Anyone else notice that Entertainment Staff join character lines?

[MunFam]

I'm aware that CMs date each other. That's cool with me. And I know sometimes they have time off and they use the adult pool area or go off the ship. But this was different.

Yes, it seems that way to me. On the Fantasy, I KNOW they took a picture with Daisy (or maybe it was Donald). The Wishes girl even posed with one of her legs bent back cutesy-style. On the Wonder, I didn't stick around to see what they did.

What's strange to me is why that time? I'm sure they all know each other and I'm sure they can take personal pics with characters "behind the scenes" which is even more cool because regular guests don't get to. It's just weird to me.

You can say they're enjoying their time off, but that just doesn't make sense to me. Do you see these CMs eating in the buffet or out at the main pool area enjoying an ice cream cone "on their time off"? No way. The only time I've seen CMs use amenities like regular guests is on port days in the adult pool area.

I noticed this a lot on our WBPC 2015 cruise. The cast members were everwhere! They even had rooms on Deck 2 (insides) and we would see them come out of their rooms in full make up. I was freaking out, but our 4 year old never caught on that Brittany from across the hall that was heading to the pool, is now Brittany the character handler, is now in identical makeup to Cinderella...and will be dressed like her in 20 minutes. We saw a lot of cast members eating in the MDRs and buffets as well. Apparently, this was because this was the end of all of their contracts, so they got to do some extra special stuff. We hung out with quite a few of them in ports too. It was fun.

 

[KT2038]

Sorry if I'm ruining the magic for anyone. I'm not trying to. I'm just honestly curious why this is.

I just got off my 2nd DCL cruise and on both cruises, I noticed CMs from the shows "pretend" that they are regular guests and they wait in character lines with us. I'm not sure if they are pretending. But it seems like they are. They don't do anything special, there's no "show" they are planning. It's just weird. Or maybe I missed something?

On my first cruise on the Fantasy, I had the guy playing Aladdin and the lead girl in Wishes pretend like they were on a date. They were right in front of me in line for Daisy (if I remember correctly). Then this past cruise on the Wonder, there were a few CMs in line for Captain Jack Sparrow.

I mean, what gives? If anyone knows why they do this, please enlighten me. Or if anyone else notice this on their trips, please share!

Hi! I am a Youth Activities CM. All of the entertainment staff (cruise staff, YA, main stage and character performers) are what is known as petty officers. This allows us what we call "guest privileges". This means we can request to eat in restaraunts, swim in the pool, use the spa, see the shows and movies, take photos with characters and go to parties like pirate night of Pixar pals. We cannot eat up on deck. So if you do see is out of costume up on deck or other guest areas, this is our free time off from work.

 

[Andasibe]

Apparently my opinion would be of the minority, but I don't think it is fair that cast members get the privilege of meet and greets when there are others, paying others, who don't due to long lines or limited times.

 

[Cruise-n-2015]

Apparently my opinion would be of the minority, but I don't think it is fair that cast members get the privilege of meet and greets when there are others, paying others, who don't due to long lines or limited times.

I agree to this to an extent, when it comes to pools and dining they absolutely deserve thier free time, but when I comes to making a child wait in line to meet Mickey, Elsa or who ever provides "the magic" in that child's eyes. Give it to the child first please.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I agree to this to an extent, when it comes to pools and dining they absolutely deserve thier free time, but when I comes to making a child wait in line to meet Mickey, Elsa or who ever provides "the magic" in that child's eyes. Give it to the child first please.

Onboard, there really is no issue with a child "missing" a character. The lines close when the lines close, everyone who is in line before the line closes gets to see the character. Regardless if someone further up in the line is an employee or not.

 

[Belle1997]

I do not think the odd CM getting a pic is a major issue. I feel for them too. It is not like they go home to their families. They are gone for a very long time away from friends and families. Just think about this. When you are having your Christmas cruise with you family they are away from theirs. Some will not see them for another 6 months. It is a great experience. It is not easy either. I actually find it kind of petty. Cast members line up to get pictures taken at Disney World all the time. Just you would not normally notice it because there are so many of them. Also unless you are sitting in the first rows you would not really remember who played what. Many have very similar facial structure too. It is easy to get them mixed up. So majority of the people would have no clue they are lined up for a picture. Who is to say that the character does not stay an extra few minutes to make up for the time a cast member took? I know many a time they do stay pass their time for photos.

 

[squirk]

Apparently my opinion would be of the minority, but I don't think it is fair that cast members get the privilege of meet and greets when there are others, paying others, who don't due to long lines or limited times.

I could be wrong, but I highly doubt that meet-and-greet lines are getting backed up or shut down due to a glut of off-duty CMs in line.

 

[sambycat]

i'm missing out on what is the vast conspiracy you think is happening by writing in line or "pretending" to be BF/GF? taking places in a character line? my husband has the eagle eye, he often can spot this or that performer "off duty". i've keyed into (after several cruises) other entertainment staff dancing at, say, the pixar party or adding to the excitement "out of costume" or an their own. or noticed gals from the spa doing laps out on the track the mornings i was. i've never noticed anyone "taking away" a guest experience in any meaningful way. only one time (on a really delayed return into galveston) did we notice a ...... less than typical looking cinderella (she was a very very very tiny cinderella) when i think they were trying to bust out the characters to entertain hours delayed guests.

i guess i don't understand the problem? if you notice some bleakly unprofessional behavior i guess tell someone on board? CMs as a vast whole work extremely hard are are not doing what they do to become rich (or to steal character experiences from passengers). i'm sorry this ruined your cruise experience.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Out of curiosity, when they do eat in the dining rooms, who is serving them? How do they tip whoever serves them? I find it weird. Disney (DCL) is definitely an awesome company to work for, as I've been told they are "fair" to their workers, as opposed to other cruise lines. I've never worked for them. But I would hazard a guess that I don't think they'd encourage their employees to participate in the same activities that regular guests do. They are employees, not paid customers. That statement will probably get me a bullseye target on my back but that's what I believe.

I can understand if employees are on vacation and they decide they want to go on a cruise that they've paid for. Then by all means, see you in the dining rooms, in character lines. But if you're working on the ship, it just doesn't seem right that you'd participate in the same activities like eating in the main dining room as regular paying guests.

Easy there, big guy. They may have to pay X amount for each MDR meal they partake in on their day off, with a limit of say, one per month.
I worked for a luxury hotel chain and we could only dine there twice a year and had a 50% discount.
Sorry if you think the peon servers don't deserve to sit with you during their time off.

 

[squirk]

Okay, thanks to all who replied. I guess I'm a conspiracy theorist, thinking there's gotta be more to it than innocent intentions for character pics.


Out of curiosity, when they do eat in the dining rooms, who is serving them? How do they tip whoever serves them? I find it weird. Disney (DCL) is definitely an awesome company to work for, as I've been told they are "fair" to their workers, as opposed to other cruise lines. I've never worked for them. But I would hazard a guess that I don't think they'd encourage their employees to participate in the same activities that regular guests do. They are employees, not paid customers. That statement will probably get me a bullseye target on my back but that's what I believe.

I can understand if employees are on vacation and they decide they want to go on a cruise that they've paid for. Then by all means, see you in the dining rooms, in character lines. But if you're working on the ship, it just doesn't seem right that you'd participate in the same activities like eating in the main dining room as regular paying guests.

You really seem hung up on this. Should they also not make eye contact and stay three paces behind you at all times as well?

One thing you may not have considered is that use of the ship's facilities (MDR, spa, etc.) on their "time off" was part of their contract/compensation package. In which case, they would in fact be paying for use of those facilities.

Also, who cares?

 

[bumbershoot]

Since I'm not a character fan, I cannot even imagine wasting my time to take a picture with someone who is likely my friend, while my friend is in costume. There are so many better things I can do with my time...

(note the heavy use of the word "my", meaning it's my feelings about me, if I were a DCL CM.)

 

[genki3]

Apparently my opinion would be of the minority, but I don't think it is fair that cast members get the privilege of meet and greets when there are others, paying others, who don't due to long lines or limited times.

Apparently I'm in that same minority... While I don't think it is "unfair" I think it is weird. We must be awful awful people....

i'm missing out on what is the vast conspiracy you think is happening by writing in line or "pretending" to be BF/GF? taking places in a character line? my husband has the eagle eye, he often can spot this or that performer "off duty". i've keyed into (after several cruises) other entertainment staff dancing at, say, the pixar party or adding to the excitement "out of costume" or an their own. or noticed gals from the spa doing laps out on the track the mornings i was. i've never noticed anyone "taking away" a guest experience in any meaningful way. only one time (on a really delayed return into galveston) did we notice a ...... less than typical looking cinderella (she was a very very very tiny cinderella) when i think they were trying to bust out the characters to entertain hours delayed guests.

i guess i don't understand the problem? if you notice some bleakly unprofessional behavior i guess tell someone on board? CMs as a vast whole work extremely hard are are not doing what they do to become rich (or to steal character experiences from passengers). i'm sorry this ruined your cruise experience.

Please don't jump to conclusions yourself. I never stated that this "ruined my cruise" at all. I merely brought up a topic that I noticed from my DCL experience and wanted clarification (which I got from many). My reference to being a conspiracy theorist was really tongue-in-cheek. And again the words "pretend" was backed with the words "or at least they seem to be."

 

[genki3]

Is it so hard to ask that people show a bit of courtesy before they snap at another poster?

I'm sorry if I've offended so many of you by starting this thread topic. I was merely curious as to why some CMs were in a character line like regular guests. Is it so bad that I think it is weird? Can I not have a different opinion from you?

 

[Hernandez Family Cruisers]

My husband and I met while we were both working at WDW. I was in entertainment. I can't tell you the number of times we went on a date and stood in line to see characters, sometimes I knew the person, sometimes I did not. He also came quite often to see me on set and take a picture with me.

I don't think it odd at all that the DCL entertainment staff would do things like that!

 

[C6PT7]

Is it so hard to ask that people show a bit of courtesy before they snap at another poster?

I'm sorry if I've offended so many of you by starting this thread topic. I was merely curious as to why some CMs were in a character line like regular guests. Is it so bad that I think it is weird? Can I not have a different opinion from you?

A difference of opinion is fine, but You post where you said But if you're working on the ship, it just doesn't seem right that you'd participate in the same activities like eating in the main dining room as regular paying guests. really is to much for me to swallow.If eating with the staff or hired help is not to your taste, then i'm surprised to hear you have and have another carnival cruise booked? John head has said before on his blog and facebbok page that some staff have the privilege to eat in passenger areas?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is it so hard to ask that people show a bit of courtesy before they snap at another poster?

I'm sorry if I've offended so many of you by starting this thread topic. I was merely curious as to why some CMs were in a character line like regular guests. Is it so bad that I think it is weird? Can I not have a different opinion from you?

I live near Disneyland. I know many CMs there who go to the park when they are not working. It would be the same onboard. Those CMs are finding "stuff" to do on their off time (other than just sitting in their room). The only reason you notice it more onboard is that the people load (numbers of people around you) is less onboard and you can pick out those who aren't "regular cruisers". In the parks, you don't have as constant, close contact with the CMs, so you don't "see" them when they are being "regular people".

 

[aggiedog]

just doesn't seem right that you'd participate in the same activities like eating in the main dining room as regular paying guests.

Now, my experience was a bit different, but I spent two years deployed, living full time, on a Navy ship. Let me tell you, when your shifts are done, you've worked out for the second time that day, you've taken a nap in your tiny, tiny room that you share with 1-3 (or more) other people, and you've had one of the same 27 meals in rotation in the same dining room, finding something else to do is precious. And again, though I've never seen CM-only areas of the ship, other than the stair wells, I'm going to assume they are not as imagineered as the guest spaces. I don't think there is a whole, second backstage decorated and comfy set of CM only lounges, pool decks, and beautiful staterooms. I don't begrudge any CM that is able to go out about the ship and enjoy it. They work hard. No, they don't pay with money, but they do pay in time, commitment, and willingness to live in tighter, more confined conditions than most people would ever imagine. All while smiling and making our vacations magical.

 

[CesD]

In previous cruises we've seen entertainment staff at the movie theater. Also saw "snow white's friend" in plain clothes grab food from the buffet.

 

[genki3]

A difference of opinion is fine, but You post where you said But if you're working on the ship, it just doesn't seem right that you'd participate in the same activities like eating in the main dining room as regular paying guests. really is to much for me to swallow.If eating with the staff or hired help is not to your taste, then i'm surprised to hear you have and have another carnival cruise booked? John head has said before on his blog and facebbok page that some staff have the privilege to eat in passenger areas?

You are misquoting me, as I posted that statement BEFORE I was informed of the differences in staff privileges. I initially assumed she meant all staff (entertainment and crew) was allowed to eat in the MDR and this didn't make sense to me as I understood it as the staff had its own dining area. Plus I never saw my dining team or room attendant in these areas. So I was curious why these CMs. Please don't presume to think that I am some elitist or snob, as that is extremely unfair and untrue

 

[Belle1997]

Okay, thanks to all who replied. I guess I'm a conspiracy theorist, thinking there's gotta be more to it than innocent intentions for character pics.


Out of curiosity, when they do eat in the dining rooms, who is serving them? How do they tip whoever serves them? I find it weird. Disney (DCL) is definitely an awesome company to work for, as I've been told they are "fair" to their workers, as opposed to other cruise lines. I've never worked for them. But I would hazard a guess that I don't think they'd encourage their employees to participate in the same activities that regular guests do. They are employees, not paid customers. That statement will probably get me a bullseye target on my back but that's what I believe.

I can understand if employees are on vacation and they decide they want to go on a cruise that they've paid for. Then by all means, see you in the dining rooms, in character lines. But if you're working on the ship, it just doesn't seem right that you'd participate in the same activities like eating in the main dining room as regular paying guests.

This quote upset me. It seemed very elitist to me. I have no idea why you even started this thread? If you really wanted to know why not just say. Cast members who are part of the show allowed to take pictures with the characters when they are not working? You would have gotten a response pretty fast. Without unintentionally putting down the entertainment staff. I was only talking about the entertainment staff because that is who you were talking about from your original post.