SOG Eligibility Question

[AuntMinnie]

My DH server in the military for 4 years only (right after high school) are we eligibile fro ressie at SOG, if so what is needed at check in time ( release papers or something else)? Or do have to have had an extensive military career to stay at this resort. Also are rennovations suppose to be done by September?

 

[drusba]

If in four years and now discharged SOG is not available to you. You need to be active, reserve, or retired military, or a civilian employed by Department of Defense.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

You would not be eligible based on that. Go to reservation request here to see who is eligible:
http://www.armymwr.com/shades/index.html

 

[AuntMinnie]

Thanks for the info. Nope, we dont qualify. I was surprised to see that higher ranking men have a higher rate, I would think the opposite. Great rates anyway... Enjoy!

 

[JOC]

Higher ranking personnel have a higher rate because they make more $$$! Sometimes, it doesn't pay to be the king!

 

[Sleepy]

I think there should be a greater difference in rates based on rank. From E-5 to E-6, there is a $25 difference in rate. From E-9 to the highest ranking officer, the rate difference is only $10. I know I don't make the rules for rates, but I do know there is a massive difference in military pay and think the higher ranking officer could afford a larger pricing gap than $10. The cost of one night stay is mere pocket change lost in the couch for those people.


*Sometimes, it doesn't pay to be the king! *

Depends on what rank you are and what rate you are paying.

 

[mog]

I guess that all depends on your point of view, too. Remember it is not just active duty that are eligible for these rooms. My husband is what you would call a "higher ranking officer", but in the Reserves. If you think paying $100/night for a room is "pocket change" - remember he only gets paid that "high ranking officer" rate for 2 days a month. You don't know what those guys are getting paid at their regular jobs - could be not much at all!
Mind you, I'm not arguing with your point that there is a HUGE difference in pay at those levels in the active duty service - just that it is not a reason to make the rates higher for upper level ranks! If they did, it wouldn't be any cheaper to stay at SOG than some of the other resorts, and that would defeat the purpose of SOG.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Well said mog! My DH is a higher ranking officer in the reserves too. He has had to pull triple the duty lately because of world events, even though he is not activated. I think he has had 3 weekends off this year. Our $95(I think it is up to $101 later this year) a night room late in May will be well earned. That is if he is NOT activated and our trip is still on.

 

[mog]

Yes, I noticed it was going up to $101 just in time for our trip next year!
We have to scrimp and save just to have enough to get there every couple of years just like everyone else!! And if it weren't for SOG lower rates, we would never be able to afford to stay on-site!
I hope you get to go on your trip!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I understand your pain BibbidiBobbidiBoo! DH and I are both "higher ranking officers" in the Air National Guard so we get the $95/night rate also. Though I am not complaining. That is still an awesome rate for on site, especially at CR. But we are facing the possibility of activation for him (fortunately I am in a theoretically non-deployable position) at an unknown time.

But rather than put our life on hold waiting for the unknown, we planned the trip for late August. If he deploys, I head to WDW with 2 DDs by myself
Maybe someone in my family will take pity on me and come along for the trip!

Anyway, I hope it works out well for all of us ne the very near future!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

My DH is in a theoretically non-deployable position too( he is the one to do the deploying !), but he could be activated to do this.
We have an August backup date "just in case" though it possibly would not work either! We shall all hope for the best for us. I would wait and go with him, should he be activated. Hey, I went through Desert Storm while he was deployed there(he was active duty at the time) and I was living in a foreign country, I can handle this ! Good luck to you!

 

[lookingforward]

My husband was a higher ranking officer for much of his 20 plus year career and he did make more money than senior elisted ranks. BUT..I hope you consider that even though he made more he was still underpaid when compared to civilian salaries for similiar work (aircraft managment) AND since we moved so often to all points in the world (Japan, CA, etc. etc.) I was never able to make a consistant iiving as I followed my husband around. (not complaining!). Moving was expensive and difficult on our budget. Even the highest ranking officer makes much less than someone in the civilian community with equal responsibilty and many of my friends husbands were generals and they were not rolling in the $$. One final point...generals and other high ranking officers almost NEVER get to take time off from their jobs. They have way too much on the line to go off to disneyworld very often. They do, however, get to enjoy things like that more often when they make the transition to the civilian world upon retirement.

I am very thankful for the wonderful benefits of the SOG. We are planning on staying at the CR in two weeks, paying the highest rate..I think 117 with tax for a garden room. Things like the shades of green really, really, REALLY help military families feel appreciated despite the lower pay, frequent seperations, danger, sacrifice, and physical training. It is a hard but very sweet life. Semper Fi!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Lookingforward-

I can sympathize with you. I was AD for 10 years with hubby. Decided to switch to ANG in order to provide stable life for DDs. Military life is especially hard for the spouse. How many times are we expected to pack up the old house and unpack the new house because DH has to be at work???

This is the first time I have used SOG, but I hope to make it a regular thing. My girls are still young enough to believe in and enjoy the fantasy of WDW, and as long as I can afford to do it, we will make it a regular trip! SOG makes it affordable for us to stay on site. I suspect that after this trip, I will never want to stay off site again!!

I can't wait for this summer's trip. Right now I am more excited than DD4. DD16months has no clue!

 

[*Flower*]

jwsqrdplus2-

I made the same mistake in 1997. DH was getting ready to deploy and wanted to go to the 25th anniversary celebration of WDW.
I'd heard things in passing about SoG, but knew nothing about location, amenities, or anything!
I was able to get on the wait list and got called back when they got a cancellation for our time period. Before this we'd been staying at Motel 6 because it was cheap, and THEY LEAVE THE LIGHT ON FOR YOU.

Well, he got so spoiled staying on property that he won't even let me think about booking offsite anymore. We'll be at the CR (SoG) on the 21st, and had to add an unexpected trip this weekend because a friend of ours in the Army Reserve is being shipped out on the 18th. She asked if we could come down to see her before she left.

We wouldn't be able to go as often if it weren't for SoG and DH sticking it out through his whole career to retirement.

Can't wait!!!!!!!!!

 

[skoi]

My dh is in the Navy reserve and we had the biggest debate-- not an argument since we were both arguing both points-- about whether to use SOG or not. The argument goes, "we shouldn't use it, rather save the space for active duty military families". The counter argument, "well activation and deployment could come at any time, and when that happens, how are we going to be able to go without him."

Tough call, and the debate still hasn't been resolved with a trip coming up in Sept.

Julie

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by skoi
My dh is in the Navy reserve and we had the biggest debate-- not an argument since we were both arguing both points-- about whether to use SOG or not. The argument goes, "we shouldn't use it, rather save the space for active duty military families". The counter argument, "well activation and deployment could come at any time, and when that happens, how are we going to be able to go without him."

Tough call, and the debate still hasn't been resolved with a trip coming up in Sept.

Julie

Not that my opinion counts in your debate, but IMO, there is no debate. Your husband is serving his country, use SoG. Military members and even veterans are given very little appreciation in the way of tangible items for serving their country. Use what you're given and don't debate it.

BTW, I've been told SoG has a camera or two up so you can see what's going on. I don't believe it's updated on the weekends, but is supposed to be during the week. I've heard the camera angle is terrible, but I haven't been over to their website to check it out.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Skoi-

I totally agree with FirstNo!!! DH and I are both Air National Guard, and have absolutely no problem using SoG. In fact, in today's climate, Guard and Reserves almost deserve it more whether activated or not! We are expected to be equal to the AD in every way, but we don't receive near the benefits the AD does. Definitely take advantage of this benefit! Your family deserves it also.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I 100% agree too! My DH has been active duty and now reserves and I feel we are just as worthy of this perk as anyone, maybe more. He has put in SO many extra weeks and weekends this year, has military phone calls and e-mails to respond to daily for his unit(and gets not one extra cent for this aspect of his time-calls and e-mails that is). You also should remember that WDW often recognizes those that are activated for a cause, but forgets or choses to ignore those that were not activated but contributing to the cause like my DH is. That is what happened last year at least. So I feel we are very worthy of SOG rates or overflow(what we have used in the past). GO for it!

 

[AmyA]

I also agree that if you are eligible, you need to use it. My Dh did 10 years of AD, but for the last 2 years has been of full-time ANG. We have no guilt about using SoG. Military pay and benefits are tremendously lacking (in most cases) compared to the civilian world, and SoG makes an on-site WDW stay affordable for us. I don't think you'll find any AD families that feel you "shouldn't" be there. We're all in the military boat together...

 

[madge]

my husband is DoD civilian...we love SoG it is one of our favorite benefits