2010 Armed Forces Salute

[Order66]

Just back from a long and somewhat hot trip last night. Here was my experience with the tickets, hopefully it will answer some questions others have.

I'm a spouse of an active reservist. Active drilling....not activated. I have the red ID card of a reservist dependent. I went with just my 2 sons, my husband didn't join us. He's not a disney every year kinda guy.....but I forgive him.

My 2 sons (both 10) and I did a volunteer activity and had GAD vouchers. I exchanged those at the will call at MK for 3 military salute tickets with hopping and pluses paying only the difference + tax. I then purchased the other 3 with hopping only to use for the 3 of us again. No problems.

So yep, I was able to purchase all 6 tickets as a spouse and use 2 per person to give us 8 days total, plus 4 WPFM entries. I also had a 1 day unused ticket left over and used that towards the purchase of my second ticket, bringing my grand total for tickets to just about $545. Great deal.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

This isn't a response to any particular post, but in general. I'm afraid after this year, it's going to be a long, long, long time before Disney offers the Military any other specials like this. It seems like nobody is happy with just one ticket each for four days that shows the appreciation to the military member and their family and guests....seems so many want to find a loop hole or backdoor to find ways to get double what it was intended for. I have a feeling they are letting all these people get these extra tickets just to get rid of them, so they don't have to hassel with it any more. I feel for the people working at SoG that have to deal with people's scheming everyday.

It never occured to me last year, when I spent 10 days at WDW for my honeymoon, to try to get another set of tickets....I was so greatful for the generous offer of five days.

I was hoping the offer would be extended again to the end of the year, so we could use them when we go during F & W...but at this rate, they'll probably be sold out by then. I wonder if anyone who got these extra tickets thought to thank the Service Member for their years of service and sacrifice, or even spared them a second thought when they saved 100s of dollars?

Please take time to thank your sponsoring service member today.

 

[appleorchard]

This isn't a response to any particular post, but in general. I'm afraid after this year, it's going to be a long, long, long time before Disney offers the Military any other specials like this. It seems like nobody is happy with just one ticket each for four days that shows the appreciation to the military member and their family and guests....seems so many want to find a loop hole or backdoor to find ways to get double what it was intended for. I have a feeling they are letting all these people get these extra tickets just to get rid of them, so they don't have to hassel with it any more. I feel for the people working at SoG that have to deal with people's scheming everyday.

It never occured to me last year, when I spent 10 days at WDW for my honeymoon, to try to get another set of tickets....I was so greatful for the generous offer of five days.

I was hoping the offer would be extended again to the end of the year, so we could use them when we go during F & W...but at this rate, they'll probably be sold out by then. I wonder if anyone who got these extra tickets thought to thank the Service Member for their years of service and sacrifice, or even spared them a second thought when they saved 100s of dollars?

Please take time to thank your sponsoring service member today.

Were you around last year? There was way more crazy stuff about all this then than there is now! I think you're somewhat misinterpreting some posts though; most people aren't trying to get extra tickets; there's really no way to get more than the allotted number per service member. They're also not going to "run out"--there's not a set number to sell, so if you go before Sept 30, you can certainly use them.

Many people here--not all, but many--are closely related to the service member and most definitely spare them a "second thought" every single day. Many people here are spouses who deal with separation and all the hassles that come with military life all the time. Most people are looking for a way to maximize this benefit, not cheat the system.

My only problem with the tickets was one actually created by service members, who bought more than they needed for a family trip and then sold them on ebay to make money. However, considering what many servicemen and women are paid, I can't blame them too much for making a few extra bucks this way, even though I consider it to be wrong.

Seriously, most people go to Disney for more than 4 days, and as some people have pointed out, it's cheaper to buy a 7 or 8 day pass than the military ticket and another 4 day pass. If you can use 2 tickets each, Disney gets your food and trinket money for more days. Which, of course, is why they're doing this, not to warm the hearts of the military. Don't get me wrong, I love Disney, but I"m not naive about their motives lol.

 

[edk35]

This isn't a response to any particular post, but in general. I'm afraid after this year, it's going to be a long, long, long time before Disney offers the Military any other specials like this. It seems like nobody is happy with just one ticket each for four days that shows the appreciation to the military member and their family and guests....seems so many want to find a loop hole or backdoor to find ways to get double what it was intended for. I have a feeling they are letting all these people get these extra tickets just to get rid of them, so they don't have to hassel with it any more. I feel for the people working at SoG that have to deal with people's scheming everyday.

It never occured to me last year, when I spent 10 days at WDW for my honeymoon, to try to get another set of tickets....I was so greatful for the generous offer of five days.

I was hoping the offer would be extended again to the end of the year, so we could use them when we go during F & W...but at this rate, they'll probably be sold out by then. I wonder if anyone who got these extra tickets thought to thank the Service Member for their years of service and sacrifice, or even spared them a second thought when they saved 100s of dollars?

Please take time to thank your sponsoring service member today.

I don't think people are posting on here about cheating the system for these Salute tickets either. They will not run out either..these are not like the GAD passes.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Were you around last year? There was way more crazy stuff about all this then than there is now! I think you're somewhat misinterpreting some posts though; most people aren't trying to get extra tickets; there's really no way to get more than the allotted number per service member. They're also not going to "run out"--there's not a set number to sell, so if you go before Sept 30, you can certainly use them.

Many people here--not all, but many--are closely related to the service member and most definitely spare them a "second thought" every single day. Many people here are spouses who deal with separation and all the hassles that come with military life all the time. Most people are looking for a way to maximize this benefit, not cheat the system.

My only problem with the tickets was one actually created by service members, who bought more than they needed for a family trip and then sold them on ebay to make money. However, considering what many servicemen and women are paid, I can't blame them too much for making a few extra bucks this way, even though I consider it to be wrong.

Seriously, most people go to Disney for more than 4 days, and as some people have pointed out, it's cheaper to buy a 7 or 8 day pass than the military ticket and another 4 day pass. If you can use 2 tickets each, Disney gets your food and trinket money for more days. Which, of course, is why they're doing this, not to warm the hearts of the military. Don't get me wrong, I love Disney, but I"m not naive about their motives lol.

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I was around last year....in fact, this is where I first learned of the tickets (before my ITT even did) Last year, the same people were allowed to buy them, but only for the people in their party...names had to be associated with them (no more than one ticket per person) and the parties IDs had to be shown with the ticket when they were activated.....and the sponsor had to be there too (whether it be the wife, the servicemember, whoever was allowed to purchase) They wouldn't sell two tickets under one person's name. Let's say GI Joe purchased five tickets...one for Mama, one for little sis, one for little brother, one for Baby Joe, and one for wife. Mama, little sis, little brother, wife, and Baby Joe had to show their ids and activate their tickets with GI Joe. We were going to buy a friend one last year, but my husband had to be with her to activate it, and it just wasn't possible.

I apologize if I misinterpreted...what I meant by extra tickets was more than one ticket per person. I guess we could have gotten two 5-day tickets each for our honeymoon, and then two more five-day passes for when we went to Food & Wine later in the year. Just wouldn't seem right.

I my retired Army soldier, and pray everyday for men I know that are in Afghanistan and Iraq....they are the ones that make this little bit of Disney magic possible. Thank you all on Disboards that serve or served in the United States Armed Forces!!!!!!

 

[POOHsie]

If the Service Member is not present, the only person who can activate the tickets is a person whose DD1173 either indicates "Spouse" or "Unremarried Widow" ...

I have a concern about the above line from post #413 from Cheshire Figment, dated May 20, 2010. He uses the term "Unremarried Widow." My Retired Army husband passed away Sept. 22, 2009. A week later, I got a new DD 1173 (ID Card). On the front of the ID Card stating "Relationship," I am NOT identified as URW (Unremarried Widow). I am labeled DB (Deceased Beneficiary). This is the regular (beige) dependent ID card, nothing out of the ordinary.

I called the issuing office about this, and I was told that it was changed from URW to DB because of complaints from widows, who didn't like that label.

I don't foresee any problems at SoG when I purchase my tickets. But I am concerned that Disney is up-to-date about this. I don't want to have any problems when I check-in with my ID Card for the military 40% off room I reserved.

 

[appleorchard]

I agree with you, Tink! Standing behind all the soldiers, active duty and retired, all the way.

You're right, the tickets did start out the way you said, but Disney couldn't enforce it--they were showing up on Ebay, and people were buying them for friends and family to use later on without them. I think Disney just kind of caved in on it--too much to enforce.

Since everyone and their brother did it last year, we used two each this year. If you have another trip coming up before the promo ends, by all means do it. you're not hurting Disney, and you're not doing anything wrong, since Disney is allowing it. Disney mostly just wants your money, one way or another lol.

Have fun at Food and Wine!

 

[edk35]

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I was around last year....in fact, this is where I first learned of the tickets (before my ITT even did) Last year, the same people were allowed to buy them, but only for the people in their party...names had to be associated with them (no more than one ticket per person) and the parties IDs had to be shown with the ticket when they were activated.....and the sponsor had to be there too (whether it be the wife, the servicemember, whoever was allowed to purchase) They wouldn't sell two tickets under one person's name. Let's say GI Joe purchased five tickets...one for Mama, one for little sis, one for little brother, one for Baby Joe, and one for wife. Mama, little sis, little brother, wife, and Baby Joe had to show their ids and activate their tickets with GI Joe. We were going to buy a friend one last year, but my husband had to be with her to activate it, and it just wasn't possible.

I apologize if I misinterpreted...what I meant by extra tickets was more than one ticket per person. I guess we could have gotten two 5-day tickets each for our honeymoon, and then two more five-day passes for when we went to Food & Wine later in the year. Just wouldn't seem right.

I my retired Army soldier, and pray everyday for men I know that are in Afghanistan and Iraq....they are the ones that make this little bit of Disney magic possible. Thank you all on Disboards that serve or served in the United States Armed Forces!!!!!!

Hmmmm we used these 5 day tickets last year too. We purchased 4 and had the free one of course too since we are a family of 5. Now when we activated them at DTD the only I.D's they asked for was my husband's and mine. Our youngest son didn't even have an I.D. yet and while we had our older children's I.D's they didn't ask for those. I don't remember having a name associated with each ticket. Maybe so... not sure.

I don't know why you feel "it wouldn't be right"????? If every military member is allowed to purchase 6 then why would it not feel right?? If they didn't want people doing this they would say ONE ticket per person PERIOD. Meaning....if you are a family of 2, 4 or 6 that is what your family will be allowed during this promotion. It would be quite easy for them to track if they entered the names in during activation. Also, my father is retired military and so is my husband's father. So technically we could go two more times using this same promotion. We are not but we could. I would not feel guilty. It is not like we are using someone's or preventing another military member from getting tickets because we bought 6 instead of 5. I don't get what you are implying or trying to say for people who are using their allotted 6 tickets.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I have a concern about the above line from post #413 from Cheshire Figment, dated May 20, 2010. He uses the term "Unremarried Widow." My Retired Army husband passed away Sept. 22, 2009. A week later, I got a new DD 1173 (ID Card). On the front of the ID Card stating "Relationship," I am NOT identified as URW (Unremarried Widow). I am labeled DB (Deceased Beneficiary). This is the regular (beige) dependent ID card, nothing out of the ordinary.

I called the issuing office about this, and I was told that it was changed from URW to DB because of complaints from widows, who didn't like that label.

I don't foresee any problems at SoG when I purchase my tickets. But I am concerned that Disney is up-to-date about this. I don't want to have any problems when I check-in with my ID Card for the military 40% off room I reserved.

You will be fine! We took advantage of the 40% room discount last year at the Beach Club during Food & Wine Fest. They didn't even ask for our military ID cards. Bth either way, I doubt if the resort would be familiar enough with military ID cards to know the difference anyway.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Hmmmm we used these 5 day tickets last year too. We purchased 4 and had the free one of course too since we are a family of 5. Now when we activated them at DTD the only I.D's they asked for was my husband's and mine. Our youngest son didn't even have an I.D. yet and while we had our older children's I.D's they didn't ask for those. I don't remember having a name associated with each ticket. Maybe so... not sure.

I don't know why you feel "it wouldn't be right"????? If every military member is allowed to purchase 6 then why would it not feel right?? If they didn't want people doing this they would say ONE ticket per person PERIOD. Meaning....if you are a family of 2, 4 or 6 that is what your family will be allowed during this promotion. It would be quite easy for them to track if they entered the names in during activation. Also, my father is retired military and so is my husband's father. So technically we could go two more times using this same promotion. We are not but we could. I would not feel guilty. It is not like we are using someone's or preventing another military member from getting tickets because we bought 6 instead of 5. I don't get what you are implying or trying to say for people who are using their allotted 6 tickets.

I see your point. I could technically get probably a year's worth of tickets with all the active duty military personnel I know myself.
Well, maybe just 3 1/2 months worth since they expire soon.

 

[edk35]

I see your point. I could technically get probably a year's worth of tickets with all the active duty military personnel I know myself.
Well, maybe just 3 1/2 months worth since they expire soon.

Of course you would have to get all those active duty peeps to fly to WDW and activate them.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I agree with you, Tink! Standing behind all the soldiers, active duty and retired, all the way.

You're right, the tickets did start out the way you said, but Disney couldn't enforce it--they were showing up on Ebay, and people were buying them for friends and family to use later on without them. I think Disney just kind of caved in on it--too much to enforce.

Since everyone and their brother did it last year, we used two each this year. If you have another trip coming up before the promo ends, by all means do it. you're not hurting Disney, and you're not doing anything wrong, since Disney is allowing it. Disney mostly just wants your money, one way or another lol.

Have fun at Food and Wine!

Thank you. I agree with you about Disney just kind of caving, which is why I predict they won't offer another promotion anytime soon. Thanks for the fun wishes...I can't wait!! My DH can't take all the time off, so me & DS are going for 4 days, then DS is flying home and DH is flying in, and we are going to spend 4 days by ourselves for F&W. Poor me, I have to go to MNSSHP twice

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Of course you would have to get all those active duty peeps to fly to WDW and activate them.

Somehow it doesn't sound like such a bargain any more!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have a concern about the above line from post #413 from Cheshire Figment, dated May 20, 2010. He uses the term "Unremarried Widow." My Retired Army husband passed away Sept. 22, 2009. A week later, I got a new DD 1173 (ID Card). On the front of the ID Card stating "Relationship," I am NOT identified as URW (Unremarried Widow). I am labeled DB (Deceased Beneficiary). This is the regular (beige) dependent ID card, nothing out of the ordinary.

I called the issuing office about this, and I was told that it was changed from URW to DB because of complaints from widows, who didn't like that label.

This is the first I had heard of this. I am sure that Disney is not up to the latest changes. However, I would expect that if a person were to come to my window to activate or purchase Armed Forces Salute tickets and I saw a code I did not recognize in the "Relationship" field I would ask, and you would have no problem.

Before retirement, my late wife and I were both Federal employees, and we would state to people: "Before dealing extensively with The Walt Disney Company we thought we worked for the largest bureaucracy in the world."

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Before retirement, my late wife and I were both Federal employees, and we would state to people: "Before dealing extensively with The Walt Disney Company we thought we worked for the largest bureaucracy in the world."

 

[Order66]

There is no loophole or backdoor. Disney IS allowing each service member or their spouse to purchase up to 6 tickets and there is not a restriction on the number of tickets one person may use. And the fact that you have to BE a service member or a spouse (who I will say we do our own kind of sacrificing each and every day as well) to even purchase the tickets.....I'm pretty sure nobody is being blown off just to save a few dollars.

I simply posted my experience because there was confusion on the part of the spouse being able to purchase and activate 6 tickets. It was fairly clear that 1 person could use multiple tickets. I just confirmed that this was in fact true in my experience. Last year there was 1 ticket reserved for the service member because it was free. The spouse could purchase up to the 5 companion tickets. Because this year there is no free ticket it was worded in such a way that the spouse could purchase up to 6....but some reports said it was still only 5 for the spouse. This was not my experience and I posted it for any other spouses that may be traveling without their service member.

Last year Disneyland in CA also had a similar offer and my husband, myself, my 2 sons and my mother took advantage of that. We had a reason to visit CA last spring and extended it into a 6 day trip to visit Disneyland for 3 days. Later in the fall I took my sons and my mother to WDW on a bounceback I had booked the previous year and purchased the military passes for the 4 of us as well. It was also not "cheating the system" to have 2 trips with this discount. Disney said we could take advantage of the offer at both parks as they were 2 separate offers. I was also told both this year and last that there is no restriction on the number of times you may book the resort discount with the military discount code. You can come 20 times is what I was told. Only the tickets were limited to 6.

Now, since Disney made it clear that 1 person could use multiple tickets I did. Had they clearly stated the opposite, I would have purchased 3 tickets, used our GAD tickets for a 5th day and considered a few days offsite to one of the other (gasp) competing Orlando theme parks. We did do one day at Sea World, since it was also free for military families and for that I was restricted to 3 one day passes. And well........that's all we did. One day, just me and my 2 children. I took nothing more than what I was allowed. But since I was allowed to have all 6 tickets for the 3 of us, Disney got my money for 10 days at the resort, 10 days of the dining plan and a couple hundred dollars worth of things we really didn't need to buy. I also know that this discount was offered to fill rooms and increase spending.....not create warmy fuzzy American feelings. Good PR for them, but I'm very appreciative of the discount anyway. If you feel it's wrong to take advantage of the offer more than once, even though it's not against any Disney rules, by all means...do not. But don't be so judgmental to those of us who are staying within the boundaries Disney has set forth.

I personally think Disney will not offer it again for a very long time, only because they have done it now two years in a row. The economy is supposedly improving and they have stated that discounts will be scaled back. The first time we went to WDW as a couple was right after Desert Storm when my husband was also offered a free ticket (and a discount for mine) for his service in the Middle East. That was a very long time between using military discounts for Disney. If we return next year I won't be expecting anything. But I will take advantage of any discount I am entitled to take to maximize my trip for my dollars, military or not.

regards

 

[POOHsie]

You will be fine! We took advantage of the 40% room discount last year at the Beach Club during Food & Wine Fest. They didn't even ask for our military ID cards. Bth either way, I doubt if the resort would be familiar enough with military ID cards to know the difference anyway.

You are probably right. Just anxious to begin my Disney trip in Sept., and I am starting to worry about trivialities!

Originally Posted by Cheshire Figment
This is the first I had heard of this. I am sure that Disney is not up to the latest changes. However, I would expect that if a person were to come to my window to activate or purchase Armed Forces Salute tickets and I saw a code I did not recognize in the "Relationship" field I would ask, and you would have no problem.

Before retirement, my late wife and I were both Federal employees, and we would state to people: "Before dealing extensively with The Walt Disney Company we thought we worked for the largest bureaucracy in the world."

Thanks so much for the time you spend answering these questions. If I had read the DIS forums last Fall, I would have learned that I could get the 40% room discount myself. Disney erroneously told me I was not entitled as sponsor widow. This cost me money. I also did not know to buy more than one Armed Forces Salute ticket per person. I am now informed.

The ID Card identifies my late husband under Sponsor Service/Status as USA/RETDEC. That provides a big clue, in case of questions by an overeager novice. I am a firm believer in your quote. The biggest thing I have learned in my time reading the DIS forums is, "If confronted with a rule which you interpret one way and a Disney employee interprets another way, ask to speak to another Disney employee for a completely new interpretation. Then proceed to Supervisor level for satisfaction."

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

You are probably right. Just anxious to begin my Disney trip in Sept., and I am starting to worry about trivialities!



Thanks so much for the time you spend answering these questions. If I had read the DIS forums last Fall, I would have learned that I could get the 40% room discount myself. Disney erroneously told me I was not entitled as sponsor widow. This cost me money. I also did not know to buy more than one Armed Forces Salute ticket per person. I am now informed.

The ID Card identifies my late husband under Sponsor Service/Status as USA/RETDEC. That provides a big clue, in case of questions by an overeager novice. I am a firm believer in your quote. The biggest thing I have learned in my time reading the DIS forums is, "If confronted with a rule which you interpret one way and a Disney employee interprets another way, ask to speak to another Disney employee for a completely new interpretation. Then proceed to Supervisor level for satisfaction."

Hope you have a nice vacation....we never would have tried the Beach Club, had it not been the 40% discount. Do you mind if I ask which resort you chose? Even when they don't offer the discounts, the SoG is a truely lovely place to stay.

 

[POOHsie]

Hope you have a nice vacation....we never would have tried the Beach Club, had it not been the 40% discount. Do you mind if I ask which resort you chose? Even when they don't offer the discounts, the SoG is a truely lovely place to stay.

We always go to POR, either Riverside or French Quarter. FQ this time. We like the tranquil grounds, 2 different food courts, many pools and, the best feature, the boat to Downtown Disney. This resort really has it all!

I have stayed at Shades of Green. The rooms are Huge and the resort is top notch! But at my husband's rank, it is better to use the 40% off Disney rooms discount. And I like being in the Disney transportation loop.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

We always go to POR, either Riverside or French Quarter. FQ this time. We like the tranquil grounds, 2 different food courts, many pools and, the best feature, the boat to Downtown Disney. This resort really has it all!

I have stayed at Shades of Green. The rooms are Huge and the resort is top notch! But at my husband's rank, it is better to use the 40% off Disney rooms discount. And I like being in the Disney transportation loop.

Sounds lovely!! I'll have to check it out!