Post
by EpcotGolfer » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:27 pm
Okay, this didn't ruin my day, but I heard it from a friend, and it sounded too good to not pass on.
Yesterday at Test Track, about 10:30-11am, a British family comes up through the fastpass line to the merge point with a "No-Strings Attached" form (a tool used by CMs and managers to help out with guest recovery issues, most often used to grant fastpass access to one attraction or for some small piece of merchandise/foodstuffs that needs to be replaced like a hat or ice cream). Now the NSA form these guests were holding was made out for "Priority Entrance for ONE attraction of Guest's choice." When they came to merge point, the CM there asked them to hand over the NSA, but the guests refused. Evidentially they had some problems with paying for their tickets as they came into Epcot, so Bill (not using real names), the Vacation Planning manager, had given them a NSA pass to make up for their time. The dad in the family said "Bill told us that we could keep this pass and use it for any attraction as much as we want all day, and if there were any problems to call him." This is highly irregular, as NSA forms are NEVER made out for this purpose, and clearly say upon them that they must be surrendered upon use.
By this time, Test Track's coordinator had been called in, and attempted to call Bill up at Vacation Planning to straighten things out. Unfortunately, Bill wasn't at his desk, because he was evidently out doing his job. So the coordinator tells the father, politely but firmly, "I'm sorry sir, but I'm going to have to take that from you." The father said, "The hell you are! We're not moving from this spot without that! Kids block all the lines!!!!" So at this point, about ten minutes into the situation, the line was getting backed up, so Epcot 51 and Epcot 52 were called in (two of the East Side managers covering Track). As they came in, they rounded up five Security guards, as well as Bill from Vacation Planning and Elaine, the Guest Relations manager.
So there were four park managers, five security guards, and a coordinator against this family of five. Bill explained, "I told you guys when I gave you this pass that you could use it anytime all day, but only for one use." The father still wouldn't budge, so Epcot 51 (a no-nonsense type manager and one of my favorites) told him, "Sir, you will either surrender that pass or I will have you put in jail and booked for tresspassing." The father still wouldn't back down, called all of the managers incompetent, and demanded to speak to someone in a higher position of authority. So finally the park duty manager was called in, and, after learning of the situation, told the family, "We will let you on this ride and on Soarin', but that's it." The father grudgingly accepted, and the family finally went on Test Track, after at least a thirty minute delay. The coordinator then walked the family over to Soarin', with the family calling him a jerk all the way.
As I told my friend, when he told me this story, I'm glad I transferred out of attractions :auto:
