UK Disabled Blue Badge

[PJB71]

Hi All

Tried to search the forum for the answer but can't find anything (I'm probably looking in the wrong place though! )

Does anyone no the latest on whether you can use your own UK Blue Badges over there or if you need to apply for the tempory handicapped Parking permit?

Thanks

 

[mikki.young]

I suspect these are the people to ask - we still needed it in January:

Please be advised that all correspondence should now be directed to Samantha at sjewell@osceola.org or Holly at hmccommon@osceola.org . We are now handling issuance of temporary parking permits for out of country residents. We look forward to assisting you in your needs. If you are unable to reach us or do not receive a response within 24 hours, please email webinfo@osceola.org or call our main office at (407) 742-4000.

 

[Lizzi]

Blue cards are not recognised - you need to apply for a temporary one.

Details of how can be found here: http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/applying-for-temporary-disabled-parking-permit.aspx

 

[chmurf]

You can use your blue badge ONLY on Disney property (Don't know if DTD is ok, but the 4 parks will allow you to park with your UK Badge)

for every other location, you NEED a temporary US Red Badge (red is for temporary)

here is a copy of the email I received from Holly at Osceola Tax Office (dates August 4th so it should be the most up to date)

Please be advised that all correspondence should now be directed to Samantha at sjewell@osceola.org or Holly at hmccommon@osceola.org. We are now handling issuance of temporary parking permits for out of country residents. We look forward to assisting you in your needs. If you are unable to reach us or do not receive a response within 24 hours, please email webinfo@osceola.org or call our main office at (407) 742-4000.



You may apply for a temporary disabled parking permit through our office if you will be visiting our state from another country. To receive the disabled parking permit by mail before your trip, please provide the following for the disabled individual:



· A copy of your valid parking placard/badge (front and back)

· A copy of your valid passport including the picture and biography page (not the visa)

· Your home address and telephone number

· The temporary address you will use while staying in Florida

· The date of your arrival and departure

$15.00 in US Funds -- Money order, check, or debit/credit card (American Express, Discover or MasterCard) is acceptable. There is a 2.5 % service fee if using credit or debit card. (If you wish to mail a check or money order, please make payable to Patsy Heffner, CFC) Unfortunately, as of May 1, 2009, we NO LONGER ACCEPT VISA.





*** Please do not email your credit card details as email correspondence is public record.



The above requirements may be mailed to:

Patsy Heffner Tax Collector

Attn: Samantha or Holly

1300 9th Street, Ste. 101-B

St. Cloud, FL 34769



If you prefer, you may email the documents as scanned attachments. You may also fax the information to (407) 892-8076. We will email a confirmation that documents have been received and are acceptable. Please call (407) 742-3879 or (407) 742-3883 to speak with us, between the hours of 8 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday with payment details if you wish to pay with credit. If you are unable to reach us directly regarding payments, please call (407) 742-3880 or (407) 742-3884 and speak with Tina or Debbie. Thank you and have a beautiful day!





Sincerely,



Holly McCommon

 

[disneyholic family]

i find it beyond irritating that florida does this.

charging yet more money in addition to the astronomical tourist taxes that are added to hotel fees...

 

[Jakejosh4]

We have used ours at all the parks and DTD but never on the roads as have never needed to.

 

[PJB71]

Hi all

Thanks so much for all the reply's

It's so confusing isn't it it the 20 plus years we've been going we've always just used my UK Blue Badges everywhere (Disney, Universal, Shopping etc, etc) and never had a problem

A couple of years ago I read that they were no longer accepted& applied for the USA tempory permitt which I received. Whilst over there I was chatting to a sheffif ( I wasn't in trouble honest) and was talking to him about it and he said it was a load of "trash"& he would always accept a uk blue badge (but I appreciate that was just one opinion).

Never bothered applying for another one for the last few years&just used my UK blue badge, but a friend mentioned that they were clamping down again so was just unsure what to do

 

[chmurf]

Never bothered applying for another one for the last few years&just used my UK blue badge, but a friend mentioned that they were clamping down again so was just unsure what to do

They used to accept the "out of country" blue badge, but they no longer do. (some will, some won't)
If you park at Florida Mall (for example) with your UK blue badge, there are 2 possibilities. 1st the "cop" will see your blue wheelchair logo and be on his way. 2nd the "cop" will go by the book and give you a huge ticket (at least $250)

I say "cop" because in many areas, the parking enforcement officers are almost "civilians". Quite a few of them are volunteers working for the sheriff office, often elderly people who are "on a mission". And there are so many fake placards in the US (but also in the UK, hence the new blue badge you're getting or will be getting in the UK in place of the handwritten one) that they move to tougher laws and more strict enforcement.

So if you want to park outside of Disney with your UK badge, do it at your own risk, times have changed.

Actually I have applied for my temporary badge yesterday. (I have a French blue badge - it's the european model)
Sent my details and copy of documents to Samantha Jewell at 9am (paris time)
Got an email at 15:45 (paris time) to confirm my documents were received
Phoned right away and talked to a lovely lady to give my credit card details
Got an email at 17:35 to confirm that my file was ok. Payment will be processed end of august and permit will be sent mid september (departure is mid october)

very easy and straightforward.
It costs me under £10, that's a drop of water in the sea when compared to the cost of the trip, and now I know I can park wherever I want without worrying.