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
Hi Vanessa,
It is correct that now that you aren not a military spouse you can not participate in the Disney Armed Forces Salute (activate the tickets). As you said, your ex or another member or spouse would have to go with you to activate the tickets.
You can take your kids by a base ticket office or Shades of Green and buy the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way tickets for them with their IDs, and perhaps you too (depends on the seller).
Here are Shades prices (bases are very similar): http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Magic-Your-Way-Tickets.html
Hi Steve,
My husband was retired from the army and passed away earlier this year. Is it possible for me and our kids to receive the military discounts and stay at Shades of Green?
Thanks in advance.
Jenny, I’m checking in with Steve, so look for his response.
Absolutely Jenny!
As long as you remain un-remarried you will be eligible for Both Shades of Green and the Disney Armed Forces Salute discounts.
You’ll need your current military ID to prove eligibility .
Thanks so much, Steve & Dave. I wonder if it’s advisable to you use booking agent or go it alone?
Jenny, many people find that a travel agent helps with their first visit. Kelly is the travel agent who helps with this site.
Hi! Question about the Salute tickets for Disneyland. My husband is in the Air Force currently away on training. Already this year I have taken myself and our children plus extended family to Disneyland (used salute discount for me plus 5). Now my husband is talking about going again in October. Since I activated our tickets earlier this year and he will activate the ones in October. Would we still be able to use the Salute discount?
Amy, I have asked Steve to weigh in.
Hi Amy,
The Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket limit is 6 per military member during each Salute offer period. The spouse may use those 6 in place of the member not in addition to.
When you say this year, do you mean 2016?
The last Salute ended 20 Dec 2015 and the current one started on 3 January 2016.
If the trip you took was in 2015, he still has his 6 tickets available for the 2016 offer. If however you went in the last 2 weeks, he is done for Salute tickets (at Disneyland) until and if another offer comes out for 2017.
The Walt Disney World and Disneyland offers are totally separate though and even if he has used up his Disneyland tickets for 2016, he still has 6 available at WDW.
There are also the Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets which offer slight savings off of the gate price with no limits on the amount you can purchase. See: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
I am concerned w privacy issues. How does Walt D World track your military ID with the salute tickets to ensure your family only uses 6 per activation per year etc. I heard they also fingerprint scan. It just seems w all the Identity theft going on that I might be putting myself at risk. Do they link the tickets to my mil I’D # or ss# when they active? Or will the MWR do this (which seems safer). Thanks for your help.
Marcie, I’ll ask Steve to weigh in.
Hi Marcie,
Rest assured that you are at no additional risk using the Disney Armed Forces Salute compared to say shopping at Target or being a DoD employee. You are actually better off!
Base ticket offices have nothing to do with tracking the ticket limit. In fact some will go ahead and happily sell you tickets that you will be unable to use, after you have reached your limit. Disney does the tracking.
In this modern age all electronic data is a target, but Disney asks for only the most basic information to track ticket usage: name, address, email. They have no access to any DoD system such as the DEERS database. Your ID is only looked at to prove eligibility.
Disney has been doing this since 2009 and literally hundreds of thousands of military members have successfully used this offer with no privacy issues that I have ever heard of.
As far as fingerprinting when you place your finger on a reader. The system, which utilizes the technology of biometrics, takes an image of your finger, converts the image into a unique numerical value (called a Ticket Tag) and immediately discards the image. The numerical value is recalled when you use Ticket Tag with the same ticket to re-enter or visit another Park. Ticket Tag does not store fingerprints.
Children under 10 do not need to use this system
If you are still concerned you can opt to show a picture ID that matches the name on the ticket rather than using Ticket Tag. Be aware for larger parties this slows everything down and will inconvenience people behind you.
For more see this page (near the bottom, look for Ticket Tag): https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/my-magic-plus-privacy/
Hundreds of thousands of people use Disney’s Ticket Tag system daily.
You place yourself at more at risk applying for a US government security clearance.
Hope this helps reassure you!
Thanks for the reply!
I am going to purchase the salute tickets for my family. We have a 2 year old. I understand that he doesn’t need a ticket but what do I use to link his magic band to our fast passes/tickets?
Alicia, you don’t. He just comes along with you…
Hi,
We planned a weeklong trip next month to Disney world. My husband is medically retired, and has the blue card.
We just realized his id is expired!!!! We will not be able to have it renewed by our trip. Do you think if we bring his DD214 when we check in the resort we should be ok? We cannot afford this trip otherwise. I cannot believe this happened. Please help.
Hi Angie,
No unfortunately a DD-214 is not acceptable. You will have to get his ID renewed in order to use the Disney Armed Forces Salute discounts.
Unless your ID still valid. If so then you are still eligible.
Hi! I’ve read several comments, but I wanted to be completely sure of the Salute tickets program. My dad is retired military, and is going to buy the 4 day park hopper pass for my family of 4 and himself. Does he have to “activate” the tickets every day and be present with us? Or can he activate the tickets just the first day?
Also, are nonremarried ex spouses of retired military eligible for the salute tickets? Thanks so much!!
Hi Ashley,
The Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets are only activated once. After the activation the member does not need to accompany their party. See full activation detains here: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/how-to-activate-your-disney-armed-forces-salute-theme-park-tickets/
Your second question is a little apples and oranges so I’ll provide 2 answers.
Former spouses who are divorced from military members are never eligible, no matter their subsequent marital status.
Non-remarried widows of eligible members are eligible.
My husband bought tickets for us, the kids and my Mom, and we should be going next month. However, my om has just been diagnosed with cancer and will not be able to make it due to being so close to surgery and we are unable to postpone the trip due to other family members flying in from Europe for the same vacation. I understand the armed forces salute tickets are non refundable, but would we be able to exchange them for Disney dollars?
Hi Kora,
It never hurts to ask! The only consideration on Salute tickets that can’t be used that I’ve ever heard of, is Disney allowing you to use the purchase price towards full price tickets.
But definitely ask once there, and escalate politely to management if needed. Bring documents to verify your situation.
I am planning a trip for myself and my children for March 2017. My husband was active duty Air Force and passed away in 2008. My question is are there any special offers for Gold Star Children? thank you for any and all information.
Hi Angie,
No, unfortunately there is no discount for Gold Star Families. Do you still have a current spouse ID? If do you are eligible for all military discounts.
Hope this helps!
If I have (6) 2015 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets thatI wasn’t able to use, can I purchase (6) 2016 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets and use all (12) tickets in 2016 at one time?
Michelle, I’ve asked Steve to weigh in, so stay posted…
Hi Michelle,
I’m so sorry to say that the 2015 tickets have expired, cannot be used, and have no monetary value at all.
Having said that, you can always try to get them to let you use the value of the tickets towards the 2016 Salute tickets or full price ones. Bring the old tickets, receipt, and any written documentation as to why you could not go i.e. leave slip with a disapproval, hospital bills, etc.
Good luck!
Hi I am a British serving member of the Armed forces on holiday here in Orlando with my family, I am wondering if there are any discount for seaworld ?? Friends of ours that have been here in the past have informed us we can have free entry to either seaworld or bush gardens using my ID card, Mick
Mick, I don’t track Sea World, but have reached out to someone who does.
Many thanks, we have universal passes for2 weeks and have been to gatorland can you suggest anywhere else we might enjoy ??
Thank you for your help will give it ago.
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