Military Tickets....Atten-Huuuuut!!!

[jamescorey]

I have a question regarding tickets purchased using military discount. Here is the scenario:
My wife has a friend whose father is retired military. Being retired military, he still has access to all of the on base perks that military recieve, including discounted Disney tickets. My question is this: Can anyone USE military tickets? In other words, if my wife's friend bought these tickets for us, would we still be able to use them upon arrival at WDW? Will we be checked for Military ID? Or will we be able to use them with no problems?

 

[Ariel on Land]

I can't answer this question with 100% certainty, but just by LOOKING at the tickets we just bought on base, there's no outward indication (that I can tell) that they're military tickets.

ETA- though they ARE meant as a benefit to our service members, so if you go with this plan, know that there is always a possible chance you will be asked for ID and will have to pay the difference if no one in your party has a valid DOD ID.

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

My DH is retired military and we always buy our tickets at the Shades of Green. On the back of the ticket, it does say Shades of Green but in all the years we've been going (and using military tickets) we've never been asked for ID at the parks.

You do need a military ID when you buy them (and they do ask) and it indicates a military ID will be required to use them so it's a chance you'll be taking that they would ask for it.

 

[bld disney]

We are retired military and have frequently purchased tickets for my parents who have often stayed with us at Shades of Green. As the previous poster stated, a military i.d. is required for purchase, but we have never been asked for it at the gate.

 

[LoveTwoTravel]

We've been asked for our Military I.D. when using the discounted Disney tickets. They also checked the expiration dates. And my husband definitely looks the part: he keeps his hair high and tight and has that military air.

And it's starting to get a lot more prevalent, in our experience. We made some hotel reservations for my parents using our Military discount recently and they were asked to present it when they checked in. My husband had to drive over in the night to check them in.

It's not that big of a savings really so I wouldn't chance it, actually. Just think about how awkward you'd feel if you were asked for an ID and couldn't present one.

But, if you want the discount you could join up!

 

[disneyfreak33]

As the poster said above it is not really that big of a savings, though you are saving a bit. Your saving a couple bucks plus tax.

That being said we have never had to show our military ID's unless we were buying them ourselves or using the salute to heroes program for Seaworld/Busch Gardens. My parents have used discounted tickets through the military that we purchased for them when they went to Disney without us being there.

 

[jamescorey]

For clarification, I contacted Disney Ticketing with this question. I was advised by Disney Ticketing that you ONLY have to have ID at time of purchase, and WILL NOT, under ANY circumstance be "carded" at the turnstile.

 

[stm61]

For clarification, I contacted Disney Ticketing with this question. I was advised by Disney Ticketing that you ONLY have to have ID at time of purchase, and WILL NOT, under ANY circumstance be "carded" at the turnstile.

we usually buy tickets at SOG, the length of stay Stars and Stripes passes. I have to show ID to buy, but the cm that sells them always states they can be used by anyone. We've only had 1 problem in 5 yrs, and that was back in 2003. A gate cm in MK asked for my ID, which I didn't have because it was during the time SOG was closed for rennovations, we'd been moved to CR, I had the tickets on my room key, and I'd been told I didn't need to carry anything else by CR cm's. The finger squeeze thing wasn't working, she wanted my ID, I didn't have it, she got upset and sent me to customer relations. I explained to the cm there that the ticket wasn't working, mine was the only 1 out of 5 that was having issues, and the gate cm seemed to think I was an enemy spy or something She asked me to point out the gate cm, then rolled her eyes and said they'd been having problems with her and military tickets. Seems her dh was retired military and she'd appointed herself guardian of military discount tickets No offense to anyone, but some wive's of higher ranking officers seem to think they share their dh's rank and try to enforce their own idea of military regs on everyone else Anyway, the cm reset the card and walked us to the turnstile herself, where she told the gate cm she'd contacted the Pentagon and I was cleared to enter the park Never had a problem at any other gate, even when the finger squeeze thing didn't work again.

 

[disneyfreak33]

No offense to anyone, but some wive's of higher ranking officers seem to think they share their dh's rank and try to enforce their own idea of military regs on everyone else

I couldn't agree more...

 

[stm61]

I couldn't agree more...

I started out as an AF cop and some of the stories I could tell are just unbelievable lol. What county are you in? We're in York, near the Chester line.

 

[disneyfreak33]

I started out as an AF cop and some of the stories I could tell are just unbelievable lol. What county are you in? We're in York, near the Chester line.

Ah I can just imagine, I have run into a few wives who think they are ...well, who think they are I will leave that at that! I know you can fill in the blanks.

We are in Berkeley County. About 20 minutes from downtown Charleston. Your more North of us? up near the NC border, correct?

My DH works at the Naval Weapons Station for a few more months, we just received PCS orders to move to Bangor, Washington. Not too thrilled but it's only for 3 years then HOPEFULLY we will be back here, in Pensacola, or back to Georgia! We figured the odds of getting 1 of those 3 are pretty good.

It was either Bangor or Guam...not a whole lot of choices this time around.

 

[stm61]

wow what a difference, Charleston to Bangor! I always think of ME when I hear Bangor. I might of gone for Guam, but I don't know the political climate there these days. Yes, we're up near Charlotte, takes me 1 hr 15 min to get to the base during the week, 45 min on weekends, which is why I don't work there full time. Good luck with the move, hopefully ya'll will be back home in the south soon.