Disney's Military Salute Ticket Conflicting Answers

[justtobeme2]

My nephew who lives in Fla and has a season pass is going to join us (1 adult 2 kids who've never been) at Disney so he offered to get military salute tickets which were are thrilled with btw and I come from a military family (father retired, brother retired, nephew retired, bil retired). Anyway, since it's the first time for the two kids (my neighbor kids whose mother has had brain tumor and cancer, I'm trying to do something nice for them and mom can;t go but is thrilled for her kids. Anyway my nephew and his grandchild are going to join us after driving in but he won't want to be there when they open and these kids being their 1st time and disney closing at 6 for mnsshp which we can't afford I think we need to be there at opening but he will be a few hours later. Calling shades they said he has to be there first time even if tickets are activated is this true?

 

[Christine]

Yes, it's true.

The military member has to be present when you activate your tickets for use.

If the tickets are purchased at Shades by your nephew, I believe those tickets are activated at the time of purchase.

If the tickets are purchased elsewhere or for a time well before the actual trip, on your first park day you have to go to the will call area of the park with the party AND the military member and activate the tickets.

 

[ejdmomma]

Here is my experience from spring break: My father in law purchased military salute tickets over the phone from Shades of Green. He was told on the phone that he would need to be with us for the first entry (even though the were already activated). So we all entered together for the first day. No one checked his ID or treated this first entry any different than any of the other times we entered.

Also did you know the military salute ticket is a park hopper? I'm assuming you are planning to go to the magic kingdom the first day. You could go to a different park when the Halloween party starts. Just a thought.

 

[sharonabe]

Anyway my nephew and his grandchild are going to join us after driving in but he won't want to be there when they open and these kids being their 1st time and disney closing at 6 for mnsshp which we can't afford I think we need to be there at opening but he will be a few hours later. Calling shades they said he has to be there first time even if tickets are activated is this true?

Once the tickets are activated, you're good to go with or without him. Sounds like Shades is trying to "cover their butt" since the tickets they send out are already activated and could essentially be used by anybody. The people at the gate will only see a valid ticket; they won't know to even ask for the military member.

 

[Momto2boysSC]

I have a spouses ID card and plan to get the military tickets at our MWR. It's for me and my sister to go. Does my husband, the actual retiree, need to be with us when we activate tickets? At Disney?

 

[MrsPrice]

I have a spouses ID card and plan to get the military tickets at our MWR. It's for me and my sister to go. Does my husband, the actual retiree, need to be with us when we activate tickets? At Disney?

No- If you have your dependent ID then you can activate the military ticket.

 

[brockash]

If the tix are already activated (if you activate at Disney somewhere you all have to be there) - I believe you can also buy them from Shades already activated. Once theyre activated and you're actually going to a park you 100% do NOT need the military member present. We're military and use them each year and this has always been the case at Disney World.

 

[MrsPrice]

Every time we have initially activated our military tickets one of has had to have a Military ID either active duty or dependent.

 

[DLgal]

Have him order them from Shades of Green. They will ship them already activated. Just make sure he does it with enough time to send them to you, so you can link them to your MDE.

I promise you, if you do it this way, he will NOT have to be with you on your first entry. I use these tickets all the time with friends and never once have they asked for military ID on the first entry. They DO still ask at Disneyland, but not at WDW, and especially not if you are using magic bands for entry.

 

[Momto2boysSC]

Thank you all!

This is my first time going without my husband and kids. I am coming with just my sister, and boy, have things changed since I was there 7 years ago with the family! I might just make you all my experts on Disney!

I am worried about the magic bands fitting. My sister is a tiny whisp of a woman (HATE HER FOR THAT ;-) while I am the opposite - the bands of an apple watch or fitbit JUST barely fit my wrist. Will either of us have trouble with the magic bands?

 

[sponica]

Thank you all!

This is my first time going without my husband and kids. I am coming with just my sister, and boy, have things changed since I was there 7 years ago with the family! I might just make you all my experts on Disney!

I am worried about the magic bands fitting. My sister is a tiny whisp of a woman (HATE HER FOR THAT ;-) while I am the opposite - the bands of an apple watch or fitbit JUST barely fit my wrist. Will either of us have trouble with the magic bands?

There's part of the band that's removable to fit kids, I did that with my MB, I'm sure your sister can do that. I have no experience at the other end of the spectrum

 

[justtobeme2]

Thank you all!

This is my first time going without my husband and kids. I am coming with just my sister, and boy, have things changed since I was there 7 years ago with the family! I might just make you all my experts on Disney!

I am worried about the magic bands fitting. My sister is a tiny whisp of a woman (HATE HER FOR THAT ;-) while I am the opposite - the bands of an apple watch or fitbit JUST barely fit my wrist. Will either of us have trouble with the magic bands?

I can promise you they will fit your wrist. I am not sure about your sisters.

 

[KateD496]

One of the salute tickets is supposed to be used by either the military member or their spouse.

 

[sharonabe]

One of the salute tickets is supposed to be used by either the military member or their spouse.

True, but if the military member already has an AP, which the OP's does, then using them for family and friends is still legit.

 

[wilbret]

Echo all of the above. We use Shades of Green every trip. They just need to be activated.
Granddad (military member) only spends a day in the park with us, the other days are just us, not military members.
Same with Universal. Activated the tickets at the hotel, and they never even entered the park with us the first day.

 

[jhoannam]

We've used activated tickets 3 times now from Shades, we haven't had to show ID since they started sending activated tickets.

 

[purple figment]

I am worried about the magic bands fitting. My sister is a tiny whisp of a woman (HATE HER FOR THAT ;-) while I am the opposite - the bands of an apple watch or fitbit JUST barely fit my wrist. Will either of us have trouble with the magic bands?

I'm pretty sure you'll both be fine. I measured one of my Magic Bands and the inner circumference when the ends are snapped together are from just under 6 inches (child's wrist holes) to 9 inches (using the last two holes). They also sell fobs/puck holders that you can hang from a purse, belt loop, lanyard or anything convenient if you don't want to wear the MB on your wrist.

 

[DLgal]

One of the salute tickets is supposed to be used by either the military member or their spouse.

This has never been enforced by anyone any of the years they have had this offer. We routinely buy 6 tickets every year and none are for my husband (active duty) or me.