by MIlitary Diva
Updated November 16, 2021
The process to purchase tickets from Shades of Green has changed slightly!
- Guests are asked to complete the Ticket Order Form online
- Email completed form to advancedtickets@shadesofgreen.org
- A phone representative will contact you via phone to verify your order, eligibility, and process payment.
- Tickets will be shipped to you within 10 days.
If you haven’t heard yet, Disney’s Military Discounts for 2020 have been announced! This steep discount allows Military families, who endure numerous obstacles in their daily lives, a chance to enjoy all that Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line have to offer.
The Disney Travel Company officially announced the 2020 Military Discounts on September 26, 2019!
Current Active, Reserve and National Guard servicemembers are eligible for discounted rooms, tickets and cruise fares with Disney properties. In addition, fully retired military members (served 20 years) and 100% service disabled veterans are also eligible. In today’s article, I would like to take a few moments to discuss the various ways Disney’s Armed Forces Salute tickets can be purchased.
In the past, Military members could purchase Disney Armed Forces Salute vouchers in-person or through phone orders from their local base. If they were unable to purchase this way, they had to wait until they arrived at Disney World/Disneyland and purchase at the front gate. There were two inconveniences that came with these voucher purchases…
Thank you for supporting our military!
- The guests receiving vouchers had to activate the tickets at a Disney Guest Service window prior to entering the park. Long lines often hindered their entry, sucking up valuable park time.
- Guests that had to purchase tickets at the park lost out on the ability to book Fast Passes in advance.
Fortunately, Shades of Green on Walt Disney World (a DoD/MWR owned resort set aside for Military Families), has created a processes wherein Military Families can purchase Disney World park tickets, Disney World party tickets, Universal Orlando, Sea World and other tickets through an easy email/phone process. For a $12 shipping fee guests can receive their tickets, including ACTIVATED Armed Forces Salute tickets, in the mail prior to travel. What is the benefit of using this service?
Shades of Green on Walt Disney World, a deluxe onsite resort for Military Guests
- Guests have the ability to make Fast Pass selections 60 days prior to travel (if staying onsite); 30 days prior to travel if staying offsite.
- Upon arrival, guests can proceed directly to park ticket gates, using their hard tickets or Magic Bands for entry-no standing in line to activate vouchers!!
Follow along below for step-by-step instructions for ordering your own Disney World Armed Forces tickets.
Shades of Green on Walt Disney World
Ordering Disney World Military Discounted Tickets in Advance from Shades of Green
Also applies to Disney World party tickets, Universal Orlando, Sea World and any other offered tickets
- Navigate to the Shades of Green ticket page. (https://www.shadesofgreen.org/experiences/tours) to view ticket availabillity, eligibility and additional purchase instructions.
- Email Shades of Green, informing them that you would like to order tickets. (advancedtickets@shadesofgreen.org)
Email Shades of Green to request tickets
- A ticket agent will respond within 72 hours. You will receive several attachments including an order form and ticket price lists.
Shades of Green email response should include several attachments
- Look over pricing, complete order form, and email back to Shades of Green.
- The order form requires DoD information and credit card expiration, security code, and last four numbers of your card only.
- Once received SoG will email a response, letting you know your ID has been verified and you will be contacted via phone to complete your purchase.
Shades of Green Verification email
- When you receive your phone call, be prepared to provide the rest of your credit card numbers, verify shipping information and offer further instructions. Your card will be charged for ticket cost plus $10 S&H.
- Tickets will be shipped via FedEx.
- You will receive FedEx tracking email, reminding you that a signature will be required for tickets.
FedEx shipping details
- Activated tickets (not vouchers) are delivered.
- Link tickets in mDe, just like any other park ticket!
Notes and Reminders
- Travel Agents cannot order tickets for the Military Member due to DoD privacy needs when providing eligibility details.
- Only Active/Guard/Reserve Military Members, Fully Retired (20 years served), 100% Service Disabled and their spouses are eligible to make Disney World Armed Forces Salute room and ticket purchases.
- Busch Gardens Parks offer 4 free tickets yearly; Universal has room/ticket discounts; Cedar Fair parks offer yearly discounts. These tickets and others can be found on the Shades of Green site…https://www.shadesofgreen.org/experiences/tours
As a military family, we have enjoyed the Disney World discounts every year they have been offered, since 2003. And as a Travel Agent, working closely with many Military Families, I have many tips to help you enjoy your best vacation! Feel free to post questions to our site, message me privately at all4dreams@gatewaytomagictravel.com or click HERE to request my assistance planning your next Family Vacation. My services are paid by the supplier (Disney), free to the traveler and backed by Gateway to Magic Travel, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
We have faxed an application for advanced tickets for the military promotional ticket to Walt Disney world at $301.00 for a 6-day pass per person, but we don’t know if it was received. We don’t have a fax machine, but we have e-mail. Could you check on this for us and send us further instructions? Thanking you in advance for your help in this matter.
Good afternoon Stophel family. We are a private blog site and aren’t officially affiliated with the Disney Travel Company. We aren’t able to check on your specific order. However, can I ask if you faxed your request to Walt Disney World or Shades of Green? Your best bet for ticket orders is to email Shades of Green at advancedtickets@shadesofgreen.org You will receive activated tickets that are ready for use. Otherwise, I recommend purchasing from your local base MWR site or in person at Walt Disney World. (I have not heard of faxing a request to Disney)
What ID do you have to show at Disney for the pre activated tickets bought threw Shades of Green? I ask because we’re on step 3 currently. We’ve never received a VHIC so we’re trying to obtain one now. Just unsure if we can due to covid before our trip. We do have his dd214 to travel with tho. Thank you!
Good afternoon Penelope. Is your service member fully retired or 100% service disabled? I ask because Veteran’s that do not meet these requirements are not eligible for the Disney Promotional tickets. Shades of Green will verify eligibility before allowing the purchase of these tickets. Once purchased from Shades, ID will not be needed at the parks. I have a photo that shows the IDs of those eligible for the promo tickets. I will send it to your email address (watch for an email from All4reams@gatewaytomagictravel.com)
Do you know if my husband can get the tickets for me to use without him? I have an appointment (Feb 18) to get my spouse ID, but it’s not until AFTER the deadline for ordering tickets (Feb 14). I don’t want to miss out on the deal!
Good afternoon Jennifer. Your husband can definitely contact Shades of Green to purchase tickets. They will verify his eligibility online and walk him through the purchase process. One of the allotted six tickets is to be used by him, but he can gift the other 5 tickets to anyone he chooses. The tickets will arrive activated and he does not have to be with you when you use them! You will only need to link them to your “myDisneyexperience” account and book your Park Pass Reservations. When you visit the parks, you will not need to show any id at guest services. Please be sure to check the Park Pass Reservation availability calendar before purchasing to be sure there is availability now. You will be waiting about 10 days for the tickets to arrive, so there is a bit of risk with this method. Unless traveling during a high crowd period (Easter, Christmas, or Fall Break week in October) you should be fine! Feel free to reply here or email me directly at all4dreams@gatewaytomagictravel.com if you have any other questions.
Can you tell me if there is any discounts available for a Gold Star child who is also an orphan due to her Mother passing also? She is too young to book the trip using her Id her sponsor, ( her Father) passed Active Duty….
Good morning. I am so sorry to hear of this child’s situation. I recall reading that she would be eligible for some sort of discounts but I can’t find the writing to confirm. However, Shades of Green would definitely be able to offer this information. You can contact them by email through the link below. They are exceptionally helpful! If you find any details, and have a moment, I would love to hear what you learn. Fingers crossed for good news for your family…https://www.shadesofgreen.org/contact-us