Disney's Armed Forces Salute 2009

[TiggeRia]

The other day I read a post on here about 5 day park tickets for members of the military (+5) being sold for $99. I came back to try and find some more information on them, because it would save my parents a lot of money when we go in April, but now I can't find the post on it anymore. Does anyone know what happened to it or if it was even legit? TIA

[BrerGnat]

www.disneyworld.com/military

[Melanie]

Hmmm, that's really strange. Wonder where that thread went?

Regardless, here's the info, and I'm going to change the name of this thread to reflect this.


Walt Disney World Salutes the Men and Women Who Serve

Save up to 40% on rooms

Special deal for eligible members of the U.S. Military: Save up to 40% on rooms at select Disney Moderate Resorts!* For stays most nights January 4 to December 23, 2009, except not available at all 2/13-2/15, 4/4-4/18, 5/22-5/24, 7/3-7/4, 11/25-11/26/09.

Also, ask about special rates through December 23, 2009 at other select Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels.

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Minimum length of stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals. Savings based on non-discounted price for the same room. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required. Additional per-adult charges apply if more than two adults per room.

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Plus a complimentary 5-day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute" ticket

Through December 23, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military may obtain one complimentary 5-day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute" ticket with Park Hopper® and Water Park Fun & More options. This ticket is valid for five days of admission into the four Walt Disney World® theme parks, plus a total of five visits to a choice of a Disney water park, DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park or certain other attractions. During this offer period, active or retired U.S. military personnel (or their spouses, but not both) may also make a one-time purchase of up to a maximum of five 5-Day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets (one theme park per day) for $99 per ticket, plus tax, for family members (including spouse) or friends. Although this ticket for family members and friends does not include either the Park Hopper® or Water Park Fun & More options, this ticket can be upgraded to add either such option, or both, for an additional $25, plus tax, per option. Actual prices may be less. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by December 23, 2009.

Activated members of the National Guard or Reservists (with orders showing active status after January 1, 2008) and active or retired members of the United States Coast Guard are also eligible to participate in this offer.

"Disney's Armed Forces Salute" tickets can be obtained only at participating U.S. military base ticket offices (including at the Shades of Green Resort at the Walt Disney World® Resort), or at main entrance theme park ticket windows. Tickets are not valid until activated at the main entrance theme park ticket windows. Valid military identification (including, for activated members of the National Guard or Reservists, orders showing active status after January 1, 2008) will be required to be presented by the service member (or spouse) for all ticket transactions (including to activate tickets at the main entrance theme park ticket windows). See your military base ticket office or <see below> for details.

[Melanie]

Disney Parks Celebrate U.S. Military With Free, Multi-day Admission to Theme Parks in 2009

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. / ANAHEIM, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2009) – As Disney Parks ask “What
Will You Celebrate?” and invite guests to turn their personal milestones into magical family
vacations in 2009, America’s military personnel will have one more reason to celebrate: Free multi-day admission to Disney’s U.S. theme parks.

With the “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer, active and retired U.S. military personnel, including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard and activated members of the National Guard or Reservists, can enjoy complimentary, multi-day admission into Disney’s U.S. theme parks, great rates at select Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort hotels, and additional special ticket offers for family members and friends.

“For so many of the men and women who serve in our U.S. military, time together with their
families is cause enough for celebration,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We are grateful for their service and hope ‘Disney’s Armed Forces Salute’ will allow our troops to create wonderful, magical memories with their family and friends.”

At the Disneyland Resort in Southern California:
Through June 12, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military can receive one
complimentary three-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” Park Hopper ticket valid for
admission to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks. During the offer period, active or retired U.S. military personnel also may make a one-time purchase of an adult or child three-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” Park Hopper ticket for up to five family members (including spouse) or friends for the price of an adult 1-Day Park Hopper ticket.

Disneyland Resort hotels are also offering special room rates for active or retired military
personnel. For example, at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, active or retired members of the
military and their families may find hotel rooms starting at $119 per night during value season, with great savings during other times of the offer period. This offer is available through June 12, 2009, and the number of rooms available at these special rates is limited.

For information regarding “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” at the Disneyland Resort, or to make reservations, military personnel may call 714/956-6424.

At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida:
From Jan. 4 to Dec. 23, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military may obtain one complimentary 5-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” ticket with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options. This ticket is valid for five days of admission into the four Walt Disney World theme parks, plus a total of five visits to a choice of a Disney water park, DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park or certain other attractions. During this offer period, active or retired U.S. military personnel may also make a one-time purchase of up to a maximum of five 5-Day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” tickets (one theme park per day) for $99 per ticket, plus tax, for family members (including spouse) or friends.
Although this ticket for family members and friends does not include either the Park Hopper or Water Park Fun & More options, this ticket can be upgraded to add either such option, or both, for an additional $25, plus tax, per option. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by Dec. 23, 2009. Actual prices may be less.

Ask about the great rates that may be available at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels for active or retired U.S. military personnel during this offer period.

For information on the “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer at Walt Disney World Resort or
the Disneyland Resort, or to make reservations, active and retired U.S. Military personnel may call the ITT office on their base. Information about “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer at Walt Disney World Resort is also available at ww.disneyworld.com/military.

Through the years, The Walt Disney Company has demonstrated its support of United States’
servicemen and women through a variety of initiatives. Disney’s support for the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots program started 58 years ago – when Walt Disney became one of the original sponsors. Since 1995, Disney’s Operation Uplift program has sent over 90,000 postcards to troops worldwide, thanking them for their service. The company also supports U.S. service members and their families as a sponsor of the USO and its centers. Each year, Operation Disney Care packages, containing Disney DVDs, books, magazines and games, are sent to centers around the world to help entertain the servicemen/women and their families, Disney Minnie Grants are used to host family appreciation events, while Disney VoluntEARS donate many hours participating in local USO projects.

Other Offer Details:
• Complimentary "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute" tickets may be obtained only by active or retired U.S. military personnel, including activated members of the National Guard or Reservists (with orders showing active status after Jan. 1, 2008) and active or retired members of the United States Coast Guard. Spouses are not eligible.
• Complimentary “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute" tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort can be obtained only at participating U.S. military base ticket offices (including at the Shades of Green Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort), or at Main Entrance theme park ticket windows. Military personnel will need to activate those tickets at Main Entrance theme park ticket windows in order to use those tickets (no more than 1 such complimentary ticket per service member will be activated).
• Please see a participating U.S. military base ticket office for an exchange certificate for the complimentary “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” ticket for the Disneyland Resort. The exchange ccertificate will need to be redeemed for such ticket by the active or retired military personnel at a Main Entrance theme park ticket window (maximum of 1 such complimentary ticket per service member).
• "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets for family members and friends may be
purchased only by active or retired U.S. military personnel, including activated members of the National Guard or Reservists (with orders showing active status after Jan. 1, 2008) and active or retired members of the United States Coast Guard (or, in each case, their spouses, but not both).
• "Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World
Resort can be purchased only at participating U.S. military base ticket offices (including at the Shades of Green Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort), or at Main Entrance theme park ticket windows. “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort can be purchased only at participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
• Military personnel (or their spouses) who purchase "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort for family members and friends will need to activate those tickets at Main Entrance theme park ticket windows in order for those tickets to be used (regardless of where those tickets are purchased).
• Military personnel (or their spouses) who purchase "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort for family members and friends will receive exchange certificates to be redeemed by such military personnel (or their spouses) for tickets at Main Entrance theme park ticket windows (one ticket per exchange certificate).
• The military personnel (or spouse) will be required to present valid military identification (which, for activated members of the National Guard or Reservists, also includes orders showing active status after Jan. 1, 2008) for all ticket transactions (including to activate tickets, and/or redeem exchange certificates for tickets, at Main Entrance theme park ticket windows). A valid ID may also be required for admission.
• "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” tickets are limited to five per service member
(regardless of place of purchase and whether purchased by service member or spouse) and all
five must be purchased at the same time. Accordingly, no service member (or spouse) will be permitted to activate, and/or to redeem exchange certificates for, more than a total of five "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets for the Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort (regardless of whether activated or exchanged by the service member or spouse).
• First day of use of “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” complimentary tickets and "Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets at the Disneyland Resort must be no later than June 12,2009, and tickets expire 13 days after the first day of use or June 25, 2009, whichever occurs first. Last day of use on “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” complimentary tickets and "Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets at the Walt Disney World Resort is Dec. 23, 2009.
• Tickets must be used by the same person on any and all days. "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute" complimentary tickets may be used only by the service members to whom they are issued. "Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets may be used only by the friends and family members for whom they are purchased.
• This offer may not be combined with any other offer.

[Marilyn Michetti]

I was wondering where it went also. In fact, I still haven't found it.

[Marilyn Michetti]

I have to find out more, because DH and I are both veterans, but his benefits come through me - he's discharged - I'm retired. In this case, I'm wondering - is he my spouse, or do we both get the five days free?
Think I'll call SOG and ask.

[Drachengeist]

There is some conflicting information here and I am trying to puzzle it out. Maybe Melanears can shed some light on it.

The promotion is supposed to go through Dec 2009 but her first post under the details says that the first day of use has to be by June

The thread says you can get the tickets from the base, shades of green etc where as the disney military discounts link says "Tickets must be purchased at the theme park ticket windows "

And again the thread seems to say that you can be either Active or retired but the disney military discounts link says "Military personnel must have been active for any length of time between Jan. 1, 2008 and the end of Dec. 23, 2009." Is this only applicable to reservists? Or ar they trying to restrict the offer to those active and who were at least active in 2008?

Confused and bemused and I havent even done the TeaCups yet.
Any input for clarity would be appreciated

[jrpersinger]

I am on hold right now with Disney. I am confused about something. For Reserves and Guard, it says you must present orders that you were activated during 2008. Well, my DH is in the Reserves, and he did his 1 weekend a month, 2weeks a year, which makes him active Reserves. He can get orders saying that. But it almost sounds like you had to be on orders for deployment or something. He has been on medical hold for the last year so he hasn't went anywhere but their 2week AT.

I don't know, it seems like Reserves and Guard might get shafted in this deal if thats the case.

[skram79]

Jessica,

Sorry it appears there is not a difference betwen reserve and active duty ID cards. President Clinton implented the change in 1997, to better integrate the reserve with active duty. Again I am sorry, it was 1993 when I retired alot has changed.

In my defense, I do have a blue card that says retired and wife and children have tan ones.

[jrpersinger]

No Problem Skram. DH joined when you were retiring and he still didn't have the new ID until 2003.

[pixiesmimi]

I am considering booking a trip with the armed forces 40% off moderate and $99 - 5 day ticket + $25 to make it a hopper + Wp & more. I would like to get the dining plan as well. Does anyone know if this is possible?

I was told by MJ that the we couldn't get the dining plan. We are already booked for Aug on a MYW package with dining and she said she could change it to a room only with the 40% discount and we could purchase our own tickets with this but it wouldn't include dining. I ran the figures and we decided that the couple of hundred dollars in savings by taking care of our own dining wouldn't outweigh the convenience of having the package with the dining so we aren't going to change anything to used these tickets. But if we decided to just do the room only and use these tickets, it would save us considerable even at the Poly. We can use it at another time though for another trip, say with DD's family.

I was told it was possible to add the dining plan to the package.

Who told you that it was possible to add the dining to this? If that is true, then we would go back and change ours. We figured we would spend more with OOP dining than with the dining plan. I'm wondering if we added a day or so to our tickets, if we could then qualify for the dining plan.

[ginger19]

There is some conflicting information here and I am trying to puzzle it out. Maybe Melanears can shed some light on it.

The promotion is supposed to go through Dec 2009 but her first post under the details says that the first day of use has to be by June

The thread says you can get the tickets from the base, shades of green etc where as the disney military discounts link says "Tickets must be purchased at the theme park ticket windows "

And again the thread seems to say that you can be either Active or retired but the disney military discounts link says "Military personnel must have been active for any length of time between Jan. 1, 2008 and the end of Dec. 23, 2009." Is this only applicable to reservists? Or ar they trying to restrict the offer to those active and who were at least active in 2008?

Confused and bemused and I havent even done the TeaCups yet.
Any input for clarity would be appreciated

I believe the June park ticket is applicable to Disneyland while Disney World goes out through december.
My understanding now on tickets is that you get the one free one from SOG or your local base and a voucher with that for the other tickets which you would take to guest relations at the park for the other tickets.
I'm not sure about reservists part at all.

[jrpersinger]

I don't think Disney even knows what they are doing. I can definately tell you the people at Disney Military Sales are not even certain whats going on.

I called Disney when I was posting a few min ago, they said they had no idea exactly what is going on with the Reserves/Guard. They told me to call Disney Military Sales, which I did. I don't have a local ITT so I had to call the Navy number on the site. The guy told me there as long as you have proof you were active during 2008 and 2009, then you are fine. Active defined as Active Duty, And Reserve and Guard doing their 1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year. But then, he said thats how they would sale them.... So, I guess it may end up who you are talking to and where you are. I am waiting on SoG ticket office to call me back since that is where we had planned to purchase our tickets.

This is all to confusing. Their wording and lingo leaves alot open for interpretation. The word "activated" alone could mean alot of different things.

[Marilyn Michetti]

There is some conflicting information here and I am trying to puzzle it out. Maybe Melanears can shed some light on it.

The promotion is supposed to go through Dec 2009 but her first post under the details says that the first day of use has to be by June

The thread says you can get the tickets from the base, shades of green etc where as the disney military discounts link says "Tickets must be purchased at the theme park ticket windows "

And again the thread seems to say that you can be either Active or retired but the disney military discounts link says "Military personnel must have been active for any length of time between Jan. 1, 2008 and the end of Dec. 23, 2009." Is this only applicable to reservists? Or ar they trying to restrict the offer to those active and who were at least active in 2008?

Confused and bemused and I havent even done the TeaCups yet.
Any input for clarity would be appreciated

HEY, WELCOME TO INTERCOT !!

I just noticed this is your first post here

[buzznwoodysmom]

I definitely understand that vets who only served a few years and were out don't qualify for these discounts, but with the reserves and national guard it gets tricky. For instance my husband who is in the National Guard is only 6 years away from retirement, was in the Army for 4 years, has served in Iraq in the past and will be serving in Iraq in 2010, but since he won't have activated orders for Jan. 08 - Dec. 09 he doesn't qualify. That just seems rediculous to me. I feel that my husband and family deserve this discount. Lucky for us it seems we may be able to get the discount anyway. He was on active duty orders for officer schooling in Dec., will be on active duty orders for officer schooling in June, and was on federal active duty orders for the hurricanes. Unfortunately I think there may be many families who don't have these schools or hurricane duty to fall back on, but who really deserve these discounts. My husband called somewhere (I don't know who or where he called) and they were most positive that he qualifies because of the active duty papers he has for above mentioned schools/hurricanes. I hope everyone is able to get what they are hoping for.

[jrpersinger]

Denise,

You will be able to use it. As long as he was in the Reserves/Guard and drilled he will be able to use it. Call your local ITT office or the ITT office for the Orlando area. The can confirm and tell you how to go about purchasing your tickets. If you need the number, PM me and I will send it to you.

I spent half the morning trying to find out for certain. Disney referred me to disneymilitarysales.com, which then referred me to the Orlando ITT office since I don't have a local base which told me I could buy them. They can even be bought by mail/phone.

The way the wording was released by Disney has everything messed up. But if you contact the locations used to dealing with Military they can fix you right up.

[buzznwoodysmom]

Thanks Jessica,

Like I said I am pretty sure we will be able to get them. I felt really bad for other's in the reserves or national guard who in my opinion deserve it who may not qualify. A lot of the way Disney worded everything made it unclear who was eligable or not. We don't have an ITT office nearby either, but I'll try to call the one in Orlando tomorrow just to see if I get the same answer as you. I sure hope it all works out for us because I have already booked a few nights before our Thanksgiving trip at the Poly and without the military discount it would really be too expensive, especially since these are "extra" nights. Good luck everyone!

[skram79]

miss I believe you are wrong again. This war has used our reservist alot and they do desrvere the discouont but the way it is worded they only get it with papers, just trying to save you a hassle, but please do what you will.

[mykidsmom]

I have a question. Does the Military person have to be present for the companian ticket to be activated or used?

[skram79]

It is my understanding that the military member or his/her's spouse needs to be there to activate the tickets using their ID card. I hope this helps.