MOVED FROM TPAS: KSC: We caused a shortage and policy change!

[dreamn_Disney]

After reading on here about getting free passes to KSC I contacted my congressman's office. This is the response they got from Kennedy.

After contacting the Kennedy Space Center on your behalf, we received a response from them indicating that they have no more tickets for the year of 2008. Here is the text of the response: NASA offers 500 complimentary passes per year, this is the first year we have ever exceeded that number due to a disney blog that posted this information. Effective January 1, 2009 we will offer 4 passes per request rather than the 10 requested in the past. We are not processing 2009 requests.

I know we are not actually a blog, but do you think it was us that caused this shortage? Also note the change in passes given with each request starting next year.

 

[Dolce27]

After reading on here about getting free passes to KSC I contacted my congressman's office. This is the response they got from Kennedy.

After contacting the Kennedy Space Center on your behalf, we received a response from them indicating that they have no more tickets for the year of 2008. Here is the text of the response: NASA offers 500 complimentary passes per year, this is the first year we have ever exceeded that number due to a disney blog that posted this information. Effective January 1, 2009 we will offer 4 passes per request rather than the 10 requested in the past. We are not processing 2009 requests.

I know we are not actually a blog, but do you think it was us that caused this shortage? Also note the change in passes given with each request starting next year.

To be honest, I think so. It's been a several weeks but I believe that a news article had been written about this and this particular website, the DIS, was called out on it. Now, I'm going by memory here ... maybe someone else can follow-up with a link to the article?

 

[disnut8]

Definitely sounds like the DIS did cause the change in policy. Look at what happens the second discount codes are issued or the Candlelight Processional packages go on sale. I'm surprised the phone lines don't burn up immediately. We know things before Disney Cast Members do.

Unfortunately, this has caused at least this change and made it harder for Joe Average to enjoy the perk.

 

[Cool-Beans]

It rubs me the wrong way that congressmen are getting 500 free tickets in the first place.

Even Disney makes winning their free stuff random...and it isn't paid for with tax money, nor is Disney. If there are tickets to be given away, it should be a random thing.

Congressmen get 500 free tickets.

 

[Dolce27]

I don’t recall all of the details about this, but I thought that I read that the 500 tickets aren't paid by taxpayers and that the congressman's were given them for a particular use - supposed to use them more for diplomatic type purposes rather than issuing them out to anyone who calls or writes for them. I think this policy change is because this perk ended up being abused by people as the word got out about them and too many people began requesting them. Again, it's been too long since reading up on this and I’m going on memory here.

 

[SJOG]

I don’t recall all of the details about this, but I thought that I read that the 500 tickets aren't paid by taxpayers and that the congressman's were given them for a particular use - supposed to use them more for diplomatic type purposes rather than issuing them out to anyone who calls or writes for them. I think this policy change is because this perk ended up being abused by people as the word got out about them and too many people began requesting them. Again, it's been too long since reading up on this and I’m going on memory here.

You are correct. They were never meant for the general public, and then it was posted on the BB you could receive free tickets to the KSC.

Once it was posted, the tickets were being freely requested/demanded, and that is why the new policy was put into place.

 

[CanadianGuy]

This conversation is a better fit on the Orlando Area Attractions board since it's not about Disney Theme Parks.

I'll be moving it there.

Thanks,

Knox

 

[Dolce27]

Wow. That will make me a first time poster of the Orlando Area Attractions board. I've never posted anywhere but the Disney boards and the CB before.

 

[deej696]

So how did we cause this situation? Was it a thread on the boards or did the DIS post it in the discounts area? Just curious, as I didnt remember reading about this...

 

[dgaston]

I go that same response from the office of my Congressman, Joe Courtney, and I believe we did overwhelm offices with our requests for tickets. That's ok -- we did see the shuttle launch on 5/31/08.

I believe the thread was here on the Orlando board.

 

[Dolce27]

So how did we cause this situation? Was it a thread on the boards or did the DIS post it in the discounts area? Just curious, as I didnt remember reading about this...

I think that someone posted about it on the Budget Boards and it went from there.