How H.R.5515 – the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 affects Disney Discounts
Congress passed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act which went into effect 1 January 2020. It is also know as The Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018.
the act applies to:
- Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients
- Veterans who are former prisoners of war
- All Veterans with service-connected disabilities
- Individuals approved and designated as the Primary Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Here is what I’ve discovered so far about how this applies to Disney discounts.
UPDATED: 31 December 2019, with Shades of Green Info.
Disney and the DoD
There were no changes in eligibility to the Disney Armed Forces Salute for 2020. Any changes would require a contract negotiation between The military MWR at large and Disney.
DoD sets the eligibility, but Disney would have to agree to offering the large extra volume of discounts.
Disney currently offers the Disney Armed Forces Salute to 4.06 million current military and retirees.
As of 2018 (the most recent year data is available), estimates place the number of service related disability veterans at 4.7 million (about 25% of all veterans). Purple Hearts awarded for Viet Nam through 2010 (all I could find) were 394,794 (the vast majority from Viet Nam (351,794)). It is unknown how many of these people are alive now, but using the total numbers we come to an additional 5.09 million people that Disney would have to offer this special discount to.
Keep in mind that the room discount has been harder and harder to get the last couple of years for those who are eligible now due to lack of availability.
More than doubling the volume of those eligible for the discount would bankrupt the system.
Base Ticket Offices
Those eligible under the John McCain Defense Authorization Act are able to buy the tickets at their Base Ticket Office that do not require a current, valid military ID to use (the Disney Armed Forces Salute and Universal’s special tickets require IDs).
In other words, they could buy all of the regular military discounted tickets that usually offer a small discount, but not any special highly discounted tickets.
See: Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets
This includes Shades of Green’s Ticket Office, both in person and long distance purchases.
Shades of Green
Shades of Green is the Armed Forces Recreation Center on Disney property (there are others world-wide).
Shades of Green is a MWR facility and as such is part of this new law.
As of 31 December 2019 Shades of Green has added the following category to their eligibility:
Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act 2018
Those Eligible:
- Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients
- Veterans who are former prisoners of war
- All Veterans with service-connected disabilities
- Individuals approved and designated as the Primary Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Details:
This is good news for those affected!
But, again here we will run into a volume problem. Shades of Green has always been almost fully booked (except during the months of January and September) with the eligibility categories that they have served in the past.
Shades of Green had for many years allows all who served honorably (non-retirees) to stay in January and September with their DD-214. We will have to see if this now continues or not based on the new eligibility category. It may be that those who don’t fit the new law will end up being excluded (in September and January).
see: Shades of Green Stays for Non-Retired Veterans
More than doubling those eligible to stay here will be difficult. The resort is just not set up for that many, they may have to rent, buy, or build a second hotel to accommodate the volume.
The John McCain Defense Authorization Act is a great thing for those affected! I’m just trying to put my little corner of the world in perspective where it is concerned. This volume problem I’m sure affects the bases as well. The current system simply wasn’t built to support this volume.
For those who are now eligible to stay at Shades of Green who are wondering what it is like should check out our Essential Guide to Shades of Green guidebook.
How To
You need to have been issued a Veteran Health Identification Card from VA. You can present your VHIC to gain entry to DoD and Coast Guard installations and some commissary stores; and at point of sale at commissaries, exchanges and morale, welfare and recreation retail activities to complete your transactions.
The VHIC must display the Veteran’s eligibility status (i.e., PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW or SERVICE CONNECTED).
Upon the first visit to an installation, eligible veterans must stop at the visitor control center. Depending on the type of installation, veterans may be enrolled for recurring access, which would allow them to proceed to the gate for entry upon subsequent visits without having to stop again at the visitor control center.
For much more info see This Site
Read the John McCain Defense Authorization Act
Over to You
What are your thoughts on all of this? Let us know in the comments section below!
Veterans Get my Veteran Discounts for Disney Overview email series
Links to my content speciffically for Non-Retired Veterans
- Veteran Discounts for Disney, Universal, and Other Theme Parks
- Disney Military Discounts for Veterans Who Did Not Retire from the Military
- Disney Veteran Discount and Disney Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- Disney Discounts and the John McCain Defense Authorization Act
- Shades of Green Stays for Non-Retired Veterans
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I think that suggesting the number of Veterans that will take advantage of any new eligibility is wrong. Eligible does not mean free. Even with the current discounts, , a Disney vacation is very expensive. I do not anticipate an explosion of Vets being able to afford it.
Hi Tetesa,
Thanks for the comment. I was not suggesting an amount that would participate, rather the amount who could Would be eligible).
It’s a wonderful thought but I fear will take away or limit our active duty & veteran benefits as companies can no longer afford the increased volume. I believe the result will be a reduction of benefits to all which means those discounts we enjoyed will be reducing or going away. .
Hi Betty, general discounts widely available at various businesses have been available to all veterans with only a few exceptions. While Steve’s numbers are likely correct, fearing that adding disabled vets will cause the existing benefits to collapse, is not right. Shades is NOT a free hotel. It is NOT cheaper than staying at a value resort. I’ll say again, just because you are eligible to stay at Shades or buy discounted tickets, DOES NOT mean you can afford it.
Steve, I have to agree with Tetesa. Even though as a disabled veteran, I meet the qualifications for using the facilities, Disney is way out of my price range and I would venture a guess that there are very few who meet the qualifications for use of these facilities that have the money available to actually take advantage of the offer, at least not in the foreseeable future. I don’t think Shades of Green will be overrun with MOH Recipients, PH Recipients and disabled vets anytime soon.
It’s quite true Andy, a Disney vacation does come at a elevated price point.
Hey Steve!
I like your unbiased and “other side of the coin” approach to this article. Not that I think there’s a lot of us just waiting for the gates to open at the SoG or anything, but I just never thought of the business aspect of the deals we get with Disney and such. I used to prefer to stay on property and know that getting a great room rate can be a pain. I’m retired now, moved here, and work for the Mouse so it’s a little different for me now, but I still have lots of folks I direct to your site for more and better information for WDW and other central Florida trips. Keep up the great work and keep the info flowing! Thanks!
Hi there Michaela,
Thanks so much! Discounts are definitely a business decision. Disney holds a profit generation board (if I remember the name correctly) which decides the way forward for the next year price and discount wise. The continuation of the Salute offers depends on the outcome of the board.
We too prefer on property, but with the up to percentage off the rooms for the military vs th old set percentage, it is often easier to get a general public discount with bigger savings.
I know there are the various cast member perks that you receive, I enjoyed them when I worked there.
Thanks so much for sending folks my way!!!
From what I read on the DAV site it seemed to me that it was extending privileges for base lodging. So I am not sure how that pertains to SOG. Am I misreading this?
Hi Lisa,
Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center, not a Base Lodging/Billeting facility. They will be determining if and how they can implement this new law based on their regulations and availability I believe.
This is what I read: “ Beginning in January 2020, service-connected veterans and their caregivers will be eligible to use base commissary stores and some morale, welfare and recreation facilities on bases worldwide. This provision—located under section 621 of the NDAA— comports with DAV Resolution Number 270.” (source: dav.org)
The key here is “some” morale, welfare and recreation facilities on bases worldwide.
how will this affect Disney Cruise lines?
Hi Kathy,
I don’t know for sure at this time. But the only changes to date are for sales by military resellers (SHades of Green and Base Ticket Offices) not any product Disney sells such as the Disney Armed Forces Salute.
I personally would really just like the discounted tickets. I’m 60% disabled service-connected that I can’t get anything.
Yea, I’m 80% and am excited about the SOG news, but hope that the armed forces salute will someday change!
We’ll see what happens Caitlin.
Steve, I am confused by the new John McCain rule change. My husband spend 15 years and 2 at war with the Army. He was injured overseas and wasn’t allowed to re-up. He was put out on disability but no 100%. Can he receive any ticket discounts since he is non retired and not 100% disabled? Just curious everything i read seems confusing to me. Thanks
Hi Melissa,
I’m sorry if I was unclear. I know this is all new territory.
As a non-retired disabled vet your husband is eligible for:
– Stays at Shades of Green – Year-round
– Purchasing tickets That do not require a retired ID to activate – year-round at Shades of Green or any other Base Ticket Office in person or long distance.
The tickets that require a retired ID to activate are: the Disney Armed Forces Salute and Universal’s Special Military tickets.
This leaves the whole range of Regular Military tickets.
see http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
also see this new overall status post: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/disney-veteran-discount-and-disney-military-discount-eligibility-guide/
I am planning a family trip to Disney end of July. I am 60% disabled, service connected, honorably discharged USMC. Am I able to stay at Shades of Green and purchase theme park tickets at a discounted rate? Thank you!
Hi Linda,
Yes, as noted in this post.
Hello,
I just called our closet base to inquire about discounted Disneyland tickets. However, they informed me we did not qualify for any discounted tickets? My husband is a veteran, honorable discharge with only a DD 214 form. If I am reading your website correctly, we would qualify for some discounted tickets? Where can we purchase? Note: this is for Disneyland, not Disneyworld. Thanks for your suggestions!
Hi Tiffani,
Unfortunately they are correct for Disneyland. With no other qualifier but a DD-214, there is no discount in California.
If you want to make the trek to Orlando in Sept or Jan, he would qualify for stays in those months at Shades of Green and to buy tickets while staying there that do not require a current ID (the 2 special tickets).
Thanks Steve! 1 more question, if my father is retired & has valid military ID, can he call & purchase tickets on our behalf for Disneyland?
Sure!
Yes he can purchase the Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets (https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/disneyland-military-discounted-theme-park-tickets/) at his local base or long distance (https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/), which you can use without his being present.
This does not apply to the highly discounted Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets that require an ID for use.
My hubby is retired Air Force and recently 100% disabled. We have been going to Disney with our kids since 1993. I agree Disney is expensive but we’ve always planned out a year in advance for tickets, Shades of Green, Universal City, etc. So by the time we get ready to leave everything is paid for (which makes it a very relaxing trip).
We have reservations for September 2022 and booked Shades of Green under the retired tier.
Gonna check on the SOG rates for disabled to see if they are lower than the retired rates. Should hubby bring his letter stating his 100% rating? Thanks
Hi Debbie,
The 100% disabled rates are category 2. So if he is a retired O-4/CW-4 and above it would be cheaper.
Per Shades of Green the required documentation would be his military retiree ID (ID is DD Form 1173 or DD Form 2765). Does the card say something about disability?
He’s retired(enlisted) Air Force and his I.D. does not show percentage of disability. So he’ll bring his VA letter with him. Thank you so much Steve.
Im a spouse/ care giver for a DAV, I want to take grandkids to WDW FLA but he has NO desire to go, can i stay at shades n dtill get park discount s etc?
Hi Cheri,
Discounts for non-retirees can only be accessed by themselves because the spouses have no military ID of their own.
However, since you said you are the caregiver Shades of Green will allow you to stay there and buy all the other tickets (like the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets) that do not require military ID to activate (i.e. the Disney Armed Forces Salute)
Shades of Green states:
“Primary Family Caregivers must present their letter from the VA Office of Community Care that indicates they are assessed, approved, and designated Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and are eligible for these privileges paired with an acceptable credential like a REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license or a U.S. passport.”
https://www.shadesofgreen.org/special-offers/monthly-specials/equal-access