Disney discounts for State Guard military members?

[SpenderH]

I have a question about Disney World's military discounts. I am an active duty member of the Texas State Guard and would like clarification as to my eligibility for Disney's military discounts. The answer I usually get is "You should be as long as you have a valid military ID which shows active duty status", but I would like something more concrete. The only relevant information I can find is in the "Heads Up" newsletter for the Georgia State Defense Force from March 2009. In it, GSDF members are advised to check out Disney's military discounts if they are planning a trip to Disney World.
For those unfamiliar with State Defense Forces or State Guards, we are formal military units under the control of our respective states. In Texas, the State Guard is organized at the same level as the Texas National Guard. The difference is that State Guard units can never be "federalized", as National Guard units are, into Federal service (ie. fighting overseas). Texas considers us to be identical in terms of eligibility for military discounts, but I can't be sure that Disney agrees. I have the same ID as Texas National Guard units, except the one line which reads "State Guard" instead of "National Guard".
If anyone has used a State Guard or State Defense Force ID to buy attraction tickets or to book Disney resorts at military rates please let me know your experience. I have been waiting for a call back from "Shades of Green", the Disney military resort/ticket office, but they are taking forever to return my call.

Thanks!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

If you have an ID card that gets you into the Px or Commissary, then you should be good. Do you have the white card with your picture and the little chip in it? My husband, but I don't think it actually says Active, but he is active.

The discount is good for Active Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve or those retired after 20 years of service.

I think you will be fine. There is a section on the Shades of Green website that lists all the eligibility requirements to stay there.

 

[POOHsie]

Here's Cheshire Figment's ticket sticky post #17 about eligibility for Military Salute tickets. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29574052&postcount=17

You can also get regular MYW tickets tax-free at Shades of Green.

Here's info from the Disney World site about their military discount for rooms, stating who is eligible. http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....ilitary&name=Promo&promotionCode=fy11military

I have used Disney-Military hotel room discounts by having a DD-1173 ID card as spouse (DH was retired Army).

 

[SpenderH]

I have read Cheshire Figment's sticky and his information does not match what is posted on Disney's website for booking WDW vacations (bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com).

Disney says:

"This offer is for active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard."

Cheshire's post says:

"A service member has a current active duty, including active reserve, or retired ID card from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corp, or Navy. This includes disabled veterans whose ID Card indicates DAVPRM."

His makes no mention at all of the National Guard and makes an explicit list. Disney's own list includes the National Guard and is not explicit about branches included.

I would contend that State Guards are a part of the U.S. military (in fact State Guards are a direct descendant of the early militias fighting in the Revolutionary War and sending troops to the Civil War), just not a part of the Federal U.S. military. We are as military as non-Federalized National Guard units (when are not actively serving in Federal duty), though clearly we are not putting our lives on the line in battle with enemies as our brave fighting forces.

I am not wanting to break any rules or take away something which is intended for people who really earn the discount in Federal service. However, if I can save a good amount of money thanks to the generosity of Disney I would really appreciate it!

 

[dimndgal1]

Shades of Green's ticketing people have always had the most definitive answers for my ticket/discount questions regarding military promotions. Everytime I call Disney, they defer me to my local ITT office or recommend calling Shades, so I've started doing that off the bat.

I see you're waiting for a call back, but I would honestly just call them again -- they can get bogged down in the requests and booking reservations that I find it easier just to call ever so often to expedite a response.

You may want to see if your base ITT has a Travel Agent or Disney specialist who can help you as well. If you can't get to an ITT location, you might want to try to call one of the larger bases and speak to their office. When we were in California, our base had a nonexistent ITT, so I called down to San DIego for all my gouge

Hope that helps!!!

 

[SpenderH]

Thanks. I will try Shades of Green again.

By the way, we are going to WWOHP on 10/10 and 10/11! My kids are super-excited!

 

[Leajess99]

The Military Salute tickets are based off of the Department of Defense ID cards so there is a very strong possibility that you are not eligible.

Even though Cheshire did not explicitely say the National Guard on his list and Disney's does, does not mean that a State guard fits the same. The National Guard can and is activated and deployed overseas when needed. Disney is honestly making this offer due to the war and deployment.

Remember IF you decide to try it, the tickets are nonrefundable (as I was informed yesterday at our local ITR that doesn't even know that 100% Disabled veterans with an ID card are eligible) so you could lose that money. Without having the White CAC card, the tan Dependent ID card, the tan DAVPRM, the Blue retired ID card, and possibly the Red retired ID card, you are probably out of luck.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I don't understand why Disney directs anyone to call ther ITT office or SoG, Disney is the one that sets up the promotions and wehn I call our MWR office (we don't have an ITT office), they don't even have a clue as to what is going on. I know more than they do, which is sad, because I know they are giving out incorrect info to other people.

There is a website, militarydisneytips.com, he would know the answer to your question. He also has a facebook page (Military Disney Tips) and I believe he is on here as well. I go to their page for the most thorough information.

 

[SpenderH]

I don't understand why Disney directs anyone to call ther ITT office or SoG, Disney is the one that sets up the promotions and wehn I call our MWR office (we don't have an ITT office), they don't even have a clue as to what is going on. I know more than they do, which is sad, because I know they are giving out incorrect info to other people.

There is a website, militarydisneytips.com, he would know the answer to your question. He also has a facebook page (Military Disney Tips) and I believe he is on here as well. I go to their page for the most thorough information.

Thanks. I have sent my question to militarydisneytips.com. I tried to get an answer from my local ITT office but they gave a vague response: "As long as you have a military ID you should be okay." I don't want to deal with "should" answers when planning my vacation. Hopefully I will get something definite from my question to militarydisneytips, or a call back from SoG.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Thanks. I have sent my question to militarydisneytips.com. I tried to get an answer from my local ITT office but they gave a vague response: "As long as you have a military ID you should be okay." I don't want to deal with "should" answers when planning my vacation. Hopefully I will get something definite from my question to militarydisneytips, or a call back from SoG.

Good, as I said, most ITT offices don't have a clue. When I called about the tickets last year, she grilled me about how I knew about them.

 

[dimndgal1]

I don't understand why Disney directs anyone to call ther ITT office or SoG, Disney is the one that sets up the promotions and wehn I call our MWR office (we don't have an ITT office), they don't even have a clue as to what is going on. I know more than they do, which is sad, because I know they are giving out incorrect info to other people.

The problem is that if you're looking for answers, your options are limited and if you want to get info from the 'horse's mouth' MWR/ITT are technically the people to talk to. Disney does not actually sell the tickets. From what I unerstand, they consign them to MWR and have them sell the vouchers. I can give the information I know to try to help but it's not guaranteed fact and I wouldn't stake anything on it as I'm just text on a message board (though I do try to be honest).

As for MWR being oblivious, that is sadly true in some cases, but they are the ones doing the consigning. I used to work for a festival that consigned tickets to the greater Washington DC area and my friend worked at ITT in Hawaii. Military ticket consignments are weird because MWR are the ones who set the rules/parameters on who can/can't buy them. Yes, the tickets are Disney tickets, but Disney does not deal with the promotion, nor can you call and order military tickets from them the same way you would order MYW or 3-for-4. In reality, it's like they are sold by MWR who reimburses Disney.

At our base here, the two managers of the ITT office are some of the most knowledgeable I've encountered in the 7 we've seen and had all the answers I could ask for. However, in California, our local ITT was totally clueless about it all and I just would call down to the ITT in San Diego for answers. I've found that the closer an ITT is to a particular attraction, the more they seem to know. When we were in Jacksonville, FL, the ITT there was insanely knowledgeable and had great information... but they were also only 2 hours from Disney.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

The problem is that if you're looking for answers, your options are limited and if you want to get info from the 'horse's mouth' MWR/ITT are technically the people to talk to. Disney does not actually sell the tickets. From what I unerstand, they consign them to MWR and have them sell the vouchers. I can give the information I know to try to help but it's not guaranteed fact and I wouldn't stake anything on it as I'm just text on a message board (though I do try to be honest).

As for MWR being oblivious, that is sadly true in some cases, but they are the ones doing the consigning. I used to work for a festival that consigned tickets to the greater Washington DC area and my friend worked at ITT in Hawaii. Military ticket consignments are weird because MWR are the ones who set the rules/parameters on who can/can't buy them. Yes, the tickets are Disney tickets, but Disney does not deal with the promotion, nor can you call and order military tickets from them the same way you would order MYW or 3-for-4. In reality, it's like they are sold by MWR who reimburses Disney.

At our base here, the two managers of the ITT office are some of the most knowledgeable I've encountered in the 7 we've seen and had all the answers I could ask for. However, in California, our local ITT was totally clueless about it all and I just would call down to the ITT in San Diego for answers. I've found that the closer an ITT is to a particular attraction, the more they seem to know. When we were in Jacksonville, FL, the ITT there was insanely knowledgeable and had great information... but they were also only 2 hours from Disney.

We don't even have an ITT office, MWR refers us to the Travel agency on base who doens't have a clue, they said they have to wait to get the promo info from Disney. I have gotten better info from here.

 

[SpenderH]

Yippee! I finally managed to get through to the Shades of Green ticket office and they confirmed explicitly that active State Guard members are eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute. I probably annoyed the woman because I asked her if she was certain and she confirmed it.

Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[Steve TLT]

Thanks for the recommend PrincessSuzanne!

I didn't notice this post. But Spencer emailed me today and then found his answer while I was still at work. He got right through to SoG tickets, you usually have to leave a message.

Steve

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Thanks for the recommend PrincessSuzanne!

I didn't notice this post. But Spencer emailed me today and then found his answer while I was still at work. He got right through to SoG tickets, you usually have to leave a message.

Steve

I am so glad it worked out for you.

Steve, I knew it was your page, I just couldn't find a post so I gave him the info I knew I could find. I have learned alot from your site. Thank you.

 

[SpenderH]

Thanks for the recommend PrincessSuzanne!

I didn't notice this post. But Spencer emailed me today and then found his answer while I was still at work. He got right through to SoG tickets, you usually have to leave a message.

Steve

I actually left two messages at SoG the last two days but they never called me back. I had also called three other times when it went directly to voicemail but I hung up without leaving a message. Finally it went straight through and someone answered.

 

[SpenderH]

Just to follow up on this thread, I had no problem using my Texas State Guard military ID to buy discounted military tickets at Disney World. I bought them at the Epcot main gate in a fairly quick (5 minutes) transaction. I also got 35% off our moderate resort stay though they never checked my ID there. Things were so hectic during our check-in that I was never asked to show my military ID.
We had an awesome time, and the discount made it even more enjoyable for me, though I doubt the kids cared either way.

My thanks to Disney for giving our military members a discounted option for enjoying precious time with their families! We'll be back!

 

[POOHsie]

I'm pleased to read your follow-up, that all went well. Also glad you enjoyed your stay and want to return. Yes, the military discounts are nice. I thank Disney, too.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I am so happy to hear you had such a great experience and that everything worked out for you.

I love tha tDisney offers us military something special, it is allowing us to stay in a Deluxe in January for our Anniversary.

 

[SpenderH]

June 2018 update : Just got 3-Day park hopper military tickets at Disneyland with my Texas State Guard (TXSG) ID and I'm very grateful!