Hi Nancy! Welcome to planDisney, I am happy to help you with your question today!
Let's start with the military discounts. If you or your spouse are active duty, retirees, or 100% disabled Veterans, you may qualify for the
Disney Military Ticket offer (formerly known as the Armed Forces Salute). These multi-day tickets can be purchased at your nearest
military installation, or through
Shades of Green. These tickets look like paper stubs with "Exchange Certificate" written on the front, and feature a 16-digit barcode on the back. You'll use the barcodes to link tickets to you and your guests on your My Disney Experience account. Keep those stubs, you'll need to "activate" them once you arrive at Walt Disney World Resort. Stop by Guest Relations at any of the four theme parks or at Disney Springs to activate the tickets. Also, you can ask about the military discount for Memory Maker at Guest Relations. I usually stop at the Guest Relations at Disney Springs the day before my first theme park visit to get both of these steps done. If you or your spouse are honorably discharged Veterans, you can purchase Magic Your Way tickets at a slightly discounted rate, also through Shades of Green or your nearest military installation.
Next, let's talk about
Disney Gift Cards. What is great about them is that you can use them in a multitude of ways. You can purchase souvenirs at Walt Disney World or through shopDisney, dining, and even different Enchanting Extras, like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. You absolutely can use them for character meals, so woohoo! Plus, Disney Gift Cards do not expire, and you can reload them throughout your visit. You can reload between $5-$1000 per card. While you can't add a Disney Gift card to your My Disney Experience app as a form of payment, you CAN use it as a form of payment at checkout. When making an app-based purchase, select "Use a Different Payment Method", select "Disney Gift Card" and follow the steps toward your purchase.
I hope all of this information helps you today, Nancy! Stop by planDisney at any time with other questions you may have before your visit. Happy Planning!
Frances