Anyone heard anything about Universal's 2025 military discount tickets?

[reluctantredhead]

We bought the Freedom Pass at Shades of Green one year and stayed off-site. They had no idea what our accommodations were. Maybe they thought you wanted a military discount on both rooms or a package deal?

The one catch is that all 6 Freedom Pass tickets must be purchased at once. You can't buy 4 in March and go back for 2 more in May, even though it still totals 6 (we asked about this another year when the grandparents thought about going to the parks after we'd gotten tickets, and even though all 6 of us were sharing a room at Cabana Bay, we couldn't get 2 more Freedom Passes).

Thank you so much for your kind reply! Your off-site stay situation is exactly why I told my sister I didn't think what she was told was correct. And yes, we already knew that we wouldn't be able to get a discount on our room, which is why we initially investigated getting a large suite to share. That has always been the case at Disney World as well (at least that's what my sister was always told), though my sister has been able to get us a discounted room at Disneyland when we took trips there together in the past.

Thanks for the heads up on the passes all needing to be purchased at once! The six of us are only taking the one trip together this year so it won't be an issue, but it's good information to have for any future trips.

 

[Leigh L]

We bought the Freedom Pass at Shades of Green one year and stayed off-site. They had no idea what our accommodations were. Maybe they thought you wanted a military discount on both rooms or a package deal?

The one catch is that all 6 Freedom Pass tickets must be purchased at once. You can't buy 4 in March and go back for 2 more in May, even though it still totals 6 (we asked about this another year when the grandparents thought about going to the parks after we'd gotten tickets, and even though all 6 of us were sharing a room at Cabana Bay, we couldn't get 2 more Freedom Passes).

Just to add to this...I believe the military member and their spouse can each purchase 6 (unless this has changed) but they all must be purchased (and I believe activated) at once.

For example, my DH would have to buy and activate his 6 together and I can do my 6 together, but DH and I don't have to do our "groups" together.

I purchased 5 Freedom passes in January, but DH wasn't with me. However, he can still go back and buy up to 6 for our potential trip this summer.

 

[Leigh L]

Let us know how you make out! It will be a great trip!

They do change the rules with tickets and rooms. I just found out this year that since DH retired (as a reservist) while he is still eligible for discounted UO rooms, I am no longer eligible unless DH is with me. When he was active and then later a reservist, as the spouse, I was always able to get a discount on room on trips DH didn't come with myself and DD.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Just to add to this...I believe the military member and their spouse can each purchase 6 (unless this has changed) but they all must be purchased (and I believe activated) at once.

For example, my DH would have to buy and activate his 6 together and I can do my 6 together, but DH and I don't have to do our "groups" together.

I purchased 5 Freedom passes in January, but DH wasn't with me. However, he can still go back and buy up to 6 for our potential trip this summer.

I thought it was only 6 total. Maybe it is just that the military member or spouse has to be one of the passes bought and activated at the same time as the other guests.

 

[Leigh L]

I thought it was only 6 total. Maybe it is just that the military member or spouse has to be one of the passes bought and activated at the same time as the other guests.

Yes, that’s how it would work to my understanding. Although I’m a little confused with the activation part with some new changes.

Steve Bell always has up to date info, here’s his latest post on it
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/...e-2025-universal-orlando-resort-freedom-pass/

Disney allows 6 total

 

[jason10mm]

If I am understanding this Freedom Pass and epic add-on thing correctly, I could buy the Freedom pass, but they would only be 'activated' when I showed up to a park or hotel, and ONLY THEN could I try to get a day pass to Epic, correct? So if I have a short trip I run the risk of not being able to get an epic day pass because that park is already sold to capacity.

I have a 3 day trip planned for next november and while the freedom pass + epic day pass would be substantially cheaper, there is a distinct risk Epic will be sold to capacity long before I check in. I think I'm going to just buy regular tickets for the surety of that park (the primary reason we are going) and just eat the loss. If there was some way to reserve your day pass when you bought the freedom pass, that would be nice (and I'm sure what they will do in a few years when Epic cools off a bit,).

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I think the chances of selling out in Nov are pretty low (excluding Thanksgiving week potentially). But you can also watch and see if they have sellouts through Oct, during HHN. If there aren't sellouts during Oct (Columbus Day Weekend especially), I think all of Nov minus Thanksgiving week will be safe. There's a big pool of people who do their yearly HHN trips, and good chance a lot of those add Epic this year. I have to imagine that'll make Oct considerably busier than Nov (except Thanksgiving).

I'll be curious to see if we start seeing random weekend days sell out. I kinda doubt that will happen except for possibly holiday weekends.

 

[jason10mm]

Heh heh, thanksgiving weekend is when we are going. Thats not quite the peak pricing but its close. I guess the demand is hard to predict since the park isn't open. Do the rides suck? Are they AMAZING? Does it handle crowds well, or is 1 day only enough to do 1 part of epic because the lines are so long it's intolerable. I'm staying at one of the premium resorts so I'm assuming I'll get the "express pass" option for epic. Currently 2 day 2 day tickets (so we can ride the train) + 1 day epic for the 4 of us is about $2000 to cover the days we will be there. The military route would be $210x4=$840 + whatever they are charging for the military epic pass for a day (if available) which I'm guessing is gonna be $150-200x4 =600-800. So buying tickets outright and locking that down in advance is maybe $400-500 more (probably taxes in there as well) versus sweating this day pass option I can't initiate until I'm there at the park (unless I fly out to Orlando way early just to activate the freedom pass so I can then get access to the epic pass calendar).

That "activated freedom pass" thing is the hold up on my plan, it's not something I can accelerate and having the epic pass contingent on an activated, versus just purchased, pass is a PITA. Ultimately the ticket price difference is a small thing considering the total cost of the trip but its definitely not insignificant.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I'm staying at one of the premium resorts so I'm assuming I'll get the "express pass" option for epic.

Nope, only for Islands and Studios.

You can get regular single day Epic tickets now, they're a little more expensive than the prices if you have an AP or presumably a military discount. I think AP savings are something like $10-20 a ticket. Have you looked at the normal Epic price for single day tickets for your date?

 

[jason10mm]

Nope, only for Islands and Studios.

You can get regular single day Epic tickets now, they're a little more expensive than the prices if you have an AP or presumably a military discount. I think AP savings are something like $10-20 a ticket. Have you looked at the normal Epic price for single day tickets for your date?
View attachment 953755

Ah, didn't realize there was now a single day Epic option, that would work a lot better with the military pass then. Anyone know what the military epic add-on price is compared to the prices listed above?

 

[jason10mm]

So I bought 1 day tickets for epic. Then gonna use the Freedom pass for the rest of our (short) stay. Might try for a second day at epic with the freedom pass if A. its available, B. epic is so crowded we need more time, and C. if the fastpass we get for staying at a premium hotel lets us knock out most of the other 2 parks in just 1 day. But at least its locked in for 1 day.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I think your stay will include the early one hour entry but still so confused .