ID for getting booze at Disney

[Greenfield1984]

Hello fellow Canadians,

Don't know if this has been discussed before, but we just got back from Disney this weekend and they would no longer accept my Canadian driver's license as a valid ID for buying alcohol. They needed to see my passport as well.

I never had that issue on previous trips, so just thought I'd pass along the info so no one else has to miss out on their margarita

 

[minnie mum]

The issue of needing a passport for valid ID for alcohol came up last year, IIRC. Disney CMs are required to adhere to company policy, which stipulates that passports are the only acceptable photo ID for international guests. It seems like overkill for countries that issue DLs in English. I know a lot of guests resent carrying their passports around with them every day, instead of storing them safely in their hotel room safes. I think I remember reading of some guests photocopying the front page of their passport and using that instead of the real thing

 

[starvenger]

That... that is weird. You'd think that by now they'd have found a method to validate your age online and have that added to your park ticket info, so they can just scan your card/magic band instead.

 

[minnie mum]

That... that is weird. You'd think that by now they'd have found a method to validate your age online and have that added to your park ticket info, so they can just scan your card/magic band instead.

But a magic band doesn't show photo ID. Anyone can borrow a magic band.

 

[starvenger]

True enough. But I think you get the gist of it - Disney could probably do something so that we wouldn't have to carry passports around just to buy alcohol, if they wanted to.

 

[disneyfreak89]

I remember reading about this last year, but I thought it was just for the purchase of alcohol at stores.

When we were there in January, we were never asked for ID when ordering a drink with our meal. We don't carry our passports with us, we leave them in the room safe.

 

[chrispeto]

We don't have passports we have Nexus cards and we leave them in the safe. I have never been asked for ID even when I was in my twenties.

 

[dis_guy]

This very thing happened to my sister at BoG last year. They ID'd her and her drivers wasn't good enough. Now, she was 47 at the time and we couldn't figure out why they were asking in the first place! In the end she was served and she laughed it off as "the lighting must not be very good in here". The very next night we had no problem at all at Boma, she just said, "better lighting". We were told that photocopies are just fine if you don't want to carry around your original passport.

We don't have passports we have Nexus cards and we leave them in the safe. I have never been asked for ID even when I was in my twenties.

We have NEXUS too but we just automatically take our passports along whether we drive or fly. I just feel better having it "just in case". As comfortable as the US is for us, it is still foreign country.

 

[Girlfriday17]

We don't have passports we have Nexus cards and we leave them in the safe. I have never been asked for ID even when I was in my twenties.

We have Nexus as well and were told even with Nexus you had to bring your passport as well, but I don't carry either into the park. I've never been asked for ID at WDW for drinks. I would be flattered if I was. Maybe you just look young Greenfield1984.

 

[chrispeto]

This very thing happened to my sister at BoG last year. They ID'd her and her drivers wasn't good enough. Now, she was 47 at the time and we couldn't figure out why they were asking in the first place! In the end she was served and she laughed it off as "the lighting must not be very good in here". The very next night we had no problem at all at Boma, she just said, "better lighting". We were told that photocopies are just fine if you don't want to carry around your original passport.



We have NEXUS too but we just automatically take our passports along whether we drive or fly. I just feel better having it "just in case". As comfortable as the US is for us, it is still foreign country.

I am a duel citizen of US and Canada we have Nexus instead of passports because I would be required to carry both American and Canadian passports, Nexus was less hassle at the border.

 

[starvenger]

NEXUS is great. Trying to convince my wife to get one as well, but she's a Brit so might be more complicated for her.

 

[kiford]

We have Nexus as well and were told even with Nexus you had to bring your passport as well, but I don't carry either into the park. I've never been asked for ID at WDW for drinks. I would be flattered if I was. Maybe you just look young Greenfield1984.

We were also told that we had to have our passports even if travelling with Nexus and that they could ask for it and we had to have it available.

I've never been asked for ID at WDW for drinks either but I suspect that I simply look my age. I read somewhere that, technically, they are supposed to ask for ID any time someone orders a drink, but in reality it's rare that someone is going to ask for it when you're 50 (and look 50).

 

[chrispeto]

We were also told that we had to have our passports even if travelling with Nexus and that they could ask for it and we had to have it available.

I've never been asked for ID at WDW for drinks either but I suspect that I simply look my age. I read somewhere that, technically, they are supposed to ask for ID any time someone orders a drink, but in reality it's rare that someone is going to ask for it when you're 50 (and look 50).

I must look my age too. The only hassle I get is when I'm buying 2 drinks they want to see whom the other drink is for.

 

[chrispeto]

NEXUS is great. Trying to convince my wife to get one as well, but she's a Brit so might be more complicated for her.

Is your wife a Canadian citizen as well. I am a duel of both Canada and the U.S. and it was easy to apply for Nexus, it doesn't hurt to try.

 

[starvenger]

She isn't yet - she's a PR but the citizenship application was sent out earlier this year.

 

[SirDuff]

She isn't yet - she's a PR but the citizenship application was sent out earlier this year.

She just needs to be a permanent resident.

To be eligible for the NEXUS, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States.

It does also say this, so there is, generally, a three year residency rule (following the link suggests that the exception is mainly for people who followed a spouse (who is a Canadian citizen) on military/diplomatic missions to other countries).

In addition, certain permanent residents are also exempted from the three-year residency requirement.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/elig-admis-eng.html

 

[starvenger]

Interesting. I must've missed that part.

Will probably try to apply and see if we can get an interview in early summer.

Apologies for hijacking the booze thread with NEXUS stuff, btw!

 

[SirDuff]

Interesting. I must've missed that part.

Will probably try to apply and see if we can get an interview in early summer.

Apologies for hijacking the booze thread with NEXUS stuff, btw!

I happened to look it up recently for a friend.

Umm…permanent residents also need to carry around their passport (trying to get back on topic).

I have a Nexus card but always also bring my passport (Porter Airlines - who I seem to fly most often - require that you do if flying to/from the US). I would not want to have to carry it around the parks (and have not ever run into a problem with my DL - but it's been a couple of years).

 

[jwcollin]

I am wondering if you can provide a scanned copy of your passport on your cell phone instead of carrying around another piece of paper?

 

[csm101]

Never heard of this practice and never got carded since I'm 50 right now. I would contact guest relations and find out what WDW considers valid proof of ID. I don't carry my passport with me, but as other members have posted perhaps a photocopy and cell phone pic might be valid.