so, on a totally unrelated note, i have a question to greet all off you when you next log on to this thread. obviously i (and all of the top 10) want to be the best dream-maker/wish-granter on property!! so, i'd love to hear stories about cast members that have especially inspired you over the years--whether it was a personal experience or a story that you heard from friends. compiling those stories would be a GREAT resource for the CMO. no doubt there are things that will inspire us, and it's always great to celebrate the disney spirit that separates the "happiest place on earth" from any other "amusement park."
here's my favorite story--i heard this from a cm....there was a family on vacation at wdw with their young daughter. she had a bear that was ALWAYS with her--a childhood security blanket that traveled on vacation with the family. well, one evening, the family discovered that the bear was missing. they checked the last few places they had been, but the bear was nowhere to be found. the hotel concierge staff asked if the family had a recent picture with the bear. they checked at all of the parks, but no one had turned in the little girl's bear. when the family left the next day, they were all quite sad, as the bear was certainly lost. a few weeks later, a package arrived for the family from walt disney world. in the package was a replica of the little girl's bear, with a photo album, autograph book, and a note. the note said, "i'm sorry that you thought i was lost. i was just having too much fun at disney, and i wasn't ready to come home yet!" the photo album was filled with pictures of the bear on various attractions and with a variety of characters, all of whom signed the autograph book.
isn't that an awesome story? i love thinking about all of the people that made that dream come true--from the quick-thinking concierge who asked for a photo, to the wardrobe department who created a new bear to look like the old one, to the cast members who posed and photographed the bear, to the characters who signed the autograph book. that's what disney magic is all about!! ooh, i still tear up when i think about it.
what are your stories? i can't wait to hear them!!
meggin
I like your idea, Meggin!
Wow! I also really enjoyed the CM's story about the lost-bear resolution. (That
definitely was going above and beyond the call of duty...)
While nowhere near as dramatic, some of my favorite interactions with CMs follow the same theme: They went beyond their basic job descriptions to make a guest's experience (mine!
) more enjoyable.
*One older CM, who was performing janitorial duties in the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station, noticed my family was trying to scope out a decent spot to watch Wishes. He actually walked us over to a table with the least obstructions and said, "Now you have the best seat in the house!"
*Same scenario at Hollywood Studios: My family had arrived at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, where people were cram-packed like sardines. (...And this was supposed to be during the slow spell after Thanksgiving!
) I asked a nearby CM if things might get any better. He encouraged us to return during that evening's Extra Magic Hours, so off we went to get our wristbands. This might not seem particularly extraordinary -- except that he recognized me later in the evening when my family returned. (He actually made a point to approach us and ask, "So, is this better?")
*I think I previously mentioned that our interactions with Mulan (in Epcot) have been consistently good. During our first visit to China, she got down on my DD's level and took the time to walk DD though the picture book she had brought Mulan to autograph. ("Mushu, do you remember when that happened?" "And then what happened, Mushu?" Then, to DD: "So, what was
your favorite part of the story?" I was in such awe -- waiting for her to pose for an official snapshot -- that I just stood there watching and forgot to start snapping pictures like crazy of their cute interaction! Priceless!
During our next visit, we hopped in line just in time to hear that Mulan would be leaving to "have tea." Obviously, it was time for the CM's break, but she stuck around long enough to take photos (and sign autographs) for my DD. Before she left, Mulan even produced a little slip of paper that said "Tag! You're it!" (The Princesses along the World Showcase sometimes send messages to one another via guests who are doing the circuit!)
Okay, I think I've become a bit long-winded... (It won't be the first time!
)
Bottom line: Many Disney CMs seem to exude a special warmth towards guests. You can tell they enjoy their jobs. I agree with Tripp's earlier post (from a while ago):
Another way to find out some cool info is to strike up a conversation with a CM, especially if that CM has worked for Disney for a while. CM's love to talk to guests. They love to share their own stories but often don't get a chance because us guests are often in such a rush to get from here to there.
Enjoy!
