Official 2013/2014 Disney Military Promotion

[Cheshire Figment]

As in past years, Disney is coming out with special discounted tickets for members of the armed forces and their families. Note that information in this post is based on the internal WDW procedures; some of the military base selling locations may have stricter rules.

Tickets will go on sale at WDW on September 29, 2013. Military bases may sell them earlier, but they cannot be used before this date.

All tickets will be four days. They will be valid from date of first use through September 27, 2014. The normal 14 day expiration rules do not apply.

You have an option of getting a Park Hopper or a ticket with the WPF&M option for $169. If purchased at a WDW ticket window tax will be added. The only other choice is to purchase tickets with both hopping and WPF&M for $198.

Purchases may be made by active duty or retired US Military including Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves. It also includes permanently disabled veterans with a DAVPRM status on their ID. In the 2012-2013 promotion it also included non-US Armed Forces stationed in the US with a CAC; this does not seem to be available with this offer.

The service member may purchase tickets for themselves and up to five guests. Note if six ticket are purchased one must be for the service member. If the service member is not present, the spouse (including unremarried widow) may purchase up to five tickets including themselves.

Purchases at military bases (MWR/ITT Offices) or Shades of Green will receive a green Exchange Certificate. These must be presented, along with proper ID, at any WDW ticket or Guest Relations window (Theme Parks, Water Parks, TTC, DTD) but not at a Resort for exchange for live tickets. Note that when activating Exchange Certificates or purchasing live tickets Name, date of birth, address, and telephone number for each person must be provided, as well as the military ID.

Blockout dates (All Parks) December 20-31, 2013 and April 13-20, 2014. Additionally Magic Kingdom only on July 4, 2014.

These tickets may be upgraded to any level of AP eligible to purchase. There is no price-bridging and only the amount paid ($169 or $198) plus tax will be credited.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Thank you, Cheshire Figment!

i have one question which you may not have the answer to yet. The green exchange certificates that we will get if purchasing at a military base - will they be able to be input into MDE somehow so that those using AFS would be able to prebook FP+?

We are going in early October, and with the rumors that FP+ is looking to be rolled out during F&W, I'm wondering what FP+ eligibility will be for those using AFS tickets.

 

[Steve TLT]

Hi Cheshire Figment,

Any intel on linking the tickets purchased at military bases to MDE since they will be exchanged for the RFID tickets upon activation?

Thanks, Steve

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I'm low enough on the Totem Pole that I have no idea what plans are for MDE, FP+, MB, or anything related to NextGen.

A friend of mine, who is a very senior IT specialist at Disney has equated NextGen to putting a railroad into operation while still building the locomotive. My person opinions, if actually expressed, could get me banned from DisBoards for language.

 

[Steve TLT]

I'm low enough on the Totem Pole that I have no idea what plans are for MDE, FP+, MB, or anything related to NextGen.

A friend of mine, who is a very senior IT specialist at Disney has equated NextGen to putting a railroad into operation while still building the locomotive. My person opinions, if actually expressed, could get me banned from DisBoards for language.

Lol,

What a great analogy, I've had similar (less focused) thoughts about the whole thing for a while. I know it's not going well.

But Disney is advertising it so people want to know.

 

[DeeSanDisneyFan]

2 Questions about the new Salute tickets:

1. Only 3 people in my family need tickets--Can we buy all 6 tickets and use them back-to-back (w/o a 7 day waiting period) for an eight day trip?

2. If we have unused days on the tickets will they be valid until Sept. 2014?

TIA

 

[tms295psu]

Can the military discount tickets be purchased at Disney ticket center with Disney gift cards by an eligible service member?

We purchase Disney gift cards at target, saves 5%... Just wondering if there is a "catch" paying for the promo tickets. Purchase of discounted military park tickets would be made by my father in law (davpm status).

 

[Cheshire Figment]

We can accept an unlimited number of Disney Gift Cards at any WDW ticket or Guest Relations window for a transaction.

 

[sharonabe]

I don't think I've seen this question before, but please forgive if it has.

We are a family of 4. Could we get 4 Salute tickets for WDW and 4 Salute tickets DL in the same year or does the total of 6 tickets preclude this?

Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The two ticketing systems do not (easily) talk to each other. Technically these are two separate programs, so the answer is yes you can do both.

 

[FoxyGranny]

Forgive me, if this has been asked and answered.
I meet eligibility requirements for this awesome discount. If I purchase as a gift for my closest friend, and we use two days, leaving the gift recipient a balance of 2 days...is she able to use those tickets with her grandchildren with out my physical presence and ID.
Please advise.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Yes.

 

[FoxyGranny]

Cheshire.....
Thank you for taking the time to answer me. I so appreciate it.

 

[babydovesx2]

Is there any information out yet on discounts for room and dining. We are AP holders but use the military room/dining discounts.

 

[sharonabe]

Is there any information out yet on discounts for room and dining. We are AP holders but use the military room/dining discounts.

I believe room discounts are the same as last year:

30% value
35% mod
40% deluxe

I've never heard of military dining discounts. You can buy the plan at regular rate with room discounts and military tickets (or AP as you have).

 

[Cshel85]

I have a question, we are going for 10 days next July. If I buy the 4 day park hopper tickets, but want 6 days worth of admissions, can I exchange them for the 6 day and the $169 will be deducted from the total amount for 6 day and I pay the difference?

Trying to find the cheapest way to buy 5-6 days worth of tickets because if I buy the 4 day and then add on just 1 day seems pretty cheap and it seems that the 1 day is for 1 park and not park hopper??

Any help would be appreciated.

thank you

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have a question, we are going for 10 days next July. If I buy the 4 day park hopper tickets, but want 6 days worth of admissions, can I exchange them for the 6 day and the $169 will be deducted from the total amount for 6 day and I pay the difference?

Trying to find the cheapest way to buy 5-6 days worth of tickets because if I buy the 4 day and then add on just 1 day seems pretty cheap and it seems that the 1 day is for 1 park and not park hopper??

Any help would be appreciated.

thank you

The Four Day Armed Forces Salute Tickets cannot have any days added to them. The Gate price of a six-day ticket is only $130 more than the Salute ticket. A one-day hopper is $129. So you are best off just buying the five or six day ticket at your MWR/ITT Office to begin with.

 

[MrEVILdrPorkchop2u]

I have a question using the added water park tickets. We have just moved to SC and are about 6 hours away. We are toying with the idea of buying AP passes or buying the military tickets for short weekend trips. We have never had the tickets with the water park feature. Could we do 4 trips of going to the parks one day and a water park the next day? Thank you for the help!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

This is a "canned" response modified for the Armed Forces Salute 2013/2014 tickets with the assumption you have both the Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More (WPF&M) options.

Hopefully this will make it a little clearer. In effect you have two tickets with different privileges on one card. Everything expires at Midnight on Saturday September 27, 2014. Even if you use up all your major park days, the WPF&M entries remain valid until used or 9/27/14. (Note you do not have to use the days consecutively.)

You have four days of access to the four major parks (AK, DHS, EC, MK), and may visit more than one major park on a single day without any extra charges. Without the Park Hopper option you can only go to one major park per day.

You have four entries to the minor parks (BB, DQ, OT, TL, WWS, FG, W-SL). These may or may not be used on the same days as you go to the major parks. However, if you went to TL in the morning, Oak Trail in the afternoon, and Disney Quest in the evening of one day you would have used three of the four entries. (Note that leaving and returning to the same minor park on the same day does not use an extra entry.)

If you go to minor parks only on one day and do not go to a major park you do not use up one of your major park days.

If you were to go to a Water Park in the morning and then one of the major parks for the remainder of the day you would have used one minor park entry and one day of major park entry.

Note that with the ticket unless you have the hopper option you can only go to one major park per day. Unless you have the WPF&M option you cannot go to a minor park without upgrading or purchasing a separate ticket.

 

[MrEVILdrPorkchop2u]

Thank you! Your info was just what I was looking for!