How Disney Price Increases Affect Military Ticket Discounts

Many people say there is nothing sure in life but Death and Taxes.

I’d like to add another sure thing to the list, Disney Price Increases.

Updated February 2022 for the discontinuation of Shades of Green Stars and Stripes Passes and 2022 General Public Price Increase. And 3 March for 2022 Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets Price Increases

The Magic Kingdom opened at Walt Disney World in 1971 with a General Admission price of $3.50 (ride tickets were extra at the time, an entry level set of tickets went for $4.50). Since then prices have steadily increased, sometimes yearly, sometimes with more than one increase per year. The same is true at Disneyland in California.

In 1981 Walt Disney World switched from the General Admission plus attraction fees to a daily all inclusive ticket. These tickets debuted at $8, but by mid decade were over $20. We now find single day adult tickets going at over $160.

Disney Military Tickets

The reason for this post is to let you know when to expect Disney general public theme park ticket increases and how those increases effect the different types of Disney Military Discounted Tickets, so that you can get the best deal for your vacation.

Disney Military Tickets fall into 2 main types:

1. Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
2. Tickets that are not part of the Disney Armed Forces Salute (Regular Disney Military Tickets)

The Disney Armed Forces Salute is a special, highly discounted temporary offer that runs for a specific timeframe. Usually renewed annually, the prices on these tickets are increased for each new offer and remain the same for the entire life of the offer period.

Walt Disney World

• The current Walt Disney World 2022 offer started on 11 January 2022 and runs through 16 December 2022
  • These prices are set and will remain in effect through 16 December 2022

Disneyland

• The current Disneyland 2021-2022 ticket offer started on 7 July 2021 and runs through 16 December 2022
  • These prices are set and will remain in effect through 16 December 2022

Full Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket Information

Non-Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets are the same or very similar to the tickets purchased by the general public, but at a slight military discount. The prices for these tickets follow most general public price increases, but not immediately.

• Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets are available for both for Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort
  • Regular Military Discounted Ticket Information

Note: in September 2018, Walt Disney World introduced Date Based Pricing for their general public multi-day tickets. WDW’s General Public pricing is now based on the start day of ticket use – busier/popular times cost more. This does not apply to Regularly Military Discounted Tickets! Military tickets continue to be non-date specific at a single price. These tickets do have an expiration date about a year out but are valid on any start day. They also retain the old 14-day after first use expiration.

Disney Ticket Price Increase Timing

All Disney Military Discounted Ticket Prices (including the Disney Armed Forces Salute) are affected by Disney’s general public ticket price increases, just at different times.

Disney usually increases their general public ticket prices annually, sometimes more often.

Historical Disney General Public Ticket Price Increases:

No General Public price increase as of the end of February 2021. But the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets did increase mid-February 2021.

• February 2022
• February 2020 (Annual Passes Only)
• June 2019 (Annual Passes Only)
• March 2019 (Disney World)
• January 2019 (Disneyland)
• September 2018 (WDW Tiered Multi-Day Pricing)
• February 2018
• February 2017
• February 2016
• February 2015
• February 2014
• June 2013
• June 2012
• June 2011
• August 2010
• May & August 2009
• August 2008
• August 2007
• January & August 2006
• January 2005
• February, March, & October 2004

As you can see above, general public tickets have increased in February in the recent past. 

When Disney increases prices on their regular tickets it causes an increase in Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets, Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets. This usually does not happen immediately, but usually within a month or so. Base Ticket Offices buy these tickets at a discount ahead and will use up their stock before increasing prices. In 2022 Disney World increased general public Magic My Way Tickets on 16 February. Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets prices did not increase until 2 March 2022. If you wanted to use these tickets in 2022, this 2-week period was the time to buy them.

The important thing to note, is that the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets for the offer that is ongoing at the time of a general public price increase DO NOT change price for the length of the current offer period.

As each new Disney Armed Forces Salute is offered for the upcoming year these tickets will then increase based upon the last general public price increase.

Disney Armed Forces Salute Historical Price Increase Dates:

• January 2022 Walt Disney World (12 month offer)
• July 2021 Disneyland – (2021-2022, 18 month offer)
• February 2021 Walt Disney World (10 month offer)
• January 2020 (12 month offer)
• January 2019 (12 month offer)
• January 2018 (12 month offer)
• January 2017 (12 month offer)
• January 2016 (12 month offer)
• October 2015 (12 month offer with 2.5 month extension)
• September 2014 (12 month offer)
• September 2013 (12 month offer)
• September 2012 (12 month offer)
• September 2010 (12 month offer with 12 month extension)
• January 2010 (9 month offer with a 3 month extension)

Note Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets often go on sale months early so that you can buy them prior to the start date of the new offer.

Ticket Expiration Dates

Unused tickets will remain valid through:

• The 2021-2022 Disneyland Disney Armed Forces Salute – 16 December 2022
• The 2022 Walt Disney World Disney Armed Forces Salute – 16 December 2022
• One-Day Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets (WDW & DL) expire 31 December 2022 (Disney will give you credit for unused, expired tickets towards new ones)
• Multi-Day Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets (WDW & DL) also expire, the first day of use must be by 31 December 2022

Once you start using your ticket:

• Unused days on Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets remain valid through the entire length of the offer
• Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets have a 14-day (WDW) or 13-day (DL) expiration period after the day of first use (first day included in the count)

At Disney World from 1981 through the 2017 price increase, an unused Regular (non-Military Salute) Disney ticket remained valid for use forever. So you could have bought a ticket in 1981 (or any year), not use it at that time and then use it many years later when it would have been a huge discount off of the then current price. But in 2017 Disney ended this policy for good, the 2017 tickets expired at the end of 2018 and so on. You could however use the value of the expired ticket towards the current priced ticket.

Disney World also used to offer a No Expiration Option for their regular tickets, the ticket remained valid for use forever, even after you started using it. You could buy a 10-day ticket with its lower cost per day and use it for two or more trips over the years. We did this a couple times. Disney ended this option several years ago.

Timing is Everything…

When you should buy your tickets depends on what type of ticket you intend to use, when you will be going to Disney, for how long, and when it is in the year compared to ticket price increases.

We have another long post on how to decide what’s is the right Disney military ticket so please check it out. This will guide you on your decision to either use the Disney Armed Forces Salute or regular military tickets.

If you will be using Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets there is no pressure, you can buy your tickets at any time. Once offered the price for each year will not go up.

MDT Tips

For shorter trips the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets are always a better value than the shorter Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets!

Compare all ticket options closely when deciding what and when to buy!

For example buying the 4-day WDW Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket is cheaper than buying a 3-day Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way ticket.

I hope this helps! Do you have any ticket price increase questions?

Let us know in the comments section below

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