To the CM's on the board: what is the one "tip" you can give us?

[brie182]

Actually, a tip about Cast Members:

One of the things our family does is carry some note cards with us to write down the names of CMs who go above and beyond, and "shine" at what they're doing. We put down their name, where they were working, and brief description of what was exemplary. We then make a stop at guest relations, on the way out of the park or resort, ask to see a manager, and "turn them in." It never fails to delight Guest Services, and it's good training for my kids in noticing what there is around them to be grateful for.

When I was a cast member on the college program (too many years ago to count) if a Guest went to Guest services saying that we did something great, we would receive a special card that we could then enter into a drawing for a prize...not sure if they do that anymore. I didn't even enter it into the prize drawing, i wanted to keep the card. . It is always nice to be appreciated. We try to do this for cast members who go out of their way!

 

[MomToAp1699]

I have seen a lot of ideas of ways to make sure your child has your info on them in case you have a lost parent /child issue. Our first trip we where concerned about this as our son was 8 and has autism. We wanted to be sure the info couldn't be torn off, dropped off or rinsed off. So we went to one of those kiosks that pet stores etc have and let him pick out a shape for an engraved tag. We put his name. That he has autism and our phone numbers on it. It was cheap, convenient and reusable.

 

[PrincessJenn23]

Tip from an ex- CM...

Orlando's weather is unpredictable. In the winter months it can go from 80 one day, to 40 the next day. I highly suggest bringing jeans, and a light jacket unless it is the summer.

No matter what you do to prevent it, children are going to be tired, and cranky at the end of the day, which makes the parents tired and cranky as well. Try not to let other people's bad attitudes ruin your evening. If you stay until closing, how about finding a nice quiet spot (example between the emporium and crystal palace), and treating your kids to an ice cream, or tell them a story after the fireworks have ended. Let the massive crowds leave, and then make your way out of the parks. You will then (hopefully) insure a seat on the monorail, and insure a seat on the bus back to the resort.

Everyone there is on vacation, everyone there has spent a lot of money to be there, and everyone there wants to have a great time. The thousands of people there want to see the fireworks just like you.

Stop, and smell the roses. Go with the flow. Stop, and sit down for awhile, and just people watch!

Try to get early ADRs for Crystal Palace one morning. Since you will already be in the park for rope drop, go to the front of the castle, and just watch the people running into the park. I promise, it is one of the most magical things I have ever witnessed at MK.

Be humble. There are people at Disney from all walks of life. Some are millionaires, and some have been saving for years, and years, and years just to be able to come for a few days. Two stories I will never forget are... The Big Brothers, and Big Sisters from Toronto Canada, flew down with over a hundred disadvantaged children. They took an early morning flight, went to MK for the day, and then flew back at 11 PM at night. Those children were so sweet, and were so thankful to be there. The sponsers had been doing fundraisers for over a year for the trip. To me, it was just magical to see these kids faces that would otherwise never be able to go to Disney as a child. They were so thankful for just one day at Disney. Another late night I was chatting with this wonder guest. She told me that it was her dream to take her 8 children to Disney. She was from Alabama, they drove through the night to make it to MK for rope drop, stayed the whole day, and drove straight back to Alabama. She started crying, and told me she wished she could do more, but the one day trip cost her family over 1000 dollars, and that is all she could do. Just then her little boy walked up to her, gave her a hug, and said, "mommy, this has been the best day of my life, thank-you". It was so sweet!

This made me cry!

 

[kimmar067]

I loved all the tips, and decided to make "thank you" cards to hand out to CMs (in addition to "reporting" them).

Found a great deal at Vistaprint ($10 off advanced design* + free shipping; coupon code "FINISH") and made this for our upcoming trip:

Front of the card:



The photo array was already there, just plugged in our photos!

Also sprang for full-color on the back of the card:



Can't wait until they arrive!

*Advanced design allows for the most customization.

....I cannot see the images...

 

[NEDisneyFans]

I loved all the tips, and decided to make "thank you" cards to hand out to CMs (in addition to "reporting" them).

Found a great deal at Vistaprint ($10 off advanced design* + free shipping; coupon code "FINISH") and made this for our upcoming trip:

Front of the card:



The photo array was already there, just plugged in our photos!

Also sprang for full-color on the back of the card:



Can't wait until they arrive!

*Advanced design allows for the most customization.

I went back to my original post and re-linked the photos. I must have moved something on my Photobucket album!

Hope you enjoy.

 

[dvc at last !]

Loved reading these.

 

[dvczerfs]

When I was a cast member on the college program (too many years ago to count) if a Guest went to Guest services saying that we did something great, we would receive a special card that we could then enter into a drawing for a prize...not sure if they do that anymore. I didn't even enter it into the prize drawing, i wanted to keep the card. . It is always nice to be appreciated. We try to do this for cast members who go out of their way!

FOUR KEY CARDS!!!!!!

my dd got five of them. she has a copy of them in her scrap books!!!!

if there was a cm who made your day, did something special for you. go to the guest services in the park that it happened, tell them the cm name, and where they workand what they did and they will fill out a card for that cm.
my dd won a mickey ice cream bar!!
those cards are kept in there file and if they go for another position or anything, these cards look really good on there record!!!!
I can tell you with my dd, being far away from home and living and working in the magical place on earth, like any other job, isn't always magical and when a guest has pointed them out for something they have done, it really makes them feel good and it makes them remember why they are working there.
I have a new respect for each and every one of them. they are a special group of people!!!!! they sure don't do it for the money, they do it to make people laugh,smile and for there own love of Disney.most of them are just living a life long dream. after my dd graduated from traditions,(Disney boot camp lol)and someone special gave her her name tag, she held her head,chest and scholders back just a little higher then before. my dd along with most cms wear that name tag with honor!!!!

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

FOUR KEY CARDS!!!!!!

my dd got five of them. she has a copy of them in her scrap books!!!!

if there was a cm who made your day, did something special for you. go to the guest services in the park that it happened, tell them the cm name, and where they workand what they did and they will fill out a card for that cm.
my dd won a mickey ice cream bar!!
those cards are kept in there file and if they go for another position or anything, these cards look really good on there record!!!!
I can tell you with my dd, being far away from home and living and working in the magical place on earth, like any other job, isn't always magical and when a guest has pointed them out for something they have done, it really makes them feel good and it makes them remember why they are working there.
I have a new respect for each and every one of them. they are a special group of people!!!!! they sure don't do it for the money, they do it to make people laugh,smile and for there own love of Disney.most of them are just living a life long dream. after my dd graduated from traditions,(Disney boot camp lol)and someone special gave her her name tag, she held her head,chest and scholders back just a little higher then before. my dd along with most cms wear that name tag with honor!!!!

That's really great to hear. Sounds like you have a very special DD!

 

[dvczerfs]

That's really great to hear. Sounds like you have a very special DD!

RANDALL!!!!!

then there are dads like randall!!!! took time out of his vacation with his family, hunted down my dd, who he never met, at night during a Halloween party to get a picture with her!!!!!
shes not easy to locate and with no help managed to find her!!!!
the meaning of a real disdad!!!!! thanks buddy!

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

RANDALL!!!!!

then there are dads like randall!!!! took time out of his vacation with his family, hunted down my dd, who he never met, at night during a Halloween party to get a picture with her!!!!!
shes not easy to locate and with no help managed to find her!!!!
the meaning of a real disdad!!!!! thanks buddy!

Dave, it was worth it!

 

[dvczerfs]

I went back to my original post and re-linked the photos. I must have moved something on my Photobucket album!

Hope you enjoy.

cool.

 

[themommy]

I finally finished this thread...only took me a week. It was soooo worth the time! Just wanted to say a special ty to all of the current and previous CM's that responded here and say that you all made and make our time at Disney truly magical! Thanks also to all of the Disney addicts that responded with all of the tips and great stories. Magical to no end here!

 

[themommy]

Bump, Bump, Bump! This is such a great thread!

 

[DBDiz]

Three days later, plenty of great advice! Thanks everyone for contributing!

We were the recipient of Random Act of Kindness fastpasses on our last trip. Sadly one of the downfalls to the new system will be not being able to pay it forward this time.

 

[themommy]

Three days later, plenty of great advice! Thanks everyone for contributing!

Takes a while to read doesn't it. And so true....lots of great advice!

We were the recipient of Random Act of Kindness fastpasses on our last trip. Sadly one of the downfalls to the new system will be not being able to pay it forward this time.

I'm sure we will all find some way to make someone's day.

 

[ncarolinababyblue]

Slow down!!! I lose count of how many times a day I get yelled at because lines are too long or cm's are too slow and the guest is trying to see and do everything! I am convinced that the only way to see and do everything is if you have the park to yourself

I find that the guests who are running around and stressing about doing everything enjoy their trip much less than those who are relaxed and just go with the flow.

I totally needed to see this tip. We leave for Disney World in 13 day for our MaW trip and I have been going crazy trying to make this once in a lifetime opportunity the best it could be for my kids. I just need to chill out and just let the magic happen.

 

[bopper]

I totally needed to see this tip. We leave for Disney World in 13 day for our MaW trip and I have been going crazy trying to make this once in a lifetime opportunity the best it could be for my kids. I just need to chill out and just let the magic happen.

If this is their first trip, they will enjoy it. You may know there are fireworks or parades or boat rides that they may "miss", but if they are having fun they don't need to run off to something else. They won't even know it is happening.
If they are tired, they won't miss fireworks they don't know about.
They don't need to get up every morning for a character breakfast.
Disney is pretty cool all on its own!

 

[ncarolinababyblue]

This might be a really stupid question, and I apologize ahead of time. But I'm on page 16 of this thread and keep seeing the phrase "trading pins, given pins, pins pins pins". What are the pins? Why are the collected? Sorry again for the silly question, never been to Disney before and our first trip is in *13 days*!!!

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

I've gone through this thread in the past & I feel like I need to go through it again since we haven't been in so long!

 

[SRUAlmn]

This might be a really stupid question, and I apologize ahead of time. But I'm on page 16 of this thread and keep seeing the phrase "trading pins, given pins, pins pins pins". What are the pins? Why are the collected? Sorry again for the silly question, never been to Disney before and our first trip is in *13 days*!!!

Many people wear the Disney pins on a lanyard or backpack strap. The CMs all have pins on lanyards or on a belt pouch thing, and you can trade pins with them if you like one they have and are willing to part with one of yours There are multiple locations around WDW that sell the pins!