We didnt encounter any rude or cranky CMs. In fact, most of the CMS we dealt with were helpful. Some might say, too helpful. When we were retrieving our magic stroller from in front of Peter Pan, the CM in charge of re-parking magic strollers (thus making them disappear from the rightful owners) observed that both my wife and my sister had little ones in tow and gave us a five minute (no exaggeration) spiel on the baby care center located in the Magic Kingdom next to the nefarious Crystal Palace. I quickly deduced that the CM was trying to re-direct our path away from any rides and back towards the unspeakable evil that lurks inside the Crystal Palace. We were on to his wily tricks and politely demurred.
Our only real CM complaint had more to do with the frank incompetence of this particular woman who attempted to help the CM who was checking us in at ASMovies. He was brand new to the job and doing a fine job of it when Ms. PseduoHelperBossyWoman came over to offer her assistance. To make a long story even longer, as I mentioned above, we had been the recipients of a CM discount rate. Until that moment, we didnt know that the CM who offers you the discount must appear either in person or by fax at the resort in question with his/her CM ID card to verify that he or she intended to give you a discount. So Mr. FirstDayOutOfTraining looks up from his screen and asks me for my CM ID. I explained that I wasnt a CM but a family friend is a CM and had altered our reservation to give us the CM rate. Mr. FirstDayOutOfTraining paused for an ever so brief second when out of nowhere, Ms. PseduoHelperBossyWoman swooped in and started telling us we needed the ID or else she would have to charge us the rack rate for our stay. As I was trying to respond to her and tell her we would attempt to contact our CM friend, she continued to glance disdainfully at me and advise that Disney policy requires the CM to produce his or her ID. She even went so far as to tell me he should know the policy. Mr. FirstDayOutOfTraining, who had no visible signs of flop sweat, had the wherewithal to go get his manager. The manager was very helpful and informed me that it was Disney policy for the CM to produce his ID card but he could still come down and do it. She also told me they would honor my original discount rate if for some reason our CM friend didnt appear with his ID. It was at this point that I was wondering why any CM would ever offer his or her discount to a friend. The Disney policy seemed needlessly cumbersome. The Helpful and Polite Manager disappeared behind the Wall and Mr. FirstDayOutOfTraining continued typing away on his computer.
I know youre completely bored with this story already, but hang in there, this is where it gets good. Not three minutes go by when Ms. Helpful and Polite Manager reappears from behind the Wall and advises me and Mr. FirstDayOutOfTraining that our CM friend had already come to ASMovies and produced a copy of his ID card. The notes were right there on the screen. The Manager apologized to me for the inconvenience. And guess which ASMovies CM took a copy of my CM friends ID card and put the notes in the computer?
Wait for it . . . thats right, Ms. PseduoHelperBossyWoman herself. After all of the grief she caused us, she was the one who talked with my CM friend earlier that same day and she was the one who put the notes on the computer. She then offered us a non-apology apology. You know, Im sorry this happened, Im sorry if you were inconvenienced, I dont know how this happened, but no actual, Im sorry Ive made you stand here 20 minutes longer than you should have simply because I am too bossy and cant remember what I did two hours ago. You know, a concise statement of contrition. Anyway, like I said, she wasnt rude, just somewhat incompetent and, evidently, unrepentant.
Just a little reminder of why we're all here. Thanks again for sharing your trip with us!
