Special Info for these Crazy Times:
News for 2021:
- Disneyland Finally Scheduled to Reopen
- Planning and Executing Your Walt Disney World Vacation During These Trying Times
- 2021 Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Ticket Announcement
- Using Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets in 2021
- Using the Walt Disney World Theme Park Reservation System
- Park Hopping Returns to Walt Disney World Starting in 2021
Everything is Different at WDW since it Reopened. See Our Trip Reports:
- 2022 Disney Armed Forces Salute Timeline
- Our Return to Walt Disney World (Aug/Sep 2020)
- Our Second Trip Back to Walt Disney World (Nov 2020)
- Our Third Trip Back to Walt Disney World (Jan 2021)
Disney has updated their website with new information about the 2021 Salute Room, Ticket, and Memory Maker offers.
UPDATE – 19 December 2020 – Base Ticket Offices will allow you to use 2020 Salute Tickets that you can’t use by 26 Sept ’21 towards new tickets!
UPDATE – 5 December 2020 – Disney has confirmed to me via email that during this odd timeframe the ticket limits apply to when you purchase not when you use the tickets! See below for more on this.
This is not your typical Salute offer and is especially convoluted on the ticket side.
The memory Maker Military Discount has been extended slightly also.
Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discount
The Salute Room offer is the most normal of all of these.
The 2021 offer starts on 1 January 2021 and runs through 17 December 2021.
We assume the discounts will run just as they have the last 2 years.
You may book by December 17, 2021.
To provide additional flexibility, Disney will also waive Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through April 30, 2021.
The excluded properties for this offer are:
- Offer excludes the following Disney Resort hotels: The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Riviera Resort.
- Offer excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, suites in Moderate and Deluxe Resort hotels, campsites, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
Ears of Experience - Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Only Travel Agent.
See our Full Disney Armed Forces Salute Information Page
Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket Discount
This is where it gets really odd…
Disney has apparently just extended the purchase period of the 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets through 14 February 2021.
Tickets may still only be used through 26 September 2021.
Then Disney states the following:
Notwithstanding any subsequent offers of the Disney Military Promotional Ticket, no more than six (6) Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased (and if applicable) activated by any Eligible Service Member or spouse during the period of December 19, 2020 through December 31, 2021 (e.g., Eligible Service Members or spouses who purchase six (6) Disney Military Promotional Tickets during the period of December 19, 2020 through February 14, 2021 will not be eligible for any subsequent offers of the Disney Military Promotional Tickets in 2021).“
And:
During each offer period (that is, the January 1, 2020 through December 18, 2020 offer period and the December 19, 2020 through February 14, 2020 offer period), no more than six (6) Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any Eligible Service Member or spouse (regardless of the place of purchase and whether purchased by that person or that person’s spouse). In addition, during each offer period, one of the six (6) Tickets purchased must be used by the Eligible Service Member or his/her spouse.
Let’s break these statements down.
- The original 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket offer ran from 1 January through 18 December 2020, with a 6 ticket per eligible member for that timeframe.
- Disney extended the use period for the tickets through 26 September 2021 with no mention of the ticket limit implying that the limit was still 6 for the entire new timeframe.
- With this statement the 2020 Salute ticket limit for 1 Jan-18 Dec 2020 is 6 AND the 2020 Salute ticket limit for 19 Dec 2020-26 Sept 2021 is an additional 6!
- If Disney subsequently makes a 2021 Salute Ticket Offer (with higher prices) the limit per eligible member for both ticket offers during calendar year 2021 will be 6!
- Update – Disney has confirmed that during this timeframe the ticket limit is on when you purchase them, not when you use them.
- So someone can purchase up to 6 Salute tickets on or before 18 Dec 2020, then 6 more between 19 December 2020 and 14 February 2021, potentially having 12 in hand which all need to be used by 26 September 2021.
- If you purchase 6 Salute tickets during the 19 December 2020 and 14 February 2021 timeframe, you may not purchase ant more in 2021 if a new offer is made.
Prices remain the same for these tickets:
- 4-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Tickets $265 plus tax
- 5-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Tickets $283 plus tax
- 6-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Tickets $301 plus tax
Park Hopping resumes in a limited fashion on 1 January 2021
Base Ticket Offices have been instructed that: “For the 2020 promotion, if a guest is unable to visit by September 26, 2021, we will allow the guest to apply the value of a wholly unused Ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date.”
MDT assumes that Disney will either keep walking the purchase timeframe forward in increments, announce a new 2021 ticket offer with higher prices or first some extensions and then the new offer.
See our Full Disney Armed Forces Salute Information Page
Disney Armed Forces Salute Memory Maker Discount
The Memory Maker Military Discount has also been extended through 31 December 2021.
You may use this offer twice between 19 December 2020 and 31 December 2021.
See out Full Memory Maker Military Discount Page
Finally something!
MDT had reached out to first our assigned Disney contact with no luck in early November about the issues our community was having due to Disney’s lack of movement on these discounts.
We received no answer or acknowledgement from this office that Disney senior leadership had asked us to use exclusively. So we then wrote to the Disney CEO Bob Chapek. I reminded him that Disney had counted on the military community to respond to these offers in previous financially uncertain times and we had. He just needed to give us the chance to do so now!
We’ve been monitoring Disney’s site since and this popped up today.
The ticket solution isn’t the best, but at least it is a step in the right direction in an uncertain tome for Disney.
Thanks Disney, we’ll see ya real soon!!!
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- Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist
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Great news! Thank you!
And thank you, Disney!
To be super crystal clear- if I bought and used 6 military tickets in Feb 2020, I can now buy 6 additional military tickets after 12/19? Thanks!
That’s how I read it Allison.
2 Different Disney cast members just told me the opposite. They said its only 6, not 12. I then called back, to speak with someone else, and they confimed the same thing only 6. I;m so confused
Hi Jennifer,
Not sure where you are getting 12. Were you adding the two limits?
Disney said the limit is 6 between 19 Dec 20 and 26 Sept 21. Leaving the prior limit of 6 between 1 Jan 20 and 18 Dec 20.
Also calling Disney with a military discount question is often counter productive: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/disney-parks-call-center-should-you-trust-them-about-military-discounts/
I specifically asked them directly what you stated, 6 before the period ending Dec 19, and purchasing 6 Dec 20- feb 14. That is where my 12 came from in the offer period, even though its 2 periods. I was told no, and that is not possible. They said its one offer, only been extended as to when you can purchase the tickets. I agree with counter productive part, I know better but need clarification. We are going Dec 20-27 and already have our 6 salute tickets for that, but going back in July. So fingers crossed I can get 6 more.
I’ve reached out to the contact and will reply to you here and put in the post what they say Jennifer.
Hi Jennifer,
I’ve heard back from WDW Media Relations.
They say the ticket limit during this time is on sales not usage.
I queried them if someone could have 12 tickets in hand (say, 6 purchased 18 Dec and 6 purchased 19 Dec) and use them all in 2021.
Their response was: “The limit is specific to the purchase date. Each ticket has an expiration date when purchased that applies regardless of when other tickets are purchased. So in the scenario you described, yes, the guest would be able to use these tickets through Sept. 26, 2021.”
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your hard work in trying to get answers for the military community of Disney lovers.
My thought/question is do you think the reason the tickets only go through 26 September 2021 is because of the Anniversary (celebration) on 1 October 2021 (and probably after that)?
I’m wondering if Disney will exclude the time around the actual anniversary and the holiday season and just skip 27 September 2021 up to January 2022 for military ticket discounts?
Hi Vicki,
Yes I think that is every likely the reason, on top of the uncertainty right now.
It could be that they do not offer mil discounts then or that the tickets will be more expensive.
Based on this new ticket announcement, if my family purchased tickets in Jan 2020, but our trip for March 2020 was cancelled and rescheduled for March 2021, can we still purchase an additional 6 tickets (the 2020 version before Feb 14) and use them later in 2021? That part confuses me a bit because we did buy them in 2020, but they haven’t been used yet.
Hi Michelle,
Yes, Disney is never very clear with their military discounts. I did get an email from them just as I was going to post this morning just to tell me the new info was on the site.
I replied that the ticket and Memory Maker discounts were well out of the ordinary and that I’d need to ask questions. They replied that they were open to answering, so I’ll see what they say.
This is AMAZING news! We have been waiting and even had plans for April 2021 but thought about cancelling it because it seemed like no new discounts. I spoke with Disney today and there so many limited locations. We had Caribbean set up but we couldn’t get a room with the discount because they were only offering rooms with twin beds. All the deluxe resorts weren’t offering any double queen beds. Very limited but still good to see something. Thanks for all your work!
Hi! I just got off the phone with a ticket office agent from Shades of Green. We wanted to order 5 tickets to be used in September of next year. The agent really confused me! She kept implying that I should wait until the new time frame of 12/19/20-02/14/21 to order our tickets. Why would I want to wait? There are only 5 of us going and it’s going to be a one time trip. We probably won’t go again within the next 5 years. Should I take her advice and wait, or go ahead and order?
Hi Lorin,
I’m totally stumped on why they would say that.
The way Disney rolled this out and how they have communicated it is awful.
Since you won’t be needing more than 5 tickets it doesn’t matter when you buy them. (I’m going round and round with Disney as to whether you can use 6 purchased prior and 6 purchased after 18 dec in 2021)
I can’t imagine why she would say that in your case or any other.
Hi Steve, thanks so much for your newsletters and also for following up to confirm Disney’s policy about purchasing a second group of tickets after 12/19/20. Your efforts to keep us informed and updated are so appreciated.
Hope you and your family are well! Happy holidays!
Thanks Leigh!
It’s a labor of love, lol.
Have a great Christmas and New Year.
Hi Steve. I have called 2 different MWR ticket offices and they have no info on allowing me to purchase 6 additional 2020 salute tickets. Has anyone else tried to purchase these tickets with success.
Hi Linda,
Well we aren’t yet into the 19 Dec-14 Feb second purchase window.
But are you saying that they won’t sell the additional 6 to you in the second window?
Let me know I have a ticket office contact I can query and I will reach out to Disney as well.
Hi Linda,
I’ve touched base with Shades of Green and they assured me the info in this post is correct.
They asked me if you would share the names of the ITTs you spoke with so they can have their Disney Rep reach out to straighten them out.
Steve,
Hopefully this isn’t confusing but is this scenario possible:
1. I purchased 3 tickets in March but due to the pandemic we couldn’t go
2. We are now rescheduling our trip for August 2021 and plan on going with my brother who is a family of 5
3. Can I purchase 5 more tickets during the December 19-February 14th time frame and then activate all 8 in August?
I appreciate your help
Hi there Dan,
From what Disney has told me previously, yes.
But if you look a Linda’s comment above you can see that she says that ran into some trouble.
I’m trying to gather more info!
I will admit I am confused. We have a trip planned for October 2021. Do we know if there will be a 2021 new Salute? To clarify I have used 4 tickets in February 2020 and will use 2 in January 2021 totaling six. We will need six for the October trip, do you have any insight?
I know Janet, it’s a mess…
To date, there is no Salute ticket offer that covers the 27 September to 17 December 2021 timeframe. (I’m guessing on the Dec cutoff)
I assume Disney will at some point make a 2021 Salute ticket offer that will start whenever the announcement is and run through Dec. I think it will start whenever they announce it so as to cover those who do not buy tickets between now and 14 Feb (the cutoff for 2020 purchases) These tickets 2021 thickets I assume will have a price increase.
My only question for you is, when did/will you purchase the tickets for January? If you have yet to purchase, these will fall in the 19 Dec-14 Feb purchase timeframe and count against any 2021 ticket limit.
Hope this makes sense. Let me know!
Really hoping they offer a Salute for late 2021/early 2022. My husband will be retiring from the military and my oldest child doesn’t have to start school until August 2022, so we have the time to have some epic Disney adventures.
Hi Steve, Thanks for all you do! I was wondering is it possible for a family to get 2 extra tickets? We have 6 kids plus ourselves. We were going to plan a trip next year! Thanks!
Patty
Hi there Patty,
Thanks!
It is possible for a family in your situation.
Please see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/faq/i-need-more-than-6-disney-armed-forces-salute-tickets-what-can-i-do/
Thanks for this info, Steve, and thanks, Disney for the discount!
Mh question regards an upcoming trip in Nov 2021. We want to purchase tickets & make Park reservations at WDW as soon as possible for the best price. Would we be able to purchase 2020 tickets, use them to make our November reservations, and pay the price difference between 2020 and 2021? Out local LTS office wasn’t really sure. We’d hate to spend the money, not be able to use the tickets, not be able to get a refund, and big be able to purchase 2021 Armed Forces Salute tickets if they are offered, We also plan on going over Thanksgiving, a very busy week usually, and don’t want to miss out. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Katie
Hi there Katie,
A great question for the odd time that we find ourselves in… And one without a definitive answer. But I know how the system works.
The very first thing that I would do is confirm with your local ticket office that they will allow you to use your 2020 Salute tickets purchased between 19 Dec and 14 Feb towards other tickets if you can’t use them by 26 Sept 21. I’ve see the Air Force policy email stating this from their higher level office. But not all bases are always 100% up to speed, and I’m guessing you’re not at an AFB.
Ask for a copy of their policy!
My thoughts follow.
WDW has made a Salute Room offer through the end of the year. They are in 100% control of the room offer so could cancel it if they desire. But, I don’t think that is likely.
The fact that there is a 2021 room offer indicates to me that there will be a 2021 ticket offer.
Once offered a ticket offer can’t be cancelled as it involves a signed contract with the MWR system locking in dates, prices, ticket types, limits, etc.
I think that they’ll wait till the last possible moment or even after 14 Feb to announce a 2021 ticket offer. The more info they have gathered by waiting will allow them to make a decision on if they will make a ticket offer, what the tickets will look like, and what they will cost.
WDW has already hedged their bets by saying any tickets you buy 19 Dec to 14 Feb count towards your 2021 Salute Ticket limit.
Theme Park Reservations (and everything in My Disney Experience) is linked to the person. And by association through the person to other things linked.
The Theme Park Reservation System (and the FastPass one for that matter) only care that you have a linked ticket (with enough days on it), not the ticket number. If you have a linked ticket and for some reason you later don’t you should get a warning.
My example just for reference, is that I had 2020 Salute tickets linked for my Nov. 20 trip. If you might remember WDW accidentally voided a block of Salute tickets earlier in 2020. Two of mine were affected and I received warnings in my My Disney Experience that there was an issue associated with the park reservations for those people. My Base resolved it in days and I linked the new tickets and all was good.
I don’t know how long the warning period lasts before they will delete the Park Reservations!
So, long story short, If you link a ticket (any ticket) and make Park Reservations, then at a later date link a second ticket, you could then unlink the original ticket without affecting the reservations. You just have to have an active linked ticket with enough days to cover your reservations (or fastpasses).
Thanks so much, Steve!
Katie
Hey! Hoping in to see if SOG required a Veterans ID or if a copy of Form DD-1172 signed is enough? He’s never needed a veterans ID & we’ve always been able to just submit his proof of eligibility and status in other situations.
Hi Christina,
I would not think that they would accept a form. You can see their eligibility requirements here: https://www.shadesofgreen.org/about-shades-green/eligibility
I believe they expect that guests will have gone through the process and had those who are allowed to verify eligibility for an ID do so and then issue one.
But definitely give them a call to ask: (888) 593-2242
Hi Steve,
Thank you for all that you do. Your tips and advice have been very useful over the years.
We have a large family trip planned for June 2021 and we are doing our best to leverage the number of tickets that the military members of our group can purchase. When we saw your update at the beginning of December we were very excited at the possibility of each military member being able to purchase a total of 12 tickets for us to use. I’ve read through the other posts and answers but I still have some additional questions.
We purchased 6 tickets on 15Dec2020 from a local MWR ticket office. During the time I made the purchase I mentioned what you had posted about two purchase windows, but all the MWR would confirm is that the date that we could purchase the 2020 Salute Tickets was extended to 14 Feb 2021.
In order to purchase 6 more tickets, now that we are in the 19Dec2020-14Feb2021 window, do we need to do anything specific? I’m not sure if the MWR tracks ticket purchases or if that’s a Disney responsibility.
Are the tickets going to be marked differently so that when we go to activate them in June I’m not accused of breaking the original 6 ticket rule? That’s probably my greatest fear at this point.
Hi Sean,
Thanks so much!
(Man I was half way through this reply when we has a split second power interruption… The whole computer restarted, so here we go again, lol)
Both Disney and Shades of Green have confirmed the 2 purchase windows for me.
Disney has not said (though I queried them) how (or if) they plan to track the two purchase windows. Gut feeling after the silence is the second parentheses is what is in play.
I’ve not seen a physical ticket or voucher from the second window yet. Though I might buy some next week in person at Shades.
Some bases do keep a running total on purchases.
Recommendations:
Have your ticket office reach up their chain to get the right info or call Disney Military Sales (Disney’s office that works with the MWR system on tickets). I’ve seen the email the Air Force head of ITTs sent to their folks explaining this.
If they won’t investigate I can have Shades of Green have their Disney contact reach out to your ticket office if you will share which one it is. The 2 problems I’ve addressed to date have been with Army offices.
Oe you could
Query Shades via email about the policy and save their response if needed later (so you feel better about it). And then buy your tickets long distance from them.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
Great info and recommendation, thanks Steve.
It so happens that our original purchase was through an Army MWR Ticket office. I’m was already considering using a USMC office for the second set since we have several bases of different branches around us, but I am now going to contact Shades per your suggestion and probably order through them.
Thanks!
Planning a trip to WDW over Halloween 2021 to make up for the one we canceled last fall. Haven’t been there in 5 years and am so excited. Have booked 9 nights at SOG and was planning on 6 day PH Salute plus MNSSHP.
The weirdness with 2021 Salute tx is stressing me out, esp with anniversary party starting Oct 1st likely going to boost tx sales and so making the military numbers less important. I am worried they will just not do any more Salute tx at all in late 2021 since the park is planning on being back to normal operations by then which will likely also boost their numbers.
How long would you wait before giving up on real fall 2021 Salute tx being released? Should we reschedule for September, or at least put in a second SOG reservation so it’s at least an option?
Hi Leslie,
This is a big concern for many!
One positive is that there is a full 2021 Salute Room offer through 17 Dec…
So that makes me hopeful that they will do a ticket offer. There is no question the prices will go up!
The only question is when? Hopefully before or as the current purchase window ends, although they could keep extending the window.
I’ve complained to Disney about folks needing to plan, but they are tight lipped.
Happy New Year Steve,
My question is, if we are arriving in disney on Sept 26 2021, will we be able to continue to use our salute tickets if we start to use them on the 26th? Should we wait until 2021 tickets come out to purchase?
Hi Kris,
For your trip dates, the only day that you would be able to use the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets currently on sale is on 26 Sept. They would then expire at midnight and not be valid the 27th.
For your dates to work, Disney needs to either extend the use window, not likely unless they extend the purchase window or then need to announce a new 2021 ticket offer that runs past the 26th.
So we purchased 3 6 day tickets in 2020 and now my 2 year old has turned 3 so we need to buy him a ticket. We are going in feb to use our remaining days and whatever ticket we will purchase for him. If we want to spend more than 3 days I’d need to buy more tickets for the rest of us….which is fine but that caveat that says if I buy tickets between dec 2020 and feb 2021 we are not eligible for subsequent 2021 offers…..so if we want to visit after sept 21 what should I do?
Hi Ian,
You’re a little off on the caveat. Disney’s rule says that any you purchase in the 2020 ticket extension period count towards any 2021 limit. It does not make you ineligible.
So if you buy one for your son now, you would be eligible for 5 2021 tickets assuming there are 2021 tickets and the limit for them is 6 per member.
Steve,
Thanks for the reply. Sorry I wasn’t more clear in my original post. My question is what would be best for us to do with only 3 days remaining on our tickets. If we went 4 days, it’s easy to buy the 4 day pass for the new ticket, but there are 3 of us that only have 3 days left on our 6 day tickets. So option A. do only 3 days, option B. purchase 3 individual day tickets. option C. purchase more passes, but my concern with doing that is if we want to go after that Sept 26 deadline we would have then used 4 of our 6 allotted tickets…does that make any sense? Thanks.
Hi Ian,
I’m so sorry, this slipped to the second page of comments due to volume and I missed replying till now.
If you think there is potential to go after 26 Sept, I’d ope for A or B. The choice between the two being whether you wanted to pay $100+ per person for that additional day.
Here’s a scenario:
Heading to WDW on Jan 30-Feb 2, 2021. Immediate family, small group.
Heading back to WDW Nov 10-15th for a large extended family trip.
I would like to buy the military salute 5 or 6 day hopper now, which I can using the 2020 ticket pricing at Shades of Green.
HOWEVER – they expire in September 2021.
So if I use 1 day in January…then go back in November – what do I do? I’d hate to buy a 1 day 1 park pass now when I can get the benefit of the military salute ticket to use for multiple visits. When I call WDW and Shades of Green ticketing, I get the same answer – these tickets expire in Sept 2021 and there is no information yet on 2021 new tickets. You think I’d be able to use these tickets or trade them in for 2021 tickets to get me through December 2021.
Looking for any recommendations. I’m definitely not buying a hopper now and another in November. Total park days will be max 4-6 from Jan-Dec for our family.
Thank you!
Hi Dan,
I’ve tried to explain situations like yours and similar ones to Disney, not to mention those just wanting to be able to decide on and plan a post 26 Sept trip for their military family. All I got too was, “We’ll be glad to share with you any further discounts when they are announced.”
My gut feeling is that there will be a 2021 Salute ticket offer, at a higher price point. (they go up every year and the big anniversary starts in October).
I do not expect them to extend the 2020 priced tickets into the anniversary. So that leaves you buying 1-days.
Your only reprieve would be if they announce a 2021 offer prior to your trip (in the next couple weeks) and the 2021 tickets are 1. available for purchase in time and 2. are able be used right away. Even if the tickets are “on sale” at the time of the offer, it always takes weeks or more for bases to begin being able to sell! Shades of Green is always first.
I’m hoping they will announce the new offer at or before the end of the current 2020 ticket purchase extension window. But that does you no good!
My thoughts would be to hold off till the last minute to buy your 1-Days. And you could either get them prior to departure (this would involve leaving lead time for your base to order them or Shades to ship them), or just get them in person from Shades on arrival.
This is traditionally the lowest attendance part of the year (post New Years – mid February) I’m here now and getting a Park Reservation shouldn’t be a problem. They all have availability now and all have been open in the afternoon for park hopping.
Sorry there’s no better plan!
Hello, we have reservations at shades of green this year arriving 24 Sept 2021 and leaving 1 October 2021. We plan to visit the parks for 4 days. Is there a salute the military 2021 deal yet?
HI Kelly,
No not yet. See our most recent post about this: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-armed-forces-salute/2021-disney-armed-forces-salute-what-about-tickets/
Confused. The site says we can purchase Salute tickets through december ’21 but it also says we have to use them by 26 Sept ’21…
We are booking October ’21
Hi Josh,
I know it’s quite complicated this year, with all the odd rules and caveats Disney has thrown in. Give it a re-read and I’ll try to state it a different way here. I can now disregard all the stuff about the original 2020 offer and 2 purchase windows as that has passed.
– You can purchase up to 6 tickets between now to 14 February 2021.
– They have to be used by 26 September 2021
– Any you purchase now count towards any ticket limit Disney later sets for the 1 January – 31 December 2021 timeframe.
This page is just the announcement, you should check out the actual Disney Armed Forces Salute page
Also see what I think about an actual 2021 Ticket Offer
The Actual 2021 ticket post is most applicable for your dates…
Hi Cassie,
As I mentioned to Sal, I’m working with Shades of Green to determine which is correct, Shades saying DoD civilians are eligible or Universal telling their biggest military Travel agent they are not.
Again, I don’t want people to pay for passes that they can’t actually use.
I will update when I know, thanks.
I recently asked our local ITT about applying our unused tickets toward future tickets and this was their reply… “Walt Disney World (direct) will honor unused (only) tickets. ” Is it possible they just haven’t been informed yet or will they really not have the capability?
Hi Molly,
That statement is about Disney honoring tickets, not Base Ticket Offices.
Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets are different and do retain their value after expiration, through Disney not Base Ticket Offices.
Normally Disney’s rules and contract with MWR says that Armed Forces Salute Tickets expire and lose all value (towards future tickets) at the end of the offer, whether used or not.
You did not say which kind of Disney tickets you were talking about, but I assume Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets.
With all that is going on, there is a special situation and Base Ticket offices were instructed by their leadership to allow customers to use the value of 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets towards tickets later if they couldn’t be used by 26 September 2021.
I have seen the Air Force Ticket Office email stating this. You should ask your office to investigate with their leadership.
Hi Steve. Thank you for responding. Yes, I am talking about the Military Salute tickets. I will try to follow up with our local ITT and see if they will look into it for me.
Our airbase recreation office is closed until February 8th. We are trying to go to Disney on the 27th. Is there a way to get the tickets onlin?
Hi Tara,
Please see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
When do you think military promotional tickets will be available for December 19th 2021 through the new year 2022??
Hi Kalena,
Sorry, they won’t be offered for that timeframe!
Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets do not normally cover that timeframe. The only exception in history was 2020.
Disney does not offer this discount or any others during Christmas as they have way too many people there already to incentivize more coming with a discount.
The only reason that we could use them during 2020 is that theme park attendance was artificially kept low with the attendance caps they instituted and many were afraid to travel.
If a 2022 offer is made expect the tickets to start on 1 January 2022.
Question. I am in the army and wanted to purchase tickets for my parents and siblings…. I cannot attend with them, but wanted to surprise them with tickets. Guessing I won’t be able to take advantage of the military discount if I can’t go? Thanks
Hi Aly,
That’s correct for the Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets, but you can buy them the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets which can be used without the member being present.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/regular-military-discounted-magic-your-way-tickets/
We have 2020 salutes tickets that we were planning to use last December but rescheduled to Dec. 2021 due to Covid. We have gone round and around trying to get them exchanged at the Ft. Knox base for the 2021 vouchers but have so far been told that they can’t exchange them and that our tickets expire Sept. 26, 2021. I know you said in your post that the bases had been instructed to exchange the vouchers if we wouldn’t be able to use them by Sept. 26. Did you have a contact at Disney that provided that info? Thanks so much! It has been weeks of going around in circles! Your posts have been very helpful!
Hi there Brenna,
2 options.
1. It was an email to all Air Force ITTs from their central office, from a confidential source, I can’t share the email with others. All other branches should be following the same policy though, it’s the right thing to do. If they don’t you could elevate it through their Ticket Office leadership chain, or the military leadership of the military unit that they are a part of. In the Air Force that would be the Commander of the Services Squadron. Escalate as far as needed…
2 I know of one case of Disney converting their 2020 tickets to a 2021 expiration (just heard form the individual a couple days ago). Here is what they said: “We bought 2020 AFS tickets back at beginning of March last year. We were slated to go in May. Well you know that didn’t happen so we moved it to December and we still couldn’t go. Then we switched to April and due to hubs training being pushed back we can’t go till end of this year after the tickets expire. So I called Disney yesterday and held on for 3 1/2 hrs but finally spoke with someone and he said we could upgrade and pay difference to 2021 tickets he had to have someone in guest relations call me back we have 3 tickets so the difference would have been 80 per ticket. She waived it for us! That hold was worth it”
Hi Brenna,
I just updated this post. Shades of Green advised me that Disney WILL upgrade your 2020 Salute Tickets to 2021 versions!
Thank you!! I was able to call Disney and they were able to extend the vouchers through the 2021 voucher dates! I appreciate your insight.
That’s awesome Brenna!
Thanks so much for reporting back!!!