What percentage is the military discount for Disney World?

Just how much can you save on a Disney vacation with military member discounts? Read on to find out!

Military Discounts on Theme Park Tickets

Disney Military Ticket Discounts fall into two types of tickets, the temporary Disney Armed Forces Salute and the permanent Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets

The Disney Armed Forces Salute is a never guaranteed to be renewed temporary offer. The first of which was the first half of 2002, and the second which started the current string of offers in 2009. Disney sometimes refers to these tickets as Disney military promotional tickets or Disney Military Salute Tickets..

1. These are highly discounted tickets that come in a limited number of day lengths and options.
2. These currently come in 4-day and 5-day lengths at Disney World and and 3-day and 4-day lengths at Disneyland
3. The following ticket options are available: Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option at Walt Disney World and Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option, with or with out the Genie+ add-on at Disneyland.
4. These tickets are only valid during the specific offer period and lose all value at the offer end date.
5. Salute tickets often have blockout dates associated with each offer when they cannot be used.
6. The member must have a ticket and be part of the party.
7. Activation by the member is required in order for Disney to track the limit per member.
8. They are limited in number to 6 per eligible member during each offer period.

The 5-Day Disney Military Salute Tickets are the best value at Disney World and the 4-Day Disney Military Salute Tickets are at Disneyland!

Eligibility

A valid military ID is required for the purchase and use of these tickets. Here is the list of service members and others who are eligible for this discount, as set by the DoD and Disney:

Current US Military Members:

• Active Military (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• Reserve Military (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force), Reservists do not need to be on long orders!
• National Guard
• US Coast Guard
• Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
• Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Retired US Military Members:

• Active (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• Reserve (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• National Guard
• US Coast Guard
• Commissioned Corps Members of the Public Health Service (PHS)
• Commissioned Corps Members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

100% Service Connected Disabled

Medal of Honor Recipients

Military Spouses in place of the military member (not Civil Service or Contractor). Relationship Field must say SP. Note: The Disney Armed Forces Salute benefit is for the member only. While spouses may use their member’s benefit, they are not entitled to a benefit of their own. They only use the discounts in place of the member. Non-spouse dependents (children) are not eligible.

Un-remarried Widows are entitled to their departed military spouse’s discounts (not Civil Service or Contractor). Relationship Field must say DEC-SP.

Foreign partners/coalition partners stationed at a US base are eligible. They must have a permanent US Military issued ID (CAC card with blue stripe).

Where to Purchase

These tickets can be purchased on base at your Military Base Ticket Office (including Shades of Green and the Orlando ITT), from a Base Ticket Office that ships tickets or directly from Disney at their ticket and Guest Relations windows.

Military Discount Prices

Walt Disney World

• 4-day Park Hopper – $349
• 4-day Park Hopper Plus – $379
• 5-day Park Hopper – $369
• 5-day Park Hopper Plus – $399

Disneyland

• 3-day Park Hopper – $245
• 3-day Park Hopper with Disney Genie+ – $320
• 4-day Park Hopper – $280
• 4-day Park Hopper with Disney Genie+ – $380

These tickets by their length limitations are only right for specific vacation lengths, from 3 to 5 park days at Disney World and 2 to 4 park days at Disneyland. For other lengths you’ll want to consider and price compare with the Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland (below).

NOTE: the actual prices that you pay for all tickets mentioned in this post may vary by a couple of dollars! This is because some Base Ticket Offices use local MWR funds to knock a few bucks off all tickets, while other bases charge a service charge on every ticket.

Discount Percentage

Without a doubt, the Disney Armed Forces Salute is the absolute best deal going for you military family’s Disney vacation! These special, highly discounted tickets represent the single highest savings potential for your family. All other discounts pale in comparison.

Walt Disney World

This is where it gets complicated! Disney World charges the general public a different price for the same ticket based on what day(s) you will use it! And they charge a different price for adults (all ages 10 and over) and children (ages 3 to 9).

Relax, I’ve pulled the prices and done the math for you.

Disney World’s prices for the 4-day equivalents range from $659.39 for a child’s 4-day Park Hopper to $738.22 for an adult 4-day Park Hopper Plus. While the 5-days range from $716.85 to $815.08 for the same options. These Disney prices include sales tax.

The Disney World Armed Forces Salute will save you from 44.3 percent to 53 percent per ticket depending on length, option, and age purchased.

Disneyland

Disneyland charges the general public the same price every day, but do still have adult and child versions.

Disneyland’s prices for the 3-day equivalents range from $400 for a child’s 3-day Park Hopper to $497 for an adult 3-day Park Hopper with Genie+. While the 4-days range from $430 to $590 for the same options. These Disney prices include sales tax.

The Disneyland Armed Forces Salute will save you from 24.8 percent to 41.7 percent per ticket depending on length, option, and age purchased.

For More Information of the Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets see these links:

Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets

Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ

Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ Friday Ticket Posts

Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland

The Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets are the permanent discount that stretches back into the 80’s at least.

1. These are slightly discounted versions of the exact same Magic Your Way Tickets available to the general public.
2. They come in 1 – 10 day lengths at Disney World and 1-day to 5-day day lengths at Disneyland and offer
3. The following ticket options are available Base (no options), Park Hopper Option, Water Park and Sports Option, and Park Hopper Plus Option at Disney World and Base, Base with Genie+, Park Hopper Option, and Park Hopper Option with Genie+ at Disneyland.
4. Unlike the general public versions of these, they are not date based (attendance or price), you just buy it and use it at any time you’d like, where the GP version you have to buy for specific dates, say 20-24 January 2023 and pay the specific rate for those days. Tickets have the typical GP expiration of unused days, 14 days after first use and unused tickets typically expire on 31 December more than 1 year in the future. Unused days and tickets retain their value towards new full price tickets direct from Disney.
5. There are no blockout dates on these tickets, except the single day tickets go up in price during the 2 weeks of Christmas.
6. The member does not need to have a ticket and be part of the party. They may be purchased and then given to anyone (family or friends) to use without the member.
7. There is no activation required and no limit at all on the number.
8. There is no limit on the number of these the member, spouse, or child dependents can purchase.
9. These tickets can only be purchased from a Base Ticket Office, Disney does not sell these.
10. These are typically only the right choice for longer trips (6+ days) depending on user preferences on options, and single days (or if no more Salute tickets are available).

Eligibility

Here is the list of eligible service members and others who are eligible for this discount:

Current US Military Members:

• Active Military (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• Reserve Military (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• National Guard
• US Coast Guard

Retired Military Members:

• Active (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• Reserve (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• National Guard
• US Coast Guard

Service Connected Disabled

Medal of Honor Recipients

Prisoners of War

All Veterans under certain limited circumstances

Spouses of Military Service Members listed above

Military Child Dependents

Un-remarried Widows are entitled to their departed military spouse’s discounts (not Civil Service or Contractor). Relationship Field must say DEC-SP.

Foreign partners/Coalition partners stationed at a US base are eligible. They must have a permanent US Military issued ID (CAC card with blue stripe).

Where to Purchase

These tickets can only be purchased on base at your Base Ticket Office (including Shades of Green and the Orlando ITT) or from a Base Ticket Office that ships tickets. You cannot purchase them directly from a Disneyland or Walt Disney World theme park ticket window. These Military Sales Outlets on base all operate differently, so check local procedures, but it is always wise to start your purchase process at least 2 weeks before you desire to have your tickets in hand. Keep in mind that Disney requires advance reservations for their theme parks, so you’ll need to have your valid admission tickets in hand in order to make Disney Theme Park Reservations.

Military Discount Prices

These tickets are the “fall back” for trip lengths that do not fit within the length served by the Disney Armed Forces Salute, if you’ve used up your allotment of Salute tickets, need more than the 6 Salute Tickets, or are going on dates the Salute Tickets are not valid.

Walt Disney World

Again, Disney World makes it as complicate as possible!

General public Single-Day, Single-Park tickets are priced by both park and date (on the same day different parks have different prices and these prices also vary by date). While Single-Day Water Park and Sports, Hoppers and Hopper Plus and all multi-day ticket prices vary by date. PLUS single-day Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets come in 2 different date ranges and price points (15-31 December the more expensive and the rest of the year).

Disneyland

The Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets don’t offer much savings, making it a a toss up as to whether you might want to use them if it’s a hassle to get them or you need to pay shipping to get them.

Military Discount Percentage

The Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland require much more thought and research, as there are times of the year when they are not a good deal and even times when they are more expensive (at Disney World).

Walt Disney World

Single-Day Tickets

• Christmas – While about 25 bucks more than the rest of the year Single-Day, Single-Park Tickets the Christmas time ones will save you almost 8% at Animal Kingdom, 13% at Epcot, 18% at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and 20% at the Magic Kingdom. The Single-Day Hopper and Hopper Plus save around 12%
• The rest of the year Single-Day Tickets quite frankly are a mixed bag! Use extreme caution when considering these, they are sometimes more expensive than Disney’s prices with tax! Check Disney’s site for prices for the day you’d like to go and the park you’d like to visit and compare.
  • When Disney’s prices are cheapest you can pay 12% more for these military tickets at Animal Kingdom to saving 1.4% at the Magic Kingdom
  • When Disney’s prices are the highest you will save from 23.2% at Animal Kingdom to 34.4% at the Magic Kingdom

Multi-Day Tickets

• You will always save with these, it just depends on what Disney’s prices are at the time you go how much that will be
  • When Disney’s prices are cheapest you will save from around 2 to 7 percent depending on the use date
  • But when Disney’s prices are the highest you will save anywhere from around 26% to 33%

Disneyland

Single-Day Tickets offer under 1% savings (except the child’s Base and Base plus Genie+ at 5%).

All other military tickets offer 1.8% on Base and Hopper and 2.8* on the Genie+ versions.

For More Information and full price lists for the Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland see these links:

Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland

Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets

Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets

Wrapping Tickets Up

As you can see by all the above the Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets are the way to go and the Regular Disney Military Ticket’s should be a backup that your research closely for your needs.

When the savings percentage drops low, say near the 6.5% sales tax in Florida or near zero in California (CA has no general public sales tax on tickets) you should weigh the effort of getting the tickets compared to the savings, and if you are going to pay a 10 to 12 dollar FedEx fee to ship your tickets you’ll need to factor that in too!

For more help on deciding on your ideal ticket, see the following:

What’s the Right Military Disney Ticket for Me?

11 Differences Between Disney Armed Forces Salute and Disney Regular Military Discounted Tickets

Military Discounts on Disney Lodging

Military Discounts for your room while on a Disney vacation fall into three types:

1. Military Room Discounts offered by Disney
2. Shades of Green the Armed Forces Recreation Center located on Walt Disney World property
3. Military Discounts offered by the various chain hotels

Disney Armed Forces Salute

The Disney Armed Forces Salute offers Disney resort rooms at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland at a great discount.

Qualified individuals (see below) may book up to a maximum of 3 rooms at Walt Disney World Resort and 2 rooms with up to 5 people in each at the Disneyland Resort. This discount may be used as many times as you’d like during the offer period and may be used at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. There can be Blockout dates during which Disney does not offer these discounts. These are “peak attendance” dates. Disney sometimes refers to this as the Disney military room promotion.

Please note, the discount amount, number of rooms, and room types at these rates can have limited availability so you might have to be flexible (dates, resort, room type) in order to get the discount. See this post: How Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Work.

Available at the following Disney Resort Hotels

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites only
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (Cabins only)

WDW Offer excludes the following Resorts and following room types:

• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• All 3-bedroom villas
• Suites in Moderate and Deluxe Resort hotels
• Cabins at Copper Creek Villas
• Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Disney’s fine print says that length-of-stay requirements may apply, but I have neve encountered any length of stay requirements in the 14 years they have offered these room discounts!

Shades of Green

At Shades of Green you will find very affordable military room rates for your Disney vacation. You’ll find Shades of Green has very reasonable room rates compared with many Disney World Resorts and other hotels in the local area. Rates are based upon rank/pay grade, with junior members paying much less.

National Hotel Chains discounts vary but often fall into the 10 to 20 percent range.

The Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels

The Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels are seven hotels located near the Disney Springs shopping, dining, and entertainment area in the Walt Disney World Resort.

These National Chain hotels celebrate America’s military with up to off 20% room rate discount at all member hotels.

Eligibility

Eligibility varies!

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Room Discount has the same eligibility as the ticket discount:

Current US Military Members:

• Active Military (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• Reserve Military (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• National Guard
• US Coast Guard

Retired Members of the US Military:

• Active (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• Reserve (US Army, US Navy,  US Marines, US Air Force, US Space Force)
• National Guard
• US Coast Guard

Service Connected Disabled

Medal of Honor Recipients

Prisoners of War

All Veterans under certain limited circumstances

Military Spouses

Military Child Dependents

Un-remarried Widows are entitled to their departed military spouse’s discounts (not Civil Service or Contractor). Relationship Field must say DEC-SP.

Foreign partners/Coalition partners stationed at a US base are eligible. They must have a permanent US Military issued ID (CAC card with blue stripe).

Shades of Green has the same eligibility for room stays as the Disney Salute, PLUS adds the following:

• Involuntarily separated service members under the Transition Assistance Management Program.
• 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.
• Current and retired (APF and NAF) Department of Defense (DoD) and Coast Guard (CG) civilian employees. DOD or CG ID card, Retired ID card, or current Leave and Earnings Statement with photo ID required for check-in.
• Un-remarried surviving spouses of personnel who died while on active duty or while in retired status.
• Un-remarried former spouses who were married to military members for at least 20 years while the military member was on active duty.
• Military personnel of foreign nations and their family members when assigned or attached to a U.S. military unit or installation or on U.S. Travel Orders.

Non retired Veterans who do not fall into the categories above may stay at Shades of Green in the months of January and September using their DD-214 in place of an ID.

Sadly there is no version of Shades of Green in California.

The Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels

Both active and retired U.S. military personnel, including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard and activated members of the National Guard or Reserve, can enjoy a military discounted room rate at all of these member hotels, when booking directly.

The Disney Springs Hotels are:

• B Resort & Spa
• Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel
• Doubletree Suites by Hilton Disney Springs Area
• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs Area
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Area
• Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista

National Hotel Chains

The number of hotels in the Central Florida and Anaheim California areas is astounding!

Here I’ll touch on two groups that are located on Walt Disney World Property, the Disney Springs Area Hotels and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. These are all non-Disney owned national chain hotels on Disney property that do do offer some military discounts.

Military Discount Prices and Discount Percentage

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Room Discount

Instead of publishing a set percentage off for each room category (30% Value, 35% Moderate, & 40% Deluxe), Disney is silent on the discount percentage. But in effect the Salute discount is now “Up To” those old percentages off. Meaning the old set amount off is not guaranteed if the discount is available for your dates/resort/room category; instead you might get a lesser amount off.

For more see: How Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Work

Shades of Green

You’ll find Shades of Green has reasonable room rates when compared to many of the Disney World Resorts and other hotels in the local area. Rates are based upon your pay grade or status, with junior members paying much less to help them afford a Disney vacation.

See Shades of Green’s Price List: Shades of Green Walt Disney World’s Military Resort Room Rates

The Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels

Both active and retired U.S. military personnel, including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard and activated members of the National Guard or Reserve, can enjoy up to 20% off the best available room rate at all of the member hotels, when booking directly.

See: Disney World Disney Springs Hotels offer Military Discounts

Other Hotel Chains

Military Discounts vary at other national chains.

How to Access Military Room Discounts

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Room Discount

The Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Room Discount must be made directly through Disney by calling or through a Disney Authorized Travel Agent. You cannot make military discounted room reservations online!

I recommend Ears of Experience as the travel agent that you should use. They are a Disney specializing Travel Agent that is extremely experienced with Military Disney Vacations.

See:

Ears of Experience

Top 8 Reasons to Use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

How Do I Make Resort Reservations Using the Disney Armed Forces Salute discount?

Shades of Green

Shades of Green reservations may be made by calling their Reservation Hotline, or right on their website.

The Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels

Through the The Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels website or individually.

Other Hotel Chains

Typically through the brand website. Restrictions could apply.

Military Discounts on Disney Dining

Unfortunately, while Disney offers great discounts on resort rooms and park tickets, they offer no discounts at all on dining!

Fear not though, there are some third party locations that offer military dining discounts on Disney World and Disneyland property!

There are Restaurants, Entertainment, and Merchandise locations which honor our military community with anywhere from 10% to 25% off of your bill!

Walt Disney World Disney Springs Military Discounts

Disneyland Downtown Disney Military Discounts

Note: there are no military discounts on the Disney Dining Plan which has not yet returned after the 2020 shutdown.

Military Discounts on PhotoPass

Walt Disney World offers a military discounts on Memory Maker. The PhotoPass purchase service.

You can purchase the Memory Maker product for the discounted price of $98.00.

See: Military Discount on Memory Maker at Walt Disney World

Military Discounts on the Disney Cruise Line

The Disney Cruise Line offers Military discounts on Individual Sailings.

Unlike the Disney Armed Forces Salute, Military Discounts on Disney Cruises are not always offered.

Check out the Disney Cruise Line Military Discount Page.

Still not sure if you qualify or not for one of these discounts? Check our Military and Veteran Eligibility Guide

Or see Disney’s ID Guide for the Disney Armed Forces Salute

Have a question? Read our Disney Armed Forces Salute Frequently Asked Questions page for detailed questions and answers about this special temporary discount offer.