AP ID enforcement for parking

[Disney_Princess83]

Going into epcot today I was asked for ID to match my AP for parking. Didn't have it ready so I held up the line a bit. Worse my 8 year old was riding with my sister in their car and they wouldn't accept her AP for free parking because she is a child. They had to pay. Guess I'll send one of my other 4 kids, who are all over 13, with them tomorrow.
Just a fyi.
incus

Children under 18 do not require any identification and they are entitled to the Free Parking. The CM was wrong. If this happens in the future (to you or anyone) - go to Guest Relations with the AP and the child. They should refund the parking.

 

[larryz]

An AP's main job is to get you into the park multiple times. People shouldn't buy them for the benefits because you just can't rely on having them.

Sorry -- the way I see it, the AP benefits package is part of the deal, with discounts, parking, TiW, etc, all part of the considered value for the price.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I just wanted to add our experience using AP for parking 6/2-6/7. I had read on the Dis about needing a photo ID but our first time thru I forgot. So the CM asked for an ID we dug it out and went on. The next day we had the photo ID ready but the CM took the AP and scanned it to make sure it was valid. I guess he was making sure it hadn't expired, but it was a new AP and it said on the back in red something about parking 2013-2014. On another day we had another CM do the same thing. I'm Ok with the photo ID and I guess I'm ok with scanning my AP, but it seems like an odd thing to do when it's clearly got 2014 on it . Just seemed like a waste of time, mine and theirs both.

 

[doconeill]

I just wanted to add our experience using AP for parking 6/2-6/7. I had read on the Dis about needing a photo ID but our first time thru I forgot. So the CM asked for an ID we dug it out and went on. The next day we had the photo ID ready but the CM took the AP and scanned it to make sure it was valid. I guess he was making sure it hadn't expired, but it was a new AP and it said on the back in red something about parking 2013-2014. On another day we had another CM do the same thing. I'm Ok with the photo ID and I guess I'm ok with scanning my AP, but it seems like an odd thing to do when it's clearly got 2014 on it . Just seemed like a waste of time, mine and theirs both.

The 2013-2014 are not the valid dates, but a rough indication of when the pass is good for. They need to scan to be sure that it is valid.

Of course, any AP in that form would obviously not have expired yet, but that doesn't mean the card itself is valid.

 

[Incus]

Just wondering - does your sister and your daughter have the same last name? If not and your daughter didn't have ID but your sister did but under a different name, I think the Cast Member did the correct thing - kinda assumed the worst.

However, I think the Cast Member should have directed your sister to have you and your daughter go to Guest Relations to get the money back.

No, sister married-different last name now. My Daughter was riding with her cousin who she is having a blast with btw. We were 2 lanes over with 5 adult AP's in my car being asked for ID. Yes, over $3000 worth of AP's with a family of 6. Will have my 17 yo, with ID, ride with them tomorrow.

Children under 18 do not require any identification and they are entitled to the Free Parking. The CM was wrong. If this happens in the future (to you or anyone) - go to Guest Relations with the AP and the child. They should refund the parking.

Brother in law had the parking receipt in the car. I offered to go with him to guest relations but he didn't want to lose valuable Disney time. HE didn't mine spending the money. I understood.

Incus

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Brother in law had the parking receipt in the car. I offered to go with him to guest relations but he didn't want to lose valuable Disney time. HE didn't mine spending the money. I understood.
Incus

That $15 could have bought something

 

[maxiesmom]

Sorry -- the way I see it, the AP benefits package is part of the deal, with discounts, parking, TiW, etc, all part of the considered value for the price.

You can factor that in if you want to. However Disney does state they are subject to change, so you may end up with less value than you thought. Something people need to keep in mind when deciding if they want to purchase an AP or not.

 

[cigar95]

You can factor that in if you want to. However Disney does state they are subject to change, so you may end up with less value than you thought. Something people need to keep in mind when deciding if they want to purchase an AP or not.

You raise an interesting point - what aspects of the AP are part of the "essence" of the pass, and what are "extra benefits"?

Obviously, 365 (or 366, actually) days of admission are part of the essence of the pass - WDW can't take away any admission privileges without violating the terms of their original agreement. (Always subject to capacity restrictions, of course.)

Similarly at the other end of the scale, resort discounts were never a guarantee, and discount resort rates for passholders don't have to be offered. Dining and merchandise discounts are the same - they're perks.

but parking? I tend to think that parking may well go with park admission as part of the essence of the pass. It would be a tough sell to say that you can get in to the parks for free, but you'll have to pony up to be able to get to the gate if you drive your own car, when that was not part of the original terms.

If WDW did decide to remove the free parking privilege, the wise way for public relations would be to grandfather in all those who had already purchased passes that had it included.

 

[WDSearcher]

I just wanted to add our experience using AP for parking 6/2-6/7. I had read on the Dis about needing a photo ID but our first time thru I forgot. So the CM asked for an ID we dug it out and went on. The next day we had the photo ID ready but the CM took the AP and scanned it to make sure it was valid. I guess he was making sure it hadn't expired, but it was a new AP and it said on the back in red something about parking 2013-2014. On another day we had another CM do the same thing. I'm Ok with the photo ID and I guess I'm ok with scanning my AP, but it seems like an odd thing to do when it's clearly got 2014 on it . Just seemed like a waste of time, mine and theirs both.

It's possible that there are a batch of stolen or counterfiet APs floating around and they're doing spot checks to verify. That happens pretty regularly. People are always trying to copy and counterfiet tickets. I'm sure there are all sorts of skeevy folks trying to figure out how to fake the new APs and Magic Bands and whatnot.

As for the folks who are upset about the CM who mistakenly did not take the child's AP for parking ... CMs are human beings and occasionally they make mistakes, even though they never ever should and Walt would have never allowed it.

However, you can always stop by GR and get a refund. You may even be able to do that at your resort if you missed a chance to do it at the parks. I understand that it shouldn't have happened in the first place and that now you have to take extra time out of your vacation to get that money back, but again ... human beings. It happens.

 

[WDSearcher]

That $15 could have bought something

That $15 did buy something.

 

[disnut8]

If Disney is going to charge the same price for a child AP as they do an adult AP and give them the same "benefit" booklet, then they better have the same benefits! So if one of my kids travels to Disney with say, my parent's, their AP should be able to be used just like an adults. Whether that child is 4 or 14 they should get the same parking and discounts given. If they want an ID for someone so young before they can use their benefits, then they should put the child's picture on the pass. JMHO

If they are not going to let my kids use their AP the same way I do, then they should charge less plain and simple.

No one said the child's pass wasn't entitled to the free parking. No one. The Cast Member asked for a valid ID for the ONE annual pass in the car. None could be provided. Therefore, the Cast Member said the guest needed to pay. The person driving was NOT the child's guardian. None of the adults in the car were the child's immediate family. I think it's been firmly established the father could have gone to Guest Relations and asked for the money back but decided not to.

Disney charging the same price for a child's annual pass as for an adult's is to ward off the whole "we're getting this one cheaper pass so we get free parking and all the discounts". Disney ain't stupid.

 

[cigar95]

It's possible that there are a batch of stolen or counterfiet APs floating around and they're doing spot checks to verify.

Or if the pass had simply been "lost" and replaced, the old one can't be used by the passholder - or anyone else - to get free parking. If I replace my pass and give the old one to my brother so he can park for free, that's not kosher. Hence scanning the pass to be sure that it hasn't been deactivated.

 

[doconeill]

Disney charging the same price for a child's annual pass as for an adult's is to ward off the whole "we're getting this one cheaper pass so we get free parking and all the discounts". Disney ain't stupid.

Or, they could have said, "These benefits apply only to an Adult Annual Pass, with ID..."

 

[dyna]

A couple of weeks ago DH was asked for PICTURE ID for AP parking at the Studios he asked the CM if she was NEW or just liked MESSING WITH PPL? Her answer was IT IS A NEW POILCY.

DH an I looked at each other an said YEAH RIGHT!

Later that day we went to Epcot parked there NO ID NEEDED!

Nor have we been asked for ID since an we been back 8 or 10 times since.

 

[WDSearcher]

A couple of weeks ago DH was asked for PICTURE ID for AP parking at the Studios he asked the CM if she was NEW or just liked MESSING WITH PPL? Her answer was IT IS A NEW POILCY.

DH an I looked at each other an said YEAH RIGHT!

Later that day we went to Epcot parked there NO ID NEEDED!

Nor have we been asked for ID since an we been back 8 or 10 times since.

It's quite possible that CMs have been asked to "randomly check" or "spot check" as opposed to checking every single time.

And really ... the CM is not going to just be "messing with people".

 

[maxiesmom]

What is kind of funny is there is another thread from someone who wants to use one of their family's APs to pay for a friends parking. Which pretty much shows why Disney would ask for ID.

Maybe if people didn't bend the rules until they broke, and then fractured into tiny pieces, Disney wouldn't have to do things like ask for ID.

 

[larryz]

What is kind of funny is there is another thread from someone who wants to use one of their family's APs to pay for a friends parking. Which pretty much shows why Disney would ask for ID.

Maybe if people didn't bend the rules until they broke, and then fractured into tiny pieces, Disney wouldn't have to do things like ask for ID.

I don't mind Disney verifying that people using a privilege are actually entitled to it...

 

[WillAustin]

What is kind of funny is there is another thread from someone who wants to use one of their family's APs to pay for a friends parking. Which pretty much shows why Disney would ask for ID.

Maybe if people didn't bend the rules until they broke, and then fractured into tiny pieces, Disney wouldn't have to do things like ask for ID.

I'm pretty sure they don't want my family of 5 with APs to split up into 5 vehicles with our friends so they can all park free.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

I think Disney should crack down on the ones who park at DTD to avoid paying for parking

 

[disnut8]

Or, they could have said, "These benefits apply only to an Adult Annual Pass, with ID..."

In the very fine print most people don't read?

Guest to parking lot attendant - "yes ma'am, here's my eight year old daughter's annual pass so we get free parking!"

Attendant - "no, I'm sorry sir, a child's pass doesn't get free parking"

Guest - "@$%^*&(#%^! I paid good money for this pass for the benefits!"

And then you could have others asking for a reduced annual pass because they always stay on property so never need the free parking or they are DVC members so they don't need discounts on resorts.

Come on - there's got to be a limit.