Ok here is a new One.."How many times have you been mistaken for a Cast Member?"

[Figgy]

I have been mistaken for a CM many many times I can't really count them all but the funniest one was when I was at Animal Kingdom during Xmas 1999 and I was wearing a white button down shirt with a Pin Lanyard around my neck. I was standing talking to a Cast Member who also had a white button down shirt and a lanyard on plus was carrying a radio in his hand. We were discussing Pins (duh) when this lady comes up to us. She basically got right between us and with her back to the other guy asks me excuse me can you please direct me to the Countdown to Extinction. Well being Figgy and quite Knowledgable about the park..HEHE I simply gave her directions told her your welcome and waved her on her way... The whole time the CM is standing there with this kind of stunned look on his face and then asks me... Do you get mistaken for a CM often? I laughed and said yep especially now that Pin Trading has started. People are always saying that I must work for Disney since I know so much about the parks...

I know many of you have similar stories so lets share...

 

[KAP]

I get mistaken for a CM all the time both by guests and CMs. The CM part is more often on the first or last days of my trip when I am in my travel clothes.

 

[~Kathie]

My DH is mistaken all the time especially for a CM when he wears his DVC shirt and tan or navy blue shorts. Mostly other CM's at the resort ask him if he's a Cast Member.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

On the last day of the Epcot pin event, I was mistaken for a CM more than once.

DH's explanation: I was too neatly dressed! I was wearing a navy skort and a top that looked like a twin set. Add a lanyard and . . . What can I say? From now on, I will try to stick to my usual frumpy vacation attire.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

ALL THE TIME!!!!

I always get mistaken for a CM. The best one ever was at AK. I was in that store back by the safari. I am clearly in vacation clothes. A SUIT started to talk to me and ask me to go in back to get some stock!! He looked again and realized who I was. He apologized and went into the back.

And the usual directions and other things. I use the Disney point (two fingers together), heck even out of the parks I use it... Ususally it is easier to just tell the person what they need to know than try and find a CM.

But, I am mistaken for store employees wherever I go. I could be in Walmart with a parka on and someone will ask me for something.

Debbie

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

Never been mistaken for a Cast Member but I had some lady call me a character once. Of course I also had a sixth grade teacher that said I would be making license plates by the time I was thirty. I seem to get mistaken for a lot of things.

Jeff

 

[mktiggerman]

I HATE getting mistaken for a CM... when I'm off the clock

People constantly mistake me for a CM.. but that's well.. cuz I AM a CM.

 

[DaisyCrazy]

Originally posted by AZ JazzyJ
Never been mistaken for a Cast Member but I had some lady call me a character once.

.......only once......???

Christy

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Jeff is definitely a character. Wonder how soon Disney will have an Arizona Jeff character outfit running around the parks?

I've had kids mistake me for a CM whenever they see my lanyard.

I'm mistaken for a store employee all the time, too. I'm a sales rep for a carpet company and I deal exclusively with a major home improvement chain, and shoppers always think I'm an employee ... even when I'm nowhere near the flooring department.

 

[SueEllen]

Hmmmm, happens to me all of the time. Oh, Wait!!! I am a Cast Member--oops!!!

I've been told (it seems like a million times) that I just LOOK like a Cast Member. Even at pin meets when I'm meeting board members for the first time. Oh well, I guess it's a compliment.

Sue Ellen

 

[Figgy]

We could start an entire array of DIS members that have become Disney characters... Raul and Pinboy now Arizona Jeff... We even already have a doll for him...HEHE Then there is the riverdance dolls of Nat and Steve... This could get fun... LOL

 

[Mainepinpal]

My DH and I are frequently mistaken for CM's when we are at WDW. We always wear our lanyards, so we wear collared shirts ( to prevent lanyard-chafe). With our polo-type shirts and lanyards, I guess we look like CM's, usually by kids wanting to trade. We don't mind. We like talking with people about pin trading.(share the fun!)
My husband got mistaken for a staff member at the Baltimore aquarium ( he had a walk--talkie in his had because we were there in charge of a student group of 100. He must have looked "official".)
Penny

 

[Brise Nannie]

A couple of times! First time caught me off-guard and I was shocked til I realized what I was wearing.

 

[Mickey7811]

I am mistaken for a Cast Member all the time. I have a Mickey Mouse vest that I always wear at the parks - I call it my Cast Member Costume. Everytime I wear it people ask me directions.
I have had people get angry with me because I would not trade from my lanyard with them and they told me I had to trade, and I had to politely say that I was not a cast member.

ONe of my best memories of Disney World was one time when we entered the park at the INternational Gateway at Epcot. My girlfiend put her annual pass in the wrong slot and it got caught in the ticket machine. There was only one gate and one attendant at the gate. My husband and friend helped the CM get the ticket out of the machine, and while they worked on that machine, I helped by actually letting people in at one of the other turnstiles. The CM told me what buttons to push and what to look for on the passes and I actually worked the gate for about 15 minutes. I had on Mickey clothes and everyone just assumed I worked there. So I actually was a Cast Member in Disney World for 15 minutes.

As I was a Disney Store CM at the time, one day someone came in the store in Baltimore and he said that he worked at the International Gateway Ticket booth. He was actually there the night that I worked at the turnstiles and he knew the whole story. It is a Small World After All.

There is also a Photographer on Main Street named Luis. Everytime he sees me, he ask if I am off and playing in the parks that day. He thinks I work there. I do not have the heart to tell him I just visit alot.

One day I will be a Cast Member and then maybe I will be mistaken for a tourist.

Darlene

 

[brimel]

I've ben mistaken for a CM on several ocassions, usually by a child with a lanyard, who walks up and asks for a pin. I try to be nice, and a couple of times I've actually made the trade, but I just can't trade an LE 1500 for a Dwarf head on a regular basis!
I also get approached frequently by people asking directions. My DW says it's because I look friendly and non-threatening. I always thought it was my air of quiet confidence, and the fact that I'm always right.

 

[ladyandtramp]

My DH is ALWAYS being mistaken for a CM -- which until the last year or so was interesting since he has always had a moustache, and those were a CM no no until recently .

It doesn't seem to matter WHAT he is wearing -- t-shirts and cut-off jean shorts -- or his polos and kaki shorts, pin lanyard or no. I've quit counting the number of park guests who demand he trade pins with them "because he works there", as well as the number of folks who go out of their way to stop him and ask questions/directions. He just answers the questions and sends folks on their way, never the wiser .

Maybe it is like what brimel said -- he looks friendly and non-threatening (but tell me this -- how can a guy 6' built like a football player look non-threatening????).

I've only been mistaken for a CM once at Animal Kingdom -- but I *was* wearing a CM Animal Kingdom "opening day" t-shirt at the time .

Too funny!

 

[Quentin Disney]

This happens to me sometimes too! I often wear WDW shirts when I go, some people tend to see me around a lot. I guess wearing your GOH badge is a catalyst for being mistaken for a CM. Those Pin Trader vests do it too.

I recall one trader named "Brian". His name was embroidered in red on the vest. I first thought he was a CM. I guess I need to be more careful.

Yet another downside of being a local AP. At least I actually have some knowledge of the place is someone calls for help.

 

[doombuggy]

Actually, I get the opposite.

I work at a DS in Pa and have had many guests ask me if I "work here." Yes, I wear a bright blue sweater all the time in the dead heat of summer! It was a lot funnier when peopel ask then, because of the costume (sweater). Now we wear denim shirts. It's not so funny now, b/c it is more difficult to distinguish us from everyone else.