Laugh O. Grams
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2004
- Messages
- 9,843
I meant to post this 3 weeks ago when we got back and I forgot, but yes folks, it is possible to scam a grizzled old Disney vet.
Although we're AP holders and very frequent WDW visitors, we're not big on the waterparks and hadn't been to one for a good 6-7 years. We walked up to BB to buy our tickets for the day and I headed over to the automated touchpad machines to make the purchase.
As I typed in my order, there was a nice looking couple in their late twenties, standing at the machine next to me, looking flabbergasted at what their machine had apparently just spit out for them. They turned and told me that they had just accidentally bought 4 tickets when all they needed were two and asked if I had made my purchase yet. Now I little voice in my head told me that I should suggest that they walk over to the Guest Services desk, tell them their situation, and surely Disney would give them back their money...but no. At the guy's wife's request, I went ahead, after checking the date on the back of the ticket, and purchased the two adult tickets from him to help the poor sap out and then proceeded to buy the additional tickets I needed for our kids out of the machine. I don't think I need to tell you where the story goes from here.
We get to the gate, the kids all go through, easie peesie, and I get stopped. "Sorry, sir," the CM told me, "these are add-on tickets and are not valid for park entry." Man I was pissed, not because I was scammed out of $90 bucks, but because I didn't listen to the little voice in my head that told me that something was up. I told the CM that I understood, I know how the scammers love to prey on people at WDW and that I'd be more than happy to go back and buy new tickets. After all, my stupidity wasn't Disney's fault. I only asked for one thing...for the tickets back. I told the CM that I needed them because if when found the couple who sold us the bogus tickets (my wife saw them enter the park after our little "transaction"), I was going to personally ram them down the husband's throat. The CM told me to hold on for a second, and called the security manager out for a little chat. The manager was a really nice guy, took a description of the couple, and at his insistence, offered to let my wife and I into the park free of charge. I told him that I'd be more than happy to pay for the new tickets, but he wouldn't accept payment. He said that the kiosks are ripe for scammers and that he felt a bit responsible, as he knew that should have a CM out around the area, helping guests in these kinds of situation. I thanked him and he asked just one thing of me. He requested, with a chuckle, that if I see the couple, to please not forcibly ram anything down the man's throat, and to please contact a CM, as they would be looking for them as well. I agreed and off we went.
Unfortunately, we never did run into the couple in the park, but I figured that if I could do anything, it would be to remind everyone, no matter how often you hit WDW, to relax and have fun, but make sure that you listen to that little voice that tells you when something doesn't smell right and always keep an eye out for scammers.
Although we're AP holders and very frequent WDW visitors, we're not big on the waterparks and hadn't been to one for a good 6-7 years. We walked up to BB to buy our tickets for the day and I headed over to the automated touchpad machines to make the purchase.
As I typed in my order, there was a nice looking couple in their late twenties, standing at the machine next to me, looking flabbergasted at what their machine had apparently just spit out for them. They turned and told me that they had just accidentally bought 4 tickets when all they needed were two and asked if I had made my purchase yet. Now I little voice in my head told me that I should suggest that they walk over to the Guest Services desk, tell them their situation, and surely Disney would give them back their money...but no. At the guy's wife's request, I went ahead, after checking the date on the back of the ticket, and purchased the two adult tickets from him to help the poor sap out and then proceeded to buy the additional tickets I needed for our kids out of the machine. I don't think I need to tell you where the story goes from here.
We get to the gate, the kids all go through, easie peesie, and I get stopped. "Sorry, sir," the CM told me, "these are add-on tickets and are not valid for park entry." Man I was pissed, not because I was scammed out of $90 bucks, but because I didn't listen to the little voice in my head that told me that something was up. I told the CM that I understood, I know how the scammers love to prey on people at WDW and that I'd be more than happy to go back and buy new tickets. After all, my stupidity wasn't Disney's fault. I only asked for one thing...for the tickets back. I told the CM that I needed them because if when found the couple who sold us the bogus tickets (my wife saw them enter the park after our little "transaction"), I was going to personally ram them down the husband's throat. The CM told me to hold on for a second, and called the security manager out for a little chat. The manager was a really nice guy, took a description of the couple, and at his insistence, offered to let my wife and I into the park free of charge. I told him that I'd be more than happy to pay for the new tickets, but he wouldn't accept payment. He said that the kiosks are ripe for scammers and that he felt a bit responsible, as he knew that should have a CM out around the area, helping guests in these kinds of situation. I thanked him and he asked just one thing of me. He requested, with a chuckle, that if I see the couple, to please not forcibly ram anything down the man's throat, and to please contact a CM, as they would be looking for them as well. I agreed and off we went.
Unfortunately, we never did run into the couple in the park, but I figured that if I could do anything, it would be to remind everyone, no matter how often you hit WDW, to relax and have fun, but make sure that you listen to that little voice that tells you when something doesn't smell right and always keep an eye out for scammers.
I don't see how people do this ..
