Here Now. Is it just me or are cast members not as friendly?

[Yellowstonetim]

On every single day there are thousands of cast members interacting with tens of thousands visitors in all types of situations over many hours. Both the cast members and the guests come from many different backgrounds and have vastly different views of behavior. Many interactions are in situations of stress. Many visitors have unrealistic expectations or are downright miserable. It is absolutely impossible to expect that human cast members aren't going to fail from time to time. It is a testament to most cast members commitment to excellence and Disney's superb training that the vast majority of interactions are not just good, but fantastic. Just went this past fall and didn't have a bad interaction among hundreds and had a number of fantastic interactions.

Any one person or family is experiencing such an infinitesimally small number of the overall interactions it is impossible to judge the overall situation. There experience is absolutely valid for them, but says nothing about what is really happening at Disney in general. But looking at how large numbers of people are reacting does give a picture. From what I read, hear, and see, that picture is that Disney CM's are still amazingly awesome and the Disney experience is still second to none. It has been for me every single time.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

On every single day there are thousands of cast members interacting with tens of thousands visitors in all types of situations over many hours. Both the cast members and the guests come from many different backgrounds and have vastly different views of behavior. Many interactions are in situations of stress. Many visitors have unrealistic expectations or are downright miserable. It is absolutely impossible to expect that human cast members aren't going to fail from time to time. It is a testament to most cast members commitment to excellence and Disney's superb training that the vast majority of interactions are not just good, but fantastic. Just went this past fall and didn't have a bad interaction among hundreds and had a number of fantastic interactions.

Any one person or family is experiencing such an infinitesimally small number of the overall interactions it is impossible to judge the overall situation. There experience is absolutely valid for them, but says nothing about what is really happening at Disney in general. But looking at how large numbers of people are reacting does give a picture. From what I read, hear, and see, that picture is that Disney CM's are still amazingly awesome and the Disney experience is still second to none. It has been for me every single time.

 

[larryz]

We had a similar experience to other posters as far as attitude was concerned on the tommorowland speedway. DH and DD (3) were in front of DS and I and we noticed they were whipping left and right really hard the whole time. I thought he was doing it at first driving Mr. Toad style to be funny. But when we came around a turn he yelled back to me that he couldn't control it. When we got out DD was crying very loudly. He told the two CMs what happened and asked them to remove the cart as DD got slammed back and forth the whole time and it wasn't safe. They never said sorry about that or offered to let them ride another cart their attitude was just like oh well. We didn't complain to anyone else about it but were surprised they just did not care that it hurt my little one and upset her. But I can honestly say that has been our only bad CM experience in WDW.

You can say that again...

oh, wait...

 

[MamaMaleficent2016]

It's you . . . : )

My last trip in November I actually was thinking I met some of the most friendly cast members in a while. I also had some exceptionally nice ones sprinkle a little extra magic. At one booth a very rude customer pushed ahead of me in a line which the cashier saw and when I got up to her (after signalling to her to not worry and just serve the woman) gave me my order for free. The next day at the new QS in Africa I saw a dessert after placing my order and waiting to pick it up and when I mentioned that looked great and gave them my card and asked if they could add one to my order he just gave it to me. And after getting off 7DMT my 6 year old said to me that it was so fun and couldn't wait to go again the ride operator pulled us aside and put us on again! I've been going for 20 years and always read the stories here of the cast members doing things like that but never had it happen to me and then 3 times in a 5 day period!

And really... It's experiences like that, that make it worth every penny. This anecdote made my heart happy!

 

[Lothlórien]

We do Disney often. It is true that some CMs are grumpy, having a bad day and occasionally just rude. Those occasions are rare in my experience. I think sometimes, when people return from a trip and say that the CMs were horrible and they were disappointed in the condition of the parks, it comes down to expectations. Sometimes unrealisic. Maybe we can blame Disney commercials for that. LOL Everything is not going to be perfect all of the time. There are some really nice CMs that go above and beyond and there are some who are there to do a job. The parks and bathrooms will get dirty. That is honestly a guest problem. I have seen people throw their trash right on the sidewalk or set their trash on top of a trash can when walking by one instead of just putting it in. Some people are lazy. I think Disney does a fantastic job of keeping the parks clean and the CMs are generally extremely helpful!!

 

[Kaler131]

Okey-Dokey here ya go...The rude cast member incident I referenced above...First night on Vacay..we are getting ready to take the launch to the Poly to meet everyone at Ohana. We are told by the 50-60 ish year old CM" I may not be able to get you on this launch, we'll have to see!" I misunderstood him and followed the line until we got to the launch. He looked up and screamed at me so loud that everyone else in line behind me was completely shocked. I TOLD YOU NOT TO COME DOWN HERE! I TOLD YOU TO WAIT BACK THERE! He hadn't or if he did, I misunderstood him. I apologized, made a fast retreat & took the monorail with my husband & daughter. It wasn't necessary to yell at me...it was also embarrassing... and yes it never happened in the so called Golden Days of the 70's. It made me tear up & cry..it was totally uncalled for...BUT yes.....there were literally hundreds of polite & wonderful CMs...so I am going back...& I love WDW..but sorry...that behavior shouldn't be tolerated.

I hope you reported him to Guest Relations. He had no right to treat you that way!

 

[Islamom]

I hope you reported him to Guest Relations. He had no right to treat you that way!

Thanks...I really should have... I had to go to guest relations twice because of my magic bands not working and that would have been a good opportunity!

 

[Kaler131]

Yes we went back in October and yes we encountered many unpleasant CMs, majority with an attitude of "I'm here for a paycheck not to give you an experience". This was not my first trip so I know the Disney experience given from the workers. Oddly enough the times we encountered the unpleasant CMs was in Magic Kingdom. All the other parks were top notch. I will return to the world because I love it, but it is sad seeing the experience go down.

Here for a paycheck?? Haha!! How much do you think Disney pays??

 

[lovethattink]

We went to DHS yesterday evening. Every cm we encountered was friendly.

We were greeted by security.

Greeted by the tapstile cm.

At GS when we got DS' DAS renewed, the cm saw his costume was kind of coming apart and offered us tape and safety pins!

The 5:30 singalong was canceled and cm were doing a great job of explaining it to guests and giving paper fp for other attractions.

All the cm were fabulous at Launch Bay.

And as we exited the park 3 different cm wished us a good night.

 

[North of Mouse]

Just got home from a 8 night stay - no issues with any of the CM's. Everyone from the bag checkers to the entrance CM's, ride CM's on to the 'goodnight' CM's were as friendly and nice as ever.

I also try to be as nice to them, with a smile, for all the rude guests that I encountered that would have been hard for them to deal with.
The 'magic', thankfully, is still alive and well!

 

[fbarker]

People maybe be getting ruder, but that is no excuse for someone who works in customer service to be rude, ever. There is always a baseline of courtesy to be respected and sometimes that means as the worker you have to swallow your pride and be the bigger person. If things are really getting out of hand, then call in a supervisor or whatever.

Be careful when you use the word "ever." I am in customer service, retail banking, and customers push the envelope for acceptable behavior. I can't count the times I have been yelled at and blamed for a customer overdrawing their own checking account and then some items being returned because they did not have the funds in their account. I remember having a conversation with a customer about trying to cash a check on funds that were not in their account, their response...they spit at me..... and I am not suppose to be rude.

 

[lovethattink]

Please remember to stay on topic and keep it friendly.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I must say our last trip we encountered many great CMs, down to the one who got my DDIL a new shirt to wear when DGD18 months had a major blowout. A few CMs we have experienced in the resort gift shops leave a little to be desired, but nothing negative which stands out. What stands out to me are the positive experiences. I have been to WDW close to 80 times now, starting in 1972.

 

[Burnedout]

Here for a paycheck?? Haha!! How much do you think Disney pays??

They pay the going rate. Same as the McDonald employee is there for a paycheck. What is the difference when dealing with an indifferent employee?

Be careful when you use the word "ever." I am in customer service, retail banking, and customers push the envelope for acceptable behavior. I can't count the times I have been yelled at and blamed for a customer overdrawing their own checking account and then some items being returned because they did not have the funds in their account. I remember having a conversation with a customer about trying to cash a check on funds that were not in their account, their response...they spit at me..... and I am not suppose to be rude.

Reacting to a situation is far different than taking your bad day out on other people. My mom is a passive old lady. No one EVER has any business being rude to her. EVER.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Be careful when you use the word "ever." I am in customer service, retail banking, and customers push the envelope for acceptable behavior. I can't count the times I have been yelled at and blamed for a customer overdrawing their own checking account and then some items being returned because they did not have the funds in their account. I remember having a conversation with a customer about trying to cash a check on funds that were not in their account, their response...they spit at me..... and I am not suppose to be rude.

Spitting is an extreme example and would warrant a phone call to security IMO. As far as more regular interactions, there is no excuse ever. If things escalate to a point where the the customer service rep feels any further interaction is pointless, they should be able to quickly escalate and transfer the transaction to a supervisor and again, security should be called if the customer is really getting out of hand.

 

[luvthemouse71]

i was shocked by an elderly CM that was checkin people in for reservations at Christal Palace.the family in front of me turned to look at me in disbelief ,he was more like a customs officer at the airport!!!Luckily it was my first day and was just sooo happy to be there i didnt care & just smiled at him...

Ha! We saw that guy too. He needs to start drinking decaf, that's for sure..

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Ha! We saw that guy too. He needs to start drinking decaf, that's for sure..

Next time ask him where you can find Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Dopey, Doc, and Bashful.

 

[jrt1176]

I may have encountered this guy on our last night leaving MK heading back to Poly! It might not be the same CM, but I can certainly see him doing that...

He basically asked where our family ended in the line and when I heard him say that from behind me I moved up to be closer to the rest of my family so he would know I was in that group. He said something like, "hey, just because you move up doesn't mean you'll get on the boat." Obviously, reading it doesn't seem to bad and, overall, it wasn't. But, his tone was not exactly pleasant.

I was not offended and I don't get offended easily, but I did notice it and I don't think he had to say it that way or even comment on it. Just make your count and let someone know they are on the cusp of making it on this launch, etc. It was the end of the day and I'm sure he gets tired of saying the same stuff every launch when there is a long line for the smaller boats... But, he still could have handled it better.

This was the only case where I can even say a CM was even slightly unpleasant on my last trip, but, to me, it was a small encounter that's barely worth mentioning. My brother and I just looked at each other and laughed it off as him being a $%!.

Okey-Dokey here ya go...The rude cast member incident I referenced above...First night on Vacay..we are getting ready to take the launch to the Poly to meet everyone at Ohana. We are told by the 50-60 ish year old CM" I may not be able to get you on this launch, we'll have to see!" I misunderstood him and followed the line until we got to the launch. He looked up and screamed at me so loud that everyone else in line behind me was completely shocked. I TOLD YOU NOT TO COME DOWN HERE! I TOLD YOU TO WAIT BACK THERE! He hadn't or if he did, I misunderstood him. I apologized, made a fast retreat & took the monorail with my husband & daughter. It wasn't necessary to yell at me...it was also embarrassing... and yes it never happened in the so called Golden Days of the 70's. It made me tear up & cry..it was totally uncalled for...BUT yes.....there were literally hundreds of polite & wonderful CMs...so I am going back...& I love WDW..but sorry...that behavior shouldn't be tolerated.

 

[maxiesmom]

After one check in experience at the Crystal Palace, I'm going to forever give those CMs a break. Last year I was waiting with my nephew to check in for our ADR. We were second in line, but it took FOREVER. Why? The person in front of me was sooo clueless that she couldn't answer any question the CM asked her. Not how many were in their party, not the ages of the children, not if they were on the dining plan or not, nothing! I think she was the Grandma, and she was paying for everything so she thought she should be the one to check the family in. She had to keep yelling back to someone else to get the answers to all of the questions. After a while finally someone else came down and helped her.

Through it all the CM was calm and cheerful. I don't think I could have been. You have to wonder how many times a day stuff like that happens. It is amazing they hold it together as well as they do.

 

[BCNHF]

I saw alot of CM's on cell phones, that was surprising to me.