FIL wants to purchase military discount tickets for us, but...

[skatalite]

Hey there!

My wife and I are planning on taking two of my kid cousins to Disneyland in October for their first trip ever. While discussing it with my father-in-law, he said he would buy tickets for us using his military discount. However, he won't be going with us.

As I tried to explain to him DLR's policy he kept telling me about this friend and that friend who gift tickets to family members and the family members never have issue getting into the parks.

Can someone clear this up for me? If we're gifted tickets that were purchased using a military discount, will we be turned away at the gates if the purchaser/military ID holder isn't accompanying us? I'm almost certain we will, but wanted to make sure (and also have proof to show him).

Thanks, all!

 

[Sweeney1996]

The tickets have to be activated by the person that is authorized to buy them. They must hold a military ID card. They can be an active duty person, reserve, retired, or the spouse who they themselves hold the ID card.

I have purchased military tickets for family members that were accompanying us to visit, my husband had to activate their tickets.

 

[ehrawn]

nope. MIL ID card holder needs to be at the gate and every time until the photograph gets attached to the paper ticket. This sometimes doesn't occur the first time you go through the gate if it's too busy.

 

[Sweeney1996]

Photograph? We haven't been since 2012, and are going again in 57 days, but we have never been photographed. They look at our id's at the window where we have to activated the passes, and then(this was before magic bands), they gave us the same card every other park hopper person had. Once our tickets were activated, you could not distinquish that we were military from any other guest in the parks. I am being told this is the same for the magic bands. We have our military tickets in MDE, linked to our package, will get them activated on first day, then they will link to our magic bands and we use our magic bands from there on out.

 

[skatalite]

That's what I thought, based on everything I've read. Glad to get it confirmed, thanks!

 

[Girimama33]

Photograph? We haven't been since 2012, and are going again in 57 days, but we have never been photographed. They look at our id's at the window where we have to activated the passes, and then(this was before magic bands), they gave us the same card every other park hopper person had. Once our tickets were activated, you could not distinquish that we were military from any other guest in the parks. I am being told this is the same for the magic bands. We have our military tickets in MDE, linked to our package, will get them activated on first day, then they will link to our magic bands and we use our magic bands from there on out.

This is a Disneyland Thread, not WDW. There are no Magic Bands here...only tickets. The CM's at the turnstiles will photograph guests in order to tie the photo to their ticket. The photo only comes up when a CM scans it...the tickets will still look the same.

 

[bellazachmom]

Does he want to purchase you the Armed Forces Salute Tickets or just the discounted DL tickets from the base ITT/MWR office?

 

[heidica]

Does he want to purchase you the Armed Forces Salute Tickets or just the discounted DL tickets from the base ITT/MWR office?

It wouldn't matter. We have purchased both and regardless of which type the military member with ID had to be there to activate on the first day of use or the military spouse with their ID. When my husband was deployed, we made a trip to DLR with my parents and I bought everyone a military discounted 5 day ticket and everyone had to be with me on the first day and I had to show my military ID. The adults had to show their driver license as well. Once the tickets were activated, I was no longer required to be with them and they came and went as they pleased.

 

[bellazachmom]

That's interesting ~ we have only needed to activate our Armed Forces Salute tickets, never our discounted ones.

In fact, we would have our IDs out and ready to go and were always told just to put them away. We didn't purchase them last year, however, we purchased discounted APs from our base and just activated them at the turnstiles at the GC. We were prepared with IDs and to go to the main gates if necessary, but were pleasantly surprised when they handled it all at the GC entrance to CA.

Consistency obviously isn't a big priority!

 

[Angrose]

It wouldn't matter. We have purchased both and regardless of which type the military member with ID had to be there to activate on the first day of use or the military spouse with their ID. When my husband was deployed, we made a trip to DLR with my parents and I bought everyone a military discounted 5 day ticket and everyone had to be with me on the first day and I had to show my military ID. The adults had to show their driver license as well. Once the tickets were activated, I was no longer required to be with them and they came and went as they pleased.

A few years ago we had a friend get us his military discounted tickets. He did not come with us to the parks, so no military ID shown and we didn't have any problems. They looked just regular tickets that you print out when buying online from Disney. They were not Salute tickets. The ones we got did not have a huge discount, it was maybe $10 off each ticket.

 

[bellazachmom]

The ones we purchase on base now, besides the Armed Forces Salute tickets, are eTickets.

I wonder if that was what made the difference for us.

 

[heidica]

Consistency obviously isn't a big priority!

Yes! But that was our experience and this was in Fall 2012. Hopefully it has changed because it would make it easier but I remember having to show them my ID and then specify which 5 people we were activating tickets for. This is what one of the tickets looked like. I bought it had the MWR at my local base and they gave me 5 of these. On the bottom right corner of the page it says "military", so I figure that is what triggered the CM to ask for my ID. If you didn't look closing and just scanned it, I could see how that would be missed.
ETA - again this was NOT a Military Salute ticket, just a discounted 5 day ticket.

 

[momof4fans]

I've been to Disneyland twice(2011 and 2013) using tickets purchased at the MWR office of NAS Fallon, NV. I'm not military and neither is anyone in my family. Civilian employees of the military and employees of military contractors like Chugach, Lockeed, etc may purchase these tickets at a slight discount. You do not need military ID to use them.

 

[momof4fans]

Yes! But that was our experience and this was in Fall 2012. Hopefully it has changed because it would make it easier but I remember having to show them my ID and then specify which 5 people we were activating tickets for. This is what one of the tickets looked like. I bought it had the MWR at my local base and they gave me 5 of these. On the bottom right corner of the page it says "military", so I figure that is what triggered the CM to ask for my ID. If you didn't look closing and just scanned it, I could see how that would be missed.View attachment 101905
ETA - again this was NOT a Military Salute ticket, just a discounted 5 day ticket.

My tickets looked just like these and said military on the bottom. We had no problems using them and like I said, we are not military. In fact my husband doesn't even work on base. His secretary's husband works for Chugach and he buys them for us. Lots of non-military people from Fallon use them. I may have had to show my drivers license but I can't remember. Sadly, the discount is really shrinking. In 2011 it saved me $250 over Disneyland prices for 6 4 day park hoppers. This year the savings would only be $32 for 6 tickets. I might as well buy them from Way.com. It would save me about $100.

 

[bellazachmom]

I noticed the shrinking discount, too!

It sure was nice while it lasted, but I guess they don't need the discounts to fill the parks anymore. Sigh.

 

[Angel Ariel]

You do not need to have military ID if you are using military discount tickets available at ITT offices. You *do* need military ID if you're buying the specific Armed Forces Salute tickets (the 3 day park hoppers).

 

[skatalite]

Thanks for all of the replies, everyone. My FIL was specifically talking about the 3-day hoppers, so the Salute tickets.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

From the Disneyland website:
Disneyland Resort is saluting active and retired U.S. military personnel by offering Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets. You can visit both theme parks each day of your ticket!
Purchase from August 25, 2014 through October 1, 2015 — and receive admission on any 3 days for just $132. Valid for admission from September 28, 2014 through October 3, 2015, excluding the following blockout dates:

• December 25, 2014 through January 4, 2015
• March 29, 2015 through April 9, 2015

• Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased at participating U.S. military sales outlets ONLY by Eligible Service Members (defined below) or their spouses (but not both), for use by themselves and other family members and friends, as provided herein. These Tickets may not be otherwise transferred, distributed or resold.

• "Eligible Service Members" are active & retired members of the U.S. Military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.

• The actual prices charged at the individual U.S. military base ticket offices for Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be less than the prices set forth above.

• Participating military sales outlets must require that Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) present valid military identification to purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets.

• Tickets expire and may not be used after October 3, 2015. Each day of use constitutes one full day of use. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.

• No more than six (6) Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased and (if applicable) activated by any Eligible Service Member or spouse (regardless of the place of purchase and whether purchased by that person or that person's spouse). In addition, one of the six (6) Tickets purchased must be used by the Eligible Service Member or his/her spouse.

• Each Disney Military Promotional Ticket must be used by the same person on any and all days.

• Tickets are not valid for Magic Morning early entry admission.

• May not be combined with other ticket discounts or promotions. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial purposes.

• Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

 

[momof4fans]

I noticed the shrinking discount, too!

It sure was nice while it lasted, but I guess they don't need the discounts to fill the parks anymore. Sigh.

So true! I'm glad I got in on the big discount when it was around. Now I'm fighting my head about Way.com haha!