Hiya Richard,
Welcome to
planDisney! I’m a proud daughter of two military veterans, so I am happy to dig into this question for you and hopefully get you headed in the right direction!
Great question, by the way, Richard. My parents actually asked me a similar question when they were deciding whether or not to purchase the new
Disney Celebrates America Military Salute Ticket for my toddler this year. They are not local to Florida, so they wanted to make sure that if they purchased it, she could still use it even if they weren’t present. So, to answer the first part of your question, yes, eligible veterans and service members can purchase discounted Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets for family and friends. They do not have to be your dependents. For example, neither my husband nor my daughter is my parents' dependent, and my parents were able to purchase a promotional ticket for both of them without issue. For accompanying them, you or your spouse (with a valid ID) must be present the first time the ticket is used at Walt Disney World Resort to activate it and show a valid ID. After the first use, however, you do not need to visit with them each time to use the tickets (provided it is a multi-day ticket). So for us, that meant my parents came down to visit, and we all went to the theme park, and my parents showed their IDs to activate the tickets. Now we go whenever we want, and they don’t have to make a trip to us every time we want to stop in for a visit.
I hope this was helpful, Richard. Before I let you go, I noticed you mentioned your IU rating. Since I don’t know the details of your military identification, I’m not 100% sure which military tickets you are eligible for. Before purchasing any theme park tickets, make sure to read the eligibility guidelines to ensure you can purchase them. Some promotional tickets have specific restrictions, and I would hate for you to purchase something you can’t use. I recommend reaching out to a
Shades of Green representative if you aren’t 100% sure which tickets you are eligible for. Their website is super helpful, and so are they! They can also assist you in purchasing tickets if you decide to do so. If you need anything else, please come back and see us. We are always here to help!
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.