Every day, Florida educators provide an invaluable service to students and their families. Not surprisingly, there are many companies that choose to show their appreciation for teacher dedication by providing them with discounts on products and services. Many opportunities exist in the state that allow for teacher savings. These include exclusive rates and special discounts. What are the best teacher discounts in Florida?
The best teacher discounts in Florida are offered by a variety of corporations and business entities. In Florida, teachers can enjoy many theme parks and attractions at a discounted rate. Shopping and services in Florida are loaded with savings opportunities for educators. Hotel stays and other entertainment can be enjoyed with less out of pocket expense. With a little knowledge, and minimal pre-planning, a teacher ID can be turned into a discount coupon.
Start with ID.me
ID.me is an online platform that allows for verification of identity and occupation. Some teacher discounts mentioned here will require logging in using ID.me credentials in order to be eligible. Florida teachers will need their Florida Department of Education license number to set up an account. This can be found using the public certification search at fldoe.org. An active account with ID.me will prove your identity and affiliation with the Department of Education. Unlocking various offers can be done using this one identification platform. Â
Parks that Offer Perks
Theme parks and attractions draw millions of visitors to Florida each year.  With popular entertainment destinations throughout the state, residents don’t have to travel far to experience world famous fun. It turns out, Florida is a great place to play tourist if you’re a teacher.
Since 1998 Sea World has offered certified classroom teachers a free teacher pass card. This pass entitles teachers to free and unlimited park access for the year. It takes a short pre-registration process via ID.me to be verified. After verification, the ticketing process is completed online and vouchers are emailed to the teacher recipient. Â
Similarly, Legoland Florida Resort offers a free annual pass to teachers who present their current Florida Department of Education certificate, a recent pay stub, and a Florida ID at the gate. By securing the teacher pass at Legoland, the park is then included in a combo pass which allows teachers to also receive free admission to Madame Tussauds Orlando and Sea Life Orlando Aquarium.
All Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attractions have Educator Appreciation Days throughout the year when they offer free admission to educators. Additionally, during these date windows, guests who are accompanied by a certified teacher can enjoy 50% off admission. Â
ICON Park is an entertainment complex that is packed with plenty of fun, food, and activities. While there is no gate fee to enter the park itself, the individual attractions do require tickets. One of the eight featured attractions at this location is The Wheel. This is a towering 400 foot tall observation wheel. Riding The Wheel lasts about 20 minutes and presents breathtaking views through a unique and thrilling experience. Florida teachers can obtain a pass to ride The Wheel an unlimited number of times for an entire year.
Other Florida attractions that offer free admission or discounted rates to educators include:
- The Florida Aquarium-Tampa
- The Clearwater Marine Aquarium-Clearwater
- Gatorland-Orlando
- Kennedy Space Center-Merritt Island
- Orlando Science Center-Orlando
- Crayola Experience-Orlando
- Wet ‘n Wild-OrlandoÂ
- Museum of Science and Industry-Tampa
- Wonderworks-Orlando/Panama City Beach
- Tour St. Augustine-St. Augustine
- The Ringling: Museum of Art; Circus Museum; Ca’ d’Zan-SarasotaÂ
- Salvador Dali Museum-St. Petersburg
- Perez Art Museum-Miami
Keep in mind with attractions that although most offer their teacher discount year round, some locations have date ranges when offers for discounts or special rates are honored. Check attraction websites for details.
Specials for Stays
When planning to visit some of Florida’s popular parks and attractions, accommodations may be in order. There are many properties and hotel groups that honor teachers with special low rates or discount days.
Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center offers exclusive appreciation rates to teachers during select dates throughout the year. During these times, they guarantee their lowest rate. This can mean saving hundreds compared to the price of paying the daily regular rate. Their unique and upscale property boasts an array of amenities and on site activities. Close proximity to Orlando area attractions makes this hotel a desirable deal.
Teachers are able to stay in the luxurious Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotel at a 25% discounted rate. This hotel is conveniently located on a Disney property. Because of this, it means bus and water taxi transportation is included for hotel guests to and from all other Disney properties. The hotel is part of Disney’s Boardwalk which houses a number of restaurants and shopping destinations within walking distance.
To really get away from it all, consider Hawk’s Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida. This tropical resort offers teachers a 15% discounted rate all year round. Every stay includes stand up paddleboard rentals, kayak rentals, bike rentals, fitness center, kids’ club, and more. The Florida Keys tends to be one of Florida’s more pricey vacation destinations making this resort’s offer a coveted opportunity.
A good tip for lodging is to ask about a teacher discount upon booking at any hotel. Some chains offer teachers the same discount they afford to military or government personnel. Since this can vary from each individual hotel, even within a chain, it is advisable to call and ask. Although it might not be listed on their website, some hotels choose to honor the discount to teachers upon request.
Other Florida hotels that offer educator rates or discounts:
- Tradewinds Resort St. Pete Beach
- Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
- The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes
- Orlando World Center Marriott
- Galleria Palms Hotel Orlando
Retail Rewards
Sunshine and sandy beaches are certainly plentiful in Florida, but you also can’t go too far without spotting an outlet mall. These shopping hubs are a popular destination where teachers can enjoy some retail therapy with the benefit of added savings.
Ann Taylor and Ann Inc. brand stores (LOFT, Lou & Grey) will award 15% off full-price purchases by presenting a teacher ID at the register.
Calvin Klein outlet stores offer teachers an exclusive 10% discount on all in-store purchases with current teacher ID.
When shopping at J. Crew and J. Crew Factory Stores, teachers enjoy 15% off. By verifying status, this deal counts for online purchases as well.
Other retail stores with discounts for teachers
Additional Areas Educators Can Save
Sporting Event Discounts
- Jacksonville Jaguars–Use promo code FLEDU17
- Daytona International Speedway-Mention Florida Department of Education
Transportation Rental
- Avis–25 % off any rental with Avis by entering AWD# S829800
- Budget–Use Budget Customer Discount (BCD) number R524700 and save up to 25%
- Hertz–Florida teachers can save up to 15%
Phone Service
- AT&T-Exclusive discounts on plans and free activation
- Verizon-19% off monthly rates with free activation
- T Mobile-Free activation, free shipping and discounts on accessories
Classroom Items and Craft Supplies
- Barnes and Noble-20% off list price for classroom use; 25% during educator appreciation days
- Joann Fabrics-15% off every purchase with discount card
- Michaels-15% off entire purchase including sale items
- Office Depot-2% back in reward points and 5% back in credits to your designated school
- Target-Back to school deals starting July 18, 2022
Experiences and Excursions
- Straz Performing Arts Center-Up to 50% off two tickets for pre-selected shows
- Wild Florida Airboat and Drive-Thru Safari-15% off airboat tours; 50% off gator park admission
- Bar Jack Fishing Deep Sea Drift Fishing Charters -$5 off for active teachers
Saving in the Sunshine State
Florida is host to a wide variety of activities and entertainment. In many cases, educators can enjoy these attractions at a discounted rate. Taking advantage of these offers can result in significant savings to teachers. Businesses also offer their generosity and appreciation to teachers by allowing them to purchase products for less. Â