Anyone else notice that Entertainment Staff join character lines?

[GatorMomInNC]

It's not just the use of "weird". Your comments, as they read, are peppered with words and phrases indicating suspicion, some ulterior motive on the part of the CMs, or some level of inappropriateness because it made no sense to you that cast members - whether they are entertainment or not - might want to enjoy the ship just like the real people they are.



Why the assumption that they are "pretending"? They are real people who might love Disney as much as the rest of us, and wanted to have a night out?



??? Lots of women do that when posing for pictures. I'm not sure why this sounded an alarm in your head as evidence that she was being disingenuous on some level.



Why doesn't enjoying their time off on a beautiful ship like that make any sense?



More suspicion, and sarcastic at that. Do you really think that the crew dining areas are anywhere near as nice as any of the MDRs?



This is example of where you say "right" and it sounds like you are meaning "appropriate".



Again, suspicion.



They do have their own dining area. It's not anywhere near as nice as the MDRs and I don't think it would take a huge leap in imagination or logic to realize that.

So you may say that you didn't mean to denigrate the CMs or suggest that they should not walk among us, and I'll take you at your word that that's true, but your varied comments gave a lot us a different impression.

Jeez, give it a rest! I admit that the OPs post got my back up a bit when I read it. I am definitely a "cheerleader" when it comes to the CMs as they are what makes a DCL cruise special IMHO, and I think it's great when I see any CMS getting some well-deserved R&R.

BUT it is easy to misinterpret tone and intent in these posts and she (he?) has bent over backwards with mea culpas. I think a lessor person would have doubled down and dug in, and I respect that OP has apologized for any offense given. And because of kt2038s posts I learned things I didn't know about crew life. So in that respect it has been a useful thread....

 

[timrousbeastie]

One thing, I did notice, was that the guy who played Aladdin on our Fantasy cruise was super nice to my 13 year-old niece. He spoke with her for a long time, although she was a little shy practicing her English, and I am sure it was a memorable moment for her after seeing him in the show. This year, we're going to see the show on Broadway the week before our cruise as she is afraid of flying and I want to give her some exciting activities to look forward to.

 

[Cruise-n-2015]

I agree with you, you asked a question you saw something you thought was "weird"
I would have thought the same at first because really I wouldn't have thought there was time off on a ship... (Like kids believe, teachers never leave the school) i just assumed on the ship = working. Which now yes makes no sense.

Everyone on this board has opinions... And some strong ones at that.

Getting back to the smiles and magic Disney is suppose to bring and hopefully you still feel comfortable posting your own experiences and thoughts on here.

 

[genki3]

Like I said earlier, unless you know someone on these forums personally, you don't know what their histories and experiences are. I really had no idea that these CMs were given guest privileges so that's why I posted what I posted. I used to work in the sales office of a downtown hotel. Even though I worked in the background, where there were rare interactions with hotel guests, my employer still told me that if I saw hotel guests I'd have to make eye contact and greet them. I had a staff cafetaria that I was to eat in, even if I brought my own lunch and not buy my lunch there. I wasn't allowed to eat anywhere that a hotel guest would see. In other words, there was a big distinction between guest and employee.

So now, after learning about DCL's policy with petty officer level employees, that's really awesome and it's yet another reason why Disney is a company many want to work for, be associated with, and patron.

 

[Dug720]

Like I said earlier, unless you know someone on these forums personally, you don't know what their histories and experiences are. I really had no idea that these CMs were given guest privileges so that's why I posted what I posted. I used to work in the sales office of a downtown hotel. Even though I worked in the background, where there were rare interactions with hotel guests, my employer still told me that if I saw hotel guests I'd have to make eye contact and greet them. I had a staff cafetaria that I was to eat in, even if I brought my own lunch and not buy my lunch there. I wasn't allowed to eat anywhere that a hotel guest would see. In other words, there was a big distinction between guest and employee.

So now, after learning about DCL's policy with petty officer level employees, that's really awesome and it's yet another reason why Disney is a company many want to work for, be associated with, and patron.

It's not just petty officers. The rest of the crew members may be taken to eat with officers in Cabanas, the MDRs or *gasp* Palo as a reward for various things or to celebrate various milestones. I believe that they can put in a request to dine with family if family is cruising and they have that time off from their duties - not 100% on that one.

 

[KT2038]

It's not just petty officers. The rest of the crew members may be taken to eat with officers in Cabanas, the MDRs or *gasp* Palo as a reward for various things or to celebrate various milestones. I believe that they can put in a request to dine with family if family is cruising and they have that time off from their duties - not 100% on that one.

That's right. Any crew member can be taken with a manager or request for special circumstances. But most crew cannot be in guest areas when not on duty, without that special permission, other than the "petty officers".

 

[ST1TCH]

"Oh dear, why on earth would the staff want to eat in here? They have their own dining room..."

 

[ST1TCH]

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.

Does this just go for CM's or for any adult who's in the way of children getting to meet *insert character here*? My wife and I often partake in getting our picture with characters and we currently don't have a child of our own. I guess we should let all the kids go first...