Grumpy Cast Members?

[teacups]

We just got back from a week at DL- and I wondered if anyone else noticed a change in the cast members? Our last trip was 12/10, and wow, so many cast members this trip (Presidents week) were REALLY CRABBY! What happened to the Disney Magical Experience? It was so noticable that when we did have a great CM it was a breath of fresh air. Whats going on?

 

[sonnyjane]

This topic comes up a lot. I'd imagine on a busy holiday weekend, they probably get pretty tired with putting up with people's crap quite honestly and sometimes it must be hard to hide! I have never had a CM be rude or mean to me. I have seen CM's be less than chipper toward others on occasion, but in my opinion, they were cases where guests were totally out of line or acting foolish. I have always had really positive CM experiences, sometimes to the point where they won't stop chatting kindly with me even though I just want to shove my churro in my mouth lol.

I'm not a Disney CM but I do work somewhere where I'm expected to be "on" at all times, and I'll say, while I try my best, there are definitely times when I'm tired, or running late, or when I'm getting absolutely berated by a guest, that I'm sure I'm less than "magical" as well.

 

[LinK]

CM's are not what they used to be. We have been visting yearly for the last 10 years. We have even seen cast members call security for getting sprayed with water. They are friendly but not what i would consider overthetop.

I wonder if they did away with the disney training.

 

[MorganM]

Lol, its funny you say this because we visited in Sep of 2011 and had a really rude CM in Mickeys house during Mickeys ToonTown Morning Madness. I have a SLR camera and sometime people have trouble trying to find the shoot button, anyways when I told him where the button was he was so rude and looked at me and said "um the same place as everyone elses button, GOT IT." I could not believe his attitude and it was only like 9 in the morning.

Oh well just really caught me off guard when he said that....so I know what you mean but everyone else, especially the women in the baby center, where so very nice!

 

[Disney Dreams]

CM's are not what they used to be. We have been visting yearly for the last 10 years. We have even seen cast members call security for getting sprayed with water. They are friendly but not what i would consider overthetop.

I wonder if they did away with the disney training.

Why would someone get sprayed with water while working?!?! And why would it surprise you that they would take action after it happening? (Was calling security appropriate? No idea as I didn't see the situation, but it might have been the only recourse s/he had.) I don't see how anyone could question someone not being "overthetop" friendly after they get sprayed with water at work.

- Dreams

 

[disneydreamer74]

I understand the difference a grumpy CM can make on your vacation. We went to DLR last month, after having always gone in the busy Summer months. What a difference! We had our pick of Characters walking around the entire time! And the most amazing thing to us was the disposition of the CM's. They were really friendly. I was surprised at the impact it had on our trip because we felt totally immersed Disney, as if we had entered a portal to a different world. This is what Walt envisioned for the guests. In the summer we usually run across several CM's that are grumpy, but we understand that heat and obnoxious guests don't mix well! Let's face it, we have all had to stand next to some people in line that make us scratch our heads! The CM's are only human. I did have one incident where a CM was completely out of line and I reported it to the lead. But most things I just shrug off because I am determined to enjoy my time there.

 

[kailuagirl]

I noticed that the CM's at DL are way nicer than the CM's at CAP. By a long shot.

In Dec. we had soup at Boudin and asked the CM if there was a way to get it to go (we wanted to take it back to our room at the GCH to eat) as it was late. She sure of course and put it in a cup with a lid and put the bread in a bag. Was perfect. We loved it, so the next day we wanted to eat it again so DH and DD went back to the room as DD had fallen asleep and I was to pick up the soup. I asked for it to go and the CM just put the soup not in the bread bowl but in a bowl. I told her nicely that I was taking it back to our room and she said just take the tray until the the GCH entrance and leave it on a trash can before you leave the park. It was alot of food so I asked her again nicely if there was another way and she said no, there is no to go so she wanted me to walk through a super crowded park with exposed hot soup and food. She was really rude and I was being really nice. Finally I said, I was there last night and they had not problem packing it to go for me. She got all mad and put it in coffee cups with lids and it was perfect. It was really crazy how 2 different CM servers could be.

 

[drag n' fly]

We were there Presidents Day weekend and it was busy. Honestly it must be exhausting dealing with crowds like that all day. I know we were very tired when we got home. Whenever I encounter a grumpy one I try and spend a minute talking to them or saying something nice to brighten their day. Sometimes they just need to know people care.

 

[bakerudall]

We were there Presidents Day weekend and it was busy. Honestly it must be exhausting dealing with crowds like that all day. I know we were very tired when we got home. Whenever I encounter a grumpy one I try and spend a minute talking to them or saying something nice to brighten their day. Sometimes they just need to know people care.

Excellent point! Working in the customer service field, one positive experience with a customer can give you the boost you need to put up with the next hundred negative ones.

 

[heatherleigh]

"I wonder if they did away with the disney training."

I hope not. My husband is traveling to DL in a month with Chevy, for Disney-training lol!

 

[PinkBudgie]

The lastest Al Lutz article mentioned Disney training. It said DCA CMs were gettting a whole new training session added on because of all the new park additions. But DL CMs were still getting the same old training which focuses mostly on how to avoid lawsuites. It will be interesting to see if the CMs in DCA outshine their DL counterparts this summer.

 

[SpaceMan5]

We just got back from DL as well, 2/21-2/24 and had many positive interactions with the CM's. My DD has some sinus problems from the flight. The CM's from the security check point to the 1st aid station were great.
I also noticed many CM's from Lenny at the StoryBook Land ride to the fire engine driver on Main St went the extra mile. All in all it was a great trip and fortunately we did not have any experiences such as teacups had on their trip.

BTW this is my first post and thought it was about time I jumped in. I have been a long time vistor to this discussion board and you (HydroGuy, SkiingFast etc) all have been very helpful in the planning of our past trips. Maybe now I can pass along my experiences and help out a little bit here and there.

 

[Disney Dreams]

The lastest Al Lutz article mentioned Disney training. It said DCA CMs were gettting a whole new training session added on because of all the new park additions. But DL CMs were still getting the same old training which focuses mostly on how to avoid lawsuites. It will be interesting to see if the CMs in DCA outshine their DL counterparts this summer.

And as we all know, Al is not a DL CM, but a member of the media. I would take Al Lutz's words with a grain of salt.

- Dreams

 

[PinkBudgie]

And as we all know, Al is not a DL CM, but a member of the media. I would take Al Lutz's words with a grain of salt.

- Dreams

Yes, I know. I don't count on him for what might happen, but I assume he's talked to CMs about what they are CURRENTLY doing. If he completely made that up then I guess I've been duped.

 

[tdashgirl]

How funny - after having a few trips with just "meh" CMs, this past trip, which was just a quick 1.5 day trip during a week that a)had many local school districts on break and b)had gorgeous low 80s temps which = very busy parks ... we had some awesome CMs. Honestly, the best CMs we've encountered in awhile! Everywhere from the churro cart to Star Tours.

 

[RainyDayPixie]

We just got back from DL as well, 2/21-2/24 and had many positive interactions with the CM's.

Ditto! We were there those exact same dates and had really positive experiences. Even just buying hats and concessions, the CMs asked where we were from, if we were enjoying our trip, etc. Very friendly!

(BTW- So many people from Seattle for mid-winter break! The parks we more crowded than I anticipated.)

 

[SpaceMan5]

I agree with you RainyDayPixie, the parks did seem crowded. I took Skiing Fast advice which went something along the lines of expect the parks to be packed and you will be pleasantly surprised, expect them to be empty and you will be disappointed.

But it sure was nice to get away from the cold and rain for a few days.

 

[KnearSeattle]

Add us to the Seattle families in the park last week (2/20 through 2/23).

Didn't notice any particularly grumpy CMs, but boy, the parks were way more crowded than they were for the same time period two years ago. We kept waiting for the lines to thin out, and they never did.

The upside of higher attendance was seeing more PhotoPass photographers and characters than we saw last time.

I'm mostly a lurker, but I too wanted to thank the people of this board for all of the helpful advice. Thanks to you all, I knew, for example, that I could ask for my salad separate from my sourdough bread (at the Pacific Wharf bakery), that the animation class was worth a visit, and that Star Tours has many variations.

Now if only we could plan a trip when the Matterhorn isn't closed for renovation...

--KnearSeattle

 

[CanadianDisneyDad]

Well CM's are just like the rest of us, human, and are prone to have bad days too, especially with 50,000+ people in a confined area and asking many a question.

We just came back on Feb 20 and we interacted with many a CM and I do not recall a grumpy CM at all.

cheers

 

[teacups]

We just got back from DL as well, 2/21-2/24 and had many positive interactions with the CM's. My DD has some sinus problems from the flight. The CM's from the security check point to the 1st aid station were great.
I also noticed many CM's from Lenny at the StoryBook Land ride to the fire engine driver on Main St went the extra mile. All in all it was a great trip and fortunately we did not have any experiences such as teacups had on their trip.

BTW this is my first post and thought it was about time I jumped in. I have been a long time vistor to this discussion board and you (HydroGuy, SkiingFast etc) all have been very helpful in the planning of our past trips. Maybe now I can pass along my experiences and help out a little bit here and there.

OT Spaceman, but our first trip my daughter (then 4) had some sinus and ear problems too. Gets it from me. I have it bad as well. We now use EARPLANES on all flights and they have totally cured the problem! Just thought Id mention it.