Activated Military Tickets Bought at Shades

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I am hoping this is true: it would be a giant step forward for SOG!! We are grateful that Disney offers the discounted Salute tickets, but we've always dreaded the wait in line at Guest Relations to have them activated. Considering that all adults had to show ID, and we had to provide names and DOB for the children, I am very surprised that Disney no longer requires activation.

For what it's worth, entering demographics (name/address/DOB for each person) to activate Salute tickets hasn't been necessary for a little over a year. All that CMs have to enter now is the name, DOB, and base/installation of the service member and the # of tickets being activated. We don't check ID anymore for anyone but the service member, either.

 

[sharonabe]

I thought that the member only had to be present at activation?
After that they could go their separate ways if they wanted to?

That is true, but the member had to be their at activation (and still does if you buy them anywhere but SoG). So, yes, a member who lives in the area COULD get the tickets and sell them to friends if they wanted to, but I doubt it's been done very often, if at all. Being able to get them ready to go from SoG now makes that a possibility for EVERY military member across the nation. The odds of "cheating the system" go way up with this change.

 

[capegirl]

I also find it a little strange, considering that there has been a major change in policy, there was never any 'official' announcement stating that ticket activation was no longer required. Mailed tickets included a notice that the tickets were activated, but when I purchased our emailed tickets a couple of weeks ago, there was nothing in the SOG email indicating a change, the SOG representative who called me to complete the sale said nothing about it, and their website still indicates Military Salute tickets need to be activated. Had I not stumbled upon this thread I would never have known about this until I checked into SOG.
Granted it's not a really big deal, but as the family planner, I have always incorporated the actual ticket activation into our arrival day plans. Guess I can cross this off our list. Anyway, it would be nice if SOG updated their website so everyone will be informed.

 

[TeamH5]

That is true, but the member had to be their at activation (and still does if you buy them anywhere but SoG). So, yes, a member who lives in the area COULD get the tickets and sell them to friends if they wanted to, but I doubt it's been done very often, if at all. Being able to get them ready to go from SoG now makes that a possibility for EVERY military member across the nation. The odds of "cheating the system" go way up with this change.

I wasn't actually referring to it in this manner. The post above my question mentioned that the guest could be asked to provide ID on any day while entering the park and the member had to be present each time. That's not the case. They only have to be there at activation. So say we activate, and one day me and my daughters want to go to Epcot for Frozen ever after and the boys head to HS for Jedi training.. My Member husband doesn't HAVE to be with us upon entry to the park if he's already activated the ticket for us.
I would think it would be entirely to much hassle to buy tickets, resell them but have to show up to activate them. Not worth it.

 

[Momtwofour]

We were at Disney last June and our Military Salute tickets which is the 4 day hopper pass had to be activated prior to using them. We did this at Downtown Disney the night before. The other tickets we purchased through SOG which were the Stars and Stripes tickets or Magic your Way tickets, which are for length of stay and they all came activated. Maybe this is where the confusion is?? There are actually 3 types of tickets you can buy at SOG.
None have to be activated to link to your MDE.

 

[Momtwofour]

I also find it a little strange, considering that there has been a major change in policy, there was never any 'official' announcement stating that ticket activation was no longer required. Mailed tickets included a notice that the tickets were activated, but when I purchased our emailed tickets a couple of weeks ago, there was nothing in the SOG email indicating a change, the SOG representative who called me to complete the sale said nothing about it, and their website still indicates Military Salute tickets need to be activated. Had I not stumbled upon this thread I would never have known about this until I checked into SOG.
Granted it's not a really big deal, but as the family planner, I have always incorporated the actual ticket activation into our arrival day plans. Guess I can cross this off our list. Anyway, it would be nice if SOG updated their website so everyone will be informed.

I don't think I was ever told the salute tickets needed to be activated either. I actually think I read it here.

 

[PSULion]

We were at Disney last June and our Military Salute tickets which is the 4 day hopper pass had to be activated prior to using them. We did this at Downtown Disney the night before. The other tickets we purchased through SOG which were the Stars and Stripes tickets or Magic your Way tickets, which are for length of stay and they all came activated. Maybe this is where the confusion is?? There are actually 3 types of tickets you can buy at SOG.
None have to be activated to link to your MDE.

It has changed since last June. Currently, if you buy a Military Salute 4 day hopper from SOG, it DOES NOT have to be activated.

 

[Momtwofour]

So if you get the ticket from SOG (which I did in advance) we do NOT need to have them activated at GR? We just go straight to a turnstile and scan finger?

Our Salute tickets last June had to be activated. I would double check w SOG before you head to the parks.
I think there is some confusion because the Stars and Stripes tickets do not need to be activated.

 

[PSULion]

Our Salute tickets last June had to be activated. I would double check w SOG before you head to the parks.
I think there is some confusion because the Stars and Stripes tickets do not need to be activated.

IT HAS CHANGED. I, and quite a few others, have recently used SALUTE tickets from SOG without needing to activate them. The only confusion is that it's been a year since you did this, and they changed the process in the meantime.

 

[Momtwofour]

IT HAS CHANGED. I, and quite a few others, have recently used SALUTE tickets from SOG without needing to activate them. The only confusion is that it's been a year since you did this, and they changed the process in the meantime.

I apologize. I seem to have misspoken. I have been emailing with them about my up coming trip and the information still included that they needed to be activated. I will be sure to clear this up with them
Thanks!

 

[capegirl]

I apologize. I seem to have misspoken. I have been emailing with them about my up coming trip and the information still included that they needed to be activated. I will be sure to clear this up with them
Thanks!

Yes, outdated information from SOG is leading to all of the confusion. They need to post an official announcement on their website, and they should also alert people to the policy change when they purchase Salute tickets.

 

[Karla07559]

I think the new policy of selling you the activated tickets helps a lot more than it hurts. I get that it can be taken advantage of but really no system is perfect and it certainly helps a ton with the FP+ reservations that need to be booked. If someone in the military is making a quick buck off this shame on them but I doubt that is a prevalent problem.

Btw for those of you reading this for information on Salute tickets in general, we were able to purchase ours from a base near our home town (in California). It took about 3 weeks to arrive after time of purchase but they were able to mail them directly from the base to our home address instead of us having to drive back there. I was able to link them using the ticket number without any problems. The ticket is a small green ticket. That was just our experience and my personal opinion.

 

[PSULion]

I think the new policy of selling you the activated tickets helps a lot more than it hurts. I get that it can be taken advantage of but really no system is perfect and it certainly helps a ton with the FP+ reservations that need to be booked. If someone in the military is making a quick buck off this shame on them but I doubt that is a prevalent problem.

It doesn't "help" with booking Fastpasses at all. In years past I had no trouble using my unactivated vouchers to make FP+ at 60 or 30 days out, depending on where we were staying.

The problems were when people were traveling close to the renewal dates for the discount and couldn't get ANY tickets in time for FP. It had nothing to do with whether they were activated or not.

 

[sharonabe]

Yes, outdated information from SOG is leading to all of the confusion. They need to post an official announcement on their website, and they should also alert people to the policy change when they purchase Salute tickets.

Perhaps the possibility of misuse is the reason they aren't posting it on the website. One of the PPs said there was a note in with their tickets that told them they were active and they would not need to activate them, so they are giving out information, but only once you receive the tickets.

 

[Joe White]

At SOG now. My tickets were already activated.

 

[eagles]

Not sure where to post this, but it has to do with SOG tickets. In my MDE acct, I have the Salute tickets assigned to each person. When we actually get to the park and enter the turnstile will it matter then which ticket goes with what person? I understand that once you go thru with a ticket it is your ticket.

 

[capegirl]

Not sure where to post this, but it has to do with SOG tickets. In my MDE acct, I have the Salute tickets assigned to each person. When we actually get to the park and enter the turnstile will it matter then which ticket goes with what person? I understand that once you go thru with a ticket it is your ticket.

Yes it does matter if you have already assigned the tickets to each person in your MDE account. You can write each person's name on the tickets with a sharpie so they won't get mixed up.

 

[PSULion]

Not sure where to post this, but it has to do with SOG tickets. In my MDE acct, I have the Salute tickets assigned to each person. When we actually get to the park and enter the turnstile will it matter then which ticket goes with what person? I understand that once you go thru with a ticket it is your ticket.

It technically wouldn't matter the first time... They wouldn't really know if you were using the "right" one or not. The gate folks wouldn't know which of my sons was which. But you're right that the same person has to keep using the same ticket, AND FP are linked to them too, so you want everyone to have the ticket that links to the right FP. Like PP said above, just sharpie everyone's name on the back.

 

[eagles]

It technically wouldn't matter the first time... They wouldn't really know if you were using the "right" one or not. The gate folks wouldn't know which of my sons was which. But you're right that the same person has to keep using the same ticket, AND FP are linked to them too, so you want everyone to have the ticket that links to the right FP. Like PP said above, just sharpie everyone's name on the back.

Thank you. That is what I was asking if the gate Cm's would know if I was using the ticket assigned to me in my MDE. So the first time going thru it doesn't matter. But thereafter it does. Got it. Thank you.

 

[jhoannam]

Will SOG mail you tickets if you aren't staying there? I was going to order mine from Camp Pendelton since we don't live near a base but I would rather buy activated tickets if all possible.