Team members referring to guests as muggles

[ladybugx]

"Disney approach" was poor wording. I actually don't like Disney World very much anymore. I did as a child, but the last time I went a few years ago, I was honestly bored and have no intention on visiting again anytime soon. I really just didn't like being addressed as muggle lol. Not because it's a bad thing to be a muggle but because I find it more fun to imagine I'm magical for the day. Clearly I'm in the minority on this.

 

[kbelle8995]

I actually like it too. And it makes sense with the storyline that's going.

 

[clsteve]

"Disney approach" was poor wording. I actually don't like Disney World very much anymore. I did as a child, but the last time I went a few years ago, I was honestly bored and have no intention on visiting again anytime soon. I really just didn't like being addressed as muggle lol. Not because it's a bad thing to be a muggle but because I find it more fun to imagine I'm magical for the day. Clearly I'm in the minority on this.

When you step back and look at it, they did give you a chance to be magical - to really feel that change as you crossed the plane for a bit. How better to appreciate than as a Muggle?

And I do very much appreciate this thread you started. Tomorrow's our first chance to pass through the bricks and it's so awesome to hear how in character the TM's are. The kids are going to be over the top and I'll have a blast pulling as much character as I can out of those TMs

 

[johde]

"Disney approach" was poor wording. I actually don't like Disney World very much anymore. I did as a child, but the last time I went a few years ago, I was honestly bored and have no intention on visiting again anytime soon. I really just didn't like being addressed as muggle lol. Not because it's a bad thing to be a muggle but because I find it more fun to imagine I'm magical for the day. Clearly I'm in the minority on this.

J.K. Rowling set the back story for Hogsmead and Diagon Alley. If you have a complaint, it's with her. She meticulously approved everything about the lands down to vetoing most of the Christmas decorations the had planned for Hogsmead. And as such, we are muggle visitors at Dumbledore's request. That being said, you've heard stories of various Hufflepuff TM "playing along" with guests in their fantasies of being Wizard and Witches for a day but I doubt you hear it from a Slytherin.

 

[damo]

I guess I'm alone on this one! lol. I know my sister was wearing a Gryffindor uniform shirt and kept saying, "Do they not see I'm a Hogwarts student?!"

Actually, she was a muggle dressed up as a Hogwarts student.

 

[phamton]

For some reason, this picture I took on Friday feels appropriate here.

Disney might call people "princess", but the Universal TMs are the deepest into their character employees I've ever run across. And knowing that we're muggles is part of it; just like in Jurassic Park, the events in the movie haven't happened yet and Nothing Bad Will Happen.

Love it! I forgot just how funny the signs are at Shrek! And I agree, the TMs are just staying in character which might not always be a magical, pixie dusting experience but it is my kind of fun.

 

[ladybugx]

J.K. Rowling set the back story for Hogsmead and Diagon Alley. If you have a complaint, it's with her. She meticulously approved everything about the lands down to vetoing most of the Christmas decorations the had planned for Hogsmead. And as such, we are muggle visitors at Dumbledore's request. That being said, you've heard stories of various Hufflepuff TM "playing along" with guests in their fantasies of being Wizard and Witches for a day but I doubt you hear it from a Slytherin.

Wouldn't be the first time I disagreed with her on something! I adore her, but that doesn't mean I like everything she has ever said and done in her entire public career. For instance, I've read that it was her call to make the Hogsmeade shops as small as they are because she wanted "small and intimate," while Universal tried to explain to her that small and intimate doesn't work well with theme parks due to crowding.

Although I'm not sure "disagree" is the right term. Clearly if a lot of people like things the way they are, she made a popular choice. I just personally would have preferred things a little differently.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

When we go any staff that calls me a "muggle" will be greeted with "shut your mouth you filthy mud-blood!"

 

[ladybugx]

Actually, she was a muggle dressed up as a Hogwarts student.

Suit yourself. When I go back, I intend to dress up, and my story will not be that I am merely dressing the part. My trip, my story.

 

[pigletto]

I like it. I also make sure to answer quite often with "and who are you referring to as a muggle Squib?"

 

[bumbershoot]

And I do very much appreciate this thread you started. Tomorrow's our first chance to pass through the bricks and it's so awesome to hear how in character the TM's are. The kids are going to be over the top and I'll have a blast pulling as much character as I can out of those TMs

If you get a chance to go to the JP Discovery Center, engage the TMs about any dangers there might be in their plans to make the dinosaurs....

Wouldn't be the first time I disagreed with her on something! I adore her, but that doesn't mean I like everything she has ever said and done in her entire public career. For instance, I've read that it was her call to make the Hogsmeade shops as small as they are because she wanted "small and intimate," while Universal tried to explain to her that small and intimate doesn't work well with theme parks due to crowding.

Although I'm not sure "disagree" is the right term. Clearly if a lot of people like things the way they are, she made a popular choice. I just personally would have preferred things a little differently.

I disagree with the shops decision, too. I've watched the movies perhaps a bit too closely, to see how "small" they were in the movies, and they aren't! First, actors are generally rather small people, definitely not typical American sized, so a shop that can hold Harry Hermione etc etc isn't going to hold the same number of more typical people. Second, they were working on sets! They didn't have 4 walls around them; if they did, she would have realized how a tiny shop just wasn't going to work.

Plus, the shops would be small from the outside, but would likely have expansion charms on them; they could have used their themepark illusion expertise to make them look small but BE expansive.

They've done a better job at Diagon but it's still not easy.

I also think it's silly that she banned sodas, but then almost all the candies have a "relative" of the big bad ingredient in sodas she didn't want. And likely the softserve too; can't have softserve without some sort of syrup, and in America that syrup is generally from corn! (I never asked about ingredients because it just wasn't worth the time,and we weren't going to have any anyway, so I'm not saying this definitively, but just in general) I wish all of the candies were safe for my family. Sigh.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

The reason that JK didn't want Coca-Cola in the shops is that those brands don't exist in the Wizarding World. Personally, I like that touch. I can't imagine wizards ordering a Sprite at The Three Broomsticks in the books or films. Besides it's pretty easy to grab a soda in a different land and bring it in if it's that big of a deal

I've never heard anything about syrup being the issue.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I'm a big HP fan but definitely have some friends that aren't. I can just imagine there would be some really intense/negative reactions in calling a woman a witch if they didn't fully get the context.

 

[Bluer101]

It makes it a nice touch.

A few times while we were there on employee asked my son in Kings cross station why is he carrying a stick around.

One other time when it was raining I had my umbrella with us. I took it from my son so I would possibly get asked a question. I can't really remember exactly where in one if the HP areas but this is what transpired.

Female TM: Is that umbrella magical?

Me: No it is not, but this is (pointing to my package)!

Needless to say she was laughing so hard. I even said it was not suppose to be rude and she said that was great.

 

[schumigirl]

Bluer........nice one

Love to hear about people who actually have a sense of humor

 

[ladybugx]

I like that there's no soda for authenticity sake but have also thought that it stinks for those who don't like butterbeer (maybe pumpkin fizz is soda-ish, too...I'm not familiar with it). I don't drink soda, so it doesn't impact me much, but the types of dishes available at Leaky Cauldron impact me because I don't eat meat besides chicken and turkey. I at least have the option of a chicken sandwich there (after I remove the bacon); it must be frustrating for vegetarians/vegans.

 

[johde]

I like that there's no soda for authenticity sake but have also thought that it stinks for those who don't like butterbeer (maybe pumpkin fizz is soda-ish, too...I'm not familiar with it). I don't drink soda, so it doesn't impact me much, but the types of dishes available at Leaky Cauldron impact me because I don't eat meat besides chicken and turkey. I at least have the option of a chicken sandwich there (after I remove the bacon); it must be frustrating for vegetarians/vegans.

I will say, in addition to all the expensive drink "on the menu" at the Leaky Cauldron they have the same batch of drinks available as the 3 Broomsticks for use with refillable mugs and dining plan. Iced Tea (That and 3 Broomsticks are the only 2 quick service places I've seen with Iced Tea), lemonade, Apple Juice, and, pear Juice. I can't remember if Pumpkin Juice was available "on tap" there as well.

 

[flateacher]

We just got back from a quick trip this weekend and we had something pretty cool happen with a TM on Transformers. We were riding it for the first time and both my DD's (13 and 6) were dressed to the nine's in their wizzarding outfits. The TM asked if they had their wands with them. I pointed to my purse and she said (joking of course) "ok good you might need them in there" (referring to the ride). When we got in the car and were all seat belted in etc. She told the whole car "good luck out there. But don't worry - you have two young witches with you - just ask them for help if you need it."

I thought that was pretty cool and my daughters loved it!

On a side note the TM's always call my husband a muggle and we laugh because that is what we call him at home

 

[DPCummerbund]

As for J.K. Rowling and the Coca Cola issue... I think the issue is rather complicated. For one thing - and I'm sure visitors across the pond will chime in if I'm wrong - drinking sodas is seen as a more important health issue in Great Britain than it is here.

J.K. Rowling already received flak on the issue when she allowed Coca Cola to be the official sponsor of the first movie - despite the fact that she stipulated that none of the characters in the movie could be seen drinking a Coke, and that Coke had to donate $18 million dollars to reading-related charities.

So, I think allowing Coke into WWoHP itself would be seen as an even bigger public misstep on her part.

As for the costume issue... I plan on visiting WWoHP dressed as Archie Aymslowe and wearing a long flowering nightgown. Florida doesn't have enough healthy breezes...

 

[bumbershoot]

off topic!

The reason that JK didn't want Coca-Cola in the shops is that those brands don't exist in the Wizarding World.

I've never heard THAT as being the issue. I have only heard that the issue is health.

And the issue with soda is the sugar, and in America (and almost nowhere else in the world) that sugar is HFCS, which is a horrid form of sugar. But then they use corn syrup in almost every candy they have. Sugar isn't awesome, but corn syrup and HFCS are worse to many people (I say "all" but many people don't realize they are having negative reactions to it).

And then the "potions" are just artificial colors and flavors put into water. I asked a family if they were good; they said "well, they are sweet, that's for sure".

I've only ever heard of health as being the issue.

...but the types of dishes available at Leaky Cauldron impact me because I don't eat meat besides chicken and turkey. I at least have the option of a chicken sandwich there (after I remove the bacon); it must be frustrating for vegetarians/vegans.

It is, absolutely. I asked for their vegetarian not-on-the-menu option (as a TM told me to do) and she said "we have a salad and some vegetables". WOW. Awesome. That'll fuel me for a day in the parks. I asked about the ploughman without the scotch eggs and she said "oh yes". If I felt like asking specific questions about the cheeses I might have been disappointed, but when out and about I don't ask about cheese. At the store, yes. But at a restaurant, no. I don't eat parmesan when in Europe (by definition it has rennet there) and leave it at that.

Anyway, it was decent but not awesome. She did add in a bit more bread and a bit more cheese for the scotch eggs, so it was a meal for the 3 of us, but it did leave room for snacks later.

What's SO frustrating is that England and Ireland are *so easy* to be vegetarian in! I mean it's not even an issue. EVERY place has veggie options. England is practically covered in "suitable for vegetarian" signs and labels. Even in the timeframe she was setting the books in, at least in Ireland it was super-easy to be vegetarian (and therefore I must assume England as well).