AWFUL day at Disneyland 1/9/10 :(

[katesorad]

I've always been a big Disney freak and have frequented Disneyland basically monthly since I was old enough to drive. I'm not the "average" APer. I eat at least 2 meals in the parks + a snack or two, purchase beverages, souvenirs, etc., every time I go. I don't just go for something to do- I'm a proud Disney enthusiast.

Today DH and I went and got there around 12:30 PM. We had to go to Guest Services first, as we just changed banks and needed to re-register for our payment plan under our new account. My new card didn't come in yet, but DH's did.. and we tried to put his in the system. Even though it's a joint account and it's the same exact card with only a different first name, they wouldn't switch it over.. or take a one time payment, like they said they would on the phone when I called earlier in the week. Okay.. whatever. They let us in on a one time courtesy.. which kind of bothered me. I really wanted to just make the payment and get it over with, as we intended to do. I'm not the kind of person who is ever late on a payment, and I guess that we just switched banks at a very bad time.. so I felt disappointed and a little bad about that.

Whatever.. I called my bank and asked them to send me a new card as soon as we got in the park since mine should've been here a few days ago, and they agreed to. So I felt better, and hopefully I can get the new card registered with our payment plan soon.

After we were in the park and after I called the bank, we headed over to Space Mountain to get fast passes, went to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and then went to Frontierland to get soft pretzels. We got to the pretzel stand a little bit before 2:00 PM and ordered two regular Mickey pretzels and a Coke to share, and the cast member there, his name was Joseph, was incredibly rude! He cut me off in the middle of my ordering, to tell me the price of the two pretzels, before I could order the Coke as well.. and it sounded like he said $10.15 for the total, and I handed him $10.15 exactly.. and he then said, "No, it's $10.50,", and as I got out the 50 cents, he said "Jesus christ!" loud enough for DH and I (and the people in back of us in line) to hear it.. we were really confused and pretty upset about the fact that he was so rude to us! He rolled his eyes at me and we walked away. I was just shocked. So was DH. It really upset me, and honestly kind of ruined the rest of the day. I was just kind of sad. I've never had anyone be so rude to me.. especially a Disney cast member!

After eating the pretzels, we went over to Tom Sawyer's Island, and walked around.. we hung out there for about 25 minutes, and went back to the main park area. We went shopping, spent more money getting souvenirs to send to family members in different parts of the country.. and then decided to go eat at La Brea Bakery in Downtown Disney. The food was actually really great, but DH had his heart set on the Pastrami sandwich, which they somehow ran out of... I had the grilled cheese and he had a burger. The food was really great, and the waitress was probably the nicest person we encountered all day.. but we were still disappointed that DH didn't get his beloved pastrami sandwich.

After dinner, we figured that we were somewhat tired and didn't want to deal with any more of the crowds or rude people. The guy at the pretzel stand really just ruined it for us. We had planned to stay until closing, and buy popcorn, hot chocolate, and candy from the candy store to snack on.. but it just didn't work out

So much for a great day at Disneyland..

 

[Estella]

Hi, I'm sorry that the rude CM spoiled your day. I had a rude experience with a waiter at WDW last month. He accused me of not leaving a tip and continued to argue with me. I went ahead and told the manager how he treated me and almost broke down and cried. I know the CMs/wait people deal with tons of guests, but I always thought customer service was the top priority of Disney.

Hopefully, your next visit will be more enjoyable and your DH will get his pastrami sandwich!

 

[wdwfan22]

I'm really sorry to hear that someone was so rude to you, no matter where you were. I hate it when that happens, but I really try not to give that person my power. If he ruins your day, then he wins. And that is not acceptable. I try to imagine that the person being rude has had something really awful happen to him/her that day or recently, and that is why they are behaving so poorly. Maybe someone died or is sick, maybe had an accident, lost a job. Not everyone knows how to deal with pain and that person is just lashing out at whoever is around. I feel bad for them. I know, easier said than done, and sometimes I have to remind myself to calm down and think those thoughts, but then it usually helps.

It sounds like an overall bad day, which is horrible to have, but I guess it happens to the best of us, even at the most magical place on earth. Since you are a regular, you know that's not how it usually is. I hope you can let this day go and have a better one tomorrow and next time you get to Disneyland.

 

[katesorad]

Hi, I'm sorry that the rude CM spoiled your day. I had a rude experience with a waiter at WDW last month. He accused me of not leaving a tip and continued to argue with me. I went ahead and told the manager how he treated me and almost broke down and cried. I know the CMs/wait people deal with tons of guests, but I always thought customer service was the top priority of Disney.

Hopefully, your next visit will be more enjoyable and your DH will get his pastrami sandwich!

Thanks, Estella.. I was just so surprised! I've never had an experience quite like that. I understand that working for Disney is a job, just like all others.. but it's a dream job of many! I'd be so happy to work at Disney and be able to make peoples' trips magical! Just makes me sad that he was so rude.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Sorry things didn't go good this time.......a rude person can really eat at ya....especially when it comes from a CM. I think I would have stopped at City Hall & filled out a customer comment card......as one of the other posters mentioned, they may have been having a bad day....but treating customers that way is still unacceptable....no matter where you are. Disney holds their employees at a higher standard (especially since there are children every where) & they need to have feed back if one of their employees is not acting appropriately. Sometimes a reminder from a manager, is enough to make an employee realize that they are coming off in a rude manner.

Hopefully next day trip will be better!!

 

[katesorad]

Yeah, I probably should've picked up a comment card, but I'll just call customer service tomorrow. I just hope he didn't treat any first timers like that though! Or people who have to save up for the entire year to just have one Disneyland trip because they live far away, etc.. that would just be really awful. I've worked fast food before (McDonald's) and I've gone into work with a twisted ankle and still hobbled around, in the fakest good mood I could put on, and helped customers! So if the guy was having a bad day, he just has to tough it out! I tough my bad moods out all the time for the sanity of those around me!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

I had a CM snap at me in Bugs Land at DCA last trip. Luckily we were headed out for the night so by the next AM when I filled out the comment card I was ready to start ovcer with a new day. Really if you aren't happy working at DL move on and let someone else have a shot. I worked at 6 flags in h igh. Sc hool and managed 2 smile on the worst day.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Yeah, I probably should've picked up a comment card, but I'll just call customer service tomorrow. I just hope he didn't treat any first timers like that though! Or people who have to save up for the entire year to just have one Disneyland trip because they live far away, etc.. that would just be really awful. I've worked fast food before (McDonald's) and I've gone into work with a twisted ankle and still hobbled around, in the fakest good mood I could put on, and helped customers! So if the guy was having a bad day, he just has to tough it out! I tough my bad moods out all the time for the sanity of those around me!

Totally agree!!

 

[Danibelle]

I'm trying hard to understand why this was a terrible day. I think the main thing was the seemingly rude CM. Other than that? Sometimes non-Disney places run out of food. I might have filled out a comment and left it at that. It seemed like you still ate, rode rides, etc.

 

[Dizpinfriend]

I would have definitely stopped in at City Hall and filled out a complaint - there is no excuse for a CM to treat any guest in that manner... period! I know for a fact (at WDW anyway, I assume it would be the same at DL) that if a guest takes precious time out of their day to file a complaint at City Hall - it goes directly to that CM's supervisor, they are given a coaching (a strike on their record), and it stays in their permanent file.

It is also not too late to file a complaint - however, I suggest you do not call it in, but rather put pen to paper and mail it in. Include the date, approximate time, and place this all occured and make sure of course to include his name and all of the details - most importantly how it affected your entire day.

As for the whole credit card misunderstanding - it happens to the best of us!!

Write that letter!!!

 

[DavisDisneyTrip]

I think I would have complained too. what if you werent the only one he was rude to? What if he was rude to someone who was there for the first time? They might not even know where to go complain at.


Sorry this is totally off topic..but I thought this was sooo funny!


Dizpinfriend -

'Why do you have to "put your two cents in".. but it's only a
"penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going?'

- Even our thoughts have taxes and fees? LOL!

 

[JH87]

Wow I wonder why he was so rude? I have never encountered any rude CMs at Disneyland. Sorry it ruined your trip.
Hopefully next time things go smoother!

 

[D23Ry]

to me, from my experiences, the CM's in California are not nearly as nice as the ones in Florida. Just from my experience.

 

[Edwine]

Very True,
Do not be so dis heart about someone's behavior. It's you who have all the authority to make your day. So get Maximum out of every situation for you.

 

[Grog]

Normally I'm the last one to report a slightly rude CM (or any other person in a service related job) because they might just be having an off day, or just finished dealing with a rude or demanding guest. In this case though it would have been "game on". First I would have said "Excuse me?" and asked him what he meant by his JC remark and the rolling of the eyes. If he didn't give me an apology or a satisfactory answer for his behavior, then he can explain it to his supervisor.

So sorry you had to deal with all that.

 

[DLFan123]

Wow! I can't believe how similar your experience was to one I recently had when I visited DL in December 2011. And my bad experience involved a pretzel issue at Coke Corner on Main Street. I might add it was my birthday and I ate at Blue Bayou, experienced a very rude and inattentive waitress there, they ran out of creme brulee apparently one person ahead of me (it was the reason I was there and I sat and watched the man at the table next to us eat his) and then the pretzel guy at Coke Corner was nearly responsible for us missing the fireworks. By the time I watched the fireworks, I was so upset about the pretzel issue I couldn't really enjoy it. Don't get me wrong-I know how privileged I am even to have an AP and to get to go to DL often and eat all these yummy things etc. But there is no reason for CMs to be rude and difficult. It just felt like there were a lot of CMs who were not very pleased with their jobs this December. If they don't want to be happy and cheerful and helpful to everyone, they should go work at a gas station or Subway, not the happiest place on earth. I guess you and I should consider ourselves lucky that everything else is going well enough that the biggest complaints we have is regarding pretzel service at Disneyland, though. I totally hear you on this either way. We are taking a little break from DL now-I thought maybe my patience was too short to deal with their disgruntled employees for at least a short period of time. (and we always spend a lot of money when we go, too. I didn't know there was an "average" Ap person who doesn't.)

 

[hootey]

Have had a couple of similiar experiences with CMs myself over the years. When they have their little Anger Management problem, simply say thank you and walk away. Useing the back of a business card or pocketnotebook write down the date, time, place, name of CM, names of people in your party that witnessed the outburst, roughly how many other park guests witnessed the event, and then travel immediately to city hall. Relay the information to them and let them know how shocked and appalled you are. Demand to know what they are going to do about this person. If by chance, that person will not give you an answer, ask to see thier supervisor. Things will happen.
Years ago I had a position with a company dealing with a lot of business executives, congressmen, politicians, and their staffs. You never, ever raise your voice, curse, roll your eyes, or conduct yourself in a unproffesional manor, PERIOD. Doing so would have resulted in Immediate termination and blackballing. If the person you are dealing with does these thing or worse you BITE YOUR tongue. Failing to do so is unacceptable. People that can not or choice to not follow this rule have no place in the business world...