Howdy, Odessa! Welcome to planDisney!
I see that you're from the great state of New York, like me! I love to see fellow New Yorkers venture down to Walt Disney World Resort to experience The Most Magical Place on Earth. While there's no place quite like New York, Walt Disney World is definitely a special place to visit.
Now, let's hop in and answer your question. If you have friends or family who live in Florida, they are not able to purchase Florida resident tickets or passes for guests who do not reside in the state of Florida. I know this may be a bit of a bummer, but those tickets are truly for guests who reside in The Sunshine State and proof of residency is validated when you arrive at Walt Disney World.
However, there are often promotions and special deals available on the Disney website that out-of-state guests can take advantage of. Take a look at the
Special Offers page on the Walt Disney World website to review the current offers, which are subject to availability. Odessa, these deals do change periodically so be sure to check before booking your vacation. Additionally, be sure to take a look at the
Ticket Buying Guide to ensure that you're getting the right ticket type for your trip needs. For instance, if you're considering visiting with a large family, one park per day might be your best option so you won't have to travel from park to park with a large party in the middle of your park day. Traveling with a small group of friends instead? Park Hopper tickets are a great option so you can have flexibility during your days.
Finally, remember that your friends/family in Florida can always meet you at the parks for a fun-filled day together. Your folks may have their own favorite park as locals, but my personal favorite might be Magic Kingdom. It's hard to choose, but there's nothing like the nostalgia of Main Street U.S.A. and those classic attractions in Fantasyland. Magic Kingdom also offers great nighttime entertainment. Depending on when you'll visit, the nighttime shows may include fireworks and castle projections. Be sure to check the
Attractions and Entertainment page before your visit to see what will be offered at that time. Also, If your family/friends already have annual passes they can add the
PhotoPass add-on if they have not already and share photos they take with you during your magical time together. I love using this service because not only are the photographers (Disney cast members) amazing, but everyone in your party gets to be in the photo! Be sure to ask for magic shots; these are special photographs that require a little direction from cast members, but serve up great Disney magic when you download them. You can also add the
Memory Maker service to your package for the duration of your vacation so that you can download all of your PhotoPass photos and videos as well as special extras and capture all the magic from your trip.
I hope you have a magical time during your visit, Odessa. If you need more help with planning, feel free to stop by again!
Your pal,
Sakinah