Disney's Armed Forces Salute Extended

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

With thanks to Shannon for the heads up...

 

 

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Has Been Extended

 

26 June 2015 By Steve 

 

 

I’m very happy to announce that today, Disney has allowed me to release the news that the hugely popular 2015 Disney Armed Forces Salute has been extended.

 

Disney will be making their official press release a little later today.

 

It is very important to note that this is an extension of the current offer, not a renewal of a whole new separate offer. This is for several reasons, which I’ll get to in a moment.

 

The current Salute offer which began on 28 September 2014 was scheduled to end on 3 October 2015.

 

With this extension the new end date has been adjusted to 20 December 2015 for Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets and 23 December 2015 for Room Discounts.

 

Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets

Here is the best part…

The Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket limit for all eligible members has been increased to a total of 12 for this offer’s time frame.

 

Whether you’ve already used your 6 allotted during this offer period or none at all, you can now use up to a total of 12 tickets through the new offer end date.

 

There is no price increase on the tickets either!

 

Yes, the ticket prices remain the same through the end of 2015! These rates were discounted from the 2014 general public Magic Your Way prices. This locks in these prices for the rest of the year.

 

Disney has had a general public ticket price increase since this Salute Offer started, so if they had offered a new Salute instead of this extension the ticket prices would have increased.

 

The ticket stock that the military MWR establishment currently has will continue to be used through December. This prevents distribution delays.

 

When you get your tickets they will still say that they expire on 3 October 2015, but they will be valid through 20 December and work for park entrance and FastPass Plus through the new offer end date. Disney has tested this extensively to make sure it works in their “lab.”

 

Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts

The military discount percentage on Disney resort rooms remains the same 30-40% based on room category.

 

The Disney Phone Reservations Center is supposed to be ready today to begin accepting Military Salute reservations for dates 4 October through 23 December 2015 at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

 

But as has happened in the past, you might be more in the know than the individual cast member that you are speaking to.

 

If the cast member on the phone mistakenly tells you that the Salute has not been extended (this has happened in the past), Do Not Hang Up! You’ll just have to start over.

 

Be polite but insistent that Yes It Has Been Extended and ask them to check with their supervision.

 

There will be a big volume of people, today and through the weekend, trying to get their military discount dates and you do not want to slow the process down!

 

Disney Resorts with Military Discounts

 

An important point for those interested in the October through mid-November timeframe will be the availability of the room discount.

 

This is not a new issue, it has happened the last two years.

 

The Salute room discounts are not an across the board always available discount, rather there is a limited amount of discounts by resort and room category that are allowed per night based upon a percentage of general room availability. The more rooms that are filled, the less rooms that are available for the discount

 

For the preceding 12 months the general public has had the ability to make their reservations for all of 2015, while the military have had to wait for the Salute to be renewed or extended to make their reservations at the military rate for dates after 3 October.

 

This causes fewer rooms to be available for the military discount and October-November has been the choke point the last 2 years.

To compound this problem the Disney Phone Reservations Center has been telling military families for months to, “Just make your general public priced reservation now and then call back to have the rate switched if the deal is renewed.”

 

Disney officials have repeatedly told me that the Call Center is not authorized to make this promise, as there might not be availability of the discount for your specific room type, resort, and dates when you call back.

 

All the military families making general public reservations only added to the amount of rooms filled!

 

If the Disney Reservations Call Center promised you that you could convert your rate and when you try back they are unable to do so, stand firm!

 

Ask to speak to a supervisor and then a manager if needed and insist you were promised that you could convert to the military rate.

Seven Dwarves Mine Train

Why an Extension and not a Renewal?

I’m really excited about this!

 

I’ve been waiting for a month to tell you all about this. I sat down with Disney in May to hear all the details and then had to wait until they allowed me to release the information to you.

 

As I mentioned above, the last two years there have been issues with resort discount availability in October through mid-November.

 

Last year a new issue presented itself, FastPass Plus.

 

The timing of the late July renewal announcement, mid-August ticket release date, and awful MWR ticket distribution system led to military guests being unable to make FastPass Plus reservations for the first half of October 2014, because they could not get their tickets in time to do so.

 

I’ve been telling Disney for years that something needed to be done, because the short time period between the announcement and renewal dates just didn’t work. I also pass on all of your issues and concerns!

 

Disney wants you to know that you have been heard!

 

The decision to renew each and every Salute offer requires numerous decision points at regularly scheduled meetings through Disney’s year. These meetings impact way more things within the company than just the Military Salute and as such have set dates.

 

Offering an extension with no new ticket stock needing to be distributed solves as best as possible the immediate October issues.

 

Disney wants you to know that, while not official yet they are hard at work on a 2016 Calendar Year Disney Armed Forces Salute.

Switching to a calendar year timeframe versus the Disney Fiscal Year timeframe that they had been using, moves the start date of any new Salutes that might be offered far enough from the decision points that the announcement can be made well in advance, thus eliminating the tight timelines that previously caused issues.

Blockout Dates

The Disney Armed Forces Salutes have always had blockout dates, these are dates during which you cannot use the room or ticket discounts.

 

While there are technically no blockout dates for this extension, you will see the Christmas blockout is already built in with the 20/23 December end dates.

 

I would expect a 2016 Disney Armed Forces Salute offer to begin either on 2 or 3 of January 2016 and to be announced in late summer 2015.

Summing it all up

So to summarize, the current Disney Armed Forces Salute, which started on 28 September 2014 now runs through 20 December 2015 for tickets and 23 December 2015 for rooms.

 

Your Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket limit for this timeframe has been increased to 12.

 

Existing ticket stock will be used by Base Ticket Offices.

 

Tickets must be purchased by 17 December for Walt Disney World and 18 December for Disneyland

 

The same great resort room discounts will be available.

 

All other details of the Disney Armed Forces Salute remain the same.

 

http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-armed-forces-salute/disneys-armed-forces-salute-has-been-extended/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

The less detailed "official" announcement from the Disney Parks blog...

 

 

Disney Parks Salutes U.S. Military by Continuing Special Ticket, Room Rates

posted on June 26th, 2015 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

 

We have great news to share – the special pricing we announced last July on theme park tickets and accommodations for active duty and retired U.S. military personnel at our domestic sites will be extended now through mid-December.

 

 

Click HERE to learn more about our special military pricing to Walt Disney World Resort and HERE to see details to Disneyland Resort.

 

Now’s the perfect time to start planning your next trip to a Disney park for later this year.

 

Tickets must be purchased by Dec. 17 for Walt Disney World Resort, Dec. 18 for Disneyland Resort and used by Dec. 20.

 

As Disney fans know, support for the U.S. Armed Forces is a long-standing Disney tradition – so keep following us here on the Disney Parks Blog for the latest news on special military pricing.

 

We’ll have an update on 2016 soon!

 

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/06/disney-parks-salutes-u-s-military-by-continuing-special-ticket-room-rates/

[Santa ... Shannon 160]

I was glad to see that they extended it, but it's a little disconcerting that they've decided to do it six months at a shot now it seems. Hopefully they aren't doing it to lessen the shock when they decide not to renew it one of these days. Not that anybody should feel entitled to a discount, especially not me as nothing more than a military brat.

[red...Susan 37]

I don't feel entitled but I do appreciate the discount. Thanks for the info.

[arthuruscg 34]

I like that WDW announced the extention early. It would be nice if it was a discount off the normal ticket price jsut to simplify things and allow the MWR to reduce the number of different tickets stocked.

 

Unfortunaly, I can't partake anymore, I got out after 10 years.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

A further extension of the Military Ticket Discounts info April 2016 has been announced. From Orlando Passholder...

 

 

From September 25, 2015 through December 16, 2016, 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 $196 each, plus tax
• Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Water Park Fun and More Option for $196 each, plus tax
• Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More Options for $230 each, plus tax.

Walt Disney World Resort tickets may be used January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except that the tickets may not be used March 20, 2016 – April 1, 2016.

 

Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets 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 December 19, 2016.

 

http://orlpassholder.com/2015/09/new-military-discounts-at-walt-disney-world/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

More info from the Touring Plans blog...

 

 

Disney Military Salute Extended Through 2016

by Laurel Stewart

 

Big thanks for Tammy Whiting of Storybook Destinations for the following news about Disney’s U.S. military discounts for 2016.

 

Today Disney announced an extension of the very popular Disney Military Salute through all of 2016!

 

The Disney Military Salute includes steeply discounted tickets, as well as generous room discounts.

 

Each qualifying member may purchase one ticket for themselves and up to 5 additional tickets to be used by friends and family between January 3rd and December 19th, 2016. The tickets may not be used March 20, 2016- April 1, 2016.

 

At Walt Disney World, four day tickets with the Park Hopper OR Water Parks Fun and More option are $196 plus tax. Four day tickets with the Park Hopper and Water Parks Fun and More option are $230 plus tax.

 

At Disneyland, three day Park Hopper tickets are $143.

 

Room discounts will run from January 3rd to December 19th, 2016.

 

Blackout dates include March 20th-April 1st for room discounts as well.

 

Any active duty or retired Service member, National Guardsman, Reservist, or Coast Guard is eligible. If the eligible member is not present, their spouse is eligible. Tickets are purchased at participating U.S. military sales outlets and must be activated with ID at theme park windows. More details are on Disney’s web site.

 

http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/09/25/disney-military-salute-extended-through-2016/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Disney Parks Blog summarizes it all in one post...

 

 

Disney Parks Salutes U.S. Military with Special Ticket, Room Rates for 2016

posted on September 25th, 2015 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

 

Today, we’re announcing new special pricing on theme park tickets and accommodations for active duty U.S. military personnel at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Here’s a look at the details:

 

 

At Walt Disney World Resort – from September 25, 2015 through December 16, 2016, 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 $196 each, plus tax
• Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Water Park Fun and More Option for $196 each, plus tax
• Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More Options for $230 each, plus tax.

Walt Disney World Resort tickets may be used January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except that the tickets may not be used March 20, 2016 – April 1, 2016.

 

Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets 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 December 19, 2016.

 

At the Disneyland Resort – from October 12, 2015 through December 16, 2016, 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 $143 each

Disneyland tickets may be used January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except that the tickets may not be used March 20, 2016– April 1, 2016.

 

Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets 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 December 19, 2016.

 

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 January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except for:

• March 20, 2016 – April 1, 2016

For information on Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to Walt Disney World Resort, or to make room reservations at 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 714-520-7088 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. Information is also available at disneymilitaryoffers.com.

Here are some other details you should know about:

• 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 December 19, 2016. 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 December 19, 2016. 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). 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.

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Minimum length of stay requirements may apply. 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.

 

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/09/disney-parks-salutes-u-s-military-with-special-ticket-room-rates-for-2016/