BAD Disney Experience...

[LarryNabisco]

So do you ask that of anyone reporting a less than stellar experience at Disney? Maybe we need to make sure they didn't use any late fastpasses or bring last year's refillable mug. Because if any of that is true, they obviously are scum and don't deserve any magic.

 

[KellyNY]

So do you ask that of anyone reporting a less than stellar experience at Disney? Maybe we need to make sure they didn't use any late fastpasses or bring last year's refillable mug. Because if any of that is true, they obviously are scum and don't deserve any magic.

I think we are dealing with a troll.

 

[8timesblessed]

Wow I'm so sorry that happened to your daughter and I'm shocked that people can be so mean. I guess I've missed that on this forum. Our first trip to DL with our 8 kids one our twins fell out of the bed at the GrandCalifornia villas and the bellman saw her big cut on her head and came back with a doll and a book I think. Then he found out she was a twin and it was their birthday and he left again and we didn't know he was going to come back but he brought her twin a doll as well and some balloons for their birthday and some suckers for my kids. My kids still talk about that and it made for a magical trip despite her having a big cut on her head. Then my DH and I went to DL this past Dec for a quick weekend and we saw that same bellman and told him how much that meant to us and we think of him still. We saw him when we entered the park and then on our way back to the hotel there he was again and that's when he spoke with us. Yes Disney doesn't have to do that but that's what they are known for, they want to make it the happiest place on earth. The least the CM'S could've done was given her some kindof pass to see another character at the front of the line.

 

[SDSorority]

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

Gosh, you guys are tough. I am not one to complain, and in fact I didn't... there are some squeaky wheels that would have demanded attention, but I just told them it was a shame because she'd never waited 40 minutes so patiently in her life, then took my bawling child and walked away. After waiting 25 minutes longer than I was told... it would have been nice if someone had come out and told us earlier. I mean, first hour in Disney World ever, and this is what happens?

I suppose I would have liked some compassion, rather than shrugging and being like "Whatever." Smiles would've been nice. And yes, telling us where we might be able to see another character would have been great. Many cast members do seem to know how to go above and beyond... because I'm sure I'm not the first person this has happened to. Instead, they were really rude and indifferent.

You do not go to Disney World expecting to be treated like a number. You don't go there to have your expectations met, you go there to have them exceeded. That is what makes it Disney World. That's why we pay the extra $ to go there. Now, I know every organization has its bad apples, but there were several cast members there. If this is something that happens often and you have all experienced it, then I guess it wasn't a rare thing? Say it isn't so!

See, what I don't get is that here you claim that the cm was "really rude and indifferent" yet in your OP you say that they said they were sorry.
Which one is it as the two phrases contradict each other.

 

[Art 1]

What a rude comment.

Now that he mentions it it would be interesting to know.

 

[tinkerbelle8878]

This had to stink for the kid. While the OP wasn't owed anything, it may have been a goodwill gesture by the CM to give them 2 FPs for the Princess meet and greet in MK. It doesn't cost any money and given that the kid had waited a good half hour, I'd consider that a line 'placeholder' if there ever was one.

I know there are probably some FP logistics as it would be in another park, but if there are blank FPs for this kind of purpose, this would be as good a use for one as anything else. After all when a ride shuts down due to unforseen circumstances, aren't those people who were waiting in line given FPs?

 

[TLSnell1981]

late fastpasses or bring last year's refillable mug. .

Hey.. not even close to being the same. A FP holds your spot in line, while others "skip ahead". This frees up time, and allows you to spend more $$$ in WDW. Disney loses money on the old mugs.

(Sorry.back on topic.)

 

[rentayenta]

I think the CM could have easily redirected to another Princess. A shrug is unacceptable. Shrugs are for the other parks. That's what sets Disney apart. I empathize with the OP.

 

[YankeePrincess]

I still think the OP is a troll.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think the CM could have easily redirected to another Princess. A shrug is unacceptable. Shrugs are for the other parks. That's what sets Disney apart. I empathize with the OP.

She didn't want A princess. She wanted Snow Whilte. Not just anyone in a dress would do.

 

[KGK]

I love reading all these threads about magical moments at Disney, and I think I'd read so many of them before my last trip I thought every minute would be like heaven. But the first day were were there with our 3 year old, we had this experience:

We were walking outside Germany when we saw Snow White! It was the first time she'd seen any character. There was hardly a line, so we walked up there and waited. Then, the handler told me that Snow White needed to take a break and would be back in 15 minutes. I didn't think my 3-year old would wait that long, but she sat there, more patiently than I'd ever seen her, just waiting. While she was waiting, she picked a flower for Snow White, thought of questions she'd ask her, etc. etc. Well, 15 minutes became 20, and 20 became 30. I wanted to leave, but I couldn't do that to my daughter. Finally, the photographer came out and said that Snow White was "busy helping the dwarves" and couldn't come out (she'd actually gotten sick).

Well, my daughter was hysterical. She cried and cried and cried and nothing I could do would make her feel better. The other cast members there just shrugged and said they were sorry. I felt like that at the happiest place on earth, they could have at least done SOMETHING to make her feel better. Instead, they just sent us off on our way. My daughter was devastated and just wanted to go home. I did, too. They could see that, and they didn't seem to care.

After that, things did get better, and we did have a magical trip, obviously, or else we wouldn't be going back. And she did get to meet Snow White (and all the dwarves) eventually. But has anyone had something like that happen to them? And did the cast members do anything to try to make things better?

Here’s the original post. Seems to me that the story has changed over the 20+ pages.

“She picked a flower for Snow White”, became she picked a flower off the ground.

And I still don’t understand how “they could have at least done SOMETHING to make her feel better” became “just looking for a little compassion”

“Instead they just sent us on our way”. “My daughter was devastated and just wanted to go home. I did, too. They could see that, and they didn’t seem to care.”
I just don’t understand how OP knows they didn’t care.

HOWEVER, OP was clearly asking if anyone else had something bad happen and if CMs tried to do something to make things better…. Very clear after rereading (go ahead, reread it) she was posting a general question and used her experience as an example.

The inconsistencies in the story are what set some people off. I’m thinking the inconsistencies are due to someone thinking and typing fast.

Sorry I jumped on you OP. Great thread none-the-less. Days of excitement.

 

[mm522]

You know everyone says that they could of given the 3 year old a balloon or done something like that, but you know I'm sure there were also quite a few other 3 year olds and other people waiting in line too. Did you want the character handler to call over the nearest cast member carrying balloons and have them hand out the whole bunch to everyone in line? Remember that there were probably other people there too, so if you do something special for the 3 year old, they're gonna have to do it for everyone else too. The world doesn't revolve around the 3 year old...

 

[OandA]

Think about how much more "unmagical" and "upset" you would be if Snow White had come back out just for your daughter and threw up all over her...because you know she was sick.

Things happen. It can be a bummer but Disney didn't need to do anything except apologize for the inconvenience.

 

[raidermatt]

If I were the OP, I would have appreciated if the CMs had done WHAT THE CM'S USUALLY DO, in situations like this. They usually DO show sympathy, they usually DO talk to the child, give them a sticker, or offer suggestions of where to see other characters.

That's what I've typically seen from CMs when dealing with children, even those who aren't in tears.

But perhaps I've been lucky, because it sounds like many of you are accustomed to indifference from CMs when something not in the customer's control goes wrong.

 

[rentayenta]

She didn't want A princess. She wanted Snow Whilte. Not just anyone in a dress would do.

Oh ok.

 

[maxiesmom]

If I were the OP, I would have appreciated if the CMs had done WHAT THE CM'S USUALLY DO, in situations like this. They usually DO show sympathy, they usually DO talk to the child, give them a sticker, or offer suggestions of where to see other characters.

That's what I've typically seen from CMs when dealing with children, even those who aren't in tears.

But perhaps I've been lucky, because it sounds like many of you are accustomed to indifference from CMs when something not in the customer's control goes wrong.

To me there is a big difference between appreciating something and expecting something.

I also understand that sometimes stuff just goes wrong, and you have to deal the best you can. Not everything that goes wrong needs compensation (I know the OP did not mention it) or happens because someone is being mean. Sometimes accidents happen, and people forget. Yes, sometimes even when they are on the job.

 

[Poppin]

Maybe I can end this with a song ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO8zVqKkfCY

 

[EnchantedTales]

They should have atleast come out at the end of 15 minutes and let them know there may be a delay....

I would like to make a clarification regarding this and the very common idea of "they don't care".

Sometimes it's not that we "Don't care" it's just that we are dealing with a lot and all at the same time. I'm sorry that we are only humans and sometimes nerves and pressure gets the better of some of us. Please try to remember that sometimes we are only one person and there are like 10 of you, if that makes sense. Is not that we don't care is just that we can't divide ourselves in pieces. I'll give an example. A few years ago I was attending Princess X and she felt great. Everything was running smoothly until something 'bit' her. Whatever it was it did not agree with her and she became a little sick. I can't explain how I felt... I was more than worried. In the mess of the moment I completely forgot that we had guests out waiting for our princess. And it wasn't until a manager asked If we had told the guests, that I horrified remember them. Again it's not that I don't care it's just I that honestly forgot in all my panic. When I went out to let people know they were very angry and while I sympathize with their frustration I wasn't able to make anyone happy. There were 10 of them and 1 of me. Everyone wanted to know why, when was she coming out next, if she was going to be at dinner in XX restaurant, who else was out, etc, etc. Sometimes you get folks that are very challenging. I don't believe I got one of those back then. However, I do remember them being very angry. I'm sure that to someone it seemed that I didn't care, but under the circumstances I was doing my best. I'm sure someone thought back then I could have done better, but back then it didn't cross my mind on the spur of the moment. I was so overwhelmed I couldn't think pass the point of answering questions. Again not my best moment but I wasn't trying to be mean on purpose or 'didn't care'. It was just a bad moment all around.

People are quick to judge but if they only knew the reality of things they would feel completely different. If the character is not coming out trust me we are quick to let folks know, sometimes we delay and it's not that we don't care it's just that sometimes pressure, and situations get the better of us. Sorry, we are just human.

 

[vicki_c]

Why dig up a 5 month old thread that was apparently contentious at some points, but nicely died on its own?