Welcome to planDisney, Kasey! I'm so glad to be able to answer your question today.
The magic of a trip to Walt Disney World is such a generous gift, and it's so nice of your grandparents to want to provide that for your kids. To keep it short and simple,
Florida Resident tickets are for Florida residents only, and
proof of Florida residency is required at the time of entry to activate the tickets. If the grandchildren don't live in Florida, they're not eligible to use Florida Resident tickets. Even if a Florida-resident adult buys them, admission will be denied without valid proof of Florida residency for the ticket user at the gates. Since your grandparents won't be with you, and the kids aren't Florida residents, those tickets won't work for your visit.
The great news is that there are still alternatives that keep the surprise and the savings. The easiest option is for your grandparents to gift standard date-based tickets. These don't require any residency verification, and you can head straight to the parks on your chosen days. If they'd rather let you pick the dates later, they can gift
Disney Gift Cards instead! Gift cards can be used towards tickets, hotel stays, dining, souvenirs, and more, so you can customize the trip exactly how you'd like.
If you're considering an on-site stay, make sure to take a look at vacation packages. Packages can often be held with a small deposit, with the balance due closer to travel. Keep an eye on Disney's
special offers page for room discounts or package promos that may line up with your dates. Sometimes the overall savings rival resident pricing! Another budget-friendly strategy is to choose lower-priced ticket dates, trim a park day and add a resort or
Disney Springs day, or book a multi-day ticket to bring down the per-day cost.
The bottom line is you won't be able to enter using Florida Resident tickets without proof of Florida residency, but you can absolutely make the gift magical with regular tickets, gift cards, or a package. You have so many options to plan your magical vacation and make it budget-friendly!
See ya real soon, Kasey!
Jessica