'Real' conversations with CM's

[katepass72]

My 5 yr old daughter was brave enough to ride the Haunted Mansion during our last trip in June, but was still a little nervous. In the streching room, the CM tapped her on the shoulder, smiled and winked, and then "blew" out the lights (sort of like she was blowing a kiss). My daughter thought that was the coolest thing ever and is still talking about it.

 

[Pills]

Every time I saw a CM on our recent trip wearing a name tag saying that they were from Brooklyn, Queens, or Long Island, I'd ask them what part and get into a conversation. When we were going into Epcot, I got into a conversation with the bag checker from Queens. Long story short, her daughter and I went to high school together (I didn't know her - she was a freshman when I was a senior).

As for being out of character, I have no idea what my daughters said to Silver Mist in Pixie Hollow, but, suddenly, she threw back her head and started laughing. The photopass guy actually got a great shot of it (speaking of the which, my pictures expire soon...).

 

[Missytara]

That's funny; I had the opposite with the server in the lounge at POR. His name is John. He remembers me every year after I remind him where I am from and who I have been there with.

He and I started talking about traveling and he goes all over the world. Every year, the first person I go see is him when the lounge opens at 4:00 pm. One night during the week, he will show up a bit early and bring his vacation photos with him. Last time, I saw him he was on his way to Thailand, so I cannot wait to see him this year.

 

[khertz]

We were at 50's one night for my sons birthday. There was a manger there just standing against a wall in one of the dining rooms observing. My husband referred to him cousin wallpaper (not to him but to us). As they usually do one of the cm's passed around a birthday card for people to sign. When they gave it to my son and we started reading all the names one was signed cousin wallpaper.

I very rarely ACTUALLY laugh out loud, but this story really did it! That is too funny!!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I'm going to keep this somewhat generic, because I don't want to take even a remote chance at getting a CM in trouble. One of the most surprising times I've seen a Disney CM step out of character occurred during our most recent trip. My sister had her service dog with her when we went to a character meal. He was mostly under the table, but kept moving around with all the excitement, and we didn't want any of the characters to trip over him. So we pointed him out to the handlers whenever a character came to our table.

As one of the characters approached our table, the handler told him, "Watch out for the dog." The character asked back -- out loud -- "What dog?"

 

[anewvance]

We were waiting for the Block Party Bash one hot day and they Hollywood Blvd performers came out a half hour before to entertain the crowd. The one "actress" lady started talking to us. My youngest son had his head/should/back brace at the time and the CM was so concerned about the heat. She was totally out of character (if you know who she is, you know she is really really loud). But she was talking about taking him to baby care for him to cool off and that the counter service restaurants gave free ice water to keep him hydrated. She was really sweet, it just really threw me that she was so out of character.

 

[lugnut33]

Last spring, my daughter and were being queued for Soarin' (first row....woo!) when I noticed the CM was from the Netherlands and named Annika. As that is my daughter's name and it is somewhat uncommon here, I asked if she would take a picture with DD. She was so sweet and happily obliged and chatted with DD a bit.

Hey, that's our daughters name also.

 

[xipetotec]

We were waiting for the Block Party Bash one hot day and they Hollywood Blvd performers came out a half hour before to entertain the crowd. The one "actress" lady started talking to us. My youngest son had his head/should/back brace at the time and the CM was so concerned about the heat. She was totally out of character (if you know who she is, you know she is really really loud). But she was talking about taking him to baby care for him to cool off and that the counter service restaurants gave free ice water to keep him hydrated. She was really sweet, it just really threw me that she was so out of character.

OH! SHE is GREAT. She made us laugh so much ( I was "the director", you see ) and the only thing we had for her to read as a "script" for us was a corporate pen from a french Canadian company. Which she promptly read while collapsing to her death....

That being said, I'm glad to hear she's got a lot of heart in real life too

 

[DisneyMom5]

I had a cashier at All Star Sports that seemed friendly, so I asked her if she did DDP credits in her sleep (They all seem to be overwhelmed with the DDP!)

She said yes, but that she used to work a cart at MK selling ice cream, and she started dreaming that giant Mickey Bars were chasing her around the park, so she asked for a transfer.

 

[momejay]

I guess my funniest experience was when Pluto pretended to play dead like the dog in Toy Story 2, for my DD. She then scratched his tummy & he shook his leg like a real dog. You should have heard her giggle. My DD flopped on his tummy & Pluto grabbed his mid section drawing his knees to his chest. (I believe Pluto is a male dog?) Although in pain, he remained in character. I apologized & told him next time I would bring him a "cup" of milk.

 

[Brian&Amy]

A guy working the monorail went on and on about how much his job and life sucked. Since we were standing there waiting for the monorail, we really couldn't walk away. We attempted to redirect the conversation, but it kept coming back to all his suckiness.

When the monorail showed up, he put us up front with the driver. I don't really care for the front cab - especially at night when you can't see too much - because it is hot, but since he was being so nice to us, we took it. If we hadn't, he'd just think his life sucked more-being nice and having people turn your kindness down. My friend enjoyed it.

I'd rather they stay in character and be phoney baloneys than complain. I've got problems, too, bub.

It is a shame you had to witness that from that cast member. We are all human and make mistakes especially while on the job. However, Disney stresses to all of the cast members to remain in character no matter what your role or the situation. Being grumpy and openly complaining like that not only ruins the image Disney trys so hard to portray, but also can make a long hot day in the parks a let down. Imagin what it would have been like if that same cast member was upbeat, cheerful, and welcoming to you and your party... a totally diferent image of him and his role would have been seen.
I am not a complainer at all. However, when it comes to Disney, we pay good money to be entertained, which continues right from the parks and into our hotels. I would have gotten this cast mambers name and when the time is right drop a line to guest relations and report the incident. Disney can only improve what they know is lacking or needs fixing. Likewise, Disney also deserves to know all of the good that we as guests see.

I recently sent a letter to the Executive Ofices outlining our trip and was amazed at the warm response and thankful demeanor of the V.P. that I talked to. She cleary was thankful to hear of the good things in my letter as well as very open to discussion of the not-so-good things. I was critical of details as we had some Bad occurances. In our next trip 2 months later, Everything was repaired, fixed, or the cast members I spoke poorly about had improved or were transferred to diferent positions as she had promised.

My most pleasing feature of my letter was to go back 2 months later and see the Heffalump in the Pooh ride finally blowing smoke rings after being down for 3 years!! In my mind my letter got it fixed!!!!

Disney World is not only what Disney and the Cast make it out to be, But what we as guests make it out to be as well. Guests can make a diference and do. I recommend to anyone to write, call, email or talk face to face with any Disney management official about your visit. You will be surprised how receptive they all are and what a new friend you will have

 

[ilovejsparrow]

I love these stories! The only one I can think of was from our trip earlier this year. The two guys working at the start of the queue for ToT were perfect- really in character, deadpan, and creepy. We were heading toward the FP line when we heard a woman arguing with the one CM. Apparently she was trying to get into the FP line without a FP, and the CM wasn't having it. He was in character for a little bit, calmly asking her to step aside, her journey to the Twilight Zone will begin shortly if she goes in the regular line, but she kept arguing. Finally he had enough, and looked her dead in the eye and said, "Lady, if you keep it up, I'll arrange so you never come back from the Twilight Zone!" I thought it was a good way to handle a rude guest, and she eventually was escorted from the park.

 

[MapleGirl]

A few years ago I was waiting for a table at LTT when a cowboy from Woody's Round Up came in and started flirting with the hostess. Out of character and out of his designated zone.

When I was getting on EE I asked a CM if the Yeti was working. She whispered no then told me how they're supposed to pretend like they have no idea there's a Yeti about to attack us.

I was talking to a college program CM at the Meerkat exhibit in AK. There was a bunny in the enclosure and I asked her about it. She told me that when rabbits get into the enclosure the meerkats usually kill them. I asked her what she does when that happens, thinking of some kids screaming as Timon tears apart Rabbit. She said she pretends there's another animal far out in the distance and tries to get everyone to look for it.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I was talking to a college program CM at the Meerkat exhibit in AK. There was a bunny in the enclosure and I asked her about it. She told me that when rabbits get into the enclosure the meerkats usually kill them.

Sounds similiar to the incident that led Disney to stop all bird releases -- there used to be a very touching ending to the flag retreat ceremony on Main Street each night. As the National Anthem played and the U.S. flag was lowered, they'd release dozens of white birds, which would fly off down Main Street toward the castle. They did that until the hawks figured out there was free food at the same time each day, and started picking off the "doves" (I think they were actually pigeons) mid-air over Main Street.

 

[DisneyAngie]

deleted

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

One time I was walking on the 1st floor of the Great Ceremonial House at the Polynesian and this Cast Member asks me if I was a Toronto Maple Leafs fan because I was wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs hat. Well I obviously say yes and he then goes onto say how he was a fan of the New Jersery Devils, so we talked for 10 minutes just about Hockey and it was great because the Hockey coverage in certin areas of the United States and in Florida is not the best, so it was almost like I was back home with other Hockey fans.

 

[kristainohio]

When we there the end of August/first of September, we at the Rose & Crown for a late lunch, and we when we finished one of the new CM's there had started a pick-up soccer game with the kids in the UK. Then Alice and Mary Poppins came over and joined in. Alice was thrilled and was really cute and kicking the ball all over, but Mary was very prissy and not at all interested. Alice kept kicking her the ball and she would dodge it. It was fun to see them interact with not only the kids but the other CM's from the UK.

 

[pixiefairy]

Just came back from a short trip with some friends, and we had a lot of memorable moments. While waiting in line for Sorcerer Mickey at the Animation Institute, we watched while these two men were getting their photos taken with Mickey. They'd been to the the MNSSHP the night before, and started pulling out handfuls of candy, which Mickey took graciously, even turning down the Necco Wafers, lol. Then he went over to the photopass CM and shoved them in her pocket for safe keeping. I thought it was pretty funny, lol.

I had two separate CMs on Test Track try and talk me out of the school bread I was carrying around, as well, lol.

 

[twokids0204]

one time i was walking on the 1st floor of the great ceremonial house at the polynesian and this cast member asks me if i was a toronto maple leafs fan because i was wearing a toronto maple leafs hat. Well i obviously say yes and he then goes onto say how he was a fan of the new jersery devils, so we talked for 10 minutes just about hockey and it was great because the hockey coverage in certin areas of the united states and in florida is not the best, so it was almost like i was back home with other hockey fans.

go leafs go!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

go leafs go!!!