A current valid military ID is required to activate the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets in person upon arrival at Disney.
Here is a link to the forms of ID Disney accepts.
There are several reasons that you might be in this situation:
- You didn’t know/weren’t told that you need a current military ID to activate the Salute tickets in person
- You bought Salute tickets before you separated
- You surrendered your CAC/ID when you started terminal leave
- Your military relative or friend bought Salute tickets for your whole party and can’t go now
- Your military relative or friend bought Salute tickets for you not knowing that they had to go with you
Ticket You Can’t Activate
If you or the sponsor has not left the military yet, go to the Base Ticket Office where you bought the tickets and insist on a refund. The Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets are non-refundable so you will have an argument on your hands. But explain that they have sold you tickets that you will not be able to use. Request they call their supervisor or regional management if they do not think they have sold you the tickets in error.
Then if you do get a refund buy Regular Military Discounted Tickets instead. These can be used without an ID after purchase (but are much more expensive).
If you can’t get a refund or don’t have access to a Base Ticket Office, the only recourse is to request in person upon arrival that Disney allow you use the Salute ticket purchase price towards full price tickets.
I recommend bringing all of the following that apply to use during your attempt to get some value out of your tickets:
- The Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets
- The original purchase receipt
- A photocopy of the sponsor’s CAC/ID (if there is a eligible sponsor who cannot attend) Please see my note about this below before you get mad and comment!
- A photocopy of your old CAC/ID (if you can do it before you surrender it) Please see my note about this below before you get mad and comment!
- A letter from the sponsor explaining why they cannot attend (if there is a eligible sponsor)
- A letter from you explaining why you could not use the tickets prior to surrendering your CAC/ID
- Any documentation to back up the letter (doctors notes, denied leave requests, etc.)
Use the documentation above during your firm but polite conversation with the Disney ticketing cast member to make your case.
If needed politely request to elevate your request up the Disney chain of command.
Keep in mind you will not be allowed to use the tickets as is, because you are no longer/not eligible.
To Be Clear: What you are asking Disney to do is to allow you use the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets towards the purchase of full price tickets.
Just in case, you should be prepared to cover the full price yourself if Disney does not allow you to use the Salute tickets towards full price ones.
Ticket Prices
Full price Disney tickets are way more expensive than the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets. The Salute tickets are about half the price of comparable full price or Regular Military Discounted Tickets.
But you could buy tickets for a shorter number of days if you do not have enough to cover longer ones.
Full Price Ticket Prices:
NOTE: Yes, technically photocopying a military ID is illegal as some purists have noted in the comments section below. However the intent of this rule is so that some business that you are dealing with (say an auto dealership, payday loan place, or hotel) can’t get a copy to use for untoward purposes later. In this instance you are going to give a copy to your family or closest friends whom you had planned to travel to Disney with, not a stranger… If you can’t trust them to keep it safe and destroy it after needed, then perhaps you shouldn’t have planned to travel with them in the first place.
Please Help Others
If you have found yourself in this position, please come back to this page later and let us know how it turned out for you!!!
This will let others know what to expect.
Share your experience in the comments below!
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This MDT Post By: Steve Bell Steve is the the Military Disney Tips Founder. He a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way. Check out Steve's Bio. Subscribe to Steve's email newsletter to get website updates and news by clicking this link. |
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? See Our Great Disney Discount and Planning Info:
- Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation GuideÂ
- Military Disney Tips Disney Packing ChecklistÂ
- Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide
- Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
- Dining Overview Page
- Transportation Overview Page
- Technology Overview Page
- Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort
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Hi Steve,
My daughter has just begun a new business as a travel agent specializing in Disney vacations. In the last 3 years she has been to DisneyWorld twice with me as a military salute sponsor. I took her and her husband and my 3 grandchildren on two separate ten day vacations. Both trips were awesome! Early this year she traveled to Disneyland, and just this month back to DisneyWorld to gain more knowledge as part of her new career. She is interested in learning how to become an authorized agent for the military discount programs, and I told her I would ask you. Can you help with any information? Thank you..
Hey Brian, I replied via email
Does Disney not off Military Discounts to Vets who did not RETIRE ? I served but not 20!years. Because of that I don’t have a military issue ID
Hi Samantha,
Thanks for checking out the site!
There are no discounts available directly from Disney for your situation.
There is the this one discount available for non-retired veterans which is from Shades of Green. It is only for the months of January and September. Here is my post with details including what documentation is required: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html
My ex husband is retired after 30 yrs,married to me for 27 of those 30.I have a valid Id card.Have full access to base,bx,commissary,tri care etc.
What disney world ticket would I be able to buy,any discounted ones ?
Thank you
Hi Donna,
You are eligible to purchase the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets for WDW or Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets for Disneyland. See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
Unfortunately in your case you are not eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets as these are the member’s benefit. However if your ID says spouse he could allow you to use his if he is not going to use them. See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html
Can I purchase the Armed Forces salute tickets at Disneyland or must I buy them at a military tickets sales on base?
Hi Ron,
Yes you sure can, see full Salute details here: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html
Please correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t making a photo copy of your military ID illegal?
Are there any alternatives to making a photocopy? I want to bring as many facts and documents I can to back-up my claim but I also don’t want to do anything illegal.
Thank you
Hey Bob,
Take a pic of both sides, or just rip up the paper after it is used… The point is to to show that the ticket was purchased by an eligible person.
I just wanted to confirm what Bob asked. It is a violation of federal law to photocopy your military ID. I was just in the DEERS enrollment office yesterday and they have a sign hanging prominently in their office to remind everyone. It probably isn’t the best idea to encourage people to violate this. Per an article on army.mil, “The photocopying of U.S. Government identification cards is a violation of Title 18, U.S. Code Part I, Chapter 33, Section 701 and punishable by fine and imprisonment.”
Thanks Sue,
If you can’t trust the people you have put in this position to destroy the copy, rather than using it in nefarious ways (the intent of the law re 3rd parties), perhaps you shouldn’t plan to travel with them in the first place.
I am rated at 80% disability through the VA, but receive 100% through VA IU. I have paperwork for this and a VA ID. I also have a spouse ID, from when my husband was active and he is still doing the national guard. I would like to know if I can get these tickets for myself and some family members, without him present. He will not be able to attend due to work.
Hi Brittney,
Yes you are eligible as the spouse of a Guardsman (not by any of the VA stuff).
You should have a Reserve/Guard spouse ID now (something to work on) but the one you have, if not expired will work.
Hi Steve,
My husband is retired Air Force so we both have military IDs. We are planning a trip to Disneyland and need a total of ten (10) 3 day park hoppers to make the most of our time with our extended family. Can my husband purchase 5 tickets on his ID and then can I purchase 5 tickets with my ID? Thanks for your help!
Hi Dianna,
You didn’t say it, but you are a spouse right, not a military member or retiree?
The limit is 6 Salute tickets per military member/retiree (unless it is 9 dependent children that you are talking about…
The other 5 tickets would then have to be the Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets. See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
Steve-
My husband is active duty, our college age children are going to WDW without us because we have commitments at work. Is there anyway they can use the Military Salute tickets? They have ID cards.
Thank you-
Ann
Hi Ann,
Sorry, non-spouse dependents are not eligible for the SAlute offers. One of you would have to go with them.
You can but them the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets, which are only slightly discounted but they can use them without you.
see http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
Has anyone experienced the military member not being able to attend because they got Covid and now can not fly because they are on oxygen 24/7? Can we still upgrade to regular military discount tickets without them at the parks, or will they need to do it on base before the rest of us travel? Can they transfer their tickets to regular military tickets but in someone else’s name? We have 5 day park hoppers in December and upgrading to regular tickets would cost thousands of dollars. We are trying to decide whether to eat the cost of the Salute tickets and not go at all, or if there is another option.
Hi Monette,
Let’s see if I can answer all of your questions as best as I can.
First, check out: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/special-needs/disabilities/customer-oxygen.html
I have not heard of this particular situation, but it would not be any different than the member not being able to go because of cancelled leave or a deployment. I recommend no changes to what I’ve suggested in this post if you want to convert these to regular gate price tickets.
Disney does not sell the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets, only Base Ticket Offices do. You can attempt to switch tickets with yours (that would be your first step), but they are very often unhelpful, sticking to the all sales are final/no refunds rules. But in these times you might have luck.
If you have linked your tickets to your My Disney Experience you will need to unlink them in order to do any refunds or exchanges. You cannot do this your self you need to call the Disney Internet Help Desk at 800-848-6413, Option #3, and ask them to do it. They don’t like to do this either and you will have to explain and convince them to do so.
When you unlink your tickets you will start getting notices that your Theme Park Reservations will be cancelled as you have no tickets linked. There is a period of time (days I think) where they will remain and if you link new ticket all will be fine.
Hope all this helps, let me know if you have any more questions!
AND I would really appreciate your coming back here or emailing me with the final resolution details so that I may better serve others!
Steve
Hi, if I have a CAC card which was issued as a government contractor, can I purchase these discounted tickets for me and my family?
Thanks!
Hi April,
Unfortunately not.
You might try your local base ticket office to see if they will sell regular military discounted tickets to you (those that do not require a military member ID).
Hi Steve,
We’ve purchased our 6 Salute to service tickets for our family, additionally we will be bringing my nieces with us while my sister is TDY. If my sister buys the girls their tickets, but cannot be there to activate them, are we able to just active theirs in conjunction with ours? Or does SHE specifically need to be there? Thanks for any insight!
Hi Laura,
You will not be able to do that with Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets purchased on base (that require activation). The 6 ticket limit applies to the activation process not the purchase.
However if your sister buys her Salute tickets long distance from Shades of Green they will be able to use them as Shades of Green’s Salute tickets are pre-activated. Note, Shades may require that she buy one for herself as well as the sponsor/spouse.
See: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
Hi, my son purchased Salute tickets planning on going during leave but is now being deployed. He was going to give them to his brother and brothers girlfriend to use in lieu but I am reading this might not fly unless they have a copy of his CAC card? Thank you for your help!!
Hi Brandi,
So you didn’t state this, but I believe you only have on son in the military. His brother and the girlfriend are not military, right?
As I note in the post the member must be there to use these special tickets. If the are not the tickets can’t be used.
The only fall back if the military member can’t go is to use the value of the Salute Tickets towards Full Priced ones. To do so, that is why they would need to bring all documentation possible that the military member bought them and that he can’t go and wants them to use the value towards full priced ones.