Question about Military Salute (free tickets for military)

[Clover9990]

We are National Guard. However, my husband just received his orders for Active Duty yesterday...he is leaving for an extended annual training (about 3 weeks long) soon. My question is, do you think if we showed a copy of the orders at the ticket booth, we'd be able to take advantage of the free ticket/discount tickets for dependants? I know that it's only for active duty and activated reservists/Guardsmen, but since my husband will be active duty for several weeks, AND we have a copy of his orders, I was wondering if they'd let us take advantage of the promotion. Please don't get me wrong- I'm not trying to scam Disney or pull the wool over anyone's eyes...just wondering if this will work or if anyone's ever done it before.

Thanks in advance!

 

[JOC]

Here's a thread discussing the military promo:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=371784

From reading the thread it seems that as long as your husband was activated between September 1, 2002, and December 19, 2003, then you're eligible.

Here's the link to the official promo on Disney's website:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/waltdisneyworld/reservations/reservationsindex?id=MilitaryOfferRoot

 

[Clover9990]

Thanks JOC! Looks like we might be able to take advantage of this...we're going one day this week, so I'll let you all know how it goes!

In the meantime, if anyone has gotten their Military Salute tickets successfully with a copy of annual training orders, PLEASE post here and let me know. Thanks!

 

[wdwrich]

I am a Naval Reservist attached to a unit that was mobilized immediately after the 9/11 attacks, and I want to point out that there is a big difference between being "called-up" (mobilized) to active duty, and the regular 2-3 week annual training performed by all reservists. The printed orders are somewhat different for each, but I don't know if the folks at WDW are savvy enough to know the difference. As I understand the current offer, it is available to those reservists who were actually mobilized. You may want to check ahead of time to avoid disaapointment.

 

[Clover9990]

Originally posted by wdwrich
As I understand the current offer, it is available to those reservists who were actually mobilized. You may want to check ahead of time to avoid disaapointment.

That's the way I *originally* understood it, too, but reading the thread JOC referenced to above, I think that active Guardsmen will be able to take advantage of this with their annual training orders. I won't be disappointed, though...OK, maybe just a tad , but we have seasonal passes anyhow...they expire in September, so I was thinking we could get in a few extra mini-trips before the end of the year. Again, I'll let everyone know what they say when we visit the MK next week!

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by JOC
[B
activated between September 1, 2002, and December 19, 2003 then you're eligible.

[/B]

OK, so if you go in July, but you don't leave for training until end of August...are you still elegible since you would have been "active" before the Dec. deadline? The wording of this is funky!!!

 

[Clover9990]

Originally posted by phorsenuf
OK, so if you go in July, but you don't leave for training until end of August...are you still elegible since you would have been "active" before the Dec. deadline? The wording of this is funky!!!

I would think so, as long as you had a copy of your orders. Now, some people on the other thread have said that even if you could bring in something to prove you were "active" for one weekend (I guess, your LES?), that Disney would accept that for the promotion. I don't know, though. I don't know if Disney worded it the way they did to avoid people who are "serving" inactive duty from taking advantage of the promotion, or if they are deliberately excluding part-time National Guardsmen and reservists. Frankly, if it's the latter, I think that plain ol' sucks. Although Disney has a right to offer (and not offer) the promotion to whomever they want, it's quite unfair (IMO) to deliberately exclude a large portion of our military.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Ok, I am bringing this back to the top again to see if any reservists have sucessfully used the Military Salute. We have our SP's and just took a trip to CR(via SOG) and I guess I should have asked while there, but did not. I am sure I would have got various answers. Just curious if we could take advantage of the resort deals, though AP and FL rates will probably be about the same.
I called today and the CM did not think we could. Then I told her DH did several weeks in Jan/Feb to deploy soldiers. She said that should work if we bring his orders and she booked it, but I don't want to use it if we are not suppose to! I can wait for AP or FL rates or go through SOG overflow!! Would be nice to know so I can tell others. What is the official word(since CM's are doing different things or whatever they want to!)
Anyone???
ps-I e-mailed WDW about 6 weeks ago and received a response they would call-have not got that call yet!

 

[airbornearmywife]

Originally posted by Clover9990
I would think so, as long as you had a copy of your orders. Now, some people on the other thread have said that even if you could bring in something to prove you were "active" for one weekend (I guess, your LES?), that Disney would accept that for the promotion. I don't know, though. I don't know if Disney worded it the way they did to avoid people who are "serving" inactive duty from taking advantage of the promotion, or if they are deliberately excluding part-time National Guardsmen and reservists. Frankly, if it's the latter, I think that plain ol' sucks. Although Disney has a right to offer (and not offer) the promotion to whomever they want, it's quite unfair (IMO) to deliberately exclude a large portion of our military.

hi i really do not have anything to add- i just wanted to say hi

hopefully they will let yall get the discount too!!!

ps- i do have a quick question- so all we need are our military id's to get the discount? thanks!!!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Not to add to the confusion, but I work in Personnel in the Air National Guard.

"Active" reservists or guardsmen (or guardswomen) are people who do their normal 1 weekend/month and 2 weeks/year. I am an active guardsman.

"Activated" reservists or guardsmen are those who have been mobilized/called up to active duty for an extended period of time for a specific reason (in this case Operation Iraqi Freedom). I am NOT activated as I have just completed my normal 2 weeks of AT.

In the ANG, we use A-series orders for normal AT and R-series orders for those people activated. Whether or not WDW CMs are trained to know the difference in another story. Also, on the orders, we have to put a purpose for the orders. If someone is activated/mobilized, his/her orders will show it fairly prominently.

Also, if a reservist or guardsman is put on active duty for more than 30 days, that person gets a new ID card stating they are active duty. With the green ID cards, it is very sublte to tell the difference between an Active duty, reserve or guard ID card. And from experience, I can tell you that the CMs are trained on that. With the new white Common Access Cards, it is very easy to see which component an individual is.

Clover9990, having said all of that, based on the information you have provided in your posts here, I don't think you are eligible. But it cannot hurt to ask/try when you get there. Let us know what happens.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Yes, that is the difference and WDW does say activated. BUT, I think the pot was stirred up by CM's saying that is not what was intended etc and booking it for active reservist(not activated). Some say any orders will do, others say they have to be overseas! Like many things, it depends on which CM you ask or get!
I think I will wait for an AP or FL rate for the quick no kids trip DH and I have planned. I booked SOG overflow for the next family trip in Nov.
I am still curious what is happening with any reservist who have tried or used the resort deal. I know many reservist used it successfully after 9/11 and it was worded the same. I just don't want to use what we are not entitled to. It would be nice to know for any future offerings that are similiarly worded when we don't have SP's and could perhaps benefit.