Attraction Questions

Ticketing Questions

Any visit to Shades of Green isn't complete without a visit to one of the many amazing theme parks in the Orlando area. Our ticketing office can help to ensure you have a memorable visit with the family. Below are some frequently asked questions we often answer. It is required you make reservations for Walt Disney World® theme parks.  Please plan ahead to ensure no disruptions with your stay. 

Tickets - General Questions

I'm not staying at Shades of Green; can I still purchase tickets from you?
You do not have to be staying at Shades of Green to have the ability to purchase tickets. As long as you have the proper forms of identification, we can provide you with ticket services.

When should I place my ticket order?
You should place your ticket order no more than 3 months in advance of your trip, unless you are buying special event tickets (for example, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party or similar).  In most cases, you will be fine purchasing your tickets just a few weeks ahead.  
Our tickets are not refundable if your plans or circumstances change, so purchasing them many months in advance is not advised.  
Buying your tickets too far in advance can also mean that you will miss out on special offers that might be available closer to your visit.

Do I qualify to purchase tickets from you? 
Generally, if you qualify to stay at Shades of Green, you also qualify to purchase tickets from us.  Qualifying guests include active duty service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force,  Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Cadets of Armed Forces Academies, Reserve and National Guard; Retired from Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard, Family members with current ID, current and retired Department of Defense and Coast Guard Civilian employees, among others. You may check our detailed resort eligibility here. https://www.shadesofgreen.org/about-shades-green/eligibility

Veterans with a Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC):  
All veterans with a service-connected disability, Former POW, Purple Heart recipients, and Medal of Honor recipients with a Veterans Health Identification Card issued by the Veterans Affairs Office are eligible to purchase our discounted and tax-free tickets. (Promotional Tickets not eligible under this identification card per Theme Park Contracts) Paperwork is not accepted; you must have the physical identification card issued to you. 

Veterans with a DD214: 
If you do not fall in any of the above and are using your discharge papers (DD214), you may purchase the discounted and tax-free tickets in January or September, but the purchase must be made in person.  The only exception to the "in person" policy is if you are staying at Shades of Green under the "Salute Our Veterans" program, in which case you can submit an advance ticket request no more than 30 days before your check-in date.  Promotional tickets are not available for this category.

Dependents: 
A dependent spouse is eligible to purchase tickets using a current identification card.  Child dependents are eligible to purchase tickets or their legal guardian as long as the child is present, and the identification card is current.  Child dependents and former spouses with benefits do not qualify for the promotional tickets but may purchase any other discounted and tax-free tickets. Deceased with Benefits (DB)/Widow, become the sponsor, therefore are/is eligible for the promotional tickets.

Foreign Service Members:

Military personnel of foreign nations and their family members are eligible to purchase tickets from us only if assigned    or attached to a U.S. military unit or installation or on U.S. Travel Orders.

You can find out our complete eligibility categories at the following website : https://www.shadesofgreen.org/about-shades-green/eligibility

What if my plans change, or I need to change my tickets?
We do not provide refunds or exchanges. 
Please make sure of your dates and plans before you purchase your tickets. In some cases, you may be able to have your tickets changed at the park.

I have tickets I didn't use from a prior trip.  Can I exchange them?
We do not provide refunds or exchanges. 
In some cases, you may be able to have your tickets changed at the park.

How do I pay for my tickets? There isn't anywhere to put my credit card on the form?  
To protect our guests as best we can; we ask that you keep your payment information confidential until one of our advanced ticket order agents contacts you to verify your order over the phone. We verify your eligibility, confirm that nothing has changed since your order submission, and then ask you for payment details. Only the SPONSOR or SPOUSE may pay if you are ordering tickets in advance. If your civilian guests or family insist on paying, they can only do so by actually transferring the money over to the eligible service member or spouse before purchase. We accept cash if you are making your purchase here in person. 

Do you accept a Military Star card for payment?
Guests are more than welcome to use their Star Card as a form of payment.

How do I get my tickets? Can you email me the ticket number so I can make my park reservations?
All tickets are delivered by email. 

When I purchase tickets from you, am I guaranteed park entry?
Park entry is not guaranteed regardless of where purchased.  If you are purchasing Disney World tickets that require park reservations, we advise buying your tickets ahead of your trip.  For holidays or significant events you should purchase your tickets several weeks in advance.  

Do I have to make theme park reservations everywhere?
Everyone aged three and up must have a theme park reservation for Walt Disney World Theme Parks if using a non-dated ticket.  Non-dated tickets include the Military Promotional tickets and some Florida Resident tickets. All other Disney tickets require that we specify the ticket start date at the time of purchase. 

Universal Orlando Parks require us to specify the start date for tickets, other than the Military Freedom Pass.

Do you have water park-only tickets?

We carry Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Aquatica (Orlando), & Adventure Island (Tampa). A water park reservation is not required. We recommend that you arrive early to procure your spot for the day. Walt Disney World Resort Water Parks will close for seasonal refurbishment; please check park operating hours online at www.disneyworld.com.

We do not offer single-day tickets for Universal Orlando's Volcano Bay; you may purchase these tickets at Universal Orlando or online at www.universalorlando.com.

I looked at your ticket pricing and Universal/Disney's website. It seems like they are cheaper directly from the park. Why did I think I got a discount from you?
When comparing pricing between the parks and Shades of Green, please make sure when selecting the desired ticket, to also place it in your 'cart' you will then be asked to select a calendar day (the parks have different priced days), then at the end, it will add the tax. Please subtract the final cost on the website from the pricing on the Shades of Green tickets. There may be days when the park admission is less than what we offer, but we always let the guest know where the better deal will be on the desired day. 

Will I be able to get into the park if my name is not spelled correctly on my ticket? 
Misspelled names on a ticket are usually overlooked if it is just off by one or two letters.  If the name is completely wrong on the ticket, please let us know, and we'd be more than happy to correct it.

Disney 

Do you sell one day Disney tickets?
Yes, we do!  Non-promotional Disney tickets are available in 1 to 10 day durations.  Our 1-day tickets are about 10% less than Disney's pre-tax price and are tax-free (all of our tickets are tax-free).

What if I want to visit during the Promotional Ticket blocked out dates?
We have non-promotional tickets that are valid when the Promotional tickets are blocked out.  Non-promotional Disney tickets are available in 1 to 10 day durations.  1 and 2-Day tickets are about 10% less than Disney's pre-tax price and tax-free, 3-Day and longer tickets are about 20% less and tax-free (all of our tickets are tax-free).

Walt Disney World REQUIRES a theme park reservation to enter the parks if you are using Military Promotional tickets.

It is rare for reservations to be completely unavailable.  The Military Promotional tickets are blocked out during the busiest park days, so it's unlikely that you would have any trouble making the park reservations you want.  If a park is not available for reservations, you can make a reservation to a different park and then park hop.

Do I still need to make park reservations since I purchased my tickets from you?
A park reservation is required for any non-dated Disney tickets.  This includes Military Promotional tickets. 

For dated tickets (tickets with a specific start date), you do not need to make park reservations.  The tickets are valid for a specific window of use.

How do I make park reservations?

You will need to set up an account on the My Disney Experience website and add each of your party members. When you receive your tickets, you will add them to your account and then make your park reservations.

Visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/park-reservations/ to find out more details, check availability, and make your reservations.

Military Promotional Tickets ("Salute" and "Disney Celebrates America")

Who Qualifies to Purchase?
Active, Retired, or 100% Disabled Members  of U.S. Military or their Spouses (valid ID required) Military ID Guide.  

A Uniformed Services ID card is REQUIRED for the purchase of these tickets. 

Disney will NOT accept VHIC cards, benefits paperwork, or any other forms of ID.

How Many Can Be Purchased?
A maximum of 6 tickets per Service Member or Spouse (not both) can be purchased per promotional year.

The "Disney Celebrates America" and the "Salute" tickets are both under the "Promotional Ticket" category.  There is a TOTAL of 6 tickets.  For example, you can purchase 3 of the "Salute" tickets and 3 of the "Celebrates" tickets.  You CANNOT purchase 6 of each.

Is the "Disney Celebrates America" Ticket an Annual Pass?
No.

The "Disney Celebrates America" does not include parking or any of the other perks of an annual pass.  

It is an unlimited use ticket valid from January 1st, 2026 until December 18th, 2026. It is subject to the same blocked out dates as the "Salute" tickets.

Disney Celebrates America Military Salute ticket holders may hold up to 5 park reservations at a time on a rolling basis.

Who Can Use These Tickets?
1 of the 6 must be used by the Service Member or their Spouse; the other 5 can be used by family members and friends.

The service member or their spouse (with valid military ID) must be entering the park with their guests and using one of the tickets for themselves the first time these tickets are used.

I'm a Disney Annual Passholder. Do I Have to Buy a Promotional Ticket?
If you are a Disney Annual Passholder, you do not need to use a Promotional ticket for yourself; HOWEVER, you can only purchase FIVE (5) additional Promotional tickets.

You must show your military ID and be entering the parks with your guests the first time their tickets are used.

I'm a Disabled Veteran. Can I Use These Tickets?
If you are a 100% disabled veteran and you have your 100% DAVPRM ID card (issued by DEERS/RAPIDS), you can use these tickets.

Disney will NOT accept a VHIC, paperwork, or benefits letters. If you do not have your 100% DAVPRM ID card, please contact DEERS/RAPIDS.

If you are disabled, but not 100%, you will not be able to use these tickets.  

The terms of use for the Promotional tickets are determined by Disney.

Can I Buy These Tickets for Friends and Family?
The service member or spouse (with valid military ID) must be using a ticket for themselves.  The other five tickets can be for friends or family, but the service member/spouse must show their military ID and enter the parks with their guests the first time the tickets are used.

If you want to purchase tickets for friends and family but you will not be going to the parks with them, you can purchase our discounted non-promotional tickets.

Non-promotional Disney tickets are available in 1 to 10 day durations.  1 and 2-Day tickets are about 10% less than Disney's pre-tax price and tax-free, 3-Day and longer tickets are about 20% less and tax-free (all of our tickets are tax-free).

The terms of use for the Promotional tickets are determined by Disney.

Do the Tickets Have to be Activated?
Our tickets are pre-activated, so you do not need to visit guest services before heading to the park entrance.  The first time a promotional ticket is used, the service member or spouse will need to provide their military ID at the park entrance.

Once the service member/spouse have entered the parks for the first time with their guests, this completes the validation of the tickets.  After that first visit, guests will be able to enter the next park without the service member/spouse.

When Do They Expire?
2025 tickets expire on December 19, 2025.

2026 tickets expire on December 18, 2026.

They do NOT need to be used on consecutive days, and ticket doesn’t expire within a set time frame after the first use.

Are There Block Out Dates?

2025 tickets are blocked out for April 13-26 and November 23-29.

2026 tickets are blocked out for March 29-April 11 and November 22-28.

What Is Included?
Military Promotional Park Hopper ticket is good for entry to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom; park reservations are required for entry. Park Hopper allows guest to visit multiple parks in one day (based on park availability).

What Is the Plus Option?
The Plus option allows you a certain number of visits to other Walt Disney World fun based on the length of your ticket (i.e., 4 day ticket allows 4 visits). For each visit, you can choose one experience (subject to availability and closures):

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course - FootGolf, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course - 9 hole Walking Course, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course, and Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course

Can I Use the Plus Visits During the Blocked Out Dates?
No.

The Plus Visits are subject to the same blocked out dates as the park visits.

I have a family of more than (6) six trying to go to Disney, and I need additional promotional tickets. What can I do…?
If you have more than (4) four children between the ages of 3 and 17 in addition to yourself and your spouse, please contact us so that we can process an exception to the (6) six ticket limit. All dependents attending the parks with you must be enrolled in DEERS.

If you have adult children, or other family members traveling with you, you can purchase the discounted non-promotional tickets for your additional guests.  

When will next year's promotional ticket be on sale?
Once we receive information for the Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, Promotional tickets, the information will be available on our website and on Facebook.  

Disney Theme Park Tickets (not promotional)

Who Qualifies to Purchase?
All guests who are eligible to stay at Shades of Green resort are able to purchase these tickets.

How Many Can I Purchase?
There are no limits on the number of this ticket type that can be purchased or used per year.

Who Can Use These Tickets?
Anyone can use these tickets; Military ID is not required for entry to parks when using these tickets

I'm eligible to stay at Shades of Green, can I purchase these tickets as a gift for someone?
Yes, these tickets may be purchased and gifted to a friend or family member.  A military ID is not required to use these tickets when entering the parks.

How Many Park Days are Available?
This ticket is available for 1 to 10 days of park entry.

When Do They Expire?
Tickets expire within a set period from the specified start date.

What Is Included in the Base Ticket?
Visit one theme park each day of your ticket. You can pick a different park each day. Includes entry to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom; park reservations are required for entry.

What Is Included in the Park Hopper Ticket?
Visit multiple theme parks each day of your ticket. Includes entry to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Park reservations are required for entry to the first park you plan to visit. After entering that first park, you will be able to move on to another park at any time until each park's regularly scheduled closure. The ability to visit a park is subject to the park's capacity limitations. At this time a park reservation is not required after the first park, however, reservation requirements are subject to change.

What Is Included in the Water Park & Sports Option?
Includes the base ticket option. Plus, this ticket includes a certain number of visits to other Walt Disney World fun based on the length of your ticket (i.e. a 5 day ticket allows 5 visits). For each visit, you can choose one experience (subject to availability and closures):

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, NBA Experience, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course - FootGolf, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course - 9 hole Walking Course, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course, and Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course

What is Included in the Park Hopper Plus Option?
This ticket combines the Park Hopper ticket and the Water Park & Sports Option. You’ll be able to visit more than one theme park per day plus you get a certain number of visits (matching the number of days of your ticket) to other Walt Disney World fun.

Rules and Regulations

Walt Disney World

Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by Eligible Service Members or their spouses (but not both), for use by themselves and family members and friends, as provided herein. These tickets may not be otherwise transferred, distributed or resold. "Eligible Service Members" are active or retired members of the U.S. Military, including the National Guard, Reservists, the U.S. Coast Guard, 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 U.S. Military IDs in the absence of active or retired Military Personnel or Commissioned Corps Members.

Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) must present valid military identification to purchase and use the Disney Military Promotional Tickets. No more than six (6) Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased and (if applicable) activated by any Eligible Service Member or spouse (regardless of the place of purchase and whether purchased by that person or that person's spouse). In addition, one of the six (6) Tickets purchased must be used by the Eligible Service Member or his/her spouse. Each Disney Military Promotional Ticket must be used by the same person on any and all days.
 

Non-Promotional Theme Park Tickets 
Tickets expire within a set period after the ticket start date. You must specify a start date when purchasing your tickets. **Plus Option visits match the number of days of your Ticket** Water Park & Sports Option: Plus Visits match the number of days on your ticket. For example, a 1-Day Base with Water Park & Sports Option gives you 1 Plus Visit.

2025 Military Promotional Tickets

Limit of six (6) per promotional year. One (1) of the six (6) tickets must be used by the Service Member or his/her spouse. Eligible Service Members are active or retired members of the U.S. military including the National Guard, Current active Reservists, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Space Force, the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS), and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Please visit Disney's website for more information.  2025 tickets are valid January 1, 2025 through December 19, 2025.

2025 tickets have block out dates of April 13-26, 2025 and November 23-29, 2025.

All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable and nontransferable. Prices and entitlements are subject to change without notice.

Florida Resident Tickets
Each person above 18 must show proof of residency. A valid military ID card and proof of residency are required at the time of purchase and redemption. Acceptable forms of residency are Florida driver's license with a Florida address, a Florida state-issued ID card with a Florida address, or a Florida Base military ID. If you do not have a Florida ID, then you must provide one of the following dated within the last 2 months evidencing a Florida residential address; a monthly mortgage statement; a Florida Vehicle Registration or Title; homeowner's insurance policy or bill, an automobile insurance policy or bill; a utility bill; mail from a financial institution, including checking, savings, or investment account statement; or mail from a Federal, State, County or City government agency. All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Prices and entitlements subject to change without notice.  Parking is not included.

Universal Orlando Resort

2025 Military Freedom Pass
Valid November 14, 2024 through December 19, 2025. Six (6) tickets per eligible valid military ID (Service Member and current spouse, not to exceed 12). Ticket must be purchased by eligible Service Member or spouse with valid ID and Service Member/spouse must have a ticket for their own use. All tickets must be purchased at the same location. Eligible Service Members are Active or Retired US Military, National Guard, Active Reservists, US Coast Guard, Spouses of Eligible Service Member, Active DOD Civilian Employees.

Ticket has unlimited usage from date of first entry. The ticket expires in full on December 19, 2025.
Includes admission to select live entertainment venues of Universal CityWalk. Valid Uniformed Services ID must be presented at the time of purchase and exchange.
Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable, and must be used by the same person on all days. Does not include admission to separately ticketed events. Parking is not included. 
2-Park Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Islands of Adventure. 3-Park Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal's Volcano Bay.

Universal Orlando Tickets

Multi-Day Tickets are valid for a set period based on the length of the ticket. You must specify a start date when purchasing your tickets.

SeaWorld Orlando

Sea World is proud to salute the men and women of our armed forces and their families. Waves of Honor permits any U.S. active-duty military, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman to one complimentary admission per year to either SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens® or Sesame Place® for military personnel and as many as three direct dependents. Service members and their direct dependents must have a valid active military ID in order to participate. Inactive, standby and retired reserve members, military retirees, U.S. Merchant Marine and civilian Department of Defense workers are ineligible for the program. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment reserves the right to terminate the program. WavesOfHonor.com