Military Discount

[fly girl]

But that would require the ticket sellers to know random geographical distances. I doubt that they have that knowledge.

I doubt they would either unless it's in the computer when they enter all our information. It was a far reach, I know.

 

[lalasmama]

My co-worker is at the ticket box right now and he just texted me saying that they do not offer military discounts at the gate. He was tomd by the CM He/we have to go to an MWR office on a military/uniformed services base for discounted tickets.

Unless something has changed since June, that is not true. We purchased military salutes tickets at the front entrance of the DL parks. Husband showed ID and the 3 day parkhoppers were in our hands in under 5 minutes.

If it is the other type of military discount tickets maybe those cannot be purchased st the gate. But Military Salutes can.

For hotel discounts you have to call to book at that rate and show ID upon check in. Well worth the call to save a lot!!

Bolding above is mine.

I wonder if the wrong words are being used. "Military Salute" is the magic phrase for the (essentially) half-priced tickets. Personally, I've bought Salutes twice a year for 4 years at the park windows (latest being mid-June). "Military Discount" tickets are not available at the gates. Often people use the two interchangeably, but they are very different.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Bolding above is mine.

I wonder if the wrong words are being used. "Military Salute" is the magic phrase for the (essentially) half-priced tickets. Personally, I've bought Salutes twice a year for 4 years at the park windows (latest being mid-June). "Military Discount" tickets are not available at the gates. Often people use the two interchangeably, but they are very different.

Are the "Military Salute" tickets not sold at a discount?

 

[3monkeys4me]

I would really hope that CM that heard Military discount ticket instead of Military salute ticket would at least question further to make sure which tickets were being requested before turning someone away. Both at the ticket booth and city hall.

 

[livbeatles]

We just left Disneyland today and had purchased our Military Salute tickets at the check-in desk of the Disneyland Hotel on Monday (31 July). Three out of the four past years we've bought them at check-in.

Are the "Military Salute" tickets not sold at a discount?

Yes, the Military Salute tickets are a discount (and a ridiculously large one, at that) but I believe what the other poster was trying to emphasise/clarify was the difference in terms, between the discount program (Military Salute) and just the nominal ongoing discount they otherwise.

 

[SMD]

I would really hope that CM that heard Military discount ticket instead of Military salute ticket would at least question further to make sure which tickets were being requested before turning someone away. Both at the ticket booth and city hall.

If someone asked for a lead at the ticket booth and they didn't try to clarify, then I agree. But GS CMs at City Hall aren't ticketing experts, so I wouldn't expect them to try to resolve that issues. Especially once the guest is inside the park, and therefore has a ticket.

 

[lalasmama]

Are the "Military Salute" tickets not sold at a discount?

Salutes are approximately half-priced 3 and 4 day park hopper tickets that require the service member or spouse to be there on the day of 1st use. They are part of a so-far-annually-renewed program, that could end at the end of any fiscal year. They are supposed to be limited to 6 tickets per service family (6 between service member and spouse).

Regular military discount tickets are something like $20 off the regular priced ticket, only available at MWR or its branch equivalent, and does not require service member/spouse to be there on the first day. There's no limit to the number of these a service member can buy.

 

[MilitaryMouse]

Check out MilitaryDisneyTips.com. My family has relied on that website for years and it's always given us correct (and the most up to date) information

 

[Sergio S]

You're gonna have to forgive me as I write this because I'm beat from being in Disney all day, but I need to get this off my chest. So if something doesnt make senss, I'll clear it up later.

As I was sitting on Main Street resting from my day of endless magic and waiting for the family to finish shopping (FYI...boots are NOT the choice of footwear for Disney), a Lead CM (something to do with guest experiences) saw me wearing my AF hat and engaged me in conversation while I waited. We had a good chat about military life and such and I found out he was prior AF himself. I asked if he knew about military tickets. Turns out he does! I told him my situations and he apologized for what happen, and he took my info to see what he can do for me. However, he did clear up a few things:

1. Yes there are military discount tickets but they can only be purchased at military and uniform installations (didn't know there was a difference). Typically though, there just a "hair" under the gate price and usually only good for one day and usually one park.

2. Military Salute tickets "can" be purchased at the gate but only certain boxes have them and its usually a hit or miss depending on time and day. Ticket CMs should, in general, know what to do when a request is made for one and they don't have them. They should call a Sup or lead over who would then guide the member to the correct box and after verifying creditals (usually ID and/or orders) can allow them to purchase salute tickets. Unless they know they are within 50 miles (more about that in a min). Our situation was just a perfect storm of not going to the correct box at the right time, not having a well knowledged CM or Sup to assist us...City Hall here I come!

3. So, if a member is assigned within 50 miles, then they are "suppose" to go to their MWR/ITT at the nearby bases/posts (LA AFB and Huntington Beach) or HR at the uniform installation/office (im still confused what he meant). Local bases/posts and installations keep track of the number of tickets sold and need that number to be high for justification purposes which can lead to future promos and discounts from Disney.

4. Here's the side note about the 50 mile rule...its "suppose" to be enforced but its not. (Unlike the rule where CM must always be smiling or cheerful that is always enforced). A ticket CM can ask where you are assigned and check it. Yet, majority of the time a CM does not have time to go to Google Maps and see how far a military/uniform installation is from DLR. (But they can if they really want to be a stickler about it). So why is it that rule there? Aside for accounting purposes...its to also help justify the job of the MWR/ITT employees. Which are basically like travel agents and slowly a dying breed (his opinion).

5. Here's one problem with enforcing the 50 mile rule...think of all the military/uniformed employees that don't work on an installation or a base (recruiters and MEPS were mentioned) or those that don't have an MWR/ITT (Los Alamitos Army Air Field). Is it fair to send them away to a location they are probably not familar with to get these tickets? To the member, of course not and why hold up a member when all they want to do is have fun? Therefore, they can purchase Salute tickets even though assigned within 50 miles. So its a rule thats overlooked a lot. However...

6...to many CMs it is still a rule. And there are some CMs that follow rules to a T and ENFORCE rules in order to make themselves look better infront of sups/leads (like the ones who snitch on others who aren't smiling...yes it happens a lot) in order to get a chance to move up in the chain. So yes, it is possible for members to be denied the right to purchase Military Salute tickets at the gate if it is determined by the CM or Sup/lead they are assigned within 50 miles of DLR...but what would stop members who can say "I'm assigned at (insert name) base/post...over 50 miles away." ?

7. Yet, Disney brass might start enforcing the50 mile rule more because in the past, local military members were abusing the privilege( similar to the wheelchair abuse that was going on). The Salute tickets are highly discounted compared to other offers. And the rule states that up to 6 tickets can be purchased. So military member would buy six and then walk in with "supposely family members" (yes he did a parenthess in the air) but it turns out later that the military member had sold them off second hand.

8. However, the Disney hotels ALWAYS have them. And since 99% of guests staying in the Disney area are from out of town, then members can easily pick them up with little to no trouble then at the gate.

BTW...if you ever get a chance...talk to a CM!!!