2004 Florida Resident rates released today!

[Dean]

This is not really a FL residency question as much as it is a discussion of what DCL requires. They could have different requirements if they wanted than the state but they have chosen not to. Members of the US military have a state of residency that usually has nothing to do with where they live. They pay taxes based on their home state regardless of where they are living. I would suspect that a FL drivers liscense along with a valid Military ID would be plenty. Simply call DCL and ask what the requirements are. sk8ingmom will definitely qualify, we just need to figure out what documents DCL needs to document the residency.

 

[jgalecpa]

Genie Dana:

Do you pay state income tax in another state? If you are a Florida resident you don't.

Not necessarily. Many states require non-residents to pay tax on income derived from that state by residents of other states. In fact, most do.

For members of the military, you generally are not assumed to lose your residence status simply by being stationed in another state.

Dean is right, DCL gets to set its own rules for this, though

Jim

 

[sk8ingmom]

If they release FL Res discounts for the cruise we plan to go on I will definately check with DCL. I think it's pretty cool they offer military discounts also. We took advantage of the Disney Salute offer this summer - DH got a free 5 day ultimate hopper & the kids and I each got one for $99. I'm sure there are some people who think its unfair to single out a particular group for a huge discount, but it sure was appreciated by us folks who usually only get a family 'vacation' when we are technically homeless and moving across the country every 3 years!

Since there seemed to be some questions, DH does not pay state income tax in CT (where we live right now) & can't vote in CT unless he changes his state of residency. He votes absentee in FL & we mail in our auto registration every year. I however (as a civilian) become a resident of whatever state we live in and have to pay state income tax on my income, etc. Let me tell you how much fun it is to do our taxes every year!!

 

[sandygirl]

exactly what you mean. As a former military spouse and now the mother of an active duty Marine, I empathize. My son is a FL resident stationed in GA. When I prepared his income tax returns for 2002 I had to call GA to find out what his wife's status was because she was employed and earned income in GA. They had to file in GA, his income was exempt but they had to claim hers. It was a little confusing, at first, but we got it filed okay. Every state is different.

And as far as singleing out the military as a group for special privilege, let me tell you that I believe you all most certainly deserve special recognition. And recreation is a wonderful way to show appreciation.

The military is a unique community with unique sacrifices that can't be understood from the outside. The fact is your life is not your own. It belongs to the country and you get assigned at its pleasure to fulfill its mission. So, if Disney wants to give you a break..no need for you to explain or apologize...run as quickly as you can and enjoy yourself with your family...quick...before he gets orders!

 

[steveandtonya]

I jst called DCL and asked them about Florida resident rates for my sister in law and her family for January 10, 2004. They said that the Fla. rates were not out yet for that sailing. Is there someplace else that someone has seen these? Allseastravel.com doesn't have them either. Thanks
Steve

 

[cjsmith]

I just hung up with DCL myself and was told that yes, Florida resident rates are out for the 1/10/4 cruise for categories 10 through 4. They will not be having those rates for categories 12 and 11 though, so maybe that's what yoursister in law has booked. Call them back!

 

[steveandtonya]

Thanks Cjsmith. I guess it depends on who you talk to. I did not mention any stateroom categories or anything to her. She just said it wasn't available. I will call back, Thanks again.


Steve

 

[moinab]

FYI - this is straight out of my DCL document booklet, regarding FL resident rates:


We ask that at least one member of each stateroom party provide proof of Florida residency to validate this special offer.

At the time of check in, one member of each assigned stateroom will need to show a satisfactory form of Florida identification.

The following documents are recognized as acceptable:

Florida driver's license

State of Florida identification

Florida utility bill in your name

Florida voter's registration card

Renter's lease agreement



It doesn't matter where your docs are mailed, etc. All you have to do is have one person per stateroom present one of these valid forms of id when you check in.

 

[edmartin]

Originally posted by cjsmith
I just hung up with DCL myself and was told that yes, Florida resident rates are out for the 1/10/4 cruise for categories 10 through 4. They will not be having those rates for categories 12 and 11 though, so maybe that's what yoursister in law has booked. Call them back!

I called in yesterday (Sunday, 11/2) and got FL resident discount prices for cats 4 - 11 for the 1/11/04 4-day Wonder. So, at least as of yesterday, cat 11 rates were available. Maybe the cat 11's sold out already?

 

[rundogrun]

Why do Florida residents get a discount and not those from other states?

Just curious...don't want to deny anybody a better deal, just wondering why they don't extend it to all their passengers...

 

[ThreeCircles]

Florida Residents are usually offered Florida Resident rates to fill up particular sailings. Since we live closer to Port Canaveral, and thus have less distance to travel, we are more likely to book a cruise on shorter notice than someone who has to coordinate air travel, lodging, car rental, etc.

In short, Florida Residents fill ships that are approaching their sailing date.

 

[cjsmith]

The category 11's on the 1/4/04 4 night and the 1/3/04 and 1/10/4 7 nights are already on a gty basis so they don't have to offer the fl resident rates to fill them up.

 

[ThreeCircles]

I don't think that the GTY and the Florida Resident Rates impact each other like that. I believe they both serve the same function in filling up the ship.

DCL may be able to sell all of the Cat. 11 cabins for $799 but only half of the Cat. 9 cabins for $999. So, they offer GTY on Cat. 11 cabins so they can oversell them and bump (upgrade) people to higher categories as the sailing approaches. And then, in order to fill up the Cat. 11's that are now empty, they offer Florida Resident Rates.

That's always how I understood it worked...

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by rundogrun
Why do Florida residents get a discount and not those from other states?

Just curious...don't want to deny anybody a better deal, just wondering why they don't extend it to all their passengers...

Many venues offer discounts for locals. DCL does for FL and GA as well as the military. WDW offers targeted discounts as well. I've seen CAN, TN, TX, GA, FL and the UK included in one way or another. in HI, locals get about a 50% discount on many top hotels, often with a rental car thrown in. It's just our free enterprise system at work. BTW, it's one thing I don't agree with.

 

[DisneyGator01]

Originally posted by rundogrun
Why do Florida residents get a discount and not those from other states?

Just curious...don't want to deny anybody a better deal, just wondering why they don't extend it to all their passengers...

Cause we have to drive down I4 every day.. It's a reward for having to put up with the horrible traffic!

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by DisneyGator01
Cause we have to drive down I4 every day.. It's a reward for having to put up with the horrible traffic!

Here, here DisneyGator01!!!

Gotta hate I-4!

 

[cjsmith]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
I don't think that the GTY and the Florida Resident Rates impact each other like that. I believe they both serve the same function in filling up the ship.

DCL may be able to sell all of the Cat. 11 cabins for $799 but only half of the Cat. 9 cabins for $999. So, they offer GTY on Cat. 11 cabins so they can oversell them and bump (upgrade) people to higher categories as the sailing approaches. And then, in order to fill up the Cat. 11's that are now empty, they offer Florida Resident Rates.

That's always how I understood it worked...

I don't know, I called DCL 3 separate times, including speaking with a supervisor and was given the same answer. I had both the 4 night and the 7 night cruise booked with a deposit for the beginning of January and was basing my decision on whether or not the fl resident rate came out. It did for both cruises, but only on our category 6, not my kid's category 11. All 3 times I was told that this was because the category 11 was already basically sold out and on a GTY basis so they didn't have to include it to book them. They changed the rates on the one cabin, but didn't have any discount for the 11. Categories 10 through 4 are what is available for the January discount.
Who know, maybe it's like calling WDW and getting 20 different answers from CRO there!!

 

[sk8ingmom]

sandygirl - thank you for your kind words.
You made my day!