Military ticket question

[KristinandChris]

I know Disney is having great discounts on military tickets. DH was doing some research and read that the military person has to go on base to buy a ticket. DH is a contractor but not military, but his father is retired Coast Guard and still goes on base quite a bit. Can FIL go to our local base and buy Disneyland tickets for DH and I to use? We're all traveling to CA for our spring break but only DH and I are going to Disneyland. TIA!

 

[sonnyjane]

I'll just tell you my experience, but who knows if this is true, b/c I got a few different answers.

From what I understood after talking to the MWR people on base, it is for active duty or retirees only, and that active duty member/retiree must buy the tickets (the AD member is free and can buy 3 day park hoppers for up to 5 people at a $94 each). The MWR people on base told me that the AD member MUST go with you to the park to pick up the tickets and present their military ID that day as they only give you vouchers, not the actual tickets, so you have to exchange them at Disneyland.

I called Disney, and they said the active duty member does NOT have to be with you as long as you have the voucher...so I called MWR again to confirm, and they were still saying the AD member DOES have to be there and that it is not up to Disney, but a deal the military is doing separately. They said that I could lie and say DH was deployed if I went without him, but I'm a bad liar and didn't want to chance it!

In other words, I don't think this benefit applies to you unfortunately, but you can always call the base MWR near your FIL just to make sure...

ETA: found a link: http://cashmoneylife.com/deals/free-disney-tickets-disneys-armed-forces-salute/

 

[clairabell29]

Unfortunately, he would have to be with you at DL to activate the tickets. I asked my ITT about this, Sorry! As for the other tickets that aren't the $94 3 day PH, you may or may not have to show your Military ID. We were recently told that Disney was getting really strict about this. I will tell you, though a lot of times Getaway.com is cheaper AND you get MM. Any other ?s feel free to ask!

 

[Order66]

Hello. This is my first post over here, but I've been reading everyone's great advise as my family and I are taking our first Disneyland trip in May because of the military special.

Your FIL is able to get a free 3 day park hopper DLR ticket from any MWR office as well is able to purchase up to 5 companion tickets for family/friends. The first day of use must be by 06/12/09 and the tickets are good for 14 days from first day of use. However, what the MWR office has is not the actual ticket, but a voucher that must be taken to a ticket window at DLR and exchanged for the tickets. A current CAC, retiree ID or spouse ID is required to exchange these vouchers. So in theory, he can buy you the vouchers, take you to a ticket window to exchange them, and then leave if he doesn't want to visit the parks.

OR

If your husband is a military contractor, then yes....he can purchase discounted tickets at any MWR office. Just has to show his ID to enter the base. Contractors are given some perks on base and use of the MWR is one of them. These are NOT the Salute to the Military tickets specially priced offer, but rather regular tickets sold at a bit lower price and tax free. I can't say for DLR as this will be my first time, but at WDW the tickets bought from MWR are the same as any other ticket in appearance and we never had to show ID at the gate.

If you don't have an MWR office nearby and/or don't want to go on base in CA then you can call the Camp Pendleton ITT and they do phone orders with an $8.00 fex ex charge and you'll have them the next day. That is what we did as the nearest office wasn't even going to stock them. We paid $92.50 for the Salute companion tickets. Their price on an everyday 3 day hopper is $158.50 adult and $137.50 child. Just tell them you are DOD civillan when you order and it's no problem. Or you may want to check at the MWR nearest you as each office can vary on prices as they are free to set their own on most tickets.

regards

 

[mechurchlady]

This is the official information. For $25 the ticket can be upgraded to a parkhopper ticket otherwise it is one park per day. Disneyland is only at the base and only for the person or his spouse to buy and they must be present to redeem the voucher. So time to have him come visit you.
http://wdwibc1.wdpromedia.com/ibc_w...t/nextGen/resorts/MilitaryOffer2009WDPRO2.pdf

"Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World
Resort can be purchased only at participating U.S. military base ticket offices (including at the Shades of Green Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort), or at Main Entrance theme park ticket windows. “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets for admission to the Disneyland
Resort can be purchased only at participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
• Military personnel (or their spouses) who purchase "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort for family members and friends will need to activate those tickets at Main Entrance theme park ticket windows in order for those tickets to be used (regardless of where those tickets are purchased).

 

[clairabell29]

This is the official information. For $25 the ticket can be upgraded to a parkhopper ticket otherwise it is one park per day. Disneyland is only at the base and only for the person or his spouse to buy and they must be present to redeem the voucher. So time to have him come visit you.
http://wdwibc1.wdpromedia.com/ibc_w...t/nextGen/resorts/MilitaryOffer2009WDPRO2.pdf

This is true except the DL ticket is a park hopper without having to pay extra, you DO have to pay extra for PH at WDW

 

[charmama4]

I had a scare where we thought my DH would get deployed after we had already bought the tix. My DH wanted the kids and I to still go since the tix were non refundable but our delima was could I exchange the vouchers ITT gives us for the real tix DL would give us?

The answer was YES I could do the exchange only if I had military ID, which I have so no big deal. But, in your case if your DH does not have a military ID he will NOT be able to do the exchange at the ticket booth. Unless of course your FIL could meet you at the ticket booth??? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

[Order66]

The $25 charge is to add hopping to a WDW 5 day base ticket. The DLR ticket is automatically a park hopper.

 

[arliepooh68]

I can tell you my own experience with taking the voucher to the DL ticket window. they do indeed need to see that military ID, my DH is retired and was not with me, they had no problem because I have my ID that states what his status is on. But someone in that party has to have an ID.

 

[KristinandChris]

Ok, lots of information to take in - thanks! Unfortunately, FIL won't accompany us to the park so I guess we won't be able to use the discount. I'll see if DH can talk to his base since he's a contractor but I won't hold my breath.

Long story short - we (me, DH, our 5 month old DD) are visiting CA from VA with my in-laws. DH's grandmother lives in Riverside so once I figured Disneyland was relatively close I started making plans for us all to take a day trip, even before the military discount was available. My in-laws, however, informed me that they are not "Disney people" and have no interest whatsoever, even though MIL is planning every other day of our vacation. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about wineries and everything (except trying to figure out who will take care of DD while we're wine tasting!) but I thought they'd enjoy a family day at Disney. Even though DD won't know where she is I know she'd enjoy the lights, music, etc. DH and I thought about taking DD alone but now we're going to leave her with his parents for the day. So although I'm bummed we're leaving DD, and I'll have to find places to pump since I'm nursing, I'm excited to spend a day alone with DH. We went to WDW for our honeymoon so we're looking forward to this.

I wish FIL would consider driving us to Disneyland, like I said I think it's 20 miles or so, but he won't consider it. My parents bend over backwards for us so I know they wouldn't hesitate but my in-laws are very different. Sigh.

Sorry for the vent! Just had to get that off my chest

 

[Barbday62]

I have our tickets in front of us and my DH ticket thats free is indeed a park Hopper. If they are vouchers they look exactly like tickets,. MIne has minnie an dmickey on it and his is pluto. They are park hoppers not one park though and his was free not $25. This is for Disneyland only.