon for Royal Plaza Hotel on Disney complex. Had a horrible experience as the Hotel management refused to redeem the Groupon for the discounted rate. They had rooms available and still refused to book and redeem a coupon we already purchased. I highly suggest military and Veterans stay away from this establishment and book plenty time ahead to get into the Shades of Green (who has amazing service!).
Hi Marie,
So sorry for your bad experience and also thanks for your advice to the MDT readers!
Steve
hi was wondering if my UK military id can be used at all when I travel to Florida with my family before my deployment.
Hi there Brett,
The only Discount for non-US military at Disney is for those stationed here or on temporary orders here, there are documentation requirements. See this post.
Also, I’m not aware of any for SeaWorld or Universal.
I hope all goes well with the deployment!
Hi Steve, My husband and I and 2 other couples are going to be staying at Shades of Green Oct 7th – 13th 2012. Can you tell me which pool is going to be closed for renovations during that time?
Also, do you have any recommendations as to what section is the best to stay in? We think we want patios w/golf course views, but those look pretty far away from the pools. Is Shades of Green usually good about granting special requests as far as room location?
Love your site, you are always so helpful!
Regards, Judy Borland
Hi there judy,
Thanks!
Anything in the new section will be furthest from the pools. The back side of it overlooks the driving range and golf course.
The older section was very recently remodeled so you should enjoy those rooms.
The magnolia (or quiet pool which is the rectangular one) is closing first. The Mickey shaped pool by Evergreens will close after the millpond re-opens.
Hope you guys have fun!
Which parks are free for Active Duty Military in Orlando? Is Universal only available for the 3-day deal?
Hi Shawn,
The only free offers are Ahheuser-Busch’e Here’s to the Heroes and a 3-day ticket to Universal for the member only.
Ive never used my Id to purchase tickets before. I am wondering how the ticket purchasing process goes. Do they just look at your ID to see if your eligible, take your money in exchange for the tickets. Or do they look you up in the data base? Or make you fill out paperwork or something? It says that you can only purchase 6 tickets, one time for the year. How do they know and keep track of if you have already purchased a set or not?
Hi Steph,
As this is a general page about all the theme parks I wasn’t sure until you mentioned six tickets that you were talking about Disney World. I hope that’s right. Disney’s Armed Forces Salute is the only offer that limits you to six tickets.
Disney’s Armed Forces salute tickets can be purchased at military resellers, such as your base ticket office or Shades of Green. At the time of purchase they will look at your ID and verify that you are eligible. Tickets purchased at military resellers are not ready for use, they need to be activated prior to use at a Disney theme park. It is possible to buy more than six tickets and military resellers, if they don’t keep track of how many you’ve purchased or you go to different ticket offices. But these tickets remember are not active, Disney will not activate more than six tickets for your use during the offer period.
Armed Forces salute tickets can also be purchased directly from Disney at their themepark ticket windows. The tickets will also be activated at that time. If you buy them direct from Disney though you will pay sales tax, where you don’t that military resellers.
At the Disney ticket window whether buying and activating or just activating Armed Forces Salute Tickets they will ask to see your ID. They will collect identifying information from the ID and from you, such as your address and base. This information is entered into Disney’s ticketing computer system and it’s how they keep track.
No database such as DEERS is ever consulted.
Hope this clears it up.
Is there any way that my mom and dad can each buy 6 tickets? My dad is a retired marine and has an ID and my mom has her spouse military ID. Would Disneyland know if my parents each tried to activate 6 tickets at different times of the day?
Hi Ashley,
No. The benefit of the Disney Armed Forces Salute is only for the member. Six tickets total. The spouse is only allowed to purchase these in place of the member in the case that the member can not come.
Spouses do not qualify for a second set of 6. Sorry.
Disney will know, when the tickets are activated they are tied to the member’s identifying info in their ticketing computer. It will not allow more than six, unless your mom and dad have more than 4 kids who are still dependent. http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disneys-Armed-Forces-Salute-FAQ.html#Base-wont-sell-more-than-6-tickets
If your family needs more than 6 then you could get the regular military discount tickets http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/