// I may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post. //

Thanks to Disney’s many discounts and perks for active duty and retired military, my little family is lucky and goes to Disneyland all the time.

If you’re active duty or retired military and would love to go to Disneyland, here’s the discounts and benefits that Disney offers to you!

Your Guide to Exclusive Disneyland Military Discounts and Perks

// All information is current as of December 21, 2026. //

It is such a delight and privilege to enjoy the multiple discounts and opportunities that Disney offers the military and its veterans.

2026 Disney Military Promotional Park Theme Park Tickets

This is an AMAZING discount program the Disney offers for it’s active duty and retired military guests.

Straight up – without it we would not be able to go to any of the parks as often (hell, IF EVER) as we do.

So, here’s the deal. Only certain people are eligible for the 2026 Disney Military Promotional Park Theme Park Tickets discount. Here’s a list (as decreed by Disney and DoD):

Current Military Members:

• Active Duty
• Retired
• National Guard
• Reservists
• US Coast Guard
• US Space Force
• Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
• Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Retired Military Members:

• Active
• Reserve
• National Guard
• Coast Guard
• Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
• Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

100% Service Connected Disabled:

• Must have the DAVPRM code on their military issued ID.

Spouses:

• This would be in place of the member (not Civil Service or Contractor) should they be unable to go (i.e. are deployed or TDY).

Please note:

The 2026 Disney Military Promotional Park Theme Park Tickets benefit is for the member only. Spouses may use their member’s benefit but they are not entitled to a benefit of their own. They only use the discounts in place of the member. Meaning, one sponsor with their spouse/dependents (e.g one household) are allowed a ONCE A YEAR purchase of up to six tickets PER PARK. One household = up to six tickets.

Non-spouse dependents (i.e. kids) are not eligible to buy tickets.

Unremarried Widows:

• Entitled to their departed spouse’s discounts (not Civil Service or Contractor).

Foreign partners/Coalition partners:

• Stationed at a US base are eligible. They must have a permanent US Military issued ID (CAC card with blue stripe).

2026 Disneyland Military Promotional Park Theme Park Tickets

Okay, so you figured out that you qualify and you want some of those sweet, sweet Disneyland ticket discounts.

Here are the rates for 2026 (plus a few restrictions):

• 1-Day Disneyland Resort Military Adult (10+) Ticket: $104 / Child (3-9) Ticket Price $98*
• 3-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket: $314**
• 3-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $416**
• 4-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket: $369**
• 4-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $505**

*Disneyland Resort 1-Day, 1-Park Tickets must be purchased by December 27, 2026, and can be used from November 18, 2025, through December 31, 2027. **3-4-Day Military Promotional Park Hopper Tickets must be purchased by December 27, 2026, and used January 1 through December 31, 2026, with NO blackout dates for 2026.

A Park Hopper ticket allows guests to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure multiple times during the same day.

The Park Hopper with Lightning Lane Multi Pass ticket gives guests all the perks of the traditional Park Hopper ticket plus access to the attractions with Lightning Lanes at both parks.

The Lightning Lane Multi Pass includes: one time use on each available attraction, choose from a variety of eligible attractions in both parks, book the next available arrival window to ride, modify your selections, and capture memories with photo perks.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass attractions at Disneyland Park*:

• Autopia
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Haunted Mansion
• Indiana Jones^TM Adventure
• “it’s a small world”
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• Space Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

*Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction; it is not available with the Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass attractions at Disney California Adventure Park*:

• Goofy’s Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
• Incredicoaster
• The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Toy Story Midway Mania!
• WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

*Radiator Springs Racers is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction; it is not included with the Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

The super cool thing is that you don’t have to use every day in one visit!

Disney PhotoPass

A Lightning Lane Multi Pass also includes access to the Disney PhotoPass service and Disney PhotoPass Lenses (via the Disneyland Mobile app).

How to Buy and Activate Disney Military Promotional Park Theme Park Tickets

Tickets can be purchased at a participating Base Ticket Office or GOVX.com.

How to buy tickets at your local Base Ticket Office varies from location to location so find out beforehand what their procedure is.

For example, we have several bases near us, and at one, they require 10 days’ notice, and then you pay when the tickets arrive (plus, you have to buy the tickets you requested within 24 hours of them arriving at the office, or they can sell them to anyone who shows up).

At another office, we just buy them in person whenever we want.

How many tickets can we buy?

Up to six tickets can be purchased at a time (i.e. one eligible person can purchase tickets for themselves and five others at a time).

If you’re family has more than six people, call your local Base Office or Disneyland directly and ask for help. They often make exceptions for large families.

What if I want to upgrade later?

Also, just so you know – if you purchase the Park Hopper tickets then wish to upgrade later, you can just pay the difference + tax at any Disney Guest Relations or Ticket booth after you activate them.

In addition, you can upgrade your 2026 Disney Military Promotional Park Theme Park Tickets to a season or annual pass at any time – just pay the difference + tax.

The 2026 Disney Military Promotional Park Theme Park Tickets also have ticket deals for Walt Disney World. See those rates and restrictions here.

Activating Your 2026 Disney Military Promotional Park Theme Park Tickets:

After you buy your tickets from your local Base Office, you’ll need to activate them before you can enter the parks.

I’m going to say this again – you MUST activate your tickets before you can enter the parks.

Buying your tickets does not activate them. Linking your tickets to your Disneyland Mobile app account does not activate your tickets.

You MUST activate them at the parks before going through the turnstiles at the ticket entrances.

Go it? Yep? Okay. Now let’s discuss how you can activate them.

How to activate your purchased tickets:

If you bought your tickets through your local Base Office then you and everyone in your party with those tickets (and visiting the park that day) must be together the first time you enter whatever park you visit on the first day of your Disney adventure.

To activate the tickets, you’ll need everyone in your party to join you and your valid military ID. They will make you show your valid military ID at the time of activation.

Just a note:

If someone in your party isn’t with the initial group that was activated during that first visit, you can simply meet them at whatever turnstile entrance they are entering for the first time (you do not need to exit the park – you can stand by their line on the park side). You will need to show your valid military ID to activate their ticket.

It’s incredibly important to bring your valid military ID.

Your military ID is proof that actual military affiliated people are using these special tickets and not just randos or scalpers.

If you haven’t linked your tickets to your Disneyland Mobile app account then bring them with you.

Personally, I bring mine anyway, even if they are linked, on that first day – just in case.

If you have Magic Bands:

The tickets will get linked to them so you can use the Bands to enter the parks and your original tickets will be kept by Disney.

If you do not have Magic Bands:

After activation, your original tickets will be kept by Disney and you’ll be reissued new ones.

Everyone in your party will need to sign the back of their ticket to prevent mix-ups.

Linking your tickets is not the same as activating your tickets:

Heads up, you can link your tickets to your Disneyland Mobile app account at any time after you purchase them (yes, even before you activate them).

That way, you can start making Lightning Lane or DAS selections as soon as your window opens.

Disneyland Resort Discounts

2026 Disneyland Armed Forces Salute Hotel Discounts

Yet another awesome perks for the military that Disney offers is a solid discount at it’s onsite resorts.

Special military room rates are available for stays most nights January 1 – December 31, 2026, when booked by December 27, 2026.

Disneyland Resort hotel room discounts vary depending on the season, hotel, room type, occupancy, etc. You must call Disneyland Resort ((800) 453-4911) directly to inquire/book* a room at the military discount.

*Guests younger than 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

There are only a limited number of discounted rooms at the military rate at any given time, once those rooms are booked – you will not be able to book a room at the discounted rate.

These discounts (which exclude applicable fees and taxes) have several limitations so be sure to know and understand them before booking your stay.

Excluded Room Types:

• Select Concierge Rooms
• Signature Suites
• Premium Suites
• 2-Bedroom Villas
• 3-Bedroom Villas

Please note, these may not be all the restrictions.

Disney often sets discount restrictions during peak park times (Spring Break and over Christmas) and can limit the discounts offered on specific rooms.

Additional per-adult charges may apply if there are more than 2 adults per room.

If a valid military ID is not presented, the non-discounted room price will be charged for the duration of the stay.

This offer is nontransferable – the eligible service member or spouse must stay in the room on the reservation.

Limit of 2 rooms per reservation and occupancy restrictions apply per room.

This offer is for active or retired US military personnel, including active or retired members of the National Guard, Reservists, the US Coast Guard, the US Space Force, the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS), and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Spouses of Military Service Members also qualify if they are able to present valid and active US Military IDs in the absence of active or retired Military Personnel or Commissioned Corps Members.

Military Discounts at Good Neighbor Hotels

Disneyland Resort only has three onsite hotels so demand for the limited number of rooms available at a discount is very high.

If you aren’t completely sold on staying at an onsite hotel, then tons of options will open up to you (and most have military discounts)!

You can book a Good Neighbor hotel (these are hotels officially vetted and approved by Disney) nearby the parks and generally see a better room rate and/or perks.

Personally, we have never stayed at a Disneyland Resort hotel because, in our opinion, the perks just don’t outweigh the higher cost. If you’re the same way, here’s a list of official Good Neighbor hotels (you can look for a military rate when you book):

• Element by Westin Anaheim Resort Convention Center
• Clarion Hotel
• JW Marriott Anaheim Resort – Luxury Hotel
• Sheraton Garden Grove Anaheim South
• The Westin Anaheim Resort
• Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance & Waterpark Resort
• Fairfield Inn Anaheim Resort
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort Convention Center*
• SunCoast Park Hotel Anaheim – Tapestry Collection by Hilton
• ALO Hotel by Ayres
• Anaheim Marriott Suites
• Ayres Hotel Orange
• The Viv Hotel, Anaheim, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott
• Ayres Hotel Anaheim
• Cambria Hotel & Suites Anaheim Resort
• Castle Inn & Suites
• Grand Legacy at the Park
• Hilton Garden Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort Area
• Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort Convention Center
• SpringHill Suites Anaheim Maingate
• Embassy Suites Hotel Anaheim South
• Hyatt House at the Anaheim Convention Center
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Anaheim Resort Area
• Hampton Inn & Suites Anaheim/Garden Grove
• Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground*
• Anaheim Portofino Inn & Suites
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Anaheim
• Hyatt Place at Anaheim Resort
• Anaheim Cortona Inn & Suites
• Anaheim Marriott Hotel
• Four Points by Sheraton Anaheim
• Sonesta Anaheim Resort Area
• Tropicana Inn & Suites
• Desert Palms Hotel & Suites*
• SpringHill Suites at Anaheim Resort Convention Center
• Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim/Garden Grove
• Hotel Lulu Anaheim Resort
• Hyatt Regency Orange County
• Sonesta ES Suites Anaheim Resort Area
• Staybridge Suites at the Park
• The Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel
• Clementine Hotel & Suites Anaheim
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Main Gate Area
• Anaheim Camelot Inn & Suites
• Residence Inn Anaheim Resort Area
• Wyndham Anaheim
• Del Sol Inn Anaheim Resort
• Best Western PLUS Raffles Inn & Suites
• Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort
• Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn*
• Best Western PLUS Park Place Inn
• Best Western PLUS Pavilions
• Best Western PLUS Stovall’s Inn
• Courtyard Anaheim Resort/Convention Center
• Doubletree Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort – Convention Center
• Eden Roc Inn & Suites Anaheim
• Holiday Inn & Suites Anaheim
• Hotel Fera Anaheim – a DoubleTree by Hilton
• Stanford Inn & Suites
• Candlewood Suites
• Hampton Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort Convention Center
• The Anaheim Hotel

*Denotes hotels I have personally stayed in and recommend for families.

Flag Ceremony at Disneyland

Every day at Disneyland, there is a Flag Retreat Ceremony on Main Street.

Members of the military (active duty or veteran) are invited to participate and have their service honored.

Other Special Military Offerings and Discounts

Here’s a few random special extras or discounts offered to active duty or retired military at Walt Disney World.

Meals and Souvenirs:

Disney does not offer military discounts on meals or other products purchased in the parks (i.e. souvenirs).

Many third party companies offer military discounts for commonly used items at the parks (like strollers, scooter rentals, and such) so be sure to ask!

However, as of December of 2018, several Disney Springs venues offered discounts. You can see a rundown of them here.

Trading Challenge Coins:

Know how people trade pins at Disney? Well, some people also trade challenge coins.

Bring your command/boat/unit/battalion/squad/whatever’s special coin (many first responders and security people have these, too) and look to trade them for ones from Disney employees.

Here’s the deal though – not all employees have them.

Since this is a tradition started in the military, the only Disney personnel with coins to trade will be the official Disney police or fire people.

FYI, it is REALLY hard to find those specific officials so don’t be afraid to ask for help finding them from Town Hall or the top security people.

The coins are super cool so it’s worth it to try and do this as soon as you walk in the parks.

And the Disney staff are thrilled to trade so don’t think you’re a dork for wanting to do it.

Just a note: Disney no longer offers special “Homecoming” buttons for military recently home from deployments.

They just use the standard “Celebrations” buttons and write that information on it.