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| - We used to love this place. We had an annual membership for our family and went four times. It was great. I am writing a negative review because I too experienced a problem like the one described below with a "family membership." We purchased a $120 annual membership for my husband, me, and our 3 kids (ages 4, 4, and 6). We purchased it knowing that on occasion, the kids would be brought to the museum not by us, but with a nanny/babysitter (we work) or grandparents. My husband specifically asked and was told those people could not be included on the family membership but that they could pay the $12 to enter and the kids would enter with their pass. I know this was indeed the policy, because my daughter even went on a field trip with her school and used her pass instead of paying admission (she went in with her teacher) last Spring.
Well, fast forward to October 2013, and my parents were in town. My husband and I were out of town and asked my parents to take the kids to the museum. They planned to pay the $24 entry for themselves, and use the pass for the kids. They were denied entry, and told they couldn't "prove" that my kids were actually the names on the card. (They know their birthdates, names, our address, our phone number, and any other details that should be in Discovery's computer, so that sort of makes no sense. But Discovery didn't ask any of those things. They just said they couldn't prove who the kids were.) They were told they should pay $60 for entry, for all 5 people. Others in line were upset watching the scene, saying it was not fair and they should be let in. A manager was called. Discovery held their ground - they wanted $60, when my 3 kids have an ANNUAL $120 membership. The manager claimed it wasn't "fair" to the other customers who had paid for a more expensive membership. I'm not sure what the other membership was that was referred to (maybe something with guest passes?), but considering we were paying $24 for other adults to enter with our kids, I'm not sure who this whole situation was UNFAIR to besides my kids.
So - Discovery - poor, poor business decision. 1. You lost $24 in paying customers that day. My parents left with the kids. They were going to pay for the two adult entries. 2. You lost a family with three kids who likely would have renewed membership again next year. We will not be buying this pass again at least not any time soon until the memberships and customer service associated with them improves. It was no small feat for my parents to get three little kids out of the house, drive across town, park, and get them in to not be allowed into the museum.
I understand there could be an issue with fraud or something - if so, then Discovery should have a card with a photo id or a digital picture in their computer, so that kids could still use THEIR family membership even if they are with another family member or caretaker who took them there. (If a gym can identify my kids with a membership card with a picture, this museum can too, if there truly is an identification issue!) Otherwise it should be disclosed upon purchase and on the card itself (it was NOT) that no one except the parents on the membership card can come, or your KIDS, whose names are on the card, need to pay repeatedly.
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