Military Families at Walt Disney World
By Dave Shute
MILITARY FAMILIES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
The general advice for first time visitors to Walt Disney World provided on this site applies equally to military families.
However, military families have access to special military deals and discounts, especially the Disney Armed Forces Salute, that other families don’t, and also have access to Shades of Green (below).
The links below provide specific details and guidance for how to find out more about these, and the best ways to take advantage of them.
Eligibility for these and other Disney military deals has always been complicated, and the process for getting and using some of them even more so.
Steve Bell is the Military Moderator on this site. And Steve’s Military Disney Tips has always been the go-to site for military families looking to make the most out of their Disney World vacations.
But like every other website (especially mine), finding exactly what you need to know, in the right order, sometimes isn’t as easy as you’d like it to be.
So the great news is that Steve has just published a Disney World guidebook for military families.
With entire chapters devoted to the 2016 salute, to Shades of Green, and to other deals and perks available to military families, I can’t recommend it enough!!
It’s available as a PDF–probably the most convenient format–here, and on Amazon.com here
.
This book will be a great help to military families contemplating a Disney World visit in 2016!!
LINKS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
- Military Families at Walt Disney World
- Deals and Discounts
- Shades of Green
Comments moderated by Steve Bell of Military Disney Tips.
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213 comments
Thank you again, Dave, and I will be glad to!
Hello Mr. Dave my very large family (13 total) will be flying from Washington state to Florida for a week long vacation in February to Disney world ans surrounding attractions this will be our first time their. My questions do you have any tips to help save some big money on this trip both my husband and I are active duty military but with such a large group of us 7 adults and 6 children it makes it hard for me to find deep discounts or even a place large enough to accommodate such a large group any suggestions would be greatly appreciated Thanks in advance
Hi Charli! I’m gonna ask my friend Steve to weigh in on this. So check back here! Do tell us the ages of the kids though–if any will be younger than 3 at check in it may make a difference…
Hi Charli,
That is a big question, so rather than typing everything out I’ll be linking to info on my site as we go through this.
As Dave said the age of the kids matters for ticket prices. Kids under 3 are free and 3-9 use the child’s tickets which are less than the adult price. So in the case you need to revert to a lesser discount or full price ticket for part of your party it should be for a child.
With 2 active military you have a great advantage of sometimes being able to use 2 separate discounts.
On to the specifics…
Hotels
You have several military discount options
The Disney Armed Forces Salute rates at Disney resorts: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html
Shades of Green, the military owned and operated resort at WDW: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green.html
The Armed Forces Vacation Club: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Accommodations/Armed-Forces-Vacation-Club.html
For Tickets:
Disney
Between the 2 of you, you are eligible for 12 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html
If you need one more you’ll want the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
SeaWorld Orlando
Military members are eligible for up to 4 free tickets for themselves and direct dependents: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Anheuser-Busch-Hero-Salute.html
The most of these you’ll be able to get is 4, so the rest need to be these (if this offer is renewed for 2014): http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/seaworld-parks/seaworld-parks-welcomes-retired-military-and-veterans-with-new-offer/ or these (if not): http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/SeaWorld-Bush-Gardens.html
Universal Orlando
Universal currently has no “special” military discount just the regular slightly discounted tickets from base ticket offices or Shades of Green: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Universal-Tickets.html
Legoland
If renewed: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discounts/legoland-military-appreciation-days-2013/
or http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discounts/legoland-florida-offers-military-discounts/
There are many other discount tickets offered by Shades or the Orlando ITT:
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Other-Attractions.html
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Orlando-ITT-Ticket-Office.html
Other Mil Discounts
Discounted meals at Downtown Disney: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-discounts/downtown-disney-military-discounts-at-walt-disney-world/
Stroller Rentals: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/military-discounts-on-disney-world-stroller-rentals/
Hope this is a good start for you to learn more!
Let us know if you have questions after you check out the info
Steve
Thanks, Steve!! Fantastic help as always…
Yes Sir the children at time of travel will be 6 two 5 year old’s a 4 year old a 2 year old and 1 years old and I will check back in thank you
yes sir thank you very much all your links are being very helpful and thank you for a fast response I appreciate both you and Mr. Dave’s help on assisting me and my family with planning our family vacation
Oops,
I see I shared the wrong link the the Disney Armed Forces Salute…
It should be:
Between the 2 of you, you are eligible for 12 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html
Steve, I fixed the link–I think…
I have a military friend who is willing to give me her unused tickets however I am not military, is it possible that we just find a military person at the gate to activate the ticket?
Chrissy, I’ve asked the site’s expert on these matters to weigh in. Look for Steve’s comment.
Hi Chrissy and Dave,
The answer is maybe…
There are two different types of military discounted tickets for Disney. there are the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets and the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute is a special program which allows military members to spend time with family and friends in Disney’s parks. Because of it’s purpose and large discount there are many rules, one of which is that the military member or their spouse must be part of the party and have a ticket for themselves. Per Disney’s rules the member must activate the tickets at WDW with the whole party present. The tickets may then be used individually.
So you would not be able to use these tickets without a military member with you to activate them. Any military member or spouse could do this for you. It does not need to be the person who bought the tickets. But each military member (oe spouse) only has the ability to activate 6 tickets during this offer, so they can’t have used up their benefit yet or want to use it themselves later.
I would not recommend doing this as using the tickets without a military member in your party as totally goes against the purpose of the discount.
The Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets are slightly discounted tickets sold by Military Base Ticket Offices and Shades of Green. These are not restricted and your friend can buy them ahead of time for you without getting one for themselves. These are 1-10 day tickets with all the regular options you’d find at a Disney ticket booth. They do not need to be activated or require the member to be there,
Here is a link to the price list at Shades of Green (the military hotel at WDW) prices on base would be within a dollar: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Magic-Your-Way-Tickets.html
Thanks a million, Steve! I knew you’d know the answer…
Hi Dave!
My ex husband is active Army and he and I took our boys to Disney together about 3 years ago. I’m looking to take the boys while he’s deployed this next year and I was unsure if the kids would still qualify for the discount although he wouldn’t be with us? Do you know the stipulations of this?
Jennifer, I will check with an expert, so come back here, but it’s not the kids who qualify–it’s the military member.
Hi Jennifer,
First, we do not yet know if there will be a Disney Armed Forces Salute next year. The current offer ends on 27 Sept 2014. We most likely won’t know till July if Disney will renew it.
But, Dave is correct, disney discounts are for the member (or spouse in their place) not dependent children.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute has very strict rules on its use. The member must have a ticket of their own besides any for you or the kids. The tickets must be activated at Disney by the member with all members of the party there (this can be done ahead of time).
Baring being able to do that, your next best option is the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets,
There are two different types of military discounted tickets for Disney. there are the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets and the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets.
The Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets are slightly discounted tickets sold by Military Base Ticket Offices and Shades of Green. These are not restricted and he can buy them ahead of time for you without getting one for himself at his base. These are 1-10 day tickets with all the regular options you’d find at a Disney ticket booth.
Here is a link to the price list at Shades of Green (the military hotel at WDW) prices on base would be within a dollar: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Magic-Your-Way-Tickets.html
Note: there was a recent Disney price increase of about 5% which is not yet (2/9/14) reflected o this page.
I do understand that. Thanks!
Hi there! I really hope I’m not asking a duplicate question, but I didn’t see it above. My father died while on active duty and my mom and I both have Dependant cards. Is she still eligible for the salute tickets?
Hi Thomas, see this: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Military-Discounts/Discount-Finder/Military-Spouse-Discounts.html
Hi Thomas,
Yep, as long as your mother’s military spouse ID is still valid she is eligible fo many discounts. Check the link Dave shared above for all the details.
My husband is retired military. We are planning to take our daughter and her family to WDW the end of October. Hoping the military discounts will be renewed. If we book 2 rooms (and the discount is renewed) would they have to check in on the same day as we do? My husband is the military member. Their dates don’t quite coinside with ours. Thanks
Hi Cheryl! I’ve asked Steve, the site’s expert, to weigh in!
Hi there Cheryl,
Those you sponsor (up to 3 additional rooms) need to check in at the same time as you, but their checkout does not need to match yours.
Have fun!
Thanks, Steve!
My son in law is an active marine. My husband and I are paying for the entire family to go to disney and we are going to have my son in law purchase the tickets through the military so that we can receive the discounted prices. So here is the question…there are 9 of us, can my daughter (marine spouse) purchase 3 tickets through the Disney Armed Forces Salutes Theme Park Tickets program and my son in law (marine) purchase 6 through the regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way ticket progam?
Angie, yes–but you would save more with 6 military salute tix, and three regular discount tix…
I apologize if this has been answered. My husband passed away in Iraq in 2007. We had one child together. I have since remarried and we were wanting to take my son to disney world in September. I know wdw already told me that my son is not eligible for their salute to service tix. However they told me to contact shades of green. I have called them and left a message. My question is would my son be eligible to purchase the discounted tickets through shades of green with his dependent Id card?
Ashley, I will ask Steve the military expert to weigh in on this!
Hi Ashley,
You might be able to do this.
First though, non-spouse dependents are not eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets. Only the member, or spouse in their place is. So there is no way you could use these.
You may be able to buy the regular military discounted Magic Your Way tickets from Shades. These will only save you between 4 and 8 percent though depending on length and options.
I say may, because Shades is a military installation and it is no different from asking if he could buy something from the Base Exchange at a base near you. You have to get on base and then the sales person would need to let you pay for his purchase.
Definitely give it a try, as long as you don’t mind waiting until you arrive to get your tickets and foregoing the use of FastPass Plus advance reservations.
Thanks, Steve!
Hey! The link I used to get here said Military/DOD. What discounts. if any, are applicable to current Navy Civilians!?
Thank you very much!
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