Does anyone else find that they end up helping other guest in the parks?

[catycatcat4]

Does anyone else find that they end up giving guest advice or helping them in the park?

For example one time i was talking to these people in space mountain and i ended up telling them how to get around to there dining reservations.

 

[15isto2]

I also find I help people in the shops. Last trip it wad sorting out pain killers for a Scottish couple

 

[gojoe]

Only when I hear them ask each other and don't have an answer. I once corrected someone. They didn't seem too happy I did. Unless I hear someone say they don't know or aren't sure, I don't.

 

[AlexDurrani]

I used to find myself making comments on certain things someone incorrectly said or wasn't sure about till I was told by a friend of mine that many people are offended by this. I stick to helping people that really look lost. Weird thing is I get approached by guests for help a lot of times.

 

[simonkodousek]

I'm always happy to help someone out if they come up to me and ask a question, and especially if I would take their picture. I seem to get that so much! I try to stay out of people's business otherwise, and if I hear someone giving faulty information, I just say "yeah, good luck" in my head and not think about it again, LOL.

 

[kaligal]

If it is the kind of situation where you're in line together and chatting and they say they don't know how to get to the Mission Space, I'll tell them. Always happy to help.

But I don't go butting in just to show off my Superior Disney Knowledge. And I don't go butting to help because I don't butt in. Not Butting In - kind of a policy of mine.

They can find help if they need it. Plenty of Disney staff for that.

 

[catycatcat4]

Its funny when i help someone or tell them something they are all ways shocked that a teenager knows "so much" about Disney parks.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Yup. I walked a Japanese family who couldn't speak much English out of the Streets of America. They kept saying out, out and holding up the map so I figured that's what they were trying to do. Since I was leaving the area too I didn't mind helping them out.

I've explained and showed several families how to use Fast Pass. Twice they were standing by the machines trying to figure out what they were and how to use them and the CM would be busy with someone else so I helped them.

Another time I was solo at Tepan Edo and a family was trying to figure out when they could get another fast pass so I showed them how to read the ticket and we ended up talking about maximizing fast pass usage. We also talked about where they were from (Chicago) and what parks they were going to visit on their trip.

 

[Quicklabs]

When I see people fumbling around with their cameras or trying to shoot directly into the sun, I offer suggestions about how to best set up the photo. I hate to think about people looking at their photos later and being disappointed, so if they seem open in any way, I help.

 

[eeyorelvr09]

Great thread,Sierra. I am currently in WDW waiting to come home; although not willingly. There was many times where I offered to take someones photos and they did the same in return. In addition, I find myself thinking out loud and Jay hates it because sometimes they will be snide remarks or corrections. I guess I like knowing things about Disney and want to share that knowledge with others.

Yesterday before Wishes was a prime example of shRing our knowledge. We were waiting for the show and had a group of about 9 people we were talking to and all of a sudden we became speakers for these people. We told them to pay special attention to the decorations of each of the parks as they pass through diffent parts of the parks, the use of force perspective, and other little tidbits that many people do not know.

I love coming here because it's a family that no one quite gets when you are at home. Jay made the comment that we like talking Disney to people that actually want to hear it. Just another thing that makes these trips magical for us. It doesn't have to be a CM trying to make the magic when you yourself can make magic for others just as easily.

 

[Danibelle]

I get asked a lot more when I am in DL than WDW. I try to stay out of other's conversations!

 

[NitroStitch]

I find myself giving directions to people who are looking lost and sounding frustrated with maps, answering questions on the AK trails when there isn't a CM nearby to answer, and helping people get a photo with the whole family in it - especially for single parents. I hate to see people frustrated when they're trying to navigate the parks, it bugs me when they're trying to guess what an animal is or what kind of food it eats and I just love to make sure there are a few photos with families intact, rather than the family photographer always being behind the camera. I tend not to help people who are being rude though.

 

[LeahZ]

We try to only help if they look lost or if they ask for help. I don't want to offend anyone by butting into a private conversation when I hear incorrect information. (as much as I want to!)

My hubby was on a solo trip last year and started chatting with a family while in line. They asked him several questions about how to use Fastpass and how to get around the park. Turns out that they were staying without any discounts and hadn't done any planning, so they were completely confused about how to tour the park! After the ride, they ended up heading in the same direction and then they asked him if he wanted to spend the day with them! He became their tour guide and showed them all over the Magic Kingdom. They even offered to buy him lunch(he didn't take them up on it, b/c he had the Dining Plan). He said it was so much fun and he had been really lonely without us, so he loved getting to spend time with a family on their vacation!

 

[disneygirlmass]

My husband and I always meet so many people on our trips that we give advice to. We should be spokespeople for DVC, because there isn't one trip we've been on where we havent tried convincing guests to purchase the DVD, hahaha. It's always fun to be able to give advice to people who are not Disney conisseurs just yet :>)

 

[miss missy]

YES!! All the time! I remember two teens in line at HM, said they were already on it a bunch of time... sent them running to Fantasmic!! Told them they can't miss that show. Hate to see wasted time on things in the parks lol

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I'm a former CM, so... Yeah.

 

[mytripsandraces]

On my most recent trip, I was privileged to fly down with two Wish families. The family that was nearest to me on the plane hadn't been before (the mother had, but not since she was a teen), so I gave them as many tips as I could.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I used to find myself making comments on certain things someone incorrectly said or wasn't sure about till I was told by a friend of mine that many people are offended by this. I stick to helping people that really look lost.

I agree. It may be intentional! There's a running joke in my family. When one family member was very young, instead of saying the Swan/Dolphin, she mistakenly called them, "The Fish" and "The Duck." We loved it.

Some time later, we were on the bus trading this joke and, I might add, obviously LAUGHING about it! Some obnoxious woman felt the need to 'correct' us - in a rather snooty tone. She was the one who ended up looking bad. I don't try to be mean, but in this case we couldn't help ourselves. We all just laughed out loud at her. (We were a pretty large group.)

I'm in the camp that thinks it's obnoxious to 'correct' minor 'mistakes. Who are you to know that it isn't a pet name? (we actually have several of them, as well as a few original attraction names we still say to us for fun.) I'm also philsophically of the mind that it's okay to modify the names of the attractions slightly. Something like calling the Astro Orbiter "the rockets." Who cares? That's what they are called in other parks.

If someone can't find what they are looking for on a map because they have the name wrong, that's different. If they are obviously lost, looking for help, I will gladly help out.

I also keep a few extra stickers on me - a la Disney staff. If I see a child in a total meltdown- and it seems apporiate- I will ask the person whose trying to calm the child if they'd like a Mickey sticker. There are times to do this and times to not do this- but sometimes it works very well for everyone.

We've also given away lots of unopened food/drinks, fastpasses, etc. I'll never forget once I was in line with a guy who didn't have enough money. He was maybe $1.50 short or something. As soon as I realized his situation, I quickly handed over the money. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Then he was SO greatful. We've all been caught a few cents short at the register once in our lives.

I know once or twice folks have helped us out like that. Maybe not handing over cash exactly, but we've certainly had folks give us FP's.

Recently, we went to a fair. My family was using quarter machines that vibrate your feet. A family was next to us. I thought they were waiting, but when we got up, they didn't move. So I handed the boy a quarter for the machine. His eyes TOTALLY lit up! His sister joined in the fun (two kids can easily share one of these machines.). A little later, I realized it was my last quarter. I had no small change for petting zoo food. (You know the gumball machines.) Sure enough, a stranger came over to us and handed us a whole handful of pellet food! I was really tempted to tell him the story of the two kids. It seemed almost like a karma thing.

 

[poohbear2]

I had helped a brand new employee once. We were on the monorail and the poor girl was in tears because she couldn't figure out how to get to her destination. I think they told her to take the monorail but she was all confused because it was obvious she did not know anything about the WDW layout. I think its funny when people get a job a Disney yet know little about it.

 

[jpeka65844]

The only thing I've done to help is tell people not to leave in the middle of the fireworks.

Have you noticed that during Wishes and Iluminations that there are "breaks" where people leave thinking it's over???? When I see families around me leaving saying "Ok, it's over!" I tell them "No it's not!!" They usually thank me for telling them after the grand finales!