Military Salute Ticket in conjunction w/ Disney Park Hopper

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Hi all! My quick and cheap vacation has turned into 8 days.

I am planning on buying the 5 day hopper for 2 with MP on the Disney website which is $678. IT just makes sense to already have it loaded; I won't have to fight with the WIFI at the parks to add MP in the morning etc. I will need to buy a 3 day Salute ticket for the other days.

The math- 8 days of Salute tickets w/ MP added 6 days $972
5 day Disney hopper $678, 3 day salute w/ MP only 1 morning $386 = $1064

For $92 more I get an already loaded hopper with one MM which i like the ease of.

Here's my question: I am arriving at 4pm on 2/17 so want to use the salute ticket without MP on that day just to wander and get a feel for the parks. Then use the 5 day hopper during the week and the Salute again one day during the week when we are just wandering and the last day 2/24 in the morning before we leave. Can you use the tickets that way or do i have to activate and use salute then activate and use the Hopper?

I am the type of person who cannot be within site distance of the Parks and not go. so having a rest day is not mentally possible.

 

[starry_solo]

If you're going to spend that ($1064), why not get an annual passport? The deluxe AP is $799 (but it's blocked out on 2/17, probably due to President's Day weekend?) and $100 for the MP add on, so $899. It will include the photopass downloads too since you're buying MP.

I think if you buy the AP on 2/17, though, you can get a block-out day ticket for free so you can still enter the parks on 2/17. It's not blocked out the rest of the time you're there either:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/deluxe-annual/

Then you can use it for free theme park parking (assuming you're not staying on property), food & merchandise discounts....and then come back for another trip before the year is up

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

If you're going to spend that ($1064), why not get an annual passport? The deluxe AP is $799 (but it's blocked out on 2/17, probably due to President's Day weekend?) and $100 for the MP add on, so $899. It will include the photopass downloads too since you're buying MP.

Then you can use it for free theme park parking (assuming you're not staying on property), food & merchandise discounts....and then come back for another trip before the year is up

I did look at that but there's two of us so it would be $1800. And we definitely wouldn't be back within the year although it is a lovely dream!

 

[jbh275]

And we definitely wouldn't be back within the year

never say never

 

[lalasmama]

The MP takes 30 seconds (literally) to add. Is 4 or 5 minutes of ease worth $92? It's opening an app, pushing 2 buttons, entering your CVV code, and pushing 1 more button.

$92 is 16 churros, almost a whole meal at Blue Bayou, or 2 sweatshirts...

I guess I just don't see the reason to not buy the cheaper option when it's $92 for 5 minutes of time savings.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

I'm a military wife and personally I would not pass up the Military Salute tickets. They are an amazing deal.

I would personally do:
2 x Military Salute (4 day) tickets ($198) = $792
2 x MP ($15.00) x 8 days = $240
Total: $1032 for 2 people for 8 days with MaxPass

*Edited to add: I see you only wanted MP for 6 days....I would still go with the Salute tickets...adding MP is no big deal!

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

The MP takes 30 seconds (literally) to add. Is 4 or 5 minutes of ease worth $92? It's opening an app, pushing 2 buttons, entering your CVV code, and pushing 1 more button.

$92 is 16 churros, almost a whole meal at Blue Bayou, or 2 sweatshirts...

I guess I just don't see the reason to not buy the cheaper option when it's $92 for 5 minutes of time savings.

You had me at 16 Churros.....

I'm a military wife and personally I would not pass up the Military Salute tickets. They are an amazing deal.

I would personally do:
2 x Military Salute (4 day) tickets ($198) = $792
2 x MP ($15.00) x 8 days = $240
Total: $1032 for 2 people for 8 days with MaxPass

*Edited to add: I see you only wanted MP for 6 days....I would still go with the Salute tickets...adding MP is no big deal!

I guess i was worried about the time it takes for adding MP. And having to go to the ticket booth to activate the tickets. But if it as easy as you both say i think i will call Camp Pendleton right now. Thanks!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

You had me at 16 Churros.....



I guess i was worried about the time it takes for adding MP. And having to go to the ticket booth to activate the tickets. But if it as easy as you both say i think i will call Camp Pendleton right now. Thanks!

In the time that Maxpass has been out (about a year and a half), I think there have been less than five days where it's had reported technical difficulties with adding in the morning. (Notably, a couple of those days were right at New Year's this year - probably because they were updating it to reflect the new price.) So, there is a very slight chance that you might hit one of those days and pre-loaded tickets would be helpful, BUT the chances of that happening are super slim and not worth almost $100 IMO. If you have a credit card pre-loaded and know (or have handy) your CVV, it takes literal seconds to add.

Also, since you're there so many days, you may end up deciding you don't even want or need MP every single day, so that would be even more of a savings. For $30 a day, I'd take a day or two off out of 8 days and just use traditional FP, especially if you aren't going full days all the time...

 

[DLgal]

You had me at 16 Churros.....



I guess i was worried about the time it takes for adding MP. And having to go to the ticket booth to activate the tickets. But if it as easy as you both say i think i will call Camp Pendleton right now. Thanks!

Don't buy them at CP. Buy them at Disney so they will all be activated at the same time when you purchase them. One stop shop. The price on base is basically the same as at the gate for the military salute.

And seriously, adding MP isn't a big deal. Sure, sometimes it is wonky and doesn't work immediately, but you can just walk and keep trying at the same time. We have never been delayed more than 5 minutes when MP is having issues running a purchase. It's not that common.

 

[starry_solo]

I did look at that but there's two of us so it would be $1800. And we definitely wouldn't be back within the year although it is a lovely dream!

Ah,ok. Hmm, then why not four military salute tickets?

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Ah,ok. Hmm, then why not four military salute tickets?

Hi- I ask questions to get feedback from people- Now i have lots of feedback and a new plan- And 4 Salute tickets is the new plan- thanks for your help!

 

[lalasmama]

Don't buy them at CP. Buy them at Disney so they will all be activated at the same time when you purchase them. One stop shop. The price on base is basically the same as at the gate for the military salute.

Yep, as above!

@Disney Lvr of Old :

Two options here... Buying at CP, you will get a paper print out that you take to the gates to get the ticket printed out at the gate. At least, that's how we got them at JBLM. Or, you can buy them at the ticket window.

Buying them at the window takes less than 10 minutes, and you have the ticket immediately to take to the gate for entry. Trading the printed page from CP at the gate for a ticket takes about 5 minutes (maybe less).

I still do it at the gates. We aren't close to our base, and to mail them to us, they charge something rediculous ($25, I think).

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Yep, as above!

@Disney Lvr of Old :

Two options here... Buying at CP, you will get a paper print out that you take to the gates to get the ticket printed out at the gate. At least, that's how we got them at JBLM. Or, you can buy them at the ticket window.

Buying them at the window takes less than 10 minutes, and you have the ticket immediately to take to the gate for entry. Trading the printed page from CP at the gate for a ticket takes about 5 minutes (maybe less).

I still do it at the gates. We aren't close to our base, and to mail them to us, they charge something rediculous ($25, I think).

I placed an order with Camp Pendleton a bit ago. I wanted to pre- pay a few things so it doesn't seem as painful that week. Total is $789 ($779 for 4- 4 day hoppers and $10 FedEx fee) and they will arrive tomorrow to my door. The CS person told me to take the paper voucher staight to the gate and they will issue me tickets.

Thanks for your help everyone!!!

 

[lalasmama]

Yay for buying tickets! Always seems more real to me once tickets are in hand! You should be able to load those into your Disneyland app now (and your credit card) to make MP purchase quicker in the parks.

And just because it happened to me on a trip last year... Whoever qualifies for the Salute tickets: MAKE SURE YOUR MILITARY ID IS UP-TO-DATE! $160 learning experience for me. My ID (as a spouse) expires, and I had no idea. They probably wouldn't notice it at the gates, but that's not the time you want something to go wrong!

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Yay for buying tickets! Always seems more real to me once tickets are in hand! You should be able to load those into your Disneyland app now (and your credit card) to make MP purchase quicker in the parks.

And just because it happened to me on a trip last year... Whoever qualifies for the Salute tickets: MAKE SURE YOUR MILITARY ID IS UP-TO-DATE! $160 learning experience for me. My ID (as a spouse) expires, and I had no idea. They probably wouldn't notice it at the gates, but that's not the time you want something to go wrong!

I read your post a few days ago; stopped midway through and ran to check! I’m retired Reserve so my expiration date is INDEF. I asked the CP CS and they said it would be fine! Thanks so much for that mention; I would never have thought to look.