Seasonal Passholder Doesn't Read Rules, Doesn't Get Gift Card, Cries

[jsilvers]

So... It's Disney fault that the authorbought a seasonal pass, and didn't read the rules of the birthday promotion?

And if his wife (almost) cries over a $69 gift card, how does she make it through an average week of challenges at home and work without collpasing into a heap of malfunctioning rubble?

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-bl ... day--4266/

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Thats why they should just go back to the "happy birthday" button and maybe a free Mickey Bar or something!

[Lasolimu]

This is something I checked out before planning my trip to arrive on my birthday. Is it a blackout day on my AP(I was surprised to find that, no, Memorial Day is not blacked out)? And if I could arrange my last week of classes to allow it(cool professors make this easy). So I know I will be getting the gift card, unless something like one of the comments happens which I doubt because we will be there early enough to not have a problem with it.

I had a similar experience on my birthday as well, although it wasn’t a blackout date.

My girlfriend and I are AP holders and our decision to visit the park on my birthday was a bit of a last-minute decision. We are currently in Santa Barbara (a 2.5 hour drive without traffic) and we couldn’t leave until about 5pm. We were completely aware that the park was closing at 8pm that evening and there’d be a slim chance that we’d even make it inside but we wanted to try anyway.

After almost 3 hours of driving through traffic, we arrived with 5 minutes left before closing. We ran to the ticket booths that were still open so that we could just ask if there was someone we could talk to about the birthday promotion. We weren’t expecting to be able to get the gift card by any means, we simply wanted to ask somebody if there was anything we could do since we did technically make it there on my birthday.

To our surprise, none of the four cast members (or the additional two who were watching) that we ended up speaking with seemed to care or want to offer any help. We explained to them our situation and asked if there was someone we could be directed to for questions about the promotion. They were all unbelievably rude and there was not a single “sorry” or “happy birthday,” we were simply told to leave each time.

I plan to get there and possibly have a few hours to spend in the park if I want to(the plan is to leave from Vegas that morning which is about a 4 hour drive and stop and spend a few hours at Six Flags: Magic Mountain which should get us to the hotel with plenty of time to spend at least a couple of hours at the parks).

[Disneyguy85]

So... It's Disney fault that the authorbought a seasonal pass, and didn't read the rules of the birthday promotion?

Yeah. I mean, I am honestly sorry to hear that they had a bad experience, but they obviously didn't read the rules. If they did, then they would have at least been prepared and knew what was coming for them.

All people (APs or not) REALLY need to read the rules of this promotion. They are there for a reason. Its just ignorant behavior not to read the rules.

And for anyone who is reading this and it is interested, here are FAQs about the promotion. (They have updated the information since this promo began);

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disney ... rthdayPage

[GuestJockey]

The 2nd comment under the article on the LA Times website was written by me; I was SO mad when I read this! You get in free on your birthday. That's the deal. If your AP is blocked out, you DON'T have valid paid admission on your birthday. That means you get the free birthday ticket. End of discussion.

Oh, wait...what? You want something else because other people are getting a $69 value (cost of a 1day1park ticket) and YOU'RE only getting a $40 value (cost of an AP blockout day ticket)? Perfectly understandable; we'll give you the $29 difference on a gift card!

Oh, wait...what? You somehow think you're still getting less than everyone else, even though you're getting the same monetary value as everyone else, you're getting into the park free, AND you're getting $29 to spend once you're inside?? Perfectly understandable! You're an SEAP (stupid entitled AP)! We can escort you to our free 6th grade math lessons we're holding in the former Golden Dreams building.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

The 2nd comment under the article on the LA Times website was written by me; I was SO mad when I read this! You get in free on your birthday. That's the deal. If your AP is blocked out, you DON'T have valid paid admission on your birthday. That means you get the free birthday ticket. End of discussion.

Oh, wait...what? You want something else because other people are getting a $69 value (cost of a 1day1park ticket) and YOU'RE only getting a $40 value (cost of an AP blockout day ticket)? Perfectly understandable; we'll give you the $29 difference on a gift card!

Oh, wait...what? You somehow think you're still getting less than everyone else, even though you're getting the same monetary value as everyone else, you're getting into the park free, AND you're getting $29 to spend once you're inside?? Perfectly understandable! You're an SEAP (stupid entitled AP)! We can escort you to our free 6th grade math lessons we're holding in the former Golden Dreams building.

Sadly, that have passed on into SG's!!

Thats why I state again, they should do away with with all that, give 'em a birthday button and a cupon for a mickey bar!

Oh, and wish them a Happy Birthday!!!!

[GuestJockey]

Someone wrote "The gods have been angered by all the CELEBRATING!" on the City Hall whiteboard backstage and it has become our new slogan. Who knew after 46 years the Tiki Room would still be so socially relevant?!

[Ho-say]

Someone wrote "The gods have been angered by all the CELEBRATING!" on the City Hall whiteboard backstage and it has become our new slogan. Who knew after 46 years the Tiki Room would still be so socially relevant?!

LOL! Love it. God bless all Guest Relations/Vacation Planners who have to deal with this.

The author of the article clearly has sideblinders on - and openly admits further down in the comments section that he and his wife had no intention of going into the parks on that blackout day as his wife just wanted her gift card.

Yes, from a guest's standpoint, it certainly is unfortunate and of course she can't control that her birthday falls on a blackout date. However, them there are the rules - and the promotion isn't for a free $69 gift card - it's for free entrance on your birthday...and that's what she was offered...and then some. I'd be thrilled to have that nice free $29 to go spend in the parks! Oy..

[Disneyguy85]

Someone wrote "The gods have been angered by all the CELEBRATING!" on the City Hall whiteboard backstage and it has become our new slogan. Who knew after 46 years the Tiki Room would still be so socially relevant?!

I love that! :D:
The Gods work in mysterious ways!

See, this kind of thing makes me upset. Now, I am an AP, but I do not like to flaunt that fact about myself. The only time I use my pass is to get discounts and that is about it (and of course, to enter the parks.)
And while I am at the parks, I am always quiet and just go to have a good time and not make a big fuss.

It really turns me off when people act like greedy, self-important jerks and feel like they are smarter and entitled to more than everyone else just because they have a pass.

[Moonliner]

Did I miss something in the story? The author is complaining to CMs in City Hall about his wife's birthday being an AP blackout. How did he get in the park to complain? If it was a blackout, he either paid, or came in on another ticket. If he paid, did he pay full price or the $40 upgrade? Or am I all wet and is Disneyland guest relations outside the gate?