military salute question

[skram79]

We are planning on purchasing our salute tickets before we leave a and I am wondering if we can activate them and link them to a bracelet before we leave or do we still have to activate at Disney? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Salute tickets must be activated in person by the military service member or his/her spouse with valid military ID. They can be linked to MDE while still in certificate (inactive) form, though.

 

[skram79]

Thank you for such a quick answer Raven. Our first trip back to the Kingdom since 2014.

 

[larryz]

Recent reports indicated that if you order them by mail through Shades of Green, they come already activated.

 

[subtchr]

To elaborate a bit more on ravenclawtrekkie's response, if you purchase your military salute tickets ahead of time, you will receive an exchange certificate that looks like this (I believe the 2016 ones are blue, not green.):




The number where I put the black bar is what you enter into your MDE account, to be eligible to pre-book fastpasses.

Then when you arrive at WDW, you have to activate your tickets by going to a Guest Services or Ticket window anywhere on property (not just the places listed on the front). We did it at Disney Springs the night we arrived, since we were not planning to enter a park until the next morning.

To activate, the military member has to show ID, and the other guests may be required to do so as well, whether they are military or not. Some people report that not everyone has to be there, but technically it is required. You actually do not need the exchange certificate, if everything is linked in your MDE, but it's good to have it as a backup.

One more thing, just to make sure it's clear, you are not linking tickets to your magic band. Nothing is "on" a band. It is just a link to the information in your MDE account.

Have a great trip!

 

[JWigs]

Other posters are correct and you activate with the app so you can get FP but you won't be able to get into the park until it is proven the military ID.

 

[larryz]

(I believe the 2016 ones are blue, not green.):

Mine were green.

 

[PSULion]

Recent reports indicated that if you order them by mail through Shades of Green, they come already activated.

This is true. I have 5 actual tickets I recieved from Shades of Green in the mail. Haven't used them yet, but they assured me they are gate ready (and they are the plastic cards with a character on them, not the vouchers pictured above).

 

[sharonabe]

This is true. I have 5 actual tickets I recieved from Shades of Green in the mail. Haven't used them yet, but they assured me they are gate ready (and they are the plastic cards with a character on them, not the vouchers pictured above).

I still think someone messed up with yours. This just doesn't make sense. I'm not saying you won't be able to use them without activation; I absolutely think you will and you'll be fine. I am saying I think this was a mistake made by someone new or just not understanding how it all works. If Shades does this, there is nothing to prevent people taking advantage of what is a very much appreciated discount for military families.

 

[PSULion]

I still think someone messed up with yours. This just doesn't make sense. I'm not saying you won't be able to use them without activation; I absolutely think you will and you'll be fine. I am saying I think this was a mistake made by someone new or just not understanding how it all works. If Shades does this, there is nothing to prevent people taking advantage of what is a very much appreciated discount for military families.

I totally get your point... And wouldn't be surprised if it was temporary and they go back to vouchers, but I do not think it was a mistake.

When I first called to inquire about purchasing them there, the gentleman I spoke to told me they would come activated. I kinda didn't believe him. When they came that way, I emailed them AND called again and spoke to a woman this time. Got the same info every time.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I totally get your point... And wouldn't be surprised if it was temporary and they go back to vouchers, but I do not think it was a mistake.

When I first called to inquire about purchasing them there, the gentleman I spoke to told me they would come activated. I kinda didn't believe him. When they came that way, I emailed them AND called again and spoke to a woman this time. Got the same info every time.

Did you send them a copy of your ID card along with a copy of your Drivers lic. for ID purposes?

 

[PSULion]

Did you send them a copy of your ID card along with a copy of your Drivers lic. for ID purposes?

Yes we did. But the danger is that once I received them in the mail, I could have given (or sold) them to anyone I wanted. The military member would never have to set foot on Disney property....

 

[sharonabe]

Yes we did. But the danger is that once I received them in the mail, I could have given (or sold) them to anyone I wanted. The military member would never have to set foot on Disney property....

Exactly! I wonder if Disney knows Shades has done this?

 

[subtchr]

I agree that it is unsettling that SoG is sending out activated tickets, but I can surmise how it came about...

Not everyone who is eligible to purchase the salute tickets lives near a base with a ticket office (and probably do not know about Pendleton or the other places that are willing to FedEx exchange certificates). Before FP+, waiting until arrival to purchase a ticket was not a big deal, although it could be time-consuming. But now that everyone wants tickets linked in MDE early enough to book advance FP+, I imagine SoG was getting a lot of pressure to allow people to do that.

I would not think that Shades would HAVE any exchange certificates, just activated tickets, because when people buy the tickets at the resort, they can show ID. So once they decided to send tickets in advance, that may have been all they have to send. A solution would be for Disney to supply SoG with a stock of exchange certificates, to send to customers who order in advance.

We have never minded taking the time to activate our tickets upon arrival. A few minutes is worth the amazing benefit to us. I hope this policy changes, so that abuse does not affect Disney's willingness to provide this benefit.

 

[larryz]

Before FP+, waiting until arrival to purchase a ticket was not a big deal, although it could be time-consuming. But now that everyone wants tickets linked in MDE early enough to book advance FP+, I imagine SoG was getting a lot of pressure to allow people to do that.

The vouchers link in MDE, and appear as valid ticket media. You can make FP+ reservations 60 days out against a Salute voucher.

 

[subtchr]

The vouchers link in MDE, and appear as valid ticket media. You can make FP+ reservations 60 days out against a Salute voucher.

Exactly, that's my point. I don't think SoG has the salute vouchers in stock, because before FP+, they never needed to do so. So when they started getting pressure from people to sell them tickets ahead of a visit, they didn't have any vouchers, so they have started to send the actual tickets. My solution to the potential abuse that is possible with this system is for them to GET the exchange vouchers, and send them instead.