Armed Forces Salute tickets questions...

[DisBuckMan]

Just wanting some clarification, please. I've read through the military Disney page, but want confirmation on the Armed Forces Salute tickets...

My brother is retired National Guard, so I know he qualifies.

My wife, sister-in-law (retired NG brother's wife), and a friend are going to a conference in late January in Orlando, and plan to work in a few Disney days beforehand. They'll be staying in a DVC resort on our membership.

I realize that an Armed Forces Salute package for 2017 has not been announced yet, and there are no guarantees, but for the purpose of this, let's assume that it will be in place like it has been the past several years.

Questions...

Brother won't be with them, but I'm guessing that his wife being there (with her id she uses to shop on base, etc) will qualify them to use the Armed Forces Salute tickets?

Wife and SIL will be arriving on Saturday, while their friend won't arrive until Sunday. I know they'll have to go to guest services to activate the tickets...will this require two trips, one for Saturday to activate the first two tickets for my wife and SIL, then another on Sunday for their friend...or can all 3 be activated on Saturday?

Can the tickets be purchased ahead of time on-base (NAS Pensacola would be the preferred location), online and shipped, or do they have to be purchased at SOG?

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Just wanting some clarification, please. I've read through the military Disney page, but want confirmation on the Armed Forces Salute tickets...

My brother is retired National Guard, so I know he qualifies.

My wife, sister-in-law (retired NG brother's wife), and a friend are going to a conference in late January in Orlando, and plan to work in a few Disney days beforehand. They'll be staying in a DVC resort on our membership.

I realize that an Armed Forces Salute package for 2017 has not been announced yet, and there are no guarantees, but for the purpose of this, let's assume that it will be in place like it has been the past several years.

Questions...

Brother won't be with them, but I'm guessing that his wife being there (with her id she uses to shop on base, etc) will qualify them to use the Armed Forces Salute tickets?

Wife and SIL will be arriving on Saturday, while their friend won't arrive until Sunday. I know they'll have to go to guest services to activate the tickets...will this require two trips, one for Saturday to activate the first two tickets for my wife and SIL, then another on Sunday for their friend...or can all 3 be activated on Saturday?

Can the tickets be purchased ahead of time on-base (NAS Pensacola would be the preferred location), online and shipped, or do they have to be purchased at SOG?

His wife should be able to to qualify. Getting them from NAS Pensacola travel is iffy. The office there is closed a lot and getting someone on the phone is a pain (unless they have hired new people). Her best bet would be to get them at Shades of Green. I understand they are already activated if purchased there.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Going by what the rules are now:

If the wife has a Spouse ID, she can purchase or activate Salute tickets.

All parties need to be present to purchase or activate Salute tickets, at least according to the letter of the rules, but some CMs make exceptions. Shades of Green may have its own policy on this if you're buying from them, but I only know the rules I'm supposed to follow at a ticket booth.

Lots of military bases have a specific office for recreation that sells stuff like this - I don't know the name, I've never been in the military. Google tells me that Pensacola has a "Tickets & Travel" office, though. If you buy on a base, you get certificates that have to be activated upon arrival at the parks. Shades of Green sells, to the best of my knowledge, activated and ready-to-go tickets. You can also buy Salute tickets at the park ticket booths, but we have to charge you tax, which bases and SOG don't.

 

[verleniahall]

Have them call any base Leisure and Travel - they may have to pay a small shipping fee, but they will be able to confirm service and mail them out. They will probably have to make two trips to Guest Services to activate them.

I don't know if they are already activated at SOG or not -

the ones you can purchase on base or SOG are cheaper because the ticket booths cannot give you a military discount - we tried that a couple years ago

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

the ones you can purchase on base or SOG are cheaper because the ticket booths cannot give you a military discount - we tried that a couple years ago

Ticket booths can sell the Salute ticket, but SOG and bases are cheaper because we have to charge tax. We just can't sell military discounted standard MYW tickets. Those aren't in our computer system.

 

[verleniahall]

wow - totally different info!! Good to know though for next time! Was told that we would have to drive over to SOG for any type of miltiay ticket

 

[AnnieLytical]

If you order from SOG, the tickets are already activated. They will ship them to you for $10. You can immediately connect them to MDE, and setup fast passes at 60/30 days depending on where you are staying. There is no need to go to Guest Relations if you order from SOG.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Thanks for the responses, folks. Another question...when do they normally come out with next year's AFS deals?

 

[DisBuckMan]

If you order from SOG, the tickets are already activated. They will ship them to you for $10. You can immediately connect them to MDE, and setup fast passes at 60/30 days depending on where you are staying. There is no need to go to Guest Relations if you order from SOG.

Sounds like the easiest thing to do.

 

[AnnieLytical]

Thanks for the responses, folks. Another question...when do they normally come out with next year's AFS deals?

I think historically, they were released in June and July.

 

[AnnieLytical]

Sounds like the easiest thing to do.

Yes, just call them, leave a message (they never answer). They will call you back and email you a form and you'll need to email back the form and copies of IDs. Pretty simple. Tickets are Fedex and arrive fast.

 

[FreesiaE]

My brother bought tickets for himself and the family like two weeks ago at SOG. We did not need to be present, and they are already activated, no one needed to show ID at the mickeys. We stayed off property as well.

 

[eagles]

Just be aware of the order form. There is not a actual spot for telling them which ticket you want. They will automatically send the Park Hopper tickets. If you want the water park option write that out on the line. Example: 4 Day Salute w/Water Park

Just call SOG leave msg (they do answer but rarely) and they will call you back. The whole process does not take long. Tickets are already activated.

 

[margot31]

Even buying tickets at ITT you can still set them up on your MDE and make fast passes.

I purchased the 4 day park hoppers at my local ITT office put them on the MDE and set my fast passes. All I had to do when I fully arrived was truly activate the tickets at Guest Relations.

 

[DisBuckMan]

If you order from SOG, the tickets are already activated. They will ship them to you for $10. You can immediately connect them to MDE, and setup fast passes at 60/30 days depending on where you are staying. There is no need to go to Guest Relations if you order from SOG.

Sooooo...what's to stop military members from ordering for just anyone without them being there if there's no need to activate when you arrive at WDW?

 

[AnnieLytical]

Sooooo...what's to stop military members from ordering for just anyone without them being there if there's no need to activate when you arrive at WDW?

Hopefully, morals?

 

[DisBuckMan]

Hopefully, morals?

Yeah, one would hope.

I'm kinda surprised Disney would ship such heavily discounted tickets already activated, though.

 

[wilkeliza]

Sooooo...what's to stop military members from ordering for just anyone without them being there if there's no need to activate when you arrive at WDW?

The fact they can only order so many and I believe that due to the way it is written if a military member is caught it would not look so good on their military record and could cause issues since it is considered a misuse of their ID.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yeah, one would hope.

I'm kinda surprised Disney would ship such heavily discounted tickets already activated, though.

It isn't Disney doing it. When you buy direct through Disney they come unactivated. Shades Of Green is who decided to sell them activated. They are a US recreation base not owned or operated by Disney.

 

[AnnieLytical]

The fact they can only order so many and I believe that due to the way it is written if a military member is caught it would not look so good on their military record and could cause issues since it is considered a misuse of their ID.

This too. Plus, I assume Disney could ask for a military ID to be produced. I personally am not going to be giving away my Salute Tickets, I'm using them!