ARmy Rumour SErvice

**Mr Happy** · 22-09-2008, 19:29

Originally Posted by DavidBOC

I presume that the family of British forces have an ID equivalent to our DD1173-1. If your family are coming to the states make sure that they bring the ID with them. USO is great.

Sadly not, at least in the army's case you are issued an ID card when you join and they take it off you when you leave. Family ID cards are limited and by no means universal. Our reserve forces usually don't get to have their ID unless on operations or visiting regular camps. Its a security and budget issue.

Repeatedly the MOD has acknowledged that one of the hardest thing for a serving soldier to do is hand back their ID card (MOD 90) as its a real break and repeatedly they have accepted that a retiree's card or similar is perfectly reasonable and not too tricky too deliver. Still nothing yet and its been a known issue since before I joined.

**Mr Happy** · 22-09-2008, 19:40

So Family Happy is off to FL for two weeks in October 6th+, doing the tour from Miami north, then down the west side and down to the Keys and then back to Miami for a flight back. My question is... Is their any great deal (discounts) that we should make sure we take up?

**Yank_Lurker** · 22-09-2008, 20:26

Originally Posted by Mr Happy

So Family Happy is off to FL for two weeks in October 6th+, doing the tour from Miami north, then down the west side and down to the Keys and then back to Miami for a flight back. My question is... Is their any great deal (discounts) that we should make sure we take up?

WHEREVER you go, ask if there is a military discount.

Restaurants will not usually have a military discount, but most hotels and attractions do.

**Yank_Lurker** · 23-09-2008, 20:29

I also forgot to mention...if you have a long layover and want to run around the airport or town, you can leave your carry on luggage and what-not at the USO, secure. I've done it when I had a 6 hour wait for a flight out of San Diego; left my baggage at the USO, took a cab down to the Gas Lamp District, and played trivia in a bar, won a couple T-Shirts, and came back to pick up my bags and catch my flight.

**POGscribbler** · 27-09-2008, 12:41

Mrs PoGs and I got a 10% when Flashing MOD90 at Universal Studios in Florida last week despite them saying that their discount only really applied to US forces.

Also I noticed so many veterans charitable organisations and support clubs and branches as I motored around Florida that it really does put the UK to shame.

Also I visited several small restaurants and cafes in smaller out of the way places and even so quite few where participating in a support our troops by sending a parcel out to serving soldiers scheme even asking for suggested recipients.

(Deep Sigh)

PoGs

**Mr Happy** · 16-12-2008, 00:09

Originally Posted by Mr Happy

So Family Happy is off to FL for two weeks in October 6th+, doing the tour from Miami north, then down the west side and down to the Keys and then back to Miami for a flight back. My question is... Is their any great deal (discounts) that we should make sure we take up?

Just a quick update on the family holiday to FL, USA.

As the OP says, Sea World was free. However, the discount took some proving (wanted to see the wife's ID etc) this became clear (finally) when it turned out the discount is only for one of the Anshauser Buesch attractions once per family per year. The normal admittance I guess for a family of 4 would have been about $300 I guess.

We also got discounts at Universal Studios.

Disney we got nothing because apparently you have to stay at SHADES OF GREEN which is the military hotel complex where they sell the military tickets - all priced appropriately.

Hotels was interesting, some places gave 10% but Marriott gave us the FEDERAL GOVT RATE which turned a $300 room down to $94.

Which meant we checked out of this $99 place when we discovered the cockroaches:

to this place

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...and-golf-club/

Thanks very much.

Lastly, cheers to the Yanks as ever it was a pleasure, and advice to any other travellers, don't fly into Miami, Fly to Orlando.

**smudge1968** · 19-12-2008, 23:40

About free entry to Florida theme parks!!! Do you know if free entry is offered only to serving members of HM forces? I was medically discharged some time ago and would like to know if free entry is offered to UK veterans? thank you in advance for any help you could offer.

**Mr Happy** · 20-12-2008, 17:21

As far as I could tell it was US and ex Serving US Forces. Foriegn Forces (FR) was serving only, obviously if you took a bullet for Uncle Sam it seems a bit tough that I can get in with my MOD 90 and you can't. I'd give them an email or call and check.

Knowing American's - it makes sense to explain war wound rather than medical discharge. I dare say they have a different name or term for it and if you don't use the right phrase the process orientated morons that can't think outside of their box won't twig... Somebody once you've explained it to them will say "ohhhhh, you've an in-service freedom victory scratch!" and then you need to use that term thereafter.

**blue-sophist** · 20-12-2008, 19:51

Even better, go to Washington DC/Northern Virginia and do the museums, and the Blue Ridge, and the Chesapeake Bay, and the retail, and the USMC Museum, and the [Air] Museum at Dulles, and the food, and the Civil War Battlefields ... and leave the kids with Grandma.

FL ... no way.
VA ... all the way.

I may try to sell that to the VA Tourist Board

**Spanish_Dave** · 20-12-2008, 19:57

I cruised from Miami a couple of years ago and found that Vets get free parking in the port for the duration of the cruise, I e mailed the port and was given free parking which was substantial, if you dont ask............