Help! Conversation with PSYCHO CM!!!

[JandD Mom]

Hello All,

I was hoping I could get some reassurance from someone here because hopefully, someone is familiar with rooms at the CM rate.

I have a room at a CM rate (my friend who works for Disney got it for us under their friends' program). I have done this before and the rules have always been that you can get up to 3 rooms on the same reservation under that rate.

I called today to ask if I could add a room to our res at the BW in Nov and the CM checked a couple of things and then put me on hold. Now I have called several times in the past 4 months to ask if I could add a room. Every CM has been very nice and has checked for me and usually tells me there is no availability but keep trying. Now I am used to the Disney "game" and am always very nice and never pushy.

This CM gets back on the phone and lectures me about how this is a privledge for CMs, and if my friend is caught trying to take advantage of the perk, he will be disciplined or dismissed. I was shocked and told her I did not know why they would do that since all I did was call with a question.

Does anyone know why I got this PSYCHO response?

 

[dlrhine]

We are going to WDW Dec 7-14 on a cast member rate, my best friend who I met while on the College Program works at AKL. Currently, we have two rooms booked at the Poly with no problems. I do know that when I added the extra room the CM had to do it, I couldn't call and add it. Also, they must show their cast member ID 3 days before you check in so that it is finalized. I have been going on cast member rates since 1999 and go about 3 times a year. They can use this benefit 5 times in a year so we really are lucky in our travel to WDW. Actaully, I'm more than greatful for the rates that we get and count my blessings.

 

[safetymom]

First you really shouldn't be discussing CM rates on these boards. They are not supposed to be general knowledge.

The CM also is supposed to be staying with you.

I think the cast member was trying to do the right thing it might not have come off that way.

 

[Sammie]

Any changes made to the reservation should be handled by the Cast Member that booked the reservation in order to get the rate for you.

Contact your CM friend, if you need changes made.

 

[SueEllen]

Just an FYI--the CM does not need to be staying with you.

The CM that booked it should be the one that makes any additions/changes to it also.

Sue Ellen

 

[JandD Mom]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the replies. Like some of you, my CM friend arranged for us to have a room at WDW several times before. I was always able to make changes to the reservation without bothering him. Once I even changed resorts. With this particular reservation, I even was able to add 4 days already -- this was done 6 weeks ago.

This is why I was shocked at this response. A simple, "sorry but no you can't make changes unless you have him call" would have been sufficient. However, I think making a threat to a guest (ie, that they would discipline or fire my friend), when the guest did nothing more than ask a question, is offensive.

Again, I did not insist or push. My only question to the CM on the phone at CRO was whether it was possible. A simple no would have sufficed.

 

[A1A1]

It is no surprise to me that CM's get a room discount, and sometimes extend this discount to their friends and families. I don't know why it has to be considered a secret on these boards. Who hasn't worked at a department store or any other place and bought something with their employee discount for their mother or friend? Same idea.

Anyway, that being said, you just may have to call your friend on this ressie to make changes. That probably is part of the policy, that the CM actually handle the ressie. Just like the purchase of the discount department store item for Mom. Mom wouldn't be able to purchase the item without the employee.

I am sure you aren't doing anything out of the ordinary. If so, then many CM's would probably have already been fired. Just someone trying to protect their employee benefit. I think there was probably a nicer way to have said that the employee should be handling the ressie.

 

[Threehearts]

A1A1-

Excellent, focused, helpful reply. Threehearts

 

[PamNC]

So first let me say that this program is called "Second Bedroom" and the CM does not have to stay with you. It's designed as a perk for CM's because naturally everybody and their grandmother will come out of the woodwork and want to come stay at your house and visit Disney. So, they have a program where CM's can get anyone, doesn't have to be family, a discount and it's usually a good deal. I think it's okay to say on these boards that you got a CM rate as long as you don't say what that discount is.

CM's can also get ___ number of people into the parks with them for free, depending upon their position in the company. I'm afraid to say how many so I'll just say ___. Now, here is where the CM is suppose to be with you. However, nobody abides by this 100% and I doubt it would be a big deal if your friend got you in and left.

If you book different resorts, you'll have to let your friend know because he/she will have to fax or take her ID to the front desk of each hotel.

PamNC

 

[coconino]

Actually the "perks" that WDW cast members receive are for their exclusive use only. And Disney does closely monitor and manage both the room and admission cast member usage. There are very clear pre-defined LIMITS on both for each individual cast member. Therefore it is best to not look to cast members to provide their discount to you, unless they willingly offer it to you. And let me make a correction on a previous post, the number of people each cast member is allowed to get enjoy the parks with is not contigent upon their position in the company, it is based on the number of their dependents. And, if a cast member gets caught leaving their guests after escorting them into the park, they will be reprimanded at the least. However this is all that should be mentioned on these boards as cast member benefits are not considered public knowledge, as they are a benefit for the individual cast member and there is a cast member board where these issues can be discussed.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by coconino
Actually the "perks" that WDW cast members receive are for their exclusive use only. And Disney does closely monitor and manage both the room and admission cast member usage. There are very clear pre-defined LIMITS on both for each individual cast member. Therefore it is best to not look to cast members to provide their discount to you, unless they willingly offer it to you. And let me make a correction on a previous post, the number of people each cast member is allowed to get enjoy the parks with is not contigent upon their position in the company, it is based on the number of their dependents. And, if a cast member gets caught leaving their guests after escorting them into the park, they will be reprimanded at the least. However this is all that should be mentioned on these boards as cast member benefits are not considered public knowledge, as they are a benefit for the individual cast member and there is a cast member board where these issues can be discussed.

I have never heard that CM discounts cannot be discussed openly here on the DIS and since a Borad Moderator has posted to this thread and has not commented that discussing CM discounts is against the rules I see nothing wrong with people discussing CM discounts.

 

[dznyntnh]

I've read and reread this thread and I have a problem with OP's 'Psycho CM' characterization.

The CM was doing her job in informing you that abuse of this privilidge could get someone fired, whether her tone was friendly or not is neither here nor there, because when you are using an employees 'priviledges' you are not a guest on the same level as a guest paying full price.

My best friend works for United and I have flown several times on his employee tickets. There are rules that must be followed whether we are together or I am traveling alone, they dictate the way you can dress and do watch the way you act, since to them you are representing the company (even though no one knows you are an employee). If there are available seats we get to sit in first class, but are not even guaranteed meals because those are for passengers paying full price first.

Some people are sticklers for the rules and some let you slide, but you can't fault the sticklers for doing their job. On a flight from Boston to LAX, I had a desk agent tear up my first class ticket and put me in coach cuz he didn't like my shirt (which actually fell within the guidelines, my friend had given me), I wasn't happy, but I sat where I was told since I was flying at a considerable discount from what others were paying (but not as cheap as family members get to fly)

If you are using an employees perks, you cannot look at like another person using a code or getting a discount, there is whole different set of rules. It seems that CMs in the past who let you make changes to reservations where the ones who were actually not following the rules.

Just my opinion. I'm sure many will disagree with me.

 

[A1A1]

The CM should probably have directed her remarks to the CM who actually owned the particular ressie. It is of no use to reprimand the caller.

Big secret---promise not to tell anyone----when I worked at Kaufmann's department store in high school, I got a 20% discount. SSSHHHHHHHHHH don't tell anyone.

 

[jenfur]

The CM was doing her job in informing you that abuse of this privilidge could get someone fired, whether her tone was friendly or not is neither here nor there, because when you are using an employees 'priviledges' you are not a guest on the same level as a guest paying full price.

Oh no you didn't! A guest at Disney is a Guest at Disney regardless of WHAT king of discount they are using. It has already been stated that it is perfectly fine for a CM to get someone else a room.

If you are using an employees perks, you cannot look at like another person using a code or getting a discount, there is whole different set of rules. It seems that CMs in the past who let you make changes to reservations where the ones who were actually not following the rules.

Since she is not the employee and has been allowed to make changes in the past- she probably did not know that the CM needed to do it. That is the information the the Psycho CM should have given her, in a very polite manner. She should look at this exactly as any other guest using a code, AP discount, Military discount , ect. At Disney a guest is a guest is a guest.

As for the secrecy of the CM discount, who cares! I think you may be worried about how many people are going to start asking for something as soon as they know you can get a discount. That happen everywhere, get over it. I worked at Belk and got 20% off everything but was not allowed to let anybody but myself and spouse buy anything with my discount, and they kept very accurate records. I told all the people who asked for things that I could get fired and that was that. I am sure anyone could find out the exact benefits of a CM in a matter of minutes. Its called the internet.

 

[awatt]

I suspect CM's are encouraged to refrain from discussing benefits publicly,as on the DIS, because if the public were to find out the details there would be a fair number of people harrangueing the CM's to get their discounted reservations and admissions. This would also open it up to various dishonest practices. So "Who cares? Get over it!" is really not a fair stance to take toward the CM's and their desire for privacy.

I don't see internet boards as big as this one (and multiple others) dedicated to department store discounts. So the degree of interest (at times fanaticism) is different,and its like comparing apples and oranges.

 

[Rockynrobin]

I just cannot imagine what the big deal is here about talking about CM discounts. The only reason I can think the curb the conversation might be to spare some DIS members from feeling jealous that they don't have a friend who is a CM. The OP has a friend and I think that's great - I don't bummer for me - but to get so sassy and throw an attitude like it is a taboo subject or something makes me think that the OP has a reason to complain here about the phone conversation with the CM - if the CM gave off as much judgemental attitude as some of you I would be bummed too - it just isn't very "Disney" IMO.

 

[DebbieB]

I have never worked for Disney but have friends who work at TDS. Don't cm's have to sign a confidentiality agreement? Would discussing their discounts on a public board fall under the agreement? I don't know, just asking.

 

[colleen costello]

It also occurs to me that Disney prides itself on its wonderful employees. Aren't "perks" part of what attracts employees to a company? I have always heard, over the years, that jobs at WDW don't pay well, and that you have to start out at minimum wage, etc. This discourages me from my dream of working there someday, if only after I retire. Now, hearing that "CM's get 70% off rooms," or something like that, might make me think differently. If the company is generous with perks to make up for a less- than- competitive pay schedule, great! All the fussing about secrecy just seems a bit silly to me... As if working on Main Street makes you part of some secret society or something!

 

[peachgirl]

Actually the "perks" that WDW cast members receive are for their exclusive use only.

Not true....well partially true. There are limitations on their "perks" and how they are used depending on what particular "perk" it is, but in general they are not limited to the CM themselves.

 

[Tjkane28]

I was waiting for a bus the other day in Orlando, and this person next to me starts talking about a telephone call they received at work. Coincidentally, "work" is the CRO at Disney. My "bus stop mate" proceeded to say the caller wanted to add a room to a reservation that was made through an employee benefit program.

This CRO worker said that this particular benefit is nice. The benefit allows employees to receive deep discounts on hotel rooms and park admissions to Disney properties.

The CRO employee also added that there seemed to be some confusion about how the program worked, not only with employees, but also with the public. Some thought the benefit was "transferable", and others were convinced that it could cost them their job if they "took advantage" by extending the benefits to others.

Well, the story proceeded that this phone caller asked whether they could add a room to their reservation, a reservation made by an employee through said employee discount benefit.

This CRO worker asked a few questions and then put the person on hold because they were not sure whether they were allowed to make changes to such a reservation without the "sponsoring employee" making the request. They went on to add that some of the other employees at CRO sometimes let things like this slide, but this CRO worker was unsure about the regulations. They really didn't want to do anything against the rules.

Therefore, they asked a few questions, and then put the person on hold so that they could talk to a manager.

They finished by saying that after they consulted with a manager, they returned to the line. They told the caller that they couldn't make such a change and that if human resources at Disney found out that any employee was "taking advantage" of this particular benefit, the offending employee could be disciplined or worse, dismissed. The caller sounded shocked and asked why they would do that, all they did was “ask a question.”

This person waiting for the bus with me felt that the caller might have interpreted the response as PSYCHO, even though they were just trying to do their job.

It is a small world after all.

Peace