To the CM's on the board: what is the one "tip" you can give us?

[M2J3]

Wonderful thread! May I chime in?

Re: taking time to enjoy the magic of Disney -- on our first trip, my sons were 4.5 and 7. I certainly planned (that's half the fun!), but it involved knowing what rides/shows were top priority in each park and which we could just skip due to their ages, interests etc. (ie., no need to worry about RRC or the Litttle Mermaid show, head to Peter Pans Flight and anything Toy Story!) That's vital to not wasting time and energy in those enormous parks and allows you to proceed through at a more relaxed pace so you can enjoy your surroundings & be available for the unplanned magical moment -- like when Hook, Smee, Peter & Wendy made an unscheduled appearance & played hide and seek and duck-duck-goose with a handful of kids, including mine. Completely awesome memory that wouldn't have happened if we'd hopped off the ride and gone off running to "do the next thing on the list".

Now my awesome CM story: we were hanging out early morning in DHS taking in the amazing details of things & locating Pizza Planet, where we planned to have lunch later that day. It wasn't open yet of course, but as we were walking past, a lovely older gentleman CM opened the door & called to us to come back over (we were the only ones there -- I think it was EMH morning). Anyway, he bent down to my boys, who of course were wearing Toy Story shirts, & asked if they'd like a private tour of Pizza Planet. Did they! He let us in and showed us all the cool details, let them play a few arcade games, told stories about Buzz & Woody, etc. He was so charming and amazing & I could kick myself to this day for not writing down his name & sending a letter of gratitude. I guess I never even knew it was an option back then - duh.

So for our next trip, I plan to write up all great CMs in our autograph book & have them sign it, too. Like this: I'd write, "CM Joe Smith took us on a private tour of Pizza Planet!" at the top of the page; ask for his autograph underneath. Then I'd have his name recorded for future commendation purposes (!) & hopefully give the CM a reason to smile, too. Plus, it is a way to demonstrate to my kids that when you go out of your way to do something nice for someone else, that makes you a hero, too -- just like Buzz and Woody!

 

[chaoscent]

What a nice idea. I am sure the CMs will apreciate it.

 

[kaylasennett1988]

WOW what an amazing thread! i am in the uk and planning our very first family holiday! me my husband and our 3 yea old daughter (she wil be almost 4 when we go) will be going to WDW for christmas! i am so excited and my daughter is over the moon! we have saved hard and super excited! we have got the ticket to MVMCP and reading these tips has put my mind at ease! i was panning where we are gonna eat and the rides my daughter and hubby wants to do and times to go where but now i am gonna chill out a bit!
anyone got any tips for WDW at christmas? x and i am super excited to talk to all the CM i can talk for days given half the chance and i am not shy and neither is my daughter she loves to talk and ask question and she is very well mannered to so lots of please and thank yous.

sooo excited

 

[Pjimmeyer]

Anything new?

 

[sephorachick]

Go on rides during 3pm parade- obvious tip I know but it is true

LISTEN to CM's when they are speaking. It is for your safety 90% of the time.

Don't argue with them at fastpass merge in line. I had that happen A LOT!

best time of year to go: January after marathon happens, 1st week of May, late sept - mid oct week before thanksgiving first week or so of december

keep a copy of ADR #'s on your phone in case an issue happens with your reservation. You never know.

Strike up a friendly conversation with a CM. We love meeting people from all over the world. You never know it could turn into a magical moment.

If you have a complaint go to guest services & get the issue fixed RIGHT AWAY instead of waiting until you get home.

If you want a picture taken ask a CM. That is what they are there for.

 

[RyMacJ]

Go on rides during 3pm parade- obvious tip I know but it is true

LISTEN to CM's when they are speaking. It is for your safety 90% of the time.

Don't argue with them at fastpass merge in line. I had that happen A LOT!

best time of year to go: January after marathon happens, 1st week of May, late sept - mid oct week before thanksgiving first week or so of december

keep a copy of ADR #'s on your phone in case an issue happens with your reservation. You never know.

Strike up a friendly conversation with a CM. We love meeting people from all over the world. You never know it could turn into a magical moment.

If you have a complaint go to guest services & get the issue fixed RIGHT AWAY instead of waiting until you get home.

If you want a picture taken ask a CM. That is what they are there for.

Our dates for next year are May 4th-11th. Kind of creeping into mid May I suppose. Does that count?

 

[tigress1980]

After reading most of this thread this morning (lol got caught up in it) Here are some words of wisdom from a PP CM.

1. For the love of Mickey and all the magic do NOT hand a photographer your PP card you just pulled out of your mouth!!!

2. It's still florida's summer. If we look hot and are standing in the shade its we are trying to cool off, not be rude or hide from you. Many of us work in one location for 3-4 hours without a rotation or a break.

3. If you come in the summer, expect it to rain. No Disney does not have a bubble that controls the weather. It's florida and summer, it WILL rain at some point somewhere. Come prepared.

4. As someone else said, please dont try to get us to break character. Its hard enough to preserve the magic when you have someone trying to get you to tell them if there really is someone inside the costume.

6. If your child is scared of the characters, please dont force them to go see them. If they want to wait in the back, let them. 9 times out of 10 the character will see they are scared and try to coax them into seeing them.

7. As a photographer i do my best to get the shy or timid child to help me take a picture, then i will have them stand in front of me with their attention on me and have the character come up behind them. Then i snap the picture. Most of the time this works out great.

8. If you are walking into the park and a CM just says hi to you, no we are not making you take a picture. We are just being nice.

9. One of the biggest things i can say, and its been said over and over again. The NICER you are to us, the more we will go out of our way to help you out. I have had countless times where i will go out of my way to help someone just because they were nice to me in the first place.

10. Another PP thing, please dont shove your cards at us and say nothing.

11. Just because you are on vacation doesnt mean you can leave manners at home.


OK thats enough for now. I hope this helps anyone out here

 

[aznshents]

After reading most of this thread this morning (lol got caught up in it) Here are some words of wisdom from a PP CM.

1. For the love of Mickey and all the magic do NOT hand a photographer your PP card you just pulled out of your mouth!!!

2. It's still florida's summer. If we look hot and are standing in the shade its we are trying to cool off, not be rude or hide from you. Many of us work in one location for 3-4 hours without a rotation or a break.

3. If you come in the summer, expect it to rain. No Disney does not have a bubble that controls the weather. It's florida and summer, it WILL rain at some point somewhere. Come prepared.

4. As someone else said, please dont try to get us to break character. Its hard enough to preserve the magic when you have someone trying to get you to tell them if there really is someone inside the costume.

6. If your child is scared of the characters, please dont force them to go see them. If they want to wait in the back, let them. 9 times out of 10 the character will see they are scared and try to coax them into seeing them.

7. As a photographer i do my best to get the shy or timid child to help me take a picture, then i will have them stand in front of me with their attention on me and have the character come up behind them. Then i snap the picture. Most of the time this works out great.

8. If you are walking into the park and a CM just says hi to you, no we are not making you take a picture. We are just being nice.

9. One of the biggest things i can say, and its been said over and over again. The NICER you are to us, the more we will go out of our way to help you out. I have had countless times where i will go out of my way to help someone just because they were nice to me in the first place.

10. Another PP thing, please dont shove your cards at us and say nothing.

11. Just because you are on vacation doesnt mean you can leave manners at home.


OK thats enough for now. I hope this helps anyone out here

Addendum:

The photopass photographers are holding a giant complicated looking camera with supplementary equipment. YES, they know how to operate your simple little point and shoot/your iPhone camera. It isn't rocket science.

 

[jmm476]

Addendum:

The photopass photographers are holding a giant complicated looking camera with supplementary equipment. YES, they know how to operate your simple little point and shoot/your iPhone camera. It isn't rocket science.

now that's funny!

 

[hollypoast]

very funny

 

[MSUmom]

What a great thread!!!!!

 

[GrahamOrlando]

Autograph books are great for collecting character signatures around the parks, but characters will be happy to sign just about anything. If you happen to see a character and don't have an autograph book, have them sign your park map, or perhaps a Disney hat or shirt

Character greets can be a little intimidating for some younger children, so always accompany them when meeting a character. My best tip for adults and older children meeting characters is to drop all your inhibitions and throw your embarrassment to the curb. Don't feel shy when posing for a photograph. Cast Members always stay "in character", so be prepared for some light hearted interactions. Go with the flow, smile and enjoy it

 

[goofy Jr. 88]

This thread is exactly why I like The Dis.

 

[HoosierDaddy71]

A lot of good info

I would just like to say thank you for taking the time to join and post those tips.

 

[HoosierDaddy71]

Addendum:

The photopass photographers are holding a giant complicated looking camera with supplementary equipment. YES, they know how to operate your simple little point and shoot/your iPhone camera. It isn't rocket science.

 

[scojos]

I just finished the thread. What's cool is that I started reading this thread the first time in 09 preping for our Sept 09 trip. Then I saw it a few days ago and started reading it again, to prep for this year's Sept trip!

My advice is that some disabilities are invisible. My DS5 looks like your average Kindergartner. One minute he will be running and jumping and playing, but the next he could be having a full meltdown, or sitting curled up in a stroller sucking thumb and rocking. He has a mild form of Autism.

So the next time you see a screaming child being hauled off by a parent, or a screaming child in line for a ride, or you see what appears to be a perfectly healthy, older child in a stroller, or a normal looking family using a GAC card...don't roll your eyes and whisper things like "some people can't control their kids" or "why are they forcing him to ride" or "must be nice to cut lines". Instead be thankful that you and your children are healthy!

Quick story: In 09, DS5 was 3 and was having a really hard time(this was pre-diagnosis). We got in line to ride Tomorrowland Speedway. Halfway through the line he gets freaked out by the noise, and the crowd and starts having a meltdown. Well my DH scoops him up and takes him out of the line, while DS7 and I stay in line to ride.
As soon as they were out of the line, DS5 starts crying harder, when DH finally realizes that he really wanted to ride the cars! So they get back in line, and wait, all the while DS is still crying and carrying on. When they get to the front a concerned CM asks DH if he is sure DS really wants to ride...Sure enough once they got in the car, DS stopped crying and had the biggest smile on is face!

We now know that the line with the heat and the noise and the crowd was too much for him, but once he got on the ride he was great!

my 12yr ds also has hfasd, if u speak nicely to cm at HM you can skip the stretching room completely, im really claustrophobic and willing miss it with him, on occasions dh has taken other 2 and we met them in the loading area, other times we all skip it....

we printed autism awareness mickey t shirts from the disigners thread on here in 2008 and 2010 and soooooo many people asked us where we could buy them from!! the best was dh had a beers around the world t shirt(again off disigners thread) with mickey sat on a autism puzzle piece, we ended up chatting to a family whos dd had asd, was there 1st trip and didnt know about gac, i shared the magic that time!!

like a few people i startedreading this when planning a trip a few years ago, and have learnt many things from the dis, we have done the ddp for the last few trips and as we have no food tips (hey my holiday revolves around food lmao) here are a few-
ask for water and a drink, we make the kids drink iced water with meal and then they can enjoy their soda/juice after...
get kids desserts fruit bags etc, as to go options and throw them in bag for later...
research ur menus, in 2008 we were in ws, in norway, we had the best cs meal by accident, we always did adrs for ts, never looked at cs, we do now lol!!
some cs places, sunshine seasons, restaurantosaurus have soda fountain where you can refil ur cups before leaving.... my kids drink loads (as u should) and this silly tip has saved me a fortune lol!!
ask at ts restaurants for another soda to go.....
if u cant finish dinner as for dessert to go, fruit salad for bfast rocks )but cheesecake is better
think outside the box with snacks, some are "a meal" eg ice cream cookie sandwich from msb, or carrot cake cookies at ws at dhs... both make good b fasts
pick up pastries and take them back to ur room for bfast, we had a coffee machine in our room, and a bfast like that saved us an hour in the morning (we used the jetlag in our favour and was up for rd everyday...

SLEEP... it not a punishment, as my kids see it..... tired/dehydrated/grumpy kids are no fun!!

if kids are over stimulated, turn up at waterparks, BB/TL 2-3hrs before they close, omg.... we had planned days in both parks (not my idea of fun but kids love them) we literally walked on all the big rides (well they did i watched lmao) and "got" the park out of their system, saved me hearing when we going to tl for the next week lol, and the water pressure helped my sons behaviour...
take towels to water parks, their towels are tiny and rough, after the first trip we went to walmart and brought $5 beach towels, we had a washer in room, so washed and dried them a few times (when doing other washing) and that was MUCH better, then we left them washed and folded to chamber maid (my hubby commented she must have alot of towels at home if everyone did the same thing!! lmao!!

Addendum:

The photopass photographers are holding a giant complicated looking camera with supplementary equipment. YES, they know how to operate your simple little point and shoot/your iPhone camera. It isn't rocket science.

, well maybe you could show me when im there

sorry to ramble!!

 

[GrahamOrlando]

Here's a tip for EPCOT visitors who want to avoid the mass exodus at closing time - Park your vehicle at one of the free parking lots at the Boardwalk Hotel. If you nip through the main lobby of the hotel and go out onto the Boardwalk itself, turn right and follow the main path for a few minutes until you see the rarely used back entrance into the park.

This entrance/exit is located between the United Kingdom pavilion (in World Showcase) and the bridge to France. It's an ideal way to avoid the exit crowds all heading towards the main gates when the park closes. It's also a great opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Boardwalk on your walk back to your vehicle

 

[vicki_c]

Here's a tip for EPCOT visitors who want to avoid the mass exodus at closing time - Park your vehicle at one of the free parking lots at the Boardwalk Hotel. If you nip through the main lobby of the hotel and go out onto the Boardwalk itself, turn right and follow the main path for a few minutes until you see the rarely used back entrance into the park.

This entrance/exit is located between the United Kingdom pavilion (in World Showcase) and the bridge to France. It's an ideal way to avoid the exit crowds all heading towards the main gates when the park closes. It's also a great opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Boardwalk on your walk back to your vehicle

As long as you park across the street in the overflow lot, I have no issue with this tip. Hopefully you are not suggesting that people park in the actual resort lot, which is reserved for resort guests.

 

[GrahamOrlando]

As long as you park across the street in the overflow lot, I have no issue with this tip. Hopefully you are not suggesting that people park in the actual resort lot, which is reserved for resort guests.

No, I'm not suggesting that. The gate Guards, upon arrival, will direct visitors to the Boardwalk to the overflow parking lots across the street. Visitors won't be directed to the main parking lot unless they're checking into or staying at the resort.

 

[violinlover5661]

Not a cast member story, but I just wanted to share a little making magic story.

My family loves eating at teppen edo in Epcot because of the food (really, its outstanding and one of the meals we constantly talk about). But the tables there seat up to 8, so if you have less than that in your party you will be dining with others. The last time we were there, we sat with 2 men that served in the air force and it was their first time in disney world. They were such nice people, and having relatives in the air force ourselves, we told our waitress that we wanted to pay for their dessert. Well, they were so thankful-just a little something to show our appreciation to people that serve our country.

Also, even though its a small gesture, if you go to disney on your birthday and obtain a birthday button I love when cast members AND OTHER GUESTS wish you happy birthday. I even got a few high fives from people. Its the little things that make disney so wonderful, from cast members to other guests!