Ever have CM's take the Magic out of it?

[AWaltFan]

In the last couple visits, I've noticed CMs interacting out of character with each other, venting, gossiping, etc. I feel that it's taking the magic out of the attraction. I even had the young girl who was wrapping my DD hair give a play-by-play of a date she had with another CM. Totally inappropriate conversation.

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[dburg30]

Honestly, no I dont think I've ever had that.. I've had very few CM's that I would even consider not friendly. And no gossipers..

 

[jamala]

In all of our trips to disney this has only happened 2 times to us. One night with about 10 min. left to park close we went to get in line at peter pan and the young man at the rope said "sorry no more riders" I did not argue that we still had several min. left I just told my 2 small kids at the time "sorry, its closed" as I said this 10 young teens who obviously knew the CM ran up and he jumped and hi-five the teens and let them run under the rope and get on the ride. My kids were heart broken.

The last trip we went on there was NO wait for BUZZ we were going thru the line and DH dropped his sun glasses. The CM saw us come in and that we were together and when DH stopped to pick up his glasses she closed the rope between us and allowed several other people with fast passes to get between us. I looked at her and said "he is with us" and she snarled back "yeah I know" and grinned a hateful grin. He was the only one in the regular line so she just stopped him no one was behind him so it was obvious she was just being a pain.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

a few times - generally I just let it roll off my back and make sure DD doesn't catch on to what they're talking about. One CM does stand out she went on and on about how she liked it when Tinker Bell didn't talk and how it's wrong that she does in the parks - ugh.

I understand the opinion - I've heard it before but DD believes it's magical to meet the fairies and talk to them! I thought it was unprofessional for the CM to be going against what's going on in the parks.

 

[Belleoftheballl]

The last trip we went on there was NO wait for BUZZ we were going thru the line and DH dropped his sun glasses. The CM saw us come in and that we were together and when DH stopped to pick up his glasses she closed the rope between us and allowed several other people with fast passes to get between us. I looked at her and said "he is with us" and she snarled back "yeah I know" and grinned a hateful grin. He was the only one in the regular line so she just stopped him no one was behind him so it was obvious she was just being a pain.

That's so rude!

 

[GillianP1301]

We just got back from our week in WDW and the majority of the CM's were pretty good and a handful were even awesome, like the sidewalk sweeper who saw my son spill his popcorn carton and got it refilled for him, as an example.

But, there were also a handful of those who were not good at all. Two were the exact same as the OP mentioned and gossiping amongst themselves, one was just grumpy and obviously having a bad day when I asked if she was the entrance to Pooh's ride (it was Philarmagic, I haven't been to Disney in 10 years and didn't know they put FP machines so far away from the actual ride). Anyway, all I got was a snotty "no" and that was it. Not until I asked where it was, did she grungingly give an answer. The only other rudeness I saw actually made me laugh, so not sure I can count it. A couple of non-English speaking people were walking in the parade route at HS just as it was about to start and the CM nicely asked them to move to the walkway side of the rope and they ignored her. So she called after them and the woman turns around and says "But I don't speak English" and the CM said "but I'm pointing that way" (and exaggerated her pointing motion). Cracked me up.

 

[minnie mum]

So she called after them and the woman turns around and says "But I don't speak English" and the CM said "but I'm pointing that way" (and exaggerated her pointing motion). Cracked me up.

I don't call that taking the Magic out of it. I call that BRILLIANT!

 

[Melissa8905]

The only "less than magical" CM's we've run into were at HS. We found the CM's at Starring Rolls Cafe to be curt, unfriendly and scowling. I would've chalked it up to a long, bad day behind the counter, but it was only 11am and not busy at all. Oh well.

 

[RyMacJ]

In all of our trips to disney this has only happened 2 times to us. One night with about 10 min. left to park close we went to get in line at peter pan and the young man at the rope said "sorry no more riders" I did not argue that we still had several min. left I just told my 2 small kids at the time "sorry, its closed" as I said this 10 young teens who obviously knew the CM ran up and he jumped and hi-five the teens and let them run under the rope and get on the ride. My kids were heart broken.

The last trip we went on there was NO wait for BUZZ we were going thru the line and DH dropped his sun glasses. The CM saw us come in and that we were together and when DH stopped to pick up his glasses she closed the rope between us and allowed several other people with fast passes to get between us. I looked at her and said "he is with us" and she snarled back "yeah I know" and grinned a hateful grin. He was the only one in the regular line so she just stopped him no one was behind him so it was obvious she was just being a pain.

I am so sorry that both of these situations happened to you. It really boils my blood.

I would have defnitely asked to speak to their superior. Politely, but I would have asked. And if they refused, I would have written down their name and the attraction and gone straight to Guest Services.

 

[labattblue]

I encountered numerous CM's who were going through the motions during a recent visit. Not gossiping or complaining like the OP saw, but just not what I expect from Disney CM's. A simple smile or greeting is not that difficult. I'm not saying this is what I saw from the majority of CM's, but it was enough that it stood out.

Sorry you make minimum wage, hate your job and/or your life. If you don't like it...go work for Six Flags. You'll fit right in.

 

[GovieMom]

Our family had an early dinner at Boatwrights (back when POR was Dixie Landings), and the restaurant was basically empty. Our male server for some reason decided we were the perfect people to vent to about living in Orlando, the cost of everything there, his apartment, the commute to work, work itself, etc., etc. For the whole length of our dinner, ugh. While it didn't spoil any magic; it just wasn't what we expected at Disney.

On our first trip to WDW years back, DH and I had a couple of girls working at the bakery in France be outright rude to us (snotty attitudes). Guess they hated their jobs, oh well.

 

[Missytara]

I have always learned that I am the best ambassador or steward for my department.

 

[tsme]

The only not Disney behavior I've witnessed from cms was at one of the GF's gift shops. Two of the cms were talking about a child that was misbehaving in there & how the parents didn't do anything about it etc. I thought it was odd, but it didn't bother me.

 

[GRUMPYPOOH]

Few years ago, my daughter was so super excited to finally meet her fav. Peter Pan. As we patiently anticipated our turn, she ran up to meet him and he proceeded to tell her "Now you know...I am not real....this is just pretend" Damage was done and her little heart was broken. Good thing the fairy god mother was the next character we met, cuz she really helped diffuse a tense magical disney moment.

 

[scjo68]

Few years ago, my daughter was so super excited to finally meet her fav. Peter Pan. As we patiently anticipated our turn, she ran up to meet him and he proceeded to tell her "Now you know...I am not real....this is just pretend" Damage was done and her little heart was broken. Good thing the fairy god mother was the next character we met, cuz she really helped diffuse a tense magical disney moment.

That's just wierd....

I haven't had any CM's be rude to us. And mostly they are wonderful, and go above and beyond. But over the last few years, in general I have noticed that CM's tend to gossip, grumble, etc., in front of guests. It is only because it is Disney that we notice. We never saw this when we started going to Disney.

 

[davedmaine]

It's everyone, not just CMs at Disney.. A rising tide of rudeness raises all boats..

In the last couple visits, I've noticed CMs interacting out of character with each other, venting, gossiping, etc. I feel that it's taking the magic out of the attraction. I even had the young girl who was wrapping my DD hair give a play-by-play of a date she had with another CM. Totally inappropriate conversation.

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~I tried to think of just one incident out of all of our trips and I couldn't recall one. The CM's are a huge reason why we return to Disney, year after year after year! The most recent memory I have is the bus driver who sung happy birthday over the speaker to my DS, I thought that was so special! I know there must be some "unmagical" CM out there somewhere but we have been so fortunate not to come across any, ever.

 

[crostorfer]

You know, I always kind of poo-poo'd these kinds of threads and wrote people off as being over sensitive, but after last week I had a moment where the light bulb clicked and I kind of get what people are talking about here.

Last Monday it was pouring rain in the MK and my daughter and I ducked into Castle Couture next the castle to look around for a few minutes. There were 5-6 CM's gathered around the register, all women, ranging in age from their early 20's to their mid-50's. Some were CC cast members, two were photopass photographers. They were all laughing and carrying on a room audible conversation about their previous customer's last name and how it sounded like a cuss word. Yes, they said the cuss word, just more soft and muffled, but I still heard it. I kind of stopped in my tracks and looked at the group incredulously. I've never heard CM's talk like that before.

Now, I'll be honest, this normally wouldn't bother me that much if I was in, say, some place like Hot Topic at the mall. I would expect it there. I DO NOT expect this from Disney Cast Members. I wasn't upset enough to make a deal out of it, in fact I wasn't even upset, just kind of shocked. There are larger things in life to worry about, but I do get now why people have made these kinds of comments here before. I get it now.

 

[bytheblood]

Honestly, I dont pay attention to stuff like that. I have had CMs that are aloof and one that was super-rude and told my friend to get out of her store over changing her mind about having a name put on Mickey ears, but for the most part it never has affected my vacation.

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

We did have a less than stellar experience at Whispering Canyon Cafe, with the server and the hosts at the front of the restaurant. It was disappointing because it was our first night there, but we simply spoke with the concierge at CR when we returned to the hotel and they were wonderful (as was everyone else the entire trip) and actually credited back our TS credits for the meal.