Best thing an UO Employee has done for you

[fboy9287]

Has an employee done something great for you?

 

[USO2003]

Acutally one has, one took a letter I kept sending to Guest Services to Management for me so someone would finally write me a about complaint I made. Management insulted me and never answered my questions, but at least I know it was looked at, because I am sure it wasn't read.

That was the greatest thing an employee ever did for me, he knew I was getting upset about what happened to me, he knew no one was going to contact me, he then went out of his way to help me out and made sure I got a response.

 

[chris mcfly]

what was your complaint about and how were you insulted?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I always find that the mega attractions have the friendliest employees.

Did we ever find out what the employees were called? In my brief employment with Universal I think I was called an 'Islander'?

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by chris mcfly
what was your complaint about and how were you insulted?

Almost having my neck snapped on BTTF, after being forced on the ride was the problem, being called a liar was the Insult, when passenger phone numbers, security tapes, and other employees statements could have been reviewed to prove what was said happened.

 

[Jon360]

I don't understand how someone "forced" you on a ride.

If this happened against your will and you were truly injured, why did you not call the police to report it?

From your photo it seems like you are not someone that can be "forced" onto anything.

 

[Cindy B]

To get back on the topic of something good...

I have two stories. One from my friends perspective.

My friend/his wife, and his two kids went in October to all the Florida attractions. The husband is dying of spinal cancer at age 32, but decided to go to Florida while he still could.

He was saying out of all the Florida attractions they went to, (and they went to other places, can you imagine? ...) Universal Studios was the kindest and most gracious to them! They saw him in his wheelchair/ and his family.. and everyone was wonderful to him. They treated him kindly, with respect, and went out of thier way to make him comfortable..

He could not stop talking about how great all the employees treated him and his family. They were especially great to him at MIB and ET...


As for MIB for us...(warning, long but good)


We were there for two weeks in August. On August 28th, we were at USF at opening. We went to MIB, and since it was early went through the regular line with the hydrolater. As you know the line sort of "merges" from a large line to a smaller line either right before or after the coffee break room ... this incident happened right near there. Well, I was holding my four year olds hand and walking with my family. This guy got separated with his family.. and in order to catch up with them, physically SHOVED my daughter to catch up with them. Now we weren't going slow, but you don't shove a child, someone elses child to catch up with your party!

Anyway, long story short, DH (who is an intense individual), saw the guy in the loading area, and basically well talked to him that you don't shove others especially little kids! Rude guy went on ahead.

Anyway, Connie (a really nice MIB employee), saw this happen and asked what happened. She was the loading person. We told her and she got Vickie, the lead person that day. They told us to stay behind the curtain past the loading area and wait.

Within seconds two security guards, and the Ride/Parks Operations Assistant Manager... Robert Spahn showed up. We told them what happened. We had been to USF for about 10 days prior to this, so the loading personnel remembered us, and would see us (we would ride about 10-12 times at a time early opening).

Mr. Spahn was so nice, and extremely apolgetic. He asked us what we wanted to do, and if the security staff could do anything. Well, we just wanted that guy to not shove anyone else. He told security guy to keep an eye on him.. and then turned to our kids.. and told them that they could pick out some aliens in the store as a comp! He then wrote on his business card for us to have Express/Backstage Acess the remainder of the day there. He told us to h and that business card to any of the greeters and they will make our visit special.

Anyway, boy were we treated like royalty the rest of the day. We got backstage access at ET..(different door and all!), and priority seating at everything, and the rides as well. We even got some greeters saying "Wow! You must have friends in high places! " (that was at Hanna!)

And because of this experience that morning, as we were leaving we wrote a comment thanking them for this, and we weren't expecting anything. We specifically named Connie/Vickie, and Mr. Spahn. They made a copy of the business card with the comment card.

Well, next morning the 29th, we went to MIB as usual. Connie and Vickie were both working.. and both said THANKS very enthusiatically. They also went on to say that the PRESIDENT of USF got the comment card yesterday! Before we loaded Vickie, said come meet my boss... and we met this very nice woman who was not in a MIB suit, but "regular clothes", .. and she then said to us how she appreciated how we commented on her employees. Vickies boss then told her to do a ride on with us... remember she was on duty! She got to do a ride on and when we were finished we got another comp! Vickie gave us the ride photo with all of us on it with her. I see this every day.

Anyway, that was my special story of Universal.

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by Jon360
I don't understand how someone "forced" you on a ride.

If this happened against your will and you were truly injured, why did you not call the police to report it?

From your photo it seems like you are not someone that can be "forced" onto anything.

It wasn't like I was physically placed into the car, I waited 30 Minutes to Ride BTTF, I then got to the DeLorean didn't get a front seat, so I as I always do, I am sent to the waiting room until the next ride. Well the employee got real PO'd and said "Sir either get in or leave" I kept saying I was too tall for the back and expliained what happened to me previously, again it was "If your not getting in then leave."

I made the dumb choice to get in, then she shut the door on my head and left. See I got hurt in the middle back, I figured I could duck down and be ok so I got in. Then the door was shut on my head, I tried to call for her to open the door, she was gone, the passenger then screamed not to start the ride and she came back opened the door. Then got really PO'd again and sent me to another waiting room. I was there until the door opened to get on, she took me out and moved me again, samething doors opened and I was moved yet again. The 3rd time I was left to stay but no seat was reserved.

I wasn't upset with the injury because it was partially my own fault for getting in, I was upset that after waiting 30 minutes on line and being told "get in or leave" and then being yelled at and being moved so I missed 3 rides. So for I waited close to 1 hour for a 30 minute wait that's what I wanted answers to.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I hope she got fired for that, USO. Seriously! Rudness to guests when safety isnt an issue almost guarantees termination. In that case, I sure hope she got axed. There's a difference between teasing someone about not letting them off the ride and being like her. Teasing is okay as long as both parties know it's all in good fun. Plus you are allowed to request any seat you want on any ride and the attendant has to accomodate you as soon as they possibly can.

Plus there aren't many rides that can have a "Get in or leave" mentality. BTTF isnt one of them. Only rides where the enterance and exit are perpetually adjacent can have that. Doctor Doom's Fearfall, Storm Force Accelatron, Caro-seuss-el, and One Fish Two Fish are the only ones I can think of that can allow for that. If you dont get in the ride, you either have to wait for the next one (often if too many enter) or leave (if you're bailing out because you dont want to ride).

Now, if I was the BTTF attendant and you didnt get your front seat, I'd have set it up so as to get enough people to leave you a front seat and possibly "assign" front row/back row, ensuring you got the front.

Sheesh, I typed a lot. And I was gonna tell-without trying to sound like I was boasting-about all the things I did nice to guests. I'll do that at a later time.

 

[EUROPA]

Man USO that story sound familiar there was this guy around here a few months ago that had the exact same story. Sounds to me like a pattern of abuse. You should sue.

 

[USO2003]

Alot of the same things happen to people, alot of people get hurt on certain rides like I was on Jurassic Park, now through the complaints of people Universal added a new lapbar. People got hurt on Ripsaw Falls, now they are upgrading the Logs. MIB someone flew off the car now they have seatbelts. So I don't find it odd that people have the same problems as others because they are common and when enough people make their voices heard Universal listens.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

USO, you should audition for characters! You're the perfect height for Doctor Doom!

 

[DavidTOT]

I got 4 free fastpasses to Dueling Dragons after it rained all day and they closed the rides for a long time. We went and complained that we paid over $200 for tickets and didn't get to do anything. So they gave us the passes.

 

[Metallicat]

I have been treated really nice at both USF and IOA. once at circusmacgurcus (sp?) my pizza was about 5 minutes late and I was given my pizza, a full refund and 6 of those big cookies for free.
Once on a busy day we walked up to check out the wait for ET and we must have looked a little disapointed (wait was like 45 minutes) a cast member walked up to me and DD and ask if we wanted to ride and he took us to a separate entrance interupted the name taker (for the name card) and got our cards and took us right to the front and we got to ride first. needless to say, I stopped at guest services and told them how nice this young man was.
There is a lady who works in the Boulagere pastry shop who recognises us on every visit. she knows exactly what we order even down to our diet sodas. she gave us her employee discount once. she is the sweetest person who works at Universal.
once we were told at MIB if we wanted to ride again just go up the stairs and tell them George said it was ok. we got to ride again with no wait.
I go with my DD who is 21 and they always tell me we look like sisters. every time! they are all the best! Linda

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I know that this is off topic, but injuries on Jurassic Park are fairly common? Interesting. When we were there about a year and a half ago my husband hurt himself going down the big hill. He knew that it hurt, but figured it was just a bruise and didn't report it. Several weeks later he went to the dr and was told that his rib was probably broken, but that since there isn't really any treatment for it that they wouldn't x-ray. It took several months for it to stop hurting.

I believe at the time there was just a lap bar. Any idea when belts were added to the ride?

Of course he never wants to ride that ride again (and I can't blame him), but will maybe change his mind if they have changed the restraints.

And, no, we wouldn't have sued even if we had of had the injury documented...

T&B

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by Tigger&Belle
I know that this is off topic, but injuries on Jurassic Park are fairly common? Interesting. When we were there about a year and a half ago my husband hurt himself going down the big hill. He knew that it hurt, but figured it was just a bruise and didn't report it. Several weeks later he went to the dr and was told that his rib was probably broken, but that since there isn't really any treatment for it that they wouldn't x-ray. It took several months for it to stop hurting.

I believe at the time there was just a lap bar. Any idea when belts were added to the ride?

Of course he never wants to ride that ride again (and I can't blame him), but will maybe change his mind if they have changed the restraints.

And, no, we wouldn't have sued even if we had of had the injury documented...

T&B

They have belts now? Last time I rode it was 7-16-02 and there were no belts, I guess if there are they would have been put in place in mid November when the new Lapbars were installed. I wouldn't really know because I haven't been on it since August, I didn't even know they had belts though.

Your Husband and I had exactly the same thing happen! I too can't bring myself on it. I only cracked a rib, and I was ok in 2 weeks. I didn't know that until 3 days later. I went on in 4 times prior to that accident, 5th time I got hurt and only twice could I get up the guts to go back on. I love Jurassic Park, I love taking pictures of Universal I have 13,000 pictures of the 2 parks. I have 190 of that ride, I just got a higher resolution camera with a zoom and really want to use it on the Jurassic Park ride, but I can't because that injury has made me affraid to ever ride it again. The 2 times after I got hurt I did got on for a site http://www.jpdatabase.net which I am thier Jurassic Park Ride person, who gets their videos, pictures and information. The site is just now getting back on it's feet after a server problem wiped them out.

Europa for sake of argument when you said my story sounded so much like another on BTTF, well read mine and this one above, everything down to not suing will sound the same. I told you the same things happen to alot of people what happen to me and that womens husband are identical.

This was my letter to Universal and their reply.

I went to IOA yesterday and while on the Jurassic Park Ride, I ended up getting hurt.

While going down the final drop just as we hit water, I was thrown in between the cushion pads and the bare metal bar. At the time, it felt like I took a baseball bat to the right side of my lower part of my rib cage.

The accident happened at or around 5pm and I got home at 8pm and notice a bruise in the shape of the metal bar.

I am not looking for a lawsuit, money, or bad press for you.

I enjoy Universal, I go there all the time I just bought a 2 Park Annual Pass yesterday.

Therefore, the only reason I am telling you this is to try to get you tomake that entire lap bar, cushion padded so this does not happen to anyone else. They have the bar like this a Cushion Pad about a foot wide and then a bare metal bar a few inches long and then another Cushion Pad. When getting off, I don't know if my hitting it or my not noticing the cushion pad was cracked, split on the end.

I just wanted to let you all know what happened so you can do a safety check or something on these vehicles to ensure safety for the guest so this does not happen to anyone else.

Their Reply:

Thank you for visiting Universal Orlando Online.

We appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention. Let me assure you that safety is of primary importance to us. At no time would we want our guests to be in an unsafe area or to experience an unsafe attraction.

Please be assured that your comments will be forwarded to proper management for their review.

Once again, thank you for sharing your remarks. It is through comments such as yours that we are able to monitor and, therefore improve the quality of our guests' experience.

Please keep watching us here at http://www.universalorlando.com, as we will have many exciting and new developments in the next few months.

Best Regards,

Darlene F.
Guest Services

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I went on JPRA in Oct for HHN and there were no belts. I do know that it would take a LOT of time and work to implement a belt system on that ride. If they're there, great. If not, who knows.

Oh, USO, next time you're in IOA you can check to see if the lapbars are fully padded by going near the splashdown area by Thunderfalls. When I went on it in Oct, I'm very certain the lapbars were fully padded. I wasnt paying *THAT* much attention, but the padding was very thick.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I went on JPRA in Oct for HHN and there were no belts. I do know that it would take a LOT of time and work to implement a belt system on that ride. If they're there, great. If not, who knows.

Oh, USO, next time you're in IOA you can check to see if the lapbars are fully padded by going near the splashdown area by Thunderfalls. When I went on it in Oct, I'm very certain the lapbars were fully padded. I wasnt paying *THAT* much attention, but the padding was very thick.

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
I went on JPRA in Oct for HHN and there were no belts. I do know that it would take a LOT of time and work to implement a belt system on that ride. If they're there, great. If not, who knows.

Oh, USO, next time you're in IOA you can check to see if the lapbars are fully padded by going near the splashdown area by Thunderfalls. When I went on it in Oct, I'm very certain the lapbars were fully padded. I wasnt paying *THAT* much attention, but the padding was very thick.

They weren't when you went, they weren't installed until 11.17.02 after HHN's. They are a much better looking support, they are in the shape of a tear drop. The entire lapbar is that sort of cushion. I was there yesterday and I didn't see people wearing seat belts. So I am not sure if they do.

 

[BarryHom]

JPRA has never had seat belts. The restraints used to be padded with an inch thick pad on it. Now that they shaped more like a blade or a teardrop.

The reason for the heavily-restained JPRA is that someone got hurt on JPRA at USH and sued.