have you ever seen CM's "behaving badly"?

[disney world dreamer]

i was thinking back to my recent trip and remembered that when entering epcot through the international gateway entrance a woman CM was basically arguing with a male CM saying "if they ask, you better tell them i was here on time! you know i'm always on time! i can't help that "that" happened! this is total crap and its because of you and that other one! now i'm gonna get in trouble!"

have you ever seen CM's acting like that?

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

No.

I've never had a bad encounter with a CM. All the CMs I've seen have been good or they have exemplified Disney magic in some way. Being a CM is a job like any other and I'm sure there are issues that come with it. CMs are people, too, and threads like these tend to get under my skin, especially since I now have a job that deals with the public.

 

[safroim]

Everyone behaves badly at some point. CMs are real people with real lives and real problems just like everyone else. Please don't expect them to be perfect 100% of the time.

 

[Nancyg56]

No, I have never seen a CM behave in a manner that was less than professional and courteous. I know that others have encountered issues, but I figure that CM's are people too.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

In all our trips I have never seen a CM acting badly. However I have seen many, arrogant guest pointing fingers at, yelling, threating their job, going to get them wordings to CM's who were trying to do their jobs to the best of their ability, in situation where the guest was just not listening!


AKK

 

[BadPinkTink]

having worked in the service industry, I see the other side. Like PP have said CM's are just regular people, but because they work in the House of The Mouse, they are put on this pedestal by the general public. The general public think that they can actually do magic and sometimes have such a sense of entitlement that "CMs behaving badly" is in actual fact the end result of verbal or physical abuse by a guest.

What makes it even more difficult for the CM's is that they have to adhere to Disney rules and regulations, which at times may not make sense or be fully understood by guests.

So please people, take of the rose tinted glasses and see the CMs as your son or daughter, brother or sister, husband or wife and treat them as you would treat a member of your family

 

[Dug720]

Everyone behaves badly at some point. CMs are real people with real lives and real problems just like everyone else. Please don't expect them to be perfect 100% of the time.

This!

It is kind of surprising that the fussing was over being late - CMs use a clock in and clock out system that doesn't allow for "don't tell them I was late" because it's right there. The only thing I can think is they may have X amount of time to get to your post from the clock. But still, you have to be responsible for yourself and not let someone else "make" you late.

I'm not excusing the behavior at all - though they ARE human, not audio animatronic figures - but I am interested as how it was over something that really can't be fudged.

 

[anniemae]

Not badly, no. But, I did see some "unpolished" behavior. Things like checking cell phones, texting. I also overheard two young cm's complaining about another cm. Not a huge deal, ANY workplace will have gossip, annoyed employees, tired employees etc. I think ad Disney guests expect perfection and "magic" and they forget Disney is just a job for many. They go home and have to deal with laundry, cooking dinner, kids, bills etc. I think the cm's of today are a bit different from the cm's of years ago. Not a bad thing, just life. For the most part, I think the cm's do an amazing job.

 

[wilkeliza]

This!

It is kind of surprising that the fussing was over being late - CMs use a clock in and clock out system that doesn't allow for "don't tell them I was late" because it's right there. The only thing I can think is they may have X amount of time to get to your post from the clock. But still, you have to be responsible for yourself and not let someone else "make" you late.

I'm not excusing the behavior at all - though they ARE human, not audio animatronic figures - but I am interested as how it was over something that really can't be fudged.

If your position is not started at your clocking in place you get X amount of time to get to your location. For a CM who is stationed at IG there should be no problems though because there is a clock in computer and wall clock (not sure what method front gate CMs use as I was attractions) that they could have used. I imagine they either clocked in exactly on time or used their 15 minute leway prorior to shift start and forgot to pull a position which is your official clock time so they would appear late.

 

[Disneylover99]

Nope. I've seen some tired and stressed CM's. But none behaving badly.

 

[Cee]

I haven't. I find it amazing that in all the years and many vacations spent in WDW, I have never seen or had a negative experience with a CM. Bravo!

 

[cjparker0110]

I've never experienced any of this while I"ve been at WDW. However, I will add that I used to be a CM at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and will say that 99.9% of the time CMs there would exhibit pure professionalism. Just like at WDW they would take the yelling, cursing, finger pointing, etc, in stride and apologize while offering to call someone higher up or pointing them toward Guest Services. Once in a blue moon someone would be overheard complaining, grumbling, etc. It was rare while "on stage" but went on all the time in the backstage areas. Nobody is perfect. But most people who have a job like this go above and beyond to please the guests. That someone fails from time to time is no surprise, but I don't worry about it or get riled up over it. And I don't seek it out...when you look for it, you lose the magic.

 

[patty57]

No.

 

[North of Mouse]

Nope. I've seen some tired and stressed CM's. But none behaving badly.

This! But I certainly have seen very rude guests behaving badly (not a strong enough word) to them! They are human and have a 'very' complex, stressful job dealing with today's 'me' guests - I think they do an excellent job with the situations they are dealt with. I smile and say nice word to them whenever I can.

 

[mom2rtk]

Not sure what this has to do with theme parks touring and strategy.

 

[Asc341]

I've seen CMs break character, so to speak, by using a lot of slang while talking to us, or horsing around with each other while there were customers waiting for their help. Also, twice we have heard CMs tell customers about how much they disliked their jobs. Those aren't egregious offenses, but those instances stood out, since most CMs do an incredible job in being professional and wonderful custodians of the Disney brand!

 

[Hopefully]

No. I never have. And I wonder , OP, why would you start such a post. Pretty negative IMHO.

 

[hsmamato2]

yes. But I've been to parks many times, and on a percentage scale, the number is VERY small compared to the very good CM's.... There were a couple of standout rude CM's...but only a couple.

 

[Brian Noble]

Every once in a blue moon. Much more commonly, the bad behavior is coming from a guest.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

I've never seen a cm behaving badly, I have seen them snap at guests that caused them issues. During this trip there was a group of teens playing chicken with the tram, can't blame the cm for finally yelling at them to stop wasting the time of the people on board.