2010/2011 Armed Forces Salute Tickets

[magicbob]

Question about applying unused tickets toward purchase of AFS tickets:

According to Chesire Figment's sticky:

"If you have unused non-promotional tickets and wish to have them applied to the purchase of Tickets, this may be done provided the value of the unused tickets is equal to or less than the value of the tickets being purchased or upgraded."

The cost of AFS hopper w/WPFM option is $165 each. We have 2-day MYW included in our package. Those are shown on the chart as costing $168 each. I'm not at home right now, so I'll have to double check whether that's the price I paid. I think the chart reflects the recent price increase. I booked our package before that, so our tickets might have cost slightly less.

I hope we paid $165 or less for the tickets because it appears that I can then apply these unused 2-day tickets toward the purchase of the 4-day AFS tickets.

If my tickets cost $166 or more each, they will not allow the "trade-in" even if I'm willing to forfeit the difference?

 

[magicbob]

The cost of AFS hopper w/WPFM option is $165 each. We have 2-day MYW included in our package. Those are shown on the chart as costing $168 each. I'm not at home right now, so I'll have to double check whether that's the price I paid. I think the chart reflects the recent price increase. I booked our package before that, so our tickets might have cost slightly less.

I hope we paid $165 or less for the tickets because it appears that I can then apply these unused 2-day tickets toward the purchase of the 4-day AFS tickets.

If my tickets cost $166 or more each, they will not allow the "trade-in" even if I'm willing to forfeit the difference?

According to my notes, I paid $162 each for the 2-day tickets with our package (this was before the price increase). So, if I'm understanding correctly, I should be able to take these to SoG on our arrival day and trade them in for 4-day PH/WPFM Armed Forces tickets ($165 ea.) and just pay the difference of $3 each, right?

If I exchange them at Guest Services at DTD, the tax charged would be on the full ticket price, not just the difference, right? So, probably about $10-15 more per ticket to do it there?

It says the SoG tickets need to be "activated." Is that done at the turnstile of your first park, or do I have to go somewhere else first for that?

 

[magicbob]

I called WDW to clarify the policies and procedures and what I found out might be useful information for others:

The 2-day tickets that are part of my package are not eligible to exchange for AFS tickets. This is because my package includes free dining. That requires a minimum ticket 2-day purchase. If those tickets were then exchanged for AFS tickets, it would be, essentially, combining discounts.

That said, I can still purchase additional AFS tickets to use and just hold onto the 2-day tickets for use/upgrade at a later date.

 

[magicbob]

I called WDW to clarify the policies and procedures and what I found out might be useful information for others:

The 2-day tickets that are part of my package are not eligible to exchange for AFS tickets. This is because my package includes free dining. That requires a minimum ticket 2-day purchase. If those tickets were then exchanged for AFS tickets, it would be, essentially, combining discounts.

That said, I can still purchase additional AFS tickets to use and just hold onto the 2-day tickets for use/upgrade at a later date.

I thought more about the answer I received from WDW CM about this. I know that I can have the tickets removed from KTTW cards. If they issue me "paper" (yes, I know they're actually Tyvek) tickets, is there something that indicates they cannot be exchanged for AFS tickets? I'm not trying to get around the rules... just wondering if the rules allow for this and I was told wrong.

On a related note... I'm 99.9% certain that, if I don't use the 2-day MYW package tickets on this trip, I can upgrade them later to 10-day non-exp. Would there be something preventing me from exchanging them at a later date for AFS tickets? If they are not "exchangeable" I'm guessing there must be a code embedded in them somewhere that tells the CM that. But, if they're completely unused, they would be "upgradable" no matter what, right?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If the CM you talked to was in a call center they were probably wrong. I deal with tickets regularly at one of the Parks, usually either in a ticket booth or Guest Relations. Unfortunately the CMs at the call centers either can sell unused tickets or don't deal with tickets at all. They do not deal with upgrades or unusual situations. And they don't get involved with the AFS tickets at all.

 

[magicbob]

If the CM you talked to was in a call center they were probably wrong. I deal with tickets regularly at one of the Parks, usually either in a ticket booth or Guest Relations. Unfortunately the CMs at the call centers either can sell unused tickets or don't deal with tickets at all. They do not deal with upgrades or unusual situations. And they don't get involved with the AFS tickets at all.

I was transferred to someone else who supposedly was the right person to talk to, but I suspect they may not have been correct either.

So, CF, would you say that tickets purchased as part of a free dining package could be exchanged for AFS tickets or not?

 

[Order66]

Here's my experience.....

In 2009 we went under the FD promo in Sept. We bought the (at the time) required 1 day ticket. We went to GS next to DQ and traded in 4 tickets and bought the AFS ticket. That year the actual service member was entirely free........so we had a 1 day ticket left over. The CM told us it "might" screw up the dining credits if she pulled the tickets off. Not that it was not allowed. Your DDP doesn't show "free" or "paid"......just the credits you have, but I guess if the person working doesn't do it just right it can happen. Since we had 1 card that was not having the ticket pulled, I told her to go ahead and do it. We had no issues with the dining credits on any of the cards after having the tickets removed. Guess she did it correctly.

In 2010 I took my 2 kids alone. We bought the limit of 6 tickets, 2 for each of us as we were staying 10 days. We had done the Give a Day volunteer program and had 3 free one day vouchers. We turned in the voucher for 3 tickets and the one day ticket from 09 and used all 4 of them to purchase 4 of the AFS tickets. I paid full price for only 2 of the tickets.

So I've used "free dining" package tickets, free tickets and 1 year old tickets all as credit towards the AFS tickets. I guess the only problem with doing so at this time is that you are required to buy 2 day tickets which exceed the value of the AFS tickets. But since yours do not........there should be no reason you can't upgrade them the same as I have in the past.

regards

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I was transferred to someone else who supposedly was the right person to talk to, but I suspect they may not have been correct either.

So, CF, would you say that tickets purchased as part of a free dining package could be exchanged for AFS tickets or not?

You were still transferred to someone within the call center. If you were to come to my ticket window, and the tickets were unused, I would not have any problem in doing the upgrade.

 

[magicbob]

You were still transferred to someone within the call center. If you were to come to my ticket window, and the tickets were unused, I would not have any problem in doing the upgrade.

That's encouraging to hear. Sorry to be a nuisance, but would the tickets have to be already removed from the KTTW cards or can I just take my KTTW to SoG to make the exchange? I understand that some people experience problems with their dining credits when tickets are transferred from KTTW to paper medium. Is there a secret to avoiding that?

Also, regarding "activating" the SoG tickets, is that done at the park turnstyle? Thanks.

 

[crostorfer]

That's encouraging to hear. Sorry to be a nuisance, but would the tickets have to be already removed from the KTTW cards or can I just take my KTTW to SoG to make the exchange? I understand that some people experience problems with their dining credits when tickets are transferred from KTTW to paper medium. Is there a secret to avoiding that?

Also, regarding "activating" the SoG tickets, is that done at the park turnstyle? Thanks.

Get to the Shades ticket window either really early or go one hour before they close. I wasted two hours in line there last month behind a group of Brittish Army chicks, 15 of them, who had one person stand in line to hold their place, while they all sat and drank in the video games area, then proceeded to come up one at a time to get their tickets. Longest, most frustrating two hours of my life. I will never get my tickets from there again, I'll order them from ITT on base and have them in hand.

 

[magicbob]

Get to the Shades ticket window either really early or go one hour before they close. I wasted two hours in line there last month behind a group of Brittish Army chicks, 15 of them, who had one person stand in line to hold their place, while they all sat and drank in the video games area, then proceeded to come up one at a time to get their tickets. Longest, most frustrating two hours of my life. I will never get my tickets from there again, I'll order them from ITT on base and have them in hand.

If I was just going to purchase the tickets, I would get them from ITT, but since I want to exchange my package tickets, I have to do it on-site. My understanding is that I could also go to DTD or another Guest Services location, but then I'll end up paying an additional $50-60 in tax. Our arrival day is just check-in and relax at the resort until dinner, so I can always leave the family by the pool and go get the tickets (everyone doesn't need to be present for the exchange, right?).

 

[VirataMama4]

CF or anyone else that has experience with this... Can we have more then 1 ticket per person activated at a time? We have 4 PH/WPM (just WPM options left on them) that we bought in Nov. 2010, and would like to buy 4 PH when we are there in Aug. Is this possible? TIA

 

[Cheshire Figment]

1. You cannot do any upgrades at SoG. It must be done at a ticket or Guest Relations window.

2. You cannot activate Armed Forces Salute Tickets at SoG. It must be done at a ticket or Guest Relations window.

3. Any tax that you will pay at an upgrade is based on the difference between the pre-tax prices of the tickets you are upgrading from and the tickets you are upgrading to. If you are upgrading an AFS ticket (for example to add WPF&M or to go to an AP) and your ticket was purchased without tax, Disney will absorb the tax on the original ticket.

 

[magicbob]

1. You cannot do any upgrades at SoG. It must be done at a ticket or Guest Relations window.

2. You cannot activate Armed Forces Salute Tickets at SoG. It must be done at a ticket or Guest Relations window.

3. Any tax that you will pay at an upgrade is based on the difference between the pre-tax prices of the tickets you are upgrading from and the tickets you are upgrading to. If you are upgrading an AFS ticket (for example to add WPF&M or to go to an AP) and your ticket was purchased without tax, Disney will absorb the tax on the original ticket.

Ok, let's see if I've got all this right. If I understand you correctly:

AFS tickets can be purchased at SoG, but I cannot apply my MYW package tickets toward the purchase price there. That would need to be done at a Guest Relations location. This includes the location near Team Mickey at DTD, right?

So, I can take my four unused 2-day MYW package tickets (cost = $162 ea.) to Guest Relations at DTD on the day of my arrival and apply that amount to the purchase of four AFS tickets w/PH+ WPFM (cost = $165 ea.). And I would pay the difference of $12 ($3 ea. x 4) and the tax would only be on the $12 and not on $660 ($165 x 4)? I guess that makes sense since I already paid tax on the tickets I'm exchanging.

Your sticky states that AFS tickets purchased from ITT or SoG must be activated. So, by extension, does that mean that I won't need to activate the AFS tickets obtained from Guest Relations at DTD?

One last thing, can I just bring my KTTW cards to Guest Relations with the 2-day MYW tickets loaded on them, or will I need to have the MYW tickets transferred to paper medium at the resort before I go to make the exchange?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You are correct. One technical point, when AFS tickets are sold at a Disney window they are activated at the same time, so you will have to have your military ID with you.. And they can handle all facets at the GR window, so you don't have to remove the tickets in advance.

 

[Iris]

My advice to all from my experience purchasing tickets this past Sunday - read all of the information that Cheshire Figment has posted and go knowing how the tickets work because you WILL get someone telling you something completely different.

I went to purchase one of the tickets for my niece who will be visiting in October. I had my military ID and had all of the information needed for the ticket: her name, address, date of birth (also ended up needing phone number). I went to a ticket window at Epcot to make the purchase and was told I could not purchase the ticket in advance, because I or my husband would need to be there in October to activate the ticket for my niece. As politely as I could, I asked if she was sure that this was correct as I had heard differently. I think she was offended that I questioned her. I explained that I would not be in Florida in October and she said that somebody had to be there when my niece used the ticket the first time. She then said anyone with a military ID could activate the ticket including my daughter who also has a military ID--I knew this had to be incorrect.

We went to Guest Relations after not having purchased the ticket because at this point I was totally confused. Thankfully they were better informed about the ticket and how it works. I was able to purchase her ticket, it does have her name on the ticket. They did explain that the ticket sold at SOG is slightly different than the ticket sold at the Disney Window, needing activation. The tickets sold at the window have the information on the media and becomes an active ticket upon first use. Even though the tickets are the same, they are slightly different and I had known this reading this thread - another reason for getting them at the park rather than SOG.

In any case, I was able to purchase the ticket but glad I had some info ahead of time.

 

[disnee4mygirls]

Anyone know the hours of Shades of Green ticket office/window? I've never been there and don't want to go if they aren't open? Are the tickets still tax free if you buy them there? (I searched for the hours and couldn't find it-sorry if already posted)

 

[bellemeeko1]

The Attraction Ticket Sales Office at Shades of Green is currently open: Monday - Thursday from 8am - 7pm and Friday - Sunday 8am - 9pm



for those that say go to your ITT.....I wouldnt right now...so far MANY do not have this updated info about being able to buy up to 12 during this promo and quite a few friends are going round with their ITT offices! Hopefully they will be updated on what Disney has decided, soon.....cuz theres a lot of frustrated people right now!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Anyone know the hours of Shades of Green ticket office/window? I've never been there and don't want to go if they aren't open? Are the tickets still tax free if you buy them there? (I searched for the hours and couldn't find it-sorry if already posted)

Yes, they are tax free at SoG

 

[disney_dreamer77]

We're going in December with my parents. My dad is a retiree and he was going to purchase our tickets at our local MWR office. He has no interest in going to Disney World and will instead be fishing etc.

My question is, will he have to go the first day to activate the tickets or does he have to be there at all?

Thanks for the help!