NOTE to those using FLR to book online

[bsddsc]

Some time late last year, Disney changed their policy on how they verify you as a Florida resident when booking a cruise with the Florida Resident Rate (FLR.) We cruised Nov 2012 and did not run into this problem. But we almost lost our FLR rate for the cruise we just booked for this coming Sunday 17-Nov-2013.

 

You MUST present the cruise line with documentation of your proof of residency before your cruise. If you book thru the DCL 800 number, they say they inform you of what to do. But if you book online, like I did, I did not receive instructions. Even went thru check in, it was completed and still no mention of proof required.

 

I received an email at 4:25PM yesterday saying I had until Noon today to present proof or loose my rate. That is the only email I received. Had I not just happened to be checking, I would have lost my rate. And I don't know about you, but I can not afford a DCL cruise at rack rates. Below is the information you need to know. And despite what it says, this information was NOT on my confirmation. I checked.

 

If we do not receive this by that (time), we will remove the promotional rate from the reservation.

The Only Valid Proofs Accepted:

Valid, unexpired Florida Driver's License

State of Florida Identification Card

Florida utility bill with passenger name and address

Florida voter's registration card

Renter's lease agreement

 

This is stated on the confirmation:

Proof of Florida resident is required for at least one adult member on the reservation. The document can be sent via email atDCL.Resort.and.Travel.Ops.Specialist@Disney.com or via fax at 407-566-7739 within 48 hours of booking.

 

The port team is no longer verifying these at check-in and it will need to be verified prior in order to maintain the current discounted rate.

We are Platinum cruisers, from the same address since the first cruise. I hope they clarify this process for people who book online. This does not deter me from DCL. But I will call DCL directly even if I book online next time to be sure I don't miss any future policy changes that are not programmed into their website.

[flyboyswife]

I will be booking two rooms soon. One of the adults in one of the rooms is a FL resident. Should I book under their name using their state? Does FL always give a better rate? Thanks!

[bsddsc]

I will be booking two rooms soon. One of the adults in one of the rooms is a FL resident. Should I book under their name using their state? Does FL always give a better rate? Thanks!

 

 

When you book, you must enter every person's name and address and age and passport id. I am not sure how children work, but I believe every adult booked only gets the FLR rate if they live in Florida. Most certainly if only one adult in one room is a resident, the second room will not qualify for the discount.

 

Is FLR always best, YES. But it isn't always available. You can try looking at other websites if no one is a Florida resident. Other sites will offer a ship board credit. But even with the ship board credit, the FLR rate is far far better. I have checked. So do your homework before you are ready to book.

 

Because I live in Orlando, I can book last minute without worrying about air fairs or long rides to the port. FLR rates are meant to fill up the ships in the last few days. Its the only way I can afford to cruise every year and get a veranda room too.

[moki'smommy]

Sorry to disagree, but DCL's policy is that to get the FLR for the cabin, ONE adult in the cabin must be a Florida resident with appropriate ID. Everyone gets the rate with one person who qualifies. It is the same for the military rate--ONE person in the cabin must qualify as a military member and all in the cabin get the rate.

[iloverags2]

I have booked FLR rates online for a few years now, and always see the information on the confirmation page when I complete the booking. It's to the right, in red, near the final cost/payment information. Even when I pull up the reservation, it has always been there.

[CELTICGIRLCRUISER]

When we did our first DCL it was in the terms and conditions then that you had to confirm or lose the rate. Subsequent DCL cruises we have taken, whether booked online or through TA have always informed of this condition. And yes it is only one person in the party that needs to be resident.

 

I would say to anyone looking, check with your TA or read the DCL site as there is a lot of misinformation on this thread.

Edited November 13, 2013 by CELTICGIRLCRUISER

[bsddsc]

the person did say one person but two rooms. One person in each room has to be a resident to get the rates. So someone in the second room has to be a resident.

 

And I do agree it states proof is required. But this is the very first time I have been required to provide proof before a cruise. And there were NO instructions with the email address or fax number.

 

If they want proof when you book, the instructions should have been included in the confirmation email when I booked, and it was not. Better yet, send the email request immediately after the confirmation so you can't miss the instructions in the fine print on the back of the confirmation.

 

Giving less than 24 hours notice could have been disastrous for someone on a limited budget. That's all I am saying. The process was misleading.

 

I don't want anyone else to be caught off guard. This is my 14th DCL cruise and I was.

[wildcatlh]

I booked a cruise on a Florida resident rate last November and was specifically told that I'd have to submit proof of residency within a short period of time after booking the cruise. E-mailed a photocopy of my driver's license and I was good to go.

 

And yes, only one person in the cabin must submit proof of Florida residency (unless they've changed since last year).

 

EDIT: Also, pulled up the confirmation from when I booked the cruise last year (which happned to be one year ago today). This was in the confirmation e-mail. Seems pretty clear to me:

 

The following apply to the reservation which may not be valid when changes are made. Other restrictions may apply.

 

Florida Resident Rate: Proof of Florida resident is required for at least one adult member on the reservation within 48 hours of booking. Failure to submit complete identification will result in a cancellation with applicable cancellation fees. Proper form of verification must be sent either via e-mail to DCL.Resort.and.Travel.Operations.Specialist@Disney.com OR via fax to 407-566-7739

Edited November 13, 2013 by wildcatlh

[moki'smommy]

To make life simple, my TA asked if they could keep on file a copy of my ID and passport. That way, they can take care of getting the required docs to DCL without needing anything additional from me.

[bsddsc]

 

EDIT: Also, pulled up the confirmation from when I booked the cruise last year (which happned to be one year ago today). This was in the confirmation e-mail. Seems pretty clear to me:

 

my confirmation was missing the entire last line with the instructions in it. that's why I didn't see it.