Just A Little Vent

[smidgy]

Did you not see that even here, people thought the same acronym meant something different? If we are all not on the same page, how can you expect someone at a WDW call center to know exactly what we mean when we use them?

I'm betting the use of them over the phone is getting out of hand. So much so that it is causing problems booking vacations. I would say, use acronyms at your own risk. You may think they mean one thing, the person booking your vacation may think they mean something else.

agreed. the CM should have nicely said, "do you mean an anuual pass?" period. no chastising.

 

[lucifie]

agreed. the CM should have nicely said, "do you mean and anuual pass?" period. no chastising.

Yes, this!!

I don't speak in acronyms unless it's something that's commonly known. I use them here (I still have to stop and think about some that I see) and on other boards, but IRL I don't refer to my husband as DH or my kids as DD or DS and IRL I'll say "in real life". Still, even if I were to call an use an acronym and the CM wasn't familiar with it, I would expect them to politely ask me to clarify, not chastise me for it.

 

[TDC Nala]

I hate all the acronyms in my job too, especially when it is assumed that I know what they mean - but it's no reason to get snotty and chastise the customer.

And yes, to say "you people on the message board think you know what you are talking about" is chastising the customer rather than clarifying. How hard is it to say "Do you mean annual pass?"

 

[WDSearcher]

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.

But I don't know of any Cast Members who would use the term "AdLib" or "Eye-Madge" when speaking to a guest. Those are all internal acronyms just as they are on the DIS.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

The CM was out of line. There is NEVER an excuse for rudeness in customer service (I don't believe in rudeness at all, actually. There is always a way to say something nicely without tearing someone down). I can't stand rude people, and they stand out even more at Disney where everyone is especially hospitable.

The only acronym I find myself saying is "ADR" because Advance Dining Reservation is such a mouthful! I always correct myself, though.

 

[Granny square]

I hate all the acronyms in my job too, especially when it is assumed that I know what they mean - but it's no reason to get snotty and chastise the customer.

And yes, to say "you people on the message board think you know what you are talking about" is chastising the customer rather than clarifying. How hard is it to say "Do you mean annual pass?"

Exactly. There isn't any purpose to ask politely.

 

[Herfnerd]

But I don't know of any Cast Members who would use the term "AdLib" or "Eye-Madge" when speaking to a guest. Those are all internal acronyms just as they are on the DIS.

But that still doesn't give the CM permission to be rude when a customer uses them.

These acronyms are not unique to the DIS board either - they are are used on most WDW related forums and blogs as well as the Mom's Panel on the official WDW site.

 

[stargazertechie]

I laugh because acronyms are just a part of internet culture. I do say things properly when talking to CMs on the phone or in person (except for AP, but that's just because Annual passes to my local waterpark are advertised as "AP" as in "AP Late Night Tuesdays").

What makes me laugh is seeing some abbreviations on this board that are the same letters as something totally different on another board. Such as CM and DTD. I don't think cast member and Downtown Disney when I see them...

 

[kaytieeldr]

But that still doesn't give the CM permission to be rude when a customer uses them.

These acronyms are not unique to the DIS board either - they are are used on most WDW related forums and blogs as well as the Mom's Panel on the official WDW site.

While, again, the Cast Member possibly could have been more polite (and we don't know what tone was used or how the conversation was going to that point), the Walt Disney World-related forums to which you refer are all unofficial, and even the Disney Moms' Panel comes with disclaimers.

I laugh because acronyms are just a part of internet culture. I do say things properly when talking to CMs on the phone or in person (except for AP, but that's just because Annual passes to my local waterpark are advertised as "AP" as in "AP Late Night Tuesdays").

I'm not sure when people started losing site of the fact that interacting with people live in real time (face to face, phone conversations, meetings) is different from written correspondence (text, e-mail, message boards). While I'm complaining , "u" is a letter, not a word - not addressed at anyone here, just a peeve.

 

[WDSearcher]

But that still doesn't give the CM permission to be rude when a customer uses them.

These acronyms are not unique to the DIS board either - they are are used on most WDW related forums and blogs as well as the Mom's Panel on the official WDW site.

I never said it did. I was just responding to the person who mentioned all the acronyms cast members used.

 

[moozle]

I laugh because acronyms are just a part of internet culture. I do say things properly when talking to CMs on the phone or in person (except for AP, but that's just because Annual passes to my local waterpark are advertised as "AP" as in "AP Late Night Tuesdays").

What makes me laugh is seeing some abbreviations on this board that are the same letters as something totally different on another board. Such as CM and DTD. I don't think cast member and Downtown Disney when I see them...

Haha ... I started out on parenting boards way before Disney boards, and CM and DTD TOTALLY took me a little while to figure out when I got here. I was so confused about how those terms had anything to do with Disney!!

 

[Herfnerd]

While, again, the Cast Member possibly could have been more polite (and we don't know what tone was used or how the conversation was going to that point), the Walt Disney World-related forums to which you refer are all unofficial, and even the Disney Moms' Panel comes with disclaimers.

.

Point I was trying to make is that its become fairly common across the internet to use many of these terms/acronyms/slang when discussing WDW.

I understand that they are unofficial. But as I had posted earlier, so was using the term "Mickey D's" when describing McDonald's until they finally oficially adopted that moniker a few years ago

 

[TDC Nala]

eh, to me DHS is the Department of Homeland Security and I have a hard time seeing it as Disney's Hollywood Studios. So I never refer to the Studios as DHS, even when typing.

But I'm not going to give a hard time to the guy who calls me and rattles off a string of anagrams (happens every day), I'm just going to ask him what they stand for so I can write out the terms properly.

 

[Reddog1134]

I think the whole thing depends on the tone of the CM. If Disney doesn't use the term "AP" internally, then it's good that the CM explained that to the OP to avoid possible confusion in the future. But if she did it in a nasty tone, then that's just poor customer service.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to call up and book my self contained underwater breathing apparatus diving experience at Divequest.

 

[jahber]

When annoyed by a pedant, I typically respond in kind.
"Okay, fine. I didn't use an acronym, that's called an abbreviation or more specifically, an initialism. I can see the confusion since acronyms are sorta like that but typically then also form a word that can be said aloud, like 'laser' 'fubar' and 'Epcot'."

Unless...the OP was actually using it as an acronym and called it an "app." THAT would be confusing .

SCUBA. Just had to add one to your list. Oh, and NASA! This is fun!

 

[LilGMom]

I seems that everyone is entitled to a bad day unless you work in customer service. While the CM shouldn't have gotten snarky with the OP I am left wondering if the CM uses the acronym EPCOT or if they say Experimental Protoype Community of Tomorrow.

 

[lucifie]

What makes me laugh is seeing some abbreviations on this board that are the same letters as something totally different on another board. Such as CM and DTD. I don't think cast member and Downtown Disney when I see them...

I totally get what you're referring to here.

 

[andyman8]

The only acronym that truly bugs me is SM. Are you talking about Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Spider-Man, or what?

 

[Granny square]

Customer service isn't customer service if they are "having a bad day." I don't get to growl at work even of i feel like it. No reason they should get a free pass.

 

[WDSearcher]

I seems that everyone is entitled to a bad day unless you work in customer service. While the CM shouldn't have gotten snarky with the OP I am left wondering if the CM uses the acronym EPCOT or if they say Experimental Protoype Community of Tomorrow.

Epcot is not an acronym any more. It was turned into an "imaginary word" by Disney and the "all caps" were dropped some time ago. Due mostly to the fact that it really never was going to be an experimental prototype community of tomorrow. The park is referred to as Epcot, not EPCOT. So I imagine the CM calls it "Epcot".