Rude CM's

[Disneyholic]

On our trip to WDW last September we tried to see some of the resorts that we had not stayed at yet. We were staying at a DTD hotel, so when we left the park we were at we decided to catch the bus to SSR figuring we could walk back to our hotel from there. I fell asleep in the cool bus after being in the hot park and the bus driver woke me and asked which stop I wanted to get off at. Since I had been woken up I wasn't quite coherent and I asked which stop would be best. He said I had to tell him where I wanted to get off, so I said the 1st stop would be fine. He dropped DH and I off and left. We walked over to a map and found out that he had dropped us off in an area that wasn't even done yet (and from what we could tell wasn't even suppposed to be a stop yet) We started walking toward DTD and a thunderstorm started rolling in. About 20 minutes later we were still walking and felt like we were never going to get to DTD. The wind picked up and it started to rain and we still hadn't gotten to an area that the rooms were being occupied yet. We finally did get to DTD, very tired and wet. I bet he had a few laughs at our expense telling his buddies how he had just MADE OUR DAY.

 

[goofyernmost]

On our trip to WDW last September we tried to see some of the resorts that we had not stayed at yet. We were staying at a DTD hotel, so when we left the park we were at we decided to catch the bus to SSR figuring we could walk back to our hotel from there. I fell asleep in the cool bus after being in the hot park and the bus driver woke me and asked which stop I wanted to get off at. Since I had been woken up I wasn't quite coherent and I asked which stop would be best. He said I had to tell him where I wanted to get off, so I said the 1st stop would be fine. He dropped DH and I off and left. We walked over to a map and found out that he had dropped us off in an area that wasn't even done yet (and from what we could tell wasn't even suppposed to be a stop yet) We started walking toward DTD and a thunderstorm started rolling in. About 20 minutes later we were still walking and felt like we were never going to get to DTD. The wind picked up and it started to rain and we still hadn't gotten to an area that the rooms were being occupied yet. We finally did get to DTD, very tired and wet. I bet he had a few laughs at our expense telling his buddies how he had just MADE OUR DAY.

OK, let's review...You fell asleep on the bus. He woke you up so you wouldn't miss your stop. You expected him to know where you wanted to go, in spite of saying that you were kind of incoherent at the time. He couldn't read minds so he asked you to tell him where you wanted to get off. You said the first stop, he let you off and now you think he was laughing at you because he left you having to walk a distance, something that many people want to do anyway.

Having been in the bus transportation business for a few years, let me tell you that, considering the number of people they transport in one day, you didn't stay a memory for very long. He did his job and followed your request.

Somethings are just not other peoples responsibility, where you wanted to go was yours. He had nothing to gain and everything to lose by purposely letting you off in the wrong place.

 

[brytorlyn]

My only bad experience was when I asked this CM, standing near these funny looking machines, where I could get a fastpass I waited patiently for my turn to ask my questions...didn't want to be nosey and listen to the other guests question to the CM...CM was very snippy....

Dizprincess 717 ...was that you???

 

[dmk1021]

My family had a CM make an incredibly hurtful remark...

My family includes 5 adults. The youngest being myself, who was 24 at the time. We're a little bit above average sized, just to give you an idea (you can see by my pic, I guess).

Well, the loading CM at Pooh wanted all 5 of us to get into one honey pot. I don't care how tiny you are, five adults are not going to fit into that pot. Maybe four adults and a small child, but that's it.

Well, she sent us over anyway, when the pot came, we realized, it wasn't going to happen and we asked the CM for two pots. She was visibly annoyed, then turned to a CM who was "Earning Her Ears" and said...

"That's what we call a "healthy" family"

And laughed.

Very hurtful, and it put a damper on the rest of our trip, as we were super-sensitive when we loaded anything after that.

 

[LisaBi]

Boy - I'm having to think really hard to remember any really rude CM's - on about 6 trips. There's been some that could have used a little pixie dust, but the only really rude one I remember was an awful little man who was a server at CRT (dinner). He was generally un-friendly, then about lost it when DS12 (an adult on the dining plan) wanted the adult appetizer he was entitled to and then a kid's entree! There was one, I don't even remember which ride, in 1999 who refused to let us in line with the stroller (using stroller as wheelchair card) and was pretty rude about it. We did report him.

But I have so many more good ones - the CM in the carnival area at AK who let DS throw a basketball "just for practice" when she heard him asking (OK demanding) to play basketball. He didn't understand it was pay-per-ball game. He just saw basketballs. (He has Down Syndrome). Then she even gave him a prize too (he didn't make it)! Or Merlin, who picked DS for the sword ceremony, then the other Fantasyland CM's who made a big deal out of "meeting" the King of Realm for the next few hours! Or the character handler who anounced that the family in front us would be last before Mickey took a short break. As I was telling DS that Mickey had to go potty and would be right back, he stopped me and said "We'll take you before the break." Or the Jedi Trainer who picked DS to be among the trainee's - even though he's twice as big as all the other kids who got picked. The waitress at Mama Melrose's who decided DS needed a special pin to for being such a grown up boy (he was a bit, shall we say, cranky, when we arrived). Or the best ever, Steve at Space Mountain (who was on the college program) in Sept. 2005 - DS took a real liking to him - on our 2nd or 3rd trip thru for the day, Connor told Steve (who was working the loading area) he wanted to ride with him instead of me. And Steve made it happen! Or the CM who overheard me tell DS in the Fantasmic stadium that all I could buy him was popcorn OR soda (didn't know that the concession stand inside was cash only and I only had a few bucks and my room card) and walked over and gave us a coupon for a free soda. Or....

LisaB

 

[maxiesmom]

My family had a CM make an incredibly hurtful remark...

My family includes 5 adults. The youngest being myself, who was 24 at the time. We're a little bit above average sized, just to give you an idea (you can see by my pic, I guess).

Well, the loading CM at Pooh wanted all 5 of us to get into one honey pot. I don't care how tiny you are, five adults are not going to fit into that pot. Maybe four adults and a small child, but that's it.

Well, she sent us over anyway, when the pot came, we realized, it wasn't going to happen and we asked the CM for two pots. She was visibly annoyed, then turned to a CM who was "Earning Her Ears" and said...

"That's what we call a "healthy" family"

And laughed.

Very hurtful, and it put a damper on the rest of our trip, as we were super-sensitive when we loaded anything after that.

What did she say?! I would have lost it if someone made that comment to me! It would seem that when Disney shortened their training sessions they took out class !!!

 

[goofyernmost]

Well, she sent us over anyway, when the pot came, we realized, it wasn't going to happen and we asked the CM for two pots. She was visibly annoyed, then turned to a CM who was "Earning Her Ears" and said...

"That's what we call a "healthy" family"

And laughed.

Very hurtful, and it put a damper on the rest of our trip, as we were super-sensitive when we loaded anything after that.

Now that is what I call Rude and insensitive and was something that would not go unreported to guest relations. If you take a second to look around the parks you quickly realize that "healthy family's" are what make up a lot of Disney Park tourists. This person needs a talking too and some growth hormones for the brain. What a twit!

 

[dizneydiva2005]

On our last trip to Disney in May... We were at Epcot in the parking lot. I'm sure the Cm's get tired of pointing people where to park, people don't listen... I understand all of that, because I'd be the first to YELL, moron, park HERE!!

However, I'm not a cm ~ so me saying it is one thing but it's another to actually have a CM belittle someone who didn't park in the ONE spot he pointed to. The young guy parked in the one over from where I guess the CM pointed.
The CM begins yelling at him... Hey buddy, you drove all the way here from Mich. but yet you can't park your car?? Unbelievable!!!! Stay off the road if you're that dangerous.
And he cont. on saying stuff. As funny as it may have been to listen... if I were that guy being yelled at... Well, I gotta tell ya, MY Italian, NY background / attitude would have come out and that CM would have regretted it. I would not have tolerated being bad mouthed like that.
You can tell the guy was embarrassed.
It was just bad taste of that cm to yell those things at him...

 

[RIDisneyFan]

Most of the CMs we encountered on our trip last Sept were very nice. However, there was a waiter at CRT that did upset me. We had breakfast at CRT. My DH uses a wheelchair (he has Multiple Sclerosis). When we got to the desk to check in for our ADR, the CM noticed my DH was in a wheelchair; she asked me if he could walk down 2 steps. Since he can, I said yes. When we got up to the restaurant, my DH got out of his wheelchair, a CM helped me get it down the 2 steps, then my DH got back in and we went to our table; my DH transferred to a chair, and a CM took his wheelchair and put it somewhere out of the way. Our waiter was not the friendliest person and his service was slow. But what upset me was when, at the end of our meal, I asked him if someone could bring my DH's wheelchair back to the table. He said no, there was not room to get it down to our table and my DH would have to walk back up to where the wheelchair was, then he just walked away. Since my DH could not walk that far, I went and got the wheelchair myself and brought it to the table. It is very crowded in that restaurant and the tables are very close together, but the other guests were very polite and moved their chairs in a little or stood up so I could get by. On the way out we went right by our waiter, I was pushing DH in his wheelchair; I wanted to say to him "see, you can get a wheelchair down here - how do you think we got him to the table?" We did speak to a manager about this waiter.
Since my DH had just recently had to start using his wheelchair on a regular basis, he was very self conscious about it, and this episode bothered him quite a bit.

However, as I said, the rest of the CMs on our trip were nice, especially the ones our DDs traded pins with.

 

[dizprincess717]

Honestly, you can all grill me if you want to. I don't care.

For those who said I wasn't "cut out for that job" ... How about my managers still call me and beg me to come back because I actually knew what I was doing.

Secondly, yes, we do have breaks. They are 15 minutes. And sometimes, we're on stage for like, oh 3 1/2 - 4 hours even though the labor laws prohibit anything more than 2 1/2 or 3 hours I think.

Next, hearing problems. Not everyone has a hearing problem. For example, a husband actually poked fun at his wife for asking me the same question another guest asked me in front of her. He actually stood up for me.

People are expecting these perfect vacations where the characters frollic up to their children and go on the rides with them and blah blah... Disney World is my favorite place in the world and I was fortunate enough to work at an attraction that people actually consider the highlight of their trip. While you think that rudeness should not be accepted at all, I don't think that CM CONSIDERATION would hurt. Some guests just do NOT seem to care for the CMs at all, and THATS where the real problem is.

It's getting so out of control with guests, hours, crowds, etc. that WDW Co. actually loses more CMs than it can hire. They are desperate for workers.

And that's sort of a good thing because as much as I'd absolutely hate to see it happen, maybe some things would have to shut down.

If you can't handle me speaking the honest truth well then sorry. But for WHOEVER said that I was one of the rude CMs, that was the absolutely rediculous. In 4 months I got 6, yes S-I-X Great Service Fanatic awards. Those are usually when guests compliment CMs.

I will admit that I don't know everything about Splash of Frontierland, but I sure as heck LOVED my job and did a FANTASTIC job at it.

Here's food for thought: Splash is supposed to seat 1800 guests per hour. For Easter weeks our target goal was 1980. When I was in the station at Unload, one of the more difficult station positions, we sat 2070 guests in one hour. If I really "hated my job" and "wasn't cut out for it" then I really don't think I'd have been that into it and moving everyone along as well as I did.

I'd go back there in a heartbeat for the simple fact that my managers told me they'd keep me in Tower, Merge and all the Station positions. That's where all of the action is and that's where I thrive the most. Especially when the ride breaks down and I get to evac locations in the mountain. When most CMs are all cranky to evac and guests are furious, I actually got a Service Fanatic award because I helped calm a little boy down.

So before you go making assumptions of me, remember what happens when you assume...

 

[dizprincess717]

Oh, P.S. -

You'd actually be surprised at how many CMs think the guests are cluelss. This is the first time I've vented to anyone other than my family and other CMs. Guess the guests can't handle the truth. Just like sometimes Mickey is a girl and Tink is a boy...

 

[jeck4]

We ran into a very rude CM who yelled at us in front of many other customers and told us to get off the Monorail and wait for the next one....there was no call for that. Admittedly looking at it after, we were wrong, but there were no signs or anyone to tell us we couldn't ride in the front or the rear of the Monorail. This man pointed his finger at us and told us "#1 you have to ask permission and #3 get off and wait for the next one and #4 if it happens again, you will not be allowed to ride the Monorail again ever." (we did laugh that he never told us what #2 was).

We were polite, I apologized that we didn't know and didn't see any signs that said we couldn't do this but he just kept ranting. We got back on the same Monorail and thought if he tried to stop us, we would take HIM to management. I saw him laughing as the Monorail pulled away.

 

[SnwflkCts]

Arg!! Another thread turned into a big fight scene!

Everybody can have a bad day. All of us need to cut some slack for CMs who appear to just be tired, misinformed or doing their job as they are told to do.

Also, CMs need to make sure they have a certain kindness factor when working with the public. Keep nasty comments to themselves. We are not in high school anymore (unless you are in high school - then you KNOW everything so can act as you want. )

It is ok to tell a story about a rude CM ... we all know there is good and bad in all of us. The same goes for those who visit WDW (us) ... we need to be less rude too!

Luckily, I have had nothing but wonderful CMs ... well ok, a couple mildly rude incidents which I can barely remember and wrote it up to LONG DAY for both of us!!! After all, I am far from perfect too. I've had jobs I loved dealing with the public ... but some days you just aren't as wonderful to everyone as you want to be, because as one poster said - we are all human!

Outrageous behavior should be reported. But someone even appearing to be sarcastic ... well, that I would just have to forget and move on with life ...

 

[Yacht Club Family]

Oh, P.S. -

You'd actually be surprised at how many CMs think the guests are cluelss. This is the first time I've vented to anyone other than my family and other CMs. Guess the guests can't handle the truth. Just like sometimes Mickey is a girl and Tink is a boy...

All the CM's should be treated politely and considerately at all times. However, that respect goes both ways. You should have kept your vent to your family and the other CMs. Some of us actually LIKE to believe that the CMs are a part of the magic and actually work there because they like the guests and "want" to interact with them. The ones that think guests are clueless should look elsewhere for a job, these "clueless" guests pay your salary, princess. Got any more Disney myths and magic you can stomp on so that you feel a little better about pouting and complaining?? "That's" the sense of entitlement that bugs people about CMs sometimes. And, yes..I'm quite surprised you got commendations for having a snitty attitude. And, no...as bitter as you are, you couldn't possibly hide it from people.

 

[Lizzybee]

Oh, P.S. -

You'd actually be surprised at how many CMs think the guests are cluelss. This is the first time I've vented to anyone other than my family and other CMs. Guess the guests can't handle the truth. Just like sometimes Mickey is a girl and Tink is a boy...

Wow that statement sure is full of magic and pixie dust Glad to know my previous trips and research qualify me as "clueless" since I'll soon be a guest again. Basically you've just jumped in here and called us ALL clueless. It's actually quite clueless to vent about guests on a guest forum.

I worked for a few years at our local Six Flags and our guests couldn't have been much different than yours, other than most didn't come from all over the world or most were there for one day not a whole vacation. Funny it never occured to me that guests were "clueless", I tended to think of them more as in need of information. There are some bad CM/employees anywhere and attitude has more to do with it than aptitude. There are also bad guests and that again is mostly attitude issue. I don't expect miracles, nor do I expect to be treated in any way other than the way I treat others which is with kindness and respect. Rule breaking and nasty attitudes are societal issues not a CM/guest only issue.

 

[88Keys]

Honestly, you can all grill me if you want to. I don't care.

For those who said I wasn't "cut out for that job" ... How about my managers still call me and beg me to come back because I actually knew what I was doing.

Secondly, yes, we do have breaks. They are 15 minutes. And sometimes, we're on stage for like, oh 3 1/2 - 4 hours even though the labor laws prohibit anything more than 2 1/2 or 3 hours I think.

Next, hearing problems. Not everyone has a hearing problem. For example, a husband actually poked fun at his wife for asking me the same question another guest asked me in front of her. He actually stood up for me.

People are expecting these perfect vacations where the characters frollic up to their children and go on the rides with them and blah blah... Disney World is my favorite place in the world and I was fortunate enough to work at an attraction that people actually consider the highlight of their trip. While you think that rudeness should not be accepted at all, I don't think that CM CONSIDERATION would hurt. Some guests just do NOT seem to care for the CMs at all, and THATS where the real problem is.

It's getting so out of control with guests, hours, crowds, etc. that WDW Co. actually loses more CMs than it can hire. They are desperate for workers.

And that's sort of a good thing because as much as I'd absolutely hate to see it happen, maybe some things would have to shut down.

If you can't handle me speaking the honest truth well then sorry. But for WHOEVER said that I was one of the rude CMs, that was the absolutely rediculous. In 4 months I got 6, yes S-I-X Great Service Fanatic awards. Those are usually when guests compliment CMs.

I will admit that I don't know everything about Splash of Frontierland, but I sure as heck LOVED my job and did a FANTASTIC job at it.

Here's food for thought: Splash is supposed to seat 1800 guests per hour. For Easter weeks our target goal was 1980. When I was in the station at Unload, one of the more difficult station positions, we sat 2070 guests in one hour. If I really "hated my job" and "wasn't cut out for it" then I really don't think I'd have been that into it and moving everyone along as well as I did.

I'd go back there in a heartbeat for the simple fact that my managers told me they'd keep me in Tower, Merge and all the Station positions. That's where all of the action is and that's where I thrive the most. Especially when the ride breaks down and I get to evac locations in the mountain. When most CMs are all cranky to evac and guests are furious, I actually got a Service Fanatic award because I helped calm a little boy down.

So before you go making assumptions of me, remember what happens when you assume...

Yours is a story of strength and courage!

 

[dizneydiva2005]

Oh, P.S. -

You'd actually be surprised at how many CMs think the guests are cluelss. This is the first time I've vented to anyone other than my family and other CMs. Guess the guests can't handle the truth. Just like sometimes Mickey is a girl and Tink is a boy...

ahhhh, you'd actually be surprised at how many CM's I think are clueless.

 

[Bonnie40]

It's interesting that I would open this thread...a year ago it wouldn't have gotten my attention, but I now have a daughter who is presently working at WDW as an ICP summer college student. It had always been a dream of hers and even though she had a very rocky start, she's settled in and loving it!

It is very interesting to now hear stories from the standpoint of CMs. When I traveled to see her in June, I was much more aware of the jobs these people have to do and the types of people they have to put up with.

The stories she could tell!

Please don't be offended because someone is being honest (maybe a little too honest) about the difficulties of dealing with the public for hours and hours and hours on end each and every day. I have and always will expect excellent service at WDW, but when you hear the 'other side of the story' it's an eye opener that's for sure.

For anyone with a little sense of humour I can tell you that a large # of CMs jokingly blame the finger scanners for making some guests 'a little clueless'!

 

[Glendamax]

DizPrincess glad to see you posted again. Thank you so much for giving us a peak into what some of the CMs go through.

 

[Harmony]

Oh, P.S. -

Guess the guests can't handle the truth. Just like sometimes Mickey is a girl and Tink is a boy...

Seriously...can't a moderator do something about these kinds of posts?

I am one that likes to believe in the magic of Disney and believe in the idea that CM's enjoy their job and don't think of me as 'clueless.' This "princess" is doing way more harm than good with his/her posts.