Why are we not considered FL residents?

[Caskbill]

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 ran this using my DVC Planner program. took about 2-minutes.


Selecting the 1st 6-months of 2003, Jan 1 thru Jun 30, points for a studio would be:

OKW: 2680, BWV Std: 2815, BWV Pref, VWL, BCV: 3340


Selecting the middle 6-month period, April 1 thru Sep 30, points for a studio would be:

OKW: 2708, BWV Std: 2845, BWV Pref, VWL, BCV: 3377


Selecting the last 6-month period, Jul 1 thru Dec 31, points for a studio would be:

OKW: 2434, BWV Std: 2559, BWV Pref, VWL, BCV: 3087



That was just for fun.

If you'd like to download the planner program you can find a link to it on the new DIS-Links page.

DVC DIS-Links Page Click Here

 

[Terry S]

CarolMN..... thanks for the information, but you did know I was only kidding right? Besides, I don't think I could stay in a studio after having stayed in 1 and 2 bedrooms.

Caskbill.... I do have your program on my computer and use it quite frequently. Thank you again for taking the time to create it.

 

[poj7]

Originally posted by 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.

The residency issue has nothing to do with Disney. You don't reside in Florida. You don't even own a vacation home there. You own an ownership interest in a timeshare. You cannot be a resident of two states.

As many have previously stated, Disney has chosen not to offer benefits comparable to those benefits it offers to FL residents. Our situation as DVC members has nothing to do with FL residency.

Paul

 

[PamOKW]

poj7, while I agree that owning real estate and being a resident are two distinct things, by Disney including the clause about residency they are protecting themselves from any gray area. They have a cap on the number of points that one can own as a way to prevent permanently living at DVC. However, a husband/wife or some other combination might conceivably live in a studio for 6 months or more. They are protected from this person(s) being able to claim residency. As already pointed out, it's not necessary to own real estate to be a resident. Ask the thousands who live in rental apartments in Florida if they are residents.

 

[poj7]

Originally posted by PamOKW
poj7, a husband/wife or some other combination might conceivably live in a studio for 6 months or more. They are protected from this person(s) being able to claim residency.

The original post was referring to people who don't actually own 6 mos or more and stay at DVC consecutively. I also think it's safe to stay that no one has any intention of doing that. I will concede that DVC may have a clause to protect against that but the spirit of the residency question was aimed at the rest of us who own various amounts of points. It asked if we are entitled to residency status. The reason why we are not entitled has been explained by several members in this thread several times.

Paul

 

[PamOKW]

Here's the "legalese"

No Domiciliary Intent. No person or party may enter, stay or dwell upon or about the Condominium Property with the intent or desire to be or become a legal domiciliary of the State of Florida or any political subdivision therof (including RCID), and all such persons or parties shall and do hereby waive, release and remise any such intent or desire. No person or party may enter, stay or dwell upon or about a Unit or Vacation Home with the intent that the Unit or Vacation Home be or become that person's or party's principal dwelling, and such person or party shall maintain a principal dwelling at all times at a location other than within the confines of the Reedy Creek Improvement District..


It's obvious that Disney has gone out of their way to try and ensure that no one does try to claim FL residency based on a DVC ownership. It would be a nightmare for them to have "residents" on property. "Residents" who might want voting rights.

I also suspect that they would never actually give us a Florida Resident pass since it might weaken any potential legal challenge to the above.

They could create a new pass with equal (or greater) benefits.

 

[poj7]

Now you're talking.

Paul

 

[BIERMUGG]

A couple of years ago when i was converting my AP vouchers the CM at the window noticed my DVC hat and told Me to get a Florida Post Office box and have some mail sent to it. That was enough proof for a Florida Resident pass. She said a lot of people
do this. We did not do this, but felt funny that a CM although trying to be helpful was telling me how to beat the system. Just like a couple of waiters told us to rent a wheel chair just to beat the long lines. Which I felt and told them that was cheating.


George

 

[crisi]

According to CarolMN's post, mail to a PO Box won't do it. You'd need a utility bill in your name for a Florida address (unless you can convince the utility company to put a light in that PO Box and send you a bill.)

There apparently were some deals struck with the State of Florida way back when Disney was built giving some Florida residency deals. And its in Disney's best interest to keep the taxpayers of Florida happy.

Although I'm sure Disney thinks DVC customer satisfaction is important, we are unlikely to elect people that pass laws that make Disney's corporate life more difficult and expensive. Customer satisfaction (at this point) does not apparently include giving us substantial discounts.

 

[CarolA]

Well this is just as sneaky as the PO box. I looked into this (and did not do it!)
1. Find someone who lives in Florida to accept mail. There is a service used by people who live aboard motor homes in Naples that my dad uses for example.
2. Go get a Florida Resident ID. This is actually pretty simple. You don't have to give up your current DL. This was designed to give people who don't drive or who live part time in Florida (ie. my dad) a local ID card for check cashing etc.
3. Take ID card to Disney and buy tickets etc sending all mail to the service.

Now the downside is the service does charge and it seemed like a lot of work! So I skipped it.

 

[perdidobay]

Ok, so since I own a second home in Florida, I can get a Florida Resident ID, and with this and my utility bill will be enough to get the Florida resident discount?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by crisi
There apparently were some deals struck with the State of Florida way back when Disney was built giving some Florida residency deals.

Although this "fact" has been repeated often on this board, nobody has ever cited evidence that this is truly the case.

Disneyland gives discounts to Southern California residents. Many other tourist attractions also offer special deals to local residents.

Disney decided that it's good business to give better discounts to Florida residents than to DVC members.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CarolA
Well this is just as sneaky as the PO box. I looked into this (and did not do it!)
1. Find someone who lives in Florida to accept mail. There is a service used by people who live aboard motor homes in Naples that my dad uses for example.
2. Go get a Florida Resident ID. This is actually pretty simple. You don't have to give up your current DL. This was designed to give people who don't drive or who live part time in Florida (ie. my dad) a local ID card for check cashing etc.
3. Take ID card to Disney and buy tickets etc sending all mail to the service.

Now the downside is the service does charge and it seemed like a lot of work! So I skipped it.

The florida only drivers liscense and FL ID have been reported to not be enough documentation for Disney to give these discounts but in practice, who knows. A FL utility bill and a picture ID should be plenty to get this done.

 

[crisi]

Yeah, Horace, that's why I said apparently rather than state it as fact.

 

[spruce]

One thing I don't understand. In 1998 I worked for 16 weeks in Florida. The police patroled the parking lot where I worked looking for out of state cars that had been there for more then 30 days. If they spotted one they ticketed you. Apparently, if you are in Fla for more then 30 days, you had to register your car in the state. Why have this law, then another that says 6 months for residency?
As for taxes, there was no state income tax in Fla. then.
That year my wife and son joined me at the end of the job and we did WDW. The travel agent couldn't see a way for us to use the discount. Later I realized that I could have used my lease as proof and lied for my wife and son. Claiming residency would have affected my ability to write off my business expences though. Sure, disney wouldn't report the change in residency to the irs but you know, I know the difference between right and wrong.
Many want what their neighbor has (Fla resident discount) without being a Fla resident. WDW could offer it to DVC but they have not. Our contracts state DVC does not give us Fla residentcy.
Oh well, sure would be nice though. DVC does have other discounts that we do take advantage of and we are grateful to have them...spruce

 

[vbfamily]

Spruce,

You are right about the 30 day thing. When we moved to Florida years ago we had 30 days to get Florida DL's and they made yous surrender your Michigan one (or whatever state you were from) when you applied for your Florida one.


Then we moved back to Michigan and had to file part year resident tax returns, etc. and it was a big PAIN.

I think they should just have a DVC discount similar to the Florids resident discount because DVC members are obviously very loyal to Disney.

I wouldn't want them to give us Florida resident discounts, even if they could because it is just too much of a hassle at tax time.

Bottom line, they do give some discounts to DVC members. I just wish they gave more.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

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

Because it is your "home away from home" and they are being friendly. Is it not your "vacation home"?

 

[PKK/MJK]

Our DD is a CM at WDW and lives in the area. Recently she was injured in a car accident. When working to get the insurance straightened out, she was told that you are considered a Florida resident after 90 days--not 6 months!!!!!! I figured she had mis-understood so I called to verify--and I too was told--you're a Florida resident in 90 days!! The lady told me that Florida has some strange laws!

 

[InstImpres]

I think I have found the good in my parents planned FL retirement. At least my DD can have an AP since she will spend part of the summer with them!

 

[sparkspeak]

Originally posted by CarolMN
. . . 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!

. . . hmmm . . . what if you only want to vote in the Presidential election?