Back in June, Disney extended the current 4-Day Military Promotional Ticket offer through December 20, 2015. They also expanded the offer from 6 to 12 tickets. This means that whether or not you’ve already used your 2015 allotment of tickets, you can still take advantage of the offer and experience the final year of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. The associated room discount offer has also been extended through December 23, 2015.
The 4-Day Military Promotional Ticket offer and its corresponding room discount offer, commonly referred to as the Armed Forces Salute, has been offered at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort under varying terms since 2009. Though the offer has been renewed each year since, it is not considered a perpetual offer and the terms, conditions, eligibility, and dates may change from year to year. We are still waiting to hear if the offer will be renewed for 2016, and are hopeful that it will be. This has been an extremely generous promotion for members of the armed services, and is counted upon by many military families as their only means to visit Walt Disney World.
The current terms of the offer are as follows: a 4-Day ticket with Park Hopper option costs $177 plus tax (unless purchased on base or at Shades of Green Resort). For $30 more, you can add the Water Parks Fun & More Option. The offer is valid for all active or retired members of the U.S. Military, National Guard, Reservists, and U.S. Coast Guard. Spouses of those eligible are able to purchase and activate the tickets in the name of their spouse, though the limit is still 12 tickets per eligible service member.
Speaking of activating the tickets, Armed Forces Salute Tickets that are purchased on a military base or at Shades of Green Resort are really only a voucher. This voucher can be added to your My Disney Experience account so that Fastpass+ selections can be made, and they will be linked to your MagicBand. Before the first entry into one of the theme parks, the ticket must be activated at any of the Guest Relations or ticket counters at any of the theme parks or at Downtown Disney/Disney Springs.
Hopefully we’ll hear something soon about the offer for 2016. This is a hugely popular offer, and I would be surprised if it is not renewed. I have used these tickets for several years at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort (the offer terms are a little different at the Disneyland Resort).
(Photo from the author’s personal collection.)
Joshua Shusterman is United States Marine and has been stationed in both North Carolina and Hawaii. He is an avid Disney fan, and has taken several trips to Walt Disney World as well as Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, and Disneyland Resort. He has extensively researched military discount programs and offers from The Walt Disney Company, and loves to spread the word to his fellow service members. He can be reached on Twitter @JLShusterman or email at JLShusterman@Gmail.com.
