For 2024 Universal Orlando Resort has continued their Special Military Tickets called the Freedom Pass.
Freedom Passes are “Unlimited Use Tickets” that are sort of like a Universal Annual Pass, but without the other benefits that Universal adds to their regular annual passes (like parking and discounts). These are officially not passes. These Tickets Are Simply Amazing!
Offer Dates: Tickets are available for purchase starting 16 November 2023! The Universal Orlando Freedom Pass is valid for use from 16 November 2023 through and including 20 December 2024. For the second year Universal’s 2024 Freedom Pass has Bolckout Dates (Dates on which you may not use your pass, it’s blocked from use). Freedom Pass Blockout Dates are:
This Pass is a Park Hopper for either 2 or 3 parks. Pass Types: 2 Park, Park-to-Park Freedom Pass – Both Adult & Child Versions The 2-Park, Park-to-Park Military Promotional Pass entitles 1 eligible person admission to the following Universal Orlando Resort theme parks each day: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. 3 Park, Park-to-Park Freedom Pass – Both Adult & Child Versions The 3-Park, Park-to-Park Military Promotional Pass entitles 1 eligible person admission to the following Universal Orlando Resort theme parks each day: Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, AND Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park. Pass Prices: 2024 prices for these special military tickets have increased just 10 dollars. This is the first price increase since the program started in 2021!
These Freedom Pass are only available at your Base Ticket Office or through your Travel Agent as part of a package. They are not available at Universal’s gates! They are not available Universal’s gates! Pass Purchase Limits: Those eligible may purchase and activate a Maximum to 6 Freedom Passes during the offer period. Universal Orlando Freedom Passes DO NOT include admission to separately ticketed events like Halloween Horror Nights! Note! These are a specially priced offer and are much cheaper per day than the Regular Military Universal Tickets. Compare prices! It might be cheaper to buy these for a shorter stay than the shorter Regular Military Discount Tickets..
Shades of Green Regular Universal Military Prices (Base Ticket Offices prices very similar if not the same) Pass Purchase Limits: Those eligible may purchase and activate up to 6 Freedom Passes duting the offer period. There seems to be a lot of confusion about these passes both here and on facebook when I’ve shared this info in the past. So in a effort to be absolutely clear: These Freedom Passes are unlimited use tickets that are like an annual pass, without any other benefits that usually go with an AP, like free parking and discounts. You only pay the price once for the whole year, not on every visit or every so often.
Those Eligible for This Offer Are:
Note: Both the member and spouse have their own eligibility, so 12 tickets total for that family. However those who might have 2 eligibilities, e.g. a Reservist/Guardsman who is also a DoD Civ, or military retiree who is a DoD Civ only have 1 eligibility of 6 tickets, it’s per person, not per ID. These tickets are priced extremely low, therefore they are a fantastic opportunity for Military personnel to visit both Universal Orlando’s original theme parks (Universal Studios Florida & Universal’s Islands of Adventure) as well as take advantage of experiencing Volcano Bay Water Theme Park! Not Elegible:
Please Note/Most Important. – The Freedom Pass does not include any extras, like parking or discounts on food or merch! Only park admission is included. These passes might not be best for those who are local or semi-local who buy regular annual passes and drive. So if you will be parking each day in Universal’s garage or use AP the discounts, total up all costs each way before purchasing these passes. These are perfect for those who fly in, use the Superstar Shuttle or other airport Transportation and stay on property for one long stay or several shorter ones during a year. I did a couple trips last year and it was perfect. The eligible person must present a valid Military ID at time of voucher purchase and when exchanging the voucher at the Universal sales window.
Freedom Passes can only be purchased at your local Base Ticket Office, a Base Ticket Office that sells long distance and ships, or as part of a Military Discounted Package through your Travel Agent.
When you purchase tickets/passes as part of a package they are protected because if you change or cancel your reservations, the whole package is refunded. If you purchase them on Base all sales are final!
As I noted, a package is the way to go!
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Hi Bridgette, At Universal early entry is based on where you stay not your ticket. Guests who stay at Universal’s hotels are eligible for early entry.
I am a DAFS VA employee and a Veteran. Do I qualify for discounted tickets?Hello A. The civil service employment doesn’t qualify as it is not DoD. The veteran status might… It’s complicated. You said veteran, so you are not retired military. No veterans are eligible for the Freedom Passes! But there are the regular Universal military tickets that have other eligibility. If you fall under the McCain Equal Access Act you can buy the regular tickets and if you are staying at Shades of Green in January or September you can also buy them there. See: https://www.universalorlandomilitary.com/universal-orlando-military-tickets/universal-orlando-military-discounts-for-veterans/ https://www.universalorlandomilitary.com/universal-orlando-military-tickets/universal-orlando-military-discounts-for-veterans/ And this on my other site: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/shades-of-green/shades-of-green-stays-for-non-retired-veterans/
Hi, have you looked into the “new” rules about purchasing universal freedom passes after initial purchase? I was told by my local ITT office and Shades of Green, today, that I can come purchase one more ticket for a family member although I’ve already activated 4 and me and my sponsor activated 2 of the 4 (basically we won’t have any a sponsor or spouse to activate a ticket this time). I’m nervous after reading this post because I will be going to the park with only one unactivated ticket for a family member so please let me know if you heard of this new rule as well.
Hi April, Hey, I answered your question on the other post you put it on. I will copy that answer below, but….. What Base Told You This? If you let me know I’ll email with my universal rep to say that base abd Shades of Green are saying you can and see what they say. Thanks, Steve ————— So, I’ve been round and round with my Universal Orlando Military Sales rep about the one activation rule since they first came out with the Freedom Passes 3 years ago. It’s a stupid rule and I’ve tried to dissuade them from it. But they have held firm that it is their intent for this to be the rule. I have not yet used the 2024 Freedom Pass, though I did use the 2023 and 2022 extensively. My research on property in 2022 and 2023 was that all ticket locations (park and hotel) would do a second (or more) activation if you brought them passes to activate. However my rep has told me that they have been working to train those who sell tickets at Universal and those who work in base ticket offices that there can be only one purchase at your base (with one slight exception) and one activation on arrival. Whether those on property are enforcing this, I’m not sure yet as I haven’t been yet this year. From what you say, you do not have the freedom pass for your family member yet. I’m told the only exception for a second purchase is that you did not need it when you purchased initially. The examples given were your young child did not need a pass when you bought them due to age, but after their birthday they did need one and a exchange student came to live with you after you bought the passes. An adoption would be the same. And you are supposed to go to the same location where you initially purchased to buy again in a circumstance like this. So, that’s what I know, it’s up to you how you proceed. You could first see what the base will do (sell to you or not). Then you’d have to roll the dice to see if you could get it activated on arrival. If you couldn’t you’d then need to get them to allow you to use the purchase price towards a full price ticket. Sorry I couldn’t be more help! It’s a dumb rule that hasn’t been implemented in the past, but they say they will be now…
Hi! In the past my mother has always purchased special promotion passes through Disney and universal using her military spouse discount. She and my father have been divorced for about 10 years but were married for 34 years while he was active duty. The base has never asked if she and my father were married and today they asked and she said they were divorced but they didn’t ask any follow up questions. According to shades of green if they were married 20 years she would still get it. In your opinion should she be able to get the universal freedom passes?
Hi Julia, Since you’ve already received a confirmation from Shades of Green I would suggest that she purchase the Universal tickets from them as well. I believe that she would be eligible, but as the entity making the sale they would be the arbitrator of eligibility.
I have purchased 4 freedom pass for 2024. Do all of the family need to be present for me to activate them? Can I as the military member activate all 4 passes by myself? We plan to visit as a family for spring break next month. But I will be visiting the parks by myself next week.
Sorry, just want to make sure, I am active military I can purchase 6 tickets for family members but they are not military. They can use them as long as I go through the turn style with them the first time?
When the tickets were first purchased we were told there were block out dates in March. Here I see this:
25 March 2024, through and including 31 March 2024 These dates deleted by Universal January 2024!
So are these dates no longer blocked out for the freedom pass?
I just purchased three of the | 3-Park Park to Park Universal Orlando 2024 Military Freedom Pass | and I can’t find anywhere if these passes include any express functions. I’m assuming not, but can you please confirm one way or the other. And, if not, will I be able to purchase express privileges through the Universal Studios App?
You can purchase via the app or from locations in each park or ticket booths outside.
My husband is a veteran through the National guard could we get a freedom pass for us and 3 kids. Also where would I buy them?
Hi there Sara, When you say veteran, do you mean 20-year retirement from the military? Or someone who served for a time and got out (this is the common meaning of veteran)? Retired military are eligible for the Freedom Pass. See “How to Buy Freedom Passes” in this post on where to buy. Veterans are not eligible to buy these, but there are a couple of possible options. If he has a McCain Bill qualifier he can buy the Regular Universal Military Tickets. If not he can still stay at Shades of Green in Jan and Sept and buy the regular tickets while staying there. https://www.universalorlandomilitary.com/universal-orlando-military-tickets/universal-orlando-military-discounts-for-veterans/
https://www.universalorlandomilitary.com/universal-orlando-resort-military-tickets/
https://www.universalorlandomilitary.com/shades-of-green-an-armed-forces-recreation-center/
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/shades-of-green/shades-of-green-stays-for-non-retired-veterans/
https://www.universalorlandomilitary.com/shades-of-green-an-armed-forces-recreation-center/shades-of-green-resort-military-attraction-ticket-sales-office/
I assume since these are the same as Park Hopper tickets, there should not be a problem using the Hogwarts Express. Can you confirm?
Someone above asked the question about buying additional tickets. I was in a similar situation. I had to go to Florida in January with one of my children. I purchased the Freedom Pass at Shades of Green and asked at the ticket sales desk if I could buy another Freedom pass for my younger son if I brought him down at a later date (he was in school at that time). I was assured by the staff at Shades of Green that I could buy another pass for him, as long as I bought it from Shades of Green and if I was with him when he activated it. They reiterated I was only allowed 6 total passes. I called Shades today to re-confirm this and was given the same assurances. I literally have their order form open in another window as I am reading this and now don’t know what to think.
Hi Mary, So, hopefully this will help… I have been repeatedly asked by Universal’s Military Sales Dept. who create these offers and set the rules to post the rules as they’ve related them to me including the single activation. These folks are in Jacksonville FL however. I myself, and no one that I’ve ever communicated with has encountered the single activation rule at the parks/hotels in Orlando over 3 years! Just 2 weeks ago I purchased a single Freedom Pass in person at Shades of Green. The sales person there did not relate any rules at all to me during my transacrion. Not even the 6 ticket limit. I then went to Universal Orlando and activated my ticket at Islands of Adventure. When I activated it I specifically asked the ticket worker if I could come back at a later date and activate more Freedom Passes for others in my family, to which they said “Yes.” This is the same answer that I have received every single time I’ve asked this question at all of the theme park and hotel ticket counters/booths over the last 3 years (at least 14 attempts). I feel that this is a huge disconnect between corporate and the actual theme park destination. And they apparently don’t abide by the single activation in Orlando, no matter what Jacksonville thinks.
My husband is a army veteran and 100% VA service connected disabled is he eligible for the passes?Hi Molly, If his 100% gets him a retired mil ID, then yes. However if he doesn’t have the retired ID, then no he’s not eligible for these. But he would be eligible with the 100% for regular military discounted tickets through the Equal Access Act (link to my other site): https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/disney-discounts-and-the-john-mccain-defense-authorization-act/
Hi, is my husband eligible if he has a dod civilian ID?
Also, are you able to go to volcano bay and then park hope between both amusement parks all within the same day? Thank you!
Hi Mariah, Yes he is. And yes, the 3-park Freedom pass is valid at multiple parks per day. You could hit all 3 in a day.
Hello, I want to make sure I understand this correctly. If we are staying for 5 days, we can use our 3 park Freedom pass for all 5 days?
Hi Jennifer, Yes, that is correct. You could use it every day of the year until 24 Dec. if you wanted to. I have used it on multiple trips per year since it was introduced.
Hi! Thanks for posting and explaining it. In the little asterisk part you say member and spouse have their own eligibility. So does this mean my retired father can buy 6 and my mom, his spouse with an ID, can buy 6. Totaling 12 tickets??
