Annual Pass Payment plan/New Resident - So upset!!

[Renae De Liz]

Hoping for some ideas/answers for my predicament, and yes a bit of a vent, so hope that's okay. Sorry for the length

Part of Problem, part 1: We JUST moved to California, but could not get our CA Driver's licenses yet because we have to order the correct birth Certificates to get them. I finally got my BC just today, but my husband's is still en route.

Part 2: My family and I planned on going to DL from the 20th to the 27th this month (So supposed to leave monday). This is a big deal trip to us, as we've all had a stressful year, and about to have another baby, and really wanted to take some family time to give our kids a wonderful time. We purchased two nights for MHP, and booked our hotel, took time from work, everything. BUT We only budgeted $400 for tickets so we could get started on the payment plan for Annual Passes. Called DL and was told to just go sign up for the plan at the gates and get our passports there (as the website wasn't working for me). No problem, right?

Had a feeling today to double check things, so called DL again, and this time was told I had to bring a valid CA driver's license to ID us, and they accepted no other form of identification for the payment plan! I did not realize this, in fact, nowhere did I see that they only accepted a CA driver's license to get the plan. We only have our Maine licenses for photo ID, but have everything else to prove residency. Lease agreement, Insurance cards, utility bills, you name it. Everything but the Driver's license as we haven't had time to get them yet because of the danged birth certificates.

Called DL about my predicament, and pretty much got a "Too bad, so sad" response. There was NO trying to help me figure out a solution. And there's no way I can come up with an extra $1600 to pay for the full tickets, or annual passes.

I realize I should have made sure what was needed, but I am so upset at Disney for not trying to help me find a solution to this. I spent way too much on their Halloween tickets, and they cannot even work with me on something that should be so simple!

So now I have excited kids who think they're going to Disneyland, and me unsure if we can even make it happen now And I feel horrible.

I can try to get receipt of a CA driver's license on Monday before we leave (Disney said they would accept that), BUT I need to pass a written test to get it! Not that I think I wouldn't pass, but I'm worried because if I mess up one too many questions that basically means we can't go to Disneyland Not only is it a ridiculous predicament, but who wants to go to the DMV on their first day of vacation?!

So anyway, I would like to ask you experts:

1. If I can manage to get my CA license on Monday, can I purchase my whole families annual passports on the monthly plan? My husband's specifically, as there's no way he can have his CA license before Monday.

2. Would they also take a regular ID card from the DMV for me (as a fail-safe in case I fail the written exam for some reason). I'll call and ask tomorrow during Disney calling hours, but I'm so anxiety ridden right now, an answer to this question would be so helpful.

Anyway, thanks for listening. I'm usually so on top of things, and I feel awful for this one simple thing basically destroying our trip It's been a rough move across country with a troubled pregnancy... Disneyland was supposed to be the light on the horizon!

 

[tarheelalum]

Just go down to the DMV monday morning (early) and get a California ID card. (Check online for required docs) They won't give you the actual card Monday but they will give you the paper with your name and address on it. My wife used this when she first moved here because she was in a similar situation as you. Disneyland accepted the ID card paperwork from her so she could buy a SoCal annual pass. Call DL tomorrow to make sure they will accept it but I don't think you will have any problems with it. Good Luck

 

[Renae De Liz]

Hi and thanks so much for the reply!

Good to know they'll take the ID card receipt. That takes a load off my mind! I managed to get to the DMV today right before close, and was told all I needed was my birth certificate for the driver's license, so I hope that's all they'll need for the ID card too.

Do you know if they'll let me buy my husbands annual pass on a monthly plan along with my kids? Worried that as he's an adult, they'll need his CA ID card too, and not sure he'll be able to get one.

Thanks again so much for helping

 

[DLR29]

As long as you're under the same address and same transaction, you should be able to purchase your DH's pass as well.

 

[Renae De Liz]

Thank you both so much for your replies!

Okay- So called Disney today. They said they would for sure take receipt of ID from the DMV for me (which also covers my kids), BUT my husband would have to pay full price for his annual pass!

THEN we finally escalated through to a person who said to bring other documentation instead of having to get DMV stuff to show. When we arrive at the park we're to have them look us up on their system, or call this person directly to get approval if that fails.

So looks like it will be okay, but it sure took a LOT of trying to get through to the right people to work with us. If anyone else finds themselves in this silly situation, be sure to keep escalating until you get the right people to talk to.

Their whole system of verification is extremely silly, actually. With DMV licenses or ID, you DO NOT provide proof to the DMV of residency at all! You just give a Birth Certificate, say "Hey, I live here", and you get a card. And that is what Disney accepts as only proof of living in California. They won't accept Medical cards, lease agreements, utility bills, nothing! So I hope they update their methods, or at least make it clearer on their site that they only will take one type of verification.

Anyway, hope all goes well on Monday! Thanks to all who read and wanted to help!

 

[Malcon10t]

Their whole system of verification is extremely silly, actually. With DMV licenses or ID, you DO NOT provide proof to the DMV of residency at all! You just give a Birth Certificate, say "Hey, I live here", and you get a card. And that is what Disney accepts as only proof of living in California. They won't accept Medical cards, lease agreements, utility bills, nothing! So I hope they update their methods, or at least make it clearer on their site that they only will take one type of verification.

Anyway, hope all goes well on Monday! Thanks to all who read and wanted to help!

Weird. I had a friend who last week went to the turnstiles with a copy of her utility bill in her name, her AZ driver's license and her credit card which is connected to her CA address, and no one said a word. Got deluxe APs on the monthly plan. She never called and asked, just did it, said the guy at the window didn't say anything about additional ID.

 

[Renae De Liz]

Weird. I had a friend who last week went to the turnstiles with a copy of her utility bill in her name, her AZ driver's license and her credit card which is connected to her CA address, and no one said a word. Got deluxe APs on the monthly plan. She never called and asked, just did it, said the guy at the window didn't say anything about additional ID.

That is good to know she was able to use other forms! Thanks for telling me.

That is so aggravating. The nice lady we got escalated to today said that they actually accept other forms of California ID all the time for college students who live in California for school, but still have all ID in their home states. So it would be no problem. But the other people at Disney we called over and over again last night and today gave 100% "NO" to anything other than DMV documents. We told her this and she seemed confused why they are saying that, so hopefully they fix it so their phone cast members have the proper information.

So basically they freaked me out and caused huge amounts of anxiety for absolutely NO REASON!

Buuuut all is okay and that is what matters! Hooray for Disneyland!

 

[poohnpigletCA]

I would start by asking for a lead to help you when you purchase your AP's. We were there last week and bought 4 APs for our family of 4. It took the lady in the booth almost an hour to process our APs. Then it automatically attached our pictures from our old AP 4 years ago. She said our (adults) pictures were fine but as the kids had changed so much they would need to remove their pictures from the file (it could take up to 24 hours) and take new pictures at the turnstiles.

Then we go to use our AP for the first time and when my card is scanned my hubbys picture came up,and the reverse for his card. We were questioned extensively at the turnstile explained we just bought the AP and they wrote down all our AP numbers and said it would be an easy fix.

5 days in total and none of the pictures were removed. Every time we used our AP we were questioned and the numbers were written down. We spent hours speaking with guest relations, leads, manager in the booth itself. Hours and hours spent on this. Spent another hour straight were they took down all our information and fixed the cards. Next morning we checked the cards and nothing from the night before was saved.

Hopefully they can set you up correctly the first time and there will be no glitches.

 

[HilaryZone]

My husband and I were in your same situation two years ago...had just moved to California from New York and wanted to sign up for the Southern California Annual Pass and payment plan. We were upgrading our one-day tickets to the passes at the end of the night, and not sure if the girl at the ticket window just didn't know proper procedure, didn't care, or they didn't need any ID, but when I told her we didn't yet have California IDs since we had moved only a few weeks prior, she said it was no problem. I told her I could pull a utility bill or insurance bill up on my phone to show her and she said she didn't need that either, just needed our California address. Like I said, not sure if this girl just had no idea of the correct policies or what, but I highly doubt Disney isn't going to want your purchase (and the profit they'll make). They might have to call a manager over for approval, but I wouldn't be worried.

 

[Renae De Liz]

Thanks for your responses!! And glad there is another case of people able to get their AP's alright.

Got a phone call today from another Disney lady just to confirm that YES it's okay to bring other identification forms. Very happy this is the case, but I wish I could have gotten ahold of the right people on Friday, and saved myself a lot of grief. We literally called over and over again through Friday and early Saturday, speaking with someone different in the Ticket/AP sales department each time, and each person (about 7 people) gave a %100 "NO" to anything but DMV and basically said there was no solution except to pay full price up front. WAAAAAY different than what people in the other department said. Very aggravating, and hope they fix it!

Thanks again for the responses! We leave tomorrow and I'll be trying to get our AP's upon arrival, so wish us luck!

 

[smarie82181]

That's so crazy. I still have a Arizona drivers license as I never changed it and we have been back in California for 4 years. Ha ha I know I should have but I didn't. We purchased our first set with no problems then still renewed with no issues. We took a few months off and just bought new passes again last month and still have the same az license and never have been questioned. Our billing address is here in Ca which is what they needed they said.

Good luck, hope you have no issues

 

[Mike Davalos]

So, as a person in your very same situation.... How did it turn out? Did you go and get your passes and with what documentation? Please provide info so that I can better understand how I will be able to make it work for me thanks!!