Disneyland Issues...

[whitfamily]

So we just got back from Christmas in Los Angeles. One day we made a trip over to Disneyland and came away a little dismayed. We found the CM's to not be as caring or seemingly happy as those at WDW. We also found the Advanced Sales Reps for DVC to be extremely pushy, One was very rude to my DS(9) as he tried to trade pins and another walked away after my wife told him we were DVC Members-- she was trying to arrange a tour to see if we wanted to add-on to VGC.

Has anyone else ever had these types of differing experiences between DL and WDW? I went to DL a lot as a child, but haven't gone much as an adult when you tend to notice the service aspects of visits.

 

[bwvBound]

FWIW, we find that the pin trading "culture" at DL is practically non-existent compared to WDW.

 

[kikiq]

I'm a DLR annual pass holder and have been to WDW 4 times in the last 6 months. I actually had several DVC kiosk staffers in WDW be extreme rude or just plain ignore me. AND I've had some who are just wonderful at both resorts. It's the people not the park location. There's a whole 'nother thread about "rude, uncaring" CMs at WDW. It happens, it's the holiday season, CMs are challenged to keep up the magic no matter what resort you are at. My DD is a CM at Animal Kingdom, she jokingly told her roommates that if she didn't return home today to look for her flatten along with her food cart in the park.

As far as pin trading, I think it's more "in your face" at WDW than DL. The HUGE WDW DTD trading pin store versus several carts at the DL DTD, DL has pin carts scattered around the parks. I think because WDW has 4 parks, the opportunity to trade with CMs is greater and if you miss one, there's usually another CM somewhere close to trade with. Also it feels like WDW gives out more pin lanyards to CMs to trade.

 

[Chuck S]

Growing up in California, and then moving to Texas as a young adult, there are definitely local cultural diffrences between the "Southern States" including Florida, and the West Coast. Life moves much faster, and people aren't nearly as chatty in California, so that would also naturally reflect to some extent in the CMs general demeanor. Even "distances" in CA rend to be measured in "travel time" rather than physical distance.

I have certainly had rude CMs on both coasts, but I can also understand how someone "used" to the talkative, "overly friendly" CMs at WDW may get the impression that the DL CMs aren't as helpful, though most CA locals would likely not notice this at all.

Surprisingly, people in CA also tend to be more laid back, they don't plan DL trip down to the minute, or bother planning which order in which they visit the attractions, unlike many WDW guests.

 

[stopher1]

Growing up in California, and then moving to Texas as a young adult, there are definitely local cultural diffrences between the "Southern States" including Florida, and the West Coast. Life moves much faster, and people aren't nearly as chatty in California, so that would also naturally reflect to some extent in the CMs general demeanor. Even "distances" in CA rend to be measured in "travel time" rather than physical distance.

I have certainly had rude CMs on both coasts, but I can also understand how someone "used" to the talkative, "overly friendly" CMs at WDW may get the impression that the DL CMs aren't as helpful, though most CA locals would likely not notice this at all.

Surprisingly, people in CA also tend to be more laid back, they don't plan DL trip down to the minute, or bother planning which order in which they visit the attractions, unlike many WDW guests.

I also grew up in CA - southern CA, just about a half an hour from DL. And I agree with a lot of what Chuck has said! In fact, the very first time I went to WDW as a young adult (also my first time going to the East coast) I was not quite, but nearly shocked, by how much the CM's wanted to chat.

I worked at DL as a teen and young adult, and was trained in how to interact with guests. It was very much steeped in "the ways of Walt". I'm sure the training at WDW was quite similar back then. Be polite, courteous and smile were huge themes of the "Disney way". Regional cultural differences certainly help translate what those first two meant in both states. Being overly chatty was never trained, but certainly quite common on the east vs. west coast.

Fast forward 20+ years and while the training may or may not have changed since I was hired, a lot of cultural norms have changed since then. Add to it the overall job market and turnover rates and the continual march of time as the last of the executives who were around during Walt's day have now retired and things within the parks have simply changed. I too have noticed rude CM's at DL, but certainly I've had some experiences with rude CM's at WDW too.

Personally I think a bit of the difference also comes from the fact that DL has a swelling population of nearly 1 million AP holders - many of whom bring a sense of entitlement to their visit to the park whereas WDW doesn't have anywhere near that number of AP holders. DL is an afternoon or evening entertainment for thousands whereas WDW is a destination that people often don't leave until it's time to go home. Those WDW visitors have often saved thousands of dollars for a year or more to visit once and the DL visitors might just come by to watch the parade, fireworks or have dinner. There's just a different kind of appreciation at play because of it, which can have a definite adverse effect on the CM's working on any given day at either resort - even though they try not to let it show.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

I have been to WDW four times and go to DL three or four times a year. Untill my last trip to WDW this past November I didn't think there were any nice CMs in FL. My first stay at WDW was OKW and when we finally arrived (hate that long flight) at 1 am we did not even get a welcome home from the surly CM. I felt that my arrival had put him out. Until this last trip I wrote the whole cranky FL CM thing off to cultural differences between the two coasts. I thought that that East Coast CMs either weren't trained as well or that putting on a "happy face" just didn't sit well with them. On this last trip to FL (two nights at SSR on the front end of a DCL cruise and two nights at VWL on the back end) we had wonderful CM experiences. While dining at OKW's Olivias, my DGS became sick and I asked a CM at the restaurant if there were a quicker way back to SSR than a double boat or bus ride and she went and got somebody from bell services to give us a ride over in a van! My DW and I call those types of "above and beyond" service moments "Disney magic". Our whole trip was like that with more than a half dozen examples (I am happy with one per trip). I have finally concluded that good CMs are really just luck of the draw. I was on such a long dry spell in FL that just the laws of probability demanded that I get caught up!

 

[thelionqueen]

I've been to Disneyland more times than I can count, both as a child and an adult. I've had (knock on wood) generally great CM's in both parks.

I agree with other posters that it has nothing to do with the coast, but rather the CM, the time of day and other mitigating factors.

I personally have no problem with DL CM's with one notable exception. The SUPER CRANKY and downright RUDE candy maker at the candy store (been there 20+ years and was on Guy Fieri's Food Network DL special). He is ALWAYS RUDE. Being that the candy store in DL is my FAVORITE place on earth, having that heel there is very annoying...ok rant over

 

[bumbershoot]

it has nothing to do with the coast, but rather the CM, the time of day and other mitigating factors.



The SUPER CRANKY and downright RUDE candy maker at the candy store (been there 20+ years and was on Guy Fieri's Food Network DL special). He is ALWAYS RUDE. Being that the candy store in DL is my FAVORITE place on earth, having that heel there is very annoying...ok rant over

I agree completely with that first sentence! There are *plenty* of frequent DLR regulars who come back from WDW dismayed at the CMs. It's just who you get at that time.

At DLR, not all CMs have to trade pins. I don't know what the CM did or said, but it's quite possible they weren't trading. I don't know about WDW, but DLR is a huge stickler for signing in and out exactly on time, so if they were about to be late for something that could also have caused it.

When trading, go for the CMs behind registers in stores. *Ask* if they are trading. Most DLR CMs do NOT wear their trading lanyards. Most have hip things or keep their trading lanyards behind the counter. Why? Well I've heard that too many guests were reaching out to touch or grab lanyards. Not a nice thing to do!


While just walking away isn't necessarily the nicest thing to do, what did you *want* the DVC CM to do, when you said you were a member? I assume you were already staying at GCV so didn't want a tour... When a DVC CM greets us, we smile and say that we're members already, and then WE are walking on (unless the CM wants to give DS stickers, which they almost always do!)...so we wouldn't even notice if the CM walked away, nor would it bug us.



Forgot to reply to the candy guy thing. That is TOO funny that he's actually cranky! Probably all the corn syrup he eats in the candy he makes. (my family has problems with it...causes anger and violence, and we've seen others go that way after eating stuff with the ingredient...nasty stuff!)

 

[keishashadow]

We enjoyed our 5 day trip to DL (DLH) last summer, and did feel there was a different vibe between the parks. That said, DL was charming and it was fascinating to see how they managed to work in so many interesting attractions, a surprise around every corner.

IMO the entertainers @ DL were a cut above those found @ WDW, perhaps due to being so close to Hollywood? Very polished and professional even the 'face' charactars @ dinner @ the hotel went into longish interactions vs what we've experienced @ WDW (with the exception being 1900 park fare evil stepmother & daughters).

Re the DVC CMs, they were pleasant to us despite knowing we weren't a prospective sale & let us know that we would be welcomed @ the model early the next morning during the time they had sat aside for members to tour. Nice in that the host basically let us roam @ will, with other members who joined us, after showing us the highlights of the model

 

[Caropooh]

I've been to Disneyland more times than I can count, both as a child and an adult. I've had (knock on wood) generally great CM's in both parks.

I agree with other posters that it has nothing to do with the coast, but rather the CM, the time of day and other mitigating factors.

I personally have no problem with DL CM's with one notable exception. The SUPER CRANKY and downright RUDE candy maker at the candy store (been there 20+ years and was on Guy Fieri's Food Network DL special). He is ALWAYS RUDE. Being that the candy store in DL is my FAVORITE place on earth, having that heel there is very annoying...ok rant over

I'm guessing you are taking about Rob? He's the only candy maker that has been there over 20 years, I believe.

 

[dollarmite]

Has anyone else ever had these types of differing experiences between DL and WDW?

Yes! My family and I just returned from a 6 week trip to the US and we spent 2 weeks at WDW followed by 2 weeks at DLR.

We couldn't believe the difference in attitudes between the 2 parks. WDW was by far the nicer place to vist, as almost all the CMs seemed determined to make our day "magical". For the most part they were chatty, helpful, friendly and just downright 'nice'.

We were quite shocked at the contrast at DLR. The worst culprits were those working in the merchandise shops (DCA staff were generally pretty good but the DD and DLP staff were, on the whole, rude and unhelpful). Obviously not all the CM at DLR were awful, but the general attitude seemed to be that this is "a job", whereas the WDW staff treated it like a passion.

This was our first visit to WDW although we have been to DLR multiple times before. I wish they were on the opposite coasts to what they are as it's such a major trip (time and moneywise) to WDW from Australia, and, having now been to WDW, I'd much prefer to visit WDW than DLR.

We also visited NYC, Washington DC and other parts of CA. Generally speaking, we found the people in NY and CA to be very friendly (as they are in many other cities we have visited on previous visits), so I can't ascribe the differences between WDW and DLR to differences in regions.

 

[Quilter007]

I think a big part of percieved friendliness is how comfortable you are. We are very comfortable in DL & we think the CMs there are great. Now, we've always thought they were a little less friendly in DCA, but that they are getting better....

WDW is a whole different story for us. We have only been on 3 trips to WDW, so we are automatically anxious because it's unfamiliar. The CMs have a higher hurdle & that combined w/ the regional cultural differences since we have lived on the west coast or the rocky mountains for our whole lives gives us the impression that the WDW CMs are less friendly.

In reality, it's unfair to judge all umpteen thousand CMs by the few that we encounter on our trip, especially the handful that stick out. Just my two cents. Oh, and I'm probably a high maintenance customer anyway....

 

[Bunless]

I'm guessing you are taking about Rob? He's the only candy maker that has been there over 20 years, I believe.

I love him because he's cranky, it makes me laugh.

I say this as a born and raised southern gal, who then fled to the west coast...I love the CMs at DL because they are real. Don't get me wrong, there is still a Disney spirit, but you can picture the CMs going home at the end of the day to their friends and family. I like that. The CMs at WDW tend to freak me out a bit--with the exception of the World Showcase CMs, I could spend days there talking to all of them.

 

[corrinna]

I asked about the CM pin lanyards at DL, as to why there aren't near as many CMs wearing them. I was told by several that the CMs are union there and so it is not manatory to wear them like at WDW. I personally found the CMs at DL just more quiet/laid back which could be perceived as rude to someone who has never been on the west coast. Overall, I found that people in general are way more laid back there than here in Ohio. One of the biggest diiferences was when I was driving, in 7 days, not once observation of road rage!!! It was a nice break from driving in Ohio.

 

[thelionqueen]

I'm guessing you are taking about Rob? He's the only candy maker that has been there over 20 years, I believe.

That would be him, and he is absolutely the worst CM I've ever come into contact with (and I've been in contact with thousands both as a guest and CM). Unfortunately, some CM's DO NOT improve with time

 

[Caropooh]

That would be him, and he is absolutely the worst CM I've ever come into contact with (and I've been in contact with thousands both as a guest and CM). Unfortunately, some CM's DO NOT improve with time

I guess he has changed quite a bit then. I spent 15 years working in merchandise at Disneyland, the majority of them on Main Street. He was always great to work with and participated in many activities after hours with other cast members. Cheered us on as a fan at many softball games!

 

[Chuck S]

I am going to go ahead and close this thread. A general discussion of DL vs WDW CMs is really not a DVC specific topic.