Memorial Day 2017 in Orlando offered a wide array of complimentary offers and discounts designed to honor active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families. These promotions spanned travel, dining, entertainment, and retail sectors, providing significant value for those eligible. The availability of these offers often depended on specific identification requirements, registration deadlines, and geographic location, with many being exclusive to the Central Florida region. Understanding the details of these programs was essential for consumers looking to maximize savings during the holiday period.
Travel and Accommodation Offers
Travel opportunities were a prominent feature of the 2017 Memorial Day landscape, with several major brands offering free or deeply discounted stays for military members. Westgate Resorts announced a significant initiative to provide complimentary vacations. The brand planned to give the first 1,500 service members who completed an online military application form a free stay in either Orlando or Las Vegas. The application window opened at 9 a.m. ET on Friday, November 10. For those who missed this limited opportunity, Westgate also offered a 25 percent discount on any of its resorts.
Red Roof Inn also provided substantial savings for military personnel. They offered a 40 percent discount on room rates for active duty or retired military members who booked between November 1 and November 22. This promotion, part of the "Home for the Holidays Discount," was valid for stays through the end of February 2018, extending the savings beyond the immediate holiday weekend.
For those interested in unique lodging experiences, the website bandbforvets.org curated a selection of bed and breakfasts across the United States that offered veterans free stays on or around Veterans Day. Additionally, Super 8 offered a 20 percent discount for reservations made between October 11, 2017, and December 4, 2017, for stays completed by July 31, 2018, available to current and retired military personnel, their spouses, veterans, and their families.
Dining and Restaurant Promotions
Numerous restaurants in the Orlando area and nationwide offered free meals and discounts to honor service members. Outback Steakhouse provided a free Bloomin’ Onion and a beverage to all active, retired military personnel, and veterans on Veterans Day, requiring valid identification. From November 12 through November 16, military members received a 20 percent discount on their check, and beginning November 17, military, fire, and police heroes received a 10 percent discount.
Red Robin offered a complimentary dine-in Red’s Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries for all veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day, November 11. Red Lobster extended its gratitude by offering a free appetizer or dessert from a select Veterans Day menu to veterans, active duty military, and reservists who presented a valid military ID on Saturday, November 11.
Ruby Tuesday provided a free appetizer to all former and active duty service members. O’Charley’s offered a 10 percent military discount year-round. In the Central Florida region specifically, Chicken Guy! Winter Park offered veterans a complimentary item from a special menu on November 11, including The OG Sandwich, The CG Classic, or Three-Piece Tenders, upon presentation of a military ID. Tijuana Flats offered a free entrée (up to $11.19 value) on November 11, 2024, with the purchase of a beverage, valid for one-time use per check.
Entertainment and Leisure Activities
Entertainment venues provided free admission and discounts for military members and veterans. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment offered location-based discounts or free admission to veterans and active duty military. The promotion included SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego, Busch Gardens Tampa, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Sesame Place Langhorne. It explicitly excluded Discovery Cove in Orlando and Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark.
The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens honored veterans with free admission from November 9 to November 11. This annual tradition, sponsored by Orlando Health, also included a special buy-one-get-one offer where active military members could purchase three tickets and receive three free. The Aerospace Museum of California offered free admission to all guests on Veterans Day, providing access to historic military and civilian aircraft. New York City’s 9/11 Memorial and Museum offered veterans free admission from Wednesday, November 8, through Sunday, November 12, as part of a five-day tribute.
For golf enthusiasts, Killington ski resort in Vermont offered free skiing for all active duty, retired, and honorably discharged military members on both Veterans Day and Memorial Day with valid ID, a copy of a DD214 form, or a discharge certificate. California’s Mammoth Mountain Ski Area also provided free skiing or lift access for veterans and active military on Veterans Day with a valid military ID. While Source [4] mentions "Veteran’s Day Specials for Golfers" via GolfNow, it does not provide specific details on the nature of these specials.
Retail and Service Discounts
Retailers and service providers offered various discounts to military personnel. Target provided a Veterans Day military discount at Target stores and Target.com from November 7-11, 2017. Southeastern Grocers, which includes BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys, and Winn-Dixie, gave a 10 percent discount to active military and veterans on qualifying grocery purchases on Veterans Day, November 11, 2017.
Rack Room Shoes offered military personnel and dependents a 10 percent discount on their entire purchase on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July. Under Armour offered 10 percent off plus free shipping for military, veterans, and first responders. Walgreens offered a 20 percent discount to all veterans, active duty military, and their immediate families on Veterans Day 2016, requiring a Walgreens Rewards card and valid Military ID or proof of service.
For home improvement needs, Home Depot offered a 10 percent discount to all military veterans on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day. Lowes offered 10 percent off to all veterans and active duty service members every day by signing up for a MyLowes card. Great Clips offered free haircuts to veterans on November 11, or the option to pick up a free haircut card to use later, redeemable until December 31. Sports Clips offered free haircuts to active-duty U.S. service members and veterans on Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, with valid proof of service.
Specialized and Local Offers
Several smaller, specialized businesses offered unique discounts. Onessimo Fine Art, Polished Nail Spa, and Studio E Gallery each offered a 10 percent discount to veterans. Revolution Dating offered a 25 percent discount on membership packages for veterans and first responders.
In the Central Florida area, an event organized by Veterans for Veterans required registration and offered meals for veterans, with proceeds going towards providing meals and Publix gift cards. Details on purchasing tickets and RSVPing were available online.
Conclusion
The 2017 Memorial Day and Veterans Day period in Orlando provided a comprehensive range of freebies and discounts for military members and veterans. Offers included free hotel stays, complimentary meals, free admission to theme parks and museums, and significant retail discounts. Most offers required valid military identification or proof of service, and some had specific registration deadlines or purchase requirements. Consumers were advised to verify details directly with participating establishments, as offers could vary by location and were subject to specific terms and conditions.