SimbaCub63
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2005
- Messages
- 288
Since so many members of the DIS are heading to WDW in the coming months, I thought it might be mildly helpful to share my experience from last week. Obviously, these are just my experiences.
First of all, regarding the "gift with purchase" prize cards, I found that all of the places that were supposed to have the cards actually did. (Chapeau Shop, Sir Mickey's, Frontierland Trading Post - pin station - Frontierland candy store, Splash Mountain photo desk). Also, the cast members were, for the most part, very friendly and happy to give out the cards.
However, I found that I always had to ask for the cards. They were never given automatically. In only one case - the hat shop - did I have to try to explain what the heck VMK was. There, I wound up pointing to the large VMK sign behind the clerk and then she realized what I was asking for and handed me the card (which was on the register right in front of her). For the record, in the pin shop, I received on card per item, but in the candy shop I only got one per purchase.
Oddly, the place where I found the greatest hassle with VMK was in VMK Central. I found that some of the CM's there were well aware of the game, and how to redeem codes and quests. Others seemed totally clueless about the game. At the start of my day I went to redeem prizes earned in the game and waited for a long time for a clerk to finish selling a Pal Mickey (which she seemed to know a lot about and did a great job of explaining) but when I handed her my VMK sheets she had no idea what to do with them and I had to wait again for a different clerk.
When I went to start my quests, I saw one of the clerks at VMK Central (Jacques) doing a great job of redeeming other people's quests, gathering their cards and carefully explaining what prizes they were receiving and even asking guests about their thoughts and impressions of the game.
When I went back later to redeem mine, a different clerk scanned them, grabbed a handful of cards and shoved them across the counter at me saying nothing but "Here." Thankfully, I looked over the stack of prizes carefully and compared them to the display of available prizes and realized I had not received any of the Tomorrowland Quest prizes. (They were very good about giving them to me after I showed them the mistake). Moral: Look over the quest prize cards carefully.
Overall, I have to say my VMK WDW experience was positive. For those who have the time and interest, I truly recommend doing the quests and not simply grabbing the answers off line. The quests encourage you to really look at the park in some new ways and seek out details that you may never have noticed otherwise. For me, that was a REAL highlight.
Also, the CMs were friendly and very hospitable to VMK players. (As a former pin trader, I have to say that was a pleasant change of pace.) The CMs seem to really enjoy helping people find the answers to the Quests. If they see you wandering around their area with a quest card, they are almost TOO eager to help you out! LOL. I was talking with others on my tour fand we all noted that we had to sometimes stop CM's from telling us the answer, and ask them to please just point us to the right building or attraction. LOL
To all of our friends heading to WDW - have a great time. And for those who have been - feel free to add your thoughts.
First of all, regarding the "gift with purchase" prize cards, I found that all of the places that were supposed to have the cards actually did. (Chapeau Shop, Sir Mickey's, Frontierland Trading Post - pin station - Frontierland candy store, Splash Mountain photo desk). Also, the cast members were, for the most part, very friendly and happy to give out the cards.
However, I found that I always had to ask for the cards. They were never given automatically. In only one case - the hat shop - did I have to try to explain what the heck VMK was. There, I wound up pointing to the large VMK sign behind the clerk and then she realized what I was asking for and handed me the card (which was on the register right in front of her). For the record, in the pin shop, I received on card per item, but in the candy shop I only got one per purchase.
Oddly, the place where I found the greatest hassle with VMK was in VMK Central. I found that some of the CM's there were well aware of the game, and how to redeem codes and quests. Others seemed totally clueless about the game. At the start of my day I went to redeem prizes earned in the game and waited for a long time for a clerk to finish selling a Pal Mickey (which she seemed to know a lot about and did a great job of explaining) but when I handed her my VMK sheets she had no idea what to do with them and I had to wait again for a different clerk.
When I went to start my quests, I saw one of the clerks at VMK Central (Jacques) doing a great job of redeeming other people's quests, gathering their cards and carefully explaining what prizes they were receiving and even asking guests about their thoughts and impressions of the game.
When I went back later to redeem mine, a different clerk scanned them, grabbed a handful of cards and shoved them across the counter at me saying nothing but "Here." Thankfully, I looked over the stack of prizes carefully and compared them to the display of available prizes and realized I had not received any of the Tomorrowland Quest prizes. (They were very good about giving them to me after I showed them the mistake). Moral: Look over the quest prize cards carefully.
Overall, I have to say my VMK WDW experience was positive. For those who have the time and interest, I truly recommend doing the quests and not simply grabbing the answers off line. The quests encourage you to really look at the park in some new ways and seek out details that you may never have noticed otherwise. For me, that was a REAL highlight.
Also, the CMs were friendly and very hospitable to VMK players. (As a former pin trader, I have to say that was a pleasant change of pace.) The CMs seem to really enjoy helping people find the answers to the Quests. If they see you wandering around their area with a quest card, they are almost TOO eager to help you out! LOL. I was talking with others on my tour fand we all noted that we had to sometimes stop CM's from telling us the answer, and ask them to please just point us to the right building or attraction. LOL
To all of our friends heading to WDW - have a great time. And for those who have been - feel free to add your thoughts.
So, if you want or need a card per item, ask in advance how the CM wants to handle it. I'm sure they'd rather just ring up one transaction, than to ring up several. The cards are just sitting there; they don't need to do anything special as far as scanning them or anything, before they hand them to you. A few CMs actually gave us extra cards 
