US Military/WDW cutting some ties.

[DISWORLDAV]

I called the local Florida Military base today, and asked for the prices on the new annual passes for WDW. At that time I was informed WDW Annual Passes will no longer be provided for the active military, or retired. The agent then went on to say you have to get them straight from Disney now, but they still provide daily tickets. WDW Annual Passes have been provided by the military bases for years. This was a nice benefit for the people, their families who have served, or are serving our Country. It was a way of Disney showing such appreciation for service men, and women who served. I guess as Disney grows, and is less dependent on help drawing crowds in, then nobody is safe from being kicked to the curb.

 

[minnie mum]

If only the Annual passes are affected, but not the discounted tickets or resort rooms, then I don't think it is appropriate to say that Disney has cut its relationship with the military. Perhaps you should consider editing your title to something less dramatic.

 

[gwynne]

I called the local Florida Military base today, and asked for the prices on the new annual passes for WDW. At that time I was informed WDW Annual Passes will no longer be provided for the active military, or retired. The agent then went on to say you have to get them straight from Disney now, but they still provide daily tickets. WDW Annual Passes have been provided by the military bases for years. This was a nice benefit for the people, their families who have served, or are serving our Country. It was a way of Disney showing such appreciation for service men, and women who served. I guess as Disney grows, and is less dependent on help drawing crowds in, then nobody is safe from being kicked to the curb.

I have to disagree. I am very appreciative of the ways Disney continues to say thank you to the military. They generously offered Room only discounts and Armed Forces Salute Tickets for 2015 and 2016.

I am hoping you edit your thread title OP. As it stands, it's going to cause some very unnecessary worry.

 

[wilkeliza]

Although it is sad to see the APs go, they did just announce the 2016 Military Salute packages and ticket so I hardly think WDW is cutting ties with the US Military.

Most Military families I know would be wasting their money on APs anyway because it is so hard to know when they can actually travel. My little brother doesn't know if he is going to make my wedding because even with over a years notice he is waiting for his base commander to let us know if he can travel to NYC from Virginia.

 

[DISWORLDAV]

As a person who lives in Florida, and has gone to WDW well over a hundred times this is the only way for me to go. It would cost so much more for tickets, and parking(that was just raised). With the pass also you don't have to worry about when you are going to be off as it covers your days. As stated above tickets are still offered, but I bet this will be gone soon along with other benefits.

 

[gwynne]

As a person who lives in Florida, and has gone to WDW well over a hundred times this is the only way for me to go. It would cost so much more for tickets, and parking(that was just raised). With the pass also you don't have to worry about when you are going to be off as it covers your days. As stated above tickets are still offered, but I bet this will be gone soon along with other benefits.

Thank you for editing the thread title to US Military/WDW Cutting Some Ties.
Adding the word some is more accurate.

 

[rteetz]

As stated above tickets are still offered, but I bet this will be gone soon along with other benefits.

I don't think this is necessarily true. Just because they changed some things with AP's doesn't mean they will cut all ties.

 

[minnie mum]

If you live in Florida, aren't you eligible for the Florida resident pass?

 

[wilkeliza]

As a person who lives in Florida, and has gone to WDW well over a hundred times this is the only way for me to go. It would cost so much more for tickets, and parking(that was just raised). With the pass also you don't have to worry about when you are going to be off as it covers your days. As stated above tickets are still offered, but I bet this will be gone soon along with other benefits.

I would call Shades of Green. Alls Ears is reporting that the military AP is still available at Shades of Green but only there. It appears a few options have been removed but that the Premium Pass, FL Resident Gold, FL Resident Platinum Plus, and FL Resident Silver are all still sold at Shades of Green. Perhaps the base person you called said the pass you wanted wasn't available but didn't offer you the other options that might be.

 

[KYMickey]

As a person who lives in Florida, and has gone to WDW well over a hundred times this is the only way for me to go. It would cost so much more for tickets, and parking(that was just raised). With the pass also you don't have to worry about when you are going to be off as it covers your days. As stated above tickets are still offered, but I bet this will be gone soon along with other benefits.

Well my the changes may affect you and other members who are residents of Florida it actually evens the playing field for members of the military across the country. This means that the select group that lives in Florida don't get advantages that other members don't get it as mentioned earlier probably keeps some members who don't live in Florida from spending money they really don't need to spend. You also obviously have the option to purchase other types of APs that most others don't have.

 

[Planogirl]

OP, you have my sympathy. It's tough to lose something you've had for a while.

 

[marinejjh]

I agree that the military should get perks like this, I served myself. But Disney does absolutely nothing for police and fire, and these are people that are protecting every day in the streets.

 

[KYMickey]

I agree that the military should get perks like this, I served myself. But Disney does absolutely nothing for police and fire, and these are people that are protecting every day in the streets.

Very good point and in general except for recent times they put their life on the line and work a lot harder than the majority of military people do.

 

[DISWORLDAV]

I would call Shades of Green. Alls Ears is reporting that the military AP is still available at Shades of Green but only there. It appears a few options have been removed but that the Premium Pass, FL Resident Gold, FL Resident Platinum Plus, and FL Resident Silver are all still sold at Shades of Green. Perhaps the base person you called said the pass you wanted wasn't available but didn't offer you the other options that might be.

Both bases I called stated they would not sale any of the new annual passes only WDW tickets.

 

[Epcotfan64]

I agree that the military should get perks like this, I served myself. But Disney does absolutely nothing for police and fire, and these are people that are protecting every day in the streets.

All Americans should have TriCare, regardless of chosen career path. Why? Because we all pay into it.

I was surprised to find out that TriCare will pay for non-military-related illnesses/injuries well after military employment has ended. If you smoke in the military (and get cheaper, taxpayer-subsidized cigarettes in the commissary) and are diagnosed with smoking-related lung cancer well after you end your relationship with the military, the government (read: taxpayers) will pay for lung cancer treatment, even though smoking was never a requirement for military duty. I find it odd that many Americans pay for a type of socialized medicine (TriCare, VA Health), with their taxes, yet they can't have the same type of healthcare simply because they chose to be a firefighter, police officer, anesthesiologist, teacher, WDW cast member, etc.

Here in the South I have witnessed many conservative former military employees say Obama is a socialist and then pull out their TriCare card for post-military medical care. Do they not see the irony in this? If socialized medicine is so bad, as some say, why do those on Tricare or VA Health continue to use it?

I rented a room last year to a gentleman (employed by the military for 4 years, some 20 years ago) who came home one day complaining that he would have to wait 30 days to see a doctor at the VA for numbness/tingling in his lips. I said, "Jim, why don't you get an Obamacare plan?" He said he couldn't afford the $300 a month. Meanwhile I took notice of his brand new $35,000 2014 Dodge Ram truck parked in the driveway whose monthly payments he told me were over $500. He enjoyed eating mostly restaurant-prepared meals, eat-in and takeout, too. Must be nice.

The other poster was right in asking why other professions (police, firefighters) don't receive the same type of health care once their employment has ended. They save lives every day. So do doctors, but where is TriCare for them? Aren't all men created equal? Is my appendicitis worth less than yours simply because I chose a different career path?

 

[minnie mum]

How did a rant about APs morph into a rant about health care?

 

[marinejjh]

How did a rant about APs morph into a rant about health care?

Not sure, I didn't even mention medical benifits in my post. I was just stating that police and fire should get the same benifits as military.

 

[wilkeliza]

Both bases I called stated they would not sale any of the new annual passes only WDW tickets.

That's why I suggested calling Shades of Green. If you haven't spoken to them directly it is still possible that the military AP is available at a military rate but will not be sold at bases only Shades of Green.