Special Info for these Crazy Times:
Big News:
- 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute What About Tickets?
- 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute Info
- Park Hopping Returns to Walt Disney World Starting in 2021
Everything is Different at WDW since it Reopened See these Posts to see what's different!
- Planning and Executing Your Walt Disney World Vacation During These Trying Times
- Our Return to Walt Disney World
- Our Second Trip Back to Walt Disney World
- Using the Walt Disney World Theme Park Reservation System
This post is part of our Frequently Asked Question Series in the Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket FAQ section.
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.
I need more than 6 Armed Forces Salute Tickets what can I do?
Disney’s Armed Forces Salute has a ticket limit of 6 tickets during the Salute offer period per eligible member.
However, Disney’s policy is that “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 and use Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets (for Mom, Dad, and the 5 kids).
Disney defines immediate family as: Mom, Dad, & their Dependent Children.
Qualified:
- Member
- Spouse
- Their Dependent (Mil ID Carrying) children and those too young for an ID
Not Qualified:
- The member’s adult children without Mil ID, even if still living in the house
- The member’s adult children plus their spouse, and or children
- Parents
- In-Laws
- The member’s siblings
- The spouses siblings
- Aunts and Uncles, or their children
- Friends
- Friend’s kids
- etc. (you get it)
Military resellers like Base Ticket Offices and Shades of Green have a contract driven policy which limits them to selling a max of 6 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets per eligible member.
(Update Sept 2019) – Disney now officially advises that you work with your local base ticket office to gain an exception to the 6-ticket rule. The Ticket Office would do this by contacting Disney Military Sales, either directly (if they know how) or through their next higher Ticket Office Supervision.
The problem with this will be lack of knowledge on the part of Ticket Offices and perhaps not knowing about this or believing you. Work up their chain of command if needed to get them to investigate.
Give yourself plenty of time for this to happen. Start well before you want the tickets sin hand!
PLEASE provide feedback on how this goes for you in the comments or use my contact form!
Until recently Disney used to have the member wait until arrival to get the tickets above 6 that they needed.
Disney’s intent is that large immediate families be able to use the Salute discount for all family members!
But a glitch in the way the system was originally set up is causing problems!
This wasn’t been a big problem in the past, those who needed more than 6 tickets just got them upon arrival at Disney.
But with the advent of FastPass plus it has become a problem.
So as it stands today, Military resellers (base ticket offices and Shades) are not allowed to sell more than 6 per military member due to language in their contract with Disney. But as stated above Disney now wants local Ticket Offices to work this out.
But, if your Base Ticket Office will not help you, here are my (old) recommended solutions from when Disney wanted you to work this out at the ticket booth:
If this is an issue for your family, potential solutions are:
Buy the remaining needed ticket(s) upon arrival
- Buy your 6 tickets and link them to your My Disney Experience Account and make your FastPass Plus reservations.
- Then upon arrival buy the ticket(s) needed above 6 directly from Disney during the ticket activation process.
- Then with your My Disney Experience account “copy” the FastPass Plus reservations you have to the new tickets.
- If you are unable to copy the FastPasses to the new tickets due to no availability at the attractions that you have selected, go to a Guest Relations location, explain the situation and ask them to give that last ticket(s) matching attraction carte blanche FastPasses.
If you want to have the tickets ahead of time to due to concern about guaranteed FastPasses
- Have whoever didn’t buy the tickets (you or your spouse) go and attempt to buy the additional ticket(s) at your Base Ticket Office.
- Ask a military friend or spouse to buy the ticket(s) for you.
- Buy the additional ticket(s) long distance from Camp Pendleton or Shades of Green.
- If there is another base nearby go there to purchase the additional ticket(s).
Note: Disney always seems to have a training issue with VERY slightly used programs like this one. If on arrival you run into a cast member who is unaware of this exception, just politely escalate through management until you find someone in the know.
You may want to bring a printout of your DEERS list just to show that they are your dependents
It is VERY important to note, that the intent here is not to get away with something, or do anything that is not allowed by Disney! (as a couple overzealous readers have alleged in the past)
Rather, because of a glitch in the system, those who are allowed to buy more than 6 tickets need to wait to get the 7th (or more) until they arrive, thus messing up their FastPass Plus planning ahead of time.
This is just how to deal with that specific issue.
Don’t Qualify for this Exception?
Then you’ll need to get Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets for the rest of your party.
See: Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets
Disney Tickets and Technology Links
Tickets
Disney's Armed Forces Salute Tickets The biggest military discount available on tickets
- Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ The questions that I get most often
Regular Disney Military Discount Tickets The permanent Disney Military Discount
Stars and Stripes Passes From Shades of Green at Walt Disney World, are available to any Shades of Green eligible person who is staying anywhere on WDW property.
Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide
What’s the Right Military Discounted Disney Ticket for Me?
WDW's Park Hopper Plus Option Information
Technology
Disney World's new Fast Pass Plus (FP+) system and the Magic Bands are great new benefits that are part of the set of new technologies collectively known as Disney Next Gen or My Magic Plus.
Disney Technology Overview Page
Memory Maker and PhotoPass+ Military Discounts
My Magic Plus - What all this New Disney Technology?
Linking Disney Military Tickets And Fastpass Plus Reservations
Waiting On Your Walt Disney World FastPass Plus Window To Open (what you'll see in your account)
Disney FuelRod Stations are Available at Disney Parks for Recharging Your Devices
Magic Bands for Shades of Green Guests
FastPass Plus for Shades of Green Guests
All You Need To Know About Disney World FastPass Plus For The Military Traveler
Military FastPass Plus Ticket Options for Disney World
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? Get Our Email Newsletter
Read about the Temporary Changes to Disney World during their Post-Lockdown Re-Opening
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 Guide
- Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist
- 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
Disney Guidebooks By MDT
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We are going to WDW in The fall and it will be myself, husband, 2 yr old, 4 yr old, and my parents. So I will need 5 tickets, but plan on staying 6/7 days. Since my brother who’s also in the military isn’t going this year can he buy tickets to cover our extra days there? If so how does that work? Thanks!
No unfortunately not Mal. The member activating the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets must be there and have a ticket for themselves as well.
You’ll need to mix in Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets.
Make sure you compare all your options: 3 people using back to back Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets, mixing salute and MYW, only MYW (based on the various types of MYW tickets types).
Shades MYW prices (bases are close in price).
What about where you said having a military member who’s not using their benefit or having my spouse try another base? Just curious. I want to figure out our best possible/least expensive way on the tickets. Also have you heard any news on Disney renewing the Military salute/discounts?
Hi Mal,
You have to qualify for Disney’s large family exception in the first place. What I outlined above is just to get the tickets you are qualified for prior to going instead of upon arrival.
I met with Disney last week and expect to have something to release within a month.
I have the same problem in that I am needing more theme park tickets. My husband is 100% military disabled so he does quality. He is wanting to take kids and grandkids to Disney in November. But, he is only eligible (I think) to receive only 6 discounted military tickets (the ones currently for $177). We are needing 9 adults and 5 kids tickets. I, as his spouse, also have a military I.D. but read only one person can purchase only 6 tickets. Do you see any changes by November that may help us? Any way we can save a little extra money is very helpful. We also have reservations at Shades of Green.
Hi Debbie,
If I had to advise you today I’d say the other 3 tickets would have to be Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets.
But, please sign up for my newsletter and stay tuned for info in the near future which will help your situation.
My family and I will be visiting Disney world in January 2016. My husband is retired Air Force and I am Dependent spouse. We have 9 Adults and 2 children going. We read he could only purchase 6 tickets. Could I purchase the other 5?
No Lucina, the 6 ticket limit is per member. The spouse can only purchase in place of the member not in addition to.
Your next option would be the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets (starting with kids first as they are cheaper). See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
My husband is 100% disabled vet. We need 5 adult tickets , 2 children tickets and 1 disabled child’s ticket. What is the best plan for us.
Hi Danny,
Does he have a military ID with DAVPRM on it? This would qualify him for military discounts.
If so use 6 4-day Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets and 2 child (3-9) Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets. There is no such thing as a disabled child’s ticket.
See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html and http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
If not buy general public tickets from Disney,
I need 11 tickets for September. I’m aware that we can get 6 AFS tickets and 5 regular Military Discount Tickets. I know my son (the military soldier) needs to activate the 6 AFS tickets at the gate but does he need to be present for the 5 regular tickets?
Hi Crystal,
The Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets are ready to go and do not need to be activated, so he will not need to be there.
They are just like regular general public tickets.
My husband is active duty and we have 5 minor, dependant children . I know we qualify for the large family exemption, but I’m trying to figure out how I can get all 7 tickets in advance so that I can link out FastPasses and so that all the kids will get their magic bands when Disney sends them.
I called Disney, which was just as helpful as you suggested it would be. The cast member told me the only way to get a 7th ticket is at the gate AND that they mak no guarantee that I can get a Salute ticket, I may have to get a discounted ticket instead, as its up to their discretion and availability.
I have a friend that is also active duty and won’t be using their Salute tickets this year who offered to buy the 7th ticket at the MWR where I’ll be buying my 6, but someone said these tickets may have the service members’ name on them and I won’t be able to activate it with my husbands ID at the gate.
Any insight?
Hi Sarah,
Yes, having a friend buy your 7th ticket is one of the options that I mention in the post above.
Once there if there is any pushback by an un-knowledgable cast member, about activating the 7th, just politely escalate to management.
I have 6 kids, plus myself and my husband. So we need 8 tickets. I actually am going down there in June (but our family trip is not until August). Can I buy the extra tickets then (without any of my kids there)? What would I need to show them I have 6 children under 18. Or so I need to have my kids with me when I buy the extra two tickets.
Hi Heather,
Since you will be there swing by Shades of Green and buy six, no questions asked, nothing needed but your ID. No tax
Then you can either buy the remaining 2 from Disney plus tax, you’ll need to show that you have one ticket already for yourself. Photo copies of the kid’s IDs or birth certs might be in order.
Or buy the remaining 2 at your base ticket office, again just your ID needed. Then activate them upon arrival (showing that you already have a ticket).
Hello, I have actually already purchased my 6 from SOG by mail and had them delivered via Fedex. I am trying to figure my best way to get those additional 2 tickets and be able to make my fast pass reservations for all of my kids. Would having a friend who is also military buy me 2 tickets from SG that they purchase the same way by mail work? They would already be activated right, so that military member wouldn’t need to be there?
Yes that will work and you are correct Heather.
Hey Steve! So, if we buy the 6 tickets we need from the local base office, we could then just call the Shades of Green or Camp Pendleton to order the 1 extra we need? Would they not see in a computer system that we had already bought the other 6 tickets? Thank you!
Hi Chrissy,
Yes that is a workable solution. Have fun.
The six tickets would be the specially priced ones. You can only have 6 of those. Any tickets above that would be a Military discount but not as cheap as the special tickets. Those will show up in the system. Only 6 allowed.
Hi Crystal,
I’m sorry, but for a family larger than 6 you’d be incorrect.
So Steve
if I buy. My 6. Tickets at local base office then swing by sog. To by 2 more that I need I can do This no questions ask cause I am not in the system for 6
Hi Peter,
There is no system that tracks purchases at non Disney locations. Some bases set up their own local system. And of course you must meet the eligibility for the large family exception.
Would my husband be able to buy tickets for his sister and kid? If we bought our 6 at the ITT then called and got the extra two would that work? Or will they inquire about the immediate family rule?
Hi Sarah,
Having purchased what is the limit for one member (who doesn’t have 5 or more kids) he’s not eligible for more, no matter how purchased.
He can buy her the Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets, which offer a slight discount.
If helping her with the price is a concern you could average the cost of all 8 tickets and have her pay for 2. This would of course increase your cost.
Hi!
I need 11 tickets that we want to purchase months ahead of the trip. Can the service member buy 6 ahead of time at one base, and then the spouse by 5 tickets ahead of time at another base?
Will we have any trouble once we arrive with 11 discounted tickets? Do we need to check in somewhere once we arrive to ‘validate’ our tickets? We will technically have 2 military IDs, but one is a spouse ID.
Thank you.
Hi Petti,
Yes you will have trouble if you attempt this!
The limit for Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Tickets is 6 for the member during the current offer. The spouse my use these tickets only in place of the member not in addition to.
Please carefully read: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html
These special tickets must be activated after arrival see: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/how-to-activate-your-disney-armed-forces-salute-theme-park-tickets/
Tickets above 6 can be the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets. See: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
If my family and I have already gone to Disney this year and used up all of our days at the parks with the Salute to Heroes tickets, am I able to purchase more throughout the year?
Or is it only 6 allowed per year?
Hi Jessica,
It is 6 tickets total during the 2018 offer period (1 Jan – 19 Dec 2018) at WDW. And 6 tickets total during the 2018 offer period at DLR.
After using up your allowance you’ll need to switch to the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets, see: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
I purchased 3x 4 day Salute to Heroes tickets on an earlier trip and have only used 2 of the 4 days; I am planning to go back in October with my family (will buy the other 3x 4 day). Do you know if I am able to convert my first three purchase of 4 day to 5 day to give me an extra day on those tickets?
Yes you sure can Ti. You can do so at any WDW ticket location for the price difference plus tax.
Note, if you bought them at Shades of Green you can convert then there without tax.
Awesome, thank you! This just saved me so much money!!!
Hello! I know several people have inquired about this already, but I want to get your opinion on the best way to do this. We have five children and are trying to go to Disney World in November, so we need to get our tickets in the next month to be able to do fast passes. If we get a friend of ours to buy the seventh ticket that we need, and then bring them all with us to Disney World in November, is our friend’s military ID linked to that seventh ticket in anyway? And when you say we have to meet the large family exception, does that just mean they need to see that we have five children with us? Thank you so much!
Hi Meghan,
All members of your party must be present for the ticket activation, so yes you have to bring all 5 kids. Those old enough should have military dependent IDs.
The linking of tickets to a person is done by Disney upon ticket activation, not base ticket offices. However some base ticket offices take it upon them selves to track the number you buy and might be a pain later if your friend tries to buy all 6 of theirs.This is because many base ticket offices do not fully know the rules.
That is exactly the information I was looking for. Thank you so much for all that you do for our military community!
My Pleasure!
My family and I are going to Disney next month and we need 8 tickets. My son in law (Navy) purchased our 6 Military Salute tickets last month. If we have a friend purchase the 2 more tickets that we need, can my son in law redeem all 8 at Disney without our friend even though he didn’t purchase all of them? Just trying to save myself $600.
Hi Jennifer,
I answered this question this morning that you left on the other topic page yesterday. I’ll copy the answer below, but in short the answer is no.
Hi Steve, We have 8 people going to Disneyland so if i were to buy 6 3 day salute hoppers from my ITT on base, could i buy the last 2 salute hoppers at the park when we arrive without getting “flagged”? Thank you !
Hi Michael,
No, it is the activation process that you go through upon first use at Disneyland that tracks the number of tickets.
I suggest using 2 Regular Military Discounted Tickets for any kids in the party, if there are some, as these are cheaper.
See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
So if i go through the gate with 8 Salute hoppers and 1 Mil ID they will say something?
Yes, at Disneyland they check the military ID at the gate the first entrance. With more than 6 Salute tickets you’ll need to have 2 eligible members.
We are going in January. Just making sure same rules apply. We have 7 children but only 6 that are 3 and higher. We need 8. We can buy 6 tickets ahead of time and the other 2 at the gate? Can my FIL who is military buy us 2 and then we activate at the gate with our children present? Trying to go and not make him be there too for activation.
Hi there Lindsey,
I’ve just updated this post with new info from Disney so please look above.
Also check out this post in regards to your dad: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/shades-of-green/pre-order-disney-theme-park-tickets-at-shades-of-green/ Shades of Green’s Salute tickets come Pre-Activated!
HI Steve,
We used up 3 of 5 day park hopper military tickets this year already. We are needing 5 tickets for our upcoming trip (3 kids and 2 adults). Can I order 3 from Shades of Green and have our friend buy 2 at our ITT office on base? Our friend will not be at WDW to activate them.
Thank you
Hi Aimee,
You did not give the dates of your upcoming trip…
The limit is 6 per member in the 2019 offer (1 Jan – 19 Dec 2019). You are eligible for 3 more during this offer.
During the 2020 offer you would be eligible for 6 tickets (1 Jan – 18 Dec 2020).
This is with the understanding that as a couple you are a member and spouse, not 2 members. 2 members would each have their own eligibility.
If you need the 2 more you’ll want Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets or Shades of Green Stars and Stripes tickets for 2 of the kids (cheaper than adults).
See: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
Hello Steve,
First off, thank you for taking the time to help our military families with this information. Your attention to detail is amazing.
Heading to Dinseyworld in March 2020
Pretty sure I have this correct… My husband is AD Air Force. We have 4 in our immediate family and are going with 4 additional non immediate family members. We would buy the 6 salute tickets for the 4 immediate family members (Dad, Mom, 2 kids) and then the 2 extra salute tickets could also be used for 2 (adults) of the non immediate family members? Then we could buy 2 additional regular military discounted tickets for the 2 (kids) remaining non immediate family members?
Thanks!!
Hi there Vicki,
Thanks so much!
Yes, you have it perfectly.
Hi, thanks for providing so much information about these tickets, it helps make everything a little easier and cheaper 🙂
I am curious and I could find anyone else asking a question similar. We currently live in Utah but will be moving to Alabama for flight training in March. We want to plan a trip for 6 military salute tickets to Disney land with the rest of my family while we are close enough to drive to Cali. But want to take advantage of living close to Disney World as well later this year while we are stationed at Fort Rucker. So my question is, is it 6 per year for BOTH Disney location or can I get 6 for Disney Land and 6 for Disney World in the same year.
Hopefully that doesn’t sound too greedy but we don’t want to loose any opportunities to have these experiences with our kids while its even cheaper by not having to fly to either location and while their dad is not deployed.
Hi Sheridan,
Not greedy at all! It’s still a big outlay of money making 2 trips.
The Disneyland and Walt Disney World offers are totally separate so you may use 6 tickets ate each during the offer period. The Resort Hotel discounts are unlimited.
See: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/use-disneys-armed-forces-salute-multiple-times/
Steve,
Just bought a couple of your books that I plan to go through over the next month. Just want to see if I have this all straight. I have 5 children and as long as I can get the 7 Armed Forces Salute tickets…there is no issue getting them activated at the gate (as long as I can show they are all 5 my kids)?
What if one of my kids is 19 but in college and still has his dependent ID (they keep them until 21 and upwards of 23 if in college)?
Thanks so much Dennis!
Yes, Disney’s corporate official intent is that you do not have to buy a more expensive ticket in order to take your whole family.
But we’ve seen over the years that where the rubber meets the road there can at times be impediments (those who are uninformed).
I recommend first trying to work through your base ticket office as Disney has most recently stated. The initial reaction may very well be “WHAT?” or You can’t do that!” Insist they ask up their chain and contact Disney Military Sales as I mentioned above. Leave plenty of time for this process (and for making FastPasses) and keep on them. I know someone who regularly did this in the past, though he contacted Military Sales directly on his own.
If this ends up failing, then go the alternate route. Get your 7 tickets (most likely through multiple sources). When you go to activate them you will get pushback as this is a very, very rare thing and they do not train for it. You’ll need to escalate to management. Just be politely firm and refuse to take no for an answer. You may get a little pushback or a lot, but they WILL let you do it in the end, perhaps with a “We’re going to make an exception but only in this one instance.” I’ve heard that line from readers over and over through the years.
Yes the mil ID says they are a dependent so good to go!