Hi there, Stephanie! Welcome to planDisney!
I'm so excited to hear that you're making plans to visit Walt Disney World Resort in just a few weeks! There is surely magic waiting for you around every corner with The World's Most Magical Celebration in full swing. There's so much to see and do, from experiencing the glowing Beacons of Magic to sampling some celebratory sweets!
Stephanie, I see that you've already purchased your theme park tickets and are inquiring about the
Special Offers available to members of the US military. Eligible Service Members are active, retired, or 100% disabled veterans and are offered special rates on Disney Military Salute Tickets. Disney Military Salute Tickets can be purchased either from your local base or through Shades of Green. Unfortunately, since
Disney Military Salute Tickets are different from
Standard Theme Park Tickets, there isn't an option to receive an adjustment on your purchase from AAA.
However, if you or a member of your travel party is an Eligible Service Member and would like to purchase Disney Military Salute Tickets instead, you may want to reach out to AAA Travel Services to see if they are able to assist you with any options, including the possibility of refunding your ticket. Since this depends on how and where you purchased your tickets, this option isn't guaranteed, but it doesn't hurt to try! If your tickets are indeed able to be refunded, you can then order your tickets from your local base or through Shades of Green. As a military spouse, we prefer to order our tickets from
Shades of Green because they arrive to us activated and ready to be used. No matter how Disney Military Salute Tickets are purchased, they need to be
linked to your My Disney Experience account!
But Stephanie, in my experience, Disney Military Salute Tickets often take several weeks to receive. Since your trip to Walt Disney World Resort is only a few weeks away, I would personally keep the original tickets purchased through AAA to make sure that your tickets and Theme Park Reservations made with the
Disney Park Pass system are secure. When looking at the
Theme Park Reservation Availability Calendar, it appears as though dates in June are already getting filled up, and I wouldn't want you to risk not being able to visit your desired parks on each day of your trip. And if you haven't yet made your Theme Park Reservations, I'd recommend making those reservations right away!
Did you know that Eligible Service Members can also purchase Memory Maker at a special rate as well? It's true! All you need to do is
call a Cast Member prior to your arrival to make this purchase! And while we're putting the finishing touches on your magical vacation, I'd also suggest taking some time to download and explore the
My Disney Experience app. This will allow you to unlock everything that Walt Disney World Resort has to offer, like viewing park maps, checking wait times for attractions, and even
mobile ordering food. This is a great way to minimize waits and maximize the fun!
Sending you faith, trust, and pixie dust!
Michelle