Another Military Ticket Question

[codingkw]

Here's my situation. My daughter's father is active duty military. The scum lives in another state. We are planning a trip to disney. My uncle is a retired Marine. He does not want to go, but would love for us to use his discount. We live in florida so it won't be a problem for me to drive him a couple days before we go and activate our tickets....MY PROBLEM is I have some neices that will be going with us. They will not be with us when we activate them....Is it possible to have him activate the tickets without them present?

 

[codingkw]

I don't want anyone to think I'm trying to scam to save money. My daughter's father is a real piece of work. He neglects her horrible and offers no help. This is the least he could do for us, be he won't so my uncle will.

 

[Ariel on Land]

how old is DD? If her dad is AD and she is old enough for an ID, then you may be able to use her ID. Granted, there are a lot of factors in this situation, that I don't know how to work out- if she's not old enough, or custody arrangements may affect dependency, or if she is old enough, but can't get to a base/post w/ her dad to get an id.... I realize that this may not be a workable solution. Just a thought though.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Official regs state that ALL ticket holders must be present for activation.

That being said, many have reported being able to activate tickets without all present. that does NOT MEAN that you won't be the one person they start enforcing the rules with.
so plan accordingly and don't be pissed if it should happen that the tickets cannot be activated.

 

[LadyZolt]

First, the DD cannot activate tickets as a rule (might be able to talk a CM into it, but I wouldn't count on it b/c the rules explicitly state active duty member or spouse can activate, no mention of other kinds of dependents).

Rule also is that everyone must be present when activating the tickets, but many people have posted that they were able to activate without entire party present. So, I would say go ahead and try it, but just don't count on it as a guarantee. If it happens, great! If not, have another plan in place for the nieces.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Ariel on Land]

oh... sorry about that, didn't know it was only spouses, and not all dependents.

 

[LadyZolt]

Ariel -- no problem. You wrote in your first post that if the DD is "old enough for an ID" card and I just want to explain that if the parents aren't married, even an infant can get an ID card. Usually, if parents are married, the child gets his/her own ID card at age 10. But if the child is a dependent of the military person, he/she qualifies for medical care and shopping on base, etc., whether or not the custodial parent has a military ID card, so that's why you will see very young babies with military dependent ID cards. So, the OP's daughter may very well have a military ID card even if she's under 10 years old.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[codingkw]

Ariel -- no problem. You wrote in your first post that if the DD is "old enough for an ID" card and I just want to explain that if the parents aren't married, even an infant can get an ID card. Usually, if parents are married, the child gets his/her own ID card at age 10. But if the child is a dependent of the military person, he/she qualifies for medical care and shopping on base, etc., whether or not the custodial parent has a military ID card, so that's why you will see very young babies with military dependent ID cards. So, the OP's daughter may very well have a military ID card even if she's under 10 years old.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

My DD does have an ID card. She's 14. Now I know that SOG will allow me to make a reservation in my name for my daughter because she has an ID and is a dependent, but I'm pretty sure that the tickets have to have the Active Duty/Retired person or spouse.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

While we're asking questions...

I was confused by what I read about the tickets. First it said active OR retired and then at the end it said they needed to serve between 2008-2009? So my FIL is NOT eligible b/c he's retired a while (served during Vietnam)? Can someone explain to me...we may just change our dates to sometime in 2009 if he is eligible!

 

[appleorchard]

I was confused by what I read about the tickets. First it said active OR retired and then at the end it said they needed to serve between 2008-2009? So my FIL is NOT eligible b/c he's retired a while (served during Vietnam)? Can someone explain to me...we may just change our dates to sometime in 2009 if he is eligible!
__________________

As long as he's retired--put in his twenty or thirty years, gets retirement pay, has an ID card--he's eligible, no matter when he retired. If he isn't retired, but served for 5 to however many years short of twenty, he's not eligible.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Wow. I don't know if he served 20 years or not. I'll have to find out. He IS retired though.

WHERE on earth do I find the info on these tickets??? I've looked on the disney sight and on the SOG sight and I can't find anything?

 

[ntsammy5]

Wow. I don't know if he served 20 years or not. I'll have to find out. He IS retired though.

If he has a retired ID then he's eligible - if he doesn't have an ID then he's probably not eligible.

 

[LadyZolt]

Here's one site with info:

www.disneyworld.com/military

And here's another one with more info:

http://corporate.disney.go.com/news...rksandResorts/2008/010509_military_offer.html

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[LadyZolt]

My DD does have an ID card. She's 14. Now I know that SOG will allow me to make a reservation in my name for my daughter because she has an ID and is a dependent, but I'm pretty sure that the tickets have to have the Active Duty/Retired person or spouse.

SOG is great! The location is fabulous and the price can't be beat for that locale! Have a marvelous time!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Wow. I don't know if he served 20 years or not. I'll have to find out. He IS retired though.

A lot of people get confused with the difference between being "retired" and being a "veteran." All retirees are veterans, but not all veterans are retirees. If he served a tour or two in Vietnam, he's a veteran, but if he didn't put in at least 20 years, he's not "retired." If he has an ID, can go to the PX and Commissary and uses military healthcare, he's a retiree.

Hope this helps! It's a great deal if you're eligible!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thanks! I called SOG and talked to someone to find out. Apparently this deal is also available for disabled veterans if they are 100% disabled, because they get the same card and benefits as a retiree. SO...we are headed to WDW in 2009 instead of 2010!

 

[LadyZolt]

If he served a tour or two in Vietnam, he's a veteran, but if he didn't put in at least 20 years, he's not "retired." If he has an ID, can go to the PX and Commissary and uses military healthcare, he's a retiree.

I just wanted to add that some people are 100% disabled and therefore didn't serve 20 years, but still have an ID card and these people are also eligible for this ticket offer. People who fall in this category likely know that they do. They can also use the commissary and stuff on base, and they are treated medically by the V.A. so far as I understand it. Hope this helps!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Leajess99]

how old is DD? If her dad is AD and she is old enough for an ID, then you may be able to use her ID. Granted, there are a lot of factors in this situation, that I don't know how to work out- if she's not old enough, or custody arrangements may affect dependency, or if she is old enough, but can't get to a base/post w/ her dad to get an id.... I realize that this may not be a workable solution. Just a thought though.

She does not have to be a specific age for an ID card as they are divorced. Dependents of dual military, single parents, and divorced soldier from mother can have an ID card at any point in their childhood to include infancy. My 2 older kids both had ID cards just after birth and my youngest got her 1st ID card at 6 monthes of age only because we had to wait on father to sign papers to get her on DEERS.

 

[Leajess99]

Thanks! I called SOG and talked to someone to find out. Apparently this deal is also available for disabled veterans if they are 100% disabled, because they get the same card and benefits as a retiree. SO...we are headed to WDW in 2009 instead of 2010!

Actually the ID card is not the same as a retirees. The 100% disabled Vet's ID card is the same color as a Dependent's ID Card but it designates that the person is 100% permanently disabled. 100% Disabled Vets get Px, Commissary, and MWR priviledges. Medical care is handled through the VA hospital except in cases where the VA hospital has a clinic at the local military base as is the case at Ft Knox.

Have fun a Disney World!!!!!!