It would be impossible to properly thank our military veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice, but we can try. Stores, businesses, and services around the country are doing their part by offering discounts to active duty and retired members of the military, so for this article we put together a list of some of the best entertainment discounts.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]If you’re not a member of the armed forces, but know someone who is, please help by passing this link along to them--along with our gratitude.
NFL Tickets
· Cleveland Browns: The Browns offer military personnel special discounted prices online for selected pre-season and regular season games.
· Jacksonville Jaguars: Military personnel can save up to 30% on tickets to selected games when purchased online.
· Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins offer discounted tickets to members of the military on designated games during the pre-season and regular season.
· New York Jets: Military members can save up to $30 on individual tickets to certain home games, plus special pricing on luxurious box suites. The offer includes 26 tickets, 6 parking passes and a $500 credit for food and beverages.
· Oakland Raiders: Special discounts available online for select games.
· San Diego Chargers: Up to 50% off preseason tickets, and up to 23% off on regular season games.
· Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Military pricing on designated seats is available at ITT offices on military bases.
· Washington Redskins: Members of the military who purchase between 2-4 season tickets receive a free parking pass for all home games, a $400 value. In addition, Operation Salute Our Troops allows season ticket holders to donate their Redskin tickets to military personnel and their families living in the Washington, DC area.
Amusement Parks
· Cedar Point: Ohio’s most famous amusement park offers a $22 discount on an all-day admission ticket to active duty and honorably discharged veterans. Throughout the year, Cedar Point also hosts special Military Appreciation Days.
· Colonial Williamsburg: Active duty members and their immediate family can enjoy a One Day Plus Pass to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia when they purchase the tickets through the ITT/MWR office on their military base. They can also choose to receive a 10% discount on multiple-day passes.
· Crayola Experience: Go crayon crazy at the Crayola Experience in Easton, Pennsylvania with $4 off admission if you buy tickets online. The offer is good for active duty and retired military personnel, members of the Reserve Forces, and the National Guard, as well as their families.
· Disney Parks: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotel, located at Disney World in Orlando, offers military discounts based on room availability and dates of visit. Disney Cruise Lines also have military discounts, which may vary from time to time. Military guests with a valid ID card can also get discounts at select Walt Disney World Resorts. Disney’s Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World has been leased by the Department of Defense for use by members of the armed forces only, and is a fully self-sufficient resort for members of the active duty military and National Guard.
· Dollywood: Tennessee’s Dollywood offers a 30% discount on all 1-day tickets to active duty, disabled veterans, reservists and their families. Tickets must be purchased at the front gate of Dollywood or at Dollywood’s Splash Country.
· Gilroy Gardens: Active duty personnel and their guests can get General Admission tickets for $24 at Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, California. Many military bases also offer discounted General Admission tickets.
· Hersheypark: In Hershey, Pennsylvania, Hersheypark is offering a $20 discount off the price of a Regular Admission, or $4 off a Junior Admission (ages 3-8) pass with a military ID card. The discount is good for up to 8 tickets through September 27[SUP]th[/SUP].
· King’s Dominion: In Virginia, King’s Dominion also offers discounted 1-day general admission tickets. During Military Appreciation Days, Fourth of July weekend, and Memorial Day weekend, active duty and retired military members are admitted for free.
· King’s Island: King’s Island in Ohio offers discounted admission to active duty military personnel and their families, when the tickets are purchased at the front gate. The discount is valid for up to 6 family members.
· Knoebel’s Amusement Resort: Once per season, military members are admitted to Knoebel’s Amusement Resort in Pennsylvania absolutely free on any day of the season. Valid military ID is required.
· Legoland: Florida’s Legoland offers active duty military personnel a free 1-day pass throughout the year, and seasonally at Legoland’s Water Park. Family and friends can also get discounted tickets. California’s Legoland offers discounts to active duty military for 1-day passes, and discounted Resort Hopper tickets as well. If you purchase the tickets through an ITT/MWR office, you may qualify for additional discounts.
· Morgan’s Wonderland: In Texas, Morgan’s Wonderland shows their appreciation by offering active duty and retired military personnel and their families a $6 discount on admission to the park.
· Ocean Breeze: At Ocean Breeze in Virginia Beach, military personnel and their dependents aged 10 and over can get an all-day admission for $29.99 each ($22.99 for ages 3-9).
· Sea World: Through Sea World’s “Wave of Honor” program, members of the armed services can receive one free admission per year to any of their parks, including Sea World, Busch Gardens, Sesame Place, Adventure Island, and Water Country USA.
· Six Flags: Most military bases have discounts to Six Flags available at the ITT/MWR office on base.
· Universal Studios: In Orlando, Florida, Universal Studios theme park offers a special military vacation package for $299 per adult, which includes an on-site hotel room. The package comes with 3 nights of accommodations, a park-to-park ticket with 2 free days, and access to selected live entertainment venues. In Hollywood, Universal Studios has discounted admission tickets for active duty and retired military personnel, including National Guard and reservists.
· Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park: The largest water park in the Carolinas, Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe, offers $7 off an all-day general admission ticket for military members. Discounted tickets can be purchased either at the park or at most military bases in North Carolina.
There are countless other entertainment discounts for members of the military, active or retired, but many businesses do not advertise their discounts. Keep your military ID on hand and don’t be shy to ask for a discount, wherever you may be.
IMAGE ATTRIBUTION: Flags for Fallen Soldiers by Beverly and Pack. By CC 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
