United Parks & Resorts offers free and discounted military admission at theme parks through their Waves of Honor program. This initiative supports and gives back to military families with unforgettable experiences at some of the most loved parks in the U.S. While the company name might not sound familiar, you’ll definitely recognize their iconic destinations like SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. Here’s everything you need to know to take advantage of this incredible military perk.

What is Waves of Honor Program?

Waves of Honor gives you access to up to four free tickets to participating parks EVERY year! Other parks give up to 50% off admission. The individual park determines their offer and of course, everything is subject to change. If you’re lucky enough to live close by they also offer special discounts on annual passes.

2025 participating parks include:

• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg
• Sesame Place San Diego
• Sesame Place Philadelphia
• Aquatica Orlando
• Aquatica San Antonio
• Discovery Cove Orlando

Who Qualifies for Waves of Honor Free Military Admission?

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Almost any current or former United States Service members of any branch can participate including National Guard, Reserves, Veterans & Retirees. The Waves of Honor discounts vary based on if you’re currently serving or not. If you’re still serving you can get four free tickets once per year. Everyone can access the discounted day passes & annual pass military deals. If you are a spouse, you do not qualify for additional tickets but you are able to use the tickets without the service member if they’re unable to accompany you.

Eligible groups include:

• Active Duty military members
• National Guard and Reserve
• Veterans and Retirees
• Military spouses and dependents (depending on the specific park’s policy)

Verification is usually done online through ID.me, ensuring that qualifying families can access tickets easily.

Theme Parks That Participate in Waves of Honor

Free Ticket Participants:

• SeaWorld Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Williamsburg
• Sesame Place Philadelphia
• Aquatica San Antonio

Discounted Admission Participants:

• SeaWorld Orlando (50% off up to 6 tickets)
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg (50% off up to 6 tickets)
• Aquatica Orlando, San Antonio (50% off up to 6 tickets)
• Sesame Place San Diego, Philadelphia (50% off up to 6 tickets)
• Discovery Cove (discount up to 4 tickets)

Military Annual Passes

• Aquatica & SeaWorld Orlando (Unlimited visits to both parks)
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Sesame Place San Diego
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg
• SeaWorld San Antonio (Option to add Aquatica San Antonio too!)

How to Claim Your Free Military Tickets

To claim your tickets you need to go to the Waves of Honor home page, select the Active Duty screen if you’re currently serving or the Veteran page if you are no longer serving. Then you’ll see all the above location. Select your location and then verify your eligibility using ID.me. If you’re not familiar with ID.me, it’s a site where you submit proof of your military service and then businesses connect with ID.me to offer online discounts to verified military. It’s free and easy to join and you’ll need it to get your tickets. You CANNOT get your tickets at the gate. You need to do it online before you go. Once you’re verified, select your deal and you’ll receive your tickets in your email.

Be sure to read the fine print before you select your tickets! Some parks have black out dates for special events like holiday celebrations. Print or have digital access to your tickets when you head to the park. You will want to bring your military ID according to the T&C’s however, we haven’t been asked for it yet.

Final Thoughts on Waves of Honor

This is a great offer to use when traveling-luckily these parks are located in some of the best locations for military families to travel! While the free tickets are amazing, you’ll want to budget for parking and possibly food or souvenirs! Like any theme park, they are very expensive. Enjoy a fun day at the park and just remember there are people who recognize and are grateful for the sacrifices you’re making.