Something nice for Ohana CMs?

[boojiboo]

If this is the wrong forum for this, please let me know! But since it centers around the CMs of a particular restaurant, I thought I'd start here....

Last fall we had THE MOST extraordinary experiences during our vacation, most of them centered around the CMs (including the characters) at 'Ohana. We're going back this fall, and we would love to do something nice for everyone who made our visit so magical. We've mulled over cards and letters of appreciation, but we're struggling to come up with something that's as special as all the things they did for us. Would anyone have examples or suggestions of things we might do for the 'Ohana/Poly CMs?

 

[Floridaman999]

Go to guest relations and let them know. I think they would appreciate that more than anything else in my opinion.

 

[boojiboo]

Go to guest relations and let them know. I think they would appreciate that more than anything else in my opinion.

Thank you for the input! We have done that, and will do so again; we praise CMs to guest services all the time (people in general are so quick to complain but slow to compliment, so we try to counter that whenever we can). This crew of CMs has really gone above and beyond for us, though, and we'd like to do, well, more. Whatever that more may be.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No, really, no more is necessary. The CMs won't have anywhere to hold whatever you offer them. Really, truly, if you want to do more than "just" going to Guest Services, follow up with individual emails. This can help them get recognition and promotions.

 

[kirstenb1]

Maybe a quick note with a giftcard?

 

[Floridaman999]

Thank you for the input! We have done that, and will do so again; we praise CMs to guest services all the time (people in general are so quick to complain but slow to compliment, so we try to counter that whenever we can). This crew of CMs has really gone above and beyond for us, though, and we'd like to do, well, more. Whatever that more may be.

Be careful though, because what you think is more and appreciated might actually be bothersome and annoying.

 

[Calee]

Also, not to burst your bubble, but you may not find the same CM's there. Who is inside the character costume can change multiple times in a night, much less over the course of months.

 

[jennytablina]

Disney are very hot on what CM's can accept. But the one that's the massive biggie for a CM (and causes 0 issues) is getting a complement in Guest Services - this is also true in general retail. Personal gifts are nice, but making sure Management know the CM went above and beyond is always a benefit and should come before anything else. Make sure you catch their name, maybe have a pic with them if possible, and tweet #castcomplement to @wdwtoday

There's an older thread on this forum with mixed views with CM's chiming in on this forum

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...rs-can-they-accept-small-gifts.3571112/page-2

Thank you cards are probably fine so long as you follow up with guest services or via twitter/email. Anything more grand becomes awkward for staff and potentially risks their jobs. While I never worked for Disney - I worked in retail and I couldn't accept monetary gifts, but did have one time when someone at a big game dev company gifted me a really cool shirt after asking my superiors if it was okay to do so first - all because she had come through my checkout and I had engaged her in some game chatter while serving her.

Just out of curiosity while I'm here - in the past I've gifted characters at the parks personally drawn art which I was led to believe they can keep without issue and do appreciate. Is this okay still?

 

[boojiboo]

No, really, no more is necessary. The CMs won't have anywhere to hold whatever you offer them. Really, truly, if you want to do more than "just" going to Guest Services, follow up with individual emails. This can help them get recognition and promotions.

Be careful though, because what you think is more and appreciated might actually be bothersome and annoying.

Well, I knew it wasn't necessary, I just didn't know it was a bad idea. Thank you for the advice! This is why I wanted to ask others. I didn't want it to be weird or obnoxious or anything else negative. I wanted it to be pleasant, not too geeky. So thank you for the input.

Also, not to burst your bubble, but you may not find the same CM's there. Who is inside the character costume can change multiple times in a night, much less over the course of months.

Not to burst my bubble at all! I realize there's a lot of turnover. However, I had a number of extraordinary encounters last time with Stitch, who made it clear he recognized me from a visit nine years before. I've already found out he will most likely be there again. Besides him, there was a plethora of managers and staff who just went out of their way for us, and I'm really hoping to see one or more of them again. I hope Auntie Kaui will still be there, for instance, since she's been at the Poly since it opened!

Anyway, I didn't want to do anything weird or offputting, so I'm glad I asked here. Sounds like I should just say thanks at GS and leave it at that.

 

[boojiboo]

There's an older thread on this forum with mixed views with CM's chiming in on this forum

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...rs-can-they-accept-small-gifts.3571112/page-2

Thank you cards are probably fine so long as you follow up with guest services or via twitter/email.

Thank you for the advice and the link!

 

[DisBuckMan]

However, I had a number of extraordinary encounters last time with Stitch, who made it clear he recognized me from a visit nine years before. I've already found out he will most likely be there again.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Anyway, I didn't want to do anything weird or offputting, so I'm glad I asked here. Sounds like I should just say thanks at GS and leave it at that.

Also write. Please write, so that there is a physical record of your compliment.

However, I had a number of extraordinary encounters last time with Stitch, who made it clear he recognized me from a visit nine years before.

Oh, well, Stitch is different.

Bring him some Gas-X.

 

[jdisnut]

There’s really no simpler way to say this: Do not bring anything to give to the Cast Members. It will not be appreciated in the way you hope, and it could actually be a real nuisance for people just trying to survive another day at work.

Want to do something nice for them? Write a letter complimenting them for their record. That will have a tangible effect on their employment. Nothing else could come close to topping that.

 

[boojiboo]

DisBuckMan, is your gif meant to be an expression of disbelief? I'm unfamiliar with the source, so I'm lacking context.

For everyone else, yes, I was thinking along the lines of a thank you card left at guest services, not gift baskets foisted on busy CMs during their shifts. However, after the responses I've received here, I'll make sure anything I do is definitely understated.

 

[kaytieeldr]

For everyone else, yes, I was thinking along the lines of a thank you card left at guest services

Please, no. Please write a letter and send it - either email or snail mail - with as much detail as possible.

The thank you card is a nice idea, but it won't get the CM any recognition (either in team meetings, future promotions, or money.) Thank you card might be passed on to the CM, but a letter will go in their file.

 

[SantaDuffy]

DisBuckMan, is your gif meant to be an expression of disbelief? I'm unfamiliar with the source, so I'm lacking context.

For everyone else, yes, I was thinking along the lines of a thank you card left at guest services, not gift baskets foisted on busy CMs during their shifts. However, after the responses I've received here, I'll make sure anything I do is definitely understated.

I will skip the gif and just say it outright. No, Stitch did not recognize you from a visit NINE YEARS prior. They are just good at making you think so because small children expect the characters to remember them.

CMs don’t want gifts, they don’t want thank you cards. Fill out a compliment card and move on.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I will skip the gif and just say it outright. No, Stitch did not recognize you from a visit NINE YEARS prior. They are just good at making you think so because small children expect the characters to remember them.

Yes, I was trying to add a little comedy to it, but there's absolutely no way a cast member remembered her from 9 years ago. Chances are extremely low (miniscule) it was even the same CM inside the costume.

The cast members are there to make you feel magical. If the CM that was inside the Stitch costume made her believe he remembered her from a decade ago, then mission accomplished.

 

[boojiboo]

the CM that was inside the Stitch costume made her believe he remembered her from a decade ago, then mission accomplished.

I thought there was no way, too. I've reviewed the video, in fact, trying to decide if he really did or if he was just a very good cold reader. But I don't know how he could have known where I was sitting nine years prior unless he remembered. Any guesses on how he might have known that? I'm genuinely interested.

Anyhow, letter, not card, sent to GS and nothing more. Got the message.

 

[KenHutch]

Fill out that card at Customer Relations it really does have a positive effect and you can always thank them and really tip them. On our last trip we had an incredible waiter. Never had to ask for refills, he was always asking if we needed the meat serving guys again and at desert when one of my daughters maternal great aunts grabbed one of the two desert platters and said MINE in a very loud voice he didn't miss a beat just said Of Course and went and got our party of 8 a 3rd platter. He got 35% from me. I figured he could use cash more than a thank you.

 

[rg35]

Contact guest services so you can provide your effusive praise.

If you really want to do something "extra", give them a bigger tip. These are service workers on their feet all day earning low wages...they don't really need someone's tchotchkes and trinkets.