So, what if anything can be done??

[Miffy2003]

I think feedback (both positive and negative) is vital!

I do think though that there is and always has been a very strong US presence in the DLP upper echelons of management? If that is the case then I don't know what more could be achieved by bringing more in?

Do you think it could be a case of simply an assumption that "Europeans" behave in a certain way, because of culture etc and that there's no point trying to fix that - because you simply cannot. Not saying I think this - I dont! If this is the case then feedback from guests is even more important to challenge assumptions.

Jody I love your attitude

 

[Father_and_Son]

Jody made me thinking a lot about my expectations when it comes to Character meet and greets. And I have to admit that I am a little to camera foccused during DLP trips.
When I wanted to take a few videopictures of my Son with Donald in the Studios it made me mad that he was allways running away and all the kids chase after him. But when I watched the video I saw it was great fun for my son and he wasn´t mad about it at all.
On my next trips I will try to see it the way, that there are two kinds of Character meets: Organized and chaotics and just accept it. When you look for the Timeschedules I think it will be possible to get good pictures.
My resolution for our next Trip is also not to picture the atmosphere so much but just to live it (But on the other side how am I suppost to survive the Time between the Trips without Photos and Videos to look at ).

For the second Point of this Thread I have to say that I really allways had the luck to have great CM´s or if not to find a reason for there behavior.

But if it comes to bad CM´s I think the Problem is, that a few of them just see it as Job which is indeed not very well paid. This year DLP cuts the Christmas cratification for all CM´s, caused by the bad financial situation but all the managers will get theres.
They also will cut Parades, Fireworks and the number of CM´s next Year. So there will be no Fantillusion in January like last year and I heard rumors that there will be no Fantillusion and no Wishes in Summer. That will decrease the customer satisfaction and the CM´s will have more argues then today. So I think beeing a CM in Paris isn´t the same fun as beeing a CM in the states.
If I take this points in my consideration I think the CM´s in Paris do a wonderful Job.

 

[NIK]

I agree the free-for-all is totally ridiculous. I got my photo with a couple of characters this time, but only because I was lucky and caught them when there were very few people around! I wouldn't feel right barging in in front of a little kid or something, they would be mortified!! Some people are just completely shameless though.

They would have to take action if enough people complained! *nods*

I so agree about pushing in front of a child - I just wouldn't feel right - but I do get a bit fed up at the way others seem to use their children to get to the front of queues and what not. They rely on everyone else's good manners but have none themselves. I don't think it's down to any particular group, just some very rude individuals. The only thing I think is to have more CM with some kind of crowd management control.

The first time I went they were very particular about managing the folks waiting for the parade - quite stern with a couple of people and it made the whole affair safer and better. When I went last October, things seemed to have taken a minor turn for the worse. The CM were polite and helpful I found, but seemed a bit lax in the management of those of us waiting for the parade. I lost count of the number of photos I dumped because they'd been spoiled by someone's child being pushed in front of me just as I was about to take the picture.

 

[NIK]

One day, I saw poor little Daisy Duck almost get crushed. There was no CM around, and she was just attacked by kids, I felt sorry for her!



First of all, I have never shoved kids away at DL.
BUT: I am maybe a little tall and old to be a kid, I am a big fan of mickey and Minnie Mouse. I pay lots of money to go to DLP to have a picture with Minnie Mouse. Do you think I managed to get one at DLP with Minnie? NO! That makes me mad. Yes, I know those kids like pictures and autographs and stuff, but jeez, it's not because I'm an adult that I don't have the right to get on a picture with her.
I wished they would just form a line, and wait for their turn, just like in california. That way, everyone gets his/her picture, without 38 other people in the picture. I wished the CM accompanying the character (if there is one), would tell the people to get in line, just as they do for the picture with Mickey.

Sorry to post again on this thread but I can't help agreeing with you about that. I usually go to DLP on my own - 41 years of age and I love going to the parks So having spent all that money [including the dreaded single person discount] to visit the park, should I have less right that others to meet the characters etc. Disney is about children and adults having a good time together - it's a shame that the adults sometimes get a raw deal.

 

[Ware Bears]

I have read this thread with great interest but unfortunately have no solution.

I was really impressed with the way you and Liav dealt with your disappointment, Jody. We also had one slightly unpleasant experience on our last day. We had ridden the train all the way round the park and wanted to stay on it to go to Frontierland. At Main Street Station a CM started shouting at us to get off. We tried to explain that we wanted to continue to Frontierland but she continued to shout and shriek and gestured that we would have to queue up again (the queues were horrendous). So we did what she asked and got off, feeling rather disgruntled. However on our walk to Frontierland, we talked about it and realised that the train had not been allowing passengers to board at the other stations so this is obviously why we had to get off at Main Street. The problem here was the language barrier, if we had understood more than just guidebook French or if she had spoken some English then we would have understood her. Like Jody and Liav, we decided it wasn't worth getting upset over one small incident out of a six day holiday.

The same with our character experiences, we just accept when we come across a character that we may get a decent photo or an autograph or we may not be so lucky. This isn't really the answer though but I don't know what is.

I totally agree with letting DLRP know feedback about CM's, we had such a fantastic CM for our Christmas lunch at the Lucky Nugget that I asked for his full name and intend to write to DLRP and praise him. He more than made up for the miserable CM we had there last time (not miserable enough to warrant mentioning to DLRP) and really made our Christmas Day special.

 

[Ware Bears]

Sorry to post again on this thread but I can't help agreeing with you about that. I usually go to DLP on my own - 41 years of age and I love going to the parks So having spent all that money [including the dreaded single person discount] to visit the park, should I have less right that others to meet the characters etc. Disney is about children and adults having a good time together - it's a shame that the adults sometimes get a raw deal.

I can sympathise with you totally on this, Nik. This must be an absolute nightmare for you. I definitely think the CMs in charge of the character could take a more assertive role, every individual whether adult or child should have chance to have their turn with the character.

 

[Ware Bears]

we probably would have gone back on a different day and hour just to have a better experience to report. Tune in next year!

Although we did not have such a bad experience as you and Liav, we didn't intend to return to the Lucky Nugget after our visit last August because some of the characters missed our table out and our miserable server couldn't have cared less. We were "forced" to go back there because it was the only way to get a character lunch in the park on Christmas Day. Well, as I have said in my above post, we had such a fantastic time that I can only sing the praises of the place now!

Hopefully, if you and Liav ever return, you will have a much more positive experience of the place.

 

[Neo]

I agree with everything that has just been said, i think that the american mentality should be transfered over to the parcs if they want to keep their business up.

I am just back yesterday from the New years celebrations. We had a great time (myself and DW) but it could have been so much better.

On the 30th their was a heavy fall of snow and the parc became quite slippy. Noticed a lot of signs in the Studios warning of "wet ground" but very little/none in disneyland parc.

On New years eve, the parcs were heaving, but they didn't seem to have anymore cast members in place than there had been the day before. There was no crowd control at all, really felt for all the parents with young children or had pushchairs. All the people were standing in the hub for the fireworks display, and they were everywhere, in the gardens, up trees, i even saw one on top of the roof of the popcorn stand.

But i think the worse thing i saw, was the drinking coming up to New years. The cast members we're down the mainstreet selling champagne and there were people standing drinking tins of beer all over the place. We stayed in after the fireworks to give the crowds time to clear and walking down mainstreet at 1a.m. my heart just sank. There was bottle lying everywhere, glasses smashed, rubbish people drunkinly stammering about and people dancing drunk as sknks. It really was a sight that i hoped never to see again in somewhere as magic and precious as Disney.

Walt designed his parks for a place where both parents and children could enjoy a day together

Anyway must apologise for the rant! Sure in 6 months going back to WDW!

Neil

 

[Ware Bears]

It really was a sight that i hoped never to see again in somewhere as magic and precious as Disney.

Walt designed his parks for a place where both parents and children could enjoy a day together

Anyway must apologise for the rant! Sure in 6 months going back to WDW!

Neil

We came back on the 28th and I could feel the atmosphere (especially in the Village at night) changing from when we arrived on the 23rd. I said to DH that although I would love to go to DLRP one New Years Eve, I would probably only feel safe watching the fireworks from inside the DLH. I'm not a partypooper by any means but I most certainly wouldn't want my DDs to witness such behaviour. Walt must be turning in his grave.

 

[Cyrano]

Shame, although it sounds like the park created its' own problem with the drink

 

[diberry]

Walt must be turning in his grave.

My reaction exactly!!!!

 

[wilki32]

In my opinion there is one thing that sets a Disney park aside from all others, 'Magic'!. The park itself produces the magic BUT to sustain this the cms must help it out.

It is obvious from the amount of people that come back and say 'what a wonderful time, but...' this is a massive problem for the paying public which will have a knock on effect to DLP and in turn the futue of the park.

If there is no magic what does it leave, rides! If I want rides I'll go to Alton Towers! But I don't, I want to be immersed in pixie dust , smiling faces and to get away from reality for a few brief days.

If the cms are unwilling or just can't because of 'cultural' differences then they shouldn't be there. If it is because they don't want it to become too American then I think I may have missed something, Disney is American, always has been always will.

Solution, training, as cast members they should be trained to at least act like they enjoy it.

Otherwise it's Drayton Manor!

sorry for the rant.

 

[dlpSteve]

I think the recruitment is a huge factor - in WDW it's seen as a privelage to work there and they are very selective in how and who they recruit. The pay is no better than DLRP but the perceived prestige of such a placement is world's apart. This leads to motivated CMs in WDW and 'people doing a job to pay the bills' in DLRP - this won't ever change because DLRP will never have the 'it' factor and history of WDW that draws people from all over the world to dream of working there.

That said, in six trips to DLRP we've never had a bad experience with a CM!

 

[BONITATIME]

In my opinion

If there is no magic what does it leave, rides!

If the cms are unwilling or just can't because of 'cultural' differences then they shouldn't be there. If it is because they don't want it to become too American then I think I may have missed something, Disney is American, always has been always will.

Solution, training, as cast members they should be trained to at least act like they enjoy it.

Otherwise it's Drayton Manor!

sorry for the rant.

I think there is good and bad everywhere I read a lot of boards and groups and this week read about someones trip where a CM in WDW shouted at a client that his family were already eating when he pointed them out sitting outside the restaurant. I would presume he would know which ones were his family. This was on Christmas day and although I understand they must have been stressed, it wasn't helpful.I understand the language leads to difficulties but our experiences have been very good.

I am sorry if you have been mistreated as noone deserves that