Salute Tickets Former Spouse

[Katmouse09]

Hello all! I am lost about what to do! Please help.

Background info: My mother has purchased Military Salute tickets 4-5 times since 2009 for our family. She has purchased tickets at the MWR ticket office at our base and has purchased them by mail through Shades of Green. We have activated them at Disney Guest services using her ID. She divorced my father after being married to him during his entire 25+ Military career due to his infidelity. She receives full military retiree benefits. On her ID card, her status is listed as DB.

Problem: Our reservations are for January 2-7, 2019. It is the kids Christmas present. Our local office has not gotten the 2019 Salute tickets in yet. We decided to drive to Shades of Green this upcoming Sunday to purchase the Salute tickets in person in order to have the tickets linked to MDE before our 60 day mark so we can make fast passes. I called a few days to confirm Shades of Green has the 2019 tickets in stock, they would be open on Sunday, etc. I called again today to confirm everything. The lady on the phone tells me that Mom does not qualify for the Salute tickets! I tried to explain that we went through our office on post before and through Shades of Green. Both places have approved her ID and status in the past. She said she doesn’t qualify. I asked to speak to her supervisor. The supervisor said the same thing, she doesn’t qualify. I asked had the requirements changed and the supervisor said no. I asked to be transferred to manager. The supervisor said the manager wasn’t available but she would give her a message to call me back.

Question: What should I do? The military ticket is the only way we have been able and will be able to afford to go. I do not understand why she suddenly doesn’t qualify. Should I push the issue with Shades of Green? Call our base office? Just wait until our base office gets them in and hope they don’t suddenly change? Call Disney Guest Services who have activates them in the past? Try to purchase the tickets at the guest services at the park? What should I do?! What can I do?!

 

[jhoannam]

I would try to go to Shades and hope that lady isn’t there.

 

[gwynne]

I have no idea of the specifics of the rules in this situation. If it were me I would price out and likely order tickets from Undercover Tourist.

 

[hiroMYhero]

What should I do?

Have your Mother purchase the tickets at Shades of Green in the same manner she always has in the past. There’s no reason to give more info that isn’t necessary when the same unchanged rules apply to these tickets.

Phone staff probably aren’t even located at SoG.

 

[instlouis]

You can try to get them, but what you were told at SoG is correct. Only the spouse, not an ex-spouse, can purchase tickets in place of the military retiree. The only exception is an unremarried widow. No harm in trying, but don't be surprised if you get a "no".

 

[KateMW]

Can you dad purchase them?

 

[Katmouse09]

Can you dad purchase them?

We no longer have contact with him.

 

[Katmouse09]

You can try to get them, but what you were told at SoG is correct. Only the spouse, not an ex-spouse, can purchase tickets in place of the military retiree. The only exception is an unremarried widow. No harm in trying, but don't be surprised if you get a "no".

Even on the site that announces the military salute each year, it states that un-remarried former spouses who were married to the military member for more than 20 years qualify as “spouses” and are eligible for the salute. She meets every part of that.

Thank you all! We will take all of these ideas into consideration. Just frustrating that we’ve been told one thing for 9 years and now this.

 

[sharonabe]

Even on the site that announces the military salute each year, it states that un-remarried former spouses who were married to the military member for more than 20 years qualify as “spouses” and are eligible for the salute. She meets every part of that.

Thank you all! We will take all of these ideas into consideration. Just frustrating that we’ve been told one thing for 9 years and now this.

Order them from Shades by mail. You may not have them in time for your 60 days, but it's more important to have them at all.

 

[hlhlaw07]

While your mother appears to be what is referred to as a 20/20/20 spouse (which entitles her to still receive benefits and a portion of the military retirement if allocated to her by a court) that doesn't create any entitlement to an offer from a non-governmental entity for a military discount. Here, the Salute Tickets are for the military member/retiree or the spouse. It is an either/or benefit. The member and spouse do not get their own discount. So logistically, it makes perfect sense that Disney would not offer the discount to the un-remarried former spouses, who, like your mother, are probably not coordinating with their ex-spouse to use Disney Tickets. It's the servicemember's benefit that Disney allows the spouse to redeem in the servicemember's place. With the widow situation, Disney doesn't have to worry about the servicemember coming along also wanting to use the tickets. So, if your mother has been able to redeem the offer in the past she was lucky, but just because Disney did not follow it's policy before doesn't mean you should speak to a manager when you get someone who follows the policy. Also, not sure what website you are looking at that you have found the un-remarried former spouse being included, but Disney's website does not include such language in its terms of the offer.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

 

[disneydreamer1980]

It says above that divorced spouses aren’t eligible. I was curious myself because my sister is divorced from an active duty member.

 

[Katmouse09]

This is all so confusing. Every place I look has a different answer. I found the same flier from MWR that was posted above but noticed it is from a .com site, not military. Militarydisney tips says conflicting info, including a spouse is considered “an unremarried former spouse who was married for 20+ years of his career”. She has a regular tan form 1173.

Another option/question. My grandmother is an unremarried widow of a full retiree. Could she purchase tickets at shades of green in November and activate them there for us to use in January? Would she have to be there in January if she’s purchased them and activates them in November?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have no idea of the specifics of the rules in this situation. If it were me I would price out and likely order tickets from Undercover Tourist.

Prices are better

2019 4 Day Hopper tickets are $241 per person or $257 for 5 Day Hopper tickets. Tickets can be purchased anytime after December 19th. We have to be together to activate.

 

[matheke]

This is all so confusing. Every place I look has a different answer. I found the same flier from MWR that was posted above but noticed it is from a .com site, not military. Militarydisney tips says conflicting info, including a spouse is considered “an unremarried former spouse who was married for 20+ years of his career”. She has a regular tan form 1173.

Another option/question. My grandmother is an unremarried widow of a full retiree. Could she purchase tickets at shades of green in November and activate them there for us to use in January? Would she have to be there in January if she’s purchased them and activates them in November?

The reason you are confused is because too many people do not understand what the different levels are when it comes to the Military and their dependents. I am retired and know that there are many different rules as far as DEERS and so on that I don't understand.

I would really press your local MWR as to when they are getting the tickets in. I am guessing you are in or around Florida. There is no shortage of bases and MWR/ITT offices. Try calling others to see if they have the tickets.

 

[Katmouse09]

The reason you are confused is because too many people do not understand what the different levels are when it comes to the Military and their dependents. I am retired and know that there are many different rules as far as DEERS and so on that I don't understand.

I would really press your local MWR as to when they are getting the tickets in. I am guessing you are in or around Florida. There is no shortage of bases and MWR/ITT offices. Try calling others to see if they have the tickets.

I just don’t want to get down to Disney After spending the money and be told we can’t activate.

 

[AngiTN]

Does the crux of the confusion come from the fact that MOST ex-spouses (I am one) do not get ID cards?
I have a feeling that all most who sell the tickets want is a Military ID card and if the ex-Spouse has one then they can buy and if they don't, they can't.

I just don’t want to get down to Disney After spending the money and be told we can’t activate.

Once you've linked the ticket to MDE what else do you have to do to use it? Isn't it then connected to your MB? So that all you need at that point is the MB

 

[sharonabe]

Another option/question. My grandmother is an unremarried widow of a full retiree. Could she purchase tickets at shades of green in November and activate them there for us to use in January? Would she have to be there in January if she’s purchased them and activates them in November?

I know if you get the tickets BY MAIL from Shades they are already activated and she would not need to be there. Not sure if you buy them in person if they are already activated.

Once you've linked the ticket to MDE what else do you have to do to use it? Isn't it then connected to your MB? So that all you need at that point is the MB

If you buy military SALUTE tickets from anywhere other than Shades by mail, you MUST go to guest services and show your ID to activate the tickets. You can link them to your MDE to do FP+, but you can't enter the park until they are activated.

 

[Katmouse09]

Trying to figure out some other options for tickets. My grandmother is an unremarried widow of a retiree. I know that if you buy Salute tickets at the base, they have to be activated before they are used. If she purchases 2019 Salute to the military tickets at shades of green on November 17, would she have to be at the park when the tickets are used in January? I know the tickets are activated at shades of green. Can they not be used until January?

 

[Katmouse09]

If you order tickets from Shades of Green, mailing them the order form and the copy of your military ID, are the tickets already activated? Or do you have to activate them still?

If you go to Shades of Green and buy tickets in person, can you activate them right away and then not use them for 2 months?