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 discounts for Veterans who do not meet the eligibility requirements above:
Veterans Get my Veteran Discounts for Disney Overview email series
Links to my content speciffically for Non-Retired Veterans
- Veteran Discounts for Disney, Universal, and Other Theme Parks
- Disney Military Discounts for Veterans Who Did Not Retire from the Military
- Disney Veteran Discount and Disney Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- Disney Discounts and the John McCain Defense Authorization Act
- Shades of Green Stays for Non-Retired Veterans
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See the Disney ID requirements
Still not sure? See our Military Discount Finder
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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:
- 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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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.
How to explain… I see that an ex spouse after years of supporting the military and their spouses careers, once again gets kicked to the curb. One more benefit that is taken from the spouse upon divorce. The military gets these special rates at the Greens, however the ex who spends years of service with that staff are not eligible. I find this prejudiced. The ex has the children under age or grown. yet none can use the benefit. The military spouse gets to continue on as usual with or without a new spouse. I find this unfair and unjust
Hi Kim,
I understand your frustration!
The DoD sets these rules. I recommend you contact your elected representatives.