The popcorn cart guy almost ruined our trip!

[william4192]

I think you have every right to be disappointed and even upset. Disney is a brand name and with that name (they make a ton of money with that name) comes expectations. To be treated like a princess is one of those. Geez, he was throwing it away anyway. It is not like she was at Six Flags.

 

[william4192]

I've worked at Disney. You are told to do ANYTHING to make the guest happy. Free popcorn is the least of their worries, trust me. They told us that during our training (well not specifically about popcorn lol).

 

[frndshpcptn]

I think you have every right to be disappointed and even upset. Disney is a brand name and with that name (they make a ton of money with that name) comes expectations. To be treated like a princess is one of those. Geez, he was throwing it away anyway. It is not like she was at Six Flags.

They don't always throw it away.

 

[william4192]

Let's say this CM did either sell it to you or make a little 'magic' and give your kid some, against whatever rules they are supposed to abide by. Now, let's just say that a supervisor or who knows what was watching, and saw them give popcorn away, after the line was closed. What's to say that giving that popcorn couldnt cost the CM their job??? I'm not saying that would've happened, I'm saying that's probably a pretty slim chance of the person getting fired / in trouble for it, BUT the possibility exists for that exact thing to happen. How would you have felt if that person would've gotten in trouble for making 'magic'?

One of the PP's mentioned something about talking to a 'dream squad' person. It sounds to me like THOSE are the people that are allowed to 'make magic' for guests. They are the ones that are somewhat outside the rules, but maybe not ever CM is allowed to do that.

Back when my (now) wife and myself worked there, you could get in more trouble for not giving the popcorn than for giving it. Leaving a kid crying was unacceptable!

 

[william4192]

I'll tell you another story (so for so many post in a row).

When my brother in law worked a cart (about 3 years ago), he was told if a kid was short money to accept it. Or if a kid really wanted a pin (if he was pin trading) he could just give it to him.

Yes, it can be taken advantage of (sadly), but they are instructed to go out of their way to make the guest happy.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

One of the PP's mentioned something about talking to a 'dream squad' person. It sounds to me like THOSE are the people that are allowed to 'make magic' for guests. They are the ones that are somewhat outside the rules, but maybe not ever CM is allowed to do that.

I've had CM's do "nice" things for my family well before YOMD. Last September a CM seen my DD crying, asked her her favorite character , then gave her a Cinderella pin so she would stop crying.

This past June which yes I know was YOMD, but this was not the "dream squad" . The family and I were going to the MK for the 1st time this trip, our plane just landed at MCO 2 hours earlier. As we were walking to the bus stop at the BC we seen the bus for the MK drive away. I said crap, now we have to wait another 20 minutes.

So as we were waiting not even 5 minutes later an unmarked bus pulled up. DH walked up and the driver opened the doors.. DH asked is this bus going to the MK? The driver said no, this is a training bus. DH said OK and walked away. Then the doors opened back up and the driver yelled we'll take you, so we had our own private bus to the MK.

Were they part of the dream squad? NO
Could we have waited for the next bus? yes
Would our trip been horrible if we had to wait? No
Did these wonderful CM's go out of their way and put a smile on our faces? YES!!!

It would have been easy for the CM just to give the kid the popcorn especially when they could see the boy was visibly upset. Not a Disney-like act in any way shape or form.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I've had CM's do "nice" things for my family well before YOMD. Last September a CM seen my DD crying, asked her her favorite character , then gave her a Cinderella pin so she would stop crying.

I agree-Disney is known for its awesome customer service, so YOAMD or not, I'm surprised by the situation. I guess CM's are entitled to have a bad day too, but I'm not sure I could have ignored a crying child, even if I was in total PMS mode. While it may seem trivial to others, you just can't control what a kid remembers about the trip-kids are pretty simple and the littlest things mean the world to them.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Ruined Trip? Damage? Tarnished Visits?

Sorry - a little too dramatic over popcorn.
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Have to agree. I can't see a box of popcorn making or breaking a trip.

 

[TruBlu]

Have to agree. I can't see a box of popcorn making or breaking a trip.

It isn't really about a box of popcorn. It is about the last memory my kids have of "the happiest place on Earth". Tired, hungry, crying, begging their Mom for popcorn as they watch someone throw it away and knowing they can't come back tomorrow to get some.

 

[Schmeck]

Tired, hungry, begging - certainly that's not the popcorn vendor's fault that they were in that state? As I stated before, thank you for the example - now we know not to wait until the last minute to get something important.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Tired, hungry, begging - certainly that's not the popcorn vendor's fault that they were in that state? As I stated before, thank you for the example - now we know not to wait until the last minute to get something important.

this is exactly what I was thinking. Tired is NOT the way to be in Disney World on the last day.

 

[TruBlu]

this is exactly what I was thinking. Tired is NOT the way to be in Disney World on the last day.

I'm not sure how you could NOT be tired after 2 weeks of Disney.

 

[TruBlu]

Tired, hungry, begging - certainly that's not the popcorn vendor's fault that they were in that state? As I stated before, thank you for the example - now we know not to wait until the last minute to get something important.

No, not his fault but throwing it away in front of them wasn't very nice.

As I said before, I tried to get it earlier. I couldn't find a cart open.

 

[kerrynic78]

this is exactly what I was thinking. Tired is NOT the way to be in Disney World on the last day.

I don't understand what that has to do with the situation?

 

[LOLA2]

No, not his fault but throwing it away in front of them wasn't very nice.

As I said before, I tried to get it earlier. I couldn't find a cart open.

I agree with you on everything. And as the gentleman on the previous page who worked at Disney said they were trained to do the opposite of what that man did to you. So to sum it up - your feelings are warranted. Don't worry about any of the negative people on here making you feel like you did something wrong because you didn't. On every thread you will have someone that challenges you and they get a kick out of it. Just ignore those threads.

 

[emh1129]

I agree with you on everything. And as the gentleman on the previous page who worked at Disney said they were trained to do the opposite of what that man did to you. So to sum it up - your feelings are warranted. Don't worry about any of the negative people on here making you feel like you did something wrong because you didn't. On every thread you will have someone that challenges you and they get a kick out of it. Just ignore those threads.

Exactly. I'm sure even those people have had disappointing experiences.. and small children aren't always able to put those things in perspective. To a small child, not getting popcorn really can seem tragic.
OP, I would have been disappointed, too. It's upsetting that the CM didn't care that your little guy was so upset.

 

[emh1129]

I'm not sure how you could NOT be tired after 2 weeks of Disney.

I don't know, either. Maybe if you sat by the pool the whole time? (without kids, of course )
I was exhausted by the end of our trip! We took things slowly, too, taking a break each day and sleeping in.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

don't know, either. Maybe if you sat by the pool the whole time? (without kids, of course )
I was exhausted by the end of our trip! We took things slowly, too, taking a break each day and sleeping in.

I don't know, we have two toddlers, hit the parks every day and hopped. We slept late and went back for naps and yet were ready to stay longer Our daily lives are usually go-go-go though.

 

[CastleCreations]

Have to agree. I can't see a box of popcorn making or breaking a trip.

I have to disagree, after a wonderful 2 week WDW vacation, my daughter still talks about the Mermaid dress that she didn't get. I had promised her that I would get it, we found a store and she chose something else, another dress. Later on in the week, she mentioned the mermaid dress again, and I had to tell her, " Do you remember that you got the other dress, and I said you could only choose one?" Well, she's 4, so of course she has selective memory and says she wants the mermaid one anyway. So to this day, she still talks about the mermaid dress, and not the fun 2 weeks with her friends and sister.

 

[Allison]

On every thread you will have someone that challenges you and they get a kick out of it. Just ignore those threads.

More like people who disagree and have the right to post that opinion. This is a discussion board not a "don't post your thoughts unless they are the same as mine" board. I don't see anyone getting a kick out of anything. I see people not agreeing with other posters. There's nothing wrong with that as long as noone is violating guidelines. I think it's good to see a variety of opinions.