Tour guide removed from Disneyland

[Soakbros]

Ok let’s assume that’s true I still don’t understand how you would be that cavalier with the CM with a viable business at stake? You’ve already admitted that you don’t think Disney is wrong for protecting their business meaning you knew something like this could happen and what you are doing is in a gray area at the very least. Yeah something doesn’t add up.

I honestly didn't know, and it is crazy that everyone here I know that work on the business and some are even Disney specialists working with the company for over 25 years and are present in Orlando today!
About my business, I am not Disney focused, as I said before, Disney is 10% of what I do. That’s why I didn't lie to them, if what I am doing is wrong I need to know it, but a warning first would be better than a ban.

 

[Soakbros]

I honestly didn't know, and it is crazy that everyone here I know that work on the business and some are even Disney specialists working with the company for over 25 years and are present in Orlando today!
About my business, I am not Disney focused, as I said before, Disney is 10% of what I do. That’s why I didn't lie to them, if what I am doing is wrong I need to know it, but a warning first would be better than a ban.

I can only imagine what this will bring to people that work ONLY guiding people in the parks.
But I also think those who abused DAS and annual passes should be banned, these people knew what they were doing and kept on doing it.

 

[Disney Irish]

We do have a large market of people here that have never left the country and they only do so with a guide, I work with those people and they are very grateful we help them touring where the language barrier and cultural shock is an issue for them.

And that maybe, and it might be "easier" for them to feel more comfortable by using a "tour guide" company, but anyone that wants to go to a Disney Park is going to end up going whether they use such a company or not, that is the point.

 

[Disney Irish]

but a warning first would be better than a ban.

Lets be clear, you weren't banned. You were escorted off property and asked to leave for the day, that was the warning. There was no way they were going to let you stay on property for the day doing something against the rules. A "ban" they would have revoked your access to the property entirely for longer than 24 hours, 1-2 years at minimum and permanent at maximum.

So you were given a warning, stop your "tour guide" activities or get permanently banned.

 

[Soakbros]

And that maybe, and it might be "easier" for them to feel more comfortable by using a "tour guide" company, but anyone that wants to go to a Disney Park is going to end up going whether they use such a company or not, that is the point.

Well, that’s your opinion. It’s not a fact here.
Maybe that’s the reality from where you are from, but I wouldn’t be here if such market didnt’t exist.
it’s not that they are allowed in because of a guide, it’s their choice, they PREFER to go to the park with a guide instead of by themselves. It might be hard for experienced travelers to understand but for people who never left the country or visited a theme park of that size or even seniors who have no phone skills this is their preference.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I mean I do have questions about what you were doing for your PAX? Were you guiding them around, stopping them and giving explanations and historical information?

If you were just with them and simply assisting with language barrier and such, I doubt it would be an issue… but if you were playing the role of full on
tour guide at Disney…

 

[Soakbros]

Lets be clear, you weren't banned. You were escorted off property and asked to leave for the day, that was the warning. There was no way they were going to let you stay on property for the day doing something against the rules. A "ban" they would have revoked your access to the property entirely for longer than 24 hours, 1-2 years at minimum and permanent at maximum.

So you were given a warning, stop your "tour guide" activities or get permanently banned.

Yes, I feel very lucky that was the case, I know it could be worse. But still, escorted off property in front of guests like I was fist fighting or troublemaking is still a harsh way to go.

 

[Disney Irish]

Well, that’s your opinion. It’s not a fact here.
Maybe that’s the reality from where you are from, but I wouldn’t be here if such market didnt’t exist.
it’s not that they are allowed in because of a guide, it’s their choice, they PREFER to go to the park with a guide instead of by themselves. It might be hard for experienced travelers to understand but for people who never left the country or visited a theme park of that size or even seniors who have no phone skills this is their preference.

You're just saying the same thing I am.

 

[Soakbros]

I mean I do have questions about what you were doing for your PAX? Were you guiding them around, stopping them and giving explanations and historical information?

If you were just with them and simply assisting with language barrier and such, I doubt it would be an issue… but if you were playing the role of full on
tour guide at Disney…

I guide them through the parks, say which lines are worth the experience, go into the lines with them, some have fears of height or speed so I tell them what’s safe to go or not.
I also say what I learned from Walt Disney history and what the parks represent and answer overall questions.
We also take their pictures and make videos of their visit.
Yes I was with a tour guide backpack which was how they flagged me from a distance. CM also tried to talk to them but he failed.
From my view I was acting as a tour guide more than a Chaperone so the call out was correct, but poorly handled.

 

[Disney Irish]

Yes, I feel very lucky that was the case, I know it could be worse. But still, escorted off property in front of guests like I was fist fighting or troublemaking is still a harsh way to go.

Again I don't know what you were expecting, you got a warning and were asked to leave for the day. You weren't taken out in handcuffs I presume, you were escorted out peacefully. If you weren't then its likely you escalated the situation to the point of it needing additional force. But there was no way they were going to let you stay in the Park after you broke the rules. So this isn't some offense where you were going to be given a verbal warning and just allowed to stay continuing to break the rules.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I work with South and Central America. So yes, Brazil is among my biggest groups.

Then I’m sure Disney has you as a tour operator…to access group/block travel availability and rates through wholesale, WDTC, etc?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m confused. You have a viable business and you were THAT cavalier with the CM yet savvy enough to call your customers “passengers” but still confused about why what you’re doing is against Disney’s rules? Something doesn’t add up.

Every person…every single person…that enters a Disney park agrees to terms and conditions that boil down when challenged in court to “we reserve the right to make any decision we want on the spot…without warning or premise”. That’s how it plays.

Now you can think what you want about how that is right or wrong…but it is.

But I bet it’s more of a liability thing in practice. Everyone can get sued…for anything….every day.

I’m sure a “non-professional” tour guide would present a ton of warning flags for the nametags. And because they have a 1000 lawyers…doesn’t mean they actually are willing to use them.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I’m confused. You have a viable business and you were THAT cavalier with the CM yet savvy enough to call your customers “passengers” but still confused about why what you’re doing is against Disney’s rules? Something doesn’t add up.

I just read OP's entire post as "I'm embarrassed" and they wanted us to reaffirm them, and are now frustrated and trying to save face since that's not what happened.

 

[SSG]

On my next trip, when my relatives are looking at me to plan out the itinerary, Lightning Lanes, food, shopping and shepherding everyone through the parks, I'm going to tell them 'no, I can't risk it.'

 

[mickEblu]

On my next trip, when my relatives are looking at me to plan out the itinerary, Lightning Lanes, food, shopping and shepherding everyone through the parks, I'm going to tell them 'no, I can't risk it.'

lol same here. I’m tired of it. This guy has a business and I’m over here doing it for free. Not only working for free but it usually costs me too! Don’t have the nerve tell friends and family to download the app and mobile order their own food. Being the “Disneyland expert” comes with its costs. As if I enjoy spending the whole day looking at my phone.

 

[Chi84]

On my next trip, when my relatives are looking at me to plan out the itinerary, Lightning Lanes, food, shopping and shepherding everyone through the parks, I'm going to tell them 'no, I can't risk it.'

You’re okay unless you’re charging them.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

On my next trip, when my relatives are looking at me to plan out the itinerary, Lightning Lanes, food, shopping and shepherding everyone through the parks, I'm going to tell them 'no, I can't risk it.'

How much they paying ya?

 

[SSG]

How much they paying ya?

That's between me and the Mrs.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Hello everyone.

I want to tell my story and know your thoughts on the matter. That happened on jan 20th.
I was hired by a family of 6 to guide them through California and consequently Disneyland was on the tours. Since I navigate the parks for over 10 years now I do know the ins and outs and sold tickets to this family, I am also a travel agent.
Upon entering the park, I was doing my job, taking their pictures, showing them some cool disney facts and monitoring lines, I was stopped by a CM telling that guiding people on property is not allowed. To my surprise since I do that for over 10 years now.
I chose not to lie because I don’t think that’s ever the way to go so I told him about our operation, that led me to a 24h ban and I was escorted out from property in a very sad way, walking with security around me with everyone watching including the family I was guiding. I consider myself lucky because some people were banned indefinitely.
Weird enough that Disney is doing this to tour agents that actually bring them guests, those guests were in the park because of me, they would never go if I wasn’t there in the first place and that situation led to a horrible day, far from a magical one.
So based on this, will Disney ever ban Nannies, influencers, streamers or anyone that’s actually making money at the parks? Is this attack on actual partners associated with disney, as per the disney travel agent website, the way to go here?
I understand some guides abuse annual passes and DAS, I never did that, no investigation was conducted, I was basically under arrest and felt like a criminal on the “happiest place on earth” for helping my passengers.
Bonus fact: first thing I did when I arrived there was introduce myself to guest relations as a tour guide and asked if they could provide first visit pins with my passenger’s names on them. The CM said: “you’re a tour guide? That’s so cool!” Which means not everyone that works in there is actually aware of this ban and this is a major flaw that I wasn’t at least warned first before being kicked out like a criminal.
Anyone know any similar story?

Disney only cares about TAKING OTHER PEOPLES MONEY!

They don’t care about you, they don’t care about the folks you were helping.

The only tour guides Disney wants in the parks are their own Disney tour guides where the guests pay hundreds of dollars to Disney to hire.

Ironically the Disney tour groups must wait in the same LL queues we all have to wait in, no front of the line access.

And you were lucky you did not get banned for a year or longer.

In my opinion, LLPP is better than a Disney tour guide anyway.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Again, I don’t disagree that Disney is wrong at protecting their business

Then end of thread.

You broke the rules, you were caught, end of story.

You're trying to act like there's more to the story here, but there's really not. Anything beyond this is grievance theater.