Big Kids In The Parks

[disneyfav4ever]

I admit that I'm one of those big kids at heart, and have a question, actually more of a general sort of wonderment about other "big kids" at heart.

During my next trip, (in Dec,) I'm planning on wearing a pin landyard pretty much all the time, as well as one of those nametags you can buy at DTD.

So my question is this. Has anyone ever been mistaken as a CM? I know my last trip I hardly ever saw any adults with landyards and / or nametags except for CM's. So I was wondering if you have been mistaken for a CM, what the situation was, and how the other guest reacted.

Also, this is kind of a different question, but, since I'll be solo, will it make me look more like a CM since I won't be with a group of people?

 

[Chuck65]

I wouldn't think you would get mistaken for a CM. The CM's should all be themed or costumed while on duty.

 

[Jennick]

Just returned from WDW on Saturday. We saw a lot of adults wearing pin lanyards although I didn't happen to notice if they were also wearing the name tag or not. I agree with the previous poster and do not think you will have any problems being mistaken for a CM as most of them are wearing company type shirts or outfits.

 

[JulyGirl]

Hey, if someone thinks you're a CM.....Cool! I wouldn't worry about it. I saw quite a few adults with pin trading lanyards when I visited two weeks ago. Don't worry about it.

 

[kakiegirl]

I think alot of adults enjoy pin trading, you know alot of us adults at Disney are just kids at heart. My dd 7 also does the pin trading but I have my own lanyard and trade also. I have never worn a name tag, but I don't think you have to worry about being mistaken for a cast member they always have on a uniform of some type. Just know that the cast members with green lanyards trade with children only.

 

[DisneyChristmas]

Yes, I've been mistaken for a cast member a few time while wearing my lanyard and red VIP name badge from the mid-1990's (for $5 anyone could be a VIP). I don't dress like a cast member, but being a little older, I'm not out there wearing a tube top and Daisy Dukes, either - more like a sundress and jacket and flats. Occasionally people will ask me for directions, and I just try to be a friendly guest and help. Usually I just refer them a real CM.

I did have a non-magic moment in Animal Kingdom on a very busy Spring Break morning in March this year. I have one lanyard of special pins that are for show and not for trade. People often look at them and it's fun to share memories about what the pins represent. Well, I was sitting on a bench trying to get a decent signal on the cell phone to locate my nephew who'd run ahead to get Everest fast passes about 15 minutes earlier. DS was frantically looking for the restroom which was marked on the map but not very obvious in real life. The walking plant (sorry I can't remember its name) was passing by, and I'd promised to video that for DH. So I was juggling the camera and the phone and being trampled by hundreds of other guests who were trying to get around the walking plant on the skinny pathway. It was just plain chaos. A little girl asked if she could see my pins. I was distracted and talking to DN on the cell and just said "sure". Two seconds later the girl was screaming "Mom, bring the pins. Look what I'm trading for!!!!" I had to explain that these were not trading pins and that I'm not a CM. (What CM sits on a bench, shooting video, and yacking into a cell phone?) I offered to trade something from my trading lanyard of current pins, but DMama wasn't convinced that I shouldn't trade for any pin the DD wanted regardless.

 

[ticktock]

DisneyChristmas I'm sorry you had such an uncomfortable experience. People really need to remember that altough they want to give their children anything within their power(not that this is a good idea), that is NOT the responsibility of every other person on the planet, nor should it be. How rude of that woman to insinuate that you should give her DD something you cherish! I probably would have told her off (in a Disney appropriate way, hopefully! )

 

[disneyfav4ever]

See, that's what I'm worried about, something like Disney Christmas's experience. And also, as she phrased it, I won't be wearing a tube top and Daisy Dukes either. (I have a "buisness casual" dress code for dinner basically every other night, so I'll be dressed a little nicer then normal theme park attire some days.) Before Disney Christmas's post I didn't even think that my clothes would make a difference either way, now it's something to think about.

I wouldn't mind answering questions, and am happy to discuss whatever, and my pins that I'm taking are for trading. But, I just don't want any bad experiences. And more often then not, (judging by the fact that I work in customer service every day,) it's usually the parents that are worse then the kids.

 

[briar_rose_59]

When I was in DL a couple years ago I had my Guest of Honor badge on and had probably half a dozen people ask me where the bathroom was I had just finished grade 9 and was wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top. Thank goodness I had memorized where the bathrooms were for the trip I had taken a couple months before that! lol.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i wore my lanyard the last 2 times and no one thought i was a CM.

 

[mmeb144]

I love wearing my name tag. The CMs greet me by name. (I usually forget that I have it on!) I'm famous, everyone knows my name! A few times I've been mistaken for a CM, but like someone else said, it's usually the restroom question, and weirdly, I usually know the answer to that one.

I say, go for it! Wear the name tag and pin lanyard. You'll have a blast. (And be famous!)

Marie

 

[Gina]

I always wear my trading lanyard and GoH badge, and I have been stopped plenty of times with questions. "Excuse me, how do I get to Test Track from here?" I just smile and help them and tell them to Have a Disney Day!

-gina-