Technically We Aren't Really Here: A Curiosity

ProfGoofy

E=m²... See
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May 28, 2003
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144
A comment in another thread (Fastpass Superuser at WDW?) inspired this "Has this ever happened to you?"

We honeymooned at BWI during Sept 1999. It was a lot of fun. However, every time we returned to our room, on went the Weather Channel so we could view the latest tracking of Hurricane Floyd, which was churning off the coast of Florida. We were also being constantly updated on WDW operating status through memos being slid under our door. Finally the announcement came that for the first time in its history, WDW was shutting down. Which meant an end to our theme park touring for our last two days at WDW (WDW was followed by a cruise on the Wonder. However, no stop at Castaway Cay because Hurricane Floyd wrecked it, but that’s another story).

So, last day in the parks which were all closing at 3 PM. We wanted pictures of us in front of the centerpiece of each park, so first thing in the morning, Epcot and a picture of Spaceship Earth. On the monorail to MK, picture in front of Cindy’s Castle. Next stop TTC and a bus ride to MGM, snap-snap in front of GMR. After that, got on a boat and headed back to Epcot for lunch (skipped AK).

We did all of this in less than 3 hours, which must have set off some security alarm because when we got to IG, our passes wouldn’t work. The cast member asked us if we had just visited another park and we told him what we had done. He understood what had happened and mentioned something about security measure to insure multiple people weren’t using the same pass to visit multiple parks. Anyway, he opened the gate for us, which meant our passes weren’t registered at Epcot.

Lunch at Biergarten and when we went to pay with our roomcard, it came back with an error message, invalid card. Our cast member server thought it was Floyd’s fault and since they were in a hurry to close shop and batten down the hatches, free lunch. We accepted graciously though at the time we didn’t understand why are cards didn't work and were worried that we weren’t going to be able to get back into our room, which wasn’t the case.

On the other thread, ukcatfan mentioned that onetime they were waved through the gate and therefore their seasonal pass didn’t work on the fastpass system. Now that would be a problem.

So, has anyone else been a “Disney Free Roaming Spirit,” there, but not really there. What happened and did you try to solve it?

PS: I am by no means condoning this as a way to get complimentary meals.
 
That didnt happen to us, but the did close the parks at least once before that...It was Hurricane Erin in 1995, which happened over my honeymoon. We got the notes slid under our door and one indicated that the parks would be all closing early that night, August 1st. Others have also posted here that they opened late the following day Aug 2, but I cant confirm that as we were leaving then.
Ironically during Floyd I too heard on the news that it was the first time WDW closed down, but I knew better. ;)
 
It is very very rare that we would allow entry without having the ticket pass through the turnstile. If your AP or SP doesn't read (or any other ticket for that matter) because the magnetic strip is damaged, even if it is your last day, the ticket will be re-printed and run through the turnstile. Only in rare instances when our computer system goes down or if -oh, I don't know- a Hurricane was coming, would you get into a park without your ticket being read/activated in the system.
 
Safari Steve,
I can understand the rare instances like the computer being down or a hurricane, but I don't think this was the case as I understand it. From what the cast member explained to us, we visited too many theme parks in too short of a time frame. As I recall, he said that we should have spent more time at MGM before moving on to Epcot. As there was a hurricane on the horizon, we weren't too keen about spending much time outside. In fact looking back on our pictures, you can actually see the sky turning gray and the wind picking up (flags blowing). So Steve, as someone in the know, is it possible for your UPH to be regected if you move from park to park too quickly? Or was this a 1999 bug in the system? Or was this cast member pulling my leg?
 

ProfGoofy, do you still have the passes from your honeymoon? You probably have an unused day on there! It wouldn't be ethical for you to use it now, would it??????:confused: ;)
 
Yes it is possible, no it's not a bug, no it doesn't happen very much at all. That's really all I can say (in fact, the CM you spoke to said too much.)
 
I know that when I do the whirlwind tour with my AP it tends to freak out. The CM always has to mess with it, but I normally do use it get in. They just ask if I have already been someplace and I say yes.
 
/
And by the way Steve, I have gotten in without my AP being read several times. They do check my ID and I finally went and got a new one. IT was too big a hassle.
 
Originally posted by CamColt
That didnt happen to us, but the did close the parks at least once before that...It was Hurricane Erin in 1995, which happened over my honeymoon. We got the notes slid under our door and one indicated that the parks would be all closing early that night, August 1st. Others have also posted here that they opened late the following day Aug 2, but I cant confirm that as we were leaving then.
Ironically during Floyd I too heard on the news that it was the first time WDW closed down, but I knew better. ;)

They closed early in 95, in 99 they actually closed early one day and did not open the next, I believe that is what they were talking about.
 
It happened to me on my last trip. I couldn't get my finger scan to work ... I tried several times but it just wouldn't work. The CM at the front gates of MK let me through after he checked out my driver's licence. I guess he forgot to run my AP through ... I had trouble getting fast passes for the day.
 
If the scanner was not recognizing your fingers, that has absolutely nothing to do with the system reading your ticket and absolutely everything to do with your fingers. The CM should have taken a new template of your fingers after checking your photo ID.
If it spat your pass out immediately and gave a "?", that has nothing to do with your fingers and everything to do with the system not reading your ticket.
 
CamColt:

We were on our vacation in WDW when Erin came to visit too! You are right - they definitely closed early the night before the storm. I remember that we were in Epcot and there were rumors that they were "removing" the turrets of Cinderella Castle, which we thought was hysterical. Of course, then we left the Wonders of Life Pavilion and discovered that they had, indeed, begun batting down the hatches, tying down benches and garbage cans and the like. We actually found it rather exciting, and I took pictures of all the crazy things!!

The next day, yes, they opened the parks in the late afternoon. The Marketplace had been open in the morning, and we got notices at the CB resort that due to the storm, Mousekeeping would not be coming. Though I'm sure I'd be whistling a different tune now if things had gotten really bad, the hurricane didn't end up destroying much (a few trees outside our window, some overturned benches and things), so it remains one of my more "interestingly" memorable Disney vacations!!
 
SafariSteve, I've also been one of the people whose fingers don't work. I was told by Guest Relations that .5% of the population's fingers don't work in the system as they change too quickly or something to that effect, I didn't get it, but I'm in the half a percent. My fingers actually gave different readings three times while I was in Guest Relations! All supervised by a CM making sure I was doing it right. I have to show my ID everytime I go in. The first time I got denied was at MGM, and the guy let me in, but didn't do it correctly, so I "wasn't there." It was terrible, as we hadn't gotten to use our APs for fastpass the first day, as we were admitted with our vouchers because the computer system down, so we weren't technically "there" that day. Then at MGM, I assumed I was in right, so we went to get fastpasses at RNR, and I was the only one who couldn't get one. I was so upset I wouldn't ride RNR (ok, I blame hormones for making me that crazy) the rest of the trip...went straight to GR after riding ToT because I wanted it fixed immediately. Anyway, so there were two days in March I wasn't there, and my grandparents weren't there the first day either.
 
Actually we had this happen to us about 7-8 years ago. We had gone to MK for a quick stop in a store on Main Street and zipped on over to MGM for a quick stop and then over to Epcot. When we arrived at epcot we were stopped and asked to show ID. It would seem that if you park hop too quickly to computer notes this. I would assume this is to stop you from going in to a park and then handing your pass off to someone else to use at another park. It would also prevent someone else using your ticket if you drop it upon entering the park.
 
This happened to me at MGM. I got waived through and my seasonal pass did not register. When I went to get a fastpass I got an error message. So I figured that my ticket was not read at the gate and went to Guest Services. I was right and she scanned my pass there and put me in the system. It was strange to be there but not really be there. lol
 
My sisters and I went to AK, TL, MK, Epcot and then MGM. At Epcot we just rode SE and then ran for the bus to catch Fantasmic. When we arrived at MGM our passes wouldn't work. Cast member asked if we had been to another park and we explained what we had done. He just let us in. We didn't eat or use fastpass, but I assume we were not really there either.
 
Hmmmm...interesting. So, Safari Steve, can you confirm that this is a security measure? Amazing what they can come up with, huh?
 

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