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.
My Military Sponsor Can No Longer Go To Disney, Can I Use The Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets They Already Purchased?
No I’m so sorry that is not possible. The member or their spouse must be part of the party.
These highly discounted tickets are only for the member (or spouse) to use with friends and family, not for letting those who are not eligible use them without the member.
Or you might be in this situation: You’re not really eligible, but your Base Ticket Office sold you Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets anyway.
What To Do
The only recourse as the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets are non-refundable, is to get Disney let you use the purchase price towards full price tickets or reschedule the trip until you can go with the military member.
If you are going without the member I recommend bringing: the tickets, the original purchase receipt and a letter from them explaining why they cannot attend and that they want you to be able to use the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets towards full price ones, and any documentation to back up their letter (doctor’s notes, orders, leave cancellations, etc.) should also be on hand.
Just in case you should be prepared to cover the full price yourself if Disney does not allow you to use the tickets towards full price ones. This isn’t very likely!
If however, you know the member won’t be going before purchasing tickets, have them buy you the Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, which are only slightly discounted to use without the member being present.
See: Regular Disney Military Ticket Discount for Walt Disney World and Disneyland
|
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! |
when does my military spouse actually have to be with me to use these tickets? Is it the first time I enter the park? Or every time I go to the parks? Or just when I have them activated? Thanks!
Hi Meghan,
Well, your spouse doesn’t really have to be with you at all, a spouses can activate tickets on their own.
But, for someone other than a spouse (kids, relatives, friends) they would have to be with you for the activation process (and for first entry only at Disneyland not WDW).
Steve,
Does Disney have a policy of allowing you to pay the difference between the AFS ticket and a regular ticket IF the sponsor is suddenly unable to come? Or is it determined on a case by case basis? Can it be done there at the gate in person, or does it need to be planned in advance? Is this something we could do at Shades of Green if we do not purchase the AFS from Shades of Green? My dad would like to sponsor my family at WDW, but he is an older gentleman, and I worry about his health and ability to attend a trip that is planned several months in the future. It would be nice to know one way or another if we would be able to just pay the difference in price at the gate, and whether we would be able to keep all the pre-bookings made with the AFS voucher.
Hi Irene,
I’ve heard numerous times of Disney allowing those in your situation to do this.
You need to do it directly through Disney, not Shades of Green.
Just explain the situation and they’ll allow you to pay the difference at the ticket window.
I’d bring a note from him explaining that he bought the tickets for you all to use, but didn’t feel well enough to travel at the time of the trip.
As far as FastPasses you will have to work with them as the ticket switch is made to keep the FastPasses.
Hi Steve,
My mother in law is a spouse of retired navy but she lives in North Carolina. I just want to ask if she can avail military discounts in Disney world for her family here in Florida. How is that going to work?
Thank you,
Anne
Hi Anne Marie,
She would not be able to let you use her Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets. She’s required to be part of the party for those.
She could buy you the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets, which are only slightly discounted to use without her.
See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
Hi Steve,
We have an upcoming trip to WDW. My dad is retired military and we have gotten salute to military tickets in the past. This year he is going with us but I am not sure if he is going anting to go in the parks. We are getting the pre activated salute tickets. My question is does he have to go with us to the park or just have a ticket that is for him and linked in the party? Thanks!
Hi Neil,
As long as he has one for himself you guys are meeting the intent of the rules.
That’s the huge problem with Shades of Green selling activated tickets, people could abuse the system by not buying one for themselves and just giving away, or scalping the tickets.
We had to postpone our trip to november and my husband will no longer be active will they still allow us to go in with our tickets if we have the expired id?
Hi Ashlynn,
That depends on where you bought the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets.
If you bought them long distance from Shades of Green, they are already activated and you can go right to the park entrance and use them.
If you bought them anywhere else, they need to be activated prior to use and a current ID is required to do so. So this will be a big problem that can go one of two ways. You might be able to get the to allow you to use the tickets or they may refuse to let you use them and you’ll be allowed to use the value towards full price ones.
1. Bring any documentation that you might have as to why you needed to change the date of the trip (leave cancellation paperwork, TDY orders, commander’s written statement, doctor’s note, etc. and his DD-214) use this as ammunition when asking to be allowed to use the tickets. Elevate politely to management if needed and ask for some “magic” due to his serving and having to delay the trip past his ETS.This might work.
2. If it doesn’t you’ll need to ask to use the value of the tickets towards full price tickets (and you’ll need to be prepared for the cost). This should be no problem! Any park reservations that you made under the old tickets will remain on your account for a day (they aren’t cancelled immediately) and the new tickets will validate the reservations when you link them.
I’d really appreciate if you’d write back after and let me know how it goes, so that I might better serve others!