Bridging Military Salute Tickets?

[Elevationist]

Thanks for clarifying! I was going nuts trying to track down info for next year.

My pleasure! I was hoping to prevent folks from taking off on a wild goose chase across the interwebz.

 

[POOHsie]

...
Current speculation from those of us who work in this field is that the announcement regarding 2016's military tickets will most likely happen sometime in mid to late October 2015. Again, this is only speculation.

Steve at Military Disney Tips wrote that this year's Military Discount offer was extended because there wasn't enough time for bases to receive tickets, then turn around and sell then, before the renewal discount program began around October 1st. Military families who were buying the "late arrival" tickets had a small window of time to make FP+ reservations.

Well, if the renewal of the Military Discount program is announced in mid-October then it's the same "late" situation for families wanting to visit WDW as soon as the new discount period starts in late December-early January.

 

[subtchr]

Steve at Military Disney Tips wrote that this year's Military Discount offer was extended because there wasn't enough time for bases to receive tickets, then turn around and sell then, before the renewal discount program began around October 1st. Military families who were buying the "late arrival" tickets had a small window of time to make FP+ reservations.

Well, if the renewal of the Military Discount program is announced in mid-October then it's the same "late" situation for families wanting to visit WDW as soon as the new discount period starts in late December-early January.

I completely agree. Steve seems to think it will be sooner than that, although of course even he is speculating.

We were considering a trip in January, but I was afraid the announcement would come too late to book a good resort with the discount. So we chose to come the second week in December instead. Staying at AKL, we are saving over $1000 off rates available to the general public, so we will take that.

 

[POOHsie]

I completely agree. Steve seems to think it will be sooner than that, although of course even he is speculating.

We were considering a trip in January, but I was afraid the announcement would come too late to book a good resort with the discount. So we chose to come the second week in December instead. Staying at AKL, we are saving over $1000 off rates available to the general public, so we will take that.

I had a bad experience with booking this year's Military Discount stay. Booked CSR and Ft Wilderness Cabins in January. The rooms fell in the current Military Discount period, except the last 3 nites at Ft Wilderness. When the Military Discount extension was announced in late June, I called right away to get the discount for those last 3 nites. Lady told me it was no-go, because she had to book the entire Ft Wilderness reservation over and there wasn't availability.

I read that Disney is starting to do this now, not applying a discount after you've booked, instead re-booking you. Anyway, I wrote an email to Disney Guest Services and after going thru a few people, got a CM in Guest Recovery who granted me the last 3 nites at the discount rate. But this is ominous for the future. I'd have to consider 2 bookings -- for current discount period and one for (hoped-for) next discount period. The Cabins at full price is out of the question. And waiting to book until the new Military Discount program is announced would probably mean Ft Wilderness Cabins would already be booked full, most especially a handicap cabin that we require.

 

[Elevationist]

Steve at Military Disney Tips wrote that this year's Military Discount offer was extended because there wasn't enough time for bases to receive tickets, then turn around and sell then, before the renewal discount program began around October 1st. Military families who were buying the "late arrival" tickets had a small window of time to make FP+ reservations.

Well, if the renewal of the Military Discount program is announced in mid-October then it's the same "late" situation for families wanting to visit WDW as soon as the new discount period starts in late December-early January.

The new discount program will not begin in late December. The last two weeks of December are always blacked out for these tickets. When the program renews, it will begin the first few days of January.

As for Steve's speculation about the "late" tickets situation, we're coming up close on that at this point anyhow. We're already in mid-September. People can't even book their resorts at military rates for early next year, and most hold out for that, so the FP+ window is a moot point until they can. Myself and my colleagues all agree that the current promotion was mostly extended, not for FP+, but in order for Disney to get off of this Oct-Sept cycle for the program, and reset it so that next year's program runs on a calendar year instead, making it easier everybody involved to keep track of.

All that being said, historically the announcement about a new year's promotion comes appx. 2.5 months prior to the end of the current one. Since the current promotional rates/tickets will end Dec. 20, it's reasonable to expect an October announcement.

And believe me... If it's this month, as Steve's predicting, then I will be MORE THAN HAPPY to be completely wrong in this case. I have my own reservations for next year that have been made at Rack rate, and I'm itching to get the military discount applied before availability gets too slim!

 

[POOHsie]

The new discount program will not begin in late December. The last two weeks of December are always blacked out for these tickets. When the program renews, it will begin the first few days of January.

As for Steve's speculation about the "late" tickets situation, we're coming up close on that at this point anyhow. We're already in mid-September. People can't even book their resorts at military rates for early next year, and most hold out for that, so the FP+ window is a moot point until they can. Myself and my colleagues all agree that the current promotion was mostly extended, not for FP+, but in order for Disney to get off of this Oct-Sept cycle for the program, and reset it so that next year's program runs on a calendar year instead, making it easier everybody involved to keep track of.

All that being said, historically the announcement about a new year's promotion comes appx. 2.5 months prior to the end of the current one. Since the current promotional rates/tickets will end Dec. 20, it's reasonable to expect an October announcement.

And believe me... If it's this month, as Steve's predicting, then I will be MORE THAN HAPPY to be completely wrong in this case. I have my own reservations for next year that have been made at Rack rate, and I'm itching to get the military discount applied before availability gets too slim!

Actually, I would believe your theory above a theory to help Military guests with room discounts and FP+. That's just not how businesses operate. If the program moved to a calendar year, that would help me. I could book in January and get the whole stay at discount rate. We choose that period to do MNSSHP at Military Discount and F&W.

 

[Robo]

I think we aren't supposed to link websites...

If you mean on this board, you definitely can link to sites.

 

[crostorfer]

It is very unlikely, unfortunately. All military priced tickets need to be purchased on an active military base.

Actually that isn't true. You can buy them at any ticket window just like a regular ticket. The only difference is that at the window, you pay tax, while on base you do not. You can also buy them tax free at Shades of Green, across the street from the Polynesian.

 

[BrokeMack]

Steve at Military Disney Tips wrote an extensive article on how to choose the best ticket based on length of stay. He addresses all of this in that article. I wrote a supplement to that article for Florida residents that Steve just posted. All of your answers can be found there.