Many people are surprised to find out that Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Tickets need to be activated upon arrival at Walt Disney World or Disneyland.
Just buying them at your Military Base Ticket Office often isn’t all that you need to do. These special Disney military tickets will not work at the theme park entrances or at the Walt Disney World Resort’s other venues unless they are activated first. (Note: Disneyland’s procedures are different, but also listed below.)
This is because you need to prove your eligibility in order to activate your tickets once you arrive at Disney.
Note, this situation has become more complicated since 2022 with the advent of Theme Park Reservations!
Originally all Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets not purchased directly from a Disney ticket window had to be activated via the procedure described below. Then several years ago Shades of Green began selling Salute tickets that were pre-activated. Shades of Green was able to do this once it was connected to Disney’s ticketing system, so buying Salute tickets there was just like buying from Disney. This has been the standard for many years now.
But, in 2026 there will be an additional step at Walt Disney World!
All Military Disney Tickets still require Theme Park Reservations in 2025 and 2026!
On to the Info…
Basic Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket Info
When buying Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets at your Base Ticket Office you will be given what Disney calls Exchange Vouchers.
These Vouchers can come in 4 different forms, depending on how your base does it:
- A sheet of 8.5″ x 11″ paper voucher with all of the names and ticket numbers printed on it
- A sheet of paper with a QR or bar code on it
- Stiff ticket sized paper/cardboard vouchers (like the green and blue ones pictured below)
- Actual plastic Disney tickets
No matter the kind, these can be linked to your My Disney Experience or Disneyland apps!
Disney Armed Forces Salute Exchange Voucher
Linking your tickets or exchange vouchers to the Disneyland app or your Walt Disney World My Disney Experience account and making Theme Park Reservations is a totally separate process and does not activate your tickets! You can do this prior to activation though.
Next, we’ll talk about the steps you will take on arrival at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Need Help Planning Your Disney Vacation?
Disney military discounts can save families a lot of money, but figuring out tickets, eligibility, resorts, Lightning Lane strategies, and transportation can quickly become overwhelming.
That’s why Military Disney Tips recommends The Mouse Experts Military Disney Vacation Specialists.
The Mouse Experts is a military-family owned and operated Disney-specializing travel agency that has partnered with Military Disney Tips for over 17 years. Their agents personally use the same military discounts that you do and understand the unique challenges military families face when planning Disney vacations.
- Experienced with Disney military discounts and eligibility rules
- Military-family owned and operated
- Same Disney pricing as booking directly with Disney
- Additional planning assistance available for guests wanting more personalized help
- Can help reduce stress, save time, and avoid common planning mistakes
Over 27,000 Military Disney Tips readers have contacted The Mouse Experts over the years for help planning their Disney vacations.
Walt Disney World
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets for Walt Disney World can be purchased ahead of time from Your Base Ticket Office, the Shades of Green Ticket Office or another base that sells long distance, or after arrival at Walt Disney World. Purchasing in advance is the best option as you will need to make Theme Park Reservations ahead of time to insure your dates are not sold out.
Where you purchase your Salute Tickets determine your required steps in order to use them.
Tickets purchased from Shades of Green or directly from Disney:
- Link Your Tickets after you purchase them
- Make Theme Park Reservations
- On the first day of use, proceed to your desired theme park entrance with your party and present a valid military ID to be checked as your enter. The ID check is not required on subsequent entrances. This ID check at the gate is new for 2026!
Tickets Purchased at a Base Ticket Office (Not-Shades of Green):
- Link Your Tickets after you purchase them
- Make Theme Park Reservations
- Head to a Disney World Guest Relations location with your party to activate your tickets. This can be done on the first day of use at your desired theme park, or ahead of time (to save time in line your first park day) at any of the theme park entrances or the Disney Springs Ticket Center.
- Then head to your desired theme park entrance with your party and present a valid military ID to be checked as your enter. The ID check is not required on subsequent entrances. This second ID check at the gate is new for 2026!
Disneyland
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets for Disneyland can be purchased ahead of time from Your Base Ticket Office, the Shades of Green Ticket Office or another base that sells long distance.
All Disneyland Salute Tickets follow these steps:
- Link Your Tickets after you purchase them
- Make Theme Park Reservations
- On the first day of use, proceed to your desired theme park entrance with your party and present a valid military ID as your enter. At Disneyland this is how the tickets are activated. The ID check is not required on subsequent entrances. You cannot do this in advance at Disneyland as a day of use is deducted from the ticket at activation!
Why is there this Activation Process?
Disney allows military resellers (Base ITT/ITR Ticket Offices) to sell these tickets based upon a contract. But, Disney depends on their own ticketing computer system to monitor and control the use of these tickets. This prevents the tickets from being used in an unauthorized manner.
During each individual Armed Forces Salute offer Disney sets exactly how many of the steeply discounted military tickets that each military member is allowed to use.
When the military member (or spouse) activates these tickets, Disney gathers information on the military member, which they tie to the tickets in their system. This is what tracks the number of tickets that you have activated during the current offer.
Once the tickets have been activated your party does not need to stay together. You can all go to different parks, at different times, on different days, or on any day through the end of the Salute offer.
Activating a ticket also allows that ticket to be used on your phone’s Disneyland Park app, or with your Magic Band (at WDW) as long as both are linked to the same person in your My Disney Experience account and the Disneyland app.
Non-Disney Resort guests (Shades of Green guests) can buy Magic Bands ahead of time from the Disney Store.
The Activation Process
When you activate your Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets you will need to bring your military IDs, or any picture ID for those in your party without military IDs. Young children do not need them.
Everyone that you are activating a ticket for must be present to have their ticket activated.
If the spouse is activating the tickets they must have their dependent ID Card (DD Form 1173) which must show a relationship of either “Spouse” or “Unremarried Widow (which is represented by DB on newer cards)”
If some guests in your party will arrive at a later date, but before you have used up your ticket, you can activate their tickets with them after they arrive, as long as your ticket still has days left on it.
Then what happens next varies depending on whether you are at Walt Disney World or Disneyland
At Walt Disney World
You must take the exchange vouchers obtained from your Base Ticket Office to a WDW Ticket or Guest Relations Window. Where they will enter some information into their system which the service member or spouse must provide. This is: The service member’s name, birth date, and email.
Disney will take the tickets or exchange vouchers you were given at the time of purchase, they will look at everyone’s ID and then tie his or her name to a specific ticket.
- WDW on property Guests (Using Magic Bands) – Will scan their Magic Band, and be good to go as both the ticket and Magic Band were previously linked to the individual in My Disney Experience. Disney will keep the exchange voucher or ticket.
- WDW off property Guests (Not using Magic Bands) a- Will be provided a new active ticket to use. They should then have everyone sign the back of their ticket so that they won’t be mixed up.
Note: at Disney World you can do this process ahead of time, say on your arrival afternoon or evening at any theme park entrance or the Disney Springs Ticket Center. This saves time your first morning if you are in a hurry to Rope Drop. This does not subtract a day from your ticket!
The first time you use the ticket or Magic Band to enter a park or venue, the ticket holder’s fingerprint info will be tied to that ticket. See how this works.
At Disneyland
At Disneyland the activation process takes place during your first park entry. There is no need to go to a ticket booth or Guest Relations first.
At Disneyland activating the ticket at a park entrance subtracts a day from your ticket!
The first time you use the ticket or Magic Band to enter a park or venue, they will check the member or spouse’s military ID and then take each ticket holder’s picture which will be tied to that ticket. See how this works.
Why so complicated?
It is for two reasons:
- The intended purpose of these tickets is for the member (or spouse) to spend time in Disney’s parks with family and friends to de-stress. It is not to give the tickets away to other family, adult children, or friends who are not eligible to use them without the member or spouse being present.
- Disney also does this to prevent scalping. Sad but true, but these special 4, 5 and 6 day military salute tickets (3 & 4 day for Disneyland) are about half off the regular ticket prices. That leaves lots of room for profit should someone try to resell them.
Where can you activate your tickets?
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets can be activated at the following locations:
Walt Disney World Locations:
- All four theme park ticket and Guest Relations windows
- The Transportation and Ticket Center Ticket or Guest Relations windows
- Magic Kingdom Ticket or Guest Relations windows
- EPCOT – Main Entrance or International Gateway Ticket or Guest Relations windows
- Hollywood Studios Ticket or Guest Relations windows
- Animal Kingdom Ticket or Guest Relations windows
- Both Water Parks
- Typhoon Lagoon
- Blizzard Beach
- Disney Springs Shopping and Entertainment Area (formerly Downtown Disney)
- Disney Spring’s Ticket Center (10:00 am to 9:00 pm)
Theme Park locations open at least 1 hour prior to park opening.
Note: Not all of these locations are not mentioned on the back of the paper exchange vouchers, but you can activate tickets at all of the above locations!
MDT Tip: You cannot activate tickets purchased on base at Shades of Green or at your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel!
Disneyland Entrance Locations:
- Disneyland Park – At the main entrance and the Downtown Disney Monorail Station with service to Disneyland’s Tomorrowland
- Disney California Adventure – At the main entrance and the 2 back entrances for guests of the Paradise Pier and Grand Californian Hotels
When can you activate your tickets?
If you purchased your tickets/vouchers at a Base Ticket Office you’ll activate your tickets in this manner:
At Disney World:
Your Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets can be activated at any time. You can do it ahead of time (I recommend this) you do not have to do it the same day that you plan to use them. Activating them ahead will not use up a day, only entering a park does this.
I recommend that you activate them the day or evening before you want to use them if possible, this will save time on your first theme park morning.
For instance on your day of arrival, you could take a fun trip to Disney Springs for dinner, some shopping and a movie or show. (Disney Springs Locations with Military Discounts) and while you are there activate your tickets. You could take a tour around the monorail hotels, just to look around, or for dinner and or drinks, and hit the Magic Kingdom entrance for the activation while doing so. Or if your are staying at a EPCOT Resort, walk over to the International Gateway to do it.
Then the next morning, when you are trying to get into the theme park as quickly as possible, you won’t have to wait in a long line to activate your tickets!
At Disneyland:
You cannot activate your tickets ahead of time, doing so would use up a day of use.
Your tickets will be activated on your first entry.
It’s Easy if you know how
I do get a lot of questions on this. So I hope this clears up any confusion on the subject of Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket activation!
Feel Free to ask Questions in the Comments Section below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I activate Armed Forces Salute tickets?
At a Disney ticket window or Guest Relations location. Bring valid military ID and your exchange certificates/e-vouchers.
Can my spouse activate the tickets?
Yes—spouses with valid military ID can typically purchase and activate within the same household entitlement.
Do I need to link tickets before activation?
It’s recommended. Link tickets in your Disney account/app and assign them to each guest to speed up activation.
Is activation required at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland?
Yes. Exchange certificates must be activated in person with valid ID before first use at both resorts.
How To: Activate Your Armed Forces Salute Tickets
- Bring documents. Exchange certificates/e-vouchers, valid military ID, and confirmation of purchase.
- Link in the app. Add ticket numbers and assign each ticket to a guest.
- Visit a ticket window. Go to a Disney ticket window or Guest Relations with your party.
- Activate & verify. Present ID; Cast Members will activate tickets for immediate entry.
- Plan line-skipping. At Walt Disney World, add Lightning Lane Multi Pass/Single Pass in the app day-by-day; at Disneyland, purchase the in-app equivalent after you enter the park.
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
Planning a Disney Vacation?
Military Disney discounts can save families a significant amount of money, but figuring out eligibility, tickets, resorts, transportation, and Lightning Lane strategies can get confusing quickly. These guides are a great place to start.
- Back to Basics Posts – Start here for beginner-friendly Disney planning topics.
- Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide
- Disney Armed Forces Salute Guide
- Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide
- Disney Packing Checklist
More Planning Resources:
Need Help Planning Your Disney Vacation?
Disney military discounts can save families a lot of money, but figuring out tickets, eligibility, resorts, Lightning Lane strategies, and transportation can quickly become overwhelming.
That’s why Military Disney Tips recommends The Mouse Experts Military Disney Vacation Specialists.
The Mouse Experts is a military-family owned and operated Disney-specializing travel agency that has partnered with Military Disney Tips for over 17 years. Their agents personally use the same military discounts that you do and understand the unique challenges military families face when planning Disney vacations.
- Experienced with Disney military discounts and eligibility rules
- Military-family owned and operated
- Same Disney pricing as booking directly with Disney
- Additional planning assistance available for guests wanting more personalized help
- Can help reduce stress, save time, and avoid common planning mistakes
Over 27,000 Military Disney Tips readers have contacted The Mouse Experts over the years for help planning their Disney vacations.
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I want to go to Disney World on 1 Oct which is my 65th birthday. I know that the discount rate expires on 26 September 2021 and that the new discount rate has not been released. I know that I can buy the tickets now and pay the difference later. I noticed that the reservations for 1 Oct 2021 is all sold out. Is there going to be more spots opening up for the military on that date? Do I need a reservation to go to Disney World? Thanks for your help!
Hi Mary,
The theme park reservation categories are: Disney Resort Guests, Passholder, and Ticket Holder. There is no special category for military tickets. You do, at this time, need a theme park reservation to enter a WDW theme park.
The Magic Kingdom has booked up for 1 October, but the other three theme parks do have availability.
If all this madness of a reaction to covid is over by October, then WDW will be beck to normal operations and theme park reservations will not be needed. Believe me Disney wants to be back to normal ops by then!!!
My sister qualifies to purchase Salute America tickets We have used this type of ticket in years past when reservations were not required. I have determined thanks to your website that we can make reservations once tickets are purchased even if they are not activated. Unfortunately my sister does not currently live near a base. If she purchases the tickets from Shades of Green will she be able to link the tickets as soon as the purchase is made or do we have to wait for the tickets to be shipped? We are trying to be somewhat spontaneous and plan to go next month.
Thank you for your help!!
Hi Cathalene,
You will need to wait for the tickets to arrive and use the numbers on the back to link them. The sooner that you order the better!
I hope you are not looking at the week of the 14th. Hollywood Studios isn’t available and the Magic Kingdom is not on the 15th.
See: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/availability-calendar/?locale=en-us&segments=tickets,resort,passholder&defaultSegment=resort&int_cmp=ILC-AdmissionCalendar_Web_RR-Module-Avail-Trade_
Hello, I am a retiree and my wife has used her dependent ID card to activate tickets in the past. Her ID card recently expired, but we are unable to get an updated one because DEERS has automatically extended the card. However, the date on the card is expired. Will Disney honor her expired (extended) dependent ID card?
Hi Travis,
No they won’t. They of course have no way to check DEERS and so must rely on the date printed on the card. I’d call or go to your nearest servicing ID office and explain the situation.
Alternately, order from Shades of Green long distance with your info, the Salute tickets come pre-activated.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
Hello,
I’ve read through a lot of the content (which is great) but I’m still confused. I thought I needed to activate the tickets pretty soon and book the reservations for the parks ahead of time because the parks fill up, but i can’t figure out how to do that. I see at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/ where a civilian would link their tickets to their reservation, etc.
I am AD military going with my spouse, 2 kids, and 2 adult friends in October/November 2021.
1. I purchased six plastic tickets from my local exchange (5 day park hopper plus).
2. I used a booking agent from a civilian friend to book rooms for October/November 2021, got a military discount at a DisneyWorld Resort.
3. I registered the guests at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/ and I can see the resort confirmation.
4. The website asks for a 12 digit code and has several examples of cards, but the ones from the exchange aren’t one of the examples.
Thank you!
Hi there Russ,
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets DO NOT need to be activated to link them to My Disney Experience!
You will activate them after arrival so that they will work to let you enter the parks.
See our how to link tickets instructions: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/my-magic-plus/linking-disney-military-tickets-and-fastpass-plus-reservations/
You’ll see on that post, that by far the easiest way to link is by scanning with your My Disney Experience app on your smart phone. But if you have a flip phone or really want to type the enumbers in, there are instructions on how to do it on MDE website (the disney.go,com/plan)
You’ll also need to read: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/my-magic-plus/using-the-walt-disney-world-park-reservation-system/
Hope this helps!
Hi, so I bought 5 tickets last year for a trip my family and I wanted to take in March. Unfortunately, Covid-19 ruined those plans for us. I have read that the 2020 tickets have been extended until September 26, 2021. However, my ID expired last year.
My question would be can we still use these tickets since my ID would have been valid? I still have my ID and can prove it was valid last year.
Hi Andrew,
That’s a problem. Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets require a current valid military ID. In normal times if your ID expires before you use the tickets you are out of luck for using them. Disney will let you use them towards regular tickets in that case.
In these cases I normally recommend purchasing other military tickets ahead of time for a trip after you separate: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/faq/if-i-buy-disney-armed-forces-salute-tickets-while-im-a-military-member-can-i-use-them-after-i-separate-from-the-military/
But that is not an option as you already have them. In this case I’d recommend something more similar to this: 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/
In your case you’d bring your expired ID and any proof you have of your previous trip’s reservations and any documents backing up reasons why you could not go at any time between when they reopened last July and when your ID expired (Command emails prohibiting travel, leave cancellations, etc..)
First you’ll want to ask that they let you use the tickets. If that’s a no go the fall back is to use the purchase value towards full price tickets (this should be no problem).
Hi Steve
Need your advice on activating Armed Forces Salute tickets.
Leaving Universal Orlando to check in at Shades of Green. at end of day on Thursday June 17.
Arriving at Shades of Green at about 9 pm.
Have tickets purchased at local ITT Miramar. What is my best option of activation ?
Disney Springs which requires an extra Uber stop before they close at 10 pm.
TTC walk from SOG. (Do they stay open late?)
Magic Kingdom Guest services via Monorail from Poly. (MK closes at 9pm ….will guest services still be open past park closing time?)
Or wait till morning and activate at Hollywood Studios our first day?
Also, could you clarify – are ticket windows and/or guest services both able to activate the Armed Forces ticket and how early do they open / how late do they stay open at these locations ??
Thank you so much Steve!
Hi Diann,
THat’s a tough arrival time!
Morning will probably be your best bet. Ticket windows open at least 1 hour prior to park opening.
The Disney Springs Ticket Center’s current hours are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
I’m not sure about theme park window closing times. It makes sense that Disney would keep at least one window open past closing for those who decided to add more days to their tickets. But I can’t guarantee that they don’t close at park close or earlier. Sorry.
So I think your best bet is to be on the first bus out of Shades to DHS or uber over, so that you are there a little more than an hour prior. Keeping in mind that DHS is now the busiest park with a big crowd waiting on rope drop.
Ticket, Guest Relations, and Will Call locations can all activate Salute tickets.
Just want to confirm the process:
We are traveling in July, we have a mixture of activated and needing to be activated Salute tickets. We need to activate 5 total 2021 salute tickets, 1 2020 salute ticket, and 1 2020 Feb shoulder season salute ticket. People are arriving on different days, unfortunately, so unable to activate all at the same time. Will attempt to activate all at once, as I’ve heard it’s been done before if we are all linked on MDE (which we are). If they won’t let the party of 3 late-arrivers activate with the others, that’s OK.
My question for you is on entering the parks for the first day, after the tickets have been activated. Do we need to, at WDW, show our military ID and accompany the non-military members of our party through the taps tiles on the first day? Or is their activated pass good enough?
Hi Margaret,
The only ID check is during the activation. Once activated you can all split up.
Can my dependent daughter 19 (With Military Dependent ID) activate her Armed Forces Salute voucher on her own? I will be TDY when she wants to go to Disneyland and I do not have a spouse. The vouchers are from 2020 that were never eligible to be activated due to the COVID shutdown of Disneyland.
Hi Jeff,
Sorry, no. Non-spouse dependents are not eligible to activate Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets.
The Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets are what are used without the member or spouse (preplanned of course).
The only viable option it to follow the advice here: 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/
Hi Steve!
We recently purchased DL Salute tickets, got paper sheet tickets with barcode. My daughter is the military member. May we add these tickets to my Disney account/app, so we may reserve days? Or does she need to create an account? Also has it changed on the activation process for DL? Still need to do morning of first day and not night before?
Thanks!!
Hi Kelly,
You can add them to your account for yourselves and her as well if you add her in. Or she can do her own with a new account.
I have not heard any reports of changes to the old process. Be sure to let me know if you experience anything different!
Hi Steve
Planning to visit DL in August. I’m so confused about where to get the military discount tickets if you have no access to a base. Can you purchase online. How much is the discount. Thanks
Hi Deborah,
You can but tickets long distance if not near a base.
See this post: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
I recommend using Camp Pendleton for DL.
My husband is honorably discharged but only 70% disabled. His retired friend is going to purchase the tickets on base. Will there be any issue with my husband activating them with his military ID? Or will Disneyland be checking whether he is 100% disabled or not?
Hi Kimberly,
There will be an issue. That being, he is not eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets.
Disneyland definitely will be looking for a DAVPRM on his military issued ID. This indicates 100% Disabled Veteran Permanent. 100% DAVTMP (Temporary) and less than 100% are not eligible to activate these special tickets.
He is however eligible to use Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets bought for him or that he buys for himself. See: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/disneyland-military-discounted-theme-park-tickets/
Also see these posts for not retired eligibility:
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/
Hello I bought military Voucher Tickets for the year 2021 and I am unable to use them do to coronavirus. I was told by the ITT office that the value of the tickets don’t diminish and that I may be able to use them next year but if the price for the tickets increased I would have to pay the difference. Does anyone know any more about this or can someone provide me with info on who to speak to about this?
Hi Maxwel,
Yes 2020 tickets may be upgraded to 2021 versions for the price difference.
See: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-armed-forces-salute/using-disney-armed-forces-salute-tickets-in-2021/
Hi,
I will be heading to DL in November. While I have a Magic Key, my husband does not. My uncle is joining us on this trip and is active military and purchased the salute tickets for the 3 day park hopper for himself and my husband. He just told me he may not be able to make it the second or third day- and if he does it won’t be until the afternoon and won’t be able to enter the parks with us in the morning. Is my husband out of luck on entering the parks without my uncle? Or is it fine once they enter the parks together on the first day and my husband can go and come as he pleases into the parks?
I called Disney and they mentioned they have to enter together every day, but I’ve been seeing otherwise online. I couldn’t find anything on their website about this.
Hi Jacky,
Yes, once they enter the parks together on the first day your my husband can go and come as he pleases into the parks.
Many years ago at DL the member had to enter every time with their guests, but that has not been the case for a long time.
We visited WDW Nov 29-Dec 4. Being able to park at Shades saved money from oirmal daily parking fees on WDW . However, almost every day our whole group had to re-register at the turnstiles foe entry. Fortunately there was always an employee nearby with an ipad to rreactivate our tkckets.
Hi Dick,
Thanks for the intel, I have never experienced this (as recently as late Nov 2021) during my use of Salute tickets since 2009.
Please confirm that you are not talking about a fingerprint scan not working, or a ticket not scanning properly, and that you had to pull your military ID out of your pocket in order to use the tickets.
Last year my ex husband who is in the military and I got divorced. I still have a military ID that doesn’t expire until 2023. I’m planning on taking our kids to wdw this year and my ex said he wants to help bring the price down and get salute tickets for us. Could I still activate the tickets at wdw without him as long as my ID is not expired?
Hi there Rachel,
As long as the ID has Spouse, SP, or DEC-DB you will be able to. This is what Disney’s ID guide says they are looking for. It specifically says if the ID says “Guest” it is not eligible.
Your blog is a wealth of knowledge! I’m hoping you can help me. I apologize for the length but it’s a confusing type of situation.
1. This Spring 2022 my in-laws (father in-law is a retired Airforce National Guard), husband, 1 son and myself are going to Disney for 4 days.
2. Then later in November 2022 my husband, son, and I (plus our daughter) will be going to Disney but my in-laws are NOT going with us for 6 days.
Questions:
Could my in-laws get the 4-day Armed Forces Salute tickets for themselves and the 5-day Armed Forces Salute Tickets for my husband, son and I to use in Spring 2022. (By us getting the 5-day Armed Forces Salute, we would have 1 day left over. Even though my in-laws are not going with us in November 2022, we would still be able to use that left over ticket?
We are going to Disney for 6 days in November but our days are split up. We will be there on Thanksgiving for 1 day and then won’t go back to the parks until the following Monday- Friday. If we are able to use the leftover Armed Forces Salute ticket for Thanksgiving Day, what tickets would we be eligible to use for the other 5 days (Mon-Friday)? Again, my in-laws will NOT be with us on this trip. I’m also unsure what ticket I would purchase for my daughter who is going with us on this November trip because she will need a 6-day ticket; however they are not consecutive days.
I hope you were able to following this situation. Thank you for your help!
Hi there Crystal,
Thanks very much!
Let’s see if I can answer your questions…
So, this spring your FIL can purchase the 2 each 4-day Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets for himself and your MIL and the 3 each 5-day Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets for your family. Once he activates them they can be used without his being present, so you can use the last day in November (you’d have till the end of the offer in mid-Dec to do so).
For the November trip he can then buy you 3 each 5-day and 1 each 6-day Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets. These do not require activation or the member being present at all (but offer way less savings, but still some). These expire 14 days after first use, so you won’t have any issue with the gap for your daughter.
See: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
and: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/regular-military-discounted-magic-your-way-tickets/
Thank you for your help. We are also going to Universal Studios this November (but unsure yet if my in-laws are going too.) My in-laws, who have the military ID. Are they able to purchase tickets for Universal Studios regardless of whether or not they go with us?
Hi Crystal.
So just like WDW, Universal has different military tickets. They have the highly discounted Freedom Pass and the Regular Military Discounted Tickets.
The Freedom Pass comes with lots of use restrictions just like Disney’s Salute and the regular ones can be used without the member just like the military MYW.
See my other site:
Ticket Overview
Freedom Pass
Regular Military Discounted Universal Tickets
Hope you can help. Our Navy son has gone to Disneyland on military tickets and said that he did not have to activate them in person. He was able to just connect them to the app on his phone.
We are planning on going as a family to WDW this July. Is this the same case for activation there? We will be driving from Tampa and I am wondering if we would be better off coming the night before to activate or can we do it the morning of our first visit.
Hi Heather,
Linking tickets is not the same as activating them.
You’ll note in the post that at Disneyland the activation takes place at the gate as you enter the first time with an ID check. He mistakenly thought his linking the tickets ahead was what was needed to enter. It was actually the ID check at the gate. Tickets do not even need to be linked at all to function (on either coast).
At Disney World the activation takes place away from the gate, at a ticket window or Guest Relations location. You can’t just link your tickets and go to the gate to enter, they will not work.
There is one exception, if he purchased the tickets from Shades of Green, they come pre-activated. Everywhere else they require activation.
So, if you don’t want to wait in line in the morning, you might want to arrive the night before. You can certainly do it in the am, if you don’t want to enter as early as possible.
Hi Steve,
Thank you for the time effort put into this website. It helped immensely when I was putting together our first family trip a few years back and now with so many changes, Im referring to you again!
We will be purchasing 4-day park hopper Salute tickets and staying at Shades for the first time.
I just recently found out that we have to make park reservations. I might be asking this in the wrong location, but how do you “park hop” while having to make a park reservation for the day? Can you make more than one reservation at a time?
Also, are we able to purchase our Salute tickets from Shades of Green over the phone or online somehow, have them mailed to us and skip the activation?
Thanks!
Hi Jocelyn,
Thanks so much and welcome back!
I’m going to post a couple links for you to look over and if they don’t answer your questions, just let me know!!!
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-tips/the-military-disney-tips-guide-to-park-hopping/ (especially see the park hopping in 2022 section)
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
Hey Steve!
I’m a long time reader of this website. I’ve been to WDW many times using the Armed Forces Salute tickets but haven’t used them at DL before. We will be going there this June.
I bought Park Hopper tix but not Genie + which I do want to add.
My questions are,
Do you know specifically where the Guest Relations/Ticket Windows for DL are? I don’t see them on the map.
Do you know what time the GR/TW open? We like to do rope drop but I’m not sure that will be an option on the first day if if the windows don’t open early enough.
Do you purchase Lightning Lane every day of?
Thanks a lot! I’ve appreciated your site over the years. It’s helped immensely!
Hi there Beth,
Thanks so much for being a long time reader!!!
Ticket windows are located in the Esplanade between the 2 parks.
However unlike WDW you do not need to go to one prior to entering if you have the plastic tickets. You go straight to the turnstiles on your first day.
Check out the Disneyland info in this post.
You might not want to purchase Genie+ for every day. TO be honest I have not followed Genie at DL too closely.
I recommend you start following the ride you want to do on the Disneyland app for a while early in the morning (California time) to see how often and how early reservations are used up for your desired rides. Als watch how fast the lightning lane purchases sell out for any of your desired rides. Also watch wait times as your dates get close
With this info you can get a feel for if you want Genie+ every day or just some days.
Lightning lane purchases are the day of as is Genie+ if you want to purchase day-by-day as needed. Genie+ can be added via in app purchase day-by-day starting at 12:01 a.m. the day of desired use.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-genie-and-genie-service/
Here are some more pages that might be helpful:
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disneyland-theme-parks/
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disneyland-theme-parks/disneyland-park/
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disneyland-theme-parks/disneys-california-adventure-park/
Hello! Thanks for all your great information. We have been readers (and Disney theme park travelers!) for six years now!
Our family of four is traveling with my mom to Disneyland in September. She is only going to be at the parks with us for one day at this time, but will be going again with my other sister (non-military) in November. If she gets an armed forces salute ticket and activates it during our trip in September, will she be able to use her other days in November? Or will she have to show that she is with a military member then?
She would like to get a four day ticket and activate it and use one day of this ticket in September and save the other three days for November.
Thanks for your insight and all your help with a weird question.
Hi there Laura,
Thanks so much for being a long-time reader!!!
This is actually a pretty common question.
The only ID check at Disneyland is during the first use/activation process. She will be able to use the remaining days without you later on.
Question. We are planning to go to Disney World on Feb 2023 and will be staying at Shades of Green.
Is it okay to purchase the Disney World Salute tickets on 2022 and use it on Feb 2023? or do I need to purchase on Jan 2023?
I heard we need to make park reservations prior to visit. I also want to Advance Dining Reservation 60days prior to our visit. I don’t know if ADRs require park tickets. If ADRs require tickets then, I need to purchase before December.
Thank you
Hi Sylvia,
2022 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets will not be valid in 2023.
Once the 2023 Salute tickets are announced and released you’ll need to buy those.
Feb is a slower time period so I don’t foresee your having issues getting park reservations.
Tickets are not required for getting ADRs. However your room reservation will allow you to make reservations for your whole trip 60 days prior to check in vs each day 60 days ahead.
See:
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-armed-forces-salute/when-will-disney-renew-the-disney-armed-forces-salute-for-2023/
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/shades-of-green/linking-military-discounted-tickets-and-shades-of-green-reservations/
Tickets are not required for getting ADRs. (Typo in my original response)
Hi! We have bought the promotional tickets through shades of green many times before and not had to show ID at the gates since they were already activated.
I just ordered some on the phone to have so I can make advanced reservations and was told once again that the tickets were activated and I did not need to go to guest services, BUT she said I would have to show ID at the turnstiles and everyone would have to be there. Is this the case? The kids usually like to go earlier than I do and I meet up later in the day but I don’t want them to get turned away. what has been everyone’s recent experience?
Hi Babs,
No it’s not true, it’s a white lie Shades of Green tells to prevent people from buying the Salute Tickets from the Ticket Office and then giving them to those who are not eligible to use without them or worse scalping them.
They have put themselves in a bad position regarding those two issues by selling activated tickets and this is an attempt to prevent misuse.
ok thank you! we usually split up during the day so this would be a huge inconvenience! I agree if they are concerned about misuse then they should not sell them activated ( although I hope they don’t stop!!! ) Having done both ways it is much nicer to skip guest services and just go right to the park. But my kids would be mortified if they got turned away at the gate I know. So I was getting nervous!
Question, is there a way to confirm that tickets are activated? Just curious.
thanks again for this wonderful site! It has been such a huge help for our family over the years!
Thanks so much Babs!
The only way to confirm they are indeed activated would be to stop by a guest relations location and have them check. You could do this the evening prior at Disney Springs or at a location you could easily travel to from your hotel (MK via monorail, EPCOT International Gateway walking from EPCOT Resorts or via Skyliner from a Skyliner Resort, DHS via Skyliner – All other combos require a bus or car.)
I purchased our tickets for wdw on post. They gave me the credit card type of tickets and told me only the military member had to activate them and the rest of the party did not have to present during activation. Is there any truth to this? Thanks so much
Hi Misty,
I have never experienced the whole party not needing to be present for activation. This has always been Disney’s rule (to prevent scalping).
Does the person who buys them need to be the person who activates them? My cousin can buy them for me but it will be hard to coordinate when we can meet at Disneyland. Can another Military personnel activate them? And if they do does it count against their 6 tickets?
Hi Edward,
The person who buys them does not have to be the person who activates them. They count against the limit of the person who activates them.
The actual purchase if done at a base ticket office is a non-event.
If I purchase military salute tickets from Shades of Green in advance of our trip (by mail/FedEx), will those tickets come already activated as if I purchased them in person at Shades of Green?
Hi Rich,
Yes they will, they do not have two different sales processes.
Hi! Our friend who is able to get us the military discount already has an annual pass or a Florida resident pass I believe. Does he still need to purchase a Military Salute ticket? I understand he needs to be there on the day we first enter the parks to activate. Thank you!
Hi Shannon,
He does not. I am also a passholder and use the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets for family and friends often. Having an AP is the exception to the member needing to have their own Salute ticket.
hi 🙂
My son and his family are arriving a few days before myself (I am 100% service connect). Will they have trouble with the activating process if I am not there? Or if I understand correctly, if I preorder from Shades of Green instead of the local ITT office the tickets will already be activated. Thanks
Hi Tom,
If the tickets are unactivated they will be unable to use them without you.
Activated tickets from shades of green come activated and ready for use.
Hi Steve,
I thought I would just pass on some info for you here. We just visited Disneyland Jan 16-18, 2024, and when we went to Guest Services to activate our Military Salute Tickets, we were told that they no longer require activation for any military tickets at Disneyland. They didn’t even want to look at our tickets to confirm what kind of military ticket we had. They just assured us that they do not “activate” military tickets and sent us to the gate to enter. We had already scanned the paper tickets we had received from our base weeks before at our home to make our reservations, and so we just went to the line at the gate with the tickets on our Disneyland APP.
My husband still had to show his military ID the first time we arrived, and we all had to take the customary photo to attach to our tickets, but the “Military Salute Tickets” we bought from our ITT worked just like a full ticket ready to go. No activation required.
Note: The bottom of the 8 1/2 X 11 in. paper ITT gave us literally said, “This is your ticket.”
Hope this helps,
Robin
Hi Robin,
Thanks so much for the intel report! I love it when people send in what they’ve experienced.
I’ll do an update.
Oh, and just one addition…
What the person at Guest Relations meant is that they don’t activate paper military tickets any more.
The ID check at the gate was the the activation process the same as they had been doing for plastic tickets for years.
Thanks again.
Hi!
I am still unclear about the shades of green tickets. We have purchesed ahead of time many times before from them and received the actual tickets and did not need to show any ID at any time or “activate them” I Just bought them again now and the emailed me what looks like the back of a ticket and I entered that number on my disney account. But I am unclear if there will still be an ID check at the turnstiles. The woman at shades of green was not sure hersefl! Wondering if anyone had any recent experiences
Hi Kathy,
To my knowledge there has been no change to the activation status of Shades of Green Salute tickets. Though the method they send them long distance has changed.
I just purchased some last month and also received the pics of the back of the tickets.
I’m going mid March (16-22) and will let you know if they are not active and I need to do anything else. (If that timing works for your trip, let me know)
Can confirm that their method of sending the activated ticket number results in no ID check at turnstiles
Haha our trip is just before that so I guess I will be the one to report back first! I will let you know and thanks for getting back to me!
I have a Disneyland question: I have purchased six 2024 Salute tickets, one for myself (I am the spouse, hubby is retired AF) and five for family members. Wondering if I will need to activate my ticket on the first day that my family members activate theirs? I am definitely planning to be present to show my military id for activation of my family’s tickets at the front gates, but am not sure if I have to activate my own ticket at the same time (and enter the park with them) or if I can wait and activate my ticket on a different day.
Hi Betty,
Years ago Disneyland used to make the sponsor (Member or spouse) enter with their guests every single time. While this is no longer the case they activate tickets as you enter not outside the park at a ticket booth. I’m not sure how they’d feel about letting you activate tickets for others without using yours as the purpose of these highly discounted tickets is for the member or spouse to spend time with family/friends in the parks, not get others in. I said I’m not sure, but leaning towards they won’t let you…
Also be aware that while the Salute ticket limit is 6, that means 1 for the member and then 5 more Salute tickets for others. If the member doesn’t use one, one is reserved for the member and the limit for the spouse is 5. If your husband is not part of the party, they may not allow the 6th to be used (the last 2 years Disney World has only let me use 5 because I’m a passholder and don’t need one, yet one is reserved for me by the rules). If this turns out to be the case you will need to get them to let you use the cost of the Salute ticket towards a full price one.
I bought 5 DAY BASE ticket at mwr itt orlando, I would like to know if I have to activate them? Isn’t it the SALUTE promotion and the normal ticket?
Hi John,
You do not, it is ready for use!
First, I just wanted to say thank you for your website; it has been a great help with Disney World planning. I read through all of the questions and comments about tickets and didn’t see this one. My son and daughter-in-law are both active duty Coast Guard. We are planning a trip this October. Can they both purchase Military Salute tickets? Their family is the two of them and two children, plus us (Grandpa and Grandma) and our daughter, husband and child. (Total of 9 people.) Thanks for your help.
Hi there Janet,
Thanks so much! It means a lot to hear that I’ve helped.
Yes, because they are each Coastguardsmen they are each eligible for their own 6 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets, making a total of 12.
Each of them should activate their own ticket vs using a ticket of the other’s as a spouse. This ensures 6 tickets for each, if one used a ticket as the spouse that person would then only be eligible for 5 tickets (one of Disney’s quirky rules). In case there is a need for the full 12 during the year…
Hi Steve, thank you for all this information – so helpful. The last time I purchased tickets from Shades of Green was a couple years ago. Is it still the same process that Promotional Tickets from Shades of Green already come activated without the need to activate at a customer service window?
Hi there Rachel,
They still come activated and do not require a trip to Guest Services on arrival. Just go tight to the tap-styles and enter.
The base apparently allowed my father in law to purchase tickets he is not eligible for. He is a veteran but did not retire. When we go to activate the tickets he will not have the required documentation since a dd214 is not on the list. How do we remedy this situation and salvage our trip?
Hi Jenny,
Sadly, this occasionally happens.
First, is he eligible for the Equal Access Act? I assume he is as he was on base, but there are several qualifiers, see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/disney-discounts-and-the-john-mccain-defense-authorization-act/ If he is eligible for that he can buy the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets, but as you have discovered not the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/regular-military-discounted-magic-your-way-tickets/
Here are a couple of options.
First contact the offending base and let them know what they did wrong and ask what they intend to do to fix the problem. They should refund and take back the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets. If he is eligible for the Equal Access Act they can then sell him the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets. But they may say sorry, nothing we can do as these are non-refundable (most bases make you sign a paper that outlines the use rules and non-refundability when selling them). You can keep pushing to management or try the latter.
Take the tickets to Disney (along with the sales receipt) and ask for some “magic.” Explain what happened and ask for help. Best case, they let him use them. Worst case they will let him use the cost towards full price tickets. It may take some polite pushing to get to management if required, but they will definitely do the latter as they have done this in the past for others.
If you would, I would really appreciate you letting me know how this turns out so I can better assist others in the future!