Armed Forces Salute 2009

[Grumpy]

Starting January 4, active and retired United States military personnel, including U.S. Coast Guard and activated members of the National Guard and Reservists are eligible for a complimentary 5-Day MYW ticket with Hopper and Water Park Fun and More options. Note that the "no expiration" option may not be added to these tickets. Up to 5 additional 5-Day MYW tickets with Hopper may be purchased for $99 each, and Water Park Fun and More may be added to the tickets for $25 each.
The tickets may be purchased, and are valid, from January 4, 2009 to December 23, 2009.
Military personnel must present valid United States Military identification (active or retired). Activated members of the National Guard or Reservists must present active duty orders in addition to valid Military ID.
The Military member must have been active for any length of time between January 4, 2009 and December 23, 2009 in order to be eligible.

[LuvDisney]

Do we know any more information about this yet? I've looked at Disney's website and read some stuff. FIL is retired military and would save some money on our upcoming trip. We were curious about the companion tickets and their ability to be upgraded to AP's. I read somewhere they could be upgraded, but they didn't give any details. Does anyone know: Will they still allow you to use the DVC discount? Do they use the $99 as the trade-in value? All the information is so confusing. I'm going to read some more!

[Grumpy]

rough 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 click here for details.

[Grumpy]

from reading the above I would say yes they can be upgraded. I go to the park and before I left the park that day stop at guest services and upgrade. It would be like buying from a broker at a discount (ie undercovertourist) then entering the park then upgrading. Once u enter u get full price not your discounted price

[LuvDisney]

from reading the above I would say yes they can be upgraded. I go to the park and before I left the park that day stop at guest services and upgrade. It would be like buying from a broker at a discount (ie undercovertourist) then entering the park then upgrading. Once u enter u get full price not your discounted price

Hmmmm, now that is interesting. That would be a good deal. So the in-laws would pay the $99 + $25 for hopping (this was part of our Christmas present), then we use the tickets for one day. Go to guest services and request to upgrade to an annual pass. Now if we use my in-laws DVC (they live at the same address as us so we can do this) we would only have to pay like: (No taxes included)

$469 Adult Annual
-$100 DVC Discount
-$222 5 Day Park Pass
=$147 Our cost for Annual Passes??

Orrrrr - -$272 for a 5 day Hopper Pass = $97 for our Annual Passes??

Make sense to anyone?

[LuvDisney]

Just found this information on another site. So all my numbers can get tossed out the window! LOL

2. When upgrading the $99 companion tickets they DO NOT bridge the difference between the $99 paid and the 5 day base ticket price ($222). In other words, you simply get credit for the $99 you paid. This is the biggest change. Many people, myself included, presumed that Disney would bridge the difference when upgrading the ticket. That assumption, which seemed perhaps a little too good to be true, in fact was.