A cast member "guest pass" that's returned...

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Earning My Ears
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Feb 10, 2015
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Hi I am new here so pardon my question if it has been addressed before. My husband made the acquaintance of a guy that is a cast member at the animal kingdom. This man told him that he could give him a guest pass to get into the park, but he must return it to him the same day. It cannot be used on the magic band. It is s park hopper, and can be used for fast passes but cannot be used bc it has to be returned to this guy. Now this sounds weird to me. I understand with the main gate cm pass the cm can get themselves plus 3 others in. I am not familiar with a pass that once used by a guest of a cm can be used again by someone else which seems why this person needs it back. Am I right that this is shady. Was hoping to get a cast members feedback. My husband is a very trusting man which has cost us a lot of money in the past as a result.
 
In the past, when a CM would sign someone in, the person would get a paper ticket that was good for that day only. However, with the new system, CM's now receive 3 plastic cards that they hand out to people temporarily. These cards are reusable. I think it's supposed to cut down on CM's letting random people in, because you have to know and trust them well enough to bring those plastic cards back. Also, CM's are supposed to remain with non-immediate family members they let into the park.
 

Probably not a "scam" (in the sense of the word), but again, against the rules. Disney can fire employees for selling their free passes.
 
We saw a guy with several black cards in his hand w yellow writing spelling out disney on them outside of the animal kingdom. He was talking to a woman that he was obviously getting in w this card. My husbands curiosity got us talking to the guy at AK- he didn't know about the black card but proceeded to tell us about these guest passes. we still don't know what that was all about. You know what they say about curiosity...
 
My SIL is a CM, and she told me if she loses her cards, it will cost her $25 a piece to replace. We used them to get in to HS and EP a few weeks ago.
 
The CM is treading in very dangerous territory. The rules of the Guest Passes are extremely strict. The CM is allowed to loan them to people, but unless they are relatives the CM must remain with the Guests. And if the CM receives any compensation for them it is a disciplinary offense up to and including termination. (This does not count if the users pick up the tab for a meal when dining with the CM.)
 
Pre-RFID we had mechanical turnstiles at the Cast entries that were "ticket-on-demand" turnstiles that would print the required number of tickets (after we entered the quantity on our keypad at the turnstile) to give to the CM's guests. Now with the Touch-Point entries, we can no longer "print tickets" (no T-O-D ticketing machines anymore) and the CM's guests have to use the "reusable" Guest Passes that CM's are issued. The Guest Pass(es) will NOT activate at the Touch-Point entry until the CM's MEP has been entered, so the Guest cannot enter the first time of the day without the CM present. The CM is responsible for getting them back from his / her guests at the end of the day.

Losing a Guest Pass can result in a "fee" for replacement depending on how many times they have to have one replaced. The fee increases incrementally after the first replacement.

Cheshire Figment is correct in Post #8. Termination can, and does, happen for Main Entrance Pass violations.
 
Okay, I'm a little confused.

So the first time you met this CM was when he was outside AK, talking with someone else who he was bringing into the park. Your DH just started talking to him to be friendly and out of curiosity, is that right? And after this first chance meeting, the CM offered to let your family use his guest passes?

Maybe I missed something, but you never said he wanted you to pay for their use, did he? If so, he could get in trouble, as the PPs mentioned. If not, why in the world would he do that for someone he just met?

And why do you need passes if you are there on vacation? Don't you already have the passes you need from planning your trip?
 
I think the OP was just asking about Guest Passes because she didn't know they are actual plastic tickets. It appears the CM was only explaining how a Guest Pass is used rather than telling a guest he would allow them the use of a Guest Pass.

The majority of CMs take their Guest Passes and chosen guests very seriously.
 
My really close friend is working down there. We are staying multiple days, does she have to meet us everyday at the park entrance to give us her guest passes?
 
My really close friend is working down there. We are staying multiple days, does she have to meet us everyday at the park entrance to give us her guest passes?
Yes. You will only be able to enter with her. She has to enter first with her Main Gate before you can tap the Guest Pass to the tapstile.

You'll only be able to park hop if she is with you and you enter the park in the same manner as above. Only immediate family members can park hop without the CM being with them.
 
Thank you Itinkso! Hypothetically speaking, how do they enforce who's immediate family and who's not? Also, since we're staying on property, can we do EMH while in the park on her Guest Pass? Does the guest pass expire at the end of each day and that's why they have to re-admit with you every morning or is this a precaution to keep CM's from giving (selling) passes to people they don't know very well?
 
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I'm not sure how they check. We are immediate family and had no problems hopping during three different trips last year. We did notice some guests attempting to enter with Guest Passes as their first entry of the day without a CM with them. A Gate CM with iPad was then called over.

If the CM is on your room reservation or has a MagicBand linked to that resort stay - either their CM MB or one specifically linked to that reservation, then your group can enter during EMH. A CM without an onsite resort stay is not allowed to enter during EMH.

If the CM's on your resort reservation or has made the resort reservation, the Main Gate and Guest FPs can be booked 60 days in advance rather than the 7 day CM advance selection.
 
That's great, our room res was made by her but she's not staying with us. (Other Guest Bedroom discount). Will "My Disney Experience" just know to allow us a 60 day window for our whole reservation, or just the amount of days we've already purchased tickets for?
 
That's great, our room res was made by her but she's not staying with us. (Other Guest Bedroom discount). Will "My Disney Experience" just know to allow us a 60 day window for our whole reservation, or just the amount of days we've already purchased tickets for?

You can only book FPs for the number of days you have tickets for.
 
That's great, our room res was made by her but she's not staying with us. (Other Guest Bedroom discount). Will "My Disney Experience" just know to allow us a 60 day window for our whole reservation, or just the amount of days we've already purchased tickets for?
If your CM friend is listed on the room reservation and booked it using her MDE, the combination of Main Gates/Guest Passes and purchased tickets will allow you to book the corresponding amount of FPs.

It's the onsite reservation that triggers MDE to allow the CM's Main Gate the 60-day in advance booking.
 
That's great, our room res was made by her but she's not staying with us. (Other Guest Bedroom discount). Will "My Disney Experience" just know to allow us a 60 day window for our whole reservation, or just the amount of days we've already purchased tickets for?
Did she book the room through the Hub using her own MDE account? Or, is the room reservation through your MDE?

If it's through your own MDE and the CM's MDE is linked to you, that should also allow the 60-day booking window for the Main Gates. So, you technically should be able to book FPs for purchased tickets and the Main Gate days you'll need to use.
 
She booked the room over the phone with Cast member reservations. I'll ask her about linking her MDE to ours.
 














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