Question for military Disney goers...

[FutureDisneyEventPlanner]

So my sister has access to military room discounts and tickets. We’ve used them a few times before.

We’re planning a trip in May, but she can only go for 2 out of the 4 days. If we get a four day military ticket, are we able to still use it even if she has to leave early? Same with hotels? Will we be booted out of the hotel if she leaves early?

I imagine there would be no way for them to really know if she’s really gone so maybe it’s fine? If anyone can give insight, that’d be great!

 

[livbeatles]

With regards to the tickets, they just need to be activated with the military person; they don't have to be with you otherwise.

I don't have any experience with the hotels. If you're planning to take her off the reservation for the last two days, that may be where an issue happens. But if there's just the two of you and you're not paying an additional adult fee, maybe just leave her on?

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Is the resort reservation in her name? if so, it should not be a problem. If the tickets are vouchers everyone has to be there to activate. Once you all have activated tickets she doesn't need to be with you.

 

[BarlowFamily]

The military tickets are such a great deal! Our family is very thankful for that discount. If she is purchasing tickets for you from Shades of Green, they will be ready to go and your group can just go to the parks. Military tickets purchased on base will need to be activated. The military member (your sister) or spouse must be with guests to activate tickets for the first use. There's a ticket guest services in front of each park and in Disney Springs. They can be activated at any of those locations, right be before you go into a park or a day or two ahead of time. So even tickets that need to be activated, you will be fine after that first use visiting without her. And remember those military tickets are valid until December 18! You could spread out your days if you think you might be back later this year.

As for the hotel, she will definitely need to be there at check in to show her ID. Will you be in more than one room? If so, when she checks out, her military discount will check out with her. If you are sharing one room, you may be fine. The fine print on Disney's website for the military discount says "Valid military ID will be required upon check-in and military member (or spouse) must stay in the room. "

 

[FutureDisneyEventPlanner]

Is the resort reservation in her name? if so, it should not be a problem. If the tickets are vouchers everyone has to be there to activate. Once you all have activated tickets she doesn't need to be with you.

I thought you could purchase tickets in advance, so you can set up FP+ and everything? I vaguely remember doing that before but maybe things have changed?

 

[BarlowFamily]

I thought you could purchase tickets in advance, so you can set up FP+ and everything? I vaguely remember doing that before but maybe things have changed?

Yes! You can purchase them in advance. We've had no issues linking them in MDE and making FP+ reservations. Tickets purchased on base will still need to be activated, just a quick ID check at guest relations/services by the ticket booths. I think it might be Disney's way of double checking that the tickets aren't being resold. Tickets purchased at Shades of Green or Disney (but why pay sales tax?!) do not have to be activated. We've purchased tickets both ways. SoG has an order form if you want to get activated tix before your trip.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

The military tickets are such a great deal! Our family is very thankful for that discount. If she is purchasing tickets for you from Shades of Green, they will be ready to go and your group can just go to the parks. Military tickets purchased on base will need to be activated. The military member (your sister) or spouse must be with guests to activate tickets for the first use. There's a ticket guest services in front of each park and in Disney Springs. They can be activated at any of those locations, right be before you go into a park or a day or two ahead of time. So even tickets that need to be activated, you will be fine after that first use visiting without her. And remember those military tickets are valid until December 18! You could spread out your days if you think you might be back later this year.

As for the hotel, she will definitely need to be there at check in to show her ID. Will you be in more than one room? If so, we she checks out, her military discount will check out with her. If you are sharing one room, you may be fine. The fine print on Disney's website for the military discount says "Valid military ID will be required upon check-in and military member (or spouse) must stay in the room. "

Odd..we have booked 2 rooms before with military discount and my DH ( military member) and I were in 1 room, an adult family member was in the other. No problem.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I thought you could purchase tickets in advance, so you can set up FP+ and everything? I vaguely remember doing that before but maybe things have changed?

You can get the vouchers ahead of time and scan them into the MDE. That is what we do, If she has tickets or the vouchers she can give you the numbers to put in your MDE.

 

[BarlowFamily]

Odd..we have booked 2 rooms before with military discount and my DH ( military member) and I were in 1 room, an adult family member was in the other. No problem.

True! When we've called to book this discount, I recall being told we would be limited to 3 discounted rooms (but we've only ever needed one). Obviously the military member can only stay in one of those rooms. If the military member needs to check out of their room before the remaining guests is what is questionable. Maybe someone has experience with that.

 

[FutureDisneyEventPlanner]

You can get the vouchers ahead of time and scan them into the MDE. That is what we do, If she has tickets or the vouchers she can give you the numbers to put in your MDE.

Is there anyway to activate tickets in advance? My sister might only be able to come 2 out of the 4 days and we'd like to use the tickets before she arrives. Is this even possible?

 

[BarlowFamily]

Is there anyway to activate tickets in advance? My sister might only be able to come 2 out of the 4 days and we'd like to use the tickets before she arrives. Is this even possible?

She can order tickets from Shades of Green that will already be activated. They'll mail them for a small fee. Sounds like it will be worth it for you group. Tickets purchased on base will be fine in MDE to make FP+ 60 days ahead of time, but will be vouchers that need to be activated before park entry. Only tickets directly from Disney (in person, military ID) or Shades of Green are activated.