This post is part of our Frequently Asked Question Series in the Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket FAQ section.
The Disney’s Armed Forces Salute offers huge savings on theme park tickets and resort rooms to those Service Members who are eligible to participate.
Sorry, absolutely not!
These special discounted tickets are only for current or retired military members (and 100% Service Connected Disabled DAVPRM).
A current, valid military CAC or ID is required in order to activate Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets upon arrival. Tickets or vouchers purchased on base need to be activated in person with proper ID at a Disney location prior to use.
Once you leave the military without retiring you are ineligible to participate in the Disney Armed Forces Salute.
Disney will look for a CAC or ID as depicted on this page during the activation process.
Read more about Activating Disney Military Tickets.
Your Options
There are a couple of options available to you:
Pre-Activate Tickets. This requires 2 trips within the same Salute Offer period for your whole party though. On the first trip buy all the tickets that you’ll need (up to the ticket limit) and activate them all. The tickets will remain active until used up. No ID is required to use them later, just to activate them. Note Shades of Green now sells pre-activated Salute tickets and only the member or spouse needs to be present for the purchase.
Buy the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets. These slightly discounted military tickets are sold ready to go and do not require activation. There is no Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets purchase limit. You will only save 4-8% off of the full gate price on these tickets though.
Disney Armed Forces Salute full info
Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way ticket info
Shades of Green Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets Prices (Base Ticket Offices are similar).
But I’ve already purchased my Tickets!
Quite a few people fall into this predicament.
They either buy their Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets and then find out that they are being separated prior to their scheduled vacation dates or they don’t realize/weren’t advised that they cannot use them after separation.
I highly recommend rescheduling the vacation to prior to separation in order to use this huge savings!
If that is not possible, then Disney should allow you use the ticket purchase value towards full price tickets. A polite escalation up the management chain might be required.
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This MDT Post By: Steve Bell Steve is the Military Disney Tips Founder. He is a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! He has been writing about Disney for the US Military Community here for 18 years. Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way possible. See Steve and His Family's Content |
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:
- Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
- 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
 The Mouse Experts is a travel booking company specializing in Disney vacations. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!
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Hi! Thank you for all the information I have a lot less questions now than before reading!! I just wanted to double check with a concern I have. I’m a military spouse and planning on buying 5 day WDW tickets for my family and we will all be there for activation at the parks. But I can only go for 3 days to the parks with my family. Can they use the other 2 days left on their own? (I assumed after the activation at WDW they can use their ticket as normal, but now I’m not so sure)
Thank you again!!
Hi there Katherine,
Yes, once activated, they act like any other ticket. You’ll have till the expiration date (15 Dec 2023) to use the remaining days.
Great thank you so much!!