Magic is in the eye of the beholder??

[Gillyrose779]

I just posted on a thread how a CM got on the floor with my then 4 year old to play with cars with him while we checked in. I thought that was a "magical" way to start our vacation. Later that night we were walking back to Beach Club and a CM approached my husband and two sons and asked if they would like some balloons. There were about 8 regular balloons, probably left over from the night, but I still thought that was also "magical". My husband, on the other hand, didn't think much of either.

So my question-- is Disney's "magic" just a way of looking at things?- kinda like are you are a glass half empty or half full type of person? Do you see magic where others are completely oblivious or do you think others almost make a situation "magical" just b/c it's Disney.

 

[tobikaye]

Basically, it is how each person envisions it. I have had a few things done for me or someone I was traveling with that just made me think "Magic", but when I told others, they seemed to not so much see it the same way. Same thing, I have heard some people mention something that seemed "Magic" to them, but I might have taken as just normal WDW service.

 

[mummabear]

I think those are both magic, I wonder what your husband would consider magic?

 

[disnut8]

Basically, it is how each person envisions it. I have had a few things done for me or someone I was traveling with that just made me think "Magic", but when I told others, they seemed to not so much see it the same way. Same thing, I have heard some people mention something that seemed "Magic" to them, but I might have taken as just normal WDW service.

I agree. Magic is what the person believes who is seeing it, not in what someone else believes or feels. I can remember so many dos of "magic" that no one else saw or experienced but it was "magic" to me.

I view my trips with "moments". Disney World itself is the cake. But then you can have icing on top of the cake. And then you can have sprinkles on top of the icing. And then you can have candles on top of the sprinkles. The cake isn't "magic". The icing and the sprinkles and the candles are the "magic". But not all icing, sprinkles and candles are the same. Heck, the cake isn't all the same either.

 

[pampam]

Well put, disnut8. Very well said.

 

[alvernon90]

In all my visits to various Disney parks I have never experienced something "magical." I have never experienced something "magical" outside of Disney parks, either. There is no such thing as magic.

Frankly, I think the whole "magical" business is a mistake by Disney. It's just a euphemism for customer service, but one that creates outsized expectations in a certain segment of the customer base. If the OP were waiting in line at a bank and the manager came out and played cars with the kids, the OP probably would not describe that as "magical." Giving away a 15 cent balloon that is otherwise destined for the garbage dump may be nice, but it's hardly magical.

So count me in the "people just think it's magical because they have completely bought into Disney's marketing slogans" camp.

 

[Gillyrose779]

In all my visits to various Disney parks I have never experienced something "magical." I have never experienced something "magical" outside of Disney parks, either. There is no such thing as magic.

Frankly, I think the whole "magical" business is a mistake by Disney. It's just a euphemism for customer service, but one that creates outsized expectations in a certain segment of the customer base. If the OP were waiting in line at a bank and the manager came out and played cars with the kids, the OP probably would not describe that as "magical." Giving away a 15 cent balloon that is otherwise destined for the garbage dump may be nice, but it's hardly magical.

So count me in the "people just think it's magical because they have completely bought into Disney's marketing slogans" camp.

If I was at the bank and a teller came out and played cars with my son so I could take care of business I would think that was pretty awesome and would write down her name so I could call her supervisor later. I wouldn't say "magical" b/c I associate that term with Disney but it would be awesome none the less.

 

[nilla]

In all my visits to various Disney parks I have never experienced something "magical." I have never experienced something "magical" outside of Disney parks, either. There is no such thing as magic.

Frankly, I think the whole "magical" business is a mistake by Disney. It's just a euphemism for customer service, but one that creates outsized expectations in a certain segment of the customer base. If the OP were waiting in line at a bank and the manager came out and played cars with the kids, the OP probably would not describe that as "magical." Giving away a 15 cent balloon that is otherwise destined for the garbage dump may be nice, but it's hardly magical.

So count me in the "people just think it's magical because they have completely bought into Disney's marketing slogans" camp.

IMO, it's this kind of attitude that fosters a "why should I care?" attitude among people working in service industries.

 

[ajwolfe]

In all my visits to various Disney parks I have never experienced something "magical." I have never experienced something "magical" outside of Disney parks, either. There is no such thing as magic.

Frankly, I think the whole "magical" business is a mistake by Disney. It's just a euphemism for customer service, but one that creates outsized expectations in a certain segment of the customer base. If the OP were waiting in line at a bank and the manager came out and played cars with the kids, the OP probably would not describe that as "magical." Giving away a 15 cent balloon that is otherwise destined for the garbage dump may be nice, but it's hardly magical.

So count me in the "people just think it's magical because they have completely bought into Disney's marketing slogans" camp.

Totally disagree with this....If the bank teller did that I would think they were a rock star and had went above and beyond normal customer service expectations. I wouldn't necessarily say it was "magical" because I usually associate that term with Disney but I would definitely think it was awesome and would tell people about it. Same with the balloons. Anytime people give my kids stuff at shopping centers or restaurants that is out of the ordinary I'm appreciative and it adds a special element to the day.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

so you get an employee who goes above and beyond, doing something they are not required do in order to make customers feel comfortable, call it what you will. At a Disney park or resort it's "magical." Anywhere else it's just awesome I guess. Not sure whether the OP's husband's issue is with what the employees did or just with the word "magical."

 

[Dis703]

By definition magic means something wonderful or exciting. A bouquet of balloons may mean nothing to one person but when my children were the recipients of such a gift they were absolutely thrilled. Definitely a wonderful and exciting moment to be chosen at random walking around the Boardwalk and be given a gift of balloons. So yes by definition a magical moment.

It was also a magical moment when a guest was leaving and gave my son her Frozen balloon. And it was just as magical when DS was taken behind the counter to check me in when we arrived at our resort. They may be small and meaningless to some but we call it magic.

Yes, it's awesome when these things happen outside of Disney and we are equally as grateful. But in our experience these magical moments happen far more frequently inside Disney than out. Guests and employees alike take the time and make the effort here like nowhere else. That's what makes it magical for me.

 

[bumbershoot]

IMO, it's this kind of attitude that fosters a "why should I care?" attitude among people working in service industries.

How?

Because it's not deemed "magical"?

I was a great CS rep for amazon, helping people out in all sorts of ways every day. And that was because my company gave me lots of leeway and empowered me to do these things. For each person I heped, they quite often thought that I was amazing. I wasn't. I was doing my job. And doing it well, albeit slowly (contacting a fulfillment center to see IF a shipment could be tracked down and stopped b/c 1K worth of electronics was about to go to an old address takes time, and honestly can't be done anymore b/c the shipping goes so much faster than in 2000, and could barely be done then, which takes the rep away from other phone calls). But I wasn't magical. I was just thorough.

Not being called magical didn't make me not want to do my job.

 

[bumbershoot]

OP, have you talked with your husband about his reasons?

I could see reasons.

The car thing; maybe your husband wanted your son to be *part* of the family, part of the checkin experience. Not taken away from the experience by a CM doing something that can be done for free at home (playing with cars). Maybe he saw some other kids who were NOT being played with, and maybe were sad, and he felt bad for them.

As for the balloons, that's a whole lot more magical at the START of a day when you know it's just a pixie dust moment. At the end of the day it really is "here is a balloon that is going to be deflated and tossed because it's not sold and it's the end of the day". Or maybe he really doesn't like balloons (they are such a pain in the park, both to have possession of and to be hit in the head with while walking behind someone who doesn't understand what their balloon is doing behind them) and didn't want to deal with it.

All sorts of reasons abound.

 

[nilla]

Since "magic" isn't technically "magic", and merely good customer service, I propose we stop using the word.

Similarly, the in-park character "Mickey Mouse" will now be known as "Disney Cast Member Whose Job is to Act Like and Wear a Costume that Looks Like the Fictional Character 'Mickey Mouse'".

Oh, crap - it's not really a "cast", is it?

Is "Disney Employee Whose Job is to Act Like and Wear a Costume that Looks Like the Fictional Character 'Mickey Mouse'" better?

Now pardon me - I'm off to book Slightly Less Time Consuming Passes for Average-Sized Construction Project that Looks Like a Mountain Roller Coaster.

(yes, I realize I'm wading into "verge of a flame war" waters with this post )

 

[maxiesmom]

Playing on the carpet with a child is not part of a CMs job at check in. And one who does is indeed going above and beyond. It is kind of sad that you don't appreciate that kind of thing, that you look at it as people just doing their jobs. Kind of sad you don't see the magic.

 

[eyehartdisney]

How?

Because it's not deemed "magical"?

Because there is different currency used to pay people in a job, one of which is money, appreciation is another. If the guests act like something that is done above the bare minimum isn't anything, then perhaps the person doing it thinks it isn't wanted, or appreciated. So, they might not do it again. You might not, but another employee might.

 

[nilla]

How?

Because it's not deemed "magical"?

I was a great CS rep for amazon, helping people out in all sorts of ways every day. And that was because my company gave me lots of leeway and empowered me to do these things. For each person I heped, they quite often thought that I was amazing. I wasn't. I was doing my job. And doing it well, albeit slowly (contacting a fulfillment center to see IF a shipment could be tracked down and stopped b/c 1K worth of electronics was about to go to an old address takes time, and honestly can't be done anymore b/c the shipping goes so much faster than in 2000, and could barely be done then, which takes the rep away from other phone calls). But I wasn't magical. I was just thorough.

Not being called magical didn't make me not want to do my job.

For me, appreciation is a great motivator. Not required, but it certainly makes me want to help you more and "go that extra mile".

 

[eyehartdisney]

Since "magic" isn't technically "magic", and merely good customer service, I propose we stop using the word.

And other awesome smarminess.

Nilla... I love everything you write. I'm about halfway through reading all your trip reports, and it's been a great way of dealing with sitting home sick.

 

[nilla]

Because there is different currency used to pay people in a job, one of which is money, appreciation is another. If the guests act like something that is done above the bare minimum isn't anything, then perhaps the person doing it thinks it isn't wanted, or appreciated. So, they might not do it again. You might not, but another employee might.

One of the things I miss now that we have FP+ was the ability to transfer unused FPs to complete strangers as we exited the park. Sure, it really took nothing on our part, but it was nice when it made people happy. Not as nice when people acted indifferently towards it.

 

[nilla]

Nilla... I love everything you write. I'm about halfway through reading all your trip reports, and it's been a great way of dealing with sitting home sick.

Meh. Your praise means nothing. I'm just writing.



Seriously, THANK YOU! Hope you enjoy my TRs. I plan to finally wrap up the most recent one this weekend and start laying the foundation for the TR for our upcoming trip in June!

Hope you feel better