Florida Resident 3-Day Exchange Certificates

[Epperbiker]

Please excuse if this is common knowledge, but I just received Exchange Certificates, which state they must be redeemed at a Park Ticket sales location for a 3-Day Ticket. By ordering ahead of time, I thought I'd be saving some time waiting in lines (with our 3 year old). Is there any advantage to getting tickets by mail, or was this a "why bother"?

 

[Seahunt]

Hmmm - good question!

When we exchanged our vouchers last time it did seem to go really fast for the CM working the guest service window at MK to have us just turn them in with our FL IDs to get the tickets, but I don't know that just buying the tickets there with your FL IDs instead wouldn't be just as fast?

Any ticket window CMs on here that can answer this?

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

One advantage is being able to pay ahead of time and not have the expense when you arrive. I'm going to buy our FL resident seasonal passes at the Air Force Base ticket office with my Disney Visa several months in advance so I can (a) get the reward dollars for them, and (b) have one more part of the trip paid for in full before we leave.

You must present the vouchers and your FL ID to get the tickets. If they sent them through the mail, what would prevent someone from buying tickets and having them sent to their retired Auntie in Florida, then having her mail them out-of-state? They must verify your residency before they will issue you a FL resident pass.

Your profile doesn't say what part of FL you're in, but if you'll be driving South on I-75 through Ocala, stop at the Disney Information Center and you can get your tickets there. The last 2 visits, I've gotten our tickets there and it's not usually very crowded.

 

[PrincessCastMember]

When you "buy ahead of time" it basically saves that price for you. Say you buy your tickets in Jan of '07, but you don't get to Disney until Sept. of '07. More than likely Disney has increased the price of the tickets by the time you get down to Florida. Well, since you've received your certificates, it holds the price and therefore you won't have to pay the difference for the price increase.

Another reason they send you certificates is because if you are going to be getting the Florida discount, which is significant in many cases, every adult over the age of 18 MUST HAVE A VALID FLORIDA STATE ID to get the discount. Disney will never send Florida resident tickets ready to go to you in the mail. The CMs have to see valid IDs for EVERYONE of the adults. If one of the people doesn't have a Florida ID because they're really from Oklahoma City, OK...the CM will make them pay the price difference of a what a non FL resident would pay.

Hope this helps!

 

[jwfla422]

I guess that's the only advantage of buying them ahead of time but that probably goes for any AP or ticket, not just FL resident. When we got our Play 3 passes in Jan. it was pretty quick. Actually we did it at the resort (the Swan) and didn't have to visit guest services at all to exchange anything. We were all set once we got the Play 3's there. If the Swan can issue them I'm sure all the WDW resorts can too which actually would save a trip to guest services to exchange any vouchers.

 

[Seahunt]

Your profile doesn't say what part of FL you're in, but if you'll be driving South on I-75 through Ocala, stop at the Disney Information Center and you can get your tickets there. The last 2 visits, I've gotten our tickets there and it's not usually very crowded.

If you mean the Ocala Disney Welcome Center, sorry but it is now closed (since 2005) and the land has been sold. Here's the info:

The former Disney Welcome Center, a fixture to countless tourists on their way to Disney World until it closed last year, has been sold. An investment partnership known as JR Investments of Ocala LLC, bought the property from Disney for $2 million, according to Ray Amin, one of the two principals in the partnership. A Disney spokesman confirmed that the property had been sold, but could offer no additional information. The center, located at 3601 S.W. 38th Ave., closed last August 13, after 18 years in Ocala. Disney officials said at the time that fewer theme park visitors were using the center because they were able to get information, make reservations and buy tickets on the Internet before coming to Florida.
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Just didn't want you to make a trip there to find it gone!

 

[Epperbiker]

Thanks for the replies. It is good to have the really hard part (paying for them) over with. I always assumed we'd have to show ID but thought that could be done at the entrance. Hopefully crowds won't be too bad April 21-23...this is my 3 yo DS first trip to WDW and I haven't been in 20 years, even though we live in Tampa. (3rd Disney Cruise coming up in Sept though!)

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Thanks, Seahunt, for setting me straight! I had no idea they'd closed! I was last there in Sept 2004. I'm so sorry to hear that - it was a great little stop to make and pick up tickets or make ADRs.

Epperbiker - The last time I used a FL resident pass, I did not have to show any ID at the gate - just when I bought the ticket. Your trip will be magical for your 3-yo - enjoy!

 

[ITALIANNYC]

I got my 3 day park hopper ticket with florida discount and im not from florida =)

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I got my 3 day park hopper ticket with florida discount and im not from florida =)

Why cheat? It's not like you save a wad of money. I just don't understand why people don't think the rules apply to them.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

Actually it only cost me 129 for a 3 day park hopper, seems a little bit more then 20 bucks.. And i didnt cheat disney on anything, since when is it a crime to get tickets for a good price?

 

[Seahunt]

Actually it only cost me 129 for a 3 day park hopper, seems a little bit more then 20 bucks.. And i didnt cheat disney on anything, since when is it a crime to get tickets for a good price?

Ummm, how did you find FL Res 3 day hoppers for $129? Hope you didn't get taken by someone....

The FL Res 3 day Play Pass is $120, but it costs $22.50 additional to add the park hopper (all plus tax), so your $129 figure for hoppers makes me think "uh-oh".

Here's what mousesavers.com shows about FL Res tickets:

In order to qualify for Florida Resident pass discounts, you have to show proof of residency such as a valid Florida driver's license or Florida state ID card, showing a Florida address. These passes are also controlled using a biometric finger scan, to prevent them from being transferred to non-Florida residents. Disney has the system down to a science -- trust me, you really can't buy or use these passes unless you actually live in Florida!

In order to take advantage of the Florida Resident Offers at Walt Disney World you must show proof of Florida Residency:

VALID Florida Drivers License

VALID Florida State issued ID card (MUST have Florida address)

VALID Voters Registration Card with corresponding picture ID

VALID Florida Based Military ID - Florida Military Bases

Pensacola Naval Air Station
Hurlburt Field Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base
Panama City Coastal Systems Station (Navy)
Jacksonville Naval Air Station
Mayport Naval Station
MacDill Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base
Miami Coast Guard Station
Clearwater Coast Guard Air Station
Homestead Air Reserve Base
Key West Naval Air Station
United States Southern Command (Miami)

VALID College ID (MUST be a Florida college)

9/05: Utility statements are no longer accepted as proof of residency.

Each adult in the party is required to have a Florida ID.

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

 

[jwfla422]

EBAY????? Well, as long as you have a FL license you won't have a problem activating your pass. If it's already been activated by someone else you won't be able to use it since it will have their finger scan on it...

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

My suspicion is that our Non-FL-Resident friend is under age and is going with a friend or relative that IS a resident, so won't be required to provide an ID. After all, I don't have to prove that my children belong to me and qualify for the resident passes - just my husband and I do.

FYI, though - I have heard of people being turned away when they try to use a FL ticket and cannot provide FL ID.