Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Discount Tickets in 2026

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute is a fantastic discount available to military members and retirees. This discount includes both ticket discounts and room discounts.

Here are the Top Ten Things that you need to know about the Military Discounted Tickets with this offer.

See the companion post about Military Discounted Rooms here: Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Room Discounts and the full details page about the Disney Armed Forces Salute.

Note to non-retired veterans; you do not qualify for the Disney Armed Forces Salute, however there are Disney Veteran Discounts that you do qualify for.

1. The Armed Forces Salute is a Temporary Offer

The Armed Forces Salute is a relatively recent innovation by the Walt Disney Company. The first version of the Salute was first offered in 2002 as a partial of the year, during the travel industry downturn after 9/11. It ended once people started traveling again in bigger numbers later that year.

Military members then had to again be satisfied with the slight Regular Military Discount on Disney Tickets that had always been available through Military Base Ticket Offices (and still are).

The Disney Armed Forces Salute returned again in January 2009 as the housing crash/economic downturn came into full swing, and the general public reduced their vacation spending. The Salute offers have been renewed, on a year-to-year basis, since then, with a couple of notable breaks.

So if you are considering a Disney vacation within the next couple of years, keep in mind that we never know if the Salute will be renewed again or not.

One ticket during each purchase period must be for the use of the member or spouse; the rest can be used by anyone else (family or friends).

Walt Disney World
The 2025 Salute Ticket Offer started on 1 January 2025 and runs through 19 December 2025.
New for 2026: The 2026 offers are valid for use January 1, 2026, through December 18, 2026 (park reservation required) and include both the traditional 4/5/6-Day Disney Military Salute tickets and the special Disney Celebrates America Military Salute Ticket (unlimited WDW park admission throughout 2026, subject to 2026 blockout dates).

Disneyland
The 2025 Salute Ticket Offer started on 1 January 2025 and runs through 27 December 2025.
New for 2026: The 2026 Disneyland Military Salute tickets are valid for visits January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 (park reservation required).

2. What Type of Tickets are available for the Armed Forces Salute?

There are several different Disney Theme Park Tickets available through the Armed Forces Salute for Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

For Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida
4-day, 5-day, and 6-day tickets are available
They come in 2 different versions.

• Park Hopper Option
• Park Hopper Plus Option

New for 2026 (WDW): The Disney Celebrates America Military Salute Ticket provides unlimited WDW park admission for 2026, subject to blockout dates. Eligible guests may choose this option instead of (or in addition to) the traditional 4/5/6-Day Salute tickets, depending on trip plans.

For Disneyland in Anaheim, California, 3-day and 4-day tickets are available.
They come in one version.

• Park Hopper Option
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass Add-On

3. What are these Options?

The Park Hopper Option allows you to visit multiple Disney theme parks on the same day. You can start your day at one park then switch to another (as many times as you want), or even take a break in between.

The Park Hopper Plus Option allows the number of Plus entrances equal to the number of days on the ticket (so a 4-day ticket has 4 Plus entrances). These Plus entrances are for the following Walt Disney World entertainment venues:

• The Water Parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach
• General admission into the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• 9 Holes of Golf at Disney’s Oak Trail 9-Hole Golf Course
• One round of golf a the Mini-Golf Courses: Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course & Disney’s Winter Summerland (prior to 4 pm)

Read more about the Park Hopper Plus Options

These Plus entrances are separate from the theme park admissions on your ticket. You may use these Plus entrances on the same day or different days from your theme park admissions. You may use one or more Plus entrances per day (same-day returns to the same water park do not deduct another entrance).

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is Disney’s replacement for Genie+. See my Lightning Lane Page for more info.

4. What Dates are the Armed Forces Salute Tickets available for use?

Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets are valid only within the offer period.

Walt Disney World

• 2025 Salute Tickets – 1 January through 19 December 2025
• 2026 Salute Tickets – 1 January through 18 December 2026

Disneyland

• 2025 Salute Tickets – 1 January through 27 December 2025
• 2026 Salute Tickets – 1 January through 31 December 2026

Disney has what they call blockout dates, dates on which these tickets are not allowed to be used.

Walt Disney World Blockout Dates

• April 13, 2025, through April 26, 2025
• November 23, 2025, through November 29, 2025
• March 29, 2026, through April 11, 2026
• November 22, 2026, through November 28, 2026

Disneyland Blockout Dates

• None in 2025
• None published for 2026 (park reservations required)

5. Where can I purchase the Armed Forces Salute Tickets?

Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets can be purchased in several places:

• Your Local Base MWR Ticket Office
• Shades of Green, the Military Owned and Operated Resort on Disney World property
• The Orlando ITT
• Long distance from Camp Pendleton or Shades of Green as well as other locations with a FedEx delivery fee added
• Disney Theme Park Ticket and Guest Relations locations

Tickets that are purchased at Non-Disney locations (except Shades of Green) will need to be activated at a Disney Park prior to their use for entry.

If you have purchased your tickets elsewhere (except Shades of Green) or plan to purchase your tickets at a Disney location, all members of the party must be present, as the tickets will be activated at that time, and all must be present for this process.

A note on sales tax: There is no sales tax charged at military resellers or Disneyland, but you will pay sales tax at any Walt Disney World location.

You cannot buy these tickets online or via phone from Disney, through your travel agent, at Walt Disney World Resorts, or from the Disney Store.

See:

How to Purchase Military Discounted Theme Park Tickets a Step By Step Guide

6. How many Armed Forces Salute Tickets can I purchase?

Walt Disney World
Qualified individuals can purchase up to a maximum of 6 Salute Tickets during both the 2024 and 2025 Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket offer periods. For 2026, the six-ticket cap continues per offer period.

Disneyland
Qualified individuals can purchase up to a maximum of 6 Salute Tickets during the 2024 and 2025 Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket offer period. For 2026, the six-ticket cap continues per offer period.

What if you have more than 6 people in your family?
For families larger than 6, Disney states “Exceptions should be made for immediate families larger than six people.” For example, if a family has five children, Disney will allow all members of the family to purchase Disney Military Promotion Tickets, for Mom, Dad, and the five kids. See this post for more info

One of these tickets must be for the military member or spouse. The other tickets may be for anyone the member wants to purchase them for.

This requires the military member or spouse to physically go to the theme park with their party for the activation process.

Note: Disney Pass Holders do not need to have a Salute ticket for themselves. In this case in theory one of the 6 tickets would be “reserved” for the member and cannot be used by others, but this has often not been enforced.

What if the military member can’t go to the Disney Park?
Disney does take into consideration that military spouses might want to take the kids on a Disney vacation while the military member is deployed and they make an allowance for this.

Military spouses are allowed to purchase and activate Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets. The spouse activates the tickets in place of the member.

Again in theory, one ticket is reserved for the member, but rarely enforced.

These Salute Tickets cannot be activated without the member or spouse being part of the party!

NOTE: The Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort offers are totally separate offers. This means that each member is eligible for the number of allowed tickets at each vacation destination during the Salute offer period.

See:
If I Buy Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets While I’m a Military Member Can I Use Them After I Separate From the military?
My Military Sponsor Can No Longer Go To Disney, Can I Use The Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets They Already Purchased?
I Don’t Have The Correct ID To Activate Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
Can I Give My Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets to Someone Else to Use?

7. How much do the Armed Forces Salute Tickets cost?

Disney World 2025 Armed Forces Salute Prices

• 4-Day Park Hopper- $399.00 per person
• 4-Day Park Plus Hopper $429.00 per person
• 5-Day Park Hopper $419.00 person
• 5-Day Park Plus Hopper $449.00 per person
• 6-Day Park Hopper $439.00 per person
• 6-Day Park Plus Hopper $469.00 per person

New 2026 Highlights (WDW) (prices before tax)

• Disney Celebrates America Military Salute Ticket (WDW 2026): unlimited WDW park admission for 2026; blockouts apply (see above).
• 6-Day Park Hopper (WDW 2026): $449 plus tax (Disney-stated example rate).
• Specially priced 4-Day and 5-Day Park Hopper tickets also available in 2026.

Disneyland 2025 Armed Forces Salute Prices

• 3-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket: $295
• 3-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $391
• 4-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket: $349
• 4-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $477

New 2026 Pricing (Disneyland) (prices before tax)

• 3-Day Park Hopper: $314
• 4-Day Park Hopper: $369
• 3-Day Park Hopper + Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $416
• 4-Day Park Hopper + Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $505

All of these prices are before sales tax. You’ll pay these prices without tax at military sales locations and Disneyland, but tax will be added at Walt Disney World ticket locations. Some bases use local MWR funds to make the price a few dollars less, while others charge a “service” fee, making them a few dollars more.

The American Flag flies proudly over Disney World’s Epcot

8. How do I activate the Armed Forces Salute Tickets?

Armed Forces Salute Tickets that were purchased at Non-Disney locations such as Base ITT/ITR offices (except Shades of Green) will need to be activated before you try to use them at a theme park turnstile/tapstyle/touch point for entrance.

You can do this at all Disney theme park ticket booths or at Disney Guest Relations locations.

Disney World

• Transportation and Ticket Center
• Magic Kingdom Entrance
• EPCOT Main Entrance
• EPCOT International Gateway Entrance
• Disney Hollywood Studios Main Entrance
• Disney Animal Kingdom Main Entrance
• WDW Water Parks Entrances
• Disney Spring’s Ticket Center

Disneyland
Tickets are activated as you enter a park for the first time.

• The main entrances to each theme park
• The rear entrance to Disney’s California Adventure
• The Downtown Disney Monorail Station to Tomorrowland

All members of the party will need to be present at the time of activation, including either the military member or their spouse, who will be activating the tickets.

Why does Disney require the activation process and that everyone be there? They do this to prevent giving them to those who are not eligible or the scalping of these large discount tickets…

See this great post on the activation process

Tickets purchased at Shades of Green are Pre-Activated and do not require this process!

9. Are there any restrictions on how the Armed Forces Salute Tickets can be used?

Besides any Blockout dates and the expiration date, there are no restrictions.

You can use all the days of your tickets in a row, sporadically over a longer vacation stay, or here and there throughout the year. We’ve done all of these.

The same applies to the Plus visits; you have until the end of the Salute Offer Period to use them all up.

Theme Park Reservations are required for all Military Tickets at Walt Disney World and for all tickets at Disneyland!

10. What if I need more days than the Armed Forces Salute Tickets offer?

In some cases, you may want to spend more days touring the Disney parks than are available on the Armed Forces Salute Tickets.

At Walt Disney World, in 2026, the new Disney Celebrates America Military Salute Ticket provides unlimited WDW park admission for 2026, subject to blockout dates. Eligible guests may choose this option instead of (or in addition to) the traditional 4/5/6-Day Salute tickets, depending on trip plans.

At Disney World, one other idea is to opt for the Plus Option. The Plus visits can be used on non-park days to fill out a longer stay.

Use back-to-back Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets if you have a small party. One to three people can use 2 or more Salute tickets each for a longer stay. Another option is to buy tickets for the additional days on top of your Armed Forces Salute Tickets. But you should be very careful doing any of these. Depending on the options you select for your regular Military Discounted Disney tickets, it becomes more costly to add a second ticket versus just opting for the number of days that you need, using the regular military discount instead of the Armed Forces Salute.

See What’s the right military ticket for me?

11. A Bonus Question – Can I use Lightning Lane, Magic Bands, My Disney Experience, and the Disneyland app with my Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets?

Absolutely!
All of Walt Disney World’s and Disneyland’s Technology is available to those who use military tickets!

All Disney Guests now need to purchase their Magic Bands if they want to use them. Either through their Disney Resort Hotel reservation, Disney Store online, or after arrival.

See our WDW Tech Pages for more info: Walt Disney World and Disneyland Technology Overview

So there you have it

The top ten things that you need to know about Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Tickets, plus one bonus item.

Many of the above items are questions that I’m often asked via email, in site comments, and on Facebook.

If you have more questions, consider buying my Disney World Guide Book for Military Families, my Disneyland Guide Book for Military Families, reading the full Disney Armed Forces Salute Information Page, the Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ, or checking out our FAQ Friday Posts.

Are there any other questions that you have? Leave them in the comments section below!

• Also See: Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Room Discounts

How-To: Use Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Tickets (Step-by-Step)

1. Verify your dates and blockouts. Confirm your trip is within the offer window and outside blockouts for your destination (see WDW 2026 dates and blockouts above).
2. Choose destination & length. WDW: 4/5/6-day (PH or PH+). For 2026, also consider the Disney Celebrates America Military Salute Ticket if you’ll visit multiple times. DLR: 3/4-day Park Hopper, with optional Lightning Lane Multi Pass add-on.
3. Pick where to buy. Base MWR, Shades of Green, Orlando ITT, approved long-distance sellers, or Disney Ticket/Guest Relations. Remember tax rules (no tax at resellers & DLR; tax at WDW).
4. Activate if required. If bought at non-Disney locations (except Shades), activate at WDW Guest Relations/ticket booths or at DLR first entry. All users must be present plus the member or spouse to activate. Shades tickets are pre-activated.
5. Make theme park reservations. Reservations are currently required for WDW Military Tickets and for all DLR tickets.
6. Use Plus entries (WDW) to stretch value. Schedule water parks and mini-golf on non-park days to extend your stay without consuming a park day.
7. For longer stays, compare options. Test back-to-back Salute (small parties), regular military tickets for extra days, or a Plus-heavy plan. Choose the lowest total cost for your party.

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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. Check out Steve's Bio Find Steve on Facebook. Subscribe to Steve's Free Email Newsletter Buy Steve a Cup of Coffee! See Steve and His Family's Content That Disney Family  YouTube Instagram TikTok

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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 Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide

Learn about the Disney Armed Forces Salute the best military discount that there is for Disney. See our Topic Overview Pages:

• 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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