New Disney World Armed Forces Salute Announced for FY 2013
By Dave Shute
DISNEY WORLD MILITARY SALUTE TICKETS AND ROOM RATE DEAL FOR 10/1/2012-9/28/2013
Update July 2013: This deal has been offered for FY 14–October 2013 into September 2014–as well! See this.
Steve at MilitaryDisneyTips.com broke the news earlier today that there’s a new Disney World offer for US active and retired forces for FY 13–specifically, October 1 2012 through September 28 2013.
There’s two separate deals: on tickets, and on hotels. I’m seeing some inconsistencies, and am missing a fact or two which I’ll fix later, but based on Steve’s scoop and the draft press release which Disney sent him, and he forwarded to me, here’s the details:
NEW 2012/2013 DISNEY WORLD TICKET DEAL FOR THE ARMED FORCES
Tickets can be purchased from 17 August 2012 through September 25 2013, and must be used from 1 October 2012 through 28 September 2013.
(Re the August 17 date–some ITT offices were already selling them last week–I don’t know if that has stopped…but since they won’t “sell out,” give your ITT office a break and wait until the 27th?)
Dates on which these tickets cannot be used are
- 24 – 31 December 2012 (No use of any ticket features)
- 24 March – 4 April 2013 (No use of any ticket features)
- July 4, 2012 (No use at Magic Kingdom)
Only 6 tickets are available per military member (exceptions will be made for larger direct families– e.g. two parents with 5 kids), and they must all be purchased at the same time. It’s unclear right now if they must also all be activated at the same time.
Ticket options and prices:
- Four-Day Park Hopper Tickets or Four-Day Water Park and More Tickets for $156 per person
- Four-Day Park Hopper Tickets plus the Water Park and More Option for $184 per person
NEW 2012/2103 DISNEY WORLD ROOM RATE DEAL FOR THE ARMED FORCES
Disney World resort hotel room discounts for military members for 10/1/2102 through 9/28 2013 include
- 40% off Deluxe Resorts
- 35% off Moderate Resorts
- 30% off Value Resorts
The blackout dates for this offer vary a bit from the ticket offer. You won’t be able to book for
- 22 – 24 November 2012
- 23-31 December 2012, and
- 25 March – 4 April 2013
Unlike the tickets, these room discounts do have a limited number of rooms assigned to them, so may sell out. Moreover, Friday or Saturday arrivals may have minimum lengths of stay required. These rooms, according to Steve, are available for reservation NOW.
I’ll publish more details as they get them–and in the meantime, also check out Steve’s post here.
LINKS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
- Military Families at Walt Disney World
- Deals and Discounts
- Shades of Green
- Other Resources for Military Families
Comments moderated by Steve Bell of Military Disney Tips
93 comments
Dave
My family and I plan on arriving on March 4 2013 and want to do the 4 main parks , then go to universal for 2 days (1 if enough ) and maybe Lego land and finally hit typhoon lagoon on outlast day. We plan on staying at one of the resorts (port Orleans then go to shades of green. Is it cheaper to get the salute to the military 4 day ticket then a separate ticket for the water park or get regular 5 day tickets with the military discount
Hi Christie, what you want is the military salute ticket with the water parks and more option. The waterparks option does not use a day of your 4-day ticket–it’s a whole separate ticketing system…and you can’t get a 5 day military salute ticket anyway!
Apologize the tickets would be one adult kids 12,11, and , 7. Leaving early morning of the 12th
My family of 4 is traveling to WDW November 12, 2012 with my parents (total of 6). My dad’s ID card reads “Department of the Air Force Civilian Identification” Status “RET/CIV”. Will he be able to receive a Military Salute Discount Tickets or any other park admission discounts? We will not be staying on property so we are just looking at the 4 day park tickets.
I served in the armed forces for 2 years during a wartime ( vietnam), 1972-74. Does Disney world provide anything at anytime for honorably discharged war serving veterans or do they pick and choose what war they would like to honor veterans? Don’t mean to be sarcastic, but think about what you are doing here. Again, I apologize, but selecting certain times to honor certain veterans seems a bit prejudiced here. Will you please pass along my thoughts. We love Disney World.
Frank, I’m just a guy with a website, and have nothing to do with Disney…
Dave, I am the spouse of a military retiree. We don’t live close to a base. I will be going to DW in December with other family members (myself, and 4 others). One of the other people on the trip has a brother-in-law who is ative military. Could the active military person buy the 5 discount vouchers for me on base and then I (as the spouse of a military retiree) have them activated at DW? The purchaser would not be going on the trip and won’t be going to DW during the promotion period. Thanks!
Sandy, if I understand you correctly, no–the eligible person who purchases must also activate, or the eligible person’s own spouse. From your description of yourself you seem like you may be eligible, and if you are, you don’t have to go to a base to purchase–you can purchase at WDW, at Shades of Green or at the ticket booths…
What number do I call to buy these tickets?
Hi Tia, you can’t get these over the phone–only in person, so that you can show an eligible ID. See #5 on this page for where you can buy them in person: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/top-ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-disneys-armed-forces-salute-military-discount-tickets/
I would like to know if your military discount for Walt Disney World and cruise to Castaway also applies to those of us that serve in the Army and were in the Viet Nam War? I spent two tours there and was honorably discharged. At this time in my life that I would like to take my wife, daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughter, age 2 and 5. Please let me know. My plan is to take the four day cruise to Castaway (2 Cabins) and stay two additional days after docking at Cape Canaverial and drive two Walt Disney world. Thanks!! I look forward to hearing from you ASAP.
Hi Mike, it’s not “my” discount–I’m just a guy with a website. The discounts apply to active duty and career retired.
I am an adult (20 yr old) dependent of my 100% disabled/retired Coast Guard. Am I able to purchase these tickets with my US Uniformed Services card at the local MWR office?
Hi Tanner, no, sorry, only the service member or spouse can buy and activate these tickets
Do you have to use the 4 day tickets all at once? Or can you use 2 days this month and 2 days next month?
Hi Shawna! They expire 14 days after the first day is used.
We are traveling with a group of 11 children and grandchildren to WDW in the late winter. Will we be able to get tickets for the group.
Adele, do you mean 2012 or 2013. If 2012, the military tickets are available for up to 6 people including the sponsor. Disney will expand the number you can buy if you have a large direct family–that is if you and your kids are >6. They won’t expand how many you can buy for the grandkids tho… This deal expires and its tickets must be used by the end of September 2013.
We are planning a visit and I would like to use the Military Salute 4-day park hopper, but our preferred days of use fall over one blackout date. Is there a chance they would honor this date, being that would be the final day of our trip and and is the first of the blackout days? If not we may have a marathon of a day our first day there! Thanks for your input!
Hi Carrie! No, they won’t let you use your Military ticket on the blackout date…
If my family and I wanted to go to Disneyland one month and Disney world a couple of months later, can we purchase two separate armed forces salute tickets or is it a once a year for both parks thing?
Sure you can, Robert; they are separate offers and you can use both!
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My family is planning to go to Disney this week on the 22nd. Im now reading that the military discount has to be used before the 24th. Do you know if we have to purchase 4 day hoppers with the military discount or are we allowed to just purchase 1 or 2 day passes at a discounted rate ?
Hi Tya, the only military ticket offer is for the 4 day pass.
Do they do just one day free for military? Like Busch gardens military can pick a day and go for free once a year. Does Disney do that? My husband and. I are both military..we don’t want the four day deal..just one
Hi Amanda, I’m sorry but Disney does not do the one day free deal, just the four day discount deal.
My husband is retired Airforce but we don’t live by a base to purchase the tickets to Disneyworld. We called the closest base (which is 4 hours away) and they stated we could purchase the tickets at the gate with our military ID. Is this true? I wanted to double check. Thank you
Hi Kimberly, yes you can buy the Military Salute tickets on site, at Shades of Green (tax free) or at the parks (which will be taxed).
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hi…we are coming to disney with our mother in law who is a spouse of retired US forces…we plan to buy the four day pass park hopper using the militart discount for 6 of us…..is there a list of approved ducments that disney will except to prove she is a spouse of a retired military? He does not have a retired military ID…has discharge papers, and papers he has received for insurance, etc….but there is no picture ID….and does she need to bring a marriage certificate to show she is his spouse? Thank you so much!
Maria, I’m gonna ask my friend Steve, an expert, to weigh in on this–but to get the discount she will need conclusive proof the he is career retired, and that she is his spouse…
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Hi there Maria,
If your mother-in-law’s husband is retired from the US military he would have a retired ID and he would be drawing a retirement pension from the military. As the spouse of a retired military member she would also have a spouse ID.
Military members retire after having served 20 or more years in the military. Since he has no ID I’m assuming that he served in the military at some point, yet not long enough to earn a retirement. Is that correct?
Disney’s Armed Forces Salute, which includes the special 4-day tickets you are referring to, is only for current and retired military members, their spouses, and certain medically retired individuals. All of these people have IDs which currently grant them access to US Military Bases. Those without IDs are not eligible for the Disney offer.
Shades of Green is a military owned and operated resort on Disney World property. They do have a Salute to Our Veterans Program for those who served in the military but did not retire. These individuals may stay at Shades and purchase the slightly military discounted Disney World tickets (but not the Armed Forces Salute Tickets) during the months of January and September. This program is for the member not their spouse though.
See this page for details on the Shades of Green offer: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html
Thanks, Steve!
Hi Dave,
I booked our Disney world trip for Spring Break (April 1-5, 2013) not knowing that it was a blackout date for the military salute 4 day hopper passes. I don’t want to change my dates, but I don’t want to pay full price for Disney tickets. Tickets and sales on post gives a small discount for the regularly priced hopper tickets, but it would still be $365.00 for each pass! Are there other options for discounted tickets at Disneyworld during the Spring Break Blackout dates?
Hi Carmen, you won’t find a better deal than what you can find on post. Are you sure you don’t want to change your dates? That’s one of the worst weeks of the year–which is why it’s blacked out…
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my fiance cant make the trip but is active duty is there any way he can purchase and activate our passes for me and our children without being there?
Hi Denise, sorry, but no he can’t. He has to be there in person to activate. He doesn’t have to stay around after that–but he has to be at the turnstile when the tix are first used to activate them.
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