I Forgot My ID on My Disney World Trip. Here’s What Happened Next.

Yours truly just got back from her second Disney World trip of the year (first one as an Annual Passholder!) and is already having all the post-Disney blues!

But SO many things happened on this trip that I have to tell you all about — I got to review treats for the site for the first time (that cupcake should be in JAIL) and was reminded why I will choose the Resort Monorail every. single. time. But…I have to be honest with you all. I made SUCH a dumb mistake on the trip I’m beyond embarrassed to admit it to you, BUT it happens, and I want you to know what you can do if it happens to you!

Let’s cut straight to the chase — I FORGOT MY ID AT HOME. 😳 Yep, full on switched over to a smaller wallet while I was packing (at midnight since it was the only time I had available in the day — NEVER AGAIN), transferred my cards over but not my ID.

There I was, driving to Magic Kingdom to meet the YouTube team for coffee before shadowing their filming for the day when it hits me — remember when I said it was my first trip as an Annual Passholder? Yep, you need your ID to activate your Annual Pass. 

WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO?! Thankfully, I remembered that I had a photo of my license on my phone I could use and just hope that it would be enough. Although, I was fully prepared to pay for my ticket and parking, knowing that it was MY fault that I forgot my license. I pull up to Magic Kingdom parking, admit my situation, show my photo and await my fate. The 2 seconds it took felt like an hour as I’m ALREADY sweating from nerves, but the first miracle occurs — I’m let into parking without having to pay (since it’s free for Annual Passholders)!

Now I just have to get into the park, and here’s where things get tricky. I head up to Guest Services/Ticket Center outside the park to activate my pass. When I spoke to the very kind Cast Member and explained my situation, she informed me that they usually do not accept photos of IDs to activate an Annual Pass. I told her I completely understood…BUT let’s just say after verifying some things, Disney magic took place and my pass was able to be activated. Now, THIS IS NOT A GUARANTEE. I was fully expecting to NOT be able to activate my pass and have to pay for my ticket, because that’s likely what would happen for most guests. It is never okay to be angry at a Cast Member for following the protocol they’re given, especially if it’s a mistake on YOUR part.

So what should you do if you’re traveling and you realize you don’t have your license for whatever reason?

• Having a photo of the front and back of my license SAVED ME. I highly recommend ALWAYS having a photo of it in your camera roll, or somewhere you can easily pull it up.
• For Georgia residents, like I am, it turns out you can download an app called DDS 2 GO, which is an app that let’s you see your license information, 2 year driving record, points, license status, and more. I’m not saying this would have been accepted more than a photo, but it is a good resource to know about!
• If you’re flying domestically, have as many other forms of ID with you as possible (credit cards, insurance cards, etc.) and explain to a TSA agent what’s happened. The TSA agent may ask you lots of questions to confirm your identity, such as your full name, address, and other personal information, according to the TSA website. If they’re able to match your information up to their database/confirm you are who you say you are, you’ll be allowed through with a note on your boarding pass that you do not have an ID. This could take a long time, so budget extra time!
• If your ID is stolen on vacation or before you go on vacation, file a police report as soon as you can, which will verify your identity. This could also be used as an additional piece of identification to verify who you are.
• Stay courteous and polite. Anyone helping you out is much more likely to be willing to assist you if you’re being kind to them. Trust me, I KNOW you’re stressed, but take a deep breath and remind yourself that all things will pass in time.

I’m so very thankful for the Cast Members I encountered and how helpful they were, and I know I’ll never make that mistake again! Just a heads up for fellow Annual Passholders, if you don’t have your ID with you, I was told I wouldn’t be able to use any of my Annual Passholder discounts, as they all need ID verification (which was fine with me, I wasn’t going to be using any anyway)!

So I’ve learned my lesson and know I’ll be triple checking to make sure I have my ID any time I head down to Disney World from now on. I can’t wait to tell you about more of my adventures in The Most Magical Place on Earth, and we’re always here to help YOU plan for YOUR next trip, so stay tuned to AllEars!

I also got caught in a storm on the Skyliner and I’ll NEVER do it again!

Have you ever forgotten anything important like this at home before? Tell me about it in the comments so I feel less alone!

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