If you're looking for a day of fun, you can't go wrong with taking family and friends to an amusement park, zoo or aquarium. But admission tickets can often put a big dent in your budget.
Not to worry: Lots of amusement parks, zoos and aquariums throughout the country offer military discounts. Make sure to plan ahead because some of these discounts require advance reservations online, while others allow you to simply show a military ID at the gate.
Amusement Parks
Both Universal Studios offer great military discounts. Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, has a Military Freedom Pass that lets you choose from two-park or three-park options. It also offers vacation packages, including a Military Create Your Own Vacation Package and discounts on Universal hotels. Universal Studios Hollywood in California also offers special military priced tickets. You can choose different options either online after verification or at your local military base.
Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, offers active-duty military and veterans single-day admission tickets at a discount off the front-gate price. The discount is available online and can be used for up to six family members.
Dollywood in Tennessee offers a military discount on one-day admission tickets as well as season passes. Purchase your discounted tickets online.
At Carowinds in North Carolina, active-duty military personnel and veterans get special military discounts on single-day admission tickets as well as gold season passes.
Once per season at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Pennsylvania, active-duty military and reservists receive a complimentary $40 book of ride tickets. Veterans get a complimentary $20 book of ride tickets.
Read Next: The Best Amusement Park Military Discounts
Zoos
Active-duty service members get complimentary admission at the San Diego Zoo. Military spouses and dependents receive a 10% discount off the one-day pass. And while the zoo doesn't have a discount for veterans, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) offices at local bases may be able to help with deals.
The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk offers $2 off general admission for military members with a valid ID.
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida offers a 10% military discount off the general admission price for everyone in your party. Show your military ID at the guest relations window to receive the discount. The zoo also offers a 10% military discount on memberships.
The Dallas Zoo offers a $2 discount per general admission for up to two adults and two children with a valid military ID.
At the Honolulu Zoo, active-duty military and dependents get $11 off an adult admission and $7 off a child admission. Children ages 2 and under get in free.
Read Next: Where to Find Military Discounts at Zoos Around the Country
Aquariums
At the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, active-duty and retired military receive 10% off their entire order with a valid military ID at the ticket windows. No online reservation is required to redeem this discount.
The Birch Aquarium in San Diego offers $3 off admission to active-duty military and veterans. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, using the promo code MILITARY at checkout. This deal is valid for up to six tickets. You can also find discounted tickets at most base ticket offices.
The Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach offers active-duty and retired military and their families a $2 discount on adult and youth rates. A valid military ID must be presented to redeem the discount.
At the National Aquarium in Baltimore, active-duty military and veterans with a valid ID get year-round, on-site ticket pricing of $39.95. Military members can also check with their local MWR or ITT (Information, Tickets and Travel) offices for details on the aquarium's consignment ticket program.
The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi offers military personnel and veterans $2 off regular admission. You must show identification verifying your service on-site in order to redeem the discount.
Stay Up-to-Date with Military Discounts
Want the scoop on military discounts? From travel to phones and everything in between, troops, military families and veterans can stay on top of military discounts. Sign up for a free Military.com membership to get full access.
