Official SHADES OF GREEN Information

[bgdiznee]

I have a question about ticket purchases at SOG. I have read page one and also tried searching this thread but couldn't find the info I need.

Can you upgrade MYW tickets at the SOG ticket office? I have a 10 day nonexpiring base ticket and plan to upgrade to an AP once I arrive. I know I can do this at any guest services at WDW, after I have used it once and before 14 days have past. But can I upgrade my ticket at SOG? Can I get the military AP rate (with proper ID of course)? Do I also have to use it once before I upgrade at SOG or will they just give me the credit towards an AP with the unused MYW 10 day ticket?

Anyone have any info?

[foulkfamilyof5]

What is photo pass and can you get it when staying at SOG?

[Sleepy]

Originally Posted by seabee

I have sponsored on 3 different occasions and our guests have never needed me with them to purchase anything from the store. Tickets, etc. yes, but not in the store. Maybe we just lucked out and always got a lax cashier. If they did ask, I would assume that a valid room key would be good, since you wouldn't have one if you weren't eligible in some way to stay there.

To buy everyday things in the store is not a problem. You don't need an ID for that, but cigarettes and alcohol always needed a MILITARY ID. If they were never carded for those items, it is due to a lax cashier, but we have ALWAYS been carded for those items in the past (even had to go back to our room to get the military ID).

Dokietoes and anyone else wondering about purchases of tickets, alcohol and tobacco products at SOG when you do NOT have a military ID under the Salute to Veterans program, here is the response from SOG....

"You would be eligible to purchase the discount attraction tickets with your DD214 showing an Honorable Discharge. Unfortunately, you would not be able to purchase alcohol or tobacco products. Kindest Regards,....."

Sponsored guests are also not eligible to purchase alcohol and tobacco products if they don't have a military ID.

[abarnold]

Originally Posted by bgdiznee

I have a question about ticket purchases at SOG. I have read page one and also tried searching this thread but couldn't find the info I need.

Can you upgrade MYW tickets at the SOG ticket office? I have a 10 day nonexpiring base ticket and plan to upgrade to an AP once I arrive. I know I can do this at any guest services at WDW, after I have used it once and before 14 days have past. But can I upgrade my ticket at SOG? Can I get the military AP rate (with proper ID of course)? Do I also have to use it once before I upgrade at SOG or will they just give me the credit towards an AP with the unused MYW 10 day ticket?

Anyone have any info?

You can only upgrade tickets that are originally issued at SOG. If you bought your tickets elsewhere they will not upgrade them for you. Also If you have purchased your tickets at SOG as long as they have not expired then you can upgrade them. HTH

[abarnold]

Originally Posted by foulkfamilyof5

What is photo pass and can you get it when staying at SOG?

look here for information regarding Photo Pass. And yes you can get it at SOG.
http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

[bgdiznee]

Thanks abarnold! My ticket came from UT online sales. I've added days before at guest services, but never at SOG. I was thinking the answer would be no, but it would of been convienent.

Is there a discount other than no sales tax for purchasng your AP at SOG?

[Dokietoes]

Originally Posted by Sleepy

To buy everyday things in the store is not a problem. You don't need an ID for that, but cigarettes and alcohol always needed a MILITARY ID. If they were never carded for those items, it is due to a lax cashier, but we have ALWAYS been carded for those items in the past (even had to go back to our room to get the military ID).

Dokietoes and anyone else wondering about purchases of tickets, alcohol and tobacco products at SOG when you do NOT have a military ID under the Salute to Veterans program, here is the response from SOG....

"You would be eligible to purchase the discount attraction tickets with your DD214 showing an Honorable Discharge. Unfortunately, you would not be able to purchase alcohol or tobacco products. Kindest Regards,....."

Sponsored guests are also not eligible to purchase alcohol and tobacco products if they don't have a military ID.

Thanks Sleepy.

[seabee]

Thanks Sleepy, I will make sure that I or DH are with our guests this trip just incase. Guess we just "lucked out" and had a cashier that didn't care. Thanks again for looking into it.

[HeatherPage]

Good morning! I hate to sound ignorant - but was is the definition of a government contractor when it comes to possibly booking a SOG room?

Also, my husband served 6 years in the marine corp. (honorably discharged/no disability) so I assume that doesn't count as retired?

Lastly my dad has Power of Attorney over his mother (whose husband passed away and her husband was retired from the army of 20+ years) if a reservation were to be made under her name, would she actually have to be there? (She is very elderly and never goes anywhere - her choice).

I hope I didn't offend anyone by asking these questions.

Thank you!

[abarnold]

Originally Posted by bgdiznee

Thanks abarnold! My ticket came from UT online sales. I've added days before at guest services, but never at SOG. I was thinking the answer would be no, but it would of been convienent.

Is there a discount other than no sales tax for purchasing your AP at SOG?

The price for an AP at SOG is 460 for basic- 588 for premium. to buy them at WDW it's 466 for basic and 599 for premium. Where it's not a huge difference once you add tax it'll be more. Your 10 day pass no expiration runs around 437- where it'll save you more money going through SOG- in the long run it's better for you to go through WDW.

[KatRob]

Originally Posted by HeatherPage

Good morning! I hate to sound ignorant - but was is the definition of a government contractor when it comes to possibly booking a SOG room?

Also, my husband served 6 years in the marine corp. (honorably discharged/no disability) so I assume that doesn't count as retired?

Lastly my dad has Power of Attorney over his mother (whose husband passed away and her husband was retired from the army of 20+ years) if a reservation were to be made under her name, would she actually have to be there? (She is very elderly and never goes anywhere - her choice).

I hope I didn't offend anyone by asking these questions.

Thank you!

I'm going to go for this one. Your husband can participate with his DD214 in the Salute to Veterans program. Can't help you out about the gov contractor part.

Yes, I am almost positive that your grandmother would have to be there. There has to be an military ID shown at check in. While your dad can act for his mom, he cannot physically take her place like that.

If I'm wrong about any of this, I know someone will correct it.

[HeatherPage]

Your husband can participate with his DD214 in the Salute to Veterans program

Ooh, I'll have to find out about this! Thank you

[Sleepy]

Originally Posted by HeatherPage

Good morning! I hate to sound ignorant - but was is the definition of a government contractor when it comes to possibly booking a SOG room?

Also, my husband served 6 years in the marine corp. (honorably discharged/no disability) so I assume that doesn't count as retired?

Lastly my dad has Power of Attorney over his mother (whose husband passed away and her husband was retired from the army of 20+ years) if a reservation were to be made under her name, would she actually have to be there? (She is very elderly and never goes anywhere - her choice).

I hope I didn't offend anyone by asking these questions.

Thank you!

I will try this one too even if I repeat what has already been said.

1)We are DOD contract AND retired military, so qualifying as retired military, we never looked into the other eligibility. My guess is that you do qualify as long as you work for a company who holds a gov contract. Here is the definition from the SOG website.......

"DoD contract personnel and technical representatives- Working full time on the installation."

You can try calling SOG and asking for management for further explaination. They can tell you the documentation you would need.

2)Retired means you served 20+ years in the military OR the military force retired you with less time and you kept all benefits (mainly the military ID). There are many catagories that would make you eligible for SOG without the 20 years, but it involves 100% medical discharge, medal of honor, etc. If you have honorably discharged and the proper paperwork, you can stay Jan and Sept.

3)Your grandmother has a military ID and qualifies to stay at SOG. You can't stay there without her being present. WHile your dad has her POA, it does not mean her military benefits are transferred to him. Now, if he were her dependant (physically or mentally unable to care for himself), then he would have his own ID and this would not even be an issue. Seriously, I have my own ID and when we were active duty and trying to transfer outside the country, my husband was out to sea. I had a full unrestricted POA. Can you believe I could not use it to have our car and household goods shipped to Italy....and it was the military that was sending those things! I had to get a special POA for the car and another for the furniture . So, even when you have a full POA, it only means so much to the military.

I would just go the route of your husband having honorably discharged and go Jan or Sept. Ask about contract work and you might qualify anytime of the year.

[Yen Sid]

Hopefully the requirements for staying will change one day, I am a disabled veteran after serving in Desert Storm and was honorably discharged after 6 years but I do not want to go in January or September, although I might have to one of these Septembers because I have always wanted to check it out. I could just never understand who made the guidelines, I am 50% now and I am very close to getting it bumped up again due to condition worsening, I should be able to stay there any time I want unless it is 100% full of active duty personnel. One day I will get there for a stay, have never ventured over to check it our either, usually so busy never find time.

[ougrad86]

Coming with friends in Nov 2009 (hope my bonus comes through), and wondering a couple of things.
We will probably be arriving before them, possibly the night before. We are driving, they are probably flying. As we check in, can we also let them know that we have friends arriving, so that we can go out the next day and if they arrive, they can check in with no problem? My husband has the ID, they do not; she works for the Fed Govt, but not in the capacity that she can stay at SOG. Just wondering if we can set things up before they actually check in - figured we could also make sure our rooms are close. Also wondering if we could purchase the tickets then set them to one side for them to pick up when they arrive.
When it comes to paying and check out, do we pay or can each pay for their own room? She could give us money in advance for us to buy the tickets, but their can be various charges added to the room so not sure how that would work.
I do know that we may or may not have to be with them if they purchase anything at the SOG shop - it seems to depend on whether or not the clerk wants to check on ID's. But it seems the restaurants do not have this limitation, and anyone can eat there. Although we are good friends, and our children are best of friends , we will do some things together and do some things apart - the best way to stay friends sometimes!