Here is a rundown on the ticket options available for military families planning a Walt Disney World vacation.
FastPass Plus is WDW’s new attraction advance reservation system.
Military families traveling to Walt Disney World have several ticket options available to them for their vacations.
- Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
- Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets
- Shades of Green’s Stars and Stripes Passes
Where you stay also plays into your use of FastPass Plus
- Disney Resort Guests and Shades of Green Guests can make FastPass Plus reservations 60 days prior to check-in
- Non-Disney Resort or Shades Guests can make FastPass Plus 30 days prior to the desired date
Disney Resort Stays
Disney’s All Star Movies
When staying at a Disney Resort you’ll need your tickets in hand more than 60 days prior to check in so that you can link them to your My Disney Experience account in time to make your FastPass Plus reservations.
Non-Disney Resort Stays
Those not staying at a Disney Resort or Shades of Green will need your tickets in hand more than 30 days prior to the desired day so that you can link them to your My Disney Experience account in time to make your FastPass Plus reservations.
Purchasing Tickets
You can purchase your tickets ahead of time in several ways.
You can buy them at your Base Ticket Office, some Offices don’t stock all types of tickets and require lead time to order what you need. Some Bases don’t carry them at all and you’ll need to get them via phone from a Base that will mail them.
Shades of Green, Camp Pendleton, and several others will ship your tickets for a fee.
Tickets that you can get this way are:
- Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
- Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets
- Shades of Green’s Stars and Stripes Passes (only from Shades of Green)
Shades of Green
Shades of Green Guests also offers a pre-purchase option without shipping for their own guests. Prior to your stay Shades of Green will email you the details on how to do this and once the transaction is complete they will email you the ticket numbers for linking to your My Disney Experience account. On arrival you’ll be given the physical tickets when you check in. You can use the ticket numbers to link your tickets in your My Disney Experience account.
Read about ticket offices that ship.
Shades of Green’s Stars and Stripes Passes
A Special note about Shades of Green’s Stars and Stripes Passes. These length of stay passes may only be purchased from Shades of Green and are ONLY for those staying on property (Shades, Disney Resorts, or the Swan and Dolphin).
What’s the Right Ticket?
Selecting the right type of ticket is a decision that is very specific to your family and touring plans. There is no single right answer.
See: What’s the Right Military Discounted Disney Ticket for me?
Tickets Disney's Armed Forces Salute Tickets The biggest military discount available on tickets 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 Walt Disney World’s FastPass Plus - Creating a Classed Theme Park Society FastPass Plus – Does It Really Work For Highly Desired Attractions? Military FastPass Plus Ticket Options for Disney World Disney World Lines iPhone App - Current Crowds, Recommended Parks, Wait Times, & Fastpass Return Times on your iPhone (Free) My Disney Experience - The Official Disney iPhone App
(Free)Disney Tickets and Technology Links
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? See our:
The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 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 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 2020 - 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 Like our very active Facebook Page - Follow MDT on Pinterest
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I have a question. I am staying at the all star sports hotel and plan to buy the military salute tickets (4 day pass) when we get there. Does this mean we can’t do the fast pass plus reservations because we won’t have the tickets in hand until our vacation?
Yes that is correct Penny.
If you don’t have a Base near you to get them ahead of time see this: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
Do the Annual Military Disney passes have blackout dates?
The Disney Armed Forces Salute do, the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets do not.
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
We are an active duty family. My husband will be deployed during our visit to Disney World Orlando on Dec 22-26 2015. Due to blackout dates, will our family be eleigible for the 4 day Military Salute tickets? If not, what military discount tickets should I pursue? We have reservations at Shades of Green.
Thanks!
Hi Dana,
the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets are not valid after the 20th. you’ll want to buy Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets or Shades of Green’s Stars and Stripes Passes.
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Magic-Your-Way-Tickets.html
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Stars-and-Stripes-Passes.html
Hi again Steve. We have our Salute Tickets and have made the Fast Pass links. on My Experience. How does it work when we get to the park.
Example.: Our FP time for Aerosmith’s coaster is 9 am. Do we go right to the FP line and they scan our regular ticket , or do we need to do something else?
As Always, thank you in advance.
Hi there Krissy,
You will need to activate yout park tickets prior to entering your first park, see this
Then since your first FP+ is at 9 you can arrive at that attraction between 9 and 10. You’ll go to the fastpass line and scan your tickets individually. So if you want to do something else first you have that hour to use the fastpass.
Hi,
We are going to Disney in March. My dad is military retiree and will purchase tickets at his local base for our group of 6. My parents are not tech saavy. I wasn’t sure if I can put them on my MDE account so I can book our fast passes or does he have to have his own account as he will be the ticket activator?
Thanks
Hi Caryn,
You can add everyone to your account and link all the tickets with no problem!
I have already purchased my armed forces salute tickets and want to know if I order magic bands will I be able to link them to my tickets and my Disney experience prior to arriving or will I have to wait until I enter the park to make the link?
Hi John,
You can do it now see: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/my-magic-plus/linking-disney-military-tickets-and-fastpass-plus-reservations/
All of your posts are helpful, Steve!
But I do have one question and I feel like it’s a dumb question at that. Can a military ID and/or spousal ID be used if the date has recently expired? I have a feeling that it is not but I just figured I would ask anyways. His ID is current but mine recently expired and I don’t know 100% if he can go with me or not.
Thanks for all your help!
A better version of this question is do you know if they look for the expiration date on military IDs?
They sure do.
Hi Andrea,
Thanks so much!
Unfortunately an expired ID cannot be used. That would indicate that he was no longer in the military making him (and you) ineligible.
Definitely try to get to a base to get a new one! From the way you worded your question I’m assuming he is Guard or Reserve and you don’t live near a base.
I know as a Canadian Military member, I can get discount on tickets and every thing American Military can… but how to do I buy tickets 60 days in advance this way? Do they have a phone number?
Hi Christine,
If you have been issued a US issued CAC (ID), for instance as the CF members stationed at Tyndall AFB are, you can get the same discounts as US forces as you are working for the US. But without the CAC you would not be eligible. Sorry.
See the CAC at the bottom left of this page: http://www.cac.mil/common-access-card/
I appreciate the Disney commitment to the Armed Forces but it seems as though there is one category that has “fallen through the cracks” and that is the Disabled Veterans with less than 100% Disability. It would be super if they were somehow acknowledge with discounted prices more than the 4-8%. We have served and given a lot. Maybe even a purple heart discount?