Strange Experience!!!

[DisneyMommy77]

For the last two days we have been able to rent bicycles at the Boardwalk from the community hall. So fun!! We had done the Surrey bikes before there, and since those aren’t operating right now it was a nice option!

The first time went great and the kids loved it.

However, yesterday on our second bike ride after about an hour into our ride a CM on a golf cart (not security) stopped us and told us to immediately leave because no bikes are allowed. He asked us where we were staying and since it wasn’t the Boardwalk resort he told us we weren’t even allowed on the Boardwalk.

We told him these weren’t our personal bikes, but rentals from the Boardwalk Resort, but he didn’t believe us and told us to leave again. We kept telling him again and again that we rented the bikes and were on the approved path they told us to use. (This wasn’t said by him in the usual friendly Disney way, it was very accusatory)

He assumed we were lying and pulled out his phone to start calling someone on us. By then my kids were crying because they didn’t understand what was happening after being told to leave so many times.

We tried to tell him that maybe he wasn’t told about these newer bike option rentals at the Boardwalk, and again we rented these bikes and were approved to ride them so we couldn’t just leave the property with them like he was telling us to.

I told him we would go return them immediately since we apparently were breaking some rule even though we were paying customers.

Once we got back to the Community Hall I told them what happened and they apologized and verified we were on the right path etc.... They were also baffled about this situation.

I guess that CM that confronted us didn’t get the memo about the bike rentals. It was unfortunate because we were having so much fun, but being accused by a CM was very disappointing. It didn’t ruin our day, but was surprising for Disney.

 

[CarolynFH]

You should report this to Disney - if you remember the CM's name from his name tag, great, but in any case tell as specifically as possible where you were when he spoke to you. wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com That CM needs some education, not just on the fact that bike rentals are available at BW but in how to speak to guests.

 

[DLgal]

I would have told him to go ahead and make the call, and I'd wait. This is so stupid. Sorry your kids got upset but you should have insisted that he DO call his supervisor.

 

[Carol_]

Perhaps they could give that CM a furlough and bring back the CMs with manners. One of them is serving tables at Perkins and he’s AMAZING.

 

[DisneyPrincess1]

Definitely let Disney know what happened. Seriously. People like that should not be allowed to run loose at Disney.

 

[luvthemouse71]

There’s a lot of panicky behavior since the pandemic. I saw it as a healthcare worker too. Rules and standards changed daily, depending on which manager was working that day. I screened patients because surgeries were canceled in my facility and first we were told no masks, then everyone had to wear them. Then we were told that employees couldn’t wear their own N95, then one day that changed. It was chaos.

That CM probably thought he was doing the right thing. I think maybe it the lines of communication aren’t great in his department or perhaps he works part time or per diem and didn’t know about the change. He shouldn’t have been rude about it though.

 

[maverik85]

That last line to me is the big thing about this situation. IF he didn't have the right information is understandable but there was no reason for him to be rude about it and that's what needs to be addressed greatly.

 

[BoatDriver]

I would have told him to go ahead and make the call, and I'd wait. This is so stupid. Sorry your kids got upset but you should have insisted that he DO call his supervisor.

My thoughts exactly. Make the call, tough guy!

“Hey, kids! You know how we always compliment cast members who do a great job? Watch what happens with rude cast members”

 

[Cheburashka]

Yikes! In addition to reporting this to Disney, I would have requested (and by that I mean, politely demanded), a refund for the bike rental, for my family wrongly being put through this by an aggressive Disney employee. That isn't what you paid for.

 

[clarker01]

We had one of those "strange experiences" a few years ago. It was an overly aggressive and rude security guard at the vehicle entrance to the Beach Club Villas. I told Disney exactly what happened and the General Manager of Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort and Villas reached out to me by email asking me to call her. I called but did not speak directly with her (forget her name) but one of her subordinates answered and asked how long my stay at BCV was (3 days). He gave us a 3-day voucher to use at any Disney hotel property (not including DVC properties), with no expiration date. Pretty cool of them. We used it at the Boardwalk Inn around Christmas-time of 2018.

 

[oceanmarina]

You should report this to Disney - if you remember the CM's name from his name tag, great, but in any case tell as specifically as possible where you were when he spoke to you. wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com That CM needs some education, not just on the fact that bike rentals are available at BW but in how to speak to guests.

Yikes! In addition to reporting this to Disney, I would have requested (and by that I mean, politely demanded), a refund for the bike rental, for my family wrongly being put through this by an aggressive Disney employee. That isn't what you paid for.

Great advice here - I would do both. I wouldn’t let that pass, not ok. So sorry your kids got upset, could see hoe that would be scary for them!
Hope the rest of your trip was amazing.

 

[JoelB]

This absolutely would have ruined my day. Being accused of wrongdoing and told to leave the property is pretty high on the justifiable outrage scale.

 

[DisneyMommy77]

Thanks everyone. It was so bizarre to be spoken to that way........especially at Disney.
And, oh yes, when we returned the bikes and told them what happened they refused to let us pay. The community hall was very apologetic and tried to make it right.

Our trip was still amazing!! Just one little bump in the road.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks everyone. It was so bizarre to be spoken to that way........especially at Disney.
And, oh yes, when we returned the bikes and told them what happened they refused to let us pay. The community hall was very apologetic and tried to make it right.

Our trip was still amazing!! Just one little bump in the road.

Well gosh, they interrupted your ride. I would hope they wouldn't let you pay.

Glad they were apologetic and you had a great trip.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

Thank you for posting this. It reminded me to email Disney about a terrible CM interaction I had in Dec. With so many CM's losing their jobs this type of behavior should not be tolerated.