Kidcot CMs at American Pavillion

[CanadianGuy]

I'm curious - which costume was the CM wearing at this Kidcot Stop? An American Pavillion Costume? Or a Chinese Pavillion costume?

 

[donnajon]

She was wearing an American costume. Again, my only point was that her name tag said she was from China. If it has said she was from somewhere in America, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. And I'm not upset over it. I just thought it was curious. And I never said I was judging her based on what she looked like. Only that her name tag indicated she was from China. I just thought she should have had a name tag indicating she was from America. That was my only point. If she had immigrated to America then why working in America didn't her name tag indicate that. I don't care whatshe looked like. I have said that many times and I am done talking about this. It has turned into a silly debate that has been taken way out of context. I never meant anything about her appearance. Only where her name tag said she was from. And have said that several times.

 

[bavaria]

Then I really don't understand the upset, other than I do understand wanting to have your child's name spelled correctly.

She was wearing an American uniform, was apparently authorized to work there, and was from another country originally. She could have been adopted as a baby from China, emigrated recently, or any other scenario. It is none of our business - her employer felt that she met the required criteria.

I fail to see how the fact that she was born in one country and is living and representing another country is wrong.

 

[linzbear]

She was wearing an American uniform, was apparently authorized to work there, and was from another country originally. She could have been adopted as a baby from China, emigrated recently, or any other scenario. It is none of our business - her employer felt that she met the required criteria.

I fail to see how the fact that she was born in one country and is living and representing another country is wrong.

I wouldn't call it wrong... I would say that it's kinda odd, though. And to me, it has nothing to do with looks. To me, the oddness would be completely based on the nametag with the hometown listed, and the ability to speak the appropriate language (In your example, she wouldn't have been a baby from China, because if she had, she would have learned English perfectly. A baby from China to Germany would speak German perfectly, too.).

Honestly, if I was in the OP's shoes, I would have just asked the girl, "Hey, I see you're from China - How long have you been in the States?" Totally appropriate question, and kids would learn from it, too.

 

[safetymom]

She also could have borrowed a name tag. That does happen. Also they may have been short handed and she was filling in.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

She also could have borrowed a name tag. That does happen. Also they may have been short handed and she was filling in.

That's what I was going to say! Maybe she lost hers and borrowed someone's. Hehe!!

 

[linzbear]

She also could have borrowed a name tag. That does happen. Also they may have been short handed and she was filling in.

Right, that's why I'd just ask!

 

[brandylouwho]

She was wearing an American costume. Again, my only point was that her name tag said she was from China. If it has said she was from somewhere in America, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. And I'm not upset over it. I just thought it was curious. And I never said I was judging her based on what she looked like. Only that her name tag indicated she was from China. I just thought she should have had a name tag indicating she was from America. That was my only point. If she had immigrated to America then why working in America didn't her name tag indicate that. I don't care whatshe looked like. I have said that many times and I am done talking about this. It has turned into a silly debate that has been taken way out of context. I never meant anything about her appearance. Only where her name tag said she was from. And have said that several times.

Hey donnajon,

Sorry everyone jumped on you like that. I think I understand what you meant...and you are right, maybe it wasn't worded the best (came across as just another American-centric sort of person, as you are now well aware, the written word is trickier than verbal communication). I am sure that you have many more negative responses because people who took it that way are more fired up about it --more likely to respond, sort of like how people like to complain when stuff goes wrong, but don't always compliment when things go right.

After reading the thread it appears that countries are supposed to be staffed with people from the country (the answer to your question), but there are instances where that may not be the case. And also that CMs name tags may not always be correct. As for the actual Chinese lady (well, she looked Asian, sounded like English was not her native tongue & her name tag said she was from China--so we'll assume she was Chinese) working in the American pavilion, I suppose we'll never know her true story.

This whole thread just makes me curious now...on our next trip I'll be striking up conversations with all the CMs that appear to be working in a Pavillion other than "their own" because now I am just nosey.

And for the record, I would have found it odd too. Disney goes out of their way to create this fantasy (utilidors in MK so you don't see Tomorrowland CMs in Adventureland, Tower of Terror color coordinated because you can see it from Morocco, etc) so having foreign workers (assuming this lady really was Chinese, not Chinese American) in a different pavillion is odd to me. Not bad, just not very in keeping with the Disney way of controlling/perfecting the fantasy.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

It has turned into a silly debate that has been taken way out of context. I never meant anything about her appearance. Only where her name tag said she was from. And have said that several times.

Nothing about the discussion on this thread, or your original post for that matter, has been in the least bit silly. Sterotyping is a very important issue and I sincerely hope some of the posts on here have opened a few peoples eyes.

 

[CanadianGuy]

A CM friend of mine.. his name tag says he's from Maine.. and he is.. but he hasn't lived there in 15 + years.

And a CM I met working at MK .. her name tag said she was from Nova Scotia. And she was... about 32 years ago.

Knox

 

[Shelton123]

Is Lauren little? If so, a lot of little kids pronounce there R's like W's. I work at a camp for 3-5 year olds, and about 90% of them do that. That has confused me sometimes, and I was born here and I dont' speak any other language. Once I was playing with a kid and she said she needed a (this is how she pronounced it) wed wock. Then I said "Yeah, let's go get a wed wock". So that could be possible. Plus, it's in a room with quite a bit of noise, and she might have heard it wrong.