Fantasmic! Annual Passholder Glow with the Show Event Scheduled for August 28

[tea4two]

Just FYI on malfunctioning ears from the WOC passholder event.

I changed the batteries in my ears yesterday, and they still wouldn't work. I took them to Embarcadero Gifts, explained they were from the WOC event, and I changed the batteries and they still weren't working. 2 CMs looked at the ears, saw the mark on the tag and said they couldn't be replaced "Because they were from a special event..." So then I tried Seaside Souvenirs, and they said they exact same line, "Because they were from a special event..." But also suggested I check to make sure the batteries were in correctly. So then I tried to buy batteries at Treasures in Paradise, where they also checked for the mark and gave me the exact same line "Because they were from a special event..." but told me all they can do is put tester batteries in, but that they didn't have a screwdriver at the moment, and sent me to Fly n Buy. Well, Rushin' River Outfitters looked dead, so I thought I'd go there and ask for a screwdriver. They had a box full of batteries, and when they put new ones in, the ears worked! (Side note: super annoyed that Rite Aid sells bad batteries.) The CM said no charge, even though I would have happily paid. I wasn't trying to game them or anything, I told the CMs the ears were from the WOC event, but it was interesting that I literally got the same line 3 times and they did check for the mark on the tag. Of course, I then met up with a friend of a friend later who told me her ears from the WOC event weren't working, she went to a story in Disneyland, asked for a screwdriver, and they said, "Here, just take a new pair." I think her experience probably the exception rather than the rule. But I did come right home and take the batteries out, they're in a plastic bag clipped to the ears right now, because I don't want to spend $5 on batteries every time I use those ears.

My ears seemed to work fine before last night's F! event, but never did sync for the entire F! show. Sigh... Adding to that, Mr. Tea's ears worked until about 30 minutes before the show, when the batteries started dying. The CM at the Royal Street Sweets cart did not want to exchange the ears, but grudgingly gave Mr. Tea another pair that had someone else's name written inside (!). Needless to say, that pair worked, but the elastic clip was broken. After the show, we took both pairs back to the sweets cart where a much nicer CM took one look at our ears and immediately gave us brand new pairs. He was nice enough to check them for us to make sure that they worked. He said that he'd exchanged quite a few pairs last night.

And here is a video from last night: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=U7kiDJ...h_response_rev

[AnotherJenny]

My ears seemed to work fine before last night's F! event, but never did sync for the entire F! show. Sigh... Adding to that, Mr. Tea's ears worked until about 30 minutes before the show, when the batteries started dying. The CM at the Royal Street Sweets cart did not want to exchange the ears, but grudgingly gave Mr. Tea another pair that had someone else's name written inside (!). Needless to say, that pair worked, but the elastic clip was broken. After the show, we took both pairs back to the sweets cart where a much nicer CM took one look at our ears and immediately gave us brand new pairs. He was nice enough to check them for us to make sure that they worked. He said that he'd exchanged quite a few pairs last night.

I noticed a lot of ears not syncing. There were 2 right in front of us. At the WOC event they were switching those out, but I wasn't surprised they weren't doing it last night. I think (and hope) that changing the batteries will fix the issue with ears not syncing. Maybe the ears with a name were a CM's ears? I would think their ears are marked differently than the AP promo ears, but maybe the CM thought they could switch with a guest and get their own replaced more easily? At this point, I got to see both shows with the ears, and I'm grateful for that, so I personally don't care if they stop working. They're really just not worth the $23 to replace to me. If I was making a trip knowing I was going to WOC, I would happily wear them so other guests get the experience of seeing the ears, but not if I have to pay to replace them. I like my conductor ears much more, and would rather get another pair of those if something happens to them.

[tea4two]

... Maybe the ears with a name were a CM's ears? I would think their ears are marked differently than the AP promo ears, but maybe the CM thought they could switch with a guest and get their own replaced more easily? At this point, I got to see both shows with the ears, and I'm grateful for that, so I personally don't care if they stop working. They're really just not worth the $23 to replace to me...

Yes, we think the grouchy CM gave us another CM's ears which were broken. The ears had the X mark on the tag and a name written above that. The plastic clips were split, so they wouldn't hold together, so there was no way to keep the ears on your head.
Mr. Tea expressed the same sentiments last night -- both AP events were really fun, and we are fortunate that we got to attend both, but we probably wouldn't pay for the ears just to wear them. We want the conductor ears, too!