Have you ever been mistaken for a CM?

[TiggerBouncy]

This has happened to me not once, not twice, but over a dozen times. I don't get it.

I generally wear Kakki shorts, a polo (sometimes a DCL or Disney golf polo, but they are not CM polos!), a baseball cap, a lanyard with pins on it, sunglasses, a camera (not a big one with a nice lense, but a small sony or something - not the kind the photopass people use) and either a fanny pack or a small backpack or shoulder pack for suntan lotion, etc.

Basically, I am a quinticential picture of a pale white tourist on vacation.

I cannot count the number of people who have approached me asking me questions that they would ask a CM. Sometimes I even know the answers and will tell them!

Now the real CM's do sometimes have shorts and do wear a polo. But they usually wear a disney polo and have a nametag, and generally do not have the other sure signs of a tourist.

What gives? Have I been to Disney so many times I look like I belong? Anyone else been approached as if they were a CM when they are obviously not?

 

[fla4fun]

Well, I don't know if this counts or not, but I got a cast member parking ticket on my car at CR once. The ticket was for parking in guest parking instead of cast parking. They were going to notify my supervisor and if it happened again, I would be subject to disciplinary action. The funny thing is, I was just there to have dinner - I've never worked for Disney in any way, shape or form.

I do get asked questions a lot when I'm there, but I generally figure that's because I look like I know where I'm going.

On my first day of my first trip to the UK, I was stopped in the street by another tourist and asked for directions. Fortunately, the place she wanted to go was near my hotel, so I was able to help. I thought that was interesting . . . .I didn't have any kind of maps or brochures, or even a camera visible to indicate I was a tourist, so maybe that's why.

Or maybe I just look like a know it all . . .

 

[HM]

Yes, it's happened to me a couple times. Not sure why. I think it was asking for directions both times. Luckily, I was able to help them and not point out the fact they'd asked another guest.

I was thinking that not carrying a purse/backpack/other-sign-of-tourism, might be part of the reason?

 

[h&D3]

Many years ago, they used to sell the name badges that you could have your name engraved on. They looked just like the ones that the cast members wore with the exception of some wording that was included on the badge that was not on an actual CM's badge. So I had one engraved with my name and hometown, and I pinned it to my shirt. (polo style shirt)

So my brother and I are standing on Main Street, deciding what we should do next and this couple approaches me and asks me for directions and a few other questions. Totally thinking I must have been a CM. Now after being to Disney for 35+ times in my lifetime, I could probably answer just about anything that a CM could.

So I answered their questions, they said "thanks for the help", and they left. My brother just stood there dumbfounded with a big grin on his face. I just smiled and highly enjoyed the rest of my day.

I still have that name badge, along with a few others that they made over the years. But I will always remember my "disney moment" when someone thought I was a CM.

(then again, there are my DH, kids and the people I have worked with that ALL think I'm a CM because I offer so many tips about the parks)...

~D

 

[bdklein]

I refuse to wear a red shirt to Target!!!!

 

[katrina1122]

Happens to my dh all the time. He has a furry tigger cap with a bouncing tigger on the top of it and wears at least one lanyard. Plus he's been in retail is whole life so he can't help but 'clean' up the wdw stores as he wanders. He's always getting asked where merchandise can be found. the sad thing is he can often answer, lol.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

Many years ago, they used to sell the name badges that you could have your name engraved on. They looked just like the ones that the cast members wore with the exception of some wording that was included on the badge that was not on an actual CM's badge. So I had one engraved with my name and hometown, and I pinned it to my shirt. (polo style shirt)

So my brother and I are standing on Main Street, deciding what we should do next and this couple approaches me and asks me for directions and a few other questions. Totally thinking I must have been a CM. Now after being to Disney for 35+ times in my lifetime, I could probably answer just about anything that a CM could.

So I answered their questions, they said "thanks for the help", and they left. My brother just stood there dumbfounded with a big grin on his face. I just smiled and highly enjoyed the rest of my day.

I still have that name badge, along with a few others that they made over the years. But I will always remember my "disney moment" when someone thought I was a CM.

(then again, there are my DH, kids and the people I have worked with that ALL think I'm a CM because I offer so many tips about the parks)...

~D

If you're talking about the "Guest of Honor" nametag, I have one too! It's red, though, so you really can't get it confused with the typical CM name tag, but I still wear it.

Never really been asked anything though.

 

[Fire14]

I get it constantly when I'm on vacation. I figured mine was lanyard although mine is pink. No name tag, wearing t shirt and shorts, nothing CM at work like.

 

[Disnydad]

Several times I've been mistaken for a CM over the years. Three come to mind:
1. I was wearing an oval tag ,that I got from another Disney discussion board that had my screen name on it, outside the restaurant at the American pavilion in the World Show Case. A guest came up to me and was very angry that the pavilion should be serving hamburgers when there is plenty of other "Amercian" food available to serve. He wanted me to pass along his disapointment. Whatever, that was the last time I wore the tag.

2. I was at the MK bus stops when I was asked by serveral persons about which bus was at which stop. Seemed like once someone saw me help people they'd line up for help themselves. I could help them that time.

3. Last month I was exited the AK wearing beige shorts, blue shirt and a straw hat so I kinda sorta looked like a CM. Got asked for directions and times of the Lion King show. Directions I could help with, but not times.

 

[Rarity]

This happened to my sister during our last trip. She was just wearing a plain t-shirt and shorts, but someone still stopped and asked if she was a CM.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

OMG, I think this thread is so funny. I have a red scooter skirt and very boldly striped polo shirt and when I wear it I get asked questions all the time. I think that part of it too is that I'm with my DH and DD and I'm sure people feel like I'm helping this man and his daughter and they just start asking questions or asking directions. I mention that I'm not a CM but I'm pretty familiar with WDW and can probably help them. Most people seem to be happy and go on there way. My family just laughs at me and then asks me not wear my "uniform" anymore.

 

[Jawa Livin]

Long time lurker. first time poster.......but to answer the question, YES I get mistaken all the time! I think its because I generally walk pretty fast (I do this everywhere) and appear to know where I am going. I have noticed recently more people have been stopping me and asking questions possibly because I am wearing my SWW name badges for SWW (have three and of course I must wear them all at the same time ) and so they might mistake them for CM name tags initially. My sister gets mistaken all the time also, two weekends ago at HS she was sitting, waiting for the Jawas to come out and had quite a few people asking her all sorts of random questions. I notice I get asked more CM questions when I am in the parks solo but on occasion it does happen when I am not. Don't mind helping when asked, some people look like they desperately need it!

 

[magicbob]

Yup. At Animal Kingdom I was already looking somewhat like a Steve Irwin wannabe in my Khaki shorts and shirt. As we entered the park, we saw a hat cart and decided to buy hats. I chose an "Aussie" style safari hat. Needless to say, I was answering questions and giving directions all day! Fortunately, I didn't mind and I DID know the correct answers!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I can't say that I've ever been mistaken for a CM, but this reminds me of the time we did the Segway tour and the CM who was our guide reminded us to take off our name tags before we left..."unless you want to direct people to the bathrooms the rest of the day"

And not to hijack the thread, but does anyone offer help if you can tell that someone is lost or confused or you overhear them talking about something that you know the answer to? Once I tried to help someone and they looked at me like I had 3 heads Haven't offered since then since it feels so awkward to start with.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

I refuse to wear a red shirt to Target!!!!

or a blue shirt to Best Buy!

 

[magicbob]

And not to hijack the thread, but does anyone offer help if you can tell that someone is lost or confused or you overhear them talking about something that you know the answer to? Once I tried to help someone and they looked at me like I had 3 heads Haven't offered since then since it feels so awkward to start with.

This is currently being discussed in this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3121675

 

[Random Ninja]

I get asked if I'm an off duty cast member every single trip, usually right after I've just given directions or stopped for a break and chit chatted with the people around me and ended up giving advice. I really don't look like a CM since I've always got my backpack and a mask on (medical for allergies). Once I lead a mom and her son through the huge crowd at the hub so they could get to the rest of the family and the mom asked if she could leave a note for my supervisor at GR. That one made me giggle later but I was really touched. Most CMs I know are very friendly and helpful; being compared to that is kinda cool. I've got an application in now so maybe one day I'll get to say "Yes!"

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Opposite problem.
2) As a CM, I get asked if I am a guest !

 

[bethan92]

I had the opposite problem whilst working in the Emporium. The number of times I was asked if I was a cast member was ridiculous!
It's not very often you see a guest willingly wearing a floor length plaid skirt, frilly shirt, and neck tie whilst tidying a whole wall of Mickey Plush

 

[anonymousegirl]

Yep. It's happen to me a couple of times, mainly because I go solo and I can't help butting into people's conversations while in line or at a parade.

One time, waiting for the MK morning show, EMH, I hear a father asking his son what ride he wanted to do first. Kid shouts, Haunted Mansion! So I gently mentioned that only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland were open for the first hour and suggest he do Peter Pan first, FP Space Mt and other Fantasyland and Tomorrowland rides, and then head over the HM at 9am when everyone else would be arriving.