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UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:36 am
by GuestJockey
I had a call in the phone room yesterday from a Guest who had let her pass expire by 2 weeks and she wanted us to make an exception to sell her a new one at the renewal rate AND waive the down-payments (as if it were a renewal). We contacted ME1 and got an exception to give her the renewal rate, but we couldn't waive the down payments. When I told the Guest this, she flipped.

"WHY does Disneyland hate single mothers?! I'm gonna be honest, I can't really afford this right now, so you're telling me Disney wants me to choose buying an AP over feeding my children? Is that it? Disney wants my kids to go hungry?! I own a business and this is TERRIBLE customer service!" and so on and so on. I think at one point I even told her, "Mam, as a representative of the Walt Disney Company, I am telling you that we would prefer you feed your kids, even if that means we're losing one of our 800,000 Annual Passholders." I have HAD IT.

Not everyone can afford an AP. That's OK! Not everyone NEEDS an AP! They're a splurge! The payment plan is NOT NOT NOT NOT for people who are going to have problems making the $9/month. I am constantly amazed by how many calls we get asking us to hold off on taking the $9 out of their account because they don't have that much right now. IF YOU DON'T HAVE $9 EXTRA DOLLARS A MONTH, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE AN ANNUAL PASS TO DISNEYLAND. YOU SHOULD BE PAYING YOUR MORTGAGE OR BUYING GAS.

Also, it's not a "membership" - it's a purchase. You can't cancel it. You bought it. If you bought it for you and your boyfriend and now he left you, you can't stop paying for his. You signed a contract, you made a commitment, it's yours now. You can't "opt out."

/rant

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:39 am
by darph nader
Sounds like 'someone' needs to get their prioritys straight. :eek:

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:21 pm
by DisneyMom
ummmm,I find it less expensive to let my pass expire then get a new one the next time I go......
If she is sooooooo broke,she should find another way to entertain her kids,shocking,I know :cool:

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:57 pm
by shilohmm
GuestJockey wrote:I can't really afford this right now,
I've never really understood the argument that "I can't afford it so you should give me a break." I always thought "I can't afford it" means "Guess I shouldn't buy it." Although your response was much nicer and perfectly appropriate. :)

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:03 pm
by DLRFantasmic!Dan
darph nader wrote:Sounds like 'someone' needs to get their prioritys straight. :eek:
I second THAT!!! The thing that gets me is that she gotten by with the renewal rate, and not as if it's a brand new AP.

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 4:06 pm
by Shorty82
I avoid payment plans whenever possible, I'd rather pay it off altogether. This is especially true of luxury items (Theme park APs fall into that category IMO). If I can't afford something right away I wait and save until I can. That way if the unforeseen happens I don't wind up with a debt I can't pay. I might be able to afford a monthly payment then but what about later? I'd rather save up my money and buy whatever it is I want outright.

I easily could have gotten my Universal and Sea World/Busch Gardens APs with a payment plan and gotten them sooner but I waited until I could afford them outright.

My only debt right now is my credit card and usually I keep it paid down but I had some work issues this month. I don't even owe anything on my car.

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 4:30 pm
by PatchOBlack
darph nader wrote:Sounds like 'someone' needs to get their prioritys straight. :eek:
DLRFantasmic!Dan wrote:I second THAT!!! The thing that gets me is that she gotten by with the renewal rate, and not as if it's a brand new AP.
You're sort of assuming they have some sort of priorities. It seems a number of folks just will go and do whatever they happen to find appealing at the moment.

I was once stopped by a woman as I was getting into my car who said she needed money to buy formula for a baby. I gave her a firm "no" based on one simple fact: She apparently had enough money to continue smoking.

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:09 pm
by hobie16
GuestJockey wrote:"WHY does Disneyland hate single mothers?! I'm gonna be honest, I can't really afford this right now, so you're telling me Disney wants me to choose buying an AP over feeding my children? Is that it? Disney wants my kids to go hungry?! I own a business and this is TERRIBLE customer service!"
IMHO I think she was trying to scam you.
PatchOBlack wrote:I was once stopped by a woman as I was getting into my car who said she needed money to buy formula for a baby.
Another scam. The formula money would either be spent at a liquor store or go to a drug dealer.

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:12 pm
by darph nader
Disney may hate single mothers,but hobie is a 'big' supporter. ;)

Re: UGH, I am over the AP payment plan.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:18 pm
by DLRFantasmic!Dan
hobie16 wrote:IMHO I think she was trying to scam you.


Another scam. The formula money would either be spent at a liquor store or go to a drug dealer.
Another reason that I don't give money to Homeless people. This reminds me of a story: I was in Seattle this past Summer for lunch with the girlfriend, her mother, and sister. Afterwards, on our way home, we saw a homeless guy, who had a sign stating that he does not need money, but he needs food. So, since we had leftovers, we drove by and handed it to him. He was so grateful. I feel bad for the guy. Other homeless people would be asking for money, who know what they use it for. It seems homeless people in Seattle, WA is a lot different than the people in CA.