Just back - Quick Observations

[asta]

Just returned from a quick 3 day trip. I had a lot of fun except for a terrible encounter with a rude, sarcastic CM. One horrible CM in 10 trips is not bad so I won't let a certain CM named Tracie ruin my WDW fun.

We were there 6/12 - 6/14. The parks were crowded but not so much that we didn't get everything done that we wanted to. Let it be forever recorded that not one single tour group was seen the entire trip! Not even one. We usually go in July so this was a big shock for us. There were tons of family groups and many of them had custom matching t-shirts. More than I had ever seen but being there with the parents really kept the kids in control.

I hate to report this but almost every line that we were in had line catcher uppers in it. People constantly got in line while someone in their party was parking the stroller or ECV or just somewhere else. I tried to be chill about this. It was so rampant that I did not stop anyone but several of them could tell by my expression that I wasn't thrilled to be pushed around. Lots of comments like "well I need to get with my family".

Loved the new castle show before fireworks.

Everyone seemed to be taking pictures with smart phones. I really doubt the quality they can get in dark locations and wonder what is done with all of those photos of just things. I wish I had cards to hand out to all of those people trying to film the castle show that would direct them to Dan Murphy's beautiful you tube of it. I would rather be in the enjoyment of the moment than trying to film everything.

What is with Disney getting rid of many of the places to sit? The one that got me was no place to sit and enjoy my Dole Whip. It is hot and the Dole Whip melts fast while looking for a place to eat it. Come on WDW and give us some seats.

 

[twinmom319]

You must have been lucky... We ran into multiple tour groups, more on the second half of the trip... But still manageable!

 

[sweetie1996]

I hate to report this but almost every line that we were in had line catcher uppers in it. People constantly got in line while someone in their party was parking the stroller or ECV or just somewhere else. I tried to be chill about this. It was so rampant that I did not stop anyone but several of them could tell by my expression that I wasn't thrilled to be pushed around. Lots of comments like "well I need to get with my family".

Same here, drives me crazy! Often times it was 4+ catching up with someone, ugh!

 

[Senator Tressel]

I want to hear about the CM you had a problem with.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Just returned from a quick 3 day trip. I had a lot of fun except for a terrible encounter with a rude, sarcastic CM. One horrible CM in 10 trips is not bad so I won't let a certain CM named Tracie ruin my WDW fun.

We were there 6/12 - 6/14. The parks were crowded but not so much that we didn't get everything done that we wanted to. Let it be forever recorded that not one single tour group was seen the entire trip! Not even one. We usually go in July so this was a big shock for us. There were tons of family groups and many of them had custom matching t-shirts. More than I had ever seen but being there with the parents really kept the kids in control.

I hate to report this but almost every line that we were in had line catcher uppers in it. People constantly got in line while someone in their party was parking the stroller or ECV or just somewhere else. I tried to be chill about this. It was so rampant that I did not stop anyone but several of them could tell by my expression that I wasn't thrilled to be pushed around. Lots of comments like "well I need to get with my family".

Loved the new castle show before fireworks.

Everyone seemed to be taking pictures with smart phones. I really doubt the quality they can get in dark locations and wonder what is done with all of those photos of just things. I wish I had cards to hand out to all of those people trying to film the castle show that would direct them to Dan Murphy's beautiful you tube of it. I would rather be in the enjoyment of the moment than trying to film everything.

What is with Disney getting rid of many of the places to sit? The one that got me was no place to sit and enjoy my Dole Whip. It is hot and the Dole Whip melts fast while looking for a place to eat it. Come on WDW and give us some seats.

Just saving this for the future

 

[asta]

I want to hear about the CM you had a problem with.

Since you asked, this year has been a very tough one for me and even though I had a total knee replacement I felt like I would be able to enjoy the parks. This surgery is so traumatic that it takes time to heal and it is hard to know just how much walking you can take. I started the day walking into the MK on 6/14 but by the end of the day I was in the back of the park and in trouble. I could walk out of the park but I needed to rest and relieve the pain every so often. I finally found a spot on a bridge over into Adventureland and leaned for a few minutes in an area that CM Tracie apparently needed to keep clear. Instead of just telling me that she went into this whole sarcastic routine of " I bet you think you are so smart. See that bridge over there, you would have a good view of the parade from here." I honestly was in so much pain the last thing I was thinking about was a parade. It was still light out so I figure the parade was not coming soon so I explained my pain and asked if I could just rest for a few minutes. Tracie response was that the pain didn't really matter to her that she had artificial shoulders (which I really doubt from her age and how she was moving them) and that I should have gotten a wheelchair if needed help.

I have no problem with this young lady doing her job but honestly there were people leaning and parking strollers in the walkways I limped through to walk down main street. My problem was the sarcasm seemed especially cruel to someone who was in as much pain as I was in. As far as the wheelchair, I made a mistake and thought I would be able to walk. I spent a large part of the day by myself and would have needed one of those dreaded ECVs. Stupid pride would not let me go there. WDW should have wheelchair rentals located in the back of the parks if they continue to take away seating and don't allow leaning.

Tracie could have just said "mam I'm sorry but you can't lean there" instead of what felt like she was sarcastically making fun of me.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

When we were there back in October they had a bunch of benches across from Aloha Isle where you could sit and eat the Dole Whip. The little seating room right there next to the stand that use to be there was boarded up and no longer available but right across from the stand there was a lot of places to sit. Unless they have changed it up again and taken out all the seating that was there back in October.

 

[asta]

When we were there back in October they had a bunch of benches across from Aloha Isle where you could sit and eat the Dole Whip. The little seating room right there next to the stand that use to be there was boarded up and no longer available but right across from the stand there was a lot of places to sit. Unless they have changed it up again and taken out all the seating that was there back in October.

It was crowded so I might have missed it but the area across from Aloha Isle only had a concrete semi-circular seating area and everyone in it was smoking so I assumed it was a smoking area. There was another one of these benches after passing the treehouse but that was all I saw.

 

[Smiles4DW]

I'm sorry you had a rude CM. We experienced a rude CM on our recent trip a couple of weeks ago. Diane was an older CM running "the storm house" in one of the innovention buildings. (Sorry I can't remember exact names). She was so rude to my 7 y/o DD she made my DD cry. I think my DD was more embarrassed at being sniped at in front of strangers. I can honestly say my DD thought it was her turn. She arrived at the same time as the other kids to experience the attraction. I was so stunned I was speechless. Then I had to leave before I did something I would regret. I asked another CM about talking to a supervisor but she told me no one was around.

 

[asta]

I'm sorry you had a rude CM. We experienced a rude CM on our recent trip a couple of weeks ago. Diane was an older CM running "the storm house" in one of the innovention buildings. (Sorry I can't remember exact names). She was so rude to my 7 y/o DD she made my DD cry. I think my DD was more embarrassed at being sniped at in front of strangers. I can honestly say my DD thought it was her turn. She arrived at the same time as the other kids to experience the attraction. I was so stunned I was speechless. Then I had to leave before I did something I would regret. I asked another CM about talking to a supervisor but she told me no one was around.

Emotions are so strange. I am 50 years older than your daughter and I had to fight back tears at how hopeless this CM made me feel. And after everything was over my remaining thought was that I was so glad that my daughters were not there to witness their mother being humiliated. I am so much older but being treated badly brings out the same emotions.

 

[sb682]

Please tell me you reported that CM to a supervisor or plan on emailing Guest Relations. That kind of behavior is inexcusable and no one deserves to be treated so rudely.

I dealt with a few sarcastic CMs on our last trip, which honestly surprised me. Most people would be warned or written up for being that rude to a customer/client. People are entitled to think whatever they want about someone, but it doesn't mean it's right for them to say it.

 

[Missyrose]

It was crowded so I might have missed it but the area across from Aloha Isle only had a concrete semi-circular seating area and everyone in it was smoking so I assumed it was a smoking area. There was another one of these benches after passing the treehouse but that was all I saw.

The benches across from Aloha Isle are the smoking section. I totally agree that there is nowhere to eat your Dole Whip anymore. We usually just cross back over the Adventureland bridge and eat at the outdoor seating area of Casey's.

 

[asta]

Please tell me you reported that CM to a supervisor or plan on emailing Guest Relations. That kind of behavior is inexcusable and no one deserves to be treated so rudely.

I dealt with a few sarcastic CMs on our last trip, which honestly surprised me. Most people would be warned or written up for being that rude to a customer/client. People are entitled to think whatever they want about someone, but it doesn't mean it's right for them to say it.

I thought this young lady was so terrible I stopped by guest relations on the way out. This was the first time in all of my trips that I have ever felt the need to report a CMs behavior. I will also send an email.

This CM probably thought her sarcasm was cute but it actually came across as ridicule. Just a bad way to treat customers.

 

[sb682]

I thought this young lady was so terrible I stopped by guest relations on the way out. This was the first time in all of my trips that I have ever felt the need to report a CMs behavior. I will also send an email.

This CM probably thought her sarcasm was cute but it actually came across as ridicule. Just a bad way to treat customers.

Good! I cannot imagine being that cruel to someone. You have no business being in customer service (which she is) if you can't treat people with some common courtesy. Sorry you had to put up with that.

 

[CNYDisneyFan]

I'm so sorry that happened to you. She definitely could have been nicer.

 

[ArielSparrow]

Everyone seemed to be taking pictures with smart phones. I really doubt the quality they can get in dark locations and wonder what is done with all of those photos of just things. I wish I had cards to hand out to all of those people trying to film the castle show that would direct them to Dan Murphy's beautiful you tube of it. I would rather be in the enjoyment of the moment than trying to film everything.

They are probably posted, printed, kept in a folder for review later. Same as photos of people. I stopped filming things after I was at the Rose parade once because I realized I wouldn't watch it later. I would still take pictures. There's something special in knowing that a photo, even if it's just of Cinderella castle or a lion or ToT, was taken by you and not stock imagery from online. Smart phones have come a long way and many take better pictures than point and shoots from a few years ago.

I have a Nexus 4 and I prefer it over my Sony DSC-W560 for night shots (the p&s washes scenes out) and quick shots (my phone is quad-core and therefore much faster for those moments that only last a few seconds). I carry both with me wherever I go, even to work or errands. I am more likely to already have my phone out, so it gets used for random shots more, but I would use my p&s exclusively if I plan on taking pictures (like at WDW).

Also, to buy a separate camera is relatively expensive. With Smartphones equipped with 8MP cameras, many people just aren't buying them anymore. A $100 camera isn't going to take pictures noticeably better than a smart phone (the higher end ones such as iphones and the Galaxy line). Most people aren't going to want to pay $200-300 for a camera when they already spent $200-300 on their phone. I do, but I also take a lot of pictures and know how to frame a shot. I've seen people take bad pictures with a $600 camera. I've seen amazing photos taken with an iPhone camera (a rare admittance coming from this Google fangirl).

What I can't stand is people taking pictures with tablets, because they don't have as good of cameras, and it's really distracting.

 

[Kristibo42]

I don't mind if its one person trying to catch up with a family or a child and parents. But if its a whole group then I would have said something.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

OP, I'm sorry that you were treated so badly, but I'm glad you didn't let it get you down. We did a quick weekend trip (for SWW) earlier in the month, after only having gone in October in the past. I did notice that the CMs seemed more snippy and less happy overall. You couldn't just have a conversation with them without feeling the underlying resentment oozing through. I blame it on the heat and the crowds. I hope everyone is in a better mood when we're there this October!

I should add that it also seemed like the general moodiness wasn't just confined to the CMs. The guests seemed more crabby, too. We saw a lot of bad behavior on the part of parents in particular, something that we'd never seen in the past during our October trips. I guess with more people in the parks, there is a better likelihood to witness someone losing it. And again, the weather. I really don't know how people can stand to live in FL in the summer.

 

[harbin]

I am slightly concerned.... I am taking a 2.5 year old to WDW in 5 weeks!! .. He is currently in the potty training process, and is doing quite well. What happens if we are in line, and he says he has to go? If I step out to take him and then come back to catch up to the rest of my family? I don't want to be a "line jumper" or aggrevate people! Of course I will take him before we get in line if we are going to be waiting long... but you know how 2 year olds are!

 

[Tigger's ally]

Sorry for your pain, both physically and emotionally. You didn't deserve that.

I have only had one instance in all my trips where a young lady CM said something that shouldn't have been said ( She called one of my twins a little brat) and I told her then that she needed to go over to casting and apply for the evil step sister job. She looked at me kind of quizzically (is that a word) but she could tell by the tone of my voice and the look I gave her that she had better just turn around and go on about her business. I didn't report her, and I should of, but I hope she thought about it that night.