No ID required for military discount tix entrance?

[IMACM]

I just returned on 3/14 and used 3 of these military passes that I bought at our base in North Dakota. Once we arrived at MK I went to will call and had to show my Military ID as well as fill out a slip of paper with my address and the names of everyone using the tickets in order to have them activated. This is the only time I had to show my spouse Military ID. The ticket agent did however put our 1st initial's on the back of the cards with a perm marker....I am not sure if this was done as a courtesy or what. I had a left over tkt from a past trip and didn't even use mine.

 

[pryclss]

So if I am taking my family and my husband is deployed and won't be in attendance I can only get 5 tickets total (me and 4 others). I have tried callng SOG several times and never get a call back

 

[pryclss]

I should have added, I have an annual pass. In order to buy the tickets must I use a ticket just for me even though I have an annual pass? I was hoping to take my father, mother, and siblings on vacation and let them use the 6 passes since I have the AP. Anyone have any answers?

 

[JessiLynn015]

DH has always had to show his ID. When he was deployed I went with my mom and I even had to show my ID. We've purchased them on post, SoG, and at Disney so she'll definitely be disappointed.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

OP here. Not sure whether or not this acquaintance was/is aware that military tix should be used with the member present. What I do know is that when I mentioned I thought it odd that they would be able to use them without said member, she clearly didn't think it at all unusual or wrong. Just pleased to be getting such a deal.

I'm curious about the CT poster who mentioned a parent who can purchase tickets on base that do not need to be activated with an ID. What kind of discount are we talking here? I believe this acquaintance mentioned she got 4 day hoppers for around $130 . . . and I do know her brother purchased them on an AF base.

Personally, I do believe in Karma. What comes around goes around - hence, I try to do what I personally believe is right. (I know not everybody else will always agree with what I believe!) I will try to find a way to let her know what I have found out without offending her, and then the ball is in her court. Perhaps these tickets will not need activating - who knows? Maybe someone will question the age of her ticketless child. Maybe not. I'm sure people do it all the time. Doesn't mean I will!

Here's to our military, who absolutely deserve to experience the magic on those tix.

Kudos to you! Though sometimes we may feel they "deserve" the surprise on the other side, some day in the future this person might be able to help you in some way. I was thinking how, if no one told her, disappointed her children would be. Could you imagine hyping your children up "We're going to Disney!!" and get all the way there and find out you couldn't afford the tickets? That would be so sad. Yeah, Momma might be trying to cheat the system, but it's the kiddos that would really get hurt. Thank you for taking the high road!

 

[vicki_c]

I should have added, I have an annual pass. In order to buy the tickets must I use a ticket just for me even though I have an annual pass? I was hoping to take my father, mother, and siblings on vacation and let them use the 6 passes since I have the AP. Anyone have any answers?

I just read another post on this earlier today that said one of the 6 tickets must be used by the military person. Check the Ticket Sticky @ the top of the boards under Military Tickets though and see what it says - military tickets are not my forte.

 

[bcuinohio]

Not to be mean but I am hoping your friend gets a very rude shock at the gate and NOT be able to use those tickets!! It is a earned right to be able to take advantage of the discount for Military and their families!! Just saying as the 20 yr wife of an active duty DH!!!

I agree with you.

 

[Leajess99]

Been doing some research on this one, and the fine print says that the military member or spouse must use one of the tickets. But I did not find anything in print that says he/she must show ID at the gate.

Hmmmmm. Now the question is: Do I say something to her? I would hate to think I'm sending her down there to face uncertainty at the gate. But I did mentioned to her I thought it strange that no ID needed to be shown. Also, she's planning on passing off her almost-4-year old as an "under-three" to save on her ticket as well. Again, I kept my mouth shut! I'm almost curious to see what will happen!

Anyone have experiences to share with regards to the military ticket entrance routine?

You don't have to show your ID at the gate but you do have to show the ID when you activate them. We have used these tickets for the past 2 years and may be doing it again this year.

We have activated our tickets at Guest Services in DTD. The first year we purchased them at the local ITR and last year we got them at Shades of Green. Will do the same this year.

 

[mdrob214]

So if I am taking my family and my husband is deployed and won't be in attendance I can only get 5 tickets total (me and 4 others). I have tried callng SOG several times and never get a call back

I should have added, I have an annual pass. In order to buy the tickets must I use a ticket just for me even though I have an annual pass? I was hoping to take my father, mother, and siblings on vacation and let them use the 6 passes since I have the AP. Anyone have any answers?

You may purchase 5, since your sponsor won't be there. You do not have to use one of them.

 

[rkmassa]

Having used these tickets the last two years, I can say without a doubt that I HAD to show my military ID to activate the tickets.

To a PP, I bought them at SoG and that has absolutely nothing to do with with activating or not. You still have to go to a ticket window to activate the tickets.

I would tell your friend to have her brother go back to where he bought, or plans to buy the tickets and ask them if him not going is a problem. That may open his/her eyes.

Dan

That is the same experience we had. My mom had to show her military dependent ID, and then we went to DTD to activate the tickets---where they once again asked to see her ID. Once activated, we were never asked to show ID again at any of the gates.

 

[disneywatcher]

These are the tickets we use and I can for a FACT tell you that I had to show my dependant ID at the window when we activated them.

Your friend is going to be sorely upset when she goes to use those tickets and cant unless her brother is with her.

There is only ONE set of tickets she could even remotely use and those are NOT the military appriciation tickets. They are the tickets sold to the US military at their MWR locations for about 10% less then the gate cost. Those are the ONLY ones I know of that do not require the use of a Military Identification Card.

Not to back track though but here goes.

Last year (our first trip and first time using these tickets) we bought the tickets and then DH was not allowed to go due to training in another state for the ENTIRE month we went on our trip. So I took my DSis with us instead of him. Using my ID was fine and we did NOT need my DH there. The only people who can activate these tickets are the Service Member and his/her Spouse. Once proper identification is shown the CM will provide you with a Sharpie to place each of the names of your party members on the back of said Cards. They cannot be combined with your KTTW cards if you are staying on property.

 

[ccgirl]

Thanks, jmkjr72, for the fine print. At least I know Disney is attempting to reserve these great discounts for the proper people. I guess the big question is: Will the gate agent ensure that these rules are followed? Should I mention this to my acquaintance? Let her take her chances at the gate? I almost want to see what happens, and see what kind of karma this all brings about. But as a "try to do the right thing" kind of person, feel that I should at least tell her to read the fine print. Then she's on her own!

Decisions, decisions.

Perhaps if the discussion comes about organically, I will mention it again. But I don't think I'm going to say, "Hey! Remember how you told me you were going to cheat the system? Well, that ticked me off and I did some homework. You might want to think twice before doing so." That doesn't sound so good, right?

I wouldn't say anything to the liar. They are obviously a big liar and cheat. First, they are not military members. SEcondly, they are lying to get their over 3 year old in for under 3. I woudln't say a thing and have her learn her lesson. At the same time, the children are taught a lesson that cheaters..cheaters...never wins!

 

[gadeac]

I should have added, I have an annual pass. In order to buy the tickets must I use a ticket just for me even though I have an annual pass? I was hoping to take my father, mother, and siblings on vacation and let them use the 6 passes since I have the AP. Anyone have any answers?

You will be able to by five total passes. You do not have to use one of the passes, you just have to be there to activate them. So basically, you are going to be one pass short of having your entire party taken care of.

 

[amandamcallister]

sounds like you have your answers but just wanted to share since we just got back last week and used military tickets

we purchased ours from SOG, my husband is retired and showed his id here. we purchased the 4 day hopper pass for each of us. 138$ which they said was one dollar less than a one day hopper pass !! WOW
we then went to epcot (the back way from the boardwalk) and went straight to the gates with our tickets. They turned us away and told us we had to go to guest services to activate them. Only took two minutes but again we showed both of our ids and they asked him where his home base was. i dont know if he was just making conversation but he was entering something into the computer.
Everyone was very nice and quick. WE HAD TO SHOW ID TWICE, once when we purchased them and then again to activate them at the park. After that we just swiped our cards like everyone else.
Hope this helps

 

[clarigirl]

I bought 6 in December when traveling with my mother ( Military spouse ) and 4 kids. I was prepared to buy the 6th ticket as a regular park hopper and the person who helped me at Shades of Green said we could buy 6. They were all 6 activated at the EPCOT window using my mother's id.

 

[lmb80129]

I know the rules about the salute tickets require a military member or their spouse to activate the tickets but how about a divorced spouse with military privileges? I know it sounds like a stupid question but my parents divorced after my Dad retired and my Mom has a dependent id card. I know she is not technically a spouse but I'm not sure what status her id card gives her since she still has all her dependent privileges. She called a MWR offices and they told her she could still buy and activate the Salute tickets but I'm not convinced.

 

[ccgirl]

I know the rules about the salute tickets require a military member or their spouse to activate the tickets but how about a divorced spouse with military privileges? I know it sounds like a stupid question but my parents divorced after my Dad retired and my Mom has a dependent id card. I know she is not technically a spouse but I'm not sure what status her id card gives her since she still has all her dependent privileges. She called a MWR offices and they told her she could still buy and activate the Salute tickets but I'm not convinced.

As long as she is with you and has the card you should be fine.

 

[MHSweb79]

Best case Karma: Cheatie McCheatson pays her brother for the tickets before they leave. Cheatie McCheatson gets there, finds out that tickets are no good and has to pay full price at the gate, thus PAYING WAY MORE than she would have had she been honest in the first place. (It goes without saying that in my best-case Karma world, the four year old very proudly tells Cheshire Figment how old she is that day..... I can dream, can't I?)

I really love Disney for giving this military discount. I've spoken to many military families (waiting for shows, parades, etc.) and they consider it a real blessing. For most it's the only way they can afford to visit Disney. It would be a crying shame for Disney to have to discontinue this generous program because of the actions of a few folks hoping to cheat the system.

Just my two cents...

 

[POOHsie]

OP was not clear if the tickets had to be activated at Disney or not. Military Disney ticket are of 3 varieties:

Magic Your Way Stars and Stripes tickets (length of stay ticket - ex., 5 day ticket expires after 6 days, includes PH, WP&F)
Magic Your Way (regular) tickets: discounted to reflect no sales tax charged if purchased from military
Armed Forces Salute 4-day 2011 special ticket

Only the Armed Forces Salute ticket needs to be activated by the military member or spouse. The other two tickets are active when purchased, and may be used by anyone (without military ID).

So the person with the military brother may have indeed purchased active tickets for her that would not require him to be at the entrance gates.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The requirements for activation of the Armed Forces Salute tickets are very specific and strictly enforced. One of the following must be physically present for activation:

Active Duty or Retired Serviceman or Disabled Veteran with a Government ID.
Spouse of one of the above, with a DD1173 stating "SP" (Spouse)
Unremarried widow of one of the above, with the DD-1173 so stating.

No other relationship or ID is accepted.