Grumpiest Cast Member

[MyKindOfDisney]

Who is the grumpiest cast member you've ever met?

About 8 years ago, we were at Hollywood Studios and stopped by the DVC kiosk and agreed to tour VGF in exchange for a Disney gift card. After the tour and the sales pitch, there was free ice cream promised at the end of the presentation. The kids were in their own area, so after we finished we picked them up and took them to get their free ice cream.

There she was. The only cast member I've ever met at a Disney park/cruise/etc. who was doing her job and just looked miserable. Not smiling, not looking directly at anyone when giving them their ice cream, and not responding to the "thank yous" from the kids.

I know everyone has bad days, and maybe this was one for her. And she wouldn't have looked out of place at an ice cream store across the street. But it speaks to the great environment that the cast members create, when she stands out from the crowd as much as she did!

Anyone else have a similar experience? Do they still give you ice cream after your DVC sales pitch?

 

[Sandisw]

As far as I know, no more free ice cream. And honestly, I am always just so happy when I am there, I have never encountered one!

Im a really social person and can strike up a conversation with a rock!!! Lol

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

99% of CMs we've interacted with at Disney parks around the world have been great.

The grumpiest, though, must be the CM we encountered at DL Paris's BTMRR in 2017. Back then they still did paper fast passed and we asked him if we could use the FP machine he was leaning on. He shrugged, didn't say anything, and kept on staring in the distance. I guess he was pensive that day? We weren't sure if that meant yes or no, so we waited for the other machine next to him to be available. While we were getting our FPs, we saw him picking his nose, then flicking off whatever was on his fingers all while he kept staring in the distance. We were really surprised by that nonchalant behavior and lack of awareness of guests that might be around him. Bad day, perhaps.

To end on a positive note and keep this DVC, we're constantly pleasantly surprised by the mousekeeping CM at Riviera. One time, my MIL called to get something in our 1BR kitchen looked at (can't remember what it was, but it was something simple, maybe an appliance just needed a bit of cleaning). The CM proceeded to clean the whole kitchen and wash all our used dishes by hand, while having a lovely conversation with my MIL. She then wiped a lot of our surfaces and was just so nice. MIL left a big tip for her at the front desk at the end of our stay.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Who is the grumpiest cast member you've ever met?

About 8 years ago, we were at Hollywood Studios and stopped by the DVC kiosk and agreed to tour VGF in exchange for a Disney gift card. After the tour and the sales pitch, there was free ice cream promised at the end of the presentation. The kids were in their own area, so after we finished we picked them up and took them to get their free ice cream.

There she was. The only cast member I've ever met at a Disney park/cruise/etc. who was doing her job and just looked miserable. Not smiling, not looking directly at anyone when giving them their ice cream, and not responding to the "thank yous" from the kids.

I know everyone has bad days, and maybe this was one for her. And she wouldn't have looked out of place at an ice cream store across the street. But it speaks to the great environment that the cast members create, when she stands out from the crowd as much as she did!

Anyone else have a similar experience? Do they still give you ice cream after your DVC sales pitch?

Maybe she was in pain, honestly, maybe it was all she could do just to stand there and do what she was doing!

 

[zackiedawg]

Fortunately I only ever encountered one grumpy cast member - Grandma Mary, a hostess at 50's Prime Time Cafe. Complained and moaned about all the annoying people and screaming kids and complainers she had to deal with that day. Of course, she was off-duty, sitting in my DVC villa, as we were getting ready to go out to dinner...she was my aunt. ON duty, she was a perfect Disney employee.

I have to say, Disney cast members are pretty darn good - even when I can see them having a bad interaction with guests, they stay patient and cordial. The worst I can say is seeing some visible stress on occasion from the CM, but I've never encountered rude or miserable. And that's spending over 1,400 days at Disney in my life so far (and having two relatives who were cast members).

 

[cruisehopeful]

I had one at Hearthstone in the Grand Californian lobby a few years back. I think she was the hostess. She was completely annoyed that I walked up and it escalated from there. When the hotel sent me the survey after my stay, I had a lot to say. I did include that maybe she was tired or sick, but I also mentioned that they need to hire more staff if they are going to overwork people to the point that they are mad that they have a customer.

 

[BeachClub2014]

I really can't recall any one specific "grumpy" cast member or negative interaction that I've experienced. I don't think it's a case of pixiedust blurring history, I suppose that I just try not to give space to negative people or interactions.