AP holders who drive... have ID ready.

[PrincessV]

There was a thread on this subject a while back - I never posted, but read it with interest. I suppose I could search for it, but since it's been a while, anyway...

I'm fresh back from a week at WDW and can report that I had an equal number of times that I was asked to show ID with my AP for free parking and times that I was waved right through without showing ID.

The times that I did need to show ID, I was asked in what I would deem not particularly friendly manners. Not quite rude, either - just... militant-ish. Twice I asked why, as I'd never before been required to show ID for parking, and was told by one CM at the MK gate, "it's a new rule that went into effect 3 weeks go," and by a CM at DHS, "too many passholders were loaning their passes out to family and friends for free parking."

Note that I was asked for ID in the early morning and 3 hours before park closure. I was waved through without showing ID in the early morning and late afternoon. So I don't think time of day had anything to do with it. Maybe the "new rule" is being slowly released to the CMs in training/meetings?

The first time, I accidentally handed my son's AP instead of my own and received a dirty look when I showed my own ID... realizing my mistake, I apologized and showed my own pass. But it got me thinking... my 11yo son's AP includes free parking, too, and he was right there with me, so we certainly weren't in the wrong in using his pass. As an 11yo, though, he doesn't have a state ID card; I can't help but wonder how the interaction would have continued had I wished to use his card for parking.

Anyway, I suggest passholders just have their ID ready to show from now on. You may not need it, but if you do, things will move much more quickly if you don't have to get out of your vehicle and dig around the back seat for your wallet... like me.

 

[kathie859]

This really isn't a "new " thing. My last trip was Oct. 2012 (I'm taking this year off) and was usually asked for my ID when driving into a park. They had me trained after the 2nd time--had my AP and DL ready. Easy peasy.
Usually the DL got a quickie view at best.

 

[JennyDrake]

I'm an AP holder heading down in 6 weeks. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[WDSearcher]

There was a thread on this subject a while back - I never posted, but read it with interest. I suppose I could search for it, but since it's been a while, anyway...

I'm fresh back from a week at WDW and can report that I had an equal number of times that I was asked to show ID with my AP for free parking and times that I was waved right through without showing ID.

The times that I did need to show ID, I was asked in what I would deem not particularly friendly manners. Not quite rude, either - just... militant-ish. Twice I asked why, as I'd never before been required to show ID for parking, and was told by one CM at the MK gate, "it's a new rule that went into effect 3 weeks go," and by a CM at DHS, "too many passholders were loaning their passes out to family and friends for free parking."

Note that I was asked for ID in the early morning and 3 hours before park closure. I was waved through without showing ID in the early morning and late afternoon. So I don't think time of day had anything to do with it. Maybe the "new rule" is being slowly released to the CMs in training/meetings?

The first time, I accidentally handed my son's AP instead of my own and received a dirty look when I showed my own ID... realizing my mistake, I apologized and showed my own pass. But it got me thinking... my 11yo son's AP includes free parking, too, and he was right there with me, so we certainly weren't in the wrong in using his pass. As an 11yo, though, he doesn't have a state ID card; I can't help but wonder how the interaction would have continued had I wished to use his card for parking.

Anyway, I suggest passholders just have their ID ready to show from now on. You may not need it, but if you do, things will move much more quickly if you don't have to get out of your vehicle and dig around the back seat for your wallet... like me.

It's possible that the CMs have been asked to "spot check" -- like, asking every third or fourth AP they see as opposed to asking EVERY AP they see. That could account for why you were asked some of the time, but not all of the time.

As for the "not really, but sort of" attitude, I imagine that the CMs at parking have been asked many many MANY times, "Why do I need to show my ID?" over the past several weeks, and I imagine that many AP holders have not necessarily been pleased when asked to dig out their ID. Could be that the CMs are getting a lot of grief for something that isn't their fault, so they've put themselves on auto pilot when that happens. Not an excuse, just a possible explanation.

RE: your son's AP ... yes, he does have the priviledge of free parking even though clearly he's not the one driving the car . But there's no way for the CM to instantly know that the AP you're showing is for the kid in the car, nor do they have any way of knowing that you're that kid's mom. I mean ... YOU know all that, but they've never seen you before. Seems like it would be obvious, but it's not always. Particularly if there's been a lot of people using other peoples' APs to gain free parking.

If it makes you feel any better, I doubt that the CMs are any happier about it than the AP holders are!

 

[PrincessV]

This really isn't a "new " thing.

Totally new to me - and I'm local and have averaged 30-40 days at WDW a year for 20 years, lol! Must've just been lucky all that time?

It's possible that the CMs have been asked to "spot check" -- like, asking every third or fourth AP they see as opposed to asking EVERY AP they see. That could account for why you were asked some of the time, but not all of the time.

I was thinking that might be the case, too.

As for the "not really, but sort of" attitude, I imagine that the CMs at parking have been asked many many MANY times, "Why do I need to show my ID?" over the past several weeks, and I imagine that many AP holders have not necessarily been pleased when asked to dig out their ID. Could be that the CMs are getting a lot of grief for something that isn't their fault, so they've put themselves on auto pilot when that happens. Not an excuse, just a possible explanation.

Well... let's just say that I agree and there was an awful lot - an AWFUL LOT - of "auto pilot" during our trip. Sadly, it was a pretty bad trip overall, customer service-wise. CMs everywhere - including parking attendants - seem very overwhelmed and overworked. Makes me sad for them and irritated with upper management.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just to clarify, I am in no way upset or angered by this new procedure! I've just never seen it happen and was ill-prepared (despite the previous thread mentioning it; I confess, I totally brushed it off as an isolated incident). Thought others might benefit from another first-hand account.

 

[kmb584]

This is good to know! We're AP holders as well and on our April / May trip I wasn't asked once for ID. There were times when I accidentally handed them my DD's AP (no ID there since she's 4). I'll have to make a mental note to have mine ready as well as my DL when we go in October.

 

[tndisneyfan]

Just wanted to add....When we were there a month ago, a couple of times they actually took our AP and scanned it to see if it was active.

 

[disnut8]

Just reminded my husband about this for this weekend (and it will be busy). He said "no problem!" I think he's thinking "at least we don't have to pay the $15".

And, I'm sure he'll make certain he goes through the entrance so the security guard is on MY side of the car!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Thanks for the update.

 

[MrsDuck]

Good to know! Thanks!

 

[Belle & Ariel]

We had APs to Sea World/Aquatica/Busch Gardens last year and they did the same thing. There were signs as you pulled to the parking booths saying to have ID ready or it was on the pass itself. They asked for ID less than a fourth of the time.

 

[MrsNnr]

We were just there Friday (June 28th) and arrived about 12:30pm at DHS. The vehicle in front of us was asked for ID so we just handed ours with the AP when we pulled up. Did the same at Epcot so we didn't waste time.

 

[aubriee]

This is good to know! We're AP holders as well and on our April / May trip I wasn't asked once for ID. There were times when I accidentally handed them my DD's AP (no ID there since she's 4). I'll have to make a mental note to have mine ready as well as my DL when we go in October.

We were there May 10th-20th and was asked to show ID, but only sporadically that week (maybe four or five times). The first time they asked for ID, my husband had handed them his AP, but was sitting on his wallet, so without thinking, when the CM asked for ID, I just handed him mine. The CM took a glance at it, gave us a disgusted look and said he needed either my husband's ID or else my AP. I then handed him my AP. He was the only CM that bent down and really looked at me and the ID. He was really rude about it too. They were the new APs with the parking stripe on them, so they knew they were current and valid for parking and my last name is the same as my husband's. Sorry, I just wasn't thinking. After that I just made sure I handed them my AP with my ID. Most barely glanced at them and no others really looked into the car at me. Most days they didn't even ask for ID, but after that first day, we just made sure we had them handy. We did ask one CM why they were asking for ID sporadically, and he stated too many AP holders were letting friends and family use their APs, so Disney was cracking down. He did laugh and tell us to be sure and not loan our APs out to anyone to try to get into the parks, because if we were caught Disney would take up the annual passes and we would not be able to get them back. Huh, all we asked was why we were having to show ID to park when we never have had to before. I'd never loan our APs out. I'm not stupid!

 

[WDSearcher]

We were there May 10th-20th and was asked to show ID, but only sporadically that week (maybe four or five times). The first time they asked for ID, my husband had handed them his AP, but was sitting on his wallet, so without thinking, when the CM asked for ID, I just handed him mine. The CM took a glance at it, gave us a disgusted look and said he needed either my husband's ID or else my AP. I then handed him my AP. He was the only CM that bent down and really looked at me and the ID. He was really rude about it too. They were the new APs with the parking stripe on them, so they knew they were current and valid for parking and my last name is the same as my husband's. Sorry, I just wasn't thinking. After that I just made sure I handed them my AP with my ID. Most barely glanced at them and no others really looked into the car at me. Most days they didn't even ask for ID, but after that first day, we just made sure we had them handy. We did ask one CM why they were asking for ID sporadically, and he stated too many AP holders were letting friends and family use their APs, so Disney was cracking down. He did laugh and tell us to be sure and not loan our APs out to anyone to try to get into the parks, because if we were caught Disney would take up the annual passes and we would not be able to get them back. Huh, all we asked was why we were having to show ID to park when we never have had to before. I'd never loan our APs out. I'm not stupid!

The CM who looked in your car, taking the extra time to really LOOK at you, reminds me of a TSA guy I got once at an airport in Maine.

I had a tube of toothpaste in my luggage, which apparently had more fluid ounces than it was supposed to (it was a full-sized tube, but there was maybe a quarter of the tube left, so it couldn't have been over 2oz). The guy pulled it out of my Ziploc bag and made a HUGE deal over the fact that I had a FULL TUBE of toothpaste. I apologized and told him that he was free to toss it, and I'd just buy another tube at my destination. He looked at me suspiciously and then opened the toothpaste to check it -- maybe he thought there was something in it and that's why I was so nonchalant about throwing something like that away. Who knows. He squeezed out all of the remaining toothpaste and then tossed it, after which he went through my ENTIRE carryon bag, including riffling through every book I had and checking them to be sure nothing was hidden. He even read the summaries on the back, I guess to be sure that nothing was subversive. He unpacked everything -- to the point where the other TSA guys were all, "geez, Todd, let the lady go." Nope. Not Todd.

He finished, gave it all to me in a heap and then said, "Bet you wish you didn't bring that big tube of toothpaste now, don't you?" I just smiled at him and said, "Thank you for helping keep us safe." Then I took my stuff and spent ten minutes re-folding and re-packing, with the help of one of the TSA ladies, who apologized saying that "Todd's just in a mood." Indeed.

When you mentioned the hyper-vigilant parking CM, I couldn't help but think of Todd. Good times.

 

[disnut8]

We were there May 10th-20th and was asked to show ID, but only sporadically that week (maybe four or five times). The first time they asked for ID, my husband had handed them his AP, but was sitting on his wallet, so without thinking, when the CM asked for ID, I just handed him mine. The CM took a glance at it, gave us a disgusted look and said he needed either my husband's ID or else my AP. I then handed him my AP. He was the only CM that bent down and really looked at me and the ID. He was really rude about it too. They were the new APs with the parking stripe on them, so they knew they were current and valid for parking and my last name is the same as my husband's. Sorry, I just wasn't thinking. After that I just made sure I handed them my AP with my ID. Most barely glanced at them and no others really looked into the car at me. Most days they didn't even ask for ID, but after that first day, we just made sure we had them handy. We did ask one CM why they were asking for ID sporadically, and he stated too many AP holders were letting friends and family use their APs, so Disney was cracking down. He did laugh and tell us to be sure and not loan our APs out to anyone to try to get into the parks, because if we were caught Disney would take up the annual passes and we would not be able to get them back. Huh, all we asked was why we were having to show ID to park when we never have had to before. I'd never loan our APs out. I'm not stupid!

I'm not sure why you were upset the last attendant was joking with you. You already knew to have your ID out and it was an innocent remark to your question. I would have laughed and continued on. I'm sure they get asked that question a hundred times a day and have to have some way to deal with it. It was a harmless joke.

 

[jahber]

There was a thread on this subject a while back - I never posted, but read it with interest. I suppose I could search for it, but since it's been a while, anyway...

I'm fresh back from a week at WDW and can report that I had an equal number of times that I was asked to show ID with my AP for free parking and times that I was waved right through without showing ID.

The times that I did need to show ID, I was asked in what I would deem not particularly friendly manners. Not quite rude, either - just... militant-ish. Twice I asked why, as I'd never before been required to show ID for parking, and was told by one CM at the MK gate, "it's a new rule that went into effect 3 weeks go," and by a CM at DHS, "too many passholders were loaning their passes out to family and friends for free parking."

Note that I was asked for ID in the early morning and 3 hours before park closure. I was waved through without showing ID in the early morning and late afternoon. So I don't think time of day had anything to do with it. Maybe the "new rule" is being slowly released to the CMs in training/meetings?

The first time, I accidentally handed my son's AP instead of my own and received a dirty look when I showed my own ID... realizing my mistake, I apologized and showed my own pass. But it got me thinking... my 11yo son's AP includes free parking, too, and he was right there with me, so we certainly weren't in the wrong in using his pass. As an 11yo, though, he doesn't have a state ID card; I can't help but wonder how the interaction would have continued had I wished to use his card for parking.

Anyway, I suggest passholders just have their ID ready to show from now on. You may not need it, but if you do, things will move much more quickly if you don't have to get out of your vehicle and dig around the back seat for your wallet... like me.

This came up for the first time for us (locals) a few weeks ago. My husband was driving, and I realized about halfway to WDW that I had forgotten my license. I didn't worry because no one had ever asked for it...until we reached the parking booth and I gave my husband my pass (as usual) and they asked for ID. It had never happened before and I had a second of panic. Of course we had my husband's pass and he had his license, fortunately. But it was kind of sprung on us. And as a PP mentioned, how do they check my 6yo's ID if he's traveling with someone else? Anyway, now we hand over ID automatically. And when it's just me and the kids, I've had no problem handing my son my pass AND my ID to hold out the window to the attendant when the booth is on the passenger side. I haven't had anyone say anything and received no dirty looks, so I guess it pays to be proactive and just hand over the ID.

 

[wdwislife]

Also keep an ID handy so you can use the 10% discount at all merchandise locations! I can't tell you how many guests are shocked when I tell them that with their AP and a photo ID they can save some $$.

 

[PrincessV]

Also keep an ID handy so you can use the 10% discount at all merchandise locations! I can't tell you how many guests are shocked when I tell them that with their AP and a photo ID they can save some $$.

I'm sorry, I'm going a bit OT with this, but I have to ask... what do you do if a child comes up to pay for something and wants to use his AP discount? At 11, my son has his own money and wallet and wants to buy his own stuff, but he doesn't have any photo (or non-photo, for that matter...) ID to provide.

 

[aprylann28]

So, i am just curious. If we are a party of eight and only one of us has an AP but she will not be the one driving, can we still use her AP to get free parking as long as she is in the car with us and has her ID? Thanks.

 

[disnut8]

So, i am just curious. If we are a party of eight and only one of us has an AP but she will not be the one driving, can we still use her AP to get free parking as long as she is in the car with us and has her ID? Thanks.

Yes. But she needs to be in the car so the attendant can check the photo ID.

I'd also suggest that she be the one to hand over the annual pass and the photo ID. Sit her up front with the driver and maybe go through the parking stalls so she connects with the attendant since you can do either side for ID.