Official 2012/2013 Disney Military Promotion - Updated Post #187

[Claire&TheBoys]

My father is up in the air about coming with us this (he is one of those who is famous for canceling last last minute) and he wants to get ticket for the kids. If he purchases them ahead of time at the base will the kids still be able to use them to enter the parks without him present? DH and I have APs so no worries for us.

The Military Salute tickets must be activated at Disney World by the servicemember. He can't buy them on base and send them along - they won't be activated and won't work.

However, most ITT/MWR offices do sell regular MYW tickets at a discount that are ready to use - no activation required. If he buys those, they will be usable. But it won't be the same price. The Military Salute tickets are a much better deal.

 

[JLVermillion]

The Military Salute tickets must be activated at Disney World by the servicemember. He can't buy them on base and send them along - they won't be activated and won't work.

However, most ITT/MWR offices do sell regular MYW tickets at a discount that are ready to use - no activation required. If he buys those, they will be usable. But it won't be the same price. The Military Salute tickets are a much better deal.

Thanks , that what I thought. I will have him check the prices on base.

 

[Steve TLT]

Claire's right. The regular military discounted Magic Your Way tickets are nowhere near as good a deal. the Armed Forces Salute tickets are right around 50% off. While the mil MYW are 4-8% off, you are basically saving the sales tax.

 

[emsmith]

Hello All...We were planning (6 adults, 3 children) on coming the end of Oct, but DH is 100%service connected and can get military discount. I don't want to run the risk of the discount not renewing for 2013-14. It would be cheaper in the long run to book end of Sept and use military discount is what I am thinking. But other grandparent recommends the dining plan. If I book in Oct and then the discount continues can I apply military discount to that reservation?

What to do...any suggestions?

 

[JLVermillion]

Claire's right. The regular military discounted Magic Your Way tickets are nowhere near as good a deal. the Armed Forces Salute tickets are right around 50% off. While the mil MYW are 4-8% off, you are basically saving the sales tax.

At that % rate I am better just getting them when we get there, and saving tha gas money . Our trip is November so by then they might not even have the AFS tickets any way.

 

[Steve TLT]

At that % rate I am better just getting them when we get there, and saving tha gas money . Our trip is November so by then they might not even have the AFS tickets any way.

That is a very valid point about the gas, if he has a long drive you might just want to get them at the gate. Here is an example a 4-day hopper 14 day expire is just over $333 at the gate and about $305 on base. (you can see a full list of prices here)

Be aware though that many bases do not carry a full compliment of all Disney tickets and might have to order what you need so if you do go the on base route do it at least 2-3 weeks early to give them time to order the tickets if they need to.

We probably won't know till August if they will renew or not. But I think they will.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Hello All...We were planning (6 adults, 3 children) on coming the end of Oct, but DH is 100%service connected and can get military discount. I don't want to run the risk of the discount not renewing for 2013-14. It would be cheaper in the long run to book end of Sept and use military discount is what I am thinking. But other grandparent recommends the dining plan. If I book in Oct and then the discount continues can I apply military discount to that reservation?

What to do...any suggestions?

You can add the dining plan to a military-discounted room without adding tickets. It's a special package. The dining plan isn't discounted, but you can purchase it.

We've been in Sept several times and find it's one of the less-busy times of the year. By the end of Sept, they've started the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party events, and those are a lot of fun, too. The last several years they've had military-discounted tickets to some of the parties in Sept, so that would be another positive for visiting in Sept.

Also, since you said there would be 6 adults and 3 kids, just wanted to make sure you know that your husband will only be able to get 6 Military Salute tickets, so 3 of your party will have to buy regular tickets.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The only way a Service Member can purchase more than six Armed Forces Salute Tickets is if the SM has more than five dependents. And each age 10 or older must have their own DD1172 and be there when the tickets are activated. The only other way the group could get more than six is if the group includes two Service Members. In this situation the Spouse, unless also a SM, could not get tickets.

 

[JLVermillion]

That is a very valid point about the gas, if he has a long drive you might just want to get them at the gate. Here is an example a 4-day hopper 14 day expire is just over $333 at the gate and about $305 on base. (you can see a full list of prices here)

Be aware though that many bases do not carry a full compliment of all Disney tickets and might have to order what you need so if you do go the on base route do it at least 2-3 weeks early to give them time to order the tickets if they need to.

We probably won't know till August if they will renew or not. But I think they will.

Thank you for the link.

 

[k_null81]

Deleted as found my answer....

 

[infopurposesonly]

Sorry if this has been asked before. Last October we purchased three tickets for this new promotion, for DH (sponsor), DD, and myself. We only used two days on each ticket because we were hoping we could go back again this year. We now plan on going in May and will just use the remaining two days on each ticket. We are being joined by family members on this upcoming trip and I was wondering if we could puchase three more tickets, to be used by them.

When we bought the three tickets in October at SOG, we were told we could not purchase again during this promotion. I'm being told now that we can actually buy them at WDW, however, there is a question as to whether or not one of the tickets puchased in May would have to be used by the sponsor, which we don't want to do as we only planned on going for two days and using the tickets we already have for ourselves. Anyone know how this works?

 

[Steve TLT]

Sorry if this has been asked before. Last October we purchased three tickets for this new promotion, for DH (sponsor), DD, and myself. We only used two days on each ticket because we were hoping we could go back again this year. We now plan on going in May and will just use the remaining two days on each ticket. We are being joined by family members on this upcoming trip and I was wondering if we could puchase three more tickets, to be used by them.

When we bought the three tickets in October at SOG, we were told we could not purchase again during this promotion. I'm being told now that we can actually buy them at WDW, however, there is a question as to whether or not one of the tickets puchased in May would have to be used by the sponsor, which we don't want to do as we only planned on going for two days and using the tickets we already have for ourselves. Anyone know how this works?

The single purchase was a very short lived part of this year's Salute, though some military resellers (like Shades) may still hold to that.

I think as long as your husband still has an active AFS ticket they'll let you activate the other three for your friends. Let me know if I'm wrong Cheshire.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The Disney rules allow purchases on different dates, as long as the total number of tickets purchased during the promotion is no more than six. And as one of the tickets already purchased is for the service member, I see no reason that the spouse cannot purchase (and/or activate) the remaining three.

 

[infopurposesonly]

Thanks, Steve and Cheshire!

 

[Iris]

The single purchase was a very short lived part of this year's Salute, though some military resellers (like Shades) may still hold to that.

Can anyone actually confirm if SOG will allow the purchase of more tickets? We went last November and only purchased two tickets because that is all we needed. We are going again this spring and we want to purchase another two tickets. We normally go over to SOG for the tickets since there is no tax but if they won't allow us to get more tickets, I would rather not waste the time to go over there and instead just get them at the park. Has anyone actually been able to purchase tickets at SOG on different occasions?

 

[mickeyinthehouse]

Can someone enlighten me on what qualifies as retired military? My friend and I are planning a trip to Disney World and wondered if she could take advantage of the discounted tickets. Her husband was in the Marines prior to their marriage. I believe that he did not re-enlist after his first term so maybe he spent 6 years in the marines? They did not get married until after he was out. Is he considered retired military? If he is, she does not have a military spouse ID since they got married after he was no longer in the service. Is this something she can get since he would not be going with us on the trip?

TIA for anyone who may be able to answer.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Can someone enlighten me on what qualifies as retired military? My friend and I are planning a trip to Disney World and wondered if she could take advantage of the discounted tickets. Her husband was in the Marines prior to their marriage. I believe that he did not re-enlist after his first term so maybe he spent 6 years in the marines? They did not get married until after he was out. Is he considered retired military? If he is, she does not have a military spouse ID since they got married after he was no longer in the service. Is this something she can get since he would not be going with us on the trip?

TIA for anyone who may be able to answer.

He is not "retired" - he is a veteran, but he is not "retired." To be retired, a servicemember has to have served 20 years (or less if "medically retired").

Sorry, your friend is not eligible for the discounted tickets.

 

[mickeyinthehouse]

He is not "retired" - he is a veteran, but he is not "retired." To be retired, a servicemember has to have served 20 years (or less if "medically retired").

Sorry, your friend is not eligible for the discounted tickets.

Thank you for the clarification!!

 

[JavArmy]

After having the tickets activated, are we able to put them on our KTTW card, since we are staying on property?

Also, the tickets can be activated at the TTC correct?

Thanks for the info, sorry if this was asked before

 

[Steve TLT]

After having the tickets activated, are we able to put them on our KTTW card, since we are staying on property?

Also, the tickets can be activated at the TTC correct?

Thanks for the info, sorry if this was asked before

No, unfortunately the Armed Forces Salute tickets can not be combined with KTTW.

And yes you can activate the AFS tickets at all park ticket/guest services windows (TTC, other theme and water parks) plus DTD guest relations, and Disney Quest.