Disney Parks’ Call Center – Should You Trust Them About Military Discounts?

“You must buy all of the Disney Armed Forces Salute theme park ticket that you’d like to use at one time in a single purchase, even if you don’t want to use some of them for many months.”

• This is incorrect, you may make multiple purchases, up to the Salute offer ticket limit, during the Salute offer period in question. (This Single Purchase rule was true for the first month of the 2012-2013 Salute. I got them to drop this rule as it prevented repeat visits. When I pointed out to them that they were turning customers ($) away they dropped this rule like a hot Mr. Potato Head.

“Before a new year’s Disney Armed Forces Salute is announced you can book a general public resort rates for dates in the coming year and just convert to the military rate after it comes out.”

• Not True. General public rates CANNOT be converted to the Salute rate, a new reservation must be created. This has always been the case. The issue is that the type of room you have reserved might not be available at the Salute rate for your resort and dates. This will cause you change resorts, dates, or room type. Occasionally this will work and it will be transparent to you, but it is not guaranteed.

“The Disney Dining Plan cannot be combined with a Disney Armed Forces Salute room only reservation, because a package with tickets is required.”

• This is incorrect, any paid Disney Dining Plan may be added onto the Disney Armed Forces Salute room only reservation. A package is only required for non-military guests.

“You are getting a military discount on your room and ticket or room, ticket, and dining plan package.”

• Not true, the ONLY military discount that Disney Resorts offer are on “Room Only” reservations. Any package discount you are being quoted is a general public discount or a Room Only with FULL price tickets or tickets and Disney Dining Plan added. Military members have much cheaper options for tickets, use those!

“There is no such thing as the Large Family Exception to the Disney Armed Forces Salute 6 ticket limit.”

• This is incorrect, the ticketing departments at both WDW and DL will make this exception for immediate families of more than 6 people. They have since 2009. See: Large Family Exception Info

“Walt Disney World does not offer military discounts on Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.”

• They actually do, and have for many years. MNSSHP and MVMCP Info.

“Military families may not buy tickets in person for nights on which Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties are sold out.”

• Military families may indeed purchase tickets for sold out MNSSHP and MVMCP nights. This is a special deal for our community That I worked out with WDW in 2012 and has been valid every year since then.

“You may not add the Water Park Option (now Park Hopper Plus) onto an already purchased Disney Armed Forces Salute Hopper ticket.”

• Wrong, you can add the Park Hopper Plus option onto a Salute Hopper ticket for the price difference at any point until all park days are used up on the ticket.

“You have to activate your Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets in person at the Disney Parks before you can make FastPass Plus Reservations.” and “You can’t link Exchange Certificates to your My Disney Experience Account, you need the real tickets you’ll get after activation.”

• Wrong and wrong! You can link Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets or Exchange Certificates to your My Disney Experience Account and make your FP+ reservations prior to activating/exchanging them in person at the park!

“Reserve members need to be on orders or present active duty orders to use the Disney Armed Forces Salute.”

• This is totally wrong!!! First of all, current members of the military, whether active, guard, or reserve are eligible just by being a member. Second, a Reserve or Guard CAC is identical to those issued to active members, how would they even know you were reserve?
• This old “rule” is actually from the 2002 Salute offer!
• I was a Reservist the majority of my career and used this discount year in-year out and only once was I activated, and couldn’t go then as I was working…

When a MDT reader called Disney in 2018 to ask about the MemoryMaker Military discount (New in 2017) Disney said they had never heard of it.

• I told the reader if they called back to direct the Disney Call Center to check out the Disney World Web Page which has the offer right on it.

When a reader was making reservations, the Disney cast member said that the veteran can get up to six Salute tickets, as well as their spouse. The reader questioned that policy and was put on hold so the cast member could speak to a supervisor. He came back and said that was correct.

• No, No, No, the limit for the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets is 6 per military member! The spouse may only use those tickets in place of the member, not in addition to.

“You have to activate your Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets for Walt Disney World the first day of use at the park you are entering. You cannot do it ahead of time”, for instance at Disney Springs.

• This is totally incorrect for Walt Disney World. At Walt Disney World you are not required to activate your ticket the first day at the park! (it is different at Disneyland where you must activate the day of at the park) 
• Both I and very many others do activate our tickets ahead of time. You can do it at any ticket activation location.

In 2021 Disney is allowing individuals who are unable to use their 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets before the 26 September 2021 expiration, to upgrade them to 2021 Salute tickets with a 17 December 2021 expiration for the price difference. Some Disney cast members are telling military members in this situation to call Shades of Green instead.

• Disney’s Official Policy is that they will do the upgrades for those in this situation!
• Shades of Green’s policy is that they can not!

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 Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• 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

Disney Guidebooks By MDT