military tickets?

[ThroughLookingGlass]

Tried posting this already but I guess it didn't go through

BFF and I are both dependents and wondering if you absolutely have to have the sponsor present in order to purchase military discounted tickets from shades of green? We just don't want to run into any unpleasant surprises

 

[Mrsjvb]

Only SPOUSES and the Servicemember may purchase the tickets or voucher.

 

[ThroughLookingGlass]

Only SPOUSES and the Servicemember may purchase the tickets or voucher.

Aghhh ok, glad I asked. Parents and I were afraid that was the case. Very silly rules.

 

[Mrsjvb]

uhh no not silly at all. the benefit is for THE SERVICEMEMBER.

they conceded that spouses should be allowed to take advantage as the SM is often deployed or otherwise TAD and cannot actually get the tickets in time.

 

[ThroughLookingGlass]

If it was for service members only then only the service member should be allowed A TICKET not the dependents.

Whatever.

It makes absolutely no sense to myself and to my parents why those are the rules but oh well. We'll deal with it.

 

[Mrsjvb]

just because you don't like it doesn't make it silly or wrong.

most 'dependents' are MINORS anyway and would not be traveling without the SM or spouse in the first place.

the tickets are so that the SM can enjoy time with their family. Not so the kids can go by themselves.

they used to not have the restriction. then word got out that SM were buying them up and RESELLING THEM to anyone and everyone.

Disney does not have to keep offering the special tickets at all.

you can buy reduced rate tickets at any MWR/ITT office that can be used by anyone.

 

[Angel Ariel]

If it was for service members only then only the service member should be allowed A TICKET not the dependents.

Whatever.

It makes absolutely no sense to myself and to my parents why those are the rules but oh well. We'll deal with it.

The intent is for the servicemember to be able to enjoy Disney with whom they want (hence the 6 tickets), not for the service member to send others who wouldn't otherwise qualify on a discounted vacation (when the servicemember/spouse isn't present).

 

[ThroughLookingGlass]

Yep, I guess I'll just make a trip to the base so my mom and dad don't have to come over to SOG with us on our arrival day.

They arrive a few days earlier to enjoy F&G festival and I didn't want to cut into their park time

 

[Angel Ariel]

Yep, I guess I'll just make a trip to the base so my mom and dad don't have to come over to SOG with us on our arrival day.

They arrive a few days earlier to enjoy F&G festival and I didn't want to cut into their park time

I believe SOG is allowing pre-arrival orders of the AFS tickets, to accommodate the 30 day FP+ prebooking now available to offsite guests. Perhaps your parents (I'm assuming one of them is the SM?) could contact SOG and order any necessary tickets before the trip.

 

[ThroughLookingGlass]

I believe SOG is allowing pre-arrival orders of the AFS tickets, to accommodate the 30 day FP+ prebooking now available to offsite guests. Perhaps your parents (I'm assuming one of them is the SM?) could contact SOG and order any necessary tickets before the trip.

Oh awesome!

 

[sunb75]

Oh awesome!

But from what I understand, you still have to activate the tickets. Can anyone with an ID activate them? (Asking this because my kids and I are going this summer without dh - the sm).

 

[Mrsjvb]

But from what I understand, you still have to activate the tickets. Can anyone with an ID activate them? (Asking this because my kids and I are going this summer without dh - the sm).

any SPOUSE or SM can activate them. you will be fine.

technically a spouse can only activate 5 tickets as the 6th is reserved solely for the SM.

 

[POOHsie]

Yep, I guess I'll just make a trip to the base so my mom and dad don't have to come over to SOG with us on our arrival day.

They arrive a few days earlier to enjoy F&G festival and I didn't want to cut into their park time

The AFS tickets have to be activated in person at WDW. You will have to hook up with the SM at WDW. I've read some posts here that some SMs could activate the family's tickets without the family there in person. I've also read other posts that the family getting the tickets had to appear in person at the time of activation. If the SM or Spouse has possession of the tickets before your arrival at WDW, ask him/her to activate the tickets ahead of your arrival. If Disney insists you must be there, meet the SM or Spouse at a theme park front gate for the transaction. Activation is done at theme park gates. SOG will not activate the tickets.

 

[capeseal]

But I thought everyone needed to be present at the time of activation. At least that has been our experience. So, you can have the service member activate 6 tickets without everyone present (and adults need to show an ID and sign for their ticket.)

Someone beat me to this clarification. Sorry to essentially repeat the previous post.

 

[ejcraft]

But I thought everyone needed to be present at the time of activation. At least that has been our experience. So, you can have the service member activate 6 tickets without everyone present (and adults need to show an ID and sign for their ticket.)

Someone beat me to this clarification. Sorry to essentially repeat the previous post.

the last time I used the tickets, last August, I did not need to have everyone there in person, as long as I had their information, I believe name, address, and social security number, I could activate all of them. And it was the same the year before, and they can be acitivated at guest services in DTD. but this is just my experience.

 

[Angel Ariel]

But I thought everyone needed to be present at the time of activation. At least that has been our experience. So, you can have the service member activate 6 tickets without everyone present (and adults need to show an ID and sign for their ticket.)

Someone beat me to this clarification. Sorry to essentially repeat the previous post.

WE went in March and October of 2013, and used AFS tickets on both trips. We did not have to have our entire party present to activate the tickets.

 

[Angel Ariel]

But from what I understand, you still have to activate the tickets. Can anyone with an ID activate them? (Asking this because my kids and I are going this summer without dh - the sm).

Yes, the AFS tickets would still have to be activated upon arrival. But, as another poster pointed out, the parents would not have to come to SOG as SOG doesn't activate tickets. The OP could meet the parents at the theme park gates, where the parents could either just hand them the already activated tickets, or they all go to the ticket window together to activate them.

 

[MichelleVW]

But I thought everyone needed to be present at the time of activation. At least that has been our experience. So, you can have the service member activate 6 tickets without everyone present (and adults need to show an ID and sign for their ticket.)

Someone beat me to this clarification. Sorry to essentially repeat the previous post.

I've never had a problem getting tickets for people that weren't there, but I know people that were told they couldn't buy tickets for people that weren't there.

 

[sunb75]

FWIW: The 4 day for $169 states that military member or spouse must be present to activate tickets. While that works for me, I hope it works out for OP.

 

[Angel Ariel]

FWIW: The 4 day for $169 states that military member or spouse must be present to activate tickets. While that works for me, I hope it works out for OP.

From what I gather, the SM is one of the OP's parents. They will already be there when the OP arrives.