Military Discounts Questions

[hollypoast]

I'm helping a friend plan a trip and I have searched for these answers with no luck. Can anyone help me with the following questions:

-She was part of the Army Reserve. Does she qualify for the Jan/Sept discount?
-How and where does she purchase tickets? (in advance so she can link to MDE)
-What proof/id does she need?
-It seems that Salute tickets are only offered for 4 days. Correct?
-She is planning a trip for January 2017. When are these tickets typically released for sale?
-What else should she consider? Other resources for her to use in planning?

TIA!

 

[gwynne]

I'd suggest she call Shades of Green. They should be able to answer her eligibility and other questions.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I'm helping a friend plan a trip and I have searched for these answers with no luck. Can anyone help me with the following questions:

-She was part of the Army Reserve. Does she qualify for the Jan/Sept discount?
-How and where does she purchase tickets? (in advance so she can link to MDE)
-What proof/id does she need?
-It seems that Salute tickets are only offered for 4 days. Correct?
-She is planning a trip for January 2017. When are these tickets typically released for sale?
-What else should she consider? Other resources for her to use in planning?

TIA!

For the rooms at Shades of Green, when they make the offer to veterans (not necessarily retired, just those that have served), she would have to produce a DD214. I don't keep up with SoG promotions, so I don't know if they still offer that in Jan/Sept, but continue to check their website. A retired (served 20 years or more, or medically retired) servicemember can stay anytime.

She could purchase tickets from Undercover Tourist in advance if she wanted to be able to link to MDE. SoG is not considered on-site, so she would only have the standard 30 days to make FP+ selections.

Military Salute tickets are only 4 day tickets. To get them she would have to be retired military, not just a veteran, and produce a valid military ID. If she just served 4-6 years, she's not eligible. Details are not out for 2017. Same goes for the Disney resort military discounts.

www.militarydisneytips.com is a good resource.

 

[smiths02]

I'm helping a friend plan a trip and I have searched for these answers with no luck. Can anyone help me with the following questions:

-She was part of the Army Reserve. Does she qualify for the Jan/Sept discount?
-How and where does she purchase tickets? (in advance so she can link to MDE)
-What proof/id does she need?
-It seems that Salute tickets are only offered for 4 days. Correct?
-She is planning a trip for January 2017. When are these tickets typically released for sale?
-What else should she consider? Other resources for her to use in planning?

TIA!

My DH was in the USMC Reserves. He served his 6 years plus 2 and was activated. He has an honorable discharge (DD214). While he was still in the Reserves, we qualified for SOG and the discounts.

However, my understanding is that once he was separated, we do not qualify because he was not active or retired or medically retired/disabled.
He gets all the veteran benefits from the GI Bill like we have a VA loan, etc., but he usually doesn't get discounts even on veterans day at most places because he is not active or retired.

If she is still in the reserves, she would count as "active" and have a valid military ID

I didn't realize that SOG sometimes allowed anyone who was a veteran to participate during certain promotions

 

[hollypoast]

For the rooms at Shades of Green, when they make the offer to veterans (not necessarily retired, just those that have served), she would have to produce a DD214. I don't keep up with SoG promotions, so I don't know if they still offer that in Jan/Sept, but continue to check their website. A retired (served 20 years or more, or medically retired) servicemember can stay anytime.

She could purchase tickets from Undercover Tourist in advance if she wanted to be able to link to MDE. SoG is not considered on-site, so she would only have the standard 30 days to make FP+ selections.

Military Salute tickets are only 4 day tickets. To get them she would have to be retired military, not just a veteran, and produce a valid military ID. If she just served 4-6 years, she's not eligible. Details are not out for 2017. Same goes for the Disney resort military discounts.

www.militarydisneytips.com is a good resource.

Thank you! So helpful... especially the SoG info!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Keep in mind the value of military salute has declined and by September 2017, they may not be offered at all. Moot point; your friend is not eligible to purchase these tickets anyway.

 

[hollypoast]

She has the appropriate ID that seems to be required-- DD214. (Being a civilian, I'm not sure what that means....) So, I'm hopeful but if not, o'well. Thanks for the info.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

A DD 214 is a discharge certificate, not a military ID. As already posted, your friend is not eligible to purchase Military Salute tickets or stay at SOG, except for any time they have limited availability for all veterans.

 

[hollypoast]

A DD 214 is a discharge certificate, not a military ID. As already posted, your friend is not eligible to purchase Military Salute tickets or stay at SOG, except for any time they have limited availability for all veterans.

From my understanding, January and September are the times when the discount is offered to all veterans and coincide with when she'd like to go. I sense that you dislike that she may qualify for this discount. We are in no way trying to get her a benefit/discount that she is not allowed to receive.

Thanks everyone for the info.

 

[natenapril]

From my understanding, January and September are the times when the discount is offered to all veterans and coincide with when she'd like to go. I sense that you dislike that she may qualify for this discount. We are in no way trying to get her a benefit/discount that she is not allowed to receive.

Thanks everyone for the info.

I think you are reading into that post. She's only eligible for the Jan/Sept timeframe and NOT the salute tickets.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

The DD214 will allow her to stay at Shades of Green in January, if they continue to offer that special. But that is not a Disney-owned property, it is considered off-site, and the Disney promotions (Military Salute tickets, room discounts) are not available to her. She would be able to purchase discounted tickets from Shades of Green on arrival, but if she wants to get her tickets added to MDE in advance and do her FP+ selections at 30 days, that won't do her any good. She's better off getting tickets from Undercover Tourist.

 

[gwynne]

The DD214 will allow her to stay at Shades of Green in January, if they continue to offer that special. But that is not a Disney-owned property, it is considered off-site, and the Disney promotions (Military Salute tickets, room discounts) are not available to her. She would be able to purchase discounted tickets from Shades of Green on arrival, but if she wants to get her tickets added to MDE in advance and do her FP+ selections at 30 days, that won't do her any good. She's better off getting tickets from Undercover Tourist.

You explained it nicely. It is complicated, which is why a call to Shades of Green is always an option and may be helpful for OP.
Agree about Undercover Tourist. We've gotten tickets from UT several times. They provide very good service with a bit of a price break.

 

[EPHomie]

However, my understanding is that once he was separated, we do not qualify because he was not active or retired or medically retired/disabled.
He gets all the veteran benefits from the GI Bill like we have a VA loan, etc., but he usually doesn't get discounts even on veterans day at most places because he is not active or retired.

Actually a DD214 will get you a discount on veterans day, just not the rest of the year. Any place I've ever been on Veterans day has given me a discount for a DD214 or VFW ID card.