Cast Members

[Kdbruin]

This is a quick rant regarding the CMs. While at DL last week on more than one occasion I overheard CMs complaining to each other about their jobs and if I heard correctly one CM in the Emporium was advising another just to quit! What happened to the CMs being on stage? Also, one of the CMs at the Radiator Springs Racers had a very noticeable hole in his shorts. Again, I thought there was a code that the CMs are to abide by. Am I just being nitpicky?

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

This is a quick rant regarding the CMs. While at DL last week on more than one occasion I overheard CMs complaining to each other about their jobs and if I heard correctly one CM in the Emporium was advising another just to quit! What happened to the CMs being on stage? Also, one of the CMs at the Radiator Springs Racers had a very noticeable hole in his shorts. Again, I thought there was a code that the CMs are to abide by. Am I just being nitpicky?

You're just being nitpicky.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is a quick rant regarding the CMs. While at DL last week on more than one occasion I overheard CMs complaining to each other about their jobs and if I heard correctly one CM in the Emporium was advising another just to quit! What happened to the CMs being on stage? Also, one of the CMs at the Radiator Springs Racers had a very noticeable hole in his shorts. Again, I thought there was a code that the CMs are to abide by. Am I just being nitpicky?

So, you're talking about, what, 5 or 6 CMs out of how many? I think it's a little nitpicky. Don't you have a bad day once in a while? Surely you don't think CMs are always sunny and without issues in their lives that spill over?

 

[Darkbeer1]

This is a quick rant regarding the CMs. While at DL last week on more than one occasion I overheard CMs complaining to each other about their jobs and if I heard correctly one CM in the Emporium was advising another just to quit! What happened to the CMs being on stage? Also, one of the CMs at the Radiator Springs Racers had a very noticeable hole in his shorts. Again, I thought there was a code that the CMs are to abide by. Am I just being nitpicky?

No, you are not, it is amazing the change over the CM attitude over the last few decades, as Disney has focused more on profits, removed middle management that used to keep track of these issues, etc. There are still some great CM's out there, but they can get away with more lately....

Heck, it seems that Knott's is doing better in the issue. Also note, some CM's from Disney also work at Knott's, especially in the entertainment department.

 

[Kdbruin]

I agree that we all have bad days at work however, in my opinion when you sign up to work at DL, you know there is a part you are to play while on the job. The negativity can happen behind the scenes.

 

[Astylla]

The sheer volume of guests any individual deals with at Disney likely surpasses my 18 years of retail no doubt and even as "on stage" as I am in my customer service roles , I'm human too.

There's a multitude of reasons this happens and could be a lack of management guidance to working long unappreciated hours to barely making ends meet. California cost of living is no joke and it preys on people constantly and is one of millions of issues a person could be facing .

I think the best action is to provide constructive criticism via feedback through email or surveys but try to be a little understanding can go a long way too.

 

[socababy]

My bf is a CM and I can attest to the fact that they do have people walking around to specifically look at how the employees are dressed. He was recently told that his sunglasses were too dark and that his eyes couldn't be seen. He had to get a drs note stating how sensitive his blue eyes are to the sun and how he needs dark/polarized glasses. So if they are talking to him about his sunglasses, I'm sure they will eventually get the guy with a hole in his pants.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I am used to excellence from CMs at DL and I expect it. When I hear people complaining about their job while they are at work, I get annoyed, but I would be even more annoyed hearing it at DL. I know there are hundreds of excellent CMs compared the one or 2 who are doing a bad job, but for how much money I spend at Disney, I expect the best. I am also an employer in southern California and I know how difficult it it to find people who will actually do their job. I'm sure they will eventually be fired if they don't quit first.

 

[4Siamese]

Anyone doing any type of job should always know the proper time and place to "complain" about things, we have all done at one point or another, but the proper time and place should NEVER be in front of your customers.

Having said that though, while the Cm's in question should have the sensibility not to do that out where the public can hear them, IMO unless the were being overly crass or rude in their conversation, and were not being rude to you personally I would just let it go. Not worth working yourself up about things you cant control.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[GatorChris]

I'll be honest - if I heard that type of talk at ANY establishment, I'd be upset. Unfortunately, I've heard stuff like this on almost every one of my DL trips over the last 3 years. Shoot, I remember hearing a CM at a pin kiosk complaining about her job placement and a workcomp injury back in 2006. It really kills the Magic when something like this happens.

After 7 trips in 10 years to WDW, I can only remember once when a CM was sorta rotten, and it was more of him being a punk about a FP to someone in front of me (before all the FP rule changes). Never a time where I heard about how bad the job was.

No, you're not alone in hearing things like this and you're not alone in being bothered by it.

 

[Indiana Scott]

All the CM's we interacted with last week were fantastic.
The other guests in the parks not so much. In the 16 years we've been making regular trips, we've never experienced so much rudeness at DLR

 

[heffalumpz]

I've never worked at a Disney park, but I did work for about a year and a half at a tourist spot in NYC. The people who work those jobs have feelings too, and working in tourism can be super demanding. It's a lot more than a typical service industry job, because there IS that added pressure of people spending lots of money and wanting perfect vacations. I understand it can be a bummer to hear it said out loud, but the truth is that those workers are paid minimum wage and have to deal with management just like anyone else. I was miserable when I worked at my job. I had unhelpful managers and customers who wanted me to plan their whole trips when all I did was sell tickets for one attraction.

I don't know, on one hand I understand being bummed if you hear someone at a place you love express that they don't enjoy working there. But that also doesn't equal them being rude to you, and it sounds as though it didn't actually inhibit anything you did (ie, they didn't say these things to you or treat you differently). Being a rude and crabby employee to guests, yes, is worth complaining about. But in a place that underpays a lot of teenagers and young people to work extremely long hours in the hot weather with people from all over the world who expect polished perfection? I just wish there was an ounce of understanding, I guess. Working many service industry jobs has helped me understand that people are people and not everyone has their best day when you need them to.

 

[az4boys]

I think complaining about your job or the company you work for in front of customers is very bad form and grounds for being fired in any job. Complaining in private is fair game though - we all need an outlet! My son had a teacher who was in her last year before retirement. She kept making comments to the students about how she couldn't wait to get out of there, etc. You better believe my perception of her and the school was impacted! I think it was obvious she was excited about retirement, and I don't blame her, but giving the impression to students and parents that she couldn't stand teaching as she was still working as a teacher was bad form. At Disneyland one of their biggest job requirements is image control, making us all buy into the illusion that everything is magical. Of course we know it isn't, but for a few thousand dollars we pretend that it is. I understand that we all have bad days and maybe make comments to co-workers that we don't intend to be heard by others. I haven't personally had an experience like the OP either. However, I think CM's complaining about their jobs within earshot of customers could be a huge image problem for Disneyland. Customers are not going to keep paying thousands of dollars to have their magic bubble burst by unhappy employees. Hopefully it was just a few isolated incidents.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

To the OP: send a detailed comment (include dates, times, location, circumstances, etc.) to Disney Guest Services. At this time of year, lots of CMs are new (moved to town for college or some other reason). Sounds like they need a refresher in on stage behavior. Yes, anyone can have a bad day, but it doesn't hurt for Disney management to be aware of how things are being perceived from a guest's p.o.v.

 

[MommyLove]

I don't think you're being nitpicky AT. ALL. And I totally agree with this:

I think complaining about your job or the company you work for in front of customers is very bad form and grounds for being fired in any job. Complaining in private is fair game though - we all need an outlet! My son had a teacher who was in her last year before retirement. She kept making comments to the students about how she couldn't wait to get out of there, etc. You better believe my perception of her and the school was impacted! I think it was obvious she was excited about retirement, and I don't blame her, but giving the impression to students and parents that she couldn't stand teaching as she was still working as a teacher was bad form. At Disneyland one of their biggest job requirements is image control, making us all buy into the illusion that everything is magical. Of course we know it isn't, but for a few thousand dollars we pretend that it is. I understand that we all have bad days and maybe make comments to co-workers that we don't intend to be heard by others. I haven't personally had an experience like the OP either. However, I think CM's complaining about their jobs within earshot of customers could be a huge image problem for Disneyland. Customers are not going to keep paying thousands of dollars to have their magic bubble burst by unhappy employees. Hopefully it was just a few isolated incidents.

 

[Albort]

I wouldnt considered it be so nitpicky. Its understandable that you feel like its destroys the magic, i do agree with ya, it shouldnt have happened. But we are all humans, we make mistakes. just dont take it too seriously though.

As for the hole in the pants, there might be a change this person couldnt get a replacement. The more common sizes are often unavailable and sometimes they take a few days to get in new ones. I had this experience a lot when i worked there where certain size costumes were unavailable. There are times where i had to wear one size bigger.