Foreigners--Did You Know?

[samsteele]

While I carry my Ontario driver's licence and a colour copy of my passport with me, I have never been asked for I.D at WDW or anywhere in Florida (or even in New York state). There must be some element of discretion going on because nada, never asked. I'm in my mid 40s but look a wee bit younger. But I definitely don't look 20-ish. Sigh. I wouldn't mind being carded. Maybe just once. But I understand that when the policy isn't applied consistently, and you just don't know to have the required i.d., that it can be a major hassle. That doesn't mean I couldn't be asked repeatedly on my next trip. But to this date its never been an issue.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

As a US citizen who has lived in Australia for 3 years and traveling to Singapore, Bali, New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand. There were many places that we had to show our passport as ID when ordering drinks. DH and I didn't get ID'ed all the time but our son who looks really young did. A US drivers license was not accepted and he had to show his passport most times. Best to be prepared when traveling outside your own country as rules vary where ever you go. Heck even as a US citizen there are some US states that will not accept other US states drivers license as ID.

I do think it is great that Disney will accept a color photocopy along with ID instead of the actual passport as that is not the case everywhere you travel. That said yes it can be nerve racking to have to carry your passport everywhere...first and foremost check out your countries rules and procedures of how to replace a lost passport while abroad, better to know these things before traveling so you do not panic if it does happen. Make sure you have multiple photocopies of your passport. Keep a copy at home and in your hotel room and with you at all times even if you are carrying the actual passport. That way if anything should happen and you do lose your passport you can go to your countries embassy with the photocopy and it can expedite the process of getting a new one. Thank goodness the many times we had to have ours with us and carrying them around many places we never lost them but we made sure to be prepared on what to do just in case.

 

[disnut8]

Just to note as it is confusing for even US born citizens - the United States does not have a law across the country for purchase of alcoholic beverages. Even though each state has a drinking age of 21 years or over, that is a state law, not a federal one. Years ago, you could go to Maryland to buy booze even if you lived in Pennsylvania because the age in Pennsylvania was 21 and 18 in Maryland. However, the federal government did "step in" and let the states know that if the age was not 21 years old, that state would not get federal money to improve roads. So, now each state has an age of 21.

Also, with the purchase of alcohol, within the state, you have county rules and even city rules. Plus, establishment rules. I live in one county and work in another. I can buy alcohol in my work county before 8:00 AM but I can't in my home county. If I go to Wal Mart, my driver's license is never needed (I'm 53). But, if I go to Kroger, that license is out and ready because they ask every single time.

 

[jba2]

My frustration with Disney is that I was told three different things. I was told it was state law, company policy and then federal law so I wasn't sure what was true.
I can't believe some states card everyone. What's the rational for that? Clearly when you're in your 50s and 60s you don't look under 21?

 

[Alesia]

My frustration with Disney is that I was told three different things. I was told it was state law, company policy and then federal law so I wasn't sure what was true.
I can't believe some states card everyone. What's the rational for that? Clearly when you're in your 50s and 60s you don't look under 21?

It's a state law. It's also company policy. As far as being a federal law, it isn't, but many people assume that the law where they live is the same throughout the country.

States that require everyone to be carded do so so that it doesn't have to be up to the server's discretion. In my state, I don't have to card anyone, but if I get busted for serving someone who's underage, I lose my liquor licence and pay a stiff fine. The restaurant also pays a stiff fine. But, if I card someone, I risk them getting pissy about it. Or if I don't card someone, I risk them getting pissy about it. Requiring everyone to show ID means that everyone is prepared for it.

 

[SnapesGirl]

I'm 30 and got carded a couple of times on our last trip this May and last May. In all cases they accepted my Quebec driver's license.

 

[HopperFan]

My frustration with Disney is that I was told three different things. I was told it was state law, company policy and then federal law so I wasn't sure what was true.
I can't believe some states card everyone. What's the rational for that? Clearly when you're in your 50s and 60s you don't look under 21?

Many states, towns and counties require everyone be carded, some around here as early as 2000. It's called "universal carding" and was initially put in place to make sure convenience store clerks, liquor store clerks and servers carded since there were ongoing issues of underage serving leading to DUIs and bad accidents. Most of the stores had no issue with it since it was saving them plenty in fines. We had in our next town until the Grandma brigade got very vocal about showing their ID aka real birth dates. They just revoked it there.

That doesn't help in the OP situation. The Florida passport rule has been in place for some time and I see it enforced often at WDW.

The Florida Statutes aka State Law "........a driver’s license or an identification card issued by this state or another state of the United States, a passport, or a United States Uniformed Services identification card presented by the buyer or recipient........" If Disney stuck straight to the State law they would only accept an original passport for purchase by non-citizens.

 

[Jon84]

I had this, I am 30, and look 30. A Jobsworth in DAK would not serve me with a Full UK Drivers License.

From now on I have to take Passports everywhere for my Wife and I.

Strangely, at the Drinks carts in DAK I've never been ID'd.

It would be really good if TDO could roll out training on International Driving Licenses/Common Sense Training.

 

[wilkeliza]

I had this, I am 30, and look 30. A Jobsworth in DAK would not serve me with a Full UK Drivers License.

From now on I have to take Passports everywhere for my Wife and I.

Strangely, at the Drinks carts in DAK I've never been ID'd.

It would be really good if TDO could roll out training on International Driving Licenses/Common Sense Training.

It isn't Common Sense/International Driving Licenses. As someone pointed out it is actually Florida State Law as well as company policy. If Disney World was to start accepting just any drivers license in English they would be breaking state law. I believe company policy is everyone is to be carded but many people don't follow it as they are just lazy. If you get carded and don't have your ID then they have the right to refuse service. It sucks but it is the rules.

 

[Jon84]

It isn't Common Sense/International Driving Licenses. As someone pointed out it is actually Florida State Law as well as company policy. If Disney World was to start accepting just any drivers license in English they would be breaking state law. I believe company policy is everyone is to be carded but many people don't follow it as they are just lazy. If you get carded and don't have your ID then they have the right to refuse service. It sucks but it is the rules.

Yeah I read the law bit afterwards. But it's not the law to ID all customers right?

What is annoying is when someone is clearly over 21. Common Sense Training is still needed.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yeah I read the law bit afterwards. But it's not the law to ID all customers right?

What is annoying is when someone is clearly over 21. Common Sense Training is still needed.

I'm not sure in Florida because I don't have my liquor license there (years ago I had it in Texas and then I had it in NY) but it is company policy to my knowledge. It is much easier to card everyone then to card only those you think are under 21. Yes it is common sense to you but to the employee who could loose their job for being caught not carding it is common sense just to card everyone so they never forget. I haven't been a CM for about 3 years now so I don't really remember all policy but the 1 time we forgot ID in the room we were told no ID = no sale end of discussion even though our entire group is in their late 20s. They actually went as far as to not serve the entire group since 1 person forgot their ID and tried to order.

 

[Jon84]

I'm not sure in Florida because I don't have my liquor license there (years ago I had it in Texas and then I had it in NY) but it is company policy to my knowledge. It is much easier to card everyone then to card only those you think are under 21. Yes it is common sense to you but to the employee who could loose their job for being caught not carding it is common sense just to card everyone so they never forget. I haven't been a CM for about 3 years now so I don't really remember all policy but the 1 time we forgot ID in the room we were told no ID = no sale end of discussion even though our entire group is in their late 20s. They actually went as far as to not serve the entire group since 1 person forgot their ID and tried to order.

My ratio of ID to No ID is probabaly 9/10 no ID needed

 

[Alesia]

It would be really good if TDO could roll out training on International Driving Licenses/Common Sense Training.

WDW has visitors from all over the world. Think about how many different driver's licenses a CM sees in a month - probably hundreds. Do you think you could memorize them all to the degree that you could be absolutely sure they weren't fake? Could you remember what each one is supposed to look like? What each one feels like? What the security features are?

As far a common sense goes, that's great for the 40 and up crowd. Unfortunately many, many WDW visitors are in the age range where it's very difficult to know for sure that they are of legal age. There are plenty of 16-year-olds that can easily pass for 21. I'm in my late 30s and am often mistaken for being in my early 20s. How can a CM be sure without carding them?

Getting busted for taking a fake ID is no joke. You get fined and you lose your liquor license. And without a liquor license, you can't work. Why would someone risk it?

The best solution is for everyone to understand that they may be carded, and for foreign visitors to be prepared for extra scrutiny and plan accordingly. Anytime someone travels, they need to make sure they understand the laws and customs of their destination.

 

[Jon84]

WDW has visitors from all over the world. Think about how many different driver's licenses a CM sees in a month - probably hundreds. Do you think you could memorize them all to the degree that you could be absolutely sure they weren't fake? Could you remember what each one is supposed to look like? What each one feels like? What the security features are?

As far a common sense goes, that's great for the 40 and up crowd. Unfortunately many, many WDW visitors are in the age range where it's very difficult to know for sure that they are of legal age. There are plenty of 16-year-olds that can easily pass for 21. I'm in my late 30s and am often mistaken for being in my early 20s. How can a CM be sure without carding them?

Getting busted for taking a fake ID is no joke. You get fined and you lose your liquor license. And without a liquor license, you can't work. Why would someone risk it?

The best solution is for everyone to understand that they may be carded, and for foreign visitors to be prepared for extra scrutiny and plan accordingly. Anytime someone travels, they need to make sure they understand the laws and customs of their destination.

I guess the main worry is losing a passport, it'll be a long wait at a British Embassy approval to travel!

 

[Alesia]

I guess the main worry is losing a passport, it'll be a long wait at a British Embassy approval to travel!

Don't carry your actual passport. A color copy is acceptable.

 

[BigBlueWho]

FWIW, I have been refused alcohol in some states with an out of state license and an Active Military ID because it wasn't from that state.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I guess the main worry is losing a passport, it'll be a long wait at a British Embassy approval to travel!

Be prepared before traveling...check your countries requirements on how to replace a passport when traveling aboard. When traveling to other countries we always make sure we have multiple photocopies of our passports...we leave one at home that family can access, one in the hotel room in the safe or our suitcase and one with us even if we have our original passport. If you should lose your passport while out you should be able to take your copies with all your info to your countries embassy where ever you are and it should help expedite the replacement. It would not be a fun process but it is best to be prepared just incase.

 

[Alesia]

FWIW, I have been refused alcohol in some states with an out of state license and an Active Military ID because it wasn't from that state.

It should be noted that any server or cashier has the right (and obligation) to refuse service if they feel that they cannot be sure that the ID is legit.

 

[xipetotec]

We found out the hard way that Disney will not serve alcoholic beverages to people who are 21 and over who do not have their passport with them. My daughter was asked for id at Trader Sam's and when she showed her Ontario driver's license and her health card, she was told that they couldn't serve her unless she had her passport or a photocopy of it with her.
Canadians do not require a passport to cross a land border into the U.S. if they have an enhanced driver's license or a Nexus card.

I've had it happen to my wife but it's not consistant. At the Rose and Crown stand, she was denied. But at other places, "normal" ID worked. We now just carry our passports though.

 

[BobC]

Wish there was a way to incorporate this into IDs/MagicBands upon check in. Verify your age once at the front desk and boom you're in. Just like they do here in the states at festivals. Check your ID upon entrance and slap a bracelet on you and you're good to go for the rest of the day and no more hassles or renegade workers policing the system with their own rules.