‘Tis the season to spend more time with friends and family. With the holidays approaching and the kids and grandkids getting ready for fall and winter break, no doubt you’ll be looking for activities everyone in the group can enjoy without putting too much strain on your wallet. Great news: Whether you’re traveling during the winter months or staying close to home, veteran discounts abound to help you enjoy the company of your loved ones while saving a little money at the same time. We’ve put together a few of our favorites below.
Heading out of town? Take advantage of airfare and rental car discounts.
United, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines all offer up to a 5% discount on flights for Veterans Advantage members (JetBlue also offers two free checked bags). Allegiant Air waives all checked bag fees and seat assignment fees and allows up to one free pet in cabin. Not sure if your preferred airline offers a deal for veterans? We recommend calling them before booking your travel plans to see if you can save.
Veterans Advantage members also get up to 25% off base rates for rental cars at Avis and Budget, 10% off at Hertz, and 5% off at Thrifty and Enterprise. Again, call ahead to make sure you have the most current rates.
Visit one of more than 400 incredible national park sites—for free.
When writer Wallace Stegner called America’s national parks the “best idea we ever had,” he was definitely onto something. With more than 400 protected sites across the country and throughout five U.S. territories, the National Park Service (NPS) helps to preserve the beauty and history of America for generations to come. Veterans Day (Monday, November 11th) is one of five “fee-free” days offered throughout the year, during which the NPS waives park entrance fees. Disabled veterans may also be able to get a free lifetime Access Pass, and veterans 62 and older are eligible for a discounted annual or lifetime Senior Pass. Find your pass here.
Taking the family to a theme park? Don’t miss these great deals.
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida offers discounted rates for veterans and military families. Check out the latest prices for multi-day park tickets now through December 2020. If you’d rather go see Mickey and friends at Disneyland in California, those ticket prices are here.
Disney also offers discounted rates on select resort hotels, so definitely browse their latest Special Offers. It’s also worth checking out Disney’s Shades of Green resort, an Armed Forces Recreation Center located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Veterans visiting Universal Orlando Resort can enjoy discounted ticket prices to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay, along with special deals on vacation packages if they stay at a Universal Orlando Resort Hotel.
At Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia (including Water Country USA), qualifying veterans can purchase up to six discounted single-day tickets. At the Tampa, Florida location, Veterans Advantage members can save up to 30% on theme park tickets.
Finally, the Six Flags family of theme parks, located in 11 states from coast to coast, offers up to 40% off park tickets for Veterans Advantage members.
Look ahead of time for discounts on tickets to zoos, aquariums, and museums.
They may be a great way to bring the family together for a day of fun, but the price of admission can add up. Because most U.S. zoos and aquariums offer discounted admission for veterans and military families, we recommend doing your research ahead of time to see what they offer. The Bronx Zoo, for example, offers a 50% discount on up to four tickets for military veterans.
Likewise, many museums around the country offer veteran and military discounts, as well as free admission on Veterans Day. The Phoenix Art Museum provides free general admission all year long to veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and retired military personnel (as well as free admission for one adult guest and children under 17) through its Military Access Program.
Love movies? Take advantage of discounted tickets.
In addition to a 10% off military discount at participating locations, AMC Theaters offers up to 40% off movie tickets for Veterans Advantage members. Similarly, Veterans Advantage members can save up to 25% off tickets at participating Regal Theaters, or take advantage of Regal’s own military discount of up to 20% at select locations. Harkins Theaters also partners with Veterans Advantage to provide up to 30% off movie tickets for veterans.
Before you start making plans, make sure you have your DD214 handy.
The majority of veteran benefits and discounts are available only if you can show proof of service, which means you’ll need a personal copy of your DD214 to make sure you don’t miss out on the fun.
You should have gotten your DD214 upon discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, but if you never received it—or if it’s been lost, stolen, or damaged, your best bet to get a copy quickly is by using an expedited service like DD214Direct.
Veteran-owned DD214Direct helps you get the documents you need, when you need them.
Our cutting-edge technology platform and keen knowledge of government protocol and procedure allow us to deliver your documents faster than competitors. We physically stand in line at the records repository and manually coordinate your order, freeing up your time and easing your worries about whether or not you will get your DD214. Much like paying a small fee to have your taxes done by a professional, DD214Direct provides the service and convenience you’ve been hoping for, plus we make it a lot easier.
Instead of having to download, print, sign and fax your document request form, you can submit your order directly through our website with the ease of e-signature technology from a desktop, laptop or mobile device. Once we locate your DD214, we will email you a copy immediately—a service not offered by the government. And tracking your request through us is simple, so you never have to worry about long hold times and inconclusive answers.
Ready to get started? Click here to begin the order process.
