Military Tickets from SoG - Does Military member have to be present to use them?

[ST1TCH]

So...long story short....cousin is retired Air Force and bought us the 6 day Salute Park Hopper tickets last November. We were all supposed to go together in December but my wife ended up in the hospital with emergency galbladder surgery. So now we've realized we only have until 9/26/21 to use these. Already planning another trip together this December but these tickets won't last.

So the main question - since these are from SoG -- according to other threads here and my research -- they're already activated and there is no need for the military family member to be present when using, correct? My cousin said when they went in December and her husband or daughter used the ticket first, there were no questions about military ID, etc.

I'm hoping that's the case....

 

[brockash]

So...long story short....cousin is retired Air Force and bought us the 6 day Salute Park Hopper tickets last November. We were all supposed to go together in December but my wife ended up in the hospital with emergency galbladder surgery. So now we've realized we only have until 9/26/21 to use these. Already planning another trip together this December but these tickets won't last.

So the main question - since these are from SoG -- according to other threads here and my research -- they're already activated and there is no need for the military family member to be present when using, correct? My cousin said when they went in December and her husband or daughter used the ticket first, there were no questions about military ID, etc.

I'm hoping that's the case....

As long as their activated; then you do not need the military member or any kind of id.

 

[subtchr]

Disney reserves the right to request proof of eligibility for these tickets whenever they are used, even if they have already been activated (as the ones from SoG are).

But having said that, we have used 24 of them over the past 4 years, and have never been asked for anything.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

We were challenged once in about the last 15 years.

The rules say the mil member should be with the group but they really don't seem to really audit it.

 

[Bills22]

Please forgive me if I am repeating- I just want to clarify. Tickets purchased from Shades of Green by mail are already activated and ready for use upon arrival?

 

[subtchr]

Please forgive me if I am repeating- I just want to clarify. Tickets purchased from Shades of Green by mail are already activated and ready for use upon arrival?

Yes, that is correct.

 

[subtchr]

We were challenged once in about the last 15 years.

The rules say the mil member should be with the group but they really don't seem to really audit it.

There is nothing in the rules (terms and conditions of the tickets) that says this. Just that the sales location must require proof of eligibility, and that each ticket must be used by the same person for all days.

 

[Bills22]

Yes, that is correct.

Thank you! We will be arriving before my father in law and know we will want to get to the parks! Appreciate the help

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

There is nothing in the rules (terms and conditions of the tickets) that says this. Just that the sales location must require proof of eligibility, and that each ticket must be used by the same person for all days.

Here is copy/paste from the WDW website. I added the bold emphasis.

• Tickets and options expire and may not be used after December 17, 2021. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.

 

[subtchr]

Here is copy/paste from the WDW website. I added the bold emphasis.

• Tickets and options expire and may not be used after December 17, 2021. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.

That’s a stretch to say that implies the military member must be with the other guests throughout the trip, but okay.

At least we agree that it’s not an issue in practice.

 

[dmband]

we have used Mil Tickets about ten times and three they forced us to confirm the member was there.
once was at the turnstile trying to tap in and we had to go to customer relations to verify

 

[brockash]

we have used Mil Tickets about ten times and three they forced us to confirm the member was there.
once was at the turnstile trying to tap in and we had to go to customer relations to verify

Was this at Disneyland or World? This is supposed to and we've always had them do this at land...I would be beyond annoyed if they tried to pull this crap at World, as I don't carry my military id to the parks because there's no reason to. It would be VERY odd for them to request proof at the turnstiles...I can only assume there was something odd with your ticket in their IT world...hopefully you got fastpasses out of it.

 

[Bills22]

Can anyone give me an idea of how long to expect it to take to get the tickets by mail? I’m eager to make park reservations. Last minute trip over Labor Day weekend. Thanks!

 

[LvnDsny]

Can anyone give me an idea of how long to expect it to take to get the tickets by mail? I’m eager to make park reservations. Last minute trip over Labor Day weekend. Thanks!

It took about 3 weeks to receive a call back to confirm the order for the ones I ordered in April, SOG was backed up on requests. Once I confirmed the request, the tickets were received FedEx like 2 days later.

Maybe someone else has a more recent experience and can advise if the three week call back to confirm the order has improved.

 

[Bills22]

It took about 3 weeks to receive a call back to confirm the order for the ones I ordered in April, SOG was backed up on requests. Once I confirmed the request, the tickets were received FedEx like 2 days later.

Maybe someone else has a more recent experience and can advise if the three week call back to confirm the order has improved.

Thank you! Maybe they aren’t as backed up now- lol

 

[Bills22]

I feel as though I have hijacked this thread but I have one more question. Would anyone be able to tell me the type of things they ask when they call? My father in law is elderly- in his 80’s- so we just want to prepare him. TIA!

 

[dmband]

Was this at Disneyland or World? This is supposed to and we've always had them do this at land...I would be beyond annoyed if they tried to pull this crap at World, as I don't carry my military id to the parks because there's no reason to. It would be VERY odd for them to request proof at the turnstiles...I can only assume there was something odd with your ticket in their IT world...hopefully you got fastpasses out of it.

World
two were on day one and one was day three, all different trips.
no FP or anything else since they reserve the right to have your show proof.

take a picture on your phone for the rare case they ask. I think that would be good enough.

I feel as though I have hijacked this thread but I have one more question. Would anyone be able to tell me the type of things they ask when they call? My father in law is elderly- in his 80’s- so we just want to prepare him. TIA!

credit card basically, the rest is all on the application

It took about 3 weeks to receive a call back to confirm the order for the ones I ordered in April, SOG was backed up on requests. Once I confirmed the request, the tickets were received FedEx like 2 days later.

Maybe someone else has a more recent experience and can advise if the three week call back to confirm the order has improved.

pretty much same experience for us

 

[ST1TCH]

Ha - this is the first thread I've ever started that got resurrected to page 1 after several weeks. Happy about that

Though I'm less happy that there seems to be conflict in the answer. As my OP states, when we go to the parks 8/29-9/5...the military member that purchased these for us will not be there. How screwed are we?

Would a picture of their ID be sufficient? Or both of my parents are veterans, would a picture of their ID?

 

[Travelgrrl]

I can't speak to Disney, as I've never been part of our party to get those sweet WDW military tickets - but the one time my brother in law (retired Colonel) got us Universal tickets from SOG, he absolutely had to be with us to activate them at the park(s). There was no way to activate them at the resort.

Once they were used once, we didn't need him there for subsequent entering. Just the first time they were used / activated.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Ha - this is the first thread I've ever started that got resurrected to page 1 after several weeks. Happy about that

Though I'm less happy that there seems to be conflict in the answer. As my OP states, when we go to the parks 8/29-9/5...the military member that purchased these for us will not be there. How screwed are we?

Would a picture of their ID be sufficient? Or both of my parents are veterans, would a picture of their ID?

Odds are low you will be challenged but there is a risk that if you are "audited" (my words) then you need to have a back up plan. I think having a picture of the ID and having the service member standing by for any possible phone call from you guys while at Disney would be best.

The system has the military person's name and the quantity of how many they purchased during this present (and slightly extended) promotional period.

The whole purpose of the rules is that WDW does not want a service member to buy tix and then sell them to make a profit.

Your tix from SOG are live tickets right now so you will not need the service member there to activate them.

I hope that you guys pass through the tapstiles without any issues.