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The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

August 9, 2018 by Julie

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

We just got back from California, and during our time there we went to Disneyland using the amazing Disneyland military discount that they have going on right now. We went to Disneyland with the discount last summer, and although the price went up just a little bit, we were able to get the discount again.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

How much were the Disneyland military discount tickets?

We paid $168 for each of our tickets. This is the price for adults and children. While the regular Disneyland tickets have a lower rate for those between the ages of 3-9, this is not the case for these special tickets.

Normally, a three-day hopper ticket would be $330, so you can see what type of deal this is. Even if you get one and can only use the ticket for two of the three days, the discount is worth it. A two-day park hopper is $260.

We bought the three-day pass, but you can also buy a four-day pass for $188.

Now, what happens if you can only go to Disneyland for two days in August but know you will be back in November? Well, you do have until December 19th, 2018 to use those other two tickets. You don’t have to use them in a row. If there is any chance you can come back, go for the four-day pass and plan to use what you can’t now later in the year.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

Can you buy tickets for other people?

Yes, you sure can. You can buy six each year. This is either you or your service member spouse. If your spouse is deployed, you can use your ID to get them.

What you can’t do is both get six tickets for a total of twelve. You only get six. And you can give them to friends or family members. They do have to be with you the first day you activate them. Then they can return the other two or three days without you.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

What is the buying process like?

Well, we got to the pack, went up to the ticket window and bought them. She got all of our names, and each ticket had one of our names on it. I did have to show my military ID, and then we made our way to the front gate.

I had to show my military ID one more time, but that was it for the rest of our trip. Everyone I bought a ticket for was with me and had to have their photo taken. This is so only that person can use the ticket the rest of the days. You can’t share a ticket in any way.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

So what does a park hopper ticket mean?

This means you can go to Disneyland and California Aventure, on the same day. You could start your day at Disneyland, head to California Adventure after lunch and back over to Disneyland for Fantasmic in the evening.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

So what is the Disney PhotoPass Collection listed on the Disneyland website?

Okay, so my plan was to buy this. With the military discount, you will pay $49, and you will receive all of your digital downloads, a voucher for a dining print package, and 350 high-resolution professional photos from around Disneyland. Sounds like a good deal right? Yes, and no.

When I went to go buy this, the cast member told me that if I was getting the pass for all of my digital downloads, I should just get the MaxPass. This is pretty new, I think it came out late last summer and I was so confused by what the MaxPass was, I wasn’t going to mess with it. But I am glad he told me this because I ended up saving money going with the MaxPass.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

So what IS the MaxPass?

The MaxPass is $10 a person right now (this could go up in the future.) This pass will allow you to use the FastPass system on your Disneyland app. You don’t have to go to each ride to get the pass. The other thing the MaxPass gives you is access to all of your digital photos.

So, if you only want the MaxPass for the photos, only one person in your party needs to get it. Since we were going three days, it would have cost me $30 total, which is much cheaper than the $49 I would have paid for the Disney PhotoPass collection.

The first day we were at Disneyland, I just got the MaxPass for me, and we were able to get the photos.

On the second day, I was just with my 13 and 11-year-old, so I decided to get the MaxPass for all three of us to use the FastPass option. I wasn’t sure if it would save us time or if the MaxPass would be worth the cost. I ended up paying $30 that day.

We were able to get our FastPasses from the app. In the past, we would have to go to each ride to get one, but this time we didn’t have to do that. We could get our next FastPass while in line for the previous one.  This saved us a lot of time and rushing around. We were also able to get a FastPass for rides at Disneyland while in California Adventure, and vice versa.

So is the MaxPass worth it when it comes to FastPasses? I am going to say that depends. Would I have spent $50 for all five of us? I don’t know. That adds up. And the first day, when all five of us went, we used the free FastPass system, and that was fine. Getting the MaxPass just helps you save time and we really didn’t have to wait for many rides. But I also think we were able to go on plenty of rides only using the paper FastPass system.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

So how do the digital photos work?

So whether you have the MaxPass or the PhotoPass, you will have access to any photos that a cast member takes for you, or that you get on the ride. As you walk around the park, you will see cast member photographers that will take your photos. They might be in front of the castle, or near the characters.

When you have them take your photo, you either give them a pass with a code that they scan, or they can scan from your app. When you get off of a ride, take a photo of your ride photo as there is a code on there you can enter into your app later. Having this access allows you to have some pretty amazing photos when you are at the park.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

How does this differ from the military discount at Disney World?

Well, I am not sure how this all works at Disney World. That is a different experience from going to Disneyland and seems to take a lot more planning. For example, you book your FastPass tickets before you even get there. But here is the Disney World military discount page if you are looking for that information.

I am so glad we took advantage of this amazing military discount. Hopefully, they will renew again for 2019, and those rates will be released soon.

The Amazing Disneyland Military Discount You Must Use On Your Next Visit

Have you had had the chance to visit Disneyland this year? Are you hoping to use this Disneyland military discount to do so?

2019 Update: This post was written in 2018 with 2018 rates. You can see the 2019 Disneyland and Disney World rates on their website.

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Filed Under: Military Life, Travel Tagged With: Disneyland, Disneyland military discount, Military Discount

Why You Should Take Your Military Family To Disneyland Or Walt Disney World in 2018

October 2, 2017 by Julie

Why You Should Take Your Military Family To Disneyland Or Walt Disney World in 2018

Are you a fan of Disney? I am! I love Disneyland, and while I have never been to Walt Disney World, I am sure I would love that place too. I love the magic, the rides, and everything about the place. Growing up I lived about 20 minutes from Disneyland and had annual passes. Since I moved away I have been able to go at least once every few years.

As you are looking ahead to 2018 and thinking about where to go as a family, Disney is a perfect option. Here is why:

Why You Should Take Your Military Family To Disneyland Or Walt Disney World in 2018

 

1. The Magic

Disney is magic! And that is why people go back year after year. If you have never taken your family to Disney, 2018 should be your year. Most amusement parks can be a lot of fun but Disney brings it to another level.

2. Because your service member just back from a deployment

Post-deployment trips are the best. Planning them can be a lot of fun and then to be able to spend that time together after a deployment is the best. Disney can make for a wonderful post-deployment trip.

Disneyland

3. Because your service member will be deployed sometime soon

If you have a deployment coming up, having a pre-deployment trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World can be the right place to go to make some memories before they have to go. Spending quality time together as a family before you have to be apart is a must.

4. Because you want to check on Star Wars Land

Our family is pretty excited about Star Wars Land coming in 2019. They are building Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and another one at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you go to the parks in 2018, you will get a sneak peek into this new land. When we were at Disneyland in July, we were able to see what they were working on and it just made us that much more excited to see the land when it opens.

5. Because you live close and will be PCSing soon

For those that live in Southern California or Florida or anywhere within a few hours drive of the parks, taking a trip while you live close is a good idea. You could be PCSing soon which would mean additional travel so take advantage of being close for the time being and plan a trip in 2018.

6. Because you have always wanted to go

Let’s face it, so many of us have dreams of visiting Disney. I am still dreaming to go to Disney World myself. Maybe 2018 is your year to finally do so?

Disneyland

7. Because they have an amazing military discount

Disney has an amazing discount for the military! They have also extended their Armed Services Salute tickets at Disneyland and Walt Disney World for 2018. Although the price went up a little from 2017, this is still a fantastic deal! We used this discount this year to spend three days at Disneyland.

For 2018, here is what you can get:

Disneyland: You can get the three-day park hopper pass for $168 or a four-day for $188. You can purchase these tickets from 11/1/17 through 12/16/18, and you will need to visit the parks between 01/1/18-03/22/18 and 04/9/18-12/19/18. You can also purchase the Disney PhotoPass for $49.

Walt Disney World: You can get the four-day park hopper pass from now until 12/16/18 for $226 plus tax or the five-day hopper pass from now until 12/15/18 for $246 plus tax. You can add the Park Hopper Plus for $40 plus tax. You will need to go to the park between 01/01/18-12/19/18. You can also add the Memory Maker for $98.

I am so thankful for Disney for giving us this military discount year after year. Having this allows families to take a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World and save a bit of money doing so.

Will you be a planning a trip in 2018 or even sometime in 2017? 

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Filed Under: Military Life Tagged With: Disneyland, Military Discount, Military Family

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces Salute

August 10, 2017 by Julie

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces SaluteWe Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces Salute

I love Disneyland. I have been over 100 times. I had a pass from the time I was ten until I was eighteen year’s old. Disneyland is one of my favorite places.

I was able to go with my best friend back in February. It was a random, last minute visit and I am so glad we did it. I thought that would be my only 2017 Disneyland experience, but I was wrong.

I was planning a trip out to California with my boys when my husband mentioned that I should take them to Disneyland. My six-year-old hadn’t ever been, and it was time. I realized we could use the Disney Armed Forces Salute to buy a three-day pass.

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces Salute

I started doing my research and found out all about the discount. And man, the discount was a good one. We could get a three-day park hopper pass for just $156. I paid over $100 for my one day pass back in February. I also found out I could buy a ticket for my mom. My brother was going to come to, but he had an annual pass.

On July 11th, we headed to my favorite place to start our Disneyland adventure. Being the nervous person I am, I was a bit anxious about buying the tickets. I was told that at Disneyland, you should just buy them at the park (this is different from Disney World.) I had my ID, and when I got to the window, that is what I did.

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces Salute

I paid $780 total for five of the three-day tickets. I could have gotten six if I needed to. I did not need my husband (the service member) with me. We are also a National Guard family and still qualify for this discount.

Once we got the tickets, we headed into the park. At the gate, they needed to see my military ID one more time, and then they took photos of all of us. After that, no one needed to be with me to use their ticket. My mom only spent two days with us and will use her other day another time with my brother.

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces Salute

Day one, we went to Disneyland. We spent the whole day there. We figured out Fast Passes, which had just switched to a new type of system. We rode a bunch of rides like Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, the Matterhorn, and Pirates of the Carribean.  And although my son with Asperger’s got pretty worn out by the end (he had a melt down on Main Street,)  overall the day was good.

Day two, we started off at California Adventure. I ended up running into an online friend that day. I knew we were both going to be at Disneyland and just by chance we ran into one another. We met online back in 2001 and had never met in person, so that was fun.

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces Salute

We did the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride, which was pretty amazing but came close to making me sick. We had an ice cream break at Ghiradelli’s, yum. Cars Land was amazing, and we got to see the Pixar parade.

After dinner, we went back over to Disneyland for the Main Street Electrical Parade. I love that parade and so glad they brought it back and that I got to watch it twice this year. Pete’s Dragon is my favorite float.

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces Salute

Day three, we started off at Disneyland again riding a lot of the rides we did the first day. In the afternoon we went back over to California Adventure for more Ghiradelli’s and some rides. Then we ended our day.

This trip to Disneyland was different from any other trip I had taken there. For one thing, we had a lot more time. Usually, we just go for one day. For another, my six-year-old wasn’t a huge fan of the rides like his brothers were.

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces SaluteLuckily we had Grandma and my brother there to be with him some of the day. It was busy, being July, and hot. Usually, we do not go in the summertime.

I am not sure when we will go again. It depends on when we will be in Southern California again, if there is an Armed Forces Salute, and what we can afford to do.

We Went to Disneyland Using the Armed Forces Salute

We are all excited about Galaxy’s Edge: Star Wars Land that will open in 2019, so thinking 2020 could be an excellent year for another big trip. But we will see. I was thrilled to be able to share my love with my boys this summer 🙂


Have you used the Disneyland or Disney World Armed Services Salute discount?

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Filed Under: Military Life, Money Tagged With: Disneyland, Military Discount, Military Family

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About Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life

Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Welcome to Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life! I am so glad you are here.

My name is Julie and I have been an Army wife for almost 15 years now.

My husband of 18 years has served in the active-duty Army and now the Army National Guard. We have lived in Germany & Tennessee during our time as a military family.

We have three boys and have been through four deployments together.

I hope that you can find support for your own deployments, pcs moves, or anything else military life brings you 🙂

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