disneycountrygirl
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
Not being argumentative or upset but I still feel that my experience is valid and folks should know that this isn't always the case!
I had that experiences too where I was denied. My sister and BIL didn't know how RS worked, and it was their first time in a Disney park and first ride of the first day. We rope-dropped the brand new Cars ride. In the massive rush of people, her hubby and mine got in the queue while she and I were still standing at the entrance asking the CM about the switch pass with both of our too-short toddlers in tow. The CM explained our hubbies had to be present with us and then took the time to measure both kids. Meanwhile the line grew to an hour wait and hubbies were long gone. She told us to just get the switch passes at the next CM up the queue. 30 mins later, with both kids still in tow and still split from the hubbies, we encountered the next CM in the queue. I explained what happened, and she said no, our whole group had to be present. I asked her what to do then since we had the kids with us, and she said we'd just have to get out of line and wait for them at the exit and then get back in line again (which was not going to be an option with that wait). At that point I was 1000% confident though that it was a misunderstanding because this is Disney - they invented customer service, and it didn't even dawn on me that I could be doing something wrong cause at the time I didn't even know there were ways to "game the system" and had I known, I never in a million years would have done it because integrity is everything. I was completely calm because of those things, and tried to explain again, this time delving deeper into how the situation played out, but as I spoke, I became aware that she was becoming more and more agitated with me. When I stopped talking she said, "Maam, I am not giving you guys a SP, that is final, and you need to step out of this line right now." I had NO idea what was even going on and felt like I was in some sort of twilight zone. My sister said she would just skip the ride and wait for the guys at the exit, and she left. I asked her to radio the CM at the entrance. She said they didn't have that capability and even if she did, she wouldn't. I asked to speak to a manager, and she walked away to call him. I followed her and she turned around and snapped, "Stop following me!" I stopped dead in my tracks, not even sure what to do. It was one of the strangest experiences of my life, so much so, it was actually kind of frightening. I've never had a business provoke actual fear before. I was having visions of getting kicked out the park, but I had absolutely no idea what for. I was just trying to use the RS option offered to guests. The mgr came, said he stood behind his CM and didn't believe me. That was when I just lost it. At that point I thought it must have been something to do with my appearance, which is clean cut and 100% normal in every way, but I didn't know what else it could be. It was clearly something about me in particular. Overwhelmed, I just sat down on the concrete and started crying. I was so disappointed that I had to miss the ride I was so looking forward to for many months, my sister had to experience Disney in that way after us talking it up for years, sad that we wasted the precious morning hours on that experience, sad that I could never trust Disneyland again, sad the Disneyland had lost its innocence, sad that the happiest place on earth had become something so hostile and accusatory. After a minute of me just sitting there, head in hands, the manager told me fine, he'd put my sister and I in the line where they load the people in wheelchairs, but that he was fully aware I was lying and I should be ashamed of myself. Needless to say, it was not a fun ride. Thankfully, the character breakfast at the Disneyland hotel, where they treated our party like royalty, helped bring a little bit of the Disney I know back. From now on, I will be extremely mindful of doing everything exactly proper when it comes to RS. I don't ever want to repeat that again.