2010/2011 Armed Forces Salute Tickets

[joshswif]

Hello! I am a rookie Disney planner and am planning our first trip to Disney as a family for either March or June. I had a quick question about the tickets they are promoting now...the 4 day for $138? I apologize in advance if it seems like a dumb question, but I am SO new at this and am very overwhelmed by all the decisions.

We wanted to go for 6 days, but one day we wanted to go to Sea World. We could buy the 4 day ticket for $138...but would we have to pay full price for the 5th day? As in the 1 day pass?

Any other info you are willing to share would greatly appreciated from this newbie!

 

[VirataMama4]

Hello! I am a rookie Disney planner and am planning our first trip to Disney as a family for either March or June. I had a quick question about the tickets they are promoting now...the 4 day for $138? I apologize in advance if it seems like a dumb question, but I am SO new at this and am very overwhelmed by all the decisions.

We wanted to go for 6 days, but one day we wanted to go to Sea World. We could buy the 4 day ticket for $138...but would we have to pay full price for the 5th day? As in the 1 day pass?

Any other info you are willing to share would greatly appreciated from this newbie!

First

Yes, you would have to pay full price for the 5th day. But you do have a couple options instead. Now, I'm not sure when you're going or if you have kids, but 1. you can do a resort/pool day instead of going to a park, 2. you could do add the water park and more (WPM) option to the tickets. The tickets would be $165 instead of $138, but you get 4 days at the main parks and 4 days at either the water parks, Disney Quest and ESPN.

 

[joshswif]

First

Yes, you would have to pay full price for the 5th day. But you do have a couple options instead. Now, I'm not sure when you're going or if you have kids, but 1. you can do a resort/pool day instead of going to a park, 2. you could do add the water park and more (WPM) option to the tickets. The tickets would be $165 instead of $138, but you get 4 days at the main parks and 4 days at either the water parks, Disney Quest and ESPN.

Oh wow...so for 165 per person, you actually get 8 days? We do have kids, a 6 year year old and then a baby. We would love to do a water park. I'm not really sure about Disney Quest and ESPN, but I don't really know anything about them. I'm sure they're fun...I'll just have to look at them.

 

[VirataMama4]

Oh wow...so for 165 per person, you actually get 8 days? We do have kids, a 6 year year old and then a baby. We would love to do a water park. I'm not really sure about Disney Quest and ESPN, but I don't really know anything about them. I'm sure they're fun...I'll just have to look at them.

Yep 8 days for $165! I'm sure your 6 yr old would like Disney Quest, its Disney's interactive "theme park." Video games, virtual rides, etc. ESPN is more sports related. We've never been there, but might try it our next trip since our DS 4 loves sports of all kinds.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Oh wow...so for 165 per person, you actually get 8 days? We do have kids, a 6 year year old and then a baby. We would love to do a water park. I'm not really sure about Disney Quest and ESPN, but I don't really know anything about them. I'm sure they're fun...I'll just have to look at them.

It's more like you get 4 entries to the 4 major parks and 4 entries to the water parks and DisneyQuest. Once you use all your major parks, you are done with them, if you got to the 5th day and went to a water park in the morning, but still wanted to go to a major park in the evening, you would still have to add a 1 day ticket.

Have you checked out the Stars and Stripes option thru Shades of Green? Those are available in 1 day to 10 day and include the hopper and waterparks. There are all different types of options that may fit your trip on their website.

And at this time, Sea World hasn't extended the free entry to military families in 2012. I am waiting for January. I have e-mailed them and they sent me 2 links to keep watching.

 

[joshswif]

So basically, I can't get the $165 deal, and do 6 days at WDW and 2 days at water parks, right?

If Sea World DOES end up extending that deal, then I guess buying the 5th day ticket isn't really an issue. We were just pretty set on going for 5 days at WDW. I have looked at the the Stars and Stripes, it just seemed more expensive then the 4 day pass. I think I'll go add the 4 day pass, plus the 1 day ticket and see what I come up with.

Also...those 4 day tickets...they don't include the parkhopper, right?

Again, I greatly appreciate all your help on here!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

So basically, I can't get the $165 deal, and do 6 days at WDW and 2 days at water parks, right?

If Sea World DOES end up extending that deal, then I guess buying the 5th day ticket isn't really an issue. We were just pretty set on going for 5 days at WDW. I have looked at the the Stars and Stripes, it just seemed more expensive then the 4 day pass. I think I'll go add the 4 day pass, plus the 1 day ticket and see what I come up with.

Also...those 4 day tickets...they don't include the parkhopper, right?

Again, I greatly appreciate all your help on here!

No, on the $165 deal, it is only for 4 major park (MK, Epcot, DHS, AK) days. You can do 4 major parks and 4 times at the water parks or DisneyQuest.

Check with the ITT/MWR office on post and see if they may offer other discounts or tickets that might fit your needs.

The Stars and Stripes is more expensive, depending on what you want out of your trip. We are going for 8 days in January and have bought each of us (2) 4 day hoppers and will use them back to back, we may add the water parks/Disney Quest option for $27 each once we get there.

Well the 4 day for $138 either comes with the hopper option or the Water park option, so yes you are right on that one.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

So basically, I can't get the $165 deal, and do 6 days at WDW and 2 days at water parks, right?

If Sea World DOES end up extending that deal, then I guess buying the 5th day ticket isn't really an issue. We were just pretty set on going for 5 days at WDW. I have looked at the the Stars and Stripes, it just seemed more expensive then the 4 day pass. I think I'll go add the 4 day pass, plus the 1 day ticket and see what I come up with.

Also...those 4 day tickets...they don't include the parkhopper, right?

Again, I greatly appreciate all your help on here!

Just my two cents, but I'd suggest re-thinking the Seaworld part of your trip. Sea World is a great park, but you could probably have a great trip just visiting Disney parks. At EPCOT the kids will get to see the sea life and aquarium kinds of stuff- granted it's not like visiting Sea World, but you might save some money by sticking to Disney parks and not traveling to other parks.

Just a thought...

 

[VirataMama4]

So basically, I can't get the $165 deal, and do 6 days at WDW and 2 days at water parks, right?

If Sea World DOES end up extending that deal, then I guess buying the 5th day ticket isn't really an issue. We were just pretty set on going for 5 days at WDW. I have looked at the the Stars and Stripes, it just seemed more expensive then the 4 day pass. I think I'll go add the 4 day pass, plus the 1 day ticket and see what I come up with.

Also...those 4 day tickets...they don't include the parkhopper, right?

Again, I greatly appreciate all your help on here!

Like PP said you get 4 days at the major parks and 4 days at the minor parks with the $165 ticket, but it does include park hopper. Sorry if I confused you with that before!

The $138 ticket can include park hopper OR the waterparks, so as long as you choose to get park hopper then yes its included in the 4 day $138 ticket.

I would be very surprised if Sea World doesn't extend the 1 day free deal, as they've been doing it for years. My oldest DD loved Sea World even though we went while on our "Disney World vacation."

I know you had your heart set on 5 days at the major parks, but there is so much other stuff you can do besides another day at the major parks and still get the "Disney magic" I hope it all works out for you during planning!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

This is a "canned" response modified for the Armed Forces Salute 2011/2012 tickets with the assumption you have both the Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More (WPF&M) options.

Hopefully this will make it a little clearer. In effect you have two tickets with different privileges on one card. Everything expires at Midnight on Sunday September 30, 2012. Even if you use up all your major park days, the WPF&M entries remain valid until used or 9/30/12. (Note you do not have to use the days consecutively.)

You have four days of access to the four major parks (AK, DHS, EC, MK), and may visit more than one major park on a single day without any extra charges. Without the Park Hopper option you can only go to one major park per day.

You have four entries to the minor parks (BB, DQ, OT, TL, WWS). These may or may not be used on the same days as you go to the major parks. However, if you went to TL in the morning, Oak Trail in the afternoon, and Disney Quest in the evening of one day you would have used three of the four entries. (Note that leaving and returning to the same minor park on the same day does not use an extra entry.)

If you go to minor parks only on one day and do not go to a major park you do not use up one of your major park days.

If you were to go to a Water Park in the morning and then one of the major parks for the remainder of the day you would have used one minor park entry and one day of major park entry.

Note that with the ticket unless you have the hopper option you can only go to one major park per day. Unless you have the WPF&M option you cannot go to a minor park without upgrading or purchasing a separate ticket.

 

[STrusner]

Yay, after a looooooong two year hiatus we are going back to DW in the spring. Whoo Hoo!! So as I re-immurse myself into disboards have a question. I read the sticky and spot checked about 20 pages in this thread and dont see my specific question asked/answered. Is activation still, as it was previously, just the service member activitating at the ticket counter at DW? They are not required to actually enter the park correct? So my brother can puchase 3 tickets for me, hubby and child and 1 for himself (because as I understand it that is required correct? no freebie ticket this year) at his ITT to save the tax, then go with us to DW ticket counter and activiate with all of us present and then we can proceed for the week without him being there correct? I am just trying to start somewhat of a planning process and dont know by the end of it which days he would/could want to go with us so if I need to factor that into my planning now or if it isnt even a factor.

Thanks peeps!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Yes. Once they are activated the service member does not have to accompany the Guests into any park.

 

[becky11]

Yay, after a looooooong two year hiatus we are going back to DW in the spring. Whoo Hoo!! So as I re-immurse myself into disboards have a question. I read the sticky and spot checked about 20 pages in this thread and dont see my specific question asked/answered. Is activation still, as it was previously, just the service member activitating at the ticket counter at DW? They are not required to actually enter the park correct? So my brother can puchase 3 tickets for me, hubby and child and 1 for himself (because as I understand it that is required correct? no freebie ticket this year) at his ITT to save the tax, then go with us to DW ticket counter and activiate with all of us present and then we can proceed for the week without him being there correct? I am just trying to start somewhat of a planning process and dont know by the end of it which days he would/could want to go with us so if I need to factor that into my planning now or if it isnt even a factor.

Thanks peeps!

If your brother lives near WDW, he could actually go to Downtown Disney and buy your (activated) tickets for you and send them to you before you come. Wouldn't even need to be factored into your vacation dates as he doesn't even need to be there when you walk in the gate at that point. And yes, he doesn't get a free ticket - if he's going into the parks, he has to buy a ticket.

Of course, this assumes you'll be coming down and going to the parks before 30 Sep 12, as that's when the current tickets expire.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

I asked this before and did get an answer- the one I was looking for- but now I'm getting concerned....

Does the military member have to purchase a ticket for themselves? My father-in-law is the military member. He does not plan to go into the parks at all. He wants to purchase four tickets for us and activate them. I understand that if he is purchasing 6 tickets one has to be for the military member. I am wondering if since he would only be getting 4 tickets if our plan will work.

The rules on the Disney site seem pretty specific:
No more than twelve (12) Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased, activated and/or used by any Eligible Service Member or spouse during the life of this promotion, and no Eligible Service Member or spouse may purchase, activate and/or use more than six (6) Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets during any single week of the promotion. One (1) of the Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets purchased on each occasion must be for use by the Eligible Service Member or spouse. This offer is for active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Has anyone successfully purchased and used military tickets without the services member purchasing one for him/herself?

 

[appleorchard]

If you're only buying 4 tickets, he does not have to buy one for himself.

 

[ssatterly]

I booked 40% off at the Beach Club and added Military Dining!!! Thank you Disney!!!

What is Miltary dinning?

 

[dimndgal1]

I asked this before and did get an answer- the one I was looking for- but now I'm getting concerned....

Does the military member have to purchase a ticket for themselves? My father-in-law is the military member. He does not plan to go into the parks at all. He wants to purchase four tickets for us and activate them. I understand that if he is purchasing 6 tickets one has to be for the military member. I am wondering if since he would only be getting 4 tickets if our plan will work.

The rules on the Disney site seem pretty specific:
No more than twelve (12) Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased, activated and/or used by any Eligible Service Member or spouse during the life of this promotion, and no Eligible Service Member or spouse may purchase, activate and/or use more than six (6) Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets during any single week of the promotion. One (1) of the Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets purchased on each occasion must be for use by the Eligible Service Member or spouse. This offer is for active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Has anyone successfully purchased and used military tickets without the services member purchasing one for him/herself?

I am not sure he can activate the tickets for the four of you without activating one for himself. I was able to buy/activate tix for DD and myself as a direct dependent but have friends who tried to buy for family and were told the active service member or spouse had to have and activate the tickets. Not 100% but just want to advise.

 

[dmband]

I asked this before and did get an answer- the one I was looking for- but now I'm getting concerned....

Does the military member have to purchase a ticket for themselves? My father-in-law is the military member. He does not plan to go into the parks at all. He wants to purchase four tickets for us and activate them. I understand that if he is purchasing 6 tickets one has to be for the military member. I am wondering if since he would only be getting 4 tickets if our plan will work.

The rules on the Disney site seem pretty specific:
No more than twelve (12) Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased, activated and/or used by any Eligible Service Member or spouse during the life of this promotion, and no Eligible Service Member or spouse may purchase, activate and/or use more than six (6) Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets during any single week of the promotion. One (1) of the Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets purchased on each occasion must be for use by the Eligible Service Member or spouse. This offer is for active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Has anyone successfully purchased and used military tickets without the services member purchasing one for him/herself?

If you're only buying 4 tickets, he does not have to buy one for himself.

he does NOT need one if he isn't going as one of the 4 & his spouse is
he still needs to buy one if he is one of the 4

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Thanks for your responses!

Just to clarify... Neither the military service member or his spouse are one of the 4. The 4 are family members.

 

[Angel Ariel]

IME, the military member or spouse must have a ticket for themselves for activation. The way that rule reads to me is that no matter how many tickets are purchased, one ticket must be for the MM or spouse.