The Ultimate Guide To Military Freebies And Discounts During Armed Forces Day 2018 And Year-Round

Introduction

Armed Forces Day has been observed on the third Saturday in May since it was established in 1949 to honor Americans serving in the U.S. military across all branches. The 2018 observance fell on May 19, with a national theme of All Across America #KnowYourMil. Its purpose is clear: to give civilians an opportunity to thank active, reserve, and National Guard service members for their patriotic service. The holiday complements other May observances—including Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 11 in 2018) and Memorial Day (May 28 in 2018)—and it anchors a broader period of gratitude that many businesses support with discounts and freebies. These include free event or park admissions, reduced prices for family members, and special rates at select hotels and venues. Some offers are limited to Armed Forces Day itself or specific weekends in May, while others are available month-long or even year-round for military identification cardholders. This article provides a comprehensive overview of free and discounted opportunities for military members, veterans, and their families during Armed Forces Day 2018, plus examples of ongoing programs that continue after May. It also outlines how to redeem offers, which IDs are accepted, and where to check for updates, with a focus on entertainment venues, attractions, and cultural institutions. While many companies honored the military community in May 2018, availability varies by brand and location; consumers should verify details before visiting or making plans.

Understanding Armed Forces Day and Its Place in Military Appreciation Month

Armed Forces Day 2018, observed on May 19, is a national day for recognizing the men and women serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. In 2018, the observance carried the theme All Across America #KnowYourMil, which encouraged Americans across the country to learn about and appreciate the U.S. military. This one-day event is embedded within National Military Appreciation Month, designated by Congress in 1999 to ensure ongoing public recognition of service members and their families. The month includes Military Spouse Appreciation Day, typically held the Friday before Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day at the end of the month. For consumers, this period is known for unusually generous freebies and discounts, with many businesses launching short-term promotions and others extending offers to the whole month. As a result, military families can plan low-cost or no-cost outings in early May and on the holiday weekend, with the option to combine these free tickets with discounted rates for spouses and children. Because offers can be location- or time-limited, checking brand pages and event listings throughout the month is recommended.

Historical Context and National Recognition

The U.S. has recognized military service through various observances for decades, with Armed Forces Day designed to honor those currently serving in all branches. According to statements from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in 2018, the holiday provides an opportunity to reflect on the freedoms secured by service members and to acknowledge their sacrifices and contributions at home and abroad. This framing emphasizes why businesses choose May to express gratitude: it is both a time of remembrance and an affirmation of support for the entire military community.

What Freebies and Discounts Were Available in May 2018

In May 2018, many attractions offered free admission or steep discounts to active, reserve, retired, and veteran personnel, sometimes including reduced-price tickets for spouses and dependent children. Offers fell into three broad categories: free admission, half-price tickets for families, and year-round discounts for cardholders. Some required in-person ID checks at the gate, while others allowed online redemption with a military verification service. Timing varied: several venues provided free admission on the holiday weekend, while others ran extended windows around Memorial Day and certain summer dates. For example, Dorney Park and Carowinds granted free entry to eligible military guests on specific weekends, Schlitterbahn extended free admission to a full week, and Pure Gear offered a continuous 35% discount on cellular accessories for the military community. Cultural institutions such as the Bronx Zoo and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) also provided free or discounted admission to military ID holders, with specific family rules and day-of-week restrictions noted in the documentation.

To illustrate the breadth of offerings, the following examples highlight the kind of free or reduced-cost access available during May 2018, along with the types of identification accepted and the specific windows in which offers were valid.

Featured National Discount: Pure Gear

Pure Gear supported the military community year-round with a 35% military discount on cellular accessories. Verification details were provided on the brand’s site, and the offer applied to products for multiple carriers and devices. Consumers interested in phone cases, screen protectors, or other accessories could have accessed savings without waiting for a special weekend. The documentation did not state a specific end date for the 35% offer, so it should be treated as ongoing unless superseded by later updates.

Theme Park and Attraction Freebies in May 2018

Schlitterbahn Waterparks ran American Heroes Week from May 28 to June 3, 2018. During that period, members of the military (including active duty, retirees, veterans, reservists, and Department of Defense employees) received free admission to all Schlitterbahn locations in Texas and Kansas. Spouses and dependent children could purchase tickets at 50% off the gate price. Eligible members also saved 20% off room rates, including the Stay & Play package at Schlitterbahn Resort New Braunfels. Free admissions and hotel discounts were grouped under the same umbrella week, making it possible to combine a low-cost family trip with a discounted stay. These offers aligned with the Memorial Day window, allowing families to extend their weekend plans beyond a single day.

Carowinds in North Carolina honored military service members with free park admission on select days in 2018. The free tickets applied to active, inactive, and retired service members who presented a valid military ID at the gate. The specific dates listed were May 27–28 and July 2–8, 2018. By placing this free admission next to Memorial Day and again around the Fourth of July, the park gave families two separate windows to plan outings.

Dorney Park in Pennsylvania offered free regular admission to active or retired military personnel during two windows: Memorial Day weekend (May 26–28, 2018) and the Fourth of July (July 1–4, 2018). The free ticket extended to active military, retired military, National Guard, veterans with honorable or medical discharge, and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Guests were required to present valid military ID at the turnstile. In addition, immediate family members could purchase discount tickets—maximum of six—at a special price of $29 either at the ticket window or online during the specified windows. This structure allowed a single military ID holder to bring a family of seven at a heavily reduced cost.

Zoo and Aquarium Freebies

The Bronx Zoo in New York provided year-round discounts to active duty and reserve members of the U.S. military when they presented a valid ID at the admissions gate. The discount included a free Total Experience Ticket or General Admission ticket, and a 50% discount for up to three family members included in the same transaction. Tickets were available only at the admissions booths, not through the online store, and the discount did not apply on Wednesdays. In New York, the New York Aquarium offered a parallel discount, but the documentation did not provide specific details beyond its association with the Bronx Zoo. Consumers traveling in May could pair a city visit with a discounted zoo day, but they needed to plan for the Wednesday blackout and be prepared to purchase at the booth rather than online.

Cultural Institution Freebies

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City offered free admission to active military members and their families. Specifically, one free admission ticket was provided to the service member and up to five additional tickets for family members, contingent on presenting a valid military ID. MoMA also offered free admission to military families with dependent cards. Importantly, the museum clarified that this freebie was not part of the Blue Star Museums program and noted that MoMA was not a participant in that initiative. The Art Institute of Chicago, a Blue Star Museums participant, provided free admission to active-duty service members all year long, with households included between Armed Forces Day and Labor Day; consumers needed to bring their military ID.

Year-Round Programs Available to Military Members and Families

Beyond May 2018, several brands and institutions offered ongoing freebies or discounts that military households could use any time of year. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment ran a program called Waves of Honor, which provided free admission to military personnel and veterans, plus a structured way to bring family and friends. Military members and veterans received one free ticket and could obtain three additional tickets for friends and family through ID.me, a third-party verification service. They also had the option to buy up to six discounted tickets, expanding the total party size. For current service members, including reservists and the National Guard, the offer was available year-round. Veterans could access free tickets during seasonal windows, and in past years promotions had run from May to September and on Veterans Day. SeaWorld also offered a $99.99 Annual Military Pass for veterans and their families, which provided ongoing value if visitors planned multiple trips. The breadth of parks under the SeaWorld umbrella—including SeaWorld itself, Busch Gardens, Sesame Place, and more—made this a significant resource for family entertainment across many regions.

ID.me Verification in Practice

The Waves of Honor program used ID.me to confirm military status before issuing free tickets. This process was designed to be convenient, enabling online verification without visiting a physical location, and it replaced the need to present an ID at the ticket window. Consumers had to complete the verification steps on the ID.me site, which typically required providing documentation or an account that had been verified for military eligibility. The program’s reliance on a third-party service made it especially suitable for online ticket purchases or for families who wanted to avoid gate lines. It also allowed military members to secure free and discounted tickets ahead of a visit, which is helpful during peak summer months.

Blue Star Museums and the America the Beautiful Passes Program

The Blue Star Museums program allowed active-duty service members to access free admission at participating museums across the country, with households included in the offer between Armed Forces Day and Labor Day each year. While the Art Institute of Chicago was a participant and offered free admission to active-duty service members with ID, consumers needed to verify that their desired museum was on the participating list before making plans. The America the Beautiful Passes Program was also referenced in connection with the military community in the documentation, though specific benefits, eligibility rules, and how to obtain passes were not detailed in the provided material. Consumers interested in national parks and federal recreation sites should check the official program page for current information, then confirm how their military status may affect access or pricing.

Family-Friendly Details: Spouses, Children, and Group Sizes

Many May 2018 promotions included special provisions for spouses and children, and a few capped the number of discounted family tickets. At Dorney Park, for instance, immediate family members could purchase up to six discount tickets at a special price of $29 during the listed windows, allowing a single military ID holder to plan a sizable outing at a predictable cost. Schlitterbahn extended a 50% discount on gate-price tickets for spouses and dependent children during American Heroes Week, effectively reducing the total price for a family of four or more. SeaWorld’s Waves of Honor provided one free ticket and three additional free tickets for friends and family, then let the military member purchase up to six discounted tickets, which could be used to round out a larger group. At MoMA, the free ticket allocation covered the military member plus up to five family members with a valid ID, and households with dependent cards also received free admission, though the museum was explicit that it was not part of the Blue Star Museums program. These rules mattered because they determined how many people could benefit from a single ID and whether the offer applied to extended family, friends, or only to immediate family.

Eligibility and Identification Requirements

Eligibility covered a wide spectrum of the military community in May 2018. Offers applied to active duty, reserve, National Guard, retirees, and veterans, with some programs specifying honorable or medical discharge for veterans. ROTC was also included at certain parks. Dorney Park listed the full range of eligible groups and required presentation of valid military ID at the turnstile. Dorney’s rules were clear about the types of IDs accepted and the need to present them physically; this signaled to consumers that online-only verification would not be sufficient at the gate. SeaWorld’s program, in contrast, used ID.me to verify status, so families could secure tickets without showing an ID on-site. At cultural institutions, MoMA’s policy was straightforward: a valid military ID and dependent cards, where applicable. The Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium’s discount applied at the admissions booth with valid ID and did not extend online. In general, consumers should assume that verification happens either at the gate (requiring a physical military ID) or online via a third-party service. When in doubt, the safest approach is to carry your physical ID and to check whether a given offer allows online or in-person redemption.

Planning Your May 2018 Outings: Tips and Strategies

Because promotions were clustered around specific dates, strategic planning could help families maximize free and discounted admissions. The first step was to map out desired attractions and confirm the exact windows for free admission. Carowinds offered free tickets on Memorial Day weekend and again in early July, which made it possible to schedule two separate trips. Dorney Park likewise concentrated free admissions on Memorial Day and Independence Day, so families could choose the weekend that better fit their schedule. Schlitterbahn ran a full week of free admissions at the end of May and beginning of June, which allowed more flexible travel plans and increased the likelihood of favorable weather. If a family wanted to combine a waterpark day with a short getaway, Schlitterbahn’s 20% hotel discount at its New Braunfels resort added a valuable component to the trip. For city-based visits, the Bronx Zoo’s booth-only ticket policy required a physical stop at the admissions gates; it also meant avoiding Wednesdays if the goal was to use the discount. MoMA’s generous ticket allocation for families made it an attractive option for those spending time in New York, but the museum’s explicit statement that it was not a Blue Star Museums participant meant consumers should not assume the same program rules applied. SeaWorld’s year-round access for active service members and seasonal windows for veterans made it sensible to verify eligibility and ticket availability before planning a summer visit. In all cases, carrying a valid ID and confirming any online ticketing rules before departure minimized the chance of surprises at the gate.

How to Track New Offers and Updates

In May 2018, an article dedicated to National Military Appreciation Month discounts, freebies, and events noted that it would be updated throughout the month as new offers and events came in. Readers were encouraged to add new offers in the comments and to follow the site on social media for real-time updates. This was a practical reminder that promotions can change, and some brands reveal their May deals closer to the holiday. For consumers, it meant checking the master list and social feeds once or twice a week in May to catch additions or extensions. It also meant verifying details directly with the venue if anything seemed unclear, especially forzoo and museum discounts that were booth-only or had day-of-week restrictions.

Interpreting Program Differences: Blue Star vs. Individual Museum Policies

Consumers frequently encountered confusion around Blue Star Museums because many institutions ran their own independent military freebies. MoMA’s free admission policy for active military and families was one such example, and it explicitly operated outside of Blue Star. The Art Institute of Chicago, on the other hand, participated in Blue Star and therefore followed the program’s timing: free admission for active-duty service members and households between Armed Forces Day and Labor Day, with ID required. The practical implication was that two museums in the same city could have completely different rules regarding which family members qualified, whether dependents were included, and whether the discount was valid online or only at the door. When planning a multi-museum itinerary, a good rule of thumb was to treat each institution as a separate case and to verify program status and rules on the museum’s own site, then double-check whether it was a Blue Star participant. This approach reduced misunderstandings and ensured families knew exactly how many tickets they could obtain at each location.

Discounted Travel and Lodging During May 2018

Schlitterbahn’s American Heroes Week included a 20% discount on room rates and a Stay & Play package at the New Braunfels resort. This built on the free admission component and allowed families to keep costs down across both tickets and lodging. For a short summer trip that began during Memorial Day weekend, this bundling was particularly valuable, especially for multi-day stays or for families who wanted to split their time between the waterpark and other local attractions. While the documentation did not list additional hotel partners or extended travel offers for May 2018, it was clear that Schlitterbahn’s own resort represented an easy way to combine savings on accommodations with free admissions for eligible military members.

Ongoing Value: Year-Round Freebies Worth Knowing

Not all offers were confined to May. Pure Gear’s 35% discount on cellular accessories was available year-round, so military families could replace a cracked screen protector or upgrade a phone case at any time. SeaWorld’s Waves of Honor provided a reliable pathway to free and discounted tickets for service members and seasonal benefits for veterans, with ID.me simplifying the verification process. The Blue Star Museums program and the America the Beautiful Passes Program were highlighted in the documentation as additional resources, though consumers needed to consult the official program pages for current participation details and eligibility. For families that traveled frequently, the long-term value of these programs often matched or exceeded the one-time free admissions available during May.

A Note on Source Reliability and Verification

The information summarized here came from official brand pages, official nonprofit statements, and curated lists published by organizations tracking military discounts. The most reliable facts were those presented directly by participating venues or by recognized institutions, such as the VFW’s statement on the meaning of Armed Forces Day or the Bronx Zoo’s admissions policy. Offers that required a third-party service like ID.me were presented as program mechanics used by the brand. Because some lists were updated throughout May 2018, consumers should recognize that promotions could be added or changed after publication. The prudent approach was to confirm availability, eligibility, and any day-of-week restrictions directly with the venue or program before planning a visit.

Conclusion

Armed Forces Day 2018 and the surrounding Memorial Day weekend offered substantial free and discounted opportunities for military members, veterans, and their families. Theme parks, waterparks, museums, and aquariums extended free admissions, reduced family ticket prices, and, in some cases, hotel discounts. The documentation confirms that these programs operated within clearly defined windows in May 2018—such as Carowinds’ Memorial Day and Independence Day free admissions, Dorney Park’s Memorial Day and Fourth of July windows, and Schlitterbahn’s American Heroes Week from May 28 to June 3. Cultural institutions like MoMA provided free admission to active military and families with dependent cards, and the Bronx Zoo offered free tickets for military members with a 50% family discount at the booth, not applicable on Wednesdays. Beyond May, programs like SeaWorld’s Waves of Honor continued to provide free and discounted tickets with ID.me verification, and Blue Star Museums offered free museum access to active-duty households between Armed Forces Day and Labor Day. Because redemption methods varied, consumers should prepare both physical ID and an understanding of any online verification requirements. By tracking updates and checking venue-specific rules, military families could plan cost-effective outings that honored service and made the most of the season’s gratitude.

Sources

1. Military Appreciation Month Discounts & Freebies
2. National Military Appreciation Month Discounts, Freebies, and Events for May 1–31, 2018
3. Freebies for Military and Veterans
4. Armed Forces Day 2018 – VFW Latest Release
5. Free Stuff for Veterans