Will Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets be available for my January Walt Disney World Trip?
This is a question that comes up every year after the late September Disney Armed Forces Salute renewal announcement.
This is only an issue for those traveling to Walt Disney World, as tickets are not needed ahead of time for the Disneyland Resort.
Those traveling to Disney World do need to have their tickets in advance in order to make advance FastPass+ Reservations. Tickets are needed 60-days in advance for those staying at a Disney Resorts, and 30-days ahead for others.
So for a 1 January trip, you need to have tour tickets in your hand by at least 2 November.
Before FastPass+ this was not an issue, the military community could just buy their tickets upon arrival and be good to go for their trip. This is still the case in California at Disneyland. But in Florida at Disney World, waiting until arrival will keep you from getting FastPasses for all of the best rides and attractions. Some of the most in demand attractions have their FastPasses scooped up 60-days out!
The answer is Yes, you’ll be able to get your Salute tickets in time, but probably not at your Base Ticket Office!
Distribution is the problem
In the past Disney just made the new year’s tickets available at their WDW ticket windows and Shades of Green on the first day of the new year’s offer.
This of course won’t work for those at home 2 month’s prior trying to make FastPasses.
Disney uses a third party distributor to deliver their tickets to the MWR Ticket System.
The MWR System then needs to distribute the tickets to the various services, their regional distribution centers, and to the bases that actually stock the tickets locally.
With a late September announcement of the upcoming offer, there is just over a month for this to happen. This isn’t enough time!
In the past it’s taken up to 3 months for some bases to get the tickets!
Disney Armed Forces Salute Exchange Voucher Ticket
Other Issues
Besides the distribution problem, some bases create their own problems.
We’ve had numerous reports over the years, including this year (2019) of Base Ticket Offices refusing to (or perhaps thinking they can’t) sell the upcoming years tickets.
Or on the other hand, a military member might assume the needed tickets are ready for purchase at their Ticket Office when they aren’t available there yet.
The Solution
If you are traveling to Walt Disney World in January and probably even February, do not rely on your local Base Ticket Office!
You could call them to see if they are selling the new year’s tickets yet, and if they have them on hand or if they have to order them (and how long that takes)
Or you could and should just order them long distance from Shades of Green.
Shades of Green will have the Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets in time for you to make FastPasses!
Note: you cannot buy Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets directly from Disney (either online, phone, or as part of your Disney Resort reservation)!
Shades of Green sells all of their various kinds of tickets including Salute Tickets long distance with a reasonable FedEx priority shipping fee (about $10). If you are going in January do this!
For instructions on how to do this see our Shades of Green Long Distance Tickets Post
Are you going to use the Disney Armed Forces Salute in January? Have you got your tickets yet? let us know, or ask questions in the comments section below!
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This MDT Post By: Steve Bell Steve is the Military Disney Tips Founder. He is a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! He has been writing about Disney for the US Military Community here for 18 years. Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way possible. See Steve and His Family's Content |
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:
- Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
- 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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