Big Brother?

[Marymom]

I finally got my paid in full cruise receipt and noticed that I am booked Mary (Middle name) (Last Name). I am a southern woman who traditionally dropped their middle name in favor of the maiden name. I have been married for 18 years. My passport, my social security card, military id and my driver's license all recognize my name as Mary (Maiden name) (Last name). How/Why did Disney Cruise Line find out my old middle name and substitute it? I haven't used it in 18 years!

 

[HallsofVA]

curious! I'd love to know the answer to that. Did you book the cruise yourself, or did someone book it for you or on your behalf?

I'm someone who has always gone by my middle name, so for that reason I couldn't drop it when I got married. But I use my 1st name for formal stuff, and my middle name for personal stuff, so I always know when someone calls my house whether they know me personally or only from some form or system.

 

[Kelsie]

Have you booked or sailed with Disney Cruise Line before? If so, my bet would be from your Castaway Club information.

They connect your CC number with your reservation and the information on that record supersedes the information you provided. You just need to call and have them update your CC information.

This is an ongoing issue.

 

[Marymom]

I will call and change it. I only have sailed with Disney married. I personally booked all of our cruises. I never give out anything but my maiden name as my middle name. The only thing I can think of is that they (travel agency or Disney) pulled a credit report on me and just used one of those random alias names that come up.

Mary

 

[JennLK]

Did you go to Disney World when you were younger ? They do keep all of that info in their system... They pulled up everything on us from the first time we went to WDW

 

[Kelsie]

I will call and change it. I only have sailed with Disney married. I personally booked all of our cruises. I never give out anything but my maiden name as my middle name. The only thing I can think of is that they (travel agency or Disney) pulled a credit report on me and just used one of those random alias names that come up. Mary

Disney's systems are really not that sophisticated and I have never known them or a Travel Agency to pull a credit report on their clients.

At times I can't even get them to add the correct information much less information that is not correct.

I really do think there's a simple explanation that they or your TA should be able to clear up for you.

 

[tvguy]

Stupid question. How did you do this without going to court? My mom dropped her first name, and there was a court process.
Also curious how your Passport ended up with a name different than what is on your birth certificate.
Or does your Passport record have your original name on file, and your post marriage name as an AKA (also known as).
I deal with a lot of legal documents at work, and often see people with several AKA's on their legal documents.
Like:
Abraham Fabio Lincoln, AKA
Abe Lincoln.
Abe F. Lincoln
Abe Fabio Lincoln
Fabio Lincoln.
Abraham F. Lincoln.
A. Fabio Lincoln.
A.F. Lincoln

 

[MTmomma]

TV Guy, I know in MT, at one time, all you had to do was show proof of marriage to add the married name.... for example my mom was Linda L**** W**** and became Linda W**** H******* after marrying my dad. There was no court proceeding involved. As for getting a maiden name BACK after a divorce, well, in THAT case MT did, and still does, require a court proceeding. Some of the family court judges will order in the divorce decree that the maiden name be restored, and some will not.

 

[HallsofVA]

TV Guy - I changed my name when I got married and that's what's reflected on my passport, DL, etc. Happens all the time.

To change your name, you file for the name change with the SSA, providing proof like a marriage license, or other statement, and they will change the name on your SS#. To change the name on my passport, I had to send in my marriage cert. along with the SSN change documentation I think.

 

[clten]

When you sailed with DCL before, what did you use as proof of citizenship? Was it a Birth Certificate? If so, the person processing your check-in probably entered your first and middle name as they are on your birth certificate and then your married last name.

 

[KSandbergFL]

I will call and change it. I only have sailed with Disney married. I personally booked all of our cruises. I never give out anything but my maiden name as my middle name. The only thing I can think of is that they (travel agency or Disney) pulled a credit report on me and just used one of those random alias names that come up.

If you submitted one name to Disney, and their documents returned labeled with an alias you haven't used for 18 years.... I'm gonna guess that DCL is using the name returned by the TSA's computers.

At some point in the process, DCL (and any cruise line or airline who crosses the border) must run the passenger names thru the good ol' Transportation Safety Authority (TSA). I didn't think it was done so early (as in your case), but maybe it is.

Anyway -- the TSA's computers would check your name (and all known aliases) against their "no fly list" (or "no cruise list", in this case) and let DCL know if you were OK or not. The TSA would use different ID's provided by Disney, such as your VISA number, passport ID, etc, to identify you and link your aliases together... similar to the credit check you mentioned. Most likely, your passport was originally obtained more than 18 years ago, under your old alias... and that was the name the TSA returned as "OK".

Not sure why DCL would automatically change your name on their correspondence, maybe it's an oversight or glitch in their computer system.

But, in short -- yes, Big Brother *is* watching all of us.

 

[tastefullyjenn]

At least in PA, women are able to get a name change when they marry--doesn't even have to be the man's name. (My DH and I briefly considered both changing our surname).

To the OP, legally, they'd have had to get your permission to run a credit check. Do you think your method of payment (credit card) has your name listed that way?

As a trivia matter, even after your name is changed, you are legally able to use your maiden name too.

FUN WITH NAMES!