The only problem with that is that the info you get from the CMs on the phone is notoriously wrong. Many of those CMs do not sell tickets nor even know all the rules. For example, there have been multiple reports of CMs telling guests over the phone that they can use 2 "days" of a multi-day ticket to enter 2 parks the same day without Park Hopper, which is completely false and impossible. While many of the phone CMs are mostly accurate, the only answer that really matters is the answer you get in person at Disney World, IMO. That's why a lot of the advice on this thread regarding the military tickets has been "wait until you get there." While there are a lot of reports of DIS-ers being able to activate tickets on different visits, the rules did initially indicate that all tickets had to be activated at once. If you get there and get a CM who says "no, all the tickets had to be activated all at once," it won't do you much good to say, "But DopeySleepyDoc on the DISboards got to." They'll pull the official rules and say, "These are the stated policies."
CVRAPCLARK: I would have your stepfather check with the ITT/MWR where he purchased the tickets. Plead his case, show a copy of the Disney reservation with future dates. The MWR/ITT office can't prove the tickets weren't used/activated because they look exactly the same before and after activation so they will be reluctant to refund the money. He may get a sympathetic person who will do it. Or, he could post a notice at the base bulletin board saying he has these tickets for sale if anyone is planning to go in the next month and recoup the money that way. I really don't see this as Disney's issue to deal with. The tickets clearly say on the back "NONREFUNDABLE" and "NONTRANSFERABLE." While I sincerely hope that the base will help him out and refund the money, I wouldn't expect it.
Best of luck to you.
