A Non-resident FL Resident Ticket Question

[CarrieR]

Before I start -- let me be clear I am not trying to cheat the system here, so if any of this is not legit, please let me know.

I am planning a few trips to WDW next year, and will be purchasing an AP. (I am NOT a FL resident.) On one of those trips, I would like to take my cousins along -- they are 13 and 14, and are life-long FL residents.

My question is, how can I go about purchasing resident tickets for them? Obviously the ID I produce will not be an instate resident; will Disney accept my word that they are , at the GR window? (I would expect not, but who knows?) Can I have photocopies of the kids' passports with me? Or would their parents (with their FL IDs) need to purchase the 3-day play passes ahead of time?

Also, a follow-up question... while researching this question, I read somewhere that one can upgrade package tickets to FL Resident passes. So if we go free dining, and get two-day tickets with our package, those could be upgraded to the play pass?

Still trying to work out the details but I'd like to know this before I approach my aunt with my grand plan. TIA for any help!

 

[vicki_c]

Before I start -- let me be clear I am not trying to cheat the system here, so if any of this is not legit, please let me know.

I am planning a few trips to WDW next year, and will be purchasing an AP. (I am NOT a FL resident.) On one of those trips, I would like to take my cousins along -- they are 13 and 14, and are life-long FL residents.

My question is, how can I go about purchasing resident tickets for them? Obviously the ID I produce will not be an instate resident; will Disney accept my word that they are , at the GR window? (I would expect not, but who knows?) Can I have photocopies of the kids' passports with me? Or would their parents (with their FL IDs) need to purchase the 3-day play passes ahead of time?

Also, a follow-up question... while researching this question, I read somewhere that one can upgrade package tickets to FL Resident passes. So if we go free dining, and get two-day tickets with our package, those could be upgraded to the play pass?

Still trying to work out the details but I'd like to know this before I approach my aunt with my grand plan. TIA for any help!

Cheshire Figment should be able to give the definitive answer, but I would suggest bringing their actual passports with you to be able to get them FL resident tickets. Another approach is to have their parents buy the tickets online - you can't buy FL resident tix online because you don't live in FL, but they could. However, if that results in being sent a voucher vs. actual tickets, you will still need FL ID for the kids to get those tix (I no longer live in FL, so I don't know how they do FL on-line ordered tix now).

On your follow-up question, I don't understand - if you're not a FL resident, you cannot upgrade your package tickets to FL Resident passes. If the kids are on that package, yes, their tix could be upgraded to FL resident passes, but again, the ID thing would come into play, as far as I know.

 

[CarrieR]

Okay, thanks. I'm not sure how their mom would feel about giving me their actual passports -- I have never misplaced a child, but I've sure lost lots of "stuff."

What I'm thinking is of doing a FD package, with two-day tix, and upgrading my (and my roomie's) tix to APs; and upgrading the kids' tix to 3-day play passes with park hoppers. If that's a no-go, we'll scrap the package and see if my aunt & uncle can order them actual tickets (vs vouchers.)

Thanks!

 

[tjmw2727]

This could be tricky - my sil, neice & nephew live in FL and use FL resident passes. My neice & nephew have to have their mom present when purchasing tickets. Occasionally when the tickets don't work right in the turnstyle my sil has to show her ID for the kids. I am releived that this hasn't happened when I have had my neice or nephew with me without my sil.

Although they would have no trouble stating their name and address if asked.

In wonder if in this instance a copy of the passport could prove the the kids are FL residents even though you arn't.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The adult buying the child's ticket MUST have a Florida ID.
2) A child passport will not apply, as the address is hand-written in it.

 

[chartle]

I hope CF will chime in but what is allowed for FL res status was tightened up quite a bit.

I don't think a passport verifies state resident status.

 

[vicki_c]

I hope CF will chime in but what is allowed for FL res status was tightened up quite a bit.

I don't think a passport verifies state resident status.

You're right - CF's last post I've seen on that says:
The following items are the only documents accepted as proof of Florida Residency:
* Valid Florida State Drivers License
* Valid Florida State issued ID Card with Florida Address
* Valid Military ID stationed at one of the Florida Military Bases listed below:
(List of bases removed as unneeded)

(this was on the post about part-time residents, but the items above were just the overall FL resident proof - not the info for part-timers).

So OP - looks like you are out of luck since I assume the kids won't have any of those things, unless you can get their parents to go to the parks to take care of the ticket upgrade / purchase.

 

[budmonster]

Before I start -- let me be clear I am not trying to cheat the system here, so if any of this is not legit, please let me know.

I am planning a few trips to WDW next year, and will be purchasing an AP. (I am NOT a FL resident.) On one of those trips, I would like to take my cousins along -- they are 13 and 14, and are life-long FL residents.

My question is, how can I go about purchasing resident tickets for them? Obviously the ID I produce will not be an instate resident; will Disney accept my word that they are , at the GR window? (I would expect not, but who knows?) Can I have photocopies of the kids' passports with me? Or would their parents (with their FL IDs) need to purchase the 3-day play passes ahead of time?

Also, a follow-up question... while researching this question, I read somewhere that one can upgrade package tickets to FL Resident passes. So if we go free dining, and get two-day tickets with our package, those could be upgraded to the play pass?

Still trying to work out the details but I'd like to know this before I approach my aunt with my grand plan. TIA for any help!

Would their mom consider getting them an Florida issued ID card from the local Drivers license office. That way their would be no question as to weather or not they are Florida residence.

With the ID cards they could just purchase the tickets at the gate. (I think)

 

[CarrieR]

Their parents might be willing to go to the parks in the morning. Not sure whether I would fly to S FL and drive up with the kids, or whether I'm flying into MCO and having their parents bring them to WDW. I doubt they'd get them a state ID card... they would probably prefer to pay the extra $$ for non-resident tickets than deal with the hassle of getting the ID lol.

Hopefully CF chimes in. We have some time yet, I just figured there must be a way for them to prove their own identity... but maybe not. (I totally respect the rules needing to be followed, it's just frustrating to be penalized when we *are* following rules, kwim?)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If your cousins have Florida-State-Issued Photo IDs (obviously they are too young for Driver's licenses) they would be eligible to get Florida Resident tickets. A US Passpost is not proof of residency.

However, a US passport combined with something such as a bank statement addressed to them from within the last two months can show proof of residency.

These are the official rules:

Florida Resident tickets are only available to actual Florida Residents and cannot be purchased for out-of-state family or friends.

An adult Florida Resident may purchase Florida Resident media for more than one Florida Resident from any location that provides an exchange certificate and not an actual ticket.

Children under the age of 18 are not required to provide proof of Florida residency if they are accompanied by an adult with valid proof of Florida residency

If the Guest has an exchange certificate, a valid form of Florida ID will be required when the exchange certificate is redeemed for the actual pass

One ticket only per valid proof of Florida residence (a Florida resident may buy tickets for minors in the party)

Exchange Certificates may say:

"After sale..., may not be transferred except as a gift." This means that the certificate may be given as a gift, so long as the recipient meets the defined Florida residency criteria.

"Purchase and redemption of this exchange certificate requires proof of Florida Residency."

The following items are the only documents accepted as proof of Florida Residency:
* Valid Florida State Drivers License
* Valid Florida State issued ID Card with Florida Address
* Valid Military ID stationed at one of the Florida Military Bases listed below:
(List of bases removed as unneeded)

As of August 20, 2010, Voter Registration Card is no longer an allowed ID
As of August 20, 2010, Florida University/College Student ID is no longer allowed

For Part-Year Residents the following original documents are acceptable.

Note that fax and photocopies are not acceptable, that bills and mail cannot be more than two months old, that PO Box addresses are not allowed, and items related to Time Shares are not permitted.

Must have a driver's license or state photo ID card from another state, or a non-US Passport and at least one of the following items which does show a Florida address:
* Monthly mortgage statement
* Current homeowner's insurance policy or bill, current automobile registration, insurance policy or bill or current utility bill (Power/Phone/Cable/Water).
* Statement from a financial institution showing checking, savings or investment information or mail from a Federal or Florida State, County or City government agency.

Effective August 20, 2010 Proof of Rent, Mortgage or Ownership such as a Deed, mortgage payment booklet or residential lease are no longer allowed.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Hey CH, what if the kids (say up to 15 yrs old) are from out of state (friends of mine who bring their kids) but I as a FL res buy them the FL res tickets? I could say they are my neice's or nephew's or grand kids correct?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Legally and officially you could do it. Ethically it is a poor decision.

 

[CarrieR]

Ok, thank you for the info. I'll be seeing the family at Christmas, so we can talk about our options then -- or else I will just suck it up and pay nonresident prices.

Thanks!

 

[CarrieR]

I'm here with my family for the holidays, and looking at this again. The kids do not have State IDs -- they do have passports and savings accounts. Reading the residency requirements, it seems like those documents together may suffice --

(Taken directly from the Disney site)

The persons who will use the Florida Resident adult tickets must be present at the time of ticket pick up. If you do not have one of the IDs indicated above, then for each adult ticket purchased you must provide one of the following dated within the last two months and evidencing a Florida residential address together with a corresponding picture ID (passport, driver's license, state identification card):

* Monthly mortgage statement
* Florida vehicle registration or title
* Homeowner's insurance policy or bill
* Automobile insurance policy or bill
* Utility bill
* Mail from a financial institution, including checking, savings, or investment account statement
* Mail from a Federal, State, County or City government agency

State IDs are $25 so it may be worth just paying the $50 at the window... sounds like they may only have two park days (but I do want hoppers.) FWIW, my aunt is quite insistent that the childrens' address is typed in on their passports, not handwritten, but I doubt that makes a difference.

Thanks again for any help, I really appreciate it.

 

[vicki_c]

CarrieR - you just posted back exactly what CF posted in post #10, where he said:

However, a US passport combined with something such as a bank statement addressed to them from within the last two months can show proof of residency.


Passports are not proof of RESIDENCY, but are proof of IDENTIFICATION. The other items are the residency proof items.

 

[CarrieR]

Thanks, Vicki! Clearly I totally missed that statement. I will consider the matter settled at this point -- I really, really appreciate everyone's help!