Hi Deanna!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! This is an excellent question, and I'd like to thank you for asking it to us. First, please allow me to say a big double-ears Cheers and Thank You to your husband for his time in the service. Mine is a Military family too. Currently, Disney's
theme parks and resort hotels offer discounted multi-day promotional tickets as well as special room rates only to Active Duty, currently serving Reservists, full Retirees and 100 percent service-connected disabled Veterans.
However, and funnily enough, Walt Disney famously said of his theme parks that they'll "never be finished growing and changing, as imagination and ideas never stop growing." And as I'm sure you know, change is just a part of life within the Military. So to connect Disney and the Military, Congress
just passed a new act aimed at providing base MWR benefits to non-retired Veterans, which includes using base ticket offices, that hopefully your family can benefit from for this upcoming vacation.
As of January 1, 2020 the "Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018" now allows MWR and Commissary privileges to those with an updated Veterans Affairs ID Card. While this benefit addition won't affect who can purchase the multi-day promotional tickets or reduced room rates directly offered from Disney, if your husband has a VHIC that can be updated to show that he now has Commissary and MWR benefits, he can now purchase slightly discounted Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets from your nearest installation ticket office or from
Shades of Green, which is an Armed Forces Recreation Center located on Walt Disney World Resort property. These tickets range from 1-day to 10, and include the option to add on the ever popular Park Hopper addition. To find a price list of these tickets, either visit your base/post MWR/ITT website or check the prices at Shades of Green, which are usually the same price as, if not a few dollars more than, what local bases charge for these tickets. (Click on the "Experiences" tab near the top, then select 'Tickets/Attractions'. Click 'Learn More' under the Walt Disney World Resort section, then click "View Full Price List" in the Magic Your Way Ticket description box.) If your spouse can qualify for this new benefit, you'll be able to purchase any of the 'Magic Your Way' ticket options. And best of all, tickets purchased on base or from Shades of Green are free of sales tax, which is a bonus savings!
Since this is all still so new, I reached out to Shades for clarification on who can purchase these discounted tickets and what all is needed for proof. This is what they sent back:
~ The VHIC MUST be updated and display "MWR, Commissary" under the picture. DD 214 Paperwork without a VHIC will not be accepted.
~ Veterans with Service-connected disabilities rated 0 - 90 percent (!!!)
~ Purple Heart Recipients
~ Former Prisoners of War (POW)
~ Caregivers of Veterans (Primary Family Caregivers of eligible veterans approved and designated under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance with a Current official VA letter and official ID.)
I hope this information helped to better plan your December Disney Days, Deanna. Definitely keep up with the
Disney Parks Blog between now and your arrival to lEARn of anything and everything new and exciting for your visit to Mickey's house. And please feel free to write us back if you can think of any more
Walt Disney World Resort planning questions - we're all Ears!
~Kristen