Special Info for these Crazy Times:
News for 2021:
- Planning and Executing Your Walt Disney World Vacation During These Trying Times
- 2021 Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Ticket Announcement
- Using Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets in 2021
- Using the Walt Disney World Theme Park Reservation System
- Park Hopping Returns to Walt Disney World Starting in 2021
Everything is Different at WDW since it Reopened. See Our Trip Reports:
- Our Return to Walt Disney World (Aug/Sep 2020)
- Our Second Trip Back to Walt Disney World (Nov 2020)
- Our Third Trip Back to Walt Disney World (Jan 2021)
Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Discount Continues for 2021!
Walt Disney World has a great military discount, the Armed Forces Salute. The Salute is a special temporary offer which has been renewed on a year by year basis since January 2009.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute offers Disney theme park tickets at over half off the regular price and Disney resort rooms at up to a 30% to 40% discount!
There are also permanent ticket offers available, though they are not as attractive.
Note to non-retired veterans; you do not qualify for the Disney Armed Forces Salute, however there are Disney Veteran Discounts that you do qualify for.
Below you find this sometimes complex information explained and divided into several categories which are:
- Disney Armed Forces Salute Eligibility
- Disney Armed Forces Salute Overview
- Disney Theme Park Ticket Discounts
- Disney Resort Room Discounts
- Disney Magic Maker – PhotoPass+ Military Discounts
- Disney Cruise Line Military Discounts
This page is quite long and detailed (sorry) but there is a lot of complex info to explain!
Disney Armed Forces Salute Eligibility |
Are you eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute?
Here is the list of who is eligible for this discount, as set by the DoD and Disney:
Current military members:
- Active
- Reserve
- National Guard
- Coast Guard
- Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
- Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Retired military members:
- Active
- Reserve
- National Guard
- Coast Guard
- Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
- Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
100%
Service Connected Disabled with the DAVPRM code on their military issued ID.
Spouses in place of the member (not Civil Service or Contractor). Note the Disney Armed Forces Salute benefit is for the member only. While spouses may use their member’s benefit, they are not entitled to a benefit of their own. They only use the discounts in place of the member. Non-spouse dependents (kids) are not eligible.
Unremarried Widows are entitled to their departed spouse’s discounts (not Civil Service or Contractor).
Foreign partners/Coalition partners stationed at a US base are eligible. They must have a permanent US Military issued ID (CAC card with blue stripe).
Still not sure if you qualify or not in one of these categories? Check our Military and Veteran Eligibility Guide
Or see Disney’s ID Guide for the Disney Armed Forces Salute
Have a question? Read our Disney Armed Forces Salute Frequently Asked Questions page for detailed questions and answers about this special temporary discount offer.
Disney Armed Forces Salute Overview |
The 2021 Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute runs through 17 December 2021.
These Salutes are special temporary offers which run for this specified period of time.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute allows qualified individuals (see above) to purchase steeply discounted Disney theme park tickets. These tickets are totally separate from the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets available at local military bases and Shades of Green (Disney World’s Military Resort).
The Disney Armed Forces Salutes also offer outstanding discounts on Disney Resort rooms.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute is offered at both Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and Disneyland in Anaheim, California (if it ever reopens) and may be used at both during the Salute offer.
Top Ten Things You Should Know About The Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
Top Ten Things You Should Know About The Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts
How Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Work
2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Package vs Room Only Reservation
Disney Armed Forces Salute Theme Park Ticket Discounts |
This section deals with the Salute admission tickets for the Disney theme parks.
Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida
The Disney Armed Forces Salute offers special military tickets. These tickets are for a specified number of days and come in several varieties.
First: Special Information regarding 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets.
Walt Disney World extended both the use period and purchase period to 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
- All 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets purchased for Walt Disney World may be used through 26 September 2021
- 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets purchased on or before 18 Dec 2020 have a ticket limit of 6 per eligible member
- 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets purchased on or after 19 Dec 2020 are combined with any 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket purchases for the 2021 Offer limit of 6 per eligible member
2021 Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Tickets:
Up to 6 Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Tickets may be purchased and activated between 19 December 2020 and 17 December 2021 per eligible member.
For families larger than 6, Disney states “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 Disney Military Promotion Tickets, for Mom, Dad, and the five kids. See this post for more info
One ticket during each purchase period must be for the use of the member or spouse, the rest can be used by anyone else (family or friends).
Days on the tickets do not need to be used consecutively. Any days left on the tickets will expire at the end of the offer period.
Tickets purchased at all military resellers (that’s Base Ticket Offices) except Shades of Green, and not directly from Disney must be activated prior to first use in person by the military member or spouse. See Salute Ticket Activation Procedures
Once the tickets are activated the party may split up. For example some go to one park and some to another, or even use the tickets on different days. The Military ID is checked only upon ticket activation.
These tickets are non-refundable.
Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Tickets come and in two types :
- The Theme Park Hopper Option, which allows you to visit multiple parks on the same day
- The Theme Park Hopper Plus Option, which allows 4 entrances to a variety of non-theme Park Disney venues in addition to your 4 theme park days
2021 WDW Salute Tickets
Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Tickets come in 2 lengths, 4-day and 5-day.
Disney World 2021 Armed Forces Salute Prices
- Four-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $296.00
- Four-Day Park Hopper Plus Tickets for $326.00
- Five-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $315.00
- Five-Day Park Hopper Plus Tickets for $345.00
These tickets can be purchased at Shades of Green, your local Base Ticket Office, or Disney Theme Park ticket booths (Sales tax will be added at Disney World ticket booths).
If you do not have a base near you, see this page for other options.
If you initially purchase only the Hopper option, you may add on the Plus Option later for the price difference – $30.
You may also upgrade any Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket to an annual or seasonal pass for the price difference between the Salute price and the full price pass plus tax..
Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets purchased from Disney or Base Ticket Offices must be upgraded at a Disney World ticket or Guest Relations window, for the price difference plus tax.
Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets purchased at Shades of Green may be upgraded there to a ticket with the Plus Option, or to annual or seasonal passes , for the price difference (no tax).
Note These tickets need to be activated at WDW prior to entering a theme park, see: Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket Activation – MDT’s How To Guide
Linking your military tickets to your My Disney Experience account does not activate your tickets! You will still need to do so at Disney with a valid military ID!
Theme Park Reservations – All military discounted tickets including the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets need to be linked to your My Disney Experience account in order to make Theme Park Reservations.
FastPass Plus – All military discounted tickets including the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets are able to be linked to your My Disney Experience account. You can then make your advance FP+ reservations the correct number of days ahead based on where you are staying.
- Disney Resorts (including Shades of Green, Swan and Dolphin, & and Disney Springs Hotels) – 60 Days
- Non Disney Resorts – 30 Days
- Day Guests – 30 Days
Note: To date after re-opening, FastPass Plus has been suspended.
More on the new FastPass Plus System
See:
Using Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets in 2021
Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Discount Tickets
Military Discount Ticket Options for Disney and other Parks
Disneyland in Anaheim California – Remains Closed
At Disneyland Salute Tickets are not valid for Magic Morning early entry admission.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney Resort Room Discounts for Military Members |
This section deals with the Salute discounts on Disney Resort Rooms.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute offers Disney resort rooms at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland at a great discount.
Qualified individuals (see above) may book up to a maximum of 3 rooms at Walt Disney World Resort and 2 rooms with up to 5 people in each at the Disneyland Resort at any time during the period of the Disney Armed Forces Salute. All rooms must be in the same resort and check in on the same day. The member or spouse must occupy one of the rooms.
This discount may be used as many times as you’d like during the offer period and may be used at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.There are Blockout dates during which Disney does not offer these discounts. These are “peak attendance” dates.
Please note, the discount amount, number of rooms, and room types at these rates are limited so you might have to be flexible (dates, resort, room type) in order to get the discount. See this post: How Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Work Length of stay requirements may apply.
Top Ten Things You Should Know About The Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts
Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida
Dates the discount may be used: 1 January 2021 through 17 December 2021
Please Note: That since 2018 the discount percentages began being offered on a sliding scale, see: How Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Work.
- Up to 40% off Deluxe Resorts
- Up to 35% off Moderates and Fort Wilderness Cabins
- Up to 30% off Value Resorts
See the full list of eligible resorts below!
See this page for information on Disney World’s Resorts
At Walt Disney World you may add any paid Disney Dining Plan (when they come back) to your Disney Armed Forces Salute room reservation!
Disneyland in Anaheim California – Remains Closed
When Disneyland reopens expect:
- Up to 40% off at the Grand Californian
- Up to 35% off at the Disneyland Hotel
- Up to 30% of at the Paradise Pier
See this page for information on Disneyland Hotels
At Disneyland the offer is valid for standard rooms only. Not valid on previously booked rooms.
Let Military Disney Tips’ Recommended Travel Agent assist you with your Disney Resort reservation.
Ears of Experience is a Disney Specializing Travel Agency, they are a military family owned small business. Many Thousands of MDT readers have used Ears of Experience over the last 14 years.
Top 8 Reasons to Use An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Rules
When booking more than one room at these rates all rooms must check in on the same day, in the same resort. The military sponsor (or spouse) must occupy one of the rooms.
The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.
May not be combined with any other discount or promotion.
Additional per-adult charges will apply if there are more than two adults per room.
WDW Resort Hotels included in This Offer
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites only
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (Cabins only)
WDW Offer excludes the following Resorts and room types:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- 3-Bedroom Villas
- Suites in Moderate and Deluxe Resort hotels (2021 only)
- Campsites
- Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (2020 only)
- Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (2021 only)
- The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disneyland Resort Offer excludes the following:
- Concierge rooms and suites, except Paradise, Artisan, Junior and Regal suites
Other Military Discounted Room Options
2021 Disney’s Military Discount on Magic Maker & PhotoPass+ |
Walt Disney World and Disneyland are offering military discounts on WDW Memory Maker and Disneyland PhotoPass+ for 2020 & 2021!
You may use this offer twice between 19 December 2020 and 31 December 2021.
PhotoPass+ and Memory Maker are Disney’s two programs with witch you can have Disney’s professional photographers document your Disney World Vacation.
Disney is offering a huge discount on these photo services, Memory Maker at Walt Disney World and PhotoPlus+ Package at the Disneyland Resort.
See our PhotoPass+ and Memory Maker Military Discount Page
The Disney Cruise Line Military Discounts |
The Disney Cruise Line Military Discounts
While not part of the Armed Forces Salute, the Disney Cruise Line continues to offer Military discounts throughout the year.
Please see our Disney Cruise Page for more information!
Cruising With Disney Using A Military Discount – A Trip Report
Top FAQ Items For This Topic
|
We have put lots of time and effort into putting together all of the most asked questions.
Please check out our Full Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ
You can also check out our FAQ Friday Blog Posts by topic:
Disney Armed Forces Salute – General
Disney Armed Forces Salute – Tickets
Disney Armed Forces Salute – Resort Rooms
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
|
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! |
Me and my husband bought 2 military promotional tickets in July. We are looking to go again with our family in December. Does anyone know if that means we are only able to buy 4 for our dates in December? I know it says 6 per promotional year. Just wondering if anyone’s experienced this?
Hi Olivia,
Yes, you will only be able to buy 4 more 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets.
Disney has recently started using this “promotional year” language, but what then mean is per offer, in this case the 2020 offer.
I’ve used 4 so I have 2 left to purchase by 18 Dec 2020.
I bought six salute tickets last spring for two trips that were cancelled due to Covid. I had them upgraded from the four day to six days to be used in June/July 2021. They are good until Sept 2021. If we also go in Dec 2021, can I still buy 6 more under the new “promotional year” ? Have they announced an offer for purchases made after Sept 2021? Thanks.
Hi there Joy,
Yes for your December trip you can but 6 of the second purchase timeframe tickets as long as your trip is 19 Dec or later.
No news yet on after 26 Sept. I imagine it will be quite a while before we hear!
My retired military husband bought 6 tickets and my active duty daughter bought 5 tickets that we were to use march 2020.Trip was cancelled and rescheduled for march 2021. However my daughter can not go at this time. Will my husband be able to activate both set of tickets with the new ticket policy.
Thanks
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
That is really a tricky one…
At first take I’d say no. Because the tickets were all purchased in the original 2020 ticket window i.e. prior to 18 Dec 2020. Disney’s allowance for using 12 tickets is 6 from the original purchase window and 6 from the 2020 ticket extension window 19 Dec 2020 – 14 Feb 2021.
But here are my additional thoughts. I don’t know if the system can tell the difference between when they were purchased or not. They might all just activate for him.
Courses of action:
1. link all your vouchers to My Disney Experience
2. Make you theme park reservations
3. Once you arrive at WDW attempt to activate all 11
4. If there is pushback, explain the situation and that he is allowed to use 12 if they are from different purchase windows and ask for an exception. Explain how much money all 11 of you are going to spend on other stuff in the parks
5. Elevate to management if needed
6. It may be that by March there is a 2021 Salute ticket offer. Ask to use the 5 towards those tickets
7. Worst case ask to use the 5 towards full price tickets.
I hope my thoughts came through clearly, let me know.
“Note to non-retired veterans; you do not qualify for the Disney Armed Forces Salute,” … does this statement imply unmarried widows of 100% deceased disabled Navy Veterans (not military retired) can NOT enjoy the discounts for Disney World Park/SOG/ Disney resorts? I did not see a clear statement regarding this.
I am going in August 2021 with my brother and his family. I purchased 3 tickets for my wife and son for a now canceled 2020 trip last March, if I purchase 5 for my brother’s family before February 14, 2021, will I be able to activate all 8 in August? I appreciate everything you do here and thank you for the advice and help
Hi Dan,
Thanks so much!
Yes, according to both Disney World and Shades of Green you will!
My mom who is a retired veteran called her base today trying to purchase the 2020 salute tickets and was told all bases are completely sold out of those and the new offer would be announced on 2/16 – has anyone been able to still purchase the 2020 salute tickets?
Hi Ashley,
Please see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-armed-forces-salute/2021-disney-armed-forces-salute-ticket-update/
Just wanted to help you keep the disabled veteran info up to date. There are new disabled veteran cards this year and they no longer have the DAVPRM printed on it. They will now have 100% Disabled American Veteran printed on top. Also Referenced the site for you as well. thank you for all that you do.
-Nick
cac.mil/Next-Generation-Uniformed-Services-ID-Card/
Also forgot to mention, Expiration will also say INDEF.
Can I still get these discounts if I have the new 2021 DEERS 100% Disabled American Veteran card? Does not have the printed DAVPRM on it but still has the 100% DAV with the expiration being INDEF meaning never expiring (Permanent).
Hi Loreto,
Sorry, I’m not familiar with what a DEERS 100% Disabled American Veteran card is. You are not talking about an actual military ID I assume, like the ones on this page: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/walt-disney-world-military-discount-id-guide-for-veterans/