This post is part of our Frequently Asked Question Series in the General Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ section.
Am I eligible to participate in Disney’s Armed Forces Salute?
The Disney’s Armed Forces Salute offers huge savings on theme park tickets and resort rooms to those Service Members who are eligible to participate.
Those who are eligible fall in the following categories:
- Current members of the US military
- Active Duty
- Reserve (current participating for pay and points)
- National Guard (current participating for pay and points)
- Current members of:
- Coast Guard
- Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
- Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Reserve and Guard DO NOT need to be on active duty orders (or show any orders)!
- Retired members from the US military
- Active Duty
- Reserve
- National Guard
Gray area retirees of the Reserve and Guard are eligible.
- Retired members from:
- Coast Guard
- Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
- Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Other Eligible Persons:
- 100% Permanently Disabled Veterans are also eligible for this offer. Permanently Disabled Veterans must have a military ID with a DAVPRM status
- Spouses of eligible members (Listed above) are able to participate in place of the member (not in addition to) without the member being present
- Non-remarried spouses of deceased eligible members above
- Active Military Foreign Affiliates who have been issued a US CAC with a blue band are also eligible
Not Eligible Are:
- IRR Non-Participating “Reservists”
- Unaccompanied non-spouse dependents (children)
- prior service members who did not retire
- foreign military members without US issued CAC
- DoD civilians
- Service connected disabled who are DAVTMP
There are other programs for various disability categories.
Service members who did not retire may be eligible for other discounts.
See the Disney ID requirements
Still not sure? See our Military Discount Finder
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? See our:
Learn about the Disney Armed Forces Salute the best military discount that there is for Disney. For where to stay see our Resorts/Hotel Overview Page. Disney doesn’t discount dining for the military, but there are a few places on property that do, see the Dining Overview Page to learn where plus more dining info. You can also learn about Transportation Options. Be sure to check out our Technology Overview to learn about Magic Bands and My Disney Experience to see how they work with military tickets. Walt Disney World visitors might be interested in staying at Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort.
See: Top 8 Reasons to Use An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Steve Recommends
Do you want all of your Disney Planning information in one place, organized in a step-by-step logical manner with an emphasis on Military Discounts and offers? I've written 3 Guidebooks just for the Military Community:
Walt Disney World for Military Families 2019 - Available in Print, Kindle, and Digital PDF Download
The Essential Guide to Shades of Green - Available in Print, Kindle, and Digital PDF Download
Disneyland for Military Families - Available in Print, Kindle, and Digital PDF Download
Here are my recommendations for products and services I've reviewed that can improve your Disney planning. This is a short list since it only includes my top picks.
Ears of Experience - My recommended Travel Agent, Fee Free, Disney Only, Military Family Owned
Need a Little Extra Help Planning your Disney Vacation? Check Out Ears of Experience's Concierge Service
Military Disney Tips Negotiated Military Discounts
Orlando Shuttle Service - $15 off basic round trip pricing to ANY Orlando resort use MDT15
Amusement Park Rentals - 10% Military Discount on Strollers and Scooters Use 10MILITARY at checkout
EzPacking Cube Organization System, Tame Your Suitcase! - MDT Readers get 15% off with MILITARYDISNEY at checkout
Other Planning Resources
My Disney Experience - The Official Disney iPhone App (Free iTunes Download)
Buy Your Magic Bands at the Disney Store
Best Ever First Timers WDW Book The Easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit
YourFirstVisit.net The premier website for first time visitors to Walt Disney World!
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World The Ultimate WDW Guide!
TouringPlans.com - The website of the Unofficial Guide - Crowd Forecasts, Pre-made Touring Plan, plus lots of detailed info
Follow Military Disney Tips
Like our very active Facebook Page - Follow MDT on Twitter - Follow MDT on Pinterest - Get Steve's Free newsletter
Hello, I saw that army reserves does not need to be active duty to be eligible for the military discount. Is that correct? My husband is in the army reserves and is currently serving his last two years inactive. IRR. He has not been discharged yet since he has not completed his contract. Is he eligible for the armed forces salute discount? Thank you.
Hi Colleen,
Current members US Military Reserves are eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute. That is those who are part of a unit and perform duty for pay and points.
The IRR is not eligible, as they are no longer in the military, they are civilians (because they got out) who are told to keep their uniforms in case they are ever called (they never have been).
So I’m a little confused. Is you husband a current participating member of the Army Reserve? Or are you saying he was active duty and is now IRR?
If he is IRR he is not eligible, but if he is actually in the Reserves he is.
If he isn’t eligible there is the this one discount available for non-retired veterans which is from Shades of Green. It is only for the months of January and September. Here is my post with details including what documentation is required: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html
Hope this makes sense and helps
His contract is for 6 years active, 2 years inactive. He is currently serving his 2yrs inactive. He has not completed his military obligation, so he has not been discharged yet from the army reserves. On this site, I clicked on “General Armed Forces Salute Questions.” Then I clicked on “Am I eligible to participate in the Armed Forces Salute?” There is says in bold print “
Hi Colleen,
I see, he has an enlistment for 6 years, 4 active and 2 IRR. The key word in your reply is “Inactive” that means he is not participating in the military. If you are not participating you are not eligible. The eligibility for this is set by the Department of Defense.
He has been discharged from the Army, there is no formal discharge from the IRR, the ID just expires and that’s it.
Your comment clipped off so I did not see what text you were referring to, but the only bold print on this page is “in place of the member (not in addition to)” under spouses.
Check under Not Eligible Are:
But he is definitely eligible for the Shades of Green program I linked to with his DD-214 that he received when discharged from active duty.
Here is the text that got clipped off from my last reply.
On the website:
Am I eligible to participate in the Armed Forces Salute?
“Eligible Service Members” are:
“Active” i.e. current members of the US military from the Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS), Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Reserve and Guard DO NOT need to be on active duty orders (or show any active orders)!
OK, thanks I see. That text is not from this page as you indicated, rather another.
That page was older, I’ve made it match this one so hopefully there is no confusion. Thanks
*“Active” i.e. current*, means Currently Participating for Pay and Points, which the IRR does not do as they were discharged from active duty, are not a member of a unit, and do not participate regularly for pay and points. They are not current.
Don’t forget about Shades of Green’s offer for non-retired veterans.