AP discount ID for 13 year old

Rosanne

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Hi everyone! My now 13 year-old has had an AP for two years now. When she's with me the CMs at retail locations have no problem giving her her AP discount with her AP card but every time she's not directly with me, like with her sister who didn't have an AP on the last trip but does now the CMs deny her the discount because she doesn't have valid ID.

I had brought the only thing close to an ID I have for her which was an IDENT-A_KID card with her photo and fingerprint (it's a school thing in case she was ever missing) and when I asked retail locations if that was acceptable they said it was but when she was on her own with other friends they denied her her discount saying it wasn't an acceptable ID. It really bothered me because she spent over $200 and should have saved about $40.

I seem to remember people saying in years past something about them taking pictures for AP. It was never offered to us. Does this still exist? We just ordered passports last month but I really don't want her carrying around her passport at Disney because if she lost it it would be a huge aggravation.

She is almost to the end of 8th grade and definitely not ready for driver's license. I guess I could get her a government ID but it seems a bit much to go through just for the AP discount.
 
I would have her stop by GR with all her recipes and she what they can do I know they have given me the difference when I did not have my AP with me

I don't know if they could have done it but probably worth a shot. It was a month ago now but thinking ahead and wondering how others handle it. I'm wondering if they do any sort of photo thing for APs.
 
Not sure what they expect someone not driving to have. I don't think it's reasonable to get a state issued ID to get a discount. Nor is it reasonable to expect everyone to have and carry a passport.

Does she have a school ID she could bring? (other than the ident-a-kid)?
 


In NY, our state issues non-driver Identification Cards. Same info as on a drivers license, the card is just vertical to differentiate. There is no age limit to apply for one. A birth certificate and social security card is required. Both my kids got them when they started walking home from school and going to out lunch. I believe they cost around $8 each. It’s just peace of mind knowing my children are walking around with a photo id on them.

Edited to add:
If you applied for a passport, you can also receive a passport card (I can’t remember the cost it’s under $20). We have passport cards for my kids so when we cruise and get off the ship for an excursion, I don’t have to carry the full passports, the cards are easier to carry.
 
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I wouldn't bother bringing a passport. There was a time when my 3 year old had an AP and I didn't. Whenever I was asked about showing an ID, I'd kindly state that he's 3 and doesn't have one. The same should go for your child as they are 13 and and ID should not be expected.
 
DS is almost 16. As long as he shows his yellow card that the CM hand wrote his name on, they never give him an issue. He won’t have photo id until after his AP expires.
 


This was a problem for our daughter for a few years when she (then 11-14) was not with me and wanted to use her discount. When asked, she would tell the CM how old she was and that she didn't have a photo ID. She would also show him/her her Gold Pass on the MDE app. Most of the time that was enough. I would look into getting a State issued ID. Her friend that comes with us frequently is 14 and that works just fine for her.
 
I once did not have my ID with me for some reason. The CM just told me to pull up my AP in my MDE account on my phone and gave me the discount.
 
My daughter was not allowed to purchase something with her AP and I was with her. I asked the lady what kind of ID she thought a little kid had. She said if she didn’t have ID she couldn’t have a discount. So we got a state ID. It was very inexpensive and worked until she got her temps a couple months ago. I was so mad I picked up her gift card from her and slapped my AP and ID down on the counter and purchased it for her. While I have always had to show ID that was the only time my daughter did that whole trip. It was a place on MAIN st that sells kitchen stuff and phone cases and snack items.
 
My DD14 had this same problem during our December trip. I can't believe that the CMs would think that a kid is trying to scam them and not really be the AP holder. I have to say I was a bit peeved and I did the same as the poster above and took the money from my daughter, pulled out my own AP and ID and did the transaction. My daughter now carries her school ID with her.
 
My daughter was not allowed to purchase something with her AP and I was with her. I asked the lady what kind of ID she thought a little kid had. She said if she didn’t have ID she couldn’t have a discount. So we got a state ID. It was very inexpensive and worked until she got her temps a couple months ago. I was so mad I picked up her gift card from her and slapped my AP and ID down on the counter and purchased it for her. While I have always had to show ID that was the only time my daughter did that whole trip. It was a place on MAIN st that sells kitchen stuff and phone cases and snack items.

Yet they don't need a photo ID to activate their AP! The inconsistencies drive my DH and I batty.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm surprised that if they require a photo id that they don't just make them one when they get their AP.

They do that at Dollywood.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm surprised that if they require a photo id that they don't just make them one when they get their AP.

They do that at Dollywood.
They did this in the late 80 early 90 when my family had AP. I can still remember sitting in the Wicker Chair to get my picture taken.
 
They asked for ID for my daughter's AP when she was like 7 or 8. I happened to have one of those school safety picture ID cards you sometimes get with school pictures in my wallet and they accepted that. But the CM just suggested carrying a passport when I asked what kind of ID a child like that would have. Seems like there should be a way, at least on the app, for them to have a picture to verify identity for the AP discount or something.
 
We have passport cards for my kids so when we cruise and get off the ship for an excursion, I don’t have to carry the full passports, the cards are easier to carry.

I’m not aware of cruise ports that require a minor to have ID, but I just want to remind you that if you miss the ship and have to fly home, you’ll get to get a full passport before that flight. Those cards aren’t much of a help in case of emergency.

I wouldn't bother bringing a passport. There was a time when my 3 year old had an AP and I didn't. Whenever I was asked about showing an ID, I'd kindly state that he's 3 and doesn't have one. The same should go for your child as they are 13 and and ID should not be expected.

But it is. The discounts require ID.
 
I’m not aware of cruise ports that require a minor to have ID, but I just want to remind you that if you miss the ship and have to fly home, you’ll get to get a full passport before that flight. Those cards aren’t much of a help in case of emergency.



But it is. The discounts require ID.

Someone ate some sour grapes today. She’s 13, it shouldn’t be expected as ID for a 13 year old is boarder line ridiculous. I would recommended the parent get a second state issued ID (cheaper than a license) with a matching last name and let their kid carry it. CMs should have no problem accepting that.
 
I'm sorry but it's ridiculous to expect someone to know to go buy an ID for their kid just to shop at Disney. Sure they are cheap but that's not the point. The point is they aren't required for anything else. There needs to be another option
 
I'm sorry but it's ridiculous to expect someone to know to go buy an ID for their kid just to shop at Disney. Sure they are cheap but that's not the point. The point is they aren't required for anything else. There needs to be another option

To be fair how else can Disney stop those who abuse it? What if I came with 10 of my nieces and nephews and let them all use the discount? That’s a lot of revenue they’re losing by me abusing the system. And with tens of thousands of people a day that can snowball quickly. Disney is a business whether we want to admit it or not. But I do agree they should come up with a better solution to the problem.
 

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