Military ticket experiences--please post here!

[LadyZolt]

Here is the back of one of my activated passes. I did erase my son's name.

This doesn't say anything about having to be used within 14 days.

It says that on the back of all my old Disney tickets, too, and they don't say anything about when they expire, either. I think what's happening here is that *usually* a Disney ticket expires 14 days after first use. However, because these tickets cannot have the "no expiration" added, and because they expire automatically on December 23rd whether or not any features are left on them, there is no real reason for Disney to have caused them to expire within 14 days. I think that's why it doesn't say they will expire in the info on the Disney site (and the Disneyland one does explicitly say they expire 14 days from first use, so there'd be no reason for the Disney World ones not to say that, too, if it was the case). That said, of course we don't know for absolute certain, and I am only going to Disney for one week, so won't have the opportunity to test whether or not it will expire, so hopefully someone else will. But I do think there's a better-than-average chance that they won't expire in 14 days.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[F16_mama]

As far as the package goes, Disney is offering 40% off rooms and allowing the purchase of the dining plan with out the purchase of tickets. We made room reservations and purchased the dining plan for my MIL, we have a total of 4 reservation numbers, all with 40% off, the dining plan and no purchase of tickets.

Same here. I declined, but was offered the dining plan without purchasing tickets. I did get the 40% off room as well.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I have a question about this part of the "rules."

Activated members of the National Guard or Reservists (with orders showing active status after January 1, 2008) and active or retired members of the United States Coast Guard are also eligible to participate in this offer.

We are going in August, my dh is a traditional Air Force National Guard but will be activated in September for training. He already has the orders. Do you think they will count him as eligible? He was activated for training during 2008too, so we could easily get copies of those orders if we had to, I was just wondering if the upcoming orders would do, even though the activation will happen after the trip.

His ID does not state that he's part time. It looks the exact same as active duty Air Force members. Are they actually checking orders? Has there been any trouble for Guard and/or Reserves buying tickets? Anyone with firsthand experience here to tell the tale?

 

[DWFan4Life]

I just wanted to say have a great time, have fun and enjoy in your upcoming trips. some of my friends also having a trip using military tickets, they haven't any problem at all.

Have a nice day everyone.

 

[CSJLJJK7]

Hilarie,
I am a Guardsman, and I brought orders with me, but the young lady at guest relations did not give them even a glance. My ID was all she needed and it is probably the same as your husbands.

Scott

 

[CanadianGuy]

As per the "Everything About Tickets" sticky..

The WDW Tickets for Military under this special DO NOT expire ... except to say that all ticket entitlements must be used by December 23, 2009.

HOWEVER, the DisneyLAND tickets under this same military special DO expire within 14 days.

Clear as mud?

Knox

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Hilarie,
I am a Guardsman, and I brought orders with me, but the young lady at guest relations did not give them even a glance. My ID was all she needed and it is probably the same as your husbands.

Scott

Thanks! I've heard others say the same thing. Sounds good to me!

 

[JoanneNC]

As per the "Everything About Tickets" sticky..

The WDW Tickets for Military under this special DO NOT expire ... except to say that all ticket entitlements must be used by December 23, 2009.

HOWEVER, the DisneyLAND tickets under this same military special DO expire within 14 days.

Clear as mud?

Knox

So - CM's are sending wrong information out via email?
This promotion has been a non-stop headache trying to find the truth and/or the CM that actually knows the truth

 

[TDS'93]

Just an update as to whether the special Armed Forces Salute tickets expire 14 days after first use. They do not. My husband used 2 days, Feb. 12 and 13. We went to the Studios today and he was able to use it with no problem, almost 3 weeks later. Hope this at least answers the expiration question.

Linda

 

[appleorchard]

Just an update as to whether the special Armed Forces Salute tickets expire 14 days after first use. They do not. My husband used 2 days, Feb. 12 and 13. We went to the Studios today and he was able to use it with no problem, almost 3 weeks later. Hope this at least answers the expiration question.

Thanks! Just the kind of information we're all trying to verify in the "real world", as opposed to what the paperwork says or CMs say--no offense to any of the CMs who have posted HERE, you've been extremely helpful!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Thank you so much for the update. We may wind up splitting up our 5 water park visits over 2 trips this year.

 

[kalliyan1]

A friend of ours bought the companion tix for us when the promotion first started. He is NOT going with us. At the time, there was no mention that they had to be with us. In fact, he was told that he had to show the military id to purchase them so it would not be necessary to show it again.
Now, here we are w/4 vouchers that we paid $400 for that we wanted to use the first of May.....Are we going to be able to use them? What should we do? $400 is alot of money to throw away based on incorrect information.

Any thoughts?

TIA

 

[appleorchard]

A friend of ours bought the companion tix for us when the promotion first started. He is NOT going with us. At the time, there was no mention that they had to be with us. In fact, he was told that he had to show the military id to purchase them so it would not be necessary to show it again.
Now, here we are w/4 vouchers that we paid $400 for that we wanted to use the first of May.....Are we going to be able to use them? What should we do? $400 is alot of money to throw away based on incorrect information.

Any thoughts?

From the very beginning, all the paperwork has said that the military member OR their spouse had to be present at the gate to activate the tickets. No one has come back and said they were able to use the tickets without the military member being there to activate them, so my guess is, no, you won't be able to use them.

I think your best bet would be to see if he can take them back to the local base and explain that he didn't understand the rules and try to sell them back. Or fly him down there, take him to Disney to activate the tickets, and put him on a plane for home all at your expense, but it will certainly cut down on your savings!

 

[gt1562b]

So I'm going down in a week with my Wife, daughter, Mom and Dad. My Dad is the one who qualifies for the Military offer as he is retired Military.

I've heard/seen conflicting information on what you have to do when entering the parks/hopping between parks after the tickets have been activated.

We are all going down at the same time and thus the being there together for activation is no problem at all. My Dad however is not the most mobile anymore and it will really be a pain if he has to be present each time we enter a park (especially when we go back to parks after my daughter's afternoon nap).

Has anyone had trouble getting in to a park later in the day without the Military Sponsor being there? Is it true that each time you enter a park the Military sponsor has to go first, his ticket lets the ticket agent know how many companions are with him and he has to show ID?

Anyone who has personal experience with what the process is to get in to the parks each time with these tickets I'd love to get some feedback.

Thanks!

 

[appleorchard]

I've heard/seen conflicting information on what you have to do when entering the parks/hopping between parks after the tickets have been activated.

We are all going down at the same time and thus the being there together for activation is no problem at all. My Dad however is not the most mobile anymore and it will really be a pain if he has to be present each time we enter a park (especially when we go back to parks after my daughter's afternoon nap).


You all have to be there ONLY to activate the tickets(maybe not even then, but can't say that for sure, since some people have had to have their whole group together to activate). Once your tickets are activated, you're free to go your own ways!

 

[parmtoo]

A friend of ours bought the companion tix for us when the promotion first started. He is NOT going with us. At the time, there was no mention that they had to be with us. In fact, he was told that he had to show the military id to purchase them so it would not be necessary to show it again.
Now, here we are w/4 vouchers that we paid $400 for that we wanted to use the first of May.....Are we going to be able to use them? What should we do? $400 is alot of money to throw away based on incorrect information.

Any thoughts?

From the very beginning, all the paperwork has said that the military member OR their spouse had to be present at the gate to activate the tickets. No one has come back and said they were able to use the tickets without the military member being there to activate them, so my guess is, no, you won't be able to use them.

I think your best bet would be to see if he can take them back to the local base and explain that he didn't understand the rules and try to sell them back. Or fly him down there, take him to Disney to activate the tickets, and put him on a plane for home all at your expense, but it will certainly cut down on your savings!

I agree. They are calling these ticket "companion tickets", indicating that you would be traveling with the military member, kind of as their guest.

 

[becca_n_wa]

Just an update as to whether the special Armed Forces Salute tickets expire 14 days after first use. They do not. My husband used 2 days, Feb. 12 and 13. We went to the Studios today and he was able to use it with no problem, almost 3 weeks later. Hope this at least answers the expiration question.

Linda

yEAH.... I am so Glad to hear this!

We are at Disney and have been since Wednesday. Having a blast and the weather is Great!

Just a FYI on our experience:

We activated our tickets at DTD on Wed.
1.) My mom's flight was delayed so she was not there when we activated and upgraded her ticket.
2.) DH showed his ID to upgrade the tickets,
he kept his plastic card and we got the paper tickets (we upgraded to WP and more option) If you dont upgrade, you keep the plastic cards.
3.) the active duty member does not have to go through the gate with you when you use your tickets.

Hope that helps!

 

[CSJLJJK7]

Just want to reaffirm what everyone else is saying. Once the passes are activated, they are no different than any other hopper. I was never asked for ID after activation.

Scott

 

[JoanneNC]

yEAH.... I am so Glad to hear this!

We are at Disney and have been since Wednesday. Having a blast and the weather is Great!

Just a FYI on our experience:

We activated our tickets at DTD on Wed.
1.) My mom's flight was delayed so she was not there when we activated and upgraded her ticket.
2.) DH showed his ID to upgrade the tickets,
he kept his plastic card and we got the paper tickets (we upgraded to WP and more option) If you dont upgrade, you keep the plastic cards.
3.) the active duty member does not have to go through the gate with you when you use your tickets.

Hope that helps!

Great news - did they ask about your Mom and just accepted that she was delayed or did they not even care?

Thanks for sharing

 

[becca_n_wa]

Great news - did they ask about your Mom and just accepted that she was delayed or did they not even care?

Thanks for sharing

I did mention about her flight being delayed but she was already in the process of upgrading the tickets. And, my children were not even right there with us either (not within the CM's sight anyway)