Why are we not considered FL residents?

[jdkdorn]

We own property in Fl through the DVC "timeshare". My contract gives a location and we pay property taxes as part of our dues. If this is all correct why can't we get the benefits of FL residency? Has anyone ever asked a guide this question or asked Quality Assurance.

Just wondering, Thanks

Judy

 

[MikeScott8]

I believe it is because according to FLA law, timeshares do not count as residences.

You most likely have to stay there a required amount of time out of the year.

Mike

 

[HorizonsFan]

I'm not sure whether it's FL law or Disney policy. The only good being a FL resident would do for us is give us the pass discount. Disney wouldn't want to do THAT now would they?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You need to reside for 6 months or more to be considered a FL resident.
Your contract with Disney states that you cannot claim resident status for discounts with Disney.

 

[CarolMN]

I am assuming you want to be considered a Florida resident because you would like to get the discounts that Disney offers FLorida residents. FWIW, I don't think the state of Florida considers DVC members residents, either. Just try and vote in one of the state/local elections and see what happens, LOL!

Anyway, somewhere in the paperwork you received when you purchased DVC was a statement that ownership of DVC did not qualify you for the Florida resident discounts offered by Disney.

So the answer to the original question is that Disney said we aren't. Since they are the ones offering the discounts, they can do that!

 

[DebbieB]

I don't know if Florida has a state income tax, but in PA residency determines if you have to pay state income taxes. Even part-time residents have to pay a partial tax.

DVC has a way around this. Offer the same discounts, but call it DVC Member Discount instead of Florida Resident Discount. Or DVC Member Dining Experience Card. I know, dream on.....

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by DebbieB
...(snip)....Offer the same discounts, but call it DVC Member Discount instead of Florida Resident Discount. Or DVC Member Dining Experience Card. I know, dream on.....

LOL, Debbie! There are lots of dreaming right along with you!

 

[anniet]

....so if we aren't residents, why do they always say "Welcome HOME "??

 

[poj7]

Hi.

You could own ten homes in Florida and that wouldn't make you a resident. You have to live there MOST of the time. ie: greater than 6 months. Many people own vacation homes in other states but are only residents of the state where their primary residence is. We're only allowed to vote in one state, have a driver's license in one state, etc.

"Welcome Home" is simply a very effective marketing slogan which makes us feel good.

Paul

 

[westjones]

But wouldn't it be nice if Disney would offer DVC members the same discounts as Florida residents as one of there 'perks'. Maybe when sales start to drop off, they will do this (we can always hope).

I think it would be a great way to 'welcome us home'!

DJ

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by poj7
Hi.

You could own ten homes in Florida and that wouldn't make you a resident. You have to live there MOST of the time. ie: greater than 6 months. Many people own vacation homes in other states but are only residents of the state where their primary residence is. We're only allowed to vote in one state, have a driver's license in one state, etc.

"Welcome Home" is simply a very effective marketing slogan which makes us feel good.

Paul

There are really 2 issues here. One is do we qualify as FL residents, the answer is NO just for being a DVC owner. The other is what discounts will Disney offer to us and the answer is they have chosen to offer discounts to FL residents that they don't offer to DVC members and to a small extent, vice versa. They could decide to offer the discounts if they chose, they simply do not wish to at this time.

 

[poj7]

Exactly, Dean.

Paul

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

In simple terms, property ownership and residency are two entirely different things.

There are plenty of Florida residents who don't own any property. They're called renters.

There are plenty of Florida property owners -- whether of vacation homes, land, office buildings, or timeshares -- who aren't Florida residents because they live in another state.

As Dean correctly points out, Disney could offer Florida resident discounts to DVC members anyway. It would simply be a matter of calling the program "Discounts for Florida Residents and Disney Vacation Club Members." But, so far, Disney has not done so.

If Disney ever determines that they could make more money by extending Florida Resident discounts to DVC members, they'll do so. Until then, we'll just get the limited DVC discounts.

My guess is that Disney would come out ahead financially if they allowed DVC members to use Florida resident discounts on annual passes and allowed DVC members to buy memberships in the Disney Dining Experience (currently only for Florida Residents). I believe I'd end up giving Disney more of my money. It would push me into buying annual passes and going to the parks and Disney restaurants every day that we're staying at a DVC resort. It's in Disney's interest that as many DVC members buy annual passes as possible. (But currently, Disney only seems to be looking at "lost revenue" from those DVC members who would buy annual passes anyway.)

 

[Terry S]

Okay, so how many points would I need to have a studio at least six months of the year? Then could I have the FL resident discount?

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Terry S
Okay, so how many points would I need to have a studio at least six months of the year? Then could I have the FL resident discount?

I don't know the answer to your question (never added it all up), but I do know that being a DVC member with LOTS and LOTS of points still won't qualify you for Florida resident discounts.

FWIW, the most you can own at any one resort is 2000 points and the most you can own regardless of the number of resorts is 5000 points. Those are caps set by Disney. Guess they really don't want anyone actually "living" at at DVC resort.

I'm sure you can stay at an OKW studio for 6 months for less than the max, though. Not sure I'd want to stay in a studio that long, even if it was at DVC!

 

[minnie56]

I don't own in the DVC but I do own a home in Florida and reside there between 4-6 months of the year and not all at one time. But I do qualify for Florida Resident perks?? I have a Florida Drivers Licence and pay taxes etc... but what's the difference? I always tell Disney when I buy my Annuals etc... and they say that's fine!
In fact I called today to book a vacation in August on a Florida Resident promo and used my Canadian address for the bill to be sent to because at the present time...that's where I am!
I don't get it.....

 

[CarolMN]

I copied this from WDWIG, but you can find similar information on Disney's official web site:

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)

Utility statement with the guest name and address along with a corresponding picture ID

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)

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.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by minnie56
I don't own in the DVC but I do own a home in Florida and reside there between 4-6 months of the year and not all at one time. But I do qualify for Florida Resident perks?? I have a Florida Drivers Licence and pay taxes etc... but what's the difference? I always tell Disney when I buy my Annuals etc... and they say that's fine!
In fact I called today to book a vacation in August on a Florida Resident promo and used my Canadian address for the bill to be sent to because at the present time...that's where I am!
I don't get it.....

You need a proof of residency and they do check many times. You would qualify based on the items you can present. As noted, it is not truly a residency issue, more of a choice DVC has made.

 

[PamOKW]

Somewhere in the paperwork you agree that you will not/cannot claim DVC as your residence. There are very few actual residents of Lake Buena Vista and Disney certainly does not want to have any residents who could then have voting power on Disney decisions. They didn't go to the trouble of creating the Reedy Creek Improvement District to foul it up with a bunch of DVC residents.

There is no reason that Disney couldn't offer us the FL discount or the equivalent. They have chosen not to do so. When the original pass program expired in 1999, they did not replace it with anything comparable or with any new discount. Hope springs eternal but I don't forsee any discount in the immediate future.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Originally posted by anniet
....so if we aren't residents, why do they always say "Welcome HOME "??

I agree, maybe we should lobby DVC to change their greeting to:
"Welcome to your ownership interest"

Ownership interestees would be more successful getting DVC to change their greeting than getting Disney Corp. to give us a real disount on anything. Afterall, we are the most loyal cash cows......I mean patrons.