A disgruntled Disneyland Resort guest spoke out online on Wednesday after the Southern California theme park reportedly stole $50 from their credit card. In a social media post, they elaborated on the incident, warning other Disney Park guests to avoid the same fate.
Several self-service kiosks offer a unique third-party service throughout Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney District. Guests can purchase a FuelRod, a portable phone charger that they can recharge at home or in their Disney Resort hotel rooms or exchange at kiosks throughout the Disney parks.
Last week, Inside the Magic reported that FuelRod stations throughout Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort were offering free upgrades to anyone with an outdated version of the portable battery. On Wednesday, Redditor u/kemp43 attempted to swap their FuelRod for the new version at Disneyland Resort.
Related: Cast Members Reach Tentative Agreement With Disneyland Officials, Future Decided on Monday
Unfortunately, the FuelRod kiosk was out of stock. However, it still allowed the guest to deposit their FuelRod. Disney cast members couldn’t help because FuelRod is operated by a third party, so the guest expected that they’d have to spend $50 to purchase a new portable battery at another kiosk.
A Disney cast member recommended that the guest contact the customer service number on the FuelRod kiosk. The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m., so the service center was closed when the guest attempted to call.
The guest decided to wait until the following day before giving $50 to another kiosk. The FuelRod customer service searched their transaction, unlocked another kiosk, and dispensed a free replacement FuelRod.
Nevertheless, the Disney Park guest wanted to warn others that they could experience an unexpected cost on their next vacation:
“I was just letting people know this is possible so that there’s no unexpected surprises on anyone’s vacation and they might find this thread useful, as many have already offered great solutions.”
Guests who aren’t near another FuelRod kiosk can e-mail or call customer service with the location of their transaction and have a replacement shipped to their home address.
“I e-mailed Fuel Rod and explained the situation and gave the kiosk code,” said u/The-Meliorist. “They shipped one out pretty quickly.”
Guest Services can’t help with third-party services available throughout the Disney parks. Always look for customer service information on any kiosk or machine at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
Is buying a FuelRod at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort worth it? Share your opinion with us in the comments.
Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on a personal Disney Parks guest experience. No two guest experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with this site’s personal views on Disney Park operations.
