I'm sorry if this topic has come up in the past, so if the Mods feel that they have to move it so be it. Disney fans, I had an UNMAGICAL night tonight. Please let me explain-
I along with two to four of my friends have done the Mickey's Not-So-Scary for the past 5 years. We'll go once to twice during the event openings. We have authentic Star Wars costumes, in fact, we march in the Star Wars Weekends parades held during the summer.
We like to wear our costumes as much as possible, whether it be at a Children's Hospital, and fund raiser or event. So getting to wear them in Disney is even more special.
During these past five years, we've been told by Area Managers, "Guys, you can't wear your helmets. You're too close to the cast members." We've also heard, "Guys you look too much like th ereal thing, so you can't wear your helmets".
So that you all know, we FOLLOW the RULES to the letter-
1. No signing autographs
2. No taking pictures near characters
3. If you take any pictures with the guests, it a quick couple of pictures and you move on.
Last year we had to go to th eTown Hall, and speak with the Park Manager, to see what we can do to wear our helmets. Mind you, we travel at least an hour to and from, pay for our tickets like everyone else, and obey what the Mouse has told us. We explained to the PM what was going on, he said that he apologized that we had to walk all the way to the front, and that our night wasn't what we had hoped to be, so he refunded our tickets and asked for us to stay the rest of the night as his guests!!! I wasn't expecting that at all. I was floored by the great customer service. Well, that all ended tonight.
Last week, when we entered the park, we let Guest Services know that we were in the park, and that they wanted to make sure that we can see out of our helmets. We passed and we had a great time! Tonight again, is where I'm considering NEVER spending any more hard earned money on Disney.
Tonight we arrive in the park around 7:10pm. The event starts at 7:00pm sharp. Beforw we walked through the gates Security checked us out, our helmets and sent us on our way. We took a few steps, and Bill, the head of Security wanted to do one last inspection. He looked through my helmet and my friends helmet and said, "You guys are good to go! Have a great night, and you have the BEST costumes!" We said our "Thanks" and wnet inside, passing several Area Managers.
We were going to report in at the Town Hall, only to see that there was a line from the inside lobby, down the steps and into the street! We didn't want to even bother those that were behind the counter as we were sure those were guests who must have had a lousy time, or something happened where they felt they needed to be heard. We decided to pass, and go straight to Tomorrowland so we can get some food before the first parade started.
We wore our full costumes all the way there, and even into the restaurant with NO PROBLEMS, again passing a few Area Managers. We finished our meals, and proceeded to go outside. There a family of six were waiting outside before going into the restaurant. We took two, that's two pictures with the Dad, and before we could procced to the people mover, and Area Manager named Russ, said that we can't wear our helmets!
My first thought was, "Great. Here we go again." After explaining to Russ, that this has happened before and that as long as we obeyed the rules, we could wear our helmets. We even went over the rules with him, and he said, "You're right. But I have to get it approved with teh Park Manager before I let you leave." Well, 8 minutes later he said that he can't allow us to wear our helmets because, Tye the Park Manager said that he won't allow us.
Now folks, we could have said, "Okay", and moved on only to wear them anyways, but we decided that we needed to see Tye, speak to him, and ask him to please let us enjoy the park like we have done through these years.
This is where the Disney, "Have a Magical Day" wheels fell off. We spoke to someone behind the counter of our situation. He said that he couldn't make that decision so decided to get someone who could. Fair enough.
We spoke to a guy named Brandon, from Atlanta GA, as his name tag indicated, and he said that the reason why we were asked not to wear our helmets is because of the limited vision. We explained that security chec ked it twice, and that the head of security even checked them and passed us through. Brandon said, "Fair enough", and let us go. Well, just as we were about to leave, Tye the Park Manager comes out from the back office, and abruptly says, "You can't wear your helmets in teh park anymore." Once again we explained our situation, and even stated that last year the Park Manager let us stay etc.
Well Tye didn't want to hear any of it. He suggested that we leave our helmets with him, and that we can pick them up when we leave! Now folks, I live an 1 hour and 15 minutes away. It's another hour and 15 back. I paid 62.84 to spend 5 hours in the park, and have done everything that has been asked of me. Why would I pay and drive only to wear half of my costume?
Tye brought out a "rules" sheet and one of them said that no costume shall block any eyes or eye sight. I asked him, "Who in their right mind would wear a costume, at night, where they CAN'T SEE?! "He said, "I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about you!"
I looked at my friend, an dlooked at him as if to say, "I can't believe he just said that to me, in that tome of voice". I asked Tye, "If the helmets are not allowed, then why where we able to wear them two weeks ago, AND security just tonight checked them TWICE, and still said that they were "Okay"?
Tye then said well that might have been, but I'm not going to let you wear these in the park tonight. Before I go any further, just where is the customer service here? I spoke down to us, and acted as if we broke a mjor rule or law within the park!
We asked for our refund then since it was 8:20pm and at first he wasn;t going to give us one! When I had asked for his Manager, he quickly refunded the money. Now while we waited, two kids dressed in Star Wars costumes walked up to us and were in awe of what they were seeing. They asked us questions, and one wanted to know if we were going to be around, because he pointed to my friend, and said, "You're my hero!" If Tye had seen or heard that maybe things would be different tonight.
Here's the icing on the cake- He said, "Here are your refunds, and now I'm going to ESCORT YOU OUT OF THE PARK!" WHAT?! Escort?! Can you believe that idiot, and I'm being nice here actually ESCORTED us out of the park with two security men, while people were watching us leave. I was EMBARRASSED, and HUMILATED!!!!
I couldn't believe Tye's audacity tonight! Whom was he trying to impress? Why would he do this? If Walt Disney were still alive today, he would be SEVERELY ASHAMED of what happened tonight. Her eI am a grown man of, soon to be 36 years, oh by the way, tonight was a birthday present from my wife. Nice huh? Anyway, I was almost in tears because of the frustration of it all. I've been going to Disney since I was years old! This is the first time that I didn't do anything wrong, and I was booted out of Disney World!!!
Here it is 12:11am and I can't sleep because now humiliation and depression has turned to anger. I plan on writing a letter to the Corporate office, and ask that I am contacted either by phone or letter, as to what if any trianing or recourse that I believe Tye is in dire need of. I'm not asking that he be terminated. I'm asking that someone needs to remind him, that in a place where "Dreams come true", and where everyone there want's you to have a "Magical Day", that tonight those words and beliefs weren't lived up to, and were in fact so hurtful, that I'm seriously thinking about not spending another cent on any Disney merchandise or on Disney Entertainment as a whole.
What gets me thinking, is that if he was that demeaning to me, how many guests has he treated the same way?
I along with two to four of my friends have done the Mickey's Not-So-Scary for the past 5 years. We'll go once to twice during the event openings. We have authentic Star Wars costumes, in fact, we march in the Star Wars Weekends parades held during the summer.
We like to wear our costumes as much as possible, whether it be at a Children's Hospital, and fund raiser or event. So getting to wear them in Disney is even more special.
During these past five years, we've been told by Area Managers, "Guys, you can't wear your helmets. You're too close to the cast members." We've also heard, "Guys you look too much like th ereal thing, so you can't wear your helmets".
So that you all know, we FOLLOW the RULES to the letter-
1. No signing autographs
2. No taking pictures near characters
3. If you take any pictures with the guests, it a quick couple of pictures and you move on.
Last year we had to go to th eTown Hall, and speak with the Park Manager, to see what we can do to wear our helmets. Mind you, we travel at least an hour to and from, pay for our tickets like everyone else, and obey what the Mouse has told us. We explained to the PM what was going on, he said that he apologized that we had to walk all the way to the front, and that our night wasn't what we had hoped to be, so he refunded our tickets and asked for us to stay the rest of the night as his guests!!! I wasn't expecting that at all. I was floored by the great customer service. Well, that all ended tonight.
Last week, when we entered the park, we let Guest Services know that we were in the park, and that they wanted to make sure that we can see out of our helmets. We passed and we had a great time! Tonight again, is where I'm considering NEVER spending any more hard earned money on Disney.
Tonight we arrive in the park around 7:10pm. The event starts at 7:00pm sharp. Beforw we walked through the gates Security checked us out, our helmets and sent us on our way. We took a few steps, and Bill, the head of Security wanted to do one last inspection. He looked through my helmet and my friends helmet and said, "You guys are good to go! Have a great night, and you have the BEST costumes!" We said our "Thanks" and wnet inside, passing several Area Managers.
We were going to report in at the Town Hall, only to see that there was a line from the inside lobby, down the steps and into the street! We didn't want to even bother those that were behind the counter as we were sure those were guests who must have had a lousy time, or something happened where they felt they needed to be heard. We decided to pass, and go straight to Tomorrowland so we can get some food before the first parade started.
We wore our full costumes all the way there, and even into the restaurant with NO PROBLEMS, again passing a few Area Managers. We finished our meals, and proceeded to go outside. There a family of six were waiting outside before going into the restaurant. We took two, that's two pictures with the Dad, and before we could procced to the people mover, and Area Manager named Russ, said that we can't wear our helmets!
My first thought was, "Great. Here we go again." After explaining to Russ, that this has happened before and that as long as we obeyed the rules, we could wear our helmets. We even went over the rules with him, and he said, "You're right. But I have to get it approved with teh Park Manager before I let you leave." Well, 8 minutes later he said that he can't allow us to wear our helmets because, Tye the Park Manager said that he won't allow us.
Now folks, we could have said, "Okay", and moved on only to wear them anyways, but we decided that we needed to see Tye, speak to him, and ask him to please let us enjoy the park like we have done through these years.
This is where the Disney, "Have a Magical Day" wheels fell off. We spoke to someone behind the counter of our situation. He said that he couldn't make that decision so decided to get someone who could. Fair enough.
We spoke to a guy named Brandon, from Atlanta GA, as his name tag indicated, and he said that the reason why we were asked not to wear our helmets is because of the limited vision. We explained that security chec ked it twice, and that the head of security even checked them and passed us through. Brandon said, "Fair enough", and let us go. Well, just as we were about to leave, Tye the Park Manager comes out from the back office, and abruptly says, "You can't wear your helmets in teh park anymore." Once again we explained our situation, and even stated that last year the Park Manager let us stay etc.
Well Tye didn't want to hear any of it. He suggested that we leave our helmets with him, and that we can pick them up when we leave! Now folks, I live an 1 hour and 15 minutes away. It's another hour and 15 back. I paid 62.84 to spend 5 hours in the park, and have done everything that has been asked of me. Why would I pay and drive only to wear half of my costume?
Tye brought out a "rules" sheet and one of them said that no costume shall block any eyes or eye sight. I asked him, "Who in their right mind would wear a costume, at night, where they CAN'T SEE?! "He said, "I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about you!"
I looked at my friend, an dlooked at him as if to say, "I can't believe he just said that to me, in that tome of voice". I asked Tye, "If the helmets are not allowed, then why where we able to wear them two weeks ago, AND security just tonight checked them TWICE, and still said that they were "Okay"?
Tye then said well that might have been, but I'm not going to let you wear these in the park tonight. Before I go any further, just where is the customer service here? I spoke down to us, and acted as if we broke a mjor rule or law within the park!
We asked for our refund then since it was 8:20pm and at first he wasn;t going to give us one! When I had asked for his Manager, he quickly refunded the money. Now while we waited, two kids dressed in Star Wars costumes walked up to us and were in awe of what they were seeing. They asked us questions, and one wanted to know if we were going to be around, because he pointed to my friend, and said, "You're my hero!" If Tye had seen or heard that maybe things would be different tonight.
Here's the icing on the cake- He said, "Here are your refunds, and now I'm going to ESCORT YOU OUT OF THE PARK!" WHAT?! Escort?! Can you believe that idiot, and I'm being nice here actually ESCORTED us out of the park with two security men, while people were watching us leave. I was EMBARRASSED, and HUMILATED!!!!
I couldn't believe Tye's audacity tonight! Whom was he trying to impress? Why would he do this? If Walt Disney were still alive today, he would be SEVERELY ASHAMED of what happened tonight. Her eI am a grown man of, soon to be 36 years, oh by the way, tonight was a birthday present from my wife. Nice huh? Anyway, I was almost in tears because of the frustration of it all. I've been going to Disney since I was years old! This is the first time that I didn't do anything wrong, and I was booted out of Disney World!!!
Here it is 12:11am and I can't sleep because now humiliation and depression has turned to anger. I plan on writing a letter to the Corporate office, and ask that I am contacted either by phone or letter, as to what if any trianing or recourse that I believe Tye is in dire need of. I'm not asking that he be terminated. I'm asking that someone needs to remind him, that in a place where "Dreams come true", and where everyone there want's you to have a "Magical Day", that tonight those words and beliefs weren't lived up to, and were in fact so hurtful, that I'm seriously thinking about not spending another cent on any Disney merchandise or on Disney Entertainment as a whole.
What gets me thinking, is that if he was that demeaning to me, how many guests has he treated the same way?