To Guests: FYI, CM's don't know everything.

[civileng68]

This does not apply to CM's that are often found on these boards and love Disney.

This is for the CM that is there just to work. To all guests reading this..........beware what you ask a CM and what answer you get.

For some questions you may want to go to the City Hall building and ask. Or ask someone who looks to be in management. You can also ask those who are working rides. they seem to know their stuff.

We were there in July and I have to say i became quite frustrated at a couple of employees. Spectromagic was about to begin, but they had roped off the area much earlier than normal and I asked them if something was going on. She said "parade". I said "Spectromagic or a special parade" (because they dont normally rope off so early, I figured maybe something was going on for the 4th of July time). She said "I dont know". She was very nice, she just didnt know anything. You know, I never found out the answer (solidly) to my question after asking several employees.

Also, something I've been frustrated with is, sometimes when it's busy (we've experienced this so many times I've learned to ask), Disney will extend it's hours (unannounced in the park, exepct on the time board in the front of the park, but if you are already in you may not see it). There have been times where the park hours were extended an hour or two during very busy times, namely around Spring Break. I have learned to ask employees if the hours have been updated. Well, we were there not too long ago and I asked an employee and was told "no", only to find out that they were in fact updated and extended. I would rather hear a "I dont know, let me check" than a definitive answer that is wrong.

My point being in this................know that when you hear what you think may be "newsworthy", that is likely may not be true. Many CM's know less than most of us fanatics, unless they are on here as well. Very rarely will information that is "boardroom material" ever reach down to those levels of employment unless it is just before an official announcement.

I menton this because I often read on here: Well the CM Said this and the CM said that. The fact is, if you are on here regularly and are a fanatic about Disney, you probably know more than that CM does.

 

[TSR6]

My point being in this................know that when you hear what you think may be "newsworthy", that is likely may not be true. Many CM's know less than most of us fanatics, unless they are on here as well. Very rarely will information that is "boardroom material" ever reach down to those levels of employment unless it is just before an official announcement.

I menton this because I often read on here: Well the CM Said this and the CM said that. The fact is, if you are on here regularly and are a fanatic about Disney, you probably know more than that CM does.

I am on here, and am a CM.

When it comes to park times being extended, the CM probably will not find out until their break period, or until a manager or coodinator stops by to inform them. This doesn't always happen at the quickest pace due to situations they may be dealing with for other guests.

In other cases such as not knowing which parade, it may have been a new cast member. Many new CM's start working between June and July, and then again during January. These are the "new arrival" periods for the College Program Cast Members.

 

[Schmeck]

When asking CMs for info, remember that they are most often 'tied to a spot', be that a cash register, a cart, or a particular duty that is related to a safety issue. They can't just go searching for an answer for you. WDW has fewer and fewer 'wandering' cast members these days.

 

[AJKMOM]

For example, we were staying at BWV, and DH wanted to go to see the Atlanta Braves at the Wide World of Sports. He asked the person at the bus stop,and (for a second opinion) a person at the front desk. BOTH told him to take a bus to DTD and transfer to Wide World. Well, both were incorrect. Unfortunately, he found this out after he got to DTD, and by the time he got back to the resort, the game was half over.

Ironically, he should have just walked over to MGM and got the bus there.

 

[dthogue]

Last month my daughter asked a CM at a cash register in the Fair tent in Toontown if she could tell her where the hidden Mickey was inside the tent. The CM told my daughter, Mickey isn't hiding, he's next door in the Judges tent, we should go there to find him.

Needless to say we got quite a chuckle out of this and we never did find the hidden Mickey

Tammy

 

[lovethattink]

The most common CM blunders we see relate to transportation questions. Be cautious about asking how to get from point A to point B outside of the park you are in. I know many CM who are there just to work. They do not do Disney on their day off. The only touring they have done is what they got at orientation. Also, there are so many new CM each month with the college program. A new person to WDW may not have their bearing quite yet. It's best to go to guest services and ask for a transportation map. This will map out the best boats or buses to get you where you want to go.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you don't like the answer to any question you ask anywhere, anytime, feel free to get a second opinion.

Actually nothing is lost if you don't have up to date information on the closing time for the day. If you could make use of unexpectedly extended closing hours, chances are you are going to be there up until you think the park is going to close. If the CM's are not blocking the ends of ride lines (happens at the closing time), you can keep going on the rides.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

When I was in college (this was before Epcot) I was sometimes a lab assistant (a CM if you wish) in a room with computers that students could walk in and use. Sometimes the computers were down and people would ask when they would be available. I didn't know and said so, no one else in the building knew either, and people were still annoyed.

 

[baileybelle]

I think most people need to lighten up. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. If people knew how little a WDW CM is paid they would be shocked. Just because they work at WDW doesn't mean they are your personal encyclopedia on everything Disney.

I work at a Walmart in the automotive dept. We only do oil changes, tires and batteries, but everyday someone wants us to check their brakes, look at my exhaust system and my personal favorite " I hear a rattle underneath. Can you fix it?" We don't do any of that work and if I tell the customer that I get my head bitten off. Or they will show up 5 minutes before we close and demand us to work on their car or they will report us to the store manager and call Walmart's home office to complain about the service. I wish I could find out where these inconsiderate morons work so I could go to their place of business and harrass them. We do have lives and families that we would like to spend time with too.

I'm also expected to know where every item in the store is located, mix paint in hardware, know what the hair salon, photo and snack bar hours are, etc......

After working with the public for the last 10 years at Walmart, when I go to WDW, restaurant, or any other service industry, I go out of my way to be friendly and less demanding to these underpaid, overworked CMs and associates because I know what it is like to work for an overdemanding, unappreciative public. Thanks for letting me vent. I have my flame-retardant suit on!!!

 

[tlbwriter]

For some questions you may want to go to the City Hall building and ask.

If City Hall is near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom, that's where I got a wrong answer last year to the question of where I could buy meds. The CM sent me all the way to the First Aid station. Luckily another CM told me that every store in the park had them behind the cash register. So the moral of this story is, there is no place and no person who always gives you the right answer. Kind of like real life.

 

[jann1033]

i would imagine the best way to get ifo if you are at an info center and the cm doesn't know is to ask them to please check. i don't think that has anything to do if they are interested in their job ,there could be any number of reasons they don't have the up to date info.(just like any place else in the real world)

kind of humorous really...do we expect everyone at any store, fast food place ect to know everything like we do cms ?

read some posts after mine and now I see what op was getting at. ( sorry only had 1 cup of coffee so not totally lucid)

 

[Ted and Holly]

When I was in college (this was before Epcot) I was sometimes a lab assistant (a CM if you wish) in a room with computers that students could walk in and use. Sometimes the computers were down and people would ask when they would be available. I didn't know and said so, no one else in the building knew either, and people were still annoyed.

How does working in a computer lab in college make you a CM? The term "CM" on this board typically means a Disney Cast Member (employee). Referring to yourself as a CM for a position you held in college suggests that you worked for Disney and be quite confusing to some readers.

I think the main issue with CMs giving inaccurate or incomplete information is the fact that many are new. There is pretty large ad campaign for employment at WDW. I know of many people who are new to working at WDW. Add to that the CP people as TSR6 mentioned and you have a lot of people who just don't know yet.

Ted

Ted

 

[civileng68]

I think most people need to lighten up. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. If people knew how little a WDW CM is paid they would be shocked. Just because they work at WDW doesn't mean they are your personal encyclopedia on everything Disney.

I work at a Walmart in the automotive dept. We only do oil changes, tires and batteries, but everyday someone wants us to check their brakes, look at my exhaust system and my personal favorite " I hear a rattle underneath. Can you fix it?" We don't do any of that work and if I tell the customer that I get my head bitten off. Or they will show up 5 minutes before we close and demand us to work on their car or they will report us to the store manager and call Walmart's home office to complain about the service. I wish I could find out where these inconsiderate morons work so I could go to their place of business and harrass them. We do have lives and families that we would like to spend time with too.

I'm also expected to know where every item in the store is located, mix paint in hardware, know what the hair salon, photo and snack bar hours are, etc......

After working with the public for the last 10 years at Walmart, when I go to WDW, restaurant, or any other service industry, I go out of my way to be friendly and less demanding to these underpaid, overworked CMs and associates because I know what it is like to work for an overdemanding, unappreciative public. Thanks for letting me vent. I have my flame-retardant suit on!!!

Well just wait a second. I think you missed the point. Nobody is jumping the CM's here. I completely understand why some don't know their stuff.

What I was referring to was,,,,,,,,,,,I have noticed on the boards many people when arguing a point make their stand based on what a CM told them. This mainly comes into play in discussions of what new attraction is going to fill which area (aka: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea's Area).

Many people hang their hat on the information a CM told them, while others are on the boards are arguing a likely more valid point.

My point was to simply not take what the CM has said as the solid truth. Not that they are lying but more that they don't know themselves and are basing their comments only on the rumors that THEY have overheard others talking about.

My point simply was, most people on here, know more than many CM's inside of the park and are more up-to-date on the more secretive information.

Now obviously, many CM's are on here and fans like we are. That is a different story.

Again, nobody's attacking the CM's. They do a great job.

 

[experiment626mom]

Do you know everything that goes on in the company you work for?? Give CM's a break. They are doing the best they can with the information given to them. Yes I know they work in a customer service field, but honestly, think of all the things that go on at DW everyday. Could you keep all that straight?

 

[Ted and Holly]

I see what you are getting at Civ. I know a few CMs and they do occassioanlly pass rumors on. They are the same rumors we hear outside the company. I think you'll find that on the Rumors board, there is typically a general notion that most CMs know only their job and immediate group. Rumors are rumors until an official Disney press release comes out.

Ted

 

[*Fantasia*]

If the CM doesn't know the answer to your question, just assume that maybe the CM is very new or the CM just got back from a long vacation and hasn't gotten the updated material or the CM just don't know the answer. The "World" may not know every answers to our questions. Thank goodness there's more than one CM that works there!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Before joining the DISBoards, I thought the CM's were very knowledgeable.

However, in most cases, I know more than they do, so I no longer ask.

 

[VSL]

I'm also expected to know where every item in the store is located, mix paint in hardware, know what the hair salon, photo and snack bar hours are, etc......

I can so relate.

I used to work as a checkout operator in Sainsbury's (a supermarket here in the UK), and people thought that because I worked there I knew where everything in the store was.. one woman even told me that I should know!

I was only there on weekends and spent the entire time behind the checkout for goodness sake !

 

[AngieBelle]

I can tell you this much. Don't bother asking CMs whether or not a parade or show will go on when it starts to rain. I'm a parade performer sometimes, and they don't even tell *us* until the last possible minute. We will be fully dressed and waiting in the parade building before they make the final say. The other day, Spectro went out late from light rain. We thought we were going to have a parade, but then it downpoured right as Ariel's float was heading out on Main Street. The rest of the parade went down.

If rain is in the area, just hang around until they make an official annoucement because no one is going to know what's going on until they do.

 

[bopper]

Last week my daughter and I were going to go from Port Orleans over to Fort Wilderness to horse-back ride (except we were thwarted by a thunderstorm) and we asked at Port Orleans what you do when you get to Fort Wilderness. They said you had to walk to the Circle-D ranch. I was pretty sure there was some sort of bus system internal to Fort Wilderness, and i was right!

 

[honeymo78]

I still think a lot of people are missing the original intent of this post. The OP was not commenting on whether CMs should be expected to know everything. I think the point was about how many people on the boards claim something b/c that's what the CM said, but since CMs are human and don't know everything, that bit of information may not be accurate.