No you don't always need a ticket. They have walk up days. So all month during January and February you can literally just walk in I did it last week, there wasn't a line or anything. Check the website the months for walk up days change.
Yes you need a ticket
But if you are on active duty or retired military, you can just show up with your ID card and get waved in...works very well on weekdays (of course), and you are allowed one guest.
Yes
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