Do you ever get mistaken for a cast member?

[RickinNYC]

I was just curious about this. My partner and I were chatting about our upcoming trip (check out the timer! -- woo hoo!) and he reminded me of all the times we'd gone. Virtually every single trip, when we've been relaxing at our resort lounge over cocktails, or sitting at Adventurer's Club or any other PI bar, I've been asked whether I was a cast member or where I worked.

I'd forgotten about that but it's true. Just about every time! Strange but true.

I have absolutely NO idea why. And it's not just by other guests, it's usually from other cast members. They tend to get chummy with me, we joke around and next thing you know, they assume that I'm one of them. Kinda neat if you ask me but gotta make you wonder.

And I do absolutely nothing to make anyone think so. Just my own charming, rascally self. LOL!

Does that happen to anyone else?

 

[monkeyboy]

Not at WDW but always when I am at Home Depot

 

[tkyes]

YEP! I'm sure it's because of my guest of honor badge.

One cast member at FW asked me where I worked when I was buying something from the trading post.

A guest asked me how much some charms were at POR at the gift shop. Of course I just answered her and didn't tell her I didn't work there!

 

[Lisa F]

My husband does all the time. I think it's the pin lanyard, but sometimes it's because someone catches him picking up a piece of trash (which he does whenever he sees one) and tossing it in the garbage and of course no one would do that unless they were paid to, right? Of course since we know so much about Disney, he usually just answers their question rather than explaining he doesn't actually work there.

 

[RadioNate]

I get mistaken for a cast member too! I assumed it was because I am a former cast member however it's been more than 7 years since I worked at WDW.

I always seem to be asked where the bathrooms are. Guess I have that look!?! I usually just tell people and move on.

I get it at the Disney Store too.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yes, I've had it happen to me-in Animal Kingdom. I was traveling solo and I didn't have a camera with me, and I knew where I was going without a map, so I think the family assumed I was a CM. Lucky for them I could answer their question-they were coming out of Dinoland, headed towards Discovery Island, looking for Donald's Resturauntoraus. I enjoyed the mistaken identity!

 

[Robinette]

It has happened to me at the Wilderness Lodge swimming pool. I was wearing a red bathing suit. It is the racer back style... I think that's what you call it. It says Ralph Lauren in white letters on the side of it! Anyway, three different people asked me if I was a lifeguard that day. I wore my black suit the rest of trip!

 

[Towncrier]

A couple of times during last year's Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I wore my town crier costume and even the CMs in Liberty Square were impressed. I had several guest come up to me and ask where the nearest restroom was. And I told them where to go.

 

[Kallison]

Yes and I pick up trash too! Mostly I get mistaken because I butt in when I overhear people having conversations and throw in a tip or two. Once I was picking up all this trash under the counter at the Fish and Chips stands, the CM's couldn't see it behind the counter. DH is like - WHat the heck are you doing? I hate a dirty Disney!

 

[Mickey527]

I get mistaken all the time. I don't wear my Guest of Honor badge since the first trip I took in the 90's. I also don't wear my green lanyard anymore since the CM's now wear green lanyards. I stopped wearing my black one because of the mistaken identity when I had that one on.
I do enjoy being mistaken, and enjoy being able to give the correct answer. Guess it is training for when I can leave this cold state and move down to FL and become a CM.
I sometimes will be talking to a CM when someone will ask a question of the CM. They (most of the time) don't know the answer but I do, which I find really funny. They say "I don't know but I will find out for you" and then I pipe in with the answer.
I think it might be because I tend to wear short sleeved polos with Mickey on them, but it happens even when I am wearing my sleeveless Mickey shirts.
All of my WDW clothing has Mickey on it, and I have been insulted at Universal, but who wants to wear Spiderman shirts unless you are under 5 and male? Peggie

 

[sha_lyn]

not at WDW, but at American AdventuresI had a guy actually argue with me when I said I didn't work there. Then say he was going to get me fired because I wouldn't give him tokens for the arcade games. He didn't want to wait in line at the machine, and for some strange reason decided I must work there. I was not wearing anything similar to what the employees worn. He just kept insisting he knew I worked there because I had a waist pack on.

 

[RickinNYC]

I knew I wasn't the only one!

 

[Rajah]

Yup, all the time. Sometimes by guests, other times by other CMs. I think it's great!

 

[TLinden16]

One afternoon, I was waiting for some friends in the AK, and I had seven people ask me if I was a CM in about 15 minutes. I was wearing denim shorts and a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt. No buttons or badges. Funny thing is, I answered all of their questions.

Karen

 

[jimmiej]

Last June, in line for Spaceship Earth, a young boy asked me if I worked at WDW. He noticed my DIS lanyard full of pins.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

 

[DisneyJules]

This last time we went, I was asked on a few occaisions if I worked in the parks. The strange part is, I've been contemplating working in the International program at Epcot, my friend and sister said it was a sign,hehe Maybe it was the lanyard I was wearing.

 

[Jungle Skipper]

I get asked all the time...of course I am a former CM so I have a lot of my old CM tendencies (i.e. the Disney Point...I think thats the big giveaway).

I always offer my help when asked though...and every once in a while I get picked out by someone who recognizes me from my CM days....few and far between, but it happens.

Jungle Josh

 

[princesspumpkin]

When the cruises that I went on had mostly West Indian or South American employees, I was almost mistaken for a worker, but not at WDW.