Question About Florida Resident Tickets for a Minor

[caridillon]

Hi everyone! Has anyone dealt with this before? We have an upcoming trip where our niece—who is under 18 and a Florida resident—will be joining us for a few days. Can she use a Florida resident ticket if her parents buy it ahead of time, even though they won’t be traveling with us?

 

[hardcorestitch]

Proof of FL residency will be asked upon purchase and Disney is quite strict about this. Simply put… if their parents aren’t Floridian, they’re not eligible for the Florida only offers.

 

[MMitchell29]

Only adults need to show proof of Florida residency, not minors

 

[caridillon]

Proof of FL residency will be asked upon purchase and Disney is quite strict about this. Simply put… if their parents aren’t Floridian, they’re not eligible for the Florida only offers.

They are Florida residents, and as far as I know, they can purchase the tickets online and link them to her disney account - which I can see via Friends and Family and because she is on my room reservation. I'm worried about scanning into the park that first day, without her parents present.

 

[caridillon]

Only adults need to show proof of Florida residency, not minors

Thank you for this! I think as long as her parents link them to her, we should be fine at the gate but just a bit worried about the first day gate

 

[hardcorestitch]

They are Florida residents, and as far as I know, they can purchase the tickets online and link them to her disney account - which I can see via Friends and Family and because she is on my room reservation. I'm worried about scanning into the park that first day, without her parents present.

Ah, ok.

 

[MMitchell29]

Thank you for this! I think as long as her parents link them to her, we should be fine at the gate but just a bit worried about the first day gate

You are very welcome. If she has a magic band have her tickets linked to it and she will be good to go. They have Disney Discovery tickets on sale now so that can help out with pricing

 

[disneychrista]

Only adults need to show proof of Florida residency, not minors

I know the don't ask minors for proof of residency but I am curious how it would work in this case. The two adults going aren't residence and assumingly using standard tickets. Would they ask for the adults accompanying the minor for ID which won't be a FL ID?

 

[ngl]

As a FL resident, some times we have to go to Guest Services and show our IDs again to "activate" it to our account (lived in FL for 30+ years and have the same address). We used bands but the ticket had to be activated. My guess there is something in their system that requires the ID to be checked every few years, maybe? Not sure but would inquire about it directly to Disney.

 

[MMitchell29]

I know the don't ask minors for proof of residency but I am curious how it would work in this case. The two adults going aren't residence and assumingly using standard tickets. Would they ask for the adults accompanying the minor for ID which won't be a FL ID?

Is the minor a Florida resident? How is the minor obtaining a Florida resident price?

 

[disneychrista]

Is the minor a Florida resident? How is the minor obtaining a Florida resident price?

According to the OP the minor in question is a niece that lives in Florida.

 

[MMitchell29]

According to the OP the minor in question is a niece that lives in Florida.

That's a different person asking the question and not the op

 

[disneychrista]

That's a different person asking the question and not the op

You quoted me and I was asking in reference to the OP's situation.

 

[NicoleLarson]

Hi everyone! Has anyone dealt with this before? We have an upcoming trip where our niece—who is under 18 and a Florida resident—will be joining us for a few days. Can she use a Florida resident ticket if her parents buy it ahead of time, even though they won’t be traveling with us?

Yes but it has to be activated at guest services by a FL resident before she uses the ticket. If you are a FL, you can activate it, it does not have to be activated by her legal guardian. We've done this several times, you always have to show ID at guest services prior to use.

 

[caridillon]

Thank you all for the replies! Niece is a FL resident, we are not - we have APs, so we will not be able to activate them for her. Her Mom was able to prove residency online and then purchase and link the ticket to her and make the park reservations for her account which is shared with us via family and friends link. I'm thinking worst case is we have to go to member services and pay the difference.

 

[disneychrista]

Thank you all for the replies! Niece is a FL resident, we are not - we have APs, so we will not be able to activate them for her. Her Mom was able to prove residency online and then purchase and link the ticket to her and make the park reservations for her account which is shared with us via family and friends link. I'm thinking worst case is we have to go to member services and pay the difference.

You might consider doing an online chat with Disney and ask them. Unfortunately regardless of the answer there is no guarantees when you get there it might play out differently.

 

[caridillon]

You might consider doing an online chat with Disney and ask them. Unfortunately regardless of the answer there is no guarantees when you get there it might play out differently.

This is actually why I came here, I called Disney twice and got two different answers. One that her parent would need to provide in-person verification in all cases and the other that if she proved verification online at time of purchase - which I think is already a requirement to even view then purchase tickets - then linked them in MDE then it would be no issue. Came here to ask the experts! I guess it'll be a fun surprise in a few weeks!

 

[ngl]

This is actually why I came here, I called Disney twice and got two different answers. One that her parent would need to provide in-person verification in all cases and the other that if she proved verification online at time of purchase - which I think is already a requirement to even view then purchase tickets - then linked them in MDE then it would be no issue. Came here to ask the experts! I guess it'll be a fun surprise in a few weeks!

Sorry Disney is not giving you straight answers either! I *think* why we have to sometimes go to Guest Services and verify with an ID is because they are trying to prevent someone buying a FL resident pass and entering a random FL address. When we purchase our tickets online the only thing we do is enter our address. There is no further verification at that point. My guess is since tickets are digital now, without checking the ID in person, anyone could put in a FL mailing address to get a FL ticket?? I think it will just depend when they last purchased a FL resident ticket. I feel like we only have to show our ids every 2 years or so? Will be interested to hear how it goes. Good luck!

 

[caridillon]

Sorry Disney is not giving you straight answers either! I *think* why we have to sometimes go to Guest Services and verify with an ID is because they are trying to prevent someone buying a FL resident pass and entering a random FL address. When we purchase our tickets online the only thing we do is enter our address. There is no further verification at that point. My guess is since tickets are digital now, without checking the ID in person, anyone could put in a FL mailing address to get a FL ticket?? I think it will just depend when they last purchased a FL resident ticket. I feel like we only have to show our ids every 2 years or so? Will be interested to hear how it goes. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply and perspective! I didn't realize that it was easy to fake it, when I try to view FL resident tickets just to compare pricing, I can't even get far enough to view the prices. Thinking about it now, I'm always logged into my account that of course has a non-Florida address. I can see where it could be easy for people to make up an address. This sways me more to believe we may run into issues. I know she has been to the park recently with friends and other family that live there but no idea on ticket type, I would assume they'd all use FL resident tickets for those visits. I'll prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

 

[ngl]

Thanks for the reply and perspective! I didn't realize that it was easy to fake it, when I try to view FL resident tickets just to compare pricing, I can't even get far enough to view the prices. Thinking about it now, I'm always logged into my account that of course has a non-Florida address. I can see where it could be easy for people to make up an address. This sways me more to believe we may run into issues. I know she has been to the park recently with friends and other family that live there but no idea on ticket type, I would assume they'd all use FL resident tickets for those visits. I'll prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

If she has gone recently I do not think it should be a problem. As you said, she would have purchased a FL resident ticket. We definitely do not have to go to Guest Services every single time to show our ID. It seems like it is every so often. Like I said maybe every 2 years or so. I am the same with all - prepare for the worst and hope for the best so I am hoping for the best for you!!!