Kim, congratulations from the Disney Parks Moms Panel team on your graduation! Your aunt is a lucky lady, by the way, living in the Sunshine State.
Florida residents often get special offers and great discounts on Walt Disney World Theme Park tickets. Currently, there's a fantastic promotion going on for three and four-day tickets called Get Your Ears On!
Walt Disney World Resort policy states that all adults over the age of 18 will need to
show proof of Florida residency at the theme parks or water park ticket window (or any Guest Relations location), prior to the first use of a Florida Resident ticket. Since you'll have to show your ID before activating your tickets, your Florida Resident tickets will not be valid. Minors, on the other hand, do not have to show ID. If the others in your traveling party are children, they would be able to activate their tickets as long as your aunt was present with her Florida ID.
Recently, Walt Disney World made it more convenient for Florida residents to verify their residency online. The policy now states that "for each ticket or pass purchased for an adult, you may provide any of the following":
*Valid Florida driver's license (must have a Florida address)
*Valid Florida state-issued ID card (must have a Florida address)
*Valid Florida-based military ID
If your aunt does this ahead of time, you might be able to bypass Guest Relations to activate the tickets for anyone under the age of 18. Alternatively, she could also go to the
Disney Springs Ticket Center and do this in person.
For you, however, your best bet is to call Ticket Services at (407) 566-4985; then press option #4. Just explain that your aunt gave you the Florida Resident tickets as a gift, and ask if they will let you pay the difference to change them into non-resident tickets. I can't guarantee that it will work, but it's definitely worth trying!
Good luck, Kim! Come back and see us if you have any more questions!
Eean