2012 - 2013 Armed Forces Salute

Yes, I'm seeing some very good buzz tonight that a deal has been reached between Disney and MWR and that details on the new deal will be announced very soon, possibly tomorrow!

Yes, I say 'new' deal, because unlike last year when the previous year's deal was simply renewed/extended, this time there are some changes, mainly prices from what I can tell.

Yay!!! :flag:

EDIT: It's official - here is the Disney Press Release:

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Disney Armed Forces Salute Press Release, 8 August 2012

U.S. Military Can Make More Memories
with Special Tickets, Room Rates in 2012-2013
at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. / ANAHEIM, Calif. (August 8, 2012) – America's military personnel will have more opportunities to make and share precious Disney vacation memories through special theme park tickets and special pricing for accommodations.

At Walt Disney World Resort –from Aug. 17, 2012 through Sept. 25, 2013, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:

• Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper Option for $156 each, plus tax
• Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Water Park Fun and More Option for $156 each, plus tax AND
• Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More Options for $184 each, plus tax
Walt Disney World tickets may be used Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 28, 2013, except Dec. 24 – 31, 2012; March 24 – April 4, 2013 at all theme parks and all Water Park Fun and More locations, and July 4, 2013 at Magic Kingdom Park only.

At Disneyland Resort – from Aug. 17, 2012 through Sept. 26, 2013 active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:

• Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $125 each

Disneyland tickets may be used Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 28, 2013, except Dec. 23, 2012 – Jan. 2, 2013; February 15-17, 2013; March 25 - April 5, 2013; and July 4, 2013 at all theme parks.

Disney Military Promotional Tickets can be purchased by active and retired U.S. military personnel for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. No more than six Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse) pursuant to this offer.
All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by Sept. 28, 2013.

Active and retired U.S. military personnel can also take advantage of specially priced rooms at select Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort hotels! This offer is valid for stays most nights from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 28, 2013 except for:

• Nov. 22 – Nov. 24, 2012
• Dec. 23 – Dec. 31, 2012
• Mar. 25 – Apr. 4, 2013

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Minimum length of stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals. Valid Military ID will be required upon check-in and military member (or spouse) must stay in the room. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required. Additional per-adult charges apply at the Walt Disney World Resort if there are more than two adults per room. Other restrictions apply.

U.S. Military Can Find Special Offers in 2012-2013 at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resorts (Page 2)

For information regarding Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort, or to make room reservations at the Walt Disney World Resort, military personnel may call 407/939-7830 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. For information regarding Disney 3-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort, or to make room reservations at the Disneyland Resort, military personnel may call 714/956-6424 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. Information is also available at disneymilitarysales.com.

Offer Details:

• Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased at participating U.S. military sales outlets ONLY by Eligible Service Members (defined below) or their spouses (but not both), for use by themselves and other family members and friends, as provided herein. These Tickets may not be otherwise transferred, distributed or resold.
• "Eligible Service Members" are active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.
• The actual prices charged at the individual U.S. military base ticket offices for Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be less than the prices set forth above.
• Participating military sales outlets must require that Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) present valid military identification to purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets.
• Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort are not valid until activated by the Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) at Walt Disney World theme park ticket windows. Tickets and options expire and may not be used after Sept. 28, 2013. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.
• Disney 3-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort expire and may not be used after Sept. 28, 2013. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.
• No more than six (6) Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased and (if applicable) activated by any Eligible Service Member or spouse (regardless of the place of purchase and whether purchased by that person or that person's spouse), and all six (6) must be purchased at the same time. Accordingly, no Eligible Service Member (or spouse) may purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets at any military sales outlet if that person (or that person's spouse) previously purchased Disney Military Promotional Tickets (whether at that same military sales outlet or at any other military sales outlet or at any other place.) In addition, one of the six (6) Tickets purchased must be used by the Eligible Service Member or his/her spouse.
• Each Disney Military Promotional Ticket must be used by the same person on any and all days.

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Oh, and I also wanted to edit to add that I highly recommend contacting Magical Journeys to set up room reservations for you, for both WDW and Disneyland. I know Wendy in particular, is VERY familiar with the coding. ;) :D

Thanks, Melanie!!

Thanks Melanie!

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. One of my close friends husband just got back from Iraq and they really want to plan a special trip with their 2 kids! I'm usually their Disney planning helper, and a good discount would help so much!

Good news! Thank you for sharing!!

I will be retired by the next time we go to WDW. I am hoping that I will be using employee discounts instead of this next year.

If not, this has always been a great deal.

I'm very excited about this!!! Will make our trip to Disneyland in the fall SO much easier on the wallet. :blush:

Can't wait for Disney to officially release the details. Although, if I saw what you saw, the prices have gone up substantially on the WDW tickets. :(

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Originally Posted by BrerGnat

I'm very excited about this!!! Will make our trip to Disneyland in the fall SO much easier on the wallet. :blush:

Can't wait for Disney to officially release the details. Although, if I saw what you saw, the prices have gone up substantially on the WDW tickets. :(

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It will make my Disneyland trip easier on the wallet too! :joy:

Yeah, looks like WDW tickets for the 4 day hopper are going up $18/day (from $138 to $156). Still a deal.

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Originally Posted by Melanie

It will make my Disneyland trip easier on the wallet too! :joy:

Yeah, looks like WDW tickets for the 4 day hopper are going up $18/day (from $138 to $156). Still a deal.

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Oh, I thought it was $186? Or, is that hopper + WPM?

Maybe it's because I'm thinking next time we go, we'll HAVE to get the WP&M option along with the hopper. Our boys are water park obsessed lately...:D

Last time, we got away with just getting the hopppers because it was December. Those were $135 on base. I was thinking it would cost $200 more for our next trip's tickets vs. the last one.

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Originally Posted by BrerGnat

Oh, I thought it was $186? Or, is that hopper + WPM?

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Yes, quick rundown -

WDW-
4 Day Base w/ Water Park and More - $156
4 Day Hopper - $156
4 Day Hopper w/ Water Park and More - $184

Disneyland-
3 Day Hopper - $125

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Originally Posted by BrerGnat

I was thinking it would cost $200 more for our next trip's tickets vs. the last one.

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It's worth it though. :swim:

What great news! I just bought our last 3 tickets from the current deal. No better way to end one Disney trip with discounts to tempt me into another Disne trip. LOL.

We are toying with the idea of coming back for Mardi Gras since oldest DSs bday is the day before Mardi Gras and they have off of school.

There is also a slight chance we will visit Disneyland next summer. These discounts will help sell DH on these trips.

Have my fingers crossed...planning a clan event next June...Hope new deal continues to keep retirees eligible! Hope to also have DGS#1 (currently deployed) and DGDiL with us...Currently planning based on SoG. Monitoring several other retiree and military discount sites, (Steve's seems most reliable) and they are optimistic as well.
Mel, enjoy the DC area...We were there 73-88, as our kids grew up...some great areas to raise kids, and to have them see history made. Your info over the years, even from the Ryukyus, has been most timely, and accurate. If you say this is going to happen, I know I can count on it.

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Originally Posted by Melanie

It's worth it though. :swim:

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I know. And, it is a good way to stretch out a trip. Our 4 measly park days in December was killing me. :( I wanted MORE!!!

it is a good deal. my friend is retired and got Disneyland tickets really cheap. SOG had some nice priced rooms and he got his WDW ticket there for 4 day non hopper for a good price and no tax.
i think this time hes going to pick up Fl Res at SOG w no tax.
and hopefully my gf can get off work and visit a few days, then my friend can get her ticket for her visit. it is good for friends and family.
SOG also has other tickets, like Universal, Kennedy, Sea World so people going there may want to check those prices

Several other sites are announcing details...supposedly, one base office has released details, in advance of Disney's press release...which reportedly will be this week. I called for room ressies, and was told that they are not yet taking ressies...but will later next week...up to 3 rooms per member. (Unlike SoG, limit is reportedly 3 rooms...not 3 each for member and spouse...will still ask if we consider deluxe with discount instead of SoG for next year.) Res CM said that eligibility remains the same...includes retirees. Eager to see press release.

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Originally Posted by wdwfansince75

Several other sites are announcing details...supposedly, one base office has released details, in advance of Disney's press release...which reportedly will be this week.

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Right, I'm eager to see Disney's release as well. Will post as soon as it's available, and then there will be no confusion on prices, dates, eligibility, etc. At this time, just glad to know it's actually being offered. :thumbsup:

Okay folks, it's official and I've added the Disney Press Release to my first post in this thread. :yay:

Anyone see any glaring differences (beside prices) in this years offer compared to years past?

At first glance, I didn't see anything, other than price, that was different from last two years....

Note that (like last time), rules do say all tickets must be purchased at the same time...Think we discussed rules vs practice on that one...recall that BrerGnat was able to purchase passes at different times, although the rules did have the same wording. Suspect there will still be CM's who will adjust the rules.

Price isn't out of line, after 2 years, but hate to restrict ourselves to 4 days. Still a good deal.

Were there so many date restrictions last time...I will admit, I didn't pay careful attention, but sice I'm keeping an eye out this time, that seems kinda crazy.

Any word on what the room dicounts will look like?

Melanie, I'm curious to know what differences you noticed between the new tickets and the past tickets? I noticed the price difference, but nothing else really jumped out at me as being different. As far as I can tell the black out dates look to be very similar. I know in the past they have stated that all 6 tickets had to be purchased at the same time, but they never followed through on that. Just last week I bought and activated our last 3 tickets from the current deal.

Here's a question:

Does the "6 tickets per military member" include BOTH Disneyland and WDW?

We've never had to purchase the DL tix before, but this year, we are going to DL (there are 4 of us in my family). Does that mean if we purchase 4 DL tix that we can't go to WDW later in the offer period and purchase 4 more tickets?

Or, are the two entities separate? Anyone know?

I ask because the dates on the DL end of things are slightly different than the WDW ones (the dates of the offer period itself).

Natalie, I could be totally wrong, but I always thought they were treated as two separate entities.

I know waaaay back when in the early years of this offer, James had to go to California on business and got a ticket there and then we did a WDW vacation that same year as well. So yes, in the past it was separate.

Along the same lines, I have a ticket question as well. I'm going to Disneyland in January with friends :yay: and we obviously want to spend more than 3 days in the parks. There are 3 of us needing tickets, so I can purchase all 6 tickets and then we each have 6 days in the parks, correct?

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Originally Posted by Melanie

I know waaaay back when in the early years of this offer, James had to go to California on business and got a ticket there and then we did a WDW vacation that same year as well. So yes, in the past it was separate.

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Yeah, but if James only bought one ticket, and then you bought 4 more for WDW, that is still only 5 tickets.

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Originally Posted by BrerGnat

Yeah, but if James only bought one ticket, and then you bought 4 more for WDW, that is still only 5 tickets.

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Duh. True.

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Originally Posted by Melanie

Along the same lines, I have a ticket question as well. I'm going to Disneyland in January with friends :yay: and we obviously want to spend more than 3 days in the parks. There are 3 of us needing tickets, so I can purchase all 6 tickets and then we each have 6 days in the parks, correct?

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I think you will be fine. There used to be wording in there that no more than 6 tickets could be activated in one week, but that wording is gone.

So, Steve (the Military Disney Tips guy) asked some questions of Disney to fill in some blanks/details of the offer, and here are the responses he got:

Courtesy of Steve at Military Disney Tips:

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During the 2010 – 2012 Armed Forces Salute which is currently still running permanently disabled veterans with a military ID that has the DAVPRM code were eligible. Will that be the same for the new offer?

Disney: Yes

The press release says that all tickets must be purchased at the same time. So If 2 people want to go in October and May for 4 days each time do they have to buy all the tickets at the same time?

Disney: Tickets may be split, but the purchasing military member or their spouse must always be part of traveling party

I’ve seen elsewhere that the all the AFS tickets have to be activated at the same time, is that correct? So in the scenario above all the tickets would need to be activated in October?

Disney: No. Tickets may be split and activated upon each visit as long as the purchasing military member or their spouse is part of traveling party.

Must all members of the party be present for ticket activation? Sometimes people meeting for a vacation will arrive on different days.

Disney: All members of party must be present at time of activation.

May the Armed Forces Salute tickets be used back to back. Again if 2 people want to use 4 tickets for 8 days is that allowed?

Disney: No. Seven days must separate multiple usages.

Can the AFS tickets be upgraded as in the past to, premium annual, annual, FL Seasonal, and FL Weekday Select passes? Yes

Can the hopper or WP&M options be added later to the opposite version of the ticket? Currently if I purchased a 4-day AFS hopper, I can add the WP&M option to it for a fee.

Disney: Yes

When the spouse is un-accompanied by the member is limit again just 5 tickets?

Disney: Yes

What are the resort room discount percentages on the various categories at Walt Disney World and Disneyland?

Disney: Up to 40% depending upon category and availability.

What is the maximum number of rooms allowed at a time under this discount?

Disney: Three total rooms, purchasing military member or their spouse must be in one of the rooms. The entire party must all check-in at same time at same resort hotel.


So there you have it, some more detail to fill in the gaps in what we learned last week.

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So bummer, according to this, I can't use the tickets back to back on my trip to Disneyland in January. :(

Hope this answers some questions for everyone though! :flag:

Mel, I was just going to mention the multiple use restrictions. That is a bummer.

I am really bummed now! I was excited when I saw this because we are trying to plan a trip for the whole family the week of Christmas, but now I see neither the room discount nor the tickets can be used that week. :crying:

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Originally Posted by pixiesmimi

I am really bummed now! I was excited when I saw this because we are trying to plan a trip for the whole family the week of Christmas, but now I see neither the room discount nor the tickets can be used that week. :crying:

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Yep, that's always been the case. Spring break also. It's a bummer. Can you go the week prior to Christmas? That's what we did last year. Went December 15-22.

No can't go the week before. That is the only week my grandson is out of school and is flying down to go with us. I just think it is bad when they block the military discounts at times the military can actually use it and on 4th of July at MK. Sounds like they don't support the military much.

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Originally Posted by Melanie

Along the same lines, I have a ticket question as well. I'm going to Disneyland in January with friends :yay: and we obviously want to spend more than 3 days in the parks. There are 3 of us needing tickets, so I can purchase all 6 tickets and then we each have 6 days in the parks, correct?

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We were hoping to do this in April at WDW which of course did not work. We did get 7 day tickets through the ticket office at the army post near us which were cheaper than the regular price, tho nowhere near as good as the Military Salute tickets.

Since we're on post at least once a month, we went down and paid for them but I think I could have done it all by mail.

Jan