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Welcome to the Military Disney Tips Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ!
Below are many, many questions that are asked all the time about Disney’s Best Military Discount for Tickets and Rooms. We’ve been curating this FAQ list for over 12 years now!
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.
You can also check out our: Disney Armed Forces Salute page for full program details. Or see our FAQ Friday Posts.
We’ve divided the FAQ into several topic areas:
- General
- Rooms/Hotels
- Tickets.
We really hope that this helps!!!
Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Information
Disney’s Armed Forces Salute – Our page with full details, learn all the ins and outs Memory Maker and PhotoPass+ Military Discounts FAQ Friday Blog Posts – Even more of your questions answered See Disney World Resorts with these great discounts See Disneyland Resorts with these great discounts Read the Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Discount Tickets Also the Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Discounted Rooms Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket Activation – MDT’s How To Guide |
General Armed Forces Salute Questions
The Disney Armed Forces Salute is a special temporary offer which runs for a specified time period. It features deep discounts and is totally separate from the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets which are always available.
The Walt Disney Company has been offering various versions of their Armed Forces Salute since January 2009 and previously during part of 2002. During these offers qualified service members or their spouse are eligible for both discounted theme park tickets and outstanding discounts on Disney Resorts.
Those who are eligible fall in the following categories:
-Current members of the US military Active Duty
-Reserve (current participating for pay and points)
-National Guard (current participating for pay and points)
-Current members of: Coast Guard
-Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
-Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
-Reserve and Guard DO NOT need to be on active duty orders (or show any orders)!
-Retired members from the US military Active Duty
-Reserve
-National Guard
-Gray area retirees of the Reserve and Guard are eligible.
-Retired members from: Coast Guard
-Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
-Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
-Other Eligible Persons:
–100% Permanently Disabled Veterans are also eligible for this offer. Permanently Disabled ———-Veterans must have a military ID with a DAVPRM status
–Spouses of eligible members (Listed above) are able to participate in place of the member (not in addition to) without the member being present
–Non-remarried spouses of deceased eligible members above
–Active Military Foreign Affiliates who have been issued a US CAC with a blue band are also eligible
Not Eligible Are:
-IRR Non-Participating “Reservists”
-Unaccompanied non-spouse dependents (children)
-Prior service members who did not retire
-Foreign military members without US issued CAC
-DoD civilians
-Service connected disabled who are DAVTMP
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There are other programs for various disability categories.
Service members who did not retire may be eligible for other discounts.
See the Disney ID requirements.
During these offers qualified service members or their spouse are eligible for both discounted theme park tickets and outstanding discounts on Disney Resorts.
Walt Disney World Disney Armed Forces Salute Dates
2024 – 1 January – 20 December 2024
2025 – 1 January – 19 December 2025
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Disneyland Disney Armed Forces Salute Dates
2024 – 2 January – 13 December 2024
2025 – 1 January – 27 December 2025
The Armed Forces Salute discounts on both resort rooms and theme park tickets are available at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida and at Disneyland in California.
Disney theme parks outside of the US do not participate in this offer though there may be discounts available through local base ticket offices.
Blockout dates are days that Disney does not honor the Armed Forces Salute. These fall in both the ticket and resort discount categories.
On Ticket Blockout Dates you may not use your Armed Forces Salute Tickets for entry to the theme parks or use your Water Parks and More Options. If you want to go to the parks on these days you’ll need to buy a general admission ticket or a regular military discounted one from Shades of Green or an ITT Office.
Walt Disney World Blockout Dates
Disney Armed Forces Salute TICKET Blockout Dates at Disney World
2024 Disney Armed Forces Salute
March 24 through April 6, 2024
November 24 through November 30, 2024
2025 Disney Armed Forces Salute
April 13, 2025 through April 26, 2025
November 23, 2025 through November 29, 2025
Disney Armed Forces Salute ROOM Blockout Dates at Disney World
None were announced for the 2024 or 2025 Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Room Offer
Disneyland Resort Blockout Dates
Disney Armed Forces Salute TICKET Blockout Dates at the Disneyland Resort
None listed on Disneyland Site for 2024 and 2025
Disney Armed Forces Salute ROOM Blockout Dates at the Disneyland Resort
None were announced for the 2024 or 2025 Disneyland Armed Forces Salute Room Offer
See this detailed page on Blockout Dates
On Resort Blockout Days the Armed Forces Salute Military Resort Discounts do not apply at all. If you have a reservation that bridges these dates your room will revert from the discount rate to the regular rate on these days.
Options:
If you want to visit a Disney theme park on a day that the Disney Armed Forces Salute is blocked out there are other options:
Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets
Here are other options to the Disney resorts which offer military discounts:
Shades of Green, the military-owned and operated resort on WDW property
The Disney Swan and Dolphin
The Disney Springs Area Hotels
The Armed Forces Vacation Club
Yes, you can take advantage of the offer at both Disney Resorts during the same offer period. The 2 offers are totally independent.
Under some circumstances. Those stationed in the US who have a US issued ID card (CAC with blue stripe) are eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute.
Those who in no way support the United States are not eligible.
Armed Forces Salute Hotel Discount Questions
Below are all of the frequent questions that we receive about Disney Armed Forces Salute Hotel discounts.
Disney is offering outstanding discounts on their resort rooms for Military Members and their families.
At Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida – Up to 25% off Deluxe Resorts, Up to 20% off Moderates and Fort Wilderness Cabins, and Up to 15% off Value Resorts.
See Disney World Resorts with this great discount
At Disneyland in Anaheim California – Up to 40% off the Grand Californian, Up to 35% off the Disneyland Hotel, and Up to 30% off the Paradise Pier.
See Disneyland Hotels with this great discount
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See why I say “Up To” aboveÂ
There are Blockout Days, days during which Disney does not offer the Disney Armed Forces Salute rates. Any stays during these dates would need to be either the full rate or another discount (if available).
Also, Disney only sets aside a certain number of rooms per night at each resort and of each room type. So, your desired resort or specific room request may not always be available. Note: desirable rooms (Princess or pirate) rooms sell out fast.
See this detailed page on Blockout Dates
Here are other options to the Disney resorts which offer military discounts:
Shades of Green, the military-owned and operated resort on WDW property
The Disney Swan and Dolphin
The Disney Springs Area Hotels
The Armed Forces Vacation Club
Disney offers discounts at its Deluxe, Moderate (including Fort Wilderness Cabins), and value resorts. See them all here
WDW Resort Hotels included in This Offer
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (Suites only)
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
Disney’s Yacht Club Villas
Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel
The Disneyland Hotel
The Grand Californian Hotel and Spa
WDW Offer excludes the following Resorts and room types:
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
All 3-bedroom villas
Suites in Moderate and Deluxe Resort hotels
Cabins at Copper Creek Villas
Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disneyland Resort’s Offer excludes the following:
Concierge rooms, Signature or Premium suites, or 2 or 3-Bedroom Villas.
You may reserve up to 3 rooms at Walt Disney World and 2 rooms at Disneyland Resort using the Disney Armed Forces Salute. All rooms must check-in the same day at the same resort and the military sponsor must stay in one.
As many times as you like during the offer period. There is no limit.
You can call the Disney central reservations numbers yourself and ask for the Armed Forces Salute room-only discount. You can not make these reservations online.
Or you can work through a travel agent. Military Disney Tips recommends the military family-owned and operated, Fee Free, Disney specializing travel agency Ears of Experience.
Disney Reservations: Disney World 1-407-934-7639, Disneyland 1-714-781-4565
Absolutely, just ask to add whichever paid dining plan that you’d like to your Armed Forces Salute room-only reservation.
However, these military rates may not be combined with the Free Disney Dining Plan offers that Disney makes available from time to time.
There is a way around this, typically Disney requires only a minimum of 2-day tickets for everyone in the room. If you are staying 6 nights you could opt for the full price room, 2-day regular ticket and the 4-day Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets.
Yes, see Blockout Dates above!
Plus, Disney’s room discounts are offered on a sliding scale on an as-available basis. See how this works
There are other locations that offer military discounts:
Shades of Green, the military-owned and operated resort on WDW property
The Disney Swan and Dolphin
The Disney Springs Area Hotels
The Armed Forces Vacation Club
While Military Disney Tips does not currently offer vacation planning assistance, we do recommend Ears of Experience, a Disney-only, military family-owned small business. Thousands of satisfied MDT readers have used Ears of Experience over the years.
Armed Forces Salute Theme Park Ticket Questions
Below are all of the frequent questions that we receive about Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets.
For 2024 and 2025 at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida
-Four-Day, Five-Day, or 6-Day Park Hopper Option, which allows you to visit multiple parks on the same day
-Four-Day, Five-Day, or 6-Day Park Hopper Plus Option, which allows 4 entrances to a variety of non-theme Park Disney venues in addition to your theme park days
For 2024 at Disneyland in Anaheim California
-Three-Day or Four-Day Park Hopper Tickets
-Three-Day or Four-Day Park Hopper Tickets Lightning Lane Multi Pass
The Park Hopper Option allows you to visit multiple Disney Theme Parks during the same day. For example: You can start your day in one theme park and then switch a different park, perhaps with a mid-day break in between.
The Park Hopper Plus Option: Allows a number entries equal to the theme park days on your ticket to the following:
-Typhoon Lagoon
-Blizzard Beach
-General admission into the Wide World of Sports Complex
-9 Holes of Golf at Disney’s Oak Trail 9-Hole Golf Course
At Disney’s Miniature Golf Courses, one round of golf per day prior to 4pm
For more on the Park Hopper Plus option see this page
The Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute tickets come with either one of these options or both.
-Hopper only tickets can not use the Park Hopper Plus venues
-Park Hopper Plus only tickets can not park hop. you may only go to one park per day. You may leave and go back to the same park though
-Tickets with both options can of course do booth
The Disneyland Armed Forces Salute tickets come with just the Hopper option as they have no water parks.
Those who are eligible fall in the following categories:
-Current members of the US military Active Duty
-Reserve (current participating for pay and points)
-National Guard (current participating for pay and points)
-Current members of: Coast Guard
-Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
-Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
-Reserve and Guard DO NOT need to be on active duty orders (or show any orders)!
-Retired members from the US military Active Duty
-Reserve
-National Guard
-Gray area retirees of the Reserve and Guard are eligible.
-Retired members from: Coast Guard
-Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
-Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
-Other Eligible Persons:
–100% Permanently Disabled Veterans are also eligible for this offer. Permanently Disabled ———-Veterans must have a military ID with a DAVPRM status
–Spouses of eligible members (Listed above) are able to participate in place of the member (not in addition to) without the member being present
–Non-remarried spouses of deceased eligible members above
–Active Military Foreign Affiliates who have been issued a US CAC with a blue band are also eligible
Not Eligible Are:
-IRR Non-Participating “Reservists”
-Unaccompanied non-spouse dependents (children)
-Prior service members who did not retire
-Foreign military members without US-issued CAC
-DoD civilians
-Service-connected disabled who are DAVTMP
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There are other programs for various disability categories.
Service members who did not retire may be eligible for other discounts.
See the Disney ID requirements.
Walt Disney World
“Eligible Service Members” may purchase up to a maximum of 6 each 2024 theme park tickets per military member to be used during the offer period.
Disneyland
“Eligible Service Members” may purchase up to a maximum of 6 each 2024 theme park tickets per military member to be used during the offer period.
NOTE: There are situations where the limit is reduced to 5 tickets!
-If the member is using an alternate type of ticket e.g an Annual Pass or Florida Resident Ticket, only 5 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets may be purchased and activated as per Disney’s rules, 1 Salute Ticket must be reserved for the member
– If the spouse goes without the member, for instance on a girl’s trip, only 5 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets may be purchased and activated as per Disney’s rules, 1 Salute Ticket must be reserved for the member.
Both the member and spouse cannot both buy up to the limit, It is either the member or the spouse, not both.
Walt Disney World
2024 Salute Tickets 1 January through 20 December 2024
Disneyland
2024 Salute Tickets 1 January through 13 December 2024
If you will be unable to use any remaining days, consider upgrading the Salute ticket to an annual Pass. It will then be valid for 1 year from the date you first used your Salute ticket.
Yes, there are what Disney calls blockout dates, dates on which the tickets may not be used. they are:
Ticket Blockout Dates at Walt Disney World
-March 24 through April 6, 2024
-November 24 through November 30, 2024
-April 13, 2025 through April 26, 2025
-November 23, 2025 through November 29, 2025
Ticket Blockout Dates at Disneyland
-None listed on the Disneyland site
If you want to visit a Disney park on a day that the Disney Armed Forces Salute is blocked out there are other options:
Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets
The Armed Forces Salute Theme Park Tickets must be purchased in person either by the eligible service member or their spouse. A military ID is required.
The tickets may be purchased at any of the following locations:
-Your local Base Ticket Office
-Shades of Green (the military hotel on Disney World property)
-The Orlando ITT Office
-Via Phone/FedEx
-Disney Theme Park Ticket Windows
You will pay no tax at the military resellers (Base Ticket Offices (MWR.ITT) and Shades of Green) or at Disneyland ticket booths. But local sales tax is added at Disney World ticket booths.
Tickets purchased at military resellers (except Shades of Green) must be activated (for no extra cost) at Disney’s theme park ticket windows prior to first use.
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You can purchase Disney tickets via phone/FedEx See this Post!
Yes, you can in a sense; you can upgrade the shorter or non-Park Hopper Plus tickets to longer Salute tickets or add the Plus option for the price difference.
Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets purchased from Disney or Base Ticket Offices must be upgraded at a Disney World ticket or Guest Relations window, for the price difference plus tax.
Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets purchased at Shades of Green may be upgraded there to a ticket with the Plus Option, or to annual or seasonal passes, for the price difference (no tax).
Simply take the ticket or exchange voucher you received from your Base Ticket office to a ticket window at any of Disney’s theme parks, the Disney Springs Guest Relations office, or the 2 WDW water parks.
There they will check your military ID ask you a few questions and activate your tickets.
Learn more about the activation process
All members of the party must be present for activation.
No, once the tickets are activated the party can split up. For example, some go to Epcot and some to MK (or Disneyland / California Adventure), or even use the tickets on different days. The Military ID is checked only upon ticket activation.
The policy at Disney ticket booths has always been that exceptions should be made for immediate families larger than six people.
Disney will allow you to buy and use enough tickets for your entire immediate family.
For example, if a family has five children, Disney will allow all members of the family to purchase the 4-Day Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets (for Mom, Dad, and the 5 kids).
Disney defines immediate family as Dependent Children!
Grandchildren, adult children, and extended family do not qualify.
Military ticket resellers may not allow you to buy more than 6 tickets.
See this post for more info: I need more than 6 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets What Can I Do?
If you do not fall under this exception, then you can still purchase the regular military discounted Magic Your Way Tickets from your base ticket office or Shades of Green.
No. You can certainly use them every day until they are finished, or you can spread them out over a longer vacation while taking a day or two off, visiting Universal Studios, SeaWorld, or Legoland. You can even use some days on one trip and the rest on a later trip as long as it is before the offer ends.
Passholders do not need to buy their own salute tickets. I’m a Passholder and only buy salute tickets for those going with me.
NOTE: In this situation, the ticket limit is reduced to 5 tickets!
-If the member is using an alternate type of ticket like an Annual Pass, only 5 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets may be purchased and activated as per Disney’s rules, 1 Salute Ticket must be reserved for the member.
Yes, For example, a party of two using two 4-day tickets, followed by another set of 4-day tickets, for a total of 8 park days. This is of course up to your limit of 6. Always compare use of multiple tickets figuring the cost multiple ways using the Disney Armed Forces Salute and Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets.
Some military installations or National Guard locations don’t have a ticket office. If you are in this situation there are other options.
For Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND in Orlando Florida, you can purchase tickets at both Shades of Green and the Orlando ITT Office (see below). Shades of Green Ships tickets!
For Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND in California, you can use these ticket offices: Los Angeles AFB, FSS though the ITT Office, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA will sell Via Phone/FedEx, Naval Base Ventura County.
Absolutely not, these tickets are only for current or retired members. Leaving the military makes you ineligible for the offer or to to activate previously purchased Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets.
Yes. It is not the ticket that matters, rather it is the resort you are staying at which qualifies you for these programs.
Early Entry
The following resorts are eligible for Early Entry:
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Yacht Club Villas
Shades of Green
Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve
Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Holiday Inn Orlando
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Extended Evening Hours
In addition, guests staying at Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resorts at Walt Disney World including Shades of Green will also be able to enjoy Extended Evening Hours on select nights in select theme parks. Extended evening hours will begin in early October 2021.
The following resorts are eligible for Extended Evening Hours:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Yacht Club Villas
Shades of Green
Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve
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No. It is not the ticket that matters, rather it is the resort you are staying at which qualifies you for these programs.
Yes
Yes, they can be linked to your My Disney Experience account see our My Disney Experience Page.
Yes, You can purchase Disneyland Armed Forces Salute and Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Or if you’ve purchased tickets without this feature you can add it after arrival at a Ticket or Guest Relations window.
Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Don’t See Your Question Here? See our FAQ Friday Posts
Well that’s it for our FAQ!
Let us know if you have other questions in the comments section below!
This article was written by Steve Bell, founder of Military Disney Tips.
Steve is a retired U.S. military member who has been visiting the Disney Parks since 1971 and writing about Disney military discounts and vacations for the military community for over 18 years.
Read Steve’s Full Bio | Follow Military Disney Tips on Facebook
We have dates that we want to go, but we may have to switch dates. If we get rooms through our base, if we end up needing to switch will we be able to?
Hi Morgan,
Your Base Travel Agent is just like my recommended Travel Agent Ears of Experience, or any other one. If you had to change dates they would work with Disney’s reservation department to find you another reservation based on availability and price for the new dates.
I’d humbly ask that you consider using Ears of Experience instead of a third party, to help keep the flow of free information coming from this site…
Can the active duty member be present for the activation of the salute the troops ticket but not actually have a ticket for themselves and then leave wants the activation is complete?
Hi Stef,
Nope, that’s not possible. The member (or spouse) must have a ticket of their own (unless they are an annual passholder). They could leave after activating all the tickets, theirs included…
The reason being that these very special, highly discounted tickets are for the purpose of the member spending time in Disney’s parks with family and friends, not to let those who aren’t eligible use them.
The slightly discounted Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets are OK for that purpose. There is no activation and these may be used by anyone without the member being present.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/regular-military-discounted-magic-your-way-tickets/
What happens if we bought too many tickets? I previously bought three and my husband just bought 5 and it wasn’t until after we realized we got tickets for the same promotion? The tickets on base say they are non refundable.
Hi Jessica,
Well, you have a problem…
Sorry.
You and your husband don’t have 6 dependent children do you? In that case you could use them all.
Barring that, you are going to have to negotiate with Disney, most likely in person, about the tickets.
Per the rules, there are no refunds as you’ve mentioned. There were some accommodations of various sorts for 2020 tickets due to covid, but we are way past that now.
Best case you can get a Disney ticket window to give you a refund (unlikely), middle case they will let you use the purchase price towards other ticket options (for later use)(most likely), worst case Disney says thanks for the purchases. If that’s the case, you’ll either lose out on those tickets or you could extend your trip or do a second trip and use them (that’s if they are 2022 and not 2021 so you have time to use them).
If I bought a three day pass for me and my family but am unable to attend the second and third day of the ticket. As long as I am with them the first day will they be able to use the other days without me?
Yes, that’s correct Derek.
As long as you are there for the activation process, they can then use the tickets without you.
If a family member used a ticket one day but can’t go the next two available days on ticket, can ticket be used by a different family member who can go?
Hi Carol,
No, sorry. All Disney Tickets are non-transferable.
See: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/faq/why-cant-people-share-a-disney-ticket/
Hello,
I have 2020 Disneyland Military Promotional 4 Day Park Hopper Tickets. I know the expiration date was extended but I’ve scene conflicting dates. Some say Sept. and some say Dec. 2021. Can you please confirm the NEW 2020 expiration date and the best way to use them? Do we need to make a resi or exchange them or just show up at the park/Disney Hotel?
Thank you in advance,
Jaime
Hi Jaime,
It is 16 Dec. 2021
See DL’s link, last bullet bottom of page: disneyland.disney.go.com/experience-updates/park-reservations/
I just realized our base sold us 12 salute to service tickets! My husband bought 6 tickets in February (enough for our immediate family and my father) and then some family asked to join us (my brother and his family), so I called a few months later about getting 6 more tickets at whatever discount was available and picked them up. I linked all of the tickets to the party members, made reservations, and then locked the tickets away without thinking much of what kind of tickets they were. I dug them out after reading this article and realized they are all Salute to Service tickets!
So how screwed are we going to be?
Hi there Laura,
When in February? It matters a great deal to your situation.
Read this post: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-armed-forces-salute/using-disney-armed-forces-salute-tickets-in-2021/
Then let me know if you are good to go or still need advice.
Do you know if me and my husband active duty can buy Florida resident tickets for ourselves and use the military promotion tickets for my parents? We would be present with both IDs but the Florida resident tickets are currently less expensive. Thanks!
Hi K W,
Unfortunately this is uncharted territory.
Since the start of the Salutes, passholders have not had to have their own Salute tickets. But I’ve never heard the same for tickets.
When I was a FL Resident I had the Silver Pass (now called something else) which was about the price of 2 Salute tickets, and I was covered for most of the year. But passes are not on sale currently.
Sorry, I just don’t know what to tell you on this one.
I’d communicate with Guest Services to get their response. do so via email or text that you can print and take as backup if you get a yes.
Since we don’t live near Disney World we will need to buy tickets through a base near us. I read they will give us vouchers to activate once in Disney. Can we use those vouchers to make park reservations ahead of time? We are going the week of Easter. Thank you for your help!
Hi Crystal,
Yes you absolutely can!
You can also buy long distance, see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/ (salute tickets from Shades of Green come activated).
Also see:
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/linking-disney-military-tickets-and-theme-park-reservations/
My husband is military and my sisters husband is military. My sister was planning on going to wdw this year and had already bought salute tickets for her family. Some things have charged for them and they can no longer go. Can I take her tickets that were bought and use them myself with my ID or are these tickets somehow linked to only her and her husband’s military ID. They have not been activated yet.
Hi Rachel,
So the answer is probably… But there are variables, so I will shotgun all the potential info.
Where did she buy the tickets and have the tickets been linked to her My Disney Experience account?
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets are sold unactivated by all military resellers (base ticket offices) except Shades of Green. The tickets are tied to a person in WDW’s ticketing system upon activation. Shades of Green does this just like a WDW ticket booth does (using a Disney terminal) when either of them sell the Salute Tickets.
If she bought them from Shades of Green, she will need to call WDW Guest Relations to try to get them to unlink/deactivate them in the ticketing system and unlink them from her My Disney Experience account (if linked). I’ve no experience or feedback on this ever so don’t know the potential outcome. But she should emphasize the inability to go (noting military reasons, potentially) and wanting to gift them to another military family. Asking to speak to a supervisor and then manager may be required.
If they were not purchased at Shades, this is not a problem.
Then
Did she link tickets purchased on base to her My Disney Experience account? She would have done this in order to make theme park reservations (if she got that far in her planning).
If linked she will need to get Disney to unlink them. I’ve heard they don’t like to do this and push back. But if she is persistent and explains why, they will do it.
Call the Disney Internet Help Desk at 800-848-6413, option #3 to unlink them.
Once unlinked, you can link them, make your theme park reservations, and activate them with your ID on arrival.
Note, some base ticket offices like to write names on the back of tickets. This means nothing as far as Disney is concerned. You can cross off the names if there. When you link the thickets in MDE you set the ticketing system up for the activation. When you go to activate you can hand the castmember all the tickets at once, the system knows who’s is who’s.
Rachel, I would really appreciate feedback on how this turns out (and actually what your actual situation is now (the missing details))!
Please come back here, or use my contact form to let me know after this works through so that I might help others better!
Hello,
We have used the Salute tickets many times before but our next trip (April 2023) is a little different now because this is the first time we’ve had to use the reservation system. The issue I’m having is to pay $2900 for 5 days for 5 of us through Disney since ticket prices opened today and I can go ahead and make the reservations once I add the tickets to our vacation package. Or do I wait until this fall for Disney to hopefully renew the Salute tickets for 2023. By time they get renewed and I get them in my hand will that still be enough time to make reservations for April 2023? So far it only looks like the reservation calendar is yellow for June and green for the rest of the year. Have you seen a trend in the parks filling up months in advance. I really want to save as much money as I can but I don’t want to wait too late to buy park passes and the reservation system book up.
Hi Taryn,
Theme Park Reservations are a challenging subject as you know. During normal to light attendance periods they are not really an issue even close to your dates. It’s early June and all of July is still green.
However for higher attendance periods (usually holiday periods) you’d want to get them well in advance, there are already 2 days in the Columbus Day follow-on week that are yellow with DHS not available.
You didn’t say when in April, the first half of April is traditionally some of the highest attendance days of the year, while the second half is only on the high side of low.
I’m betting since you’re concerned that it is in early April.
You’ve got 3 choices:
For packages (room and ticket): There is a $200 deposit, final payment of the entire remaining balance (room, meal plan, tickets, etc) is due 30 days prior to your check-in, but you can change or cancel your reservation without penalty prior to that.
So what I mean by work the system, would be to make that expensive reservation with tickets now and make your theme park reservations.
Then you can wait to see what happens with a 2023 Disney Armed Forces Salute. If it’s renewed you can then buy Salute tickets and link them to each person in your party. Once you link the Salutes you can modify your reservation to a room only hopefully with a Salute discount! They really don’t modify regular reservations to Salute one, it’s a cancel and rebook.
As I understand it, Disney’s only cares that a person who makes or has a theme park reservation has a ticket or pass, the ticket number is not relevant. Reservations will even stay in effect for a couple days when a ticket or room reservation is removed! The system will email you to say you need to add the missing item or the reservation will be lost (this has happened to me). Just trivia as you will always have tickets this way.
The only risk I see would be keeping your desired resort and room type with the conversion/cancel & rebook.
This is as I understand it and not a guarantee. Couldn’t hurt to call Disney and ask. You might have to try a few times to get an honest answer.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for this amazing website! It’s very helpful when planning my future Disneyland trip. I’m hoping that the Salute Disneyland tickets come out soon, and in the event it does… Am I able to buy 2023 Disneyland Salute tickets to use Jan 6th, even though I bought four 2022 Disneyland Salute tickets that I used in February? I remember surfing the web a few months back and thought I recalled an incident where someone was told that the 6 Salute tickers are per year, meaning that I would only have 2 left if I purchased them now and the tickets wouldn’t be accepted at the park.
Hope this makes sense.
Thank you for your help.
Hi, I have looked through the FAQs so I’m just wanting a confirmation to my question. I am a military spouse going to WDW in place of my husband. Can I still purchase the Armed Forces Salute tickets at the WDW ticket office without my husband present as long as I have my dependent ID? Or if I purchase them with my husband on base, will he need to be present to activate them when I go to the park? Thank you so much for all this helpful information on your website!
Hi Raquel,
Thanks.
You will be fine without him there. You are eligible to use them without him.
FYI don’t wait till you get there, you need the ticket in hand to make the required theme park reservations ahead of time.
My FIL, retired Army Col., is buying the Armed Forces Salute tickets for our party. He is ordering them long-distance through Shades of Green. My understanding is that these tickets through Shades of Green are already activated. Does he need to show his ID again when we enter the park on the first day? He will be arriving a day later than the rest of us, and I am worried we won’t be able to get into the park that first day without him with us. Thanks!
Hi Stephanie,
Activated Salute tickets from Shades of Green are ready to use. There is no further ID check.
You can head right to the park entrance.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for all you do for our Community! Couple Questions, I tried to find my earlier post this summer to just piggy back on it but couldnt, sorry!
1. I purchased the 4 day Salute tickets, thru Shades, and used some of the days in August on a trip then. We’re traveling back in November; can the tickets be upgraded to a 5 day? My daughter and I used 2/4 days; grandma used 3/4 days. Grandma needs one more day for the next trip lol!
2. I purchased the 6 Salute tickets for my and family use, thru Shades online. I’m the spouse of the service member. Now husband is coming on this trip; he didn’t on August trip. Can we have our active duty nephew, who’s stationed here w us, purchase the Salute ticket online via Shades for my husbands use? *Nephew wont be w us; he hasn’t used any Salute tickets this year* They now come activated via a pdf from Shades and I just assign them to the travelers in the MDE; it does not show any names attached in the file.
Hi Amy,
Thanks so much, I love doing it!
So, Best case you can go right to a Disney window and upgrade Grandma’s ticket to a 5-day for the price difference with tax added. Worst case because you purchased through Shades they might send you over there for the upgrade with no tax. You’ll have a day or so to do it, You have to do it before using the last day.
It’s nice they let you use 6 tickets before, the spouse is only supposed to be able to use 5.
It’s so cool your nephew is stationed with you guys! There should be no issues with #2!
It is great having nephew here with us! Very special time to be stationed near another family member. He’s at 6 years and counting un the USAF.
Not sure about the 6 ticket use, Shades never questioned me as the spouse buying 6 for the August trip!
Thanks for your reply, aillcheck in with Shades since purchase was with them originally. We’ve joined DVC since last trip and are not at Shades for this next stay!
Take care 🙂
Awesome!
It’s usually Disney that institutes the 5-tic limit. I have an AP and they won’t let me do more than 5 due to the 1 tic being reserved for the member (if not there or even if they have an AP, silly).
Hey, we just bought DVC too. Two contracts on the resale market! We switched to that as the site can no longer fund travel…
My brother in law who is active duty was only able to use one day of his three day salute ticket last year. Is there anyway he can call and pay the difference in this years tickets and get it transferred to this year?
Hi Seraphina,
Technically, the Salute tickets expire and lose all value at the end of each individual Salute offer period. However, Disney has been known to make exceptions.
I recommend calling guest services to see if they can help.
If not you can still try in person on arrival.
Can we use Disney Gift card to purchase a one day park hopper with a military discount?
No Ari,
Unfortunately you can’t.
1-day military tickets are only sold by base ticket offices. They don’t accept Disney gift cards, only Disney does.
Suggest you use the gift card for food and merchandise while there.
I am 100% service connected and bought my spouse a 3 day Disneyland Armed Forces salute ticket. Will they check to see if she has a dependent ID at the gate or will a California DL work? She currently does not have any sort of Uniformed Services ID.
Hi Martin,
Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets require a current military ID (member or spouse) in order to activate them prior to use after arrival at Disneyland.
IDK, is it possible to get her an ID?
Otherwise, you will have to try to get the ticket office to take the ticket back (as she can’t use it) and sell you a Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Ticket for her instead.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/disneyland-military-discounted-theme-park-tickets/
As long as I am with her with my Next Gen privilege card, she will be ok? We don’t have the same last name yet. Will they need proof or anything? I tried calling the Disneyland ticket office and they said it’s ok, but not sure how much they actually know about these types of tickets.
Well Martin,
This new info changes things…
When you said they sold you a Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket I assumed you were a 100% permanently disabled with a retired military ID.
If you are not 100% perm as the privilege card suggests, you are not eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute. A current military ID is required for both purchase and use of Salute tickets!
With the privilege card you are only eligible for the Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets.
Are you sure you bought a Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket? They should not have sold it to you without an ID.
Or did you perhaps get a Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets and are calling it a Disney Armed Forces Salute one.
Compare the prices on these 2 pages to see what you bought:
Salute: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/the-disney-armed-forces-salute-military-ticket-and-room-discounts/
Regular: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/disneyland-military-discounted-theme-park-tickets/
Prices might be a couple dollars off depending on where you bought them as some bases kick in a few bucks and some others charge a small fee.
If you indeed have a Salute ticket there is no way for you (or her) to use it! You’ll need to go back to where you bought it and insist they take it back as you can’t use it (they are non-refundable! So you might have trouble) and have them sell you the more expensive regular military ticket.
If they refuse, the only other option is when she gets there have Disney use the purchase price towards a full price ticket. I’d have her bring all documentation possible: a copy of your card, the purchase receipt, a note from you about what happened, and try to get the ticket office to put something in writing that they refuse to let you return a ticket that you can’t use that they sold you in error.
Now, if what you have is actually a Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Ticket or they will let you do the exchange, there is no ID check on arrival! You are allowed to give those tickets to anyone you’d like for them to use without you.
Yea it’s the salute 3 day park hopper for $245 Disneyland.
I was able to stop by my CAC office while in the office today and had the required forms to get a badge that does state I am 100%.
I think I am good now. My wife and I don’t share the same last name and she is not in DEERs, I hope that’s ok. I’m just hoping there isn’t much hassle at the gate since this is our first time doing this
I bought and used 2 Salute tickets for WDW in June. Now the fam wants to go to Disneyland in December. Can I buy 6 salute tickets for DL or only 4? I am not sure if the yearly limit of 6 is separate or combined for both parks.
Thanks
Al
Hi Al,
You are good for 6 at Disneyland! The WDW and DLR offers are totally separate
They are actually 2 different companies under the corporate umbrella… just like ESPT or ABC are different Disney companies.
I am trying to get tickets for Jan 1 2024 for 4 days at Disney World.. We are currently in the 90 day period -when will the military ticket go on sell for use in 2024. O don’t want to lose out on any reservation for the parks.
Hi Melissa,
Here are a few points for you to consider.
1. There is no guarantee that the Disney Armed Forces Salute will be renewed for 2024. These are one-off temporary offers.
2. However I do expect to see a renewal around Veterans day. See this post!
3. They are typically on sale soon after the announcement.
4. January/February is one of the slowest times of the year and I don’t expect that you would have issues getting park reservations in late November (or even later).
FYI if for some reason there is no Salute (Or you really want to buy now) you would fall back to the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets.
Hello! So my son just received deployment orders and immediately called me and said he wanted us to go to Disney World before his deployment…we are a hardcore Disney family that used to go yearly until it was not financially possible to go yearly. Disney is where our hearts are. Anyway, with limited time and opportunity we have booked flights for Nov 25th-29th and a tentative off site resort because I called about the military discount on rooms and was quoted a price at All-Star Music that came out around $213 a night without tickets Included…which is almost $75 a night more than the rate of $147 a night that was available to the general public on Disneys website. So unfortunately it made it kind of out of our last min price range. We have also been trying to figure out tickets. We know we can get the tickets at Shades of Green, but they issue with that is we don’t have time to get them via mail and if we wait till we arrive we then have to find a way to Shades to get them… and we can’t make park reservations until the day before we will be going to the parks…and I’m terrified we might end up not able to get the parks and it would be horrible for this to happen when this trip means what it does for him. I was hoping to get the Salute tickets but can’t find anywhere to purchase them, we don’t have a local base with ticket sales. Please help!
Hi Jessica,
I’d be glad to offer advice!
First, Shades of Green and the other bases that ship tickets do so FedEx, usually 2-day.
The problem with Shades of Green is that they can at times be very slow in processing orders. While a day or so is normal I’ve personally waited 2 weeks for them to get back to me, as have others.
I’ve found Patrick Space Force Base to be very fast and have used them several times.
See https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
If you decide not to go this route, there is the Orlando ITT located right next to Orlando International Airport. If you are driving or renting a car you can stop by before getting to Disney, or if you are doing a limo you can arrange for a “grocery” stop. The have a full commissary there too (I like to get a case of water for the trip there).
See https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/orlando-florida-itt-ticket-sales-office/
I’m looking at the theme park reservation site and every day in November is green, meaning all parks are available. Even the next few days are still green. The days to worry about on your trip are the 25th and maybe the 26th (thanksgiving weekend). If one or two parks (MK and DHS) fill up, you can do those the other days
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/availability-calendar/?segments=tickets&defaultSegment=tickets
Oh, and Shades of Green is about a $10 Uber ride from on property.
Also it just hit me that keep in mind that the 25th the Salute tickets are blocked from use!
Hi Steve!
If I bought 2 salute tickets and used them in Jan 2024, can I go and buy 4 more and use in June 2024?
Yes, absolutely Dawn!
Thank you!!!
My wife’s aunt is retired Air Force. She offered to get Salute tickets for our family and her husband and her. Through some bad communication, we’re getting there 2 days sooner then they planned. We were already going to buy regular tickets before the she offered. Now, and this is probably more of a Disney question but with extenuating circumstances, can we have regular 6 day tickets on our account as well as the Salute tickets? We would use the regular now and Salute later in the year.
Thanks,
Chris
Hi Chris,
Yes, you can absolutely link more than 1 ticket to a person’s My Disney Experience account.
The issue is, what ticket will the system use when you go to tap into a park? From what Disney tells me, the last ticket linked is used first by the system.
During your first 2 days this will not be an issue as you’ll just have your regular tickets linked, but once your aunt arrives, activates your Salute tickets, and you link them from what I understand the system will then try to use the Salute ones which you don’t want due to the regulatr ticket expiration!
So, that first day that you go to go use the Salute tickets, you’ll need to go to Guest Relations prior to tapping in! They can set which ticket the system will use (I’m not sure if it’s for just that day or if they can set it permanently, be sure to ask). If they can fix you up for the thole trip, awesome, if not you’ll have to visit GR every morning and plan time for that.
Note if the wrong ticket gets used, GR can fix it, deducting a day from the intended ticket and adding one to the other. I’ve had to do this!