Somewhat OT-weirdest conversation w/TDS CM....

[welovedis]

I'm sorry for this being OT, but not sure where I would post this anyway. I posted here last week about the advantages of buying my PAPs before getting to the parks. DH & I just decided to go ahead and get them before we left and then have them activated at the parks.

I went into TDS (@ Marketplace Mall here in Rochester, NY) and found out they are closing, ugh! A CM who is the manager there started talking to me as she sees me in there alot and told me the store was closing on June (24th?) or something like that. She asked about my upcoming trips and we headed over to check out with our loot and to get the PAPs. While she was cashing me out, another customer commented on the total of my bill (over $1K) and I told them I needed to get my money's worth from the PAPs. The CM then said "Well just find out who is going to WDW from your family & friends and have them give you something towards the pass. Then you can give them the pass for when they go."

I was like "HUH?" and she said that she knew that lots of people do this and another CM chimed in that her family did it all the time. I just had no idea what to say so I really didn't say anything but thought HOW WEIRD! I was just really surprised that a TDS CM who is a manager would tell me to do something that was completely against the rules.

I thought it was not ok to do this and on the back of my voucher it clearly states--must be used by the same person on any and all days--so this is clearly meant for just me, right??

***Just to make things perfectly clear, I was just looking for someone to clarify what I thought was the policy-finger scans or ID needed......I am not planning on sharing my pass (paid for with my hard-earned $$$) with anyone! ***

 

[vcasey]

What about the finger scan?? Isn't that the security for not sharing?

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by vcasey
What about the finger scan?? Isn't that the security for not sharing?

Yes, it is. If the finger scan fails for any reason, the CMs usually request ID. If the ID does not match the name on the activated pass, the pass will be confiscated. IMHO, (even if you are not an honest person and I'm sure that you are), it's not worth the risk.

 

[pr surfer]

umm.. that's a horrible manager and a horrible CM for even saying that. In the parks, if the right person heard that, they'd be terminated on the spot

 

[frannn]

A lot of the CMs I speak with at the DS are not very familiar with APs or PAPs. Maybe this one was thinking you were buying a different pass, or was not familiar with PAPs. Or maybe, since you were buying more than one, she figured the person you are buying it for should chip in.

 

[welovedis]

Thanks for the replies everyone!
vcasey-that's exactly what I was thinking about after we left the store. The scan would show that it was a different person.

CarolMN-I was really just trying to figure out if I was under the wrong impression somehow. I have no intention of passing my PAP along to anyone else. I left there feeling like "duh?" or something--as If there was something I was not "getting"-KWIM? Sort of like years ago (before I discovered the DIS) I thought only WDW resort guests could have PS arrangements!

prsurfer-that's what I was thinking when she said it!

frannn-perhaps that is what happened, I will certainly give her the benefit of the doubt. But she did keep saying over and over, "you're paying so much for the annual passes, might as well make them worthwhile and share with others" and things like that.

My DH thinks maybe she is pxxxed off about the store closing, who knows??? Anyway--thanks for the responses, they are what I had thought but needed someone out there to confirm what I already though I knew-lol!

Again-for the record I have no intention of sharing my PAP with anyone!

 

[Luv2Roam]

That CM probably also tells guests their reillable mugs are good for a lifetime too.

 

[GoldenOldie]

I would tend to think that it wasn't a case of her having "sour grapes syndrome" but more the inherently contagious problem of TDS employees not having a clue about the WDW ticket media they sell.

 

[doombuggy]

NONE of the passes are supposed to be shared - and it plainly states that on the pass itself. Either there was some confusion over the conversation on the part of everyone, or maybe that person was upset to be losing her job (who wouldn't be? especially if you like it). Some of these people are only getting 2 weeks notice taht they need to go to the enemployment office.

welovedis: keep on the straight & narrow and don't share your ticket!

 

[welovedis]

Thanks again everyone! I have no clue what she was thinking but I do have to go back there today to return an item that is defective (hope I can still do that even if they are closing). We'll see if she says anything else about it.

Again, for the record, I am not planning on sharing my pass with anyone! Thanks for the posts but the PMs are getting a little preachy--I am not saying I am going to share, I was just trying to see if what she said made sense to anyone. Thanks!

doombuggy-CONGRATS on reaching the 1K mark!

 

[jilljill]

welovedis,
I commend you for not even thinking of sharing the tickets. I don't know why this manager would say such a thing. Like others have said, no ticket is to be shared with anyone.
There are still lots of honest people in the world, and you are one of them.

 

[mickey4ver]

Originally posted by GoldenOldie
I would tend to think that it wasn't a case of her having "sour grapes syndrome" but more the inherently contagious problem of TDS employees not having a clue about the WDW ticket media they sell.

I try and be as knowledgeable about the "media they sell" and do the best to convey that to any guest purchasing passes at our store. If I don't know the answer and can't find what the answer is, I say "I'm don't know or I'm not sure". On this vein, I would just like to say that many times guests come into the stores thinking that CM's are travel agents and expect way to much from them. Having knowledge of what is sold is one thing, but don't go in thinking that store CM's are supposed to have every answer to every question. Things can change at WDW as far as passes and admission go and sometimes those changes aren't forwarded to the store CM's in a timely matter and they don't have an answer, so it might be a good idea if you want a definitive answer to call directly to WDW to get the correct answer to any questions. I can't speak for the CM that passed along this information, but it is something that I would not do, even if the guest was asking if it is OK. I just don't make those judgement calls for others.

And I'm sure it was in jest, but the comment about CM's telling people about refilling mugs, again, at the store level, I would never tell a guest that information without knowing if it is a true statement. Again, things change all the time and I can relate my experience while visiting the park , but that does not make it carved in stone

 

[eeyore0062]

Originally posted by GoldenOldie

I would tend to think that it wasn't a case of her having "sour grapes syndrome" but more the inherently contagious problem of TDS employees not having a clue about the WDW ticket media they sell.

As Thumper's Daddy says..." If you can't say nothin' nice, don't say nothin' at all"!

 

[Magickndm]

Originally posted by mickey4ver
Things can change at WDW as far as passes and admission go and sometimes those changes aren't forwarded to the store

But you've never been able to share an AP, it's nothing that's new or has ever changed, that's what is so odd. And I think it's a shame that you're getting preachy PM's welovedis. I wish people would stop judging each other, especially when you made it clear several times you never intended on sharing your pass. I sure hope you enjoy it though!

 

[nowellsl]

I've had my finger scan fail many times (particularly at Disney Studios for some reason) They've never asked for ID, just let me through after several tries.

 

[mickey4ver]

Originally posted by Magickndm
But you've never been able to share an AP, it's nothing that's new or has ever changed, that's what is so odd. And I think it's a shame that you're getting preachy PM's welovedis. I wish people would stop judging each other, especially when you made it clear several times you never intended on sharing your pass. I sure hope you enjoy it though!

Oh, I'm aware AP's are non-transferable, really all ticket media is supposed to be non-transferable. What I really meant was that many times people ask if they have days left over can they give them or share them with someone....I would never tell anyone that it is OK to do so....make your own judgement calls and if you get caught, don't say a CM told you.

And in the vein you stated above "I wish people would stop judging each other" then give WDW CM's a break too, (not you personally, your post was very well stated) by making remarks about refillable mugs etc and" inherently contagious problem of TDS employees not having a clue about the WDW ticket media they sell." That is a little bit of a broad statement and not every CM is totally clueless.

 

[Gillian]

I am not planning on sharing my AP either, but I do have a question...

If you lose an AP you can easily get a new one at guest services. Just show them ID and ask for a new pass. We've done this a few times, once when we left them in our room, and another when DH's went missing. It's very simple to do & the CMs were very nice about it.

So the question is, when they issue you a new AP, does the finger scan reset? Just wondering! Not for any particular reason except curiosity!

If this happens to us again, maybe I will switch APs with DH just for fun. I have tiny hands, so I doubt our finger scans would match.

 

[Magickndm]

I would think it would reset the first time you put your fingers in.

And I'll step out of the way of all the flames that are sure to be thrown.