Huge turnaround for Disney World!

[Mousemommy1]

I'm going to assume this whole post was tongue-in-cheek.

I sure hope so!

 

[MilitaryMouse]

I've had wonderful encounters with both CMs and TMs, and as one TM pointed out to me several years ago... in many cases, they're literally the same people. Many, many folks have worked for both Disney and Universal at various times. The fellow I was chatting with had, in fact, started with Universal, got a job with Disney for many years, and then returned to Universal. But he said he'd happily work again for Disney, if the right opportunity came up. He very much viewed both employers as essentially equal. And he's not unusual.

The guest services training in both companies is almost identical.

Perception is a fragile, easily influenced thing. One person's "best cast member interactions ever!" day might easily be another person's "worst cast member interactions ever!" day. Same day, different place, different time, different random encounters. Your trip and ours overlapped, and we found the CMs to be their normal selves - neither more wonderful, nor any less wonderful, than any other trip.

I'm glad you're having a wonderful trip to Universal, btw! I love those parks, too. Especially the HP sections. We'll be heading there in October next year, and I'm very much looking forward to it - SO much less crowded, the deluxe hotels are lovely, really enjoy walking to the parks, and the unlimited access to express lines can't be beat!

Ahhh I'm so excited for you, you'll love it! Our last trip was almost 3 years ago and we were so surprised at the improvements UO has made. Have a great time!

 

[Magpie]

Ahhh I'm so excited for you, you'll love it! Our last trip was almost 3 years ago and we were so surprised at the improvements UO has made. Have a great time!

Thank you!! I'm a wee bit woeful about letting our Disney APs lapse for a year, but my 19yo daughter calls Universal her "Patronus memory", so we basically have to go back. And if we're going back once, then it makes financial sense to just buy annual passes and make Universal our 2016/17 destination of choice.

And hey - we'll still be making a quick trip over to the Magic Kingdom for a Halloween Party (I've never been to one!). So it's not like next fall will be entirely Disney-free.

 

[Danman]

I'm glad people are still having good experiences with CMs b/c we sure didn't. We were there 12/2 - 12/12 and felt like Disney CM attitudes had gone wayyyy downhill. Through out the parks, CMs were too busy chatting w/each other to pay attention to guests, ride CMs seemed irritated at best and downright angry at worst that they had the be there, and nearly all the photopass photographers looked bored, would barely greet you, snapped two photos and sent you on your way. This was consistent for all 10 days of our stay. The bus drivers were great though, said a friendly hello when we boarded and goodbye when we left.

We're at Universal now and the TMs here are AMAZING! Like, mind blowing amazing. This is what Disney CMs were like when we visited years ago. Nearly all of Universal's TMs have been friendly, enthusiastic about their jobs, ride TMs play their roles w/passion, TMs actively seek out guests to ask if they need information or directions - it's been amazing! We've received random bits of kindness, and it's spreading to the guests as well - guests here just seem happier and much more relaxed than when we were at Disney. We've noticed guests passing on whatever the Universal equivalent of pixie dust is We've cancelled our WDW trip in May and rebooked w/Universal.

Boy, that's a pretty drastic difference between Universal and Disney. It's always amazing to me how people can have total opposite experiences even if they are there at the same time. I'm just glad when I'm at Disney I wear my rose colored glasses , as it makes our trips much more enjoyable and fun (yes I'm being a little snarky )

 

[supersuperwendy]

I had amazing CMs too on my trip in October. I'm so happy to know the Disney Difference is real again!!
(Disney's What Will You Celebrate promotion is long over, the pins have been moved to most gift shops (simply ask!!) and shouldn't be expected as in previous years)