Hassled at Islands of Adventure (to buy Mystic Dunes) - anyone else annoyed by this?

[macraven]

Can someone note this on a US/IOA map and post a link here? I want to have my video camera ready when we pass by.

that is a brilliant idea !!!


take a pic of the obnoxious dudes and show it to gs......

 

[jenny105]

I was never approached at IOA but was approached multiple times at US. I don't know why Universal allows this. My DBf and I kept referring to them as the 'clipboard people' and steering clear of them!!

 

[inkkognito]

The clipboard people aren't time share, they are survery recruiters for legitimate surveys. I know some people find them annoying, but personally I am a money 'ho and don't mind dealing with them if I have some extra time.

 

[Metro West]

Can someone note this on a US/IOA map and post a link here? I want to have my video camera ready when we pass by.

Off the top of my head...I remember seeing these people at IOA near JPRA and The Lost Continent area near the Sinbad show. At the Studios, I've seen the main display near Fear Factor and MIB. I can't recall any other places right off.

 

[macraven]

I was never approached at IOA but was approached multiple times at US. I don't know why Universal allows this. My DBf and I kept referring to them as the 'clipboard people' and steering clear of them!!

I love those clipboard people !!!

They give lots of money and treats away for survey taking.....

I practically fall at their feet and them .........

 

[AlexandNessa]

I love those clipboard people !!!

They give lots of money and treats away for survey taking.....

I practically fall at their feet and them .........

I like them too, but I never have any luck with them. They tend to shun me when they find out my age ... always seems like they've already met their over 35 quota for the day by the time they get to me.

They don't exactly make me feel good about it either.

They like where I'm from. Then they ask how old I am.

I tell them.

Then ..... "ohhhhhh, well, thanks anyway."

 

[LilMommyBug]

Yes, the clipboard people are awesome! DH & I made $15 each watching commercials & telling what we thought about them.

 

[ky07]

I have also done surveys for clipboard people and that was 2 years ago and we wound up watching parts of the show they did for the bacholer when he was dating the 40 somethings and the 20 somethings and they paid me and DW $20 a piece and DW got a kick out of it when it came on

 

[Lukas87]

Can someone note this on a US/IOA map and post a link here? I want to have my video camera ready when we pass by.

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to have your camera ready?

that is a brilliant idea !!!

take a pic of the obnoxious dudes and show it to gs......

Guest Services and just about everyone else is acutely aware of them. In fact, every timeshare kiosk is staffed by one guest services Coordinator who monitors them (look for the TM in the light blue Universal Orlando polo shirt, the timeshare guys have to wear shirts with the name of their timeshare on it). There are certain regulations that they are bound to follow by contract, but outside of that, they are there to do what they are doing... sell you timeshares. I dont like it either, but theres nothing guest services is going to do about it. They can document your concerns and pass that to the executives, but the executives see the $$$ first.

Off the top of my head...I remember seeing these people at IOA near JPRA and The Lost Continent area near the Sinbad show. At the Studios, I've seen the main display near Fear Factor and MIB. I can't recall any other places right off.

Like i said, there are only four, and you named them (kind of). The kiosk that was formerly in the lost continent was moved to marvel due to harry potter construction. oh and you forgot the shrek location.

 

[macraven]

Lukas87, are you employed by Universal or involved with the time share groups?

 

[Lukas87]

i cant stand the timeshare groups, definately not involved with them. I think it ruins the immersion of the parks. You are in a different world strolling through jurassic park, dodging dinos, then some jerk comes and harrasses you to buy a timeshare... I really hate it. but im also a realist. i know they make boat loads of cash off them, so i just have to get used to ducking down and scurrying along.

 

[nhrenee]

I love those clipboard people !!!

They give lots of money and treats away for survey taking.....

I practically fall at their feet and them .........

Wow! You guys got much better clipboard people than we did! One gave us nothing (we didn't have to go anywhere) and another chatted us up and then wanted to give us $3 Universal bucks to go somewhere to do a survey. I really dislike the clipboard folks.

 

[t-and-a]

Wow! You guys got much better clipboard people than we did! One gave us nothing (we didn't have to go anywhere) and another chatted us up and then wanted to give us $3 Universal bucks to go somewhere to do a survey. I really dislike the clipboard folks.

We've done surveys twice when exiting the parks and never been given anything. Each time, we were taken to Guest Services. The first time was at US and I was the one who was surveyed. The second time was at IOA and my 14 year old son was surveyed. We don't really mind doing them for nothing, but it sure would have been nice to have been offered something for our time.

 

[phamton]

There are two types of surveys. The surveys that are usually at either the exit or entrance to the park are for guest feedback, demographics, etc. It is done to make changes, improvements, or to find out what Universal is doing right. It can also be used to decide on marketing/ads/commercials, etc. It helps them decide on discount packages or what groups need to be targeted for advertising, etc. Those who participate in theose surveys are not paid as it might skew the results. They want unbiased views. But you are the ones who help make changes for the park. Sometimes they will ask you to be a "mystery shopper" and for that you will get paid.

The other clipboard people are not working for Universal. They have you try products similar to the coke and pepsi challange. Then you answer questions on a computer. You are paid for your time. Sometimes, the company allocates only $3 for a 15 minute survey. Other companies allocate $20. It's the luck of the draw. You can always ask how much you will be paid before participating in them. Back when we first moved to Orlando I did a taste test for instant potatoes, plain, garlic flavored, etc. I've also tasted different picante sauce with doritoes, another time I did a soy milk taste test, a faucet test (where I looked at several types of faucets and told them which looked nicer, etc.) and one for washing machines. The faucets and washing machines paid $20 and most of the others paid anywhere from $3-10.

Both of these two types of surveys are NOT the timeshare people. The timeshare people have booths set up. The clipboard people do not. I did forget one other type of survey and that is the Delancey Street Preview. They preview tv shows and if you fit the demographic you get paid (I believe it is $10 but I might be wrong.) If you don't fit the demographics you may still do the previews but you won't get paid for your participation. It is in a building in the New York area and is clearly labelled.

 

[patster734]

There are two types of surveys. The surveys that are usually at either the exit or entrance to the park are for guest feedback, demographics, etc. It is done to make changes, improvements, or to find out what Universal is doing right. It can also be used to decide on marketing/ads/commercials, etc. It helps them decide on discount packages or what groups need to be targeted for advertising, etc. Those who participate in theose surveys are not paid as it might skew the results. They want unbiased views. But you are the ones who help make changes for the park. Sometimes they will ask you to be a "mystery shopper" and for that you will get paid.

The other clipboard people are not working for Universal. They have you try products similar to the coke and pepsi challange. Then you answer questions on a computer. You are paid for your time. Sometimes, the company allocates only $3 for a 15 minute survey. Other companies allocate $20. It's the luck of the draw. You can always ask how much you will be paid before participating in them. Back when we first moved to Orlando I did a taste test for instant potatoes, plain, garlic flavored, etc. I've also tasted different picante sauce with doritoes, another time I did a soy milk taste test, a faucet test (where I looked at several types of faucets and told them which looked nicer, etc.) and one for washing machines. The faucets and washing machines paid $20 and most of the others paid anywhere from $3-10.

Both of these two types of surveys are NOT the timeshare people. The timeshare people have booths set up. The clipboard people do not. I did forget one other type of survey and that is the Delancey Street Preview. They preview tv shows and if you fit the demographic you get paid (I believe it is $10 but I might be wrong.) If you don't fit the demographics you may still do the previews but you won't get paid for your participation. It is in a building in the New York area and is clearly labelled.

I did the picante sauce one a couple years ago too!



But I think I failed the follow-up test!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Ok, so bottom line is that there are survey people at the entrances/exits that want your input for planning and marketing, 3rd party survey people roaming the parks with clipboards where you can get paid, Delancy Street people who sometimes recruit outside the bldg (has happened to us more than once), and Time Share Sharks who hawk unsuspecting guests.

The further bottom line is that only people who frequent this board know how to differentiate each type of surveyor/time share hawk. But to the average visitor, that is an AWFUL lot of peddling. I want to enjoy my vacation. Not be a market specimen at every turn. I can see where it can easily get annoying to the unassuming virgin visitor.

And it does get annoying, even to us. My husband has the patience of a saint (he must .. he's married to me ); however, sometimes it's irksome when you feel that about every hour we can count on someone asking us where we're from and if we have a moment. It's to the point now where he sees someone coming and he darts out of the way to avoid them or just says, "leave me alone. I don't have time for this."

It really is too much. They need to be a bit more passive.

 

[disneywithfive]

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to have your camera ready?

If you have a complaint, it's usually better to have "proof" then to just complain. This will be our first time to US/IOA and if I'm hassled the entire time I'm there (7 days), I won't want to go back. I don't mind being asked if I'm interested in something, but to get nasty comments while I'm on vacation won't sit well with me or my dh. I also think that it lowers a standard that US/IOA should be trying to achieve. Striving for a professional but fun theme park should be top on their list of priorities. That's what will keep people coming back. Since these people aren't employees of US/IOA, they may feel that it doesn't matter, when it really does. Everyone who is "working" on site should be held to the same standards whether they are official employees or just renting booths/contract labor, etc.

 

[wen8jr]

I've seen people pushing credit cards and other items at Downtown Disney as well, giving out T-shirts or backpacks, etc. Also, we've seen a lot set up at resturants in tourist areas (in different states). I've also noticed a lot of pushy sales people in the malls selling odd ball products, set up outside of the individual stores (a little more acceptable but irritating none the less).

I don't know why, but it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth no matter how good of a time you are having. To me, it is never a pleasant experience to have any type of sales pitch thrown at you. I'm more tolerant, but my DH won't put up with it at all and is quite rude to those that are persistant.

I could never be a salesperson (no offense to those that are).