not a magical time...

[jlindemer]

I am positive b/c i stayed off property last year for the 1st time and paid 10 dollars to park... in fact i asked a cast member about it and was informed that it actually increased 2x this year from 10 to 12 to 14...

We always stay off site (except in March) but I always keep my detailed budgets, and parking in March of 2009 was $12. And, there was a coupon for a free trading pin that detached from it. It was $14 when we went in December 2009.

 

[siskaren]

You had to point with two fingers or use your whole hand if a guest asked where the rest room was--in some cultures, pointing with one finger would be considered rude.

Thank you for saying this. I said I had read this as the reason for the two finger point on another thread (but couldn't remember where I'd read it so had no proof to back it up), but someone else insisted that the reason was so that a guest standing in the direction that the CM was pointing to wouldn't think they were being pointed at. (Which, for the record, I thought was a totally illogical reason because why would someone think they're not being pointed at just because someone is pointing with 2 fingers rather than 1? )

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

Does it really matter when the parking rates were raised, the end result is the same, $14 to park your own car.

Sadly we see the magic slowly disappearing across property, and we attribute it to a change in upper management. Disney, like other companies, have put accountants and finance people into the senior management positions. They aren't concerned with Walt's legacy and the magic of Disney. They have learned that for each dissatisfied Guest, 10 more will book a vacation if they advertise enough and especially if they offer something "free".

Bill

Unfortunately that's the way that most publicly traded companies behave; investors expect more each year, even in bad times or if it will hurt the company longer term, you're only as goods as your last quarter, or less

 

[flicx]

Does it really matter when the parking rates were raised, the end result is the same, $14 to park your own car.

Sadly we see the magic slowly disappearing across property, and we attribute it to a change in upper management. Disney, like other companies, have put accountants and finance people into the senior management positions. They aren't concerned with Walt's legacy and the magic of Disney. They have learned that for each dissatisfied Guest, 10 more will book a vacation if they advertise enough and especially if they offer something "free".

Bill

I completly agree with this post!!! The last time I tried to make this point I got blasted.Well said!!!!!

 

[reelmom]

We went last week and are thinking about taking a break from Disney. We also experienced rude CM's and a little bit less magic. Not sure if the magic is less because we go so much or if it is Disney. I'm sure the heat played a huge role in everybody's mood, but I was diappointed in this trip. On a positive note, we stayed at POR for the first time and loved it. We also ate at Boma for breakfast and it is my new favorite place to eat in the morning.

 

[Goobergal99]

YES!!YES!!YES!!YES!!

Totally agree.

Is it wrong? Yes. Against company policy? Probably.

But why get someone fired for something you probably do as well.

Just relax and enjoy your vacation and try not to nitpick every little thing.

totally agree

 

[kaytieeldr]

.

 

[Leajess99]

I am sorry that your trip was not very magical either. We were there 2 weeks ago and I don't plan on going back anytime soon either. We dealt with poor service at Primetime Cafe as well as at the resorts. There were some good CMs but so many did not seem to want to be there.

 

[MiniGirl]

I hope those of you that are taking down names of these CMs and trying to get them fired are talking to them first. I only brought my phone out once or twice and it was when I had to leave my young dd at home sick. I wasn't texting but I was checking to see if the sitter left any messages and I needed to get home right away. FTR, it is very difficult, almost impossible, to get hold of me if I'm at work. I am supposed to roam the park and interact with guests. I do not carry a walkie talkie or anything like that. I am a seasonal employee, so my manager doesn't even know what I look like. If there were an emergency, there would be no way to notify me until I showed up to work the evening fireworks show.

Not saying everyone's job is like that. What I am saying is that you don't know why someone may be doing what they're doing. They may have a pretty good reason.

 

[EclecticWAHM]

While texting on the job may seem normal, it is against Company policy. I had a friend who worked in one of the resorts last year who was terminated on his first offense. Disney doesn't mess around with that. You should have reported it immediately.

Honestly, I just can't see taking time out of my vacation to report something so trivial. It's Disney's job to enforce their policies and unless it's something flagrantly dangerous or in-your-face rude, I'm much more inclined to just go about my business, which is having fun with my family. If seeing a CM texting got under my skin, I'd have to question what *my* problem was that I'd let such a little thing interrupt my vacation.

 

[declansdad]

Wow, I can't believe that some of you would write down the names of CMs that were texting and turn them in; likely to get them fired. That is harsh! I wonder if they will then come to your job and turn you in for doing something they don't like.

 

[Goobergal99]

Wow, I can't believe that some of you would write down the names of CMs that were texting and turn them in; likely to get them fired. That is harsh! I wonder if they will then come to your job and turn you in for doing something they don't like.

Seriously I am reading those posts and shaking my head thinking unbelievavle I understand wanting to have a magical experience but does that hoesntly ruin your time at Disney?? I am sorry but I have way to great a time on my own without needing the cast members to be in your face prozac happy all the time

I am glad my patients families do not carry around a lil tablet marking down everything they think I should be doing differently so they can rat me out to my manager....

 

[Alesia]

While texting on the job may seem normal, it is against Company policy. I had a friend who worked in one of the resorts last year who was terminated on his first offense. Disney doesn't mess around with that. You should have reported it immediately.

I'm all for following rules, but unless it was a matter of safety, there is no way I would intentionally get someone fired. I don't think I'd ever be able to get a good night's sleep again.

 

[VAN]

Agree that CM's should not be texting while "on stage." I can certainly understand the need to check messages for home situations, but please step behind the scenes. Would assume you are allowed bathroom breaks ... do it while in the restroom/stall, duck into the shop's "back room" etc.

I don't think it is the idea of them texting so much as it is they are in an area where they are expected to be receptive to the customer/guest, and the PERCEPTION is that the guest is being asked to "hang-on" while they take care of personal matters. Perception is reality.

Again, while "on stage" the CM's should put their phones away.

 

[declansdad]

Agree that CM's should not be texting while "on stage." I can certainly understand the need to check messages for home situations, but please step behind the scenes. Would assume you are allowed bathroom breaks ... do it while in the restroom/stall, duck into the shop's "back room" etc.

I don't think it is the idea of them texting so much as it is they are in an area where they are expected to be receptive to the customer/guest, and the PERCEPTION is that the guest is being asked to "hang-on" while they take care of personal matters. Perception is reality.

Again, while "on stage" the CM's should put their phones away.

I agree but as a customer, I certainly wouldn't automatically write down the names and report the. It would take much more than that before I reported an employee.