Question about cast members taking your phone to add Magic Key discount to bill.

[fivelittles]

Hello! A few weeks ago, after dining at Lamplight Lounge, our server asked to see our proof of Magic Key to add the discount to our bill. My husband showed him his pass on his phone, the server then grabbed the phone. DH assumed he was just going to look closer, but then the server walked off with it. He was out of sight and he was gone a long time. It was so long that we grew tense and I talked with my husband about how he shouldn't let someone walk away with his phone, but he explained that he had no idea he'd walk away with it. He finally came back and returned the phone. It felt like a weird transaction, but we figured he may be new?

Fast forward to last week and it happened again. I took two of my kids to Trader Sams and afterwards our server asked to see my pass. She grabs the phone, and briskly walks off. I felt badly for lecturing my husband about letting his phone get taken and now I'm in the same stupid situation. Same thing...she was out of sight and gone for quite awhile.

We've also paid bills at Disneyland where they just look at it and add the discount, so I don't know why we've had our phones whisked away twice like that. When they're open, the person obviously has access to all of our personal info, pictures, etc... it just makes me nervous and I don't want it to happen again. Honestly, I don't even like strangers handling my phone. Have they washed their hands, what if they drop it, etc. I just don't like it. They scamper away so quickly, it catches us off guard and I don't want to go running after them and make a scene.

I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else? I shrugged off one occurrence, but now that it happened again, I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong, or if this is just the way they do it? Can I print proof of my Magic key to hand over? Thanks!

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

That would also make me very uncomfortable, but I think they end up treating it like a credit card and they do an actual scan at the register perhaps?

 

[gelatoni fan]

This happens in a few restaurants. At Lamplight Lounge, they sometimes take the phone but I've also had to write down the entire Key number on a piece of paper. I think they took the phone at Oga's too. Last time I was at River Belle Terrace, they had a device to scan it at the table. I don't like it either but that's just how it is.

 

[Wedgeout]

No bad intentions. It is similar to the credit card feel. If uncomfortable ask to walk up to the scanner with them or as many servers did when magic keys started, had you write that 18 digit number on the first receipt. I figure anything important on phone will need my finger or password and doubt they care much to look at all my photos.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I had heard of this issue from day one of magic key use. I always let them know I am a magic key holder and then firmly but politely tell them I'm not going to let them handle or take my phone but I will show it to them and I'm happy to write the magic key number down for them if they need me to. I'm actually surprised that this is still happening. When we went to Lamplight Lounge in February our waiter had a handheld scanner he could use right at our table which eliminated the need for him to take my phone or for me to write anything down. I had hoped that this was becoming the standard.

 

[bwvBound]

We've had this happen a few times ... it is weird and uncomfortable. It is, to me, a bad business practice. We far prefer when the server simply takes down our number and re-works the bill. However, even that is weird and prone to errors. Why can't they electronically scan to validate the Magic Key at the table??? Oh, my.

 

[Bigmace]

Very strange, they have never taken my phone but we havent been since early Jan. We are going next week and have several ADs. I am not okay with them taking my phone.

 

[PirateBrigade]

I don't like it, and I wouldn't think an employee wants to hold your nasty/greasy/sweaty/cheeto-dust-crusted phone, either.

An idea if privacy is an issue -- set up and turn on Guided Access on your iPhone, and use it when handing over your phone.

It will lock the phone to whatever is on the screen and prevent anyone from checking out your shirtless selfies in your photo album

 

[CodeGoddess]

Thank you for posting this! I'm a software engineer and this makes me very nervous knowing what little it takes to snag information off a unlocked phone.

I will be going old school and taking a screen shot of the barcode to set as the phones lock screen. That way it's locked if they grab it and when they turn it on they still have the barcode that's scannable but won't be able to get past the lock screen.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

It's actually surprising that restaurants/shops/Disney in the US takes your phone or credit card. Even a few years ago in Canada they always brought the card reader to the table for you to insert your card. No one takes your card. In London just last month, nearly every place, including the Underground, had tap to pay or Apple Pay. I probably had to insert my chip card twice and no one ever took my card or phone.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Totally ridiculous that this is a thing. I remember hearing about it when Magic Keys came out, but I figured they moved past it by now. I ate at 4 different table service restaurants in January and no one ever took my phone. It was either scanned at the table or they had me write down my MK # and they took that back with them. Also ridiculous.

 

[Malcon10t]

Easter week, everywhere we went, the servers took a picture of the barcode with their phone. If you have the physical card (which you have to buy) they can use that instead.

 

[Dumbo777]

This would make me uncomfortable also, especially since I have never have a screen protector on my phone and would be scared someone would drop it. If you go often enough, I would make a business type card or something that had my name and magic key card number on it and then get it laminated to just hand over when they ask for it. Just a suggestion

 

[Canadisney Fly]

I will be going old school and taking a screen shot of the barcode to set as the phones lock screen.

What a great idea - I have an apple watch that I'll be using, so they'd have to cut off my arm if they wanted to walk away with it and keep it open for scanning , but will have my phone as well. I'll set that up for my DS and DAuntie - thanks for the tip!

 

[gelatoni fan]

And this is one reason why I don't like that they got rid of the plastic cards. If I hand over my credit card and Annual Pass card, they run it through the machine and it's no big deal. But if I hand them my phone, I can't check messages, facebook, etc while they're away and it's possible they may see notifications of something personal.

 

[DizMe]

It's a stupid method to take any personal form of payment away where you can't observe the transaction and we (US) have been doing this for years with credit/debit cards. I've had my credit card number stolen twice this way. All a waitperson has to do is take a picture of your card, according to the police who took my report on a debit card theft when my elderly father took me to dinner. He had never used the card before so we knew exactly where the theft originated (a local restaurant), and the police officer told me that it was fairly common. When we were in Europe, we noticed that they never took your card away from the table, at least not in any of the places we went.

 

[Malcon10t]

It's a stupid method to take any person form of payment away where you can't observe the transaction and we (US) have been doing this for years with credit/debit cards. I've had my credit card number stolen twice this way. All a waitperson has to do is take a picture of your card, according to the police who took my report on a debit card theft when my elderly father took me to dinner. He had never used the card before so we knew exactly where the theft originated (a local restaurant), and the police officer told me that it was fairly common. When we were in Europe, we noticed that they never took your card away from the table, at least not in any of the places we went.

How do they do it in Europe? Do they bring a card reader to the table?

 

[DizMe]

How do they do it in Europe? Do they bring a card reader to the table?

Yes. That's how it was done when we were there.

 

[CodeGoddess]

How do they do it in Europe? Do they bring a card reader to the table?

Most other countries they bring it to the table as the chip is actually supposed to be chip AND pin number.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Yes. That's how it was done when we were there.

Most other countries they bring it to the table as the chip is actually supposed to be chip AND pin number.

Was in London 3 weeks ago and most places now use Tap to Pay. No signature needed, no receipt unless you want it. Works on everything from pubs to cabs to train.