Fastpaks
Living the Dream, One Image at a time!
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2009
- Messages
- 611
I know that this board is for those interested in the CP program/interships. To be frank, I'm not sure that this sort of post really goes anywhere else as its not a trip report but more I hope of a experience. So I'm just going to write this raw and y'all will get the drift. 
When I grew up in Florida, I was not a fan of the Disney Parks. Long hot days with loooong lines (no fastpass) was just not a good mix for kid is his young tween years. I vowed at some point around then I would never return to WDW. (I know heresy right?) A couple years ago, I decided to take my wife to WDW for a belated-honeymoon. We had a great time but I'll be honest I didn't pay much attention to the CM's except for a few on Main Street. In that trip, though my son was a little ticked that we didn't take him. Hence, the trip I just came back from.
This trip though I figured I would give WDW a real heart felt chance and stop being a uber macho man who was too proud where a goofy shirt for my kids sake. What did I learn? CM's make all the difference in the world, especially the ones in the College Program.
All that to share this story: My son like many other kids loved trading pins. I never cared what he traded or whom he traded with as long as he was having a good time. After a fairly long day at DHS, we stopped in Celebrity 10 &5. (I think that is what it is called.) We were looking for a ornament or something like a keepsake to remember our day on the way as the park was closing. Although, I got an ornament, I really got an impression of a lifetime.
I asked a lady behind the counter, Becky I believe, if she was in the CP seeing her tag had her college. She excitedly said,"yes." And the usual questions from my wife and I ensued. Do you like it? Is it fun? blah blah. She was honest and genuine. This was something I found over and over throughout my trip of CP CMs. As we were leaving the store, my son (7) Adam, noticed her pins around her lanyard. He immediately asked if he could have his lanyard and trade with her. I got it out and handed it too him.
She had no one to wait on and when he approached, they hit it off. She bent down to him and he chose his and they proceeded with the trade. She then said, "Wow you have some cool ones," and that was all it took. Adam would begin to talk to her about all the pins that he got, and she looked interested in each one.
It was one of the rare times that someone got down to his level. I didn't realize how intimidating it can be at 48" tall until I got my camera back from the trip and saw some that he took from his height. They kept talking. I was worried that we would be rushed out the door and I certainly didn't want to get anyone in trouble. I figured in order to save some time leaving I would go get some things purchased at the front and then return so we could leave. When I got back, not only were they still talking about pins but when I asked my wife, she said to me that Becky(I really hope that is the right name) let him to trade with everyone else in the store as well.
They would talk a little more about him meeting Peter Pan (private M&G ) fighting Buzz at Mnnshp, and the DCL cruise after the WDW trip. The whole time she was just as enthusiastic as before. Again, genuine. That day I saw Fantasimic for the first time and agrueably the best show at WDW. But it was this 40mins a CP CM spent with my son that I remember most about that day.
To me, Disney World is just concrete and steel with some special paint. Time after time, I would meet those that work the front lines of Disney. Many of them were CP CMs. I know that you all aren't paid like I think should be.I know that there are times that the job is... well a job. But the one thing I'll say, its people like Becky that really bring Magic to this place. And its people like that that will bring me back to WDW in the future.
So from a former "hater" of WDW, let me say a big THANK YOU for what you do! I'll leave you with this that I used to say when I worked for Space Camp: If you want to impact a life, Spend 5 minutes with a child.
Ps If anyone works in DHS and wants to pass along a msg to this CM please tell her that Jonathan, Ahlam (prounouced A lan), and Adam all say, "hello and thanks for a memory."
When I grew up in Florida, I was not a fan of the Disney Parks. Long hot days with loooong lines (no fastpass) was just not a good mix for kid is his young tween years. I vowed at some point around then I would never return to WDW. (I know heresy right?) A couple years ago, I decided to take my wife to WDW for a belated-honeymoon. We had a great time but I'll be honest I didn't pay much attention to the CM's except for a few on Main Street. In that trip, though my son was a little ticked that we didn't take him. Hence, the trip I just came back from.
This trip though I figured I would give WDW a real heart felt chance and stop being a uber macho man who was too proud where a goofy shirt for my kids sake. What did I learn? CM's make all the difference in the world, especially the ones in the College Program.
All that to share this story: My son like many other kids loved trading pins. I never cared what he traded or whom he traded with as long as he was having a good time. After a fairly long day at DHS, we stopped in Celebrity 10 &5. (I think that is what it is called.) We were looking for a ornament or something like a keepsake to remember our day on the way as the park was closing. Although, I got an ornament, I really got an impression of a lifetime.
I asked a lady behind the counter, Becky I believe, if she was in the CP seeing her tag had her college. She excitedly said,"yes." And the usual questions from my wife and I ensued. Do you like it? Is it fun? blah blah. She was honest and genuine. This was something I found over and over throughout my trip of CP CMs. As we were leaving the store, my son (7) Adam, noticed her pins around her lanyard. He immediately asked if he could have his lanyard and trade with her. I got it out and handed it too him.
She had no one to wait on and when he approached, they hit it off. She bent down to him and he chose his and they proceeded with the trade. She then said, "Wow you have some cool ones," and that was all it took. Adam would begin to talk to her about all the pins that he got, and she looked interested in each one.
It was one of the rare times that someone got down to his level. I didn't realize how intimidating it can be at 48" tall until I got my camera back from the trip and saw some that he took from his height. They kept talking. I was worried that we would be rushed out the door and I certainly didn't want to get anyone in trouble. I figured in order to save some time leaving I would go get some things purchased at the front and then return so we could leave. When I got back, not only were they still talking about pins but when I asked my wife, she said to me that Becky(I really hope that is the right name) let him to trade with everyone else in the store as well.
They would talk a little more about him meeting Peter Pan (private M&G ) fighting Buzz at Mnnshp, and the DCL cruise after the WDW trip. The whole time she was just as enthusiastic as before. Again, genuine. That day I saw Fantasimic for the first time and agrueably the best show at WDW. But it was this 40mins a CP CM spent with my son that I remember most about that day.
To me, Disney World is just concrete and steel with some special paint. Time after time, I would meet those that work the front lines of Disney. Many of them were CP CMs. I know that you all aren't paid like I think should be.I know that there are times that the job is... well a job. But the one thing I'll say, its people like Becky that really bring Magic to this place. And its people like that that will bring me back to WDW in the future.
So from a former "hater" of WDW, let me say a big THANK YOU for what you do! I'll leave you with this that I used to say when I worked for Space Camp: If you want to impact a life, Spend 5 minutes with a child.
Ps If anyone works in DHS and wants to pass along a msg to this CM please tell her that Jonathan, Ahlam (prounouced A lan), and Adam all say, "hello and thanks for a memory."
