Just A Little Vent

[elleherself]

Hah! This happens to me, since I've been a message board frequenter since I was old enough to use a mouse. Acronyms have certainly become a part of the cultural lexicon, and the world of Disney will never be the same.

I just say annual pass, that is a little less common around here, but I exclusively say "ADR" aloud. Ay-dee-are. I could never bring myself to say "advance dining reservation", what a mouthful. Sounds way too grandiose for the dining done at Disney. But very frequently it is pointed out to me that people have no idea what I mean.

Guess our language is destined to be FUBAR.

 

[mousefan5]

Well, with that theory it should be acceptable to order a BM in McDonald's

If Disney wanted their resort to be called WDW; or their parks MK, DHS, etc.; or their tickets APs, PHs, et al; or their resorts CR, POFQ, AoA...; that's what the names would be - at the very least in literature or the website.

Simply because we're too caught up in ourselves or too busy or too lazy to type out or say the entire name of something doesn't mean a company or its employees should follow suit.

In my lime of work BM has a whole different meaning so that brings us to the point of confusion for the receiver.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Just spoke to the most annoying CM. She literally chastised me for using "AP" instead of saying "annual pass" and said "people on message boards think they know some insider stuff because they use acronyms, but Disney doesnt use any acronyms and we have no idea what you guys are talking about when you do that - you can just speak the real words when you talk to us, then we will know you know what you are talking about."

WOW. Somebody has apparently had a bad day.

~I agree, this CM was out of line. Obviously, she was fully aware of what you meant when you used "AP", all she had to do was confirm by asking you and emphasizing the full meaning of the acronym. Done. What people think on message boards has nothing to do with you and the reason for your call. Inefficient and tacky. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but still... Hopefully, the CM was just having an off day, and is not making this "AP" thing her life's mission.

 

[rlilly79]

I'm one of the people who dislike acronyms. When I first came here, I couldn't understand a thing What DD ment, I had no idea.

I have started using them here, because it seems that if you don't, you a weird. Usualy, even on forums and facebook, I don't use acronyms.

I've heard people say "LOL" in real life. I'm not even sure they know what it actualy means anymore (note that I'm french, and LOL is an english acronym).

She might have sounded rude, but maybe, talking to her with acronyms was rude for her too.

I agree with this, I too am lost with many of the acronyms still. It is hard for someone new that comes to this board looking for help or information to even understand the answer they get, it is like another language, so I can see that would be frustrating for someone. However, no one should be rude, the cast member could have simply asked what you meant.

As far as the acronyms such as YMCA, AAA, etc. that is a well known name known to virtually everyone, acronyms such as , AP, ADR, DS, DH, etc. (which I still don't know what DH, DS, DD means lol) are only know on these boards. Maybe a list would help? Maybe one already exist? Lol Bottom line there will always be rude people you just have to over look them and move on, after all, your planning a trip to Disney and she was answering the phone.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

What's annoying about this to me is that CM's have their own sets of acronyms and language too! And quite honestly most of the acronyms here are not hard to figure out... I even use them quite a bit at home.

Heck we as CM's sometimes use the exact same acronyms!

Don't give it another thought OP. Sounds like that CM was just having a bad day.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Meh to that CAST MEMBER. It's not really up to her to decide how a guest can and cannot refer to something. If a CAST MEMBER is confused they could easily ask what the guest is referring to rather than alienating them.

Personally, it depends on the person I'm speaking with and the situation whether or not I use the full term. I wouldn't say "Could you tell me what the FP return time for TOT is?" but while talking to a friend about Disney I might say "I had this really great CM at Pop".

Acronyms are a part of everyday life though. I don't think a lot of people even realize that some terms started out as acronyms and have morphed into words.

 

[mousermerf]

I don't know what crack that CM was smoking but Disney extensively uses acronyms - more than people use on the forums.

"AdLib" and "Eye-Madge" are how CM's refer to Adventureland/Liberty Square (an operational unit) and Imagination (it's spelled IMAG on paperwork for scheduling).

And reservations is almost entirely abbreviations and acronyms...

ADR used to be NR (not a reservation - a reminder for CM's the speil that info the guests) and PS (priority seating, same reminder that it's not a reservation.

WC is wheelchair, HC is highchair, NS is non-smoking, the list goes on and on..

This CM is obviously new.

 

[stindall]

I hate acronyms and would never dream of using them outside of a message board. I find them obnoxious. I see through your story, that I am not alone....

I really dislike them too. I use very few, most of the time it's the really common ones like EMH, AK, ADR (though I don't even make ADR's) but I'd never say them in person! Sorry to say that I too would find anyone who said any of the acronyms we use on here a bit obnoxious.

 

[nanalisa]

OMG you must have gotten Grumpy's cousin when you called. I don't speak in acronym but I use it here and when I text to save time and space. There was no reason for the CM to take you to school.

 

[gawrsh2008]

Just spoke to the most annoying CM. She literally chastised me for using "AP" instead of saying "annual pass" and said "people on message boards think they know some insider stuff because they use acronyms, but Disney doesnt use any acronyms and we have no idea what you guys are talking about when you do that - you can just speak the real words when you talk to us, then we will know you know what you are talking about."

WOW. Somebody has apparently had a bad day.

Really? She chastised you? Perhaps she was merely stating the truth. Most CMs do not frequent message boards, therefore they are not familiar with acronyms (especially those used on this site). It seems to me she was attempting to clarify, not chastise.

Her statement was true. Disney does not use acronyms. I believe she was just attempting to be specific with you.

 

[mousermerf]

Really? She chastised you? Perhaps she was merely stating the truth. Most CMs do not frequent message boards, therefore they are not familiar with acronyms (especially those used on this site). It seems to me she was attempting to clarify, not chastise.

Her statement was true. Disney does not use acronyms. I believe she was just attempting to be specific with you.

Not true - especially at reservations. Almost every single word that CM is looking at on the screen is an acronym or abbreviation. In fact they are required to "code" the call with you using acronyms to mark what they discussed and what polices you were advised of and what was purchased, etc..

 

[gawrsh2008]

Not true - especially at reservations. Almost every single word that CM is looking at on the screen is an acronym or abbreviation. In fact they are required to "code" the call with you using acronyms to mark what they discussed and what polices you were advised of and what was purchased, etc..

Are you a cast member? Just curious.

 

[summerw]

Yes, perhaps there is some sort of DIS prison where we should send the OP?

I think I'll name my next AP "Fred" and call it that. "Do you have a Fred discount?"

Hi-freaking-larious, both of you!

And completely, this CM had an issue. The whole "people from the message boards" bit obviously comes from someone who's been annoyed by it before. Although I think we should probably all not use acronyms when talking to CMs just to ensure we are always meaning the same thing, why anyone who's job is customer service would think they need to chastise someone for this is beyond me. I often spend time trying to figure out acronyms here, but I hardly think "AP" should have been challenging for a Disney employee.

 

[Herfnerd]

Just curious as to how old that CM was

Not that it really makes a difference, but my wife and I are in our late 40's and we use acronyms all the time in conversation - when we text......

 

[MYD714]

I think I'll name my next AP "Fred" and call it that. "Do you have a Fred discount?"

 

[Elleshoodat]

Ha! Love your answer. Call a spade a spade .....

And you're right. Acronyms are fine here but they have no use outside of the DISboards.

However, the CM the OP, or should I say, the Cast Member the Opening Poster spoke to could have been a bit nicer about it.

How funny. I always thought OP stood for "Original Poster!" You learn something new every day...

 

[maxiesmom]

Really? She chastised you? Perhaps she was merely stating the truth. Most CMs do not frequent message boards, therefore they are not familiar with acronyms (especially those used on this site). It seems to me she was attempting to clarify, not chastise.

And maybe she was hoping you would get the word out that we should use the full words when we call in, just so there is no confusion.

I would never call and say "Hi there ! My DH, DD, and DS are planning a trip to WDW this fall. We all need APs and need help making our ADRs. Plus we want to use the ME to get to AKL where we are staying. Could you help us plan our trippie?" Given how many acronyms we use on the Dis, I'm sure it is more than a little confusing when people call in and shorten everything down.

 

[bluejasmine]

A CM has no business chastising a customer, liking or disliking ancronyms is not even the point!

I can tell you first hand tho, I've spoken to two different CM in guest relations who have told me they don't like DIS because of misinformation??? They just don't get how much business this board brings Disney!

I wouldn't have put up with that I would have asked for a manager!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[peaceluv&mickeymouse]

There should be an option when we call in:
Press 1 for English, Press 2 for Spanish, Press 3 for DiSERS, ....

 

[minniebeth]

There should be an option when we call in:
Press 1 for English, Press 2 for Spanish, Press 3 for DiSERS, ....

Lol!.... Oops, I mean laugh out loud, because I really did.