I can get into Disney FREE anytime I want!!!

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

OK, that's a "catch your attention" title obviously.
I've heard this said many times when talking to customers about Disney. It usually goes something like this: "My cousin is an Imagineer; I can go for free anytime I want". I usually just say "Oh really... Thats cool" and I leave it at that. In my head I'm thinking "I don't believe that for a second, but I won't argue it with you".
So...
Is it REALLY possible?
Can ANYONE *really* get in for free?
What about those lifetime passes? Did they really exist? Are they really transferable? Can someone's "uncle" really get them in for free?
What are the exact rules for FL residents and CM friends and family?
Can higher level CMs (such as Imagineers) really give free passes to whomever they want?

I'd love to hear some real factual answers about this.

 

[LittleBlue22]

I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

 

[mikeyandscoobyx2]

I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

 

[Shmily1]

Someone at work's uncle worked on making Cinderella Castle. She was too little to go when MK was opening, but she is now 47.... I haven't asked yet, but I bet he was one of the bricklayers for it...

 

[mikeyandscoobyx2]

Someone at work's uncle worked on making Cinderella Castle. She was too little to go when MK was opening, but she is now 47.... I haven't asked yet, but I bet he was one of the bricklayers for it...

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Castle was completed in July 1971, after about 18 months of construction. No bricks were used, and, contrary to a popular legend, the Castle can NOT be taken apart in the event of a hurricane. It was, however, built to withstand hurricane winds of at least 90 miles per hour. The inner structure is steel covered with fiberglass, secured to a concrete foundation. The turrets and towers also have internal steel framing and were lifted by crane, then bolted permanently to the main structure.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Measuring 189 feet high, the castle is the tallest structure in the Magic Kingdom.[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I googled this a while ago for a project, and it surprised me myself that no bricks were used to make the castle![/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As for the poster's question, imo, I don't think this is true. However, I can be wrong.
[/FONT]

 

[Inigo]

One of my grad school friends had a high school friend who worked at Disney Studios out in California. When my friend and I went out to Los Angeles on a trip, her HS friend gave us two tickets to get into Disneyland that she got free as a perk for working for Disney studios.

It's kind of neat to watch a movie and see the name of someone you know in the credits!

 

[Aimeedyan]

CMs are not allowed to speak about the specifics of their perks, and it does differ by position, seniority, etc. I will, however, say that we have not had to buy a park ticket since a family member started to work there. Disney is a surprisingly inexpensive vacation for us right now.

 

[Shmily1]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Castle was completed in July 1971, after about 18 months of construction. No bricks were used, and, contrary to a popular legend, the Castle can NOT be taken apart in the event of a hurricane. It was, however, built to withstand hurricane winds of at least 90 miles per hour. The inner structure is steel covered with fiberglass, secured to a concrete foundation. The turrets and towers also have internal steel framing and were lifted by crane, then bolted permanently to the main structure.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Measuring 189 feet high, the castle is the tallest structure in the Magic Kingdom.[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I googled this a while ago for a project, and it surprised me myself that no bricks were used to make the castle![/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As for the poster's question, imo, I don't think this is true. However, I can be wrong.
[/FONT]

Yep, that's what cracks me up about her saying that... she's 47... in 1971, she would have been 9!!! That's not exactly too little to go to WDW! I knew of the bricks or lack of but just haven't had the heart to call her on it. I figure I could just let her live in her dream world.

 

[Linzybrooke]

It was a management perk when I worked for TDS, as a full-time manager I got my pass for myself and 3 friends or family members. All I had to do was show it at the gate and walk right in. It did not work for special events, just regular days, but there were really no other holdbacks, other than that my guests had to be with me when we entered the park in the morning.

 

[Rebelmom67]

We had a good friend that was a CM at EPCOT about 5 years ago. He just let us in the gate many times. Yes, he would meet us at the gate and they would just let us in.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I know the kids doing the college program can get up to 3 people in free 6 different times. And of course they get in free while they're on the program.

 

[themeparkmom]

Many (but, I believe, not all) CMs can sign up to 3 people into the parks at a time. I do not know the rules on retirees, but I had a lovely chat with a married couple who were both longtime retired CMs when I shared my table with them at DHS in February. They told me they have lifetime passes, and I have no reason to doubt it. And then there are passes given to other people in the travel industry that come with privileges to sign other guests into the parks. I once knew an off-property timeshare resort manager (not a Disney employee by any description) who had a "Silver Pass" that allowed him to sign people in. He said it was sent to him by Disney because of the number of WDW tickets his resort sells. I saw it with my own eyes, so they do exist (it was stamped with Michael Eisner's signature).

In all of these cases, the person who has the privileges must be there at the park entrance to sign the guests in, which makes it a hassle unless it is your spouse or a close relative. I live nearby, and I have friends who could sign me in, but am I going to ask them to do that regularly? No. Florida resident passes are discounted enough to be worth paying the price to avoid imposing on my friends like that. I've only asked once, and that was when I had some family come into town who truly needed help to afford a Disney daytrip.

 

[Piecey]

I had a friend that worked there awhile ago... I was spending the summer in Jacksonville with my best friend and her boyfriend at her grandparents house... he got us all in one day.

 

[kirbsam]

actually, here is the truth...My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris get in free.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Wow. So I guess there is some truth to it. I knew that they gave out some pretty spectacular passes during the YOAMD promo, but I never knew the specifics. I had also heard that lifetime passes were real, and sold to anyone smart enough to buy one way back at park opening, but I never heard an actual confirmation on that. You know how things get stretched around. (IE: Just post a thread about the meaning of the statues on Swan & Dolphin and watch the responses, some by former CMs and the pros.)
This thread could get interesting.
Keep it going!

 

[EveDallas]

actually, here is the truth...My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris get in free.

I love that movie!

 

[Sleepy]

actually, here is the truth...My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris get in free.

If you have the means to get in for free, I highly recommend it