Military ticket experiences--please post here!

[JDinCO]

If you upgrade the companion tickets to an AP, you really aren't gaining anything because the value of the ticket (when upgrading)is $99, not the full value of a 5-day ticket. Does that make sense? So you'd be paying full price for the AP either way.

Yes

 

[WDW Traveler]

If you upgrade the companion tickets to an AP, you really aren't gaining anything because the value of the ticket (when upgrading)is $99, not the full value of a 5-day ticket. Does that make sense? So you'd be paying full price for the AP either way.

True so I guess it doesn't really matter does it? This would just add an extra step. With us needing more than the 5 days, we might as well just buy the AP's and skip this.

 

[ilovetheg8rs]

True so I guess it doesn't really matter does it? This would just add an extra step. With us needing more than the 5 days, we might as well just buy the AP's and skip this.

Are you planning on adding the Water Parks and More option? If so that gives you additional days, possibly 5 more if you use one entry per day! Hope that helps!

 

[WDW Traveler]

Are you planning on adding the Water Parks and More option? If so that gives you additional days, possibly 5 more if you use one entry per day! Hope that helps!

Nope. We aren't waterpark people. I can honestly say, I've never been to one of Disney's waterparks in all the years we've been going.

We'll just go with the DVC AP (inlaws are members and live at our house! ). That will work.

 

[buffettgirl]

I called Ticketing and they transferred me to Shades of Green for clarification. Try that...

that's absurd, since this is a DISNEY promotion, not a SOG promotion. Disney is setting the rules for this.

 

[monkeybug]

OK so I have been reading these threads and seeing a few people getting some flack for asking about one person using two tickets, or getting a companion ticket after the free one. Maybe I am missing something but I fail to see how this is taking advantage of Disney? If Disney is allowing you to purchase 5 tickets for $99, isn't Disney the one who benefits if you buy all 5? Does it really matter to Disney who is using those 5 tickets? It's not like they are trying to buy more tickets than allowed, they are just trying to use the 5 they are allowed. I wish I could use more than one or take two trips this year, unfortunately we are using our 5 for our family and to take my MIL along. I don't understand how someone using all 5 tickets for them selves is any different than me using 5 for my family. While I am sure that Disney is not making the same profit on these tickets, I am pretty sure that they are still making a profit. Not to mention they are getting people who otherwise would not be going to Disney this year, to go! (between the dining plan, resort, and extra guest I am bringing, they are getting thousands more than I planned on spending!) I am sure that some of the people inquiring about using multiple tickets would not necessarily make plans for a second trip, or stay for as long if they couldn't take advantage of using another discount ticket. A second trip or a longer stay means more money for Disney! That's why the regular tickets are much cheaper for 7 day's than one day! Disney is not getting taken advantage of if someone books an extra 5 days at a resort, or 5 more days of the dining plan, or shops in the park for 5 days longer...

If Disney figured out that they can sell 5 discount tickets per service member and still profit, I don't see how it makes a difference who those 5 tickets go to (but maybe I am missing something?) Not trying to be rude or anything, just saying that if you look at Disney like any other business and not a charity or Non profit then the people asking about tickets are no different than someone going through the Sunday paper for coupons and using them on a double coupon day...they are just trying to
make their money go a little farther...can't blame them for that!

 

[buffettgirl]

no monekybug it doesn't really matter, IMO.

(this thread has begun to duplicate the other thread though....it's getting a little confusing)

 

[woodkins]

Can the active member & their spouse each purchase up to 5 tix (for a total of up to 10 tix) or is it a limit of 5 tix per family? My dad is retired mil & we are trying to get all 4 of my siblings and their families to come, which is more than 5 members & are trying to figure out how it will work out financially so that everyone can start saving

 

[monkeybug]

Can the active member & their spouse each purchase up to 5 tix (for a total of up to 10 tix) or is it a limit of 5 tix per family? My dad is retired mil & we are trying to get all 4 of my siblings and their families to come, which is more than 5 members & are trying to figure out how it will work out financially so that everyone can start saving

I am pretty sure that it is only 5 per family. Maybe you could spread the savings from those 5 to the entire fam.? As in add up the price of the regular tickets and the 5 discounted tickets then divide by how many ppl are coming and that's the price everyone pays???? That way each person is getting a little of a discount. I don't know if that adds up to enough of a savings to be worth it, just a thought.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Can the active member & their spouse each purchase up to 5 tix (for a total of up to 10 tix) or is it a limit of 5 tix per family? My dad is retired mil & we are trying to get all 4 of my siblings and their families to come, which is more than 5 members & are trying to figure out how it will work out financially so that everyone can start saving

NO. each SM is allocated five companion tickets period. either the SM or their spouse can purchase those five, but the total limit is five.

 

[JoanneNC]

NO. each SM is allocated five companion tickets period. either the SM or their spouse can purchase those five, but the total limit is five.

Right - so if there are 2 Married SM's - they EACH can get their own free ones and buy 5 passes.. This has been confirmed by Disney in emails

 

[Mrsjvb]

yes but woodkin did not mention the spouse being AD as well.. so in their instance, only five companions may be purchased.

basically: for every free ticket five can be purchased . only servicemembers rate the free ticket.

 

[kikiV]

My sister and BIL will be joining me in October. They are the military ones getting us our tix. We will arrive sat. night at midnight. They are going sat. morning and will wait in the room for us. I know some people have been able to do this and I want to check if there are more. I want him to be able to activate all 5 tix. Saturday morning and then go into a park with my sis so they don't sit around all day. On sunday we go to a park together. If he has to wait for us to activate the tickets, then they will miss a entire day!

I know the rule is that all parties must be present but I also know that many times they haven't been.

Has anyone activated all without everyone there?

 

[CSJLJJK7]

Just wanted to post as I was worried about getting our tickets prior to arrival. We went to DTD to get our tickets, the PI guest relations is closed so you will have to go to the MP or WE GR to get your tickets. We GR has moved to the DQ building. I went to the MP GR to make sure that I could actually get them there and the CM I talked to, manager I think, said yes but I must have all members of our party with me. I drug DW and DD out of World of Disney, thank the Lord, and went back. Talked to a differrent CM who did not ask about the other members as they were kind of wandering around behind me in the shops. I am in the Guard, and the OS said I needed a copy of orders showing that I had been active in the last 12 months, but the CM showed no interest in said orders. She was very nice and we were in and out in about five minutes. The PH's were already activated and ready to go. We went to DHS this morning, and there was no finger scan, but it appeared to me that no one had a finger scan, so I do not know if that will be ther case throughout our trip. Hope everyone else has an easy a time as we did.

Scott

 

[earthfaries]

The other thread is so long and so much has changed that I thought I'd start a new for people to post their actual experiences(if any!) buying and using the tickets.

Were you able to buy the tickets without everyone present and then have the people who weren't there use them without any problem?

Were you able to buy tickets without giving names of the people who would be using them or were names put on the tickets right away?

How much info(SSN?) did you have to give Disney on the military member?

Anything else you'd like to add to help those of us still struggling with the ticket issue? I'd love to hear some real experiences!

Yes, you can buy them without everyone present, and to add to that anyone can buy them as long as 1 person holds a military Id

My dad and I went a week ago Friday to buy APs for the entire family (7 of us.) I wanted to pay on my CC and the person behind the desk says he doesn't care who pays for them or buy them as long as someone has an ID )

They don't ask for any names ~ you do that at the park when you trade them in for real tickets.

No info needed ~ he just needed to see a military ID.

We went to Shades Of Green to get our tickets. No problems at all, no questions. Just told them what we wanted and he charged us for them, we took them to the park and showed all of our IDs and they gave us our permanent cards.

 

[CSJLJJK7]

We went back to DHS this evening and we did have to do the finger scans.

Scott

 

[earthfaries]

We went back to DHS this evening and we did have to do the finger scans.

Scott

We always have to do finger scans ~ from the first time we used them .

 

[becca_n_wa]

Does anyone know if you can wait to use tickets after you activate them? My issue is that we are all going in June for a Disney trip and our annual passes are still valid until July. I want to take the kids back to Disney in the fall for another trip but husband won't be with me then. Can we go and pay for the companion tickets at SOG and then go get them activated and wait to use them in the fall? I have a valid spouse military ID. But I don't want to find out that I needed him with us to activate the tickets at the ticket window.

My second question is can you get 2 companion passes for one person? Our youngest doesn't have an annual pass. So, she needs a ticket for our trip in June. Then she will need another for the fall. I would still only need 4 companion passes.

Many people say the 14 day expiration rule does not apply.

I have called and emailed and always gotten the same answer.
Everyone has answered yes, they DO EXPIRE 14 days after first swipe.
And YES they do undertsand I have Disneyworld tickets not Land.

Are you planning to actually swipe any one your first trip? If not, you should be fine

Re: Walt Disney World Resort General Information QuestionsSunday, March 1, 2009 4:45 AM
From: "Walt Disney World Guest Mail" <guest.mail@wdw.disneyonline.com>Add sender to ContactsTo: "Becca" <>Dear Rebecca,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney's Special Military Salute Ticket Offer is offered through your
Base ITT offices, at the Shades of Green Resort on Walt Disney
World Resort, and at our Vacation Planning Booths (Theme Park ticket
windows). A free 5 day MYW ticket for our Military guest and 5 day MYW
$99 companion tickets (up to 5).

Service Member - Free 5 Day Armed Forces Salute Park Hopper with Water
Park Fun & More ticket

Companion Tickets:
$99 - 5 Day Armed Forces Salute Base Ticket
$124 - 5 Day Armed Forces Salute PH Ticket
$124 - 5 Day Armed Forces Salute WPFM Ticket
$149 - 5 Day Armed Forces Salute PH / WPFM Ticket

Tickets expire December 23, 2009 (no blockout dates)

Tickets are available for purchase at Participating Military Base ITT
Offices, or at WDW Theme Park Front Gates. Military Personnel must
present valid United States Military identification.

Active and Retired U.S. Military, including members of the U.S. Coast
Guard and activated members of the National Guard or Reservists.

Military Personnel must present valid United States Military
identification (active or retired). Activated members of the National
Guard or Reservists must present active duty orders in addition to valid
Military ID.
In order to be eligible for this program, the military member must have
been active for any length of time between January 1, 2008 and the end
of this offer (December 23, 2009)

Further information is available on disneyworld.com/military

All admissions expire 14 days from first day of use.

Have a wonderful visit!

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if
applicable on all correspondence.

Nancy Carpenter
WDW Online Communications

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and
should be confirmed just prior to your visit.

 

[earthfaries]

We were told that the 14 day life doesn't apply to the military tickets by various persons the night we got ours last week.
They said you could use one day this week, one day next month, etc. and they expire in Dec.

 

[bgdiznee]

I guess we really won't know about the 14 day expiration until someone trys to use unused days on their ticket past the 14 day point and posts here.

My question is this (and I have read through the thread but can't seem to see the answer). I assume "activation" means trading your voucher in for the real ticket. So once you'ved activated it do you have to use it the same day?
Could you activate, use an old ticket or almost expired AP for this trip, then use your activated military ticket for another trip 4 months later?