Disney World Military Discount 2012 (and 2011!)

27 comments

1 CartoonsForHire.com { 08.28.11 at 10:00 pm }

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It is really great for anyone who might be going to Disney World and need a custom message from Mickey! Cheers!

2 Cari S. { 10.27.11 at 1:53 pm }

Please adjust your website to reflect the correct information!!!!! According to 2 different Disney reps (407-W-Disney), and two different military base MWR/ITT’s, you are authorized NO MORE THAN 6 tickets per calendar year unless your sponsor’s dependents are more (like if you have 5 kids.)
I know you say your website is “unofficial” but you should at least attempt to get the information somewhat correct. The OFFICIAL military Disney website is http://www.disneymilitarysales.com.
Thank you.

3 Dave { 10.27.11 at 2:47 pm }

Hi Cari!

I agree that I should “at least attempt to get the information somewhat correct.”

So here’s what disneymilitarysales.com says: “Details regarding the September 2012 pricing extension of this offer will be available soon” (emphasis added)

Not much help there.

But Disney’s special offers page on this ticket deal at http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/specialOfferDetails?name=Promo&promotionCode=fy11military&market=fy11military#important says this:

“No more than twelve (12) Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased, activated and/or used by any Eligible Service Member or spouse during the life of this promotion, and no Eligible Service Member or spouse may purchase, activate and/or use more than six (6) Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets during any single week of the promotion.” (emphasis added.)

Moreover, the head of Disney Military Sales confirmed in July and August via email the understanding I have written on the page. He said you can buy 6 tickets twice as long as its 7 days apart.

However, these promotions in the past have been subject to both changes and confusion. It may be that Disney’s special offers website is now wrong, and that the emails from the head of Disney Military Sales are out of date. I’ll check on that!!

But until these two official sources change or I can confirm them to be wrong, I’m leaving my material as it is.

4 Don { 10.27.11 at 9:18 pm }

Cari the website you note as the “official” source does not say what you claim it does, it absolutely does not say anything about a “calendar year.”

Unfortunately either you’ve talked to workers who are misinformed or Disney has changed its policy without yet updating any of its official communications.

I know of no other Disney website which is researched in a more through manner than Dave’s yourfirstvisit.net!

5 Patricia Harrison { 11.09.11 at 11:40 am }

My spouse is medically retired from the military and has all the benefits, but was not a “career” member of the military, E5 status. Can we still use the retired military discounts?

6 Dave { 11.09.11 at 11:47 am }

Hi Patricia, thank you for his–and your–service! If he is permanently disabled with a military ID with a DAVPRM status, he is indeed eligible for all these plus, Shades of Green too.

For more, see Steve’s comment on this here: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/02/22/2010-military-deals-and-discounts-at-walt-disney-world/comment-page-1/#comment-16759

7 Alanna McKenzie { 11.17.11 at 1:30 pm }

My husband served in the Army for 2 years active and 6 years reserve. Does this qualify us to receive a military discount?
Thanks!

8 Dave { 11.17.11 at 2:19 pm }

Hi Alanna! Unless he’s still in–e.g. as active reserve–or disbaled, it doesn’t. The offer applies to actvie duty, career retired, and fully disabled vets. The fine print is on this page: http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/specialOfferDetails?name=Promo&promotionCode=fy11military&market=fy11military

9 Ben { 12.01.11 at 1:57 pm }

My uncle(retired) wants to get tix for us as a gift for Xmas, but he wont be going with us.
Can we get in?
It does say “military family & friends”.
Would “friends” all have to be with military ID too?

thanks
Ben

10 Dave { 12.01.11 at 4:19 pm }

Hi Ben. Sorry but only he, in person, at Disney World, can activate the tickets–so he has to go (at least for that moment of activation.) One of the tickets can be used only by him–the rest can be used by anyone he chooses…

11 william kean { 12.03.11 at 4:01 pm }

I think it is very small minded of disney to limit there park tickets to such a small selection of the military. It seems to me that vetrans and disabled vetrans should be elligable for the same discounts. After all they have payed quite a price allready.

12 Dave { 12.03.11 at 8:01 pm }

Good point, William.

13 Vicky { 12.20.11 at 10:58 am }

What about tickets for Christmas 2012? What is cost and when can we buy?

14 Dave { 12.20.11 at 1:31 pm }

Hi Vicky, tickets for xmas are the same as regular tickets and you can buy them now–they don’t have a “use on” date attached to them. See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/06/12/disney-world-2011-2012-admission-ticket-prices/

15 Josh Santos { 12.31.11 at 5:23 am }

I am active duty stationed in Germany….are there any military discounts/promotions for military members at Disney Paris?

16 Dave { 12.31.11 at 9:44 am }

Hi Josh, I’m sorry but I don’t track DLP. Suggest you check disboards.com…

17 Pat T { 01.06.12 at 4:38 pm }

My husband US Army retired passed away this past summer. Am I eligible for the discount tickets? I have a spouse ID card.

18 Dave { 01.06.12 at 6:49 pm }

Hi Pat, thank you for your (and his) service. I just read the fine print on the offer, and I think you are eligible, but am not sure. I’m gonna reach out to a military disney expert to see what he thinks…

19 Pat T { 01.06.12 at 7:28 pm }

Thanks for checking

20 Steve from militarydisneytips.com { 01.06.12 at 8:28 pm }

Hi Pat,

Dave asked me to chime in. Yes, with your ID you will be eligible for discounts at Disney Theme Parks, Resorts, and at Shades of Green the military resort at Disney World.

Here are the applicable parts of Disney’s policy on the current Armed Forces Salute:

Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased now through September 27, 2012 … by Eligible Service Members or their spouses…

And

Unaccompanied spouses purchasing the 4-Day Disney Military Promotion Tickets must present valid and active U.S. Military I.D. Spouses of activated members of the National Guard or Reservists must present a valid Military ID.

They’ll just want to see your ID when you purchase/activate your tickets. This also applies to room discounts.

Shades of Green is a deluxe resort at WDW, wonderful rooms and they also sell military discounted tickets for Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and many other local attractions.

This is from Shades of Green’s eligibility policy:

Unremarried surviving spouses of personnel who died while on active duty or while in retired status ID is DD Form 1173 or 1173-1

I’ll echo Dave and say thanks for your husband’s service!

Pat, if you have any other questions that I can help you with feel free to email me at: questions@militarydisneytips.com

Steve

21 Dave { 01.06.12 at 8:33 pm }

Steve, thanks a million!

22 R.Gummert { 01.08.12 at 12:34 pm }

Does the military salute program and ticket discounts apply at DisneyLand Paris, in Europe? I was assuming so since on their website, they showed military men in uniform under “Special Offers”.

Thanks so much!

23 Dave { 01.08.12 at 2:07 pm }

I don’t track Paris…Sorry… Suggest you try asking Steve at the Military DIsney Tips blog http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/ or check the DLP section of disboards at http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=676c3d4ae999ee8bd39d2f0897baeafd&f=77

24 SB { 01.18.12 at 9:05 pm }

I keep getting mixed responses – so I guess I’ll try here with this question:

My son, 3, is a card carrying dependent of any active duty soldier – my ex-husband. I have physical custody of him. I also happen to be an Army civilian employee.

Some people have told me that I can use these tickets for both me and my son because my son has an ID card. Some people have told me that I can use the ticket for my son only. And some have told me that unless my ex-husband goes with us, neither of us can use the discounted ticket.

So…what’s the truth. It’s not a big deal if I don’t get the discount on my ticket, but shouldn’t my son be able to have it? It’s kind of lousy that circumstances like this aren’t considered.

25 Dave { 01.19.12 at 7:46 am }

Hi Stephanie–here’s my take. Once the tickets are bought and activated by the service member, anyone can use them, whether or not they have an ID or not. So the issue is not whether your son has an ID or not–it’s that only active (or retired) service members can buy them, and they have to be physically present at the turnstiles at first use to activate them…

26 Lisa { 01.27.12 at 11:30 am }

My husband was in the National Guard/Military police div. for 6 years did the time he was suppose to do with the program he was with, and voluntary resigned/retired, honorable discharge. He still has a ID card, can he still use this for a discount? We used it last year with no problems but just wanted to make sure it’s ok to use again.

27 Dave { 01.27.12 at 2:06 pm }

Lisa I’m not sure–did he resign after you used it last year? The discount is supposed to apply only to career retired (and active).

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