Many people are confused by the Difference Between Disney Armed Forces Salute and Regular Military Discounted Tickets for Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
There are quite a few people that don’t even know about the Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland!
In this post I’m going to lay out the 11 differences for you.
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.
- These are slightly discounted versions of the exact same Magic Your Way Tickets available to the general public.
- They come in 1 – 10 day lengths at Disney World and 1 – 5 day lengths at Disneyland and offer
- The following ticket options are available Base (no options), Park Hopper, Water Park and Sports, and Park Hopper Plus at Disney World and Base, Base with Genie+, Park Hopper, and Park Hopper with Genie+ at Disneyland.
- 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 Dec more than 1 year in the future. Unused days and tickets retain their value towards new full price tickets direct from Disney.
- There are no blockout dates on these tickets, except the single day tickets go up in price during the 2 weeks of Christmas.
- 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.
- There is no activation required and no limit at all on the number.
- There is no limit on the number of these the member, spouse, or child dependents can purchase.
- These tickets can only be purchased from a Base Ticket Office, Disney does not sell these.
- 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).
More Info:
Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland
Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets
Regular Military Discounted Disneyland Tickets
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.
- These are highly discounted tickets that come in a limited number of day lengths and options.
- These currently come in 4 and 5 day lengths at Disney World and and 3Â and 4 day lengths at Disneyland
- The following ticket options are available Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus at Walt Disney World and Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus, with or with out the Genie+ add on at Disneyland.
- These tickets are only valid during the specific offer period and lose all value at the offer end date.
- Salute tickets often have blockout dates associated with each offer when they cannot be used.
- The member must have a ticket and be part of the party.
- Activation by the member is required in order for Disney to track the limit per member.
- They are limited in number to 6 per eligible member during each offer period.
- These tickets can be purchased on base or from Disney.
- These are the right choice for 2-4 park days.
More Info:
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ
Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ Friday Ticket Posts
Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ Friday All Topics
For more help on deciding on your ideal ticket, see the following:
What’s the Right Military Disney Ticket for Me?
Questions?
Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section below!
This MDT Post By: Steve Bell Steve is the the Military Disney Tips Founder. He a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way. Check out Steve's Bio. Subscribe to Steve's email newsletter to get website updates and news by clicking this link. |
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 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
Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts! |
Dr Lawrence L Clark Sr says
Are there discounts for Disney Cruises?
Steve says
Yes they sure do.
Please see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-cruise-line-military-discounts/
Pete Rzeminski says
I traded 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets for 2022. We did not use them. Can they be traded for 2023?
Steve says
Hi Pete,
What you experienced is not a normal occurrence. Normally Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets lose all value at the end of the offer and if you have not used up all (or any) days on the tickets you are SOL.
The 2020 shutdown threw a monkey wrench into the Salute ticket release schedule for Disney and that rolled to planning issues for military guests.
Due to this, Disney on a strictly individual basis would work with those who could not use their tickets. Some won like you did, while others were screwed.
It’s worth your asking, but saying that you could not use the tickets over a 2-year period will be a hard sell. I would not mention that they were originally 2021 tickets if you can help it…
Please touch base afterward to let me know how it turns out!!!
Pete Rzeminski says
Good news. This was their response:
“Greetings from beautiful Shades of Green Resort in Orlando, Florida.
If you purchased your tickets from us, and your tickets have not been used and are not expired, we can apply the cost of your original tickets to a purchase of future tickets.
We would need to have a picture of your original tickets, a picture of your sales receipt, and a signed order form showing the type and number of tickets that you would like to purchase.”
[email protected]
Steve says
Hey, great news Pete.
Thanks for the intel!
Jim says
When is this discount typically released? We are planning a trip during the first week of 2024 and would love to take advantage.
Steve says
Hi Jim,
Two things. First, just keep in mind that there is never a guarantee that the Disney Armed Forces Salute will be renewed. It has been going on almost continuously since 2010, with one notable short break.
Second as to announcement timing, there hasn’t been a usual since the 2020 debacle. Prior to that it was the end of the third week of September. 2020 and 2021 it was all over the place! But there last two years it has been near Veterans Day in November. This may end up being the new standard…
Katie Rich says
I am a former spouse of a military member planning a Disney World vacation with my 3 kids, as well as their grandmother, aunt, and uncle. The military member will not be there. We are planning to be at the park for 3 days. Assuming he is willing to do so, would he be able to purchase Magic Your Way tickets for all members of our party, regardless of whether or not they are his dependents?
The Base Ticket Office said that since the tickets are electronic and must be activated, the holder must have a military ID. By that point, my 3 kids should have their own military IDs, but myself, grandma, and aunt and uncle do not have a military affiliation. Would we be able to use the 3-day military discounted Magic Your Way tickets? Or would only my 3 children with dependent IDs be able to use them? Thanks for any clarification!
Steve says
Hi Katie,
In response I’ll relate the rules and then 2 solutions.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets are a benefit for the member only. The current spouse my use 5 of the tickets in place of the member. Either the member or spouse must be there at Disney in person to activate the Salute tickets that need activation. Non-spouse dependents are not eligible and their IDs will not work.
Those are Disney’s rules and they don’t waiver from them.
Here are a couple of ways to go.
The correct answer would be for you to use the regular military Disney tickets that I talk to on this page. These of course offer much less savings. Not sure if you still have an ID, but the kids can buy these with theirs. Or the ex could buy them for you.
The other answer would be for the ex to buy the Salute tickets from Shades of Green long distance (see the link below). Salute tickets from Shades of Green do not require activation.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
M. Stanton says
Hi Steve. I would like to visit Disneyland for 6 days. My thoughts are to purchase the Armed Forces Salute 4-day pass and then add on two days of the regular military discount tickets. However, I noticed that the cost for a 1 Day Base (Pick 1 Park) ticket is $105.00 while the cost for a 2 Day Base (1 Park each day) ticket is $307.75.
I am wondering if I my Army spouse could purchase the 4-day Salute Pass, and then two 1 Day Base tickets for $210 rather than the $307.75? Is this allowed?
Thank you!!
Steve Bell says
Hi there,
Yes, any combo of tickets is allowed! And in this situation you have zeroed in on the cheapest combo at $524 for a 4-day Salute and 2 each 1 day base tickets. Two 3-day Salutes would be $536, while as you noted a 4-day Salute and a 2-day base would be most expensive at $622.
There is one issue to note if you are going to use your smart phone for entry, if you use the physical ticket this won’t matter. That being that when you link multiple tickets to one person, you need to ensure the ticket used each day is the one you want. If Disneyland is the same as Disney World, the last ticket linked is the first used.
You may want to have the ability to park hop on specific days! I recommend that prior to entry, you go by a guest relations location in the esplanade between the parks and let them know what ticket you want to use that day. You’ll have to do that every day until both the 1-days are used. This is how it works at WDW, but they can guide you on that first day. Again, this is if you don’t use the physical tickets.