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

[Katieinwonderland]

I haven't had chance to read all the tips, so I hope these haven't already been posted. I'm a server, so these are my best tips:

- Ask our opinions on the food; we know the menu inside out, we know which menu items are sometimes not how they sound on the menu and we can give recommendations, that's part of our job!

- If you have an ADR in the parks, at the end of your meal if you have had a refillable drink such as a soda, ask for a new refill to go. I never mind, I just put a new one in a take out cup for you and you can take it with you! It saves having to buy another drink for a while.

- Please be nice! A family that says please and thank you just about makes my day, and I always try to go out of my way to give them extra attention. The family that clicks their fingers at me and is rude/demanding doesn't make me want to spend that much time with them.

And an extra tip I got from a guest that I try to pass on! A GREAT place to watch parades in the Magic Kingdom is from Santa's sleigh outside the Christmas Shop in Liberty Square. It's about 10 feet back from the curb but you're sitting up higher and you get a great view! Most people don't think to sit there so you don't have to get there too far in advance, and the best thing is that no one crowds you because they're all too busy crowding each other on the sidewalk!

 

[dredick]

I've really enjoyed reading this thread also. Thanks so much for all the wonderful tips!

As for child safety, we are making a little badge for my daughter to wear. We have printed a little card (on regular paper) a picture of her with her name. Just below, there are individual pictures of my husband and myself w/ our names and cell phone numbers. (Thanks to a friend who took a few minutes to put the pics together for us!) After I cut them out, I am going to laminate it. Then we will pop it into one of the badge holders w/ a cord so she can wear it like a necklace. That way, if we get separated, she can show a CM the card. Or, if someone else finds her, they can call the number. I like that it has our pics so that no one else would be able to claim her...not that it would happen at the most magical place on earth though.

Here is a thread from which we got the idea:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2120861

GREAT thing to do!! We have done this every year..just keep in mind the namecard necklace can get caught on some rides and can harm the child..we have moved to the clip on id badges. We place them on the sleeve of their shirt so it will not get caught on any rides.

 

[ntsammy5]

One word

tattoo

 

[lfwhipp]

- If you have an ADR in the parks, at the end of your meal if you have had a refillable drink such as a soda, ask for a new refill to go. I never mind, I just put a new one in a take out cup for you and you can take it with you! It saves having to buy another drink for a while.

AWESOME tip, thanks!!!

 

[TammyIsBlessed]

And an extra tip I got from a guest that I try to pass on! A GREAT place to watch parades in the Magic Kingdom is from Santa's sleigh outside the Christmas Shop in Liberty Square. It's about 10 feet back from the curb but you're sitting up higher and you get a great view! Most people don't think to sit there so you don't have to get there too far in advance, and the best thing is that no one crowds you because they're all too busy crowding each other on the sidewalk!

How many people could fit there?

 

[Mickey_for_President]

GREAT thing to do!! We have done this every year..just keep in mind the namecard necklace can get caught on some rides and can harm the child..we have moved to the clip on id badges. We place them on the sleeve of their shirt so it will not get caught on any rides.

Here is another thread about IDs... I like the shoe idea myself.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2157769&page=2

 

[Kimberle]

I didn't see this mentioned yet... but I did notice a lot of people mention buying water....

WATER IS FREE!!

Bring an empty bottle and head over to a place that serves fountain soda (not bottles). Request Tap Water and you'll get a nice cold cup of water with ice. I pour in into my bottle and then get a refill later in the day when it gets warm (or I finish it).

Free and cold water all day long.

Universal charges... so this doesn't work there.

Really??? Florida state laws states that tap water is FREE from Soda machines.....

 

[taylor3297]

Really??? Florida state laws states that tap water is FREE from Soda machines.....

Though tap water is free, the restaurant can charge you for the cup.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

How many people could fit there?

Probably 2 adults in the front and two in the back...more people if you had little kids!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Probably 2 adults in the front and two in the back...more people if you had little kids!

Thanks! I was wondering this too! Hopefully those of us who have read this tip aren't all going at the same time

 

[MickeyT]

Just finished reading whole thread. Awsome thread that kinda took on a life of it's own.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me proud to be a part of the Dis Boards and keeps me coming back to WDW. We have all met those great CM's that make it special and make memories that we never forget. From Ranger Stan to the sweeper guy on Main Street that drew a Mickey face on the pavement with water you seem to realllly love your job.To the CM's that cook the food and clean the restrooms. Thanks.

Thanks for the tips and comments. I will use some of this stuff come August heat in the parks. Thanks again CM's.

 

[fraggle1_rs]

Great thread - thanks

 

[Mama Cita]

Here is another thread about IDs... I like the shoe idea myself.



My favorite for kids is to make a beaded bracelet from those letter and number beads at the craft store. Use them to spell MOM then cell phone number. The are attractive and kids don't mind wearing them . They are also not likely to get caught on anything!

 

[ValinWV]

Be considerate of the CM's that work so hard to make Disney a Magical place. This is by far one of the best tips I have seen. (repeated frequently)

We have had several experiences with both CM's and other guests that truely made our trips wonderful.

Once at Star Tours my DS (autistic) wanted to ride. My DH went somewhere with my DD and I was pregnant and had our other DD1 with me. Of course Since older DD and DH were on another ride I also had the stroller. I asked the CM if I could possibly push my stroller through the line to escort my DS through the line as I could not possibly (sp) carry all of the stuff we had on the stroller and DD through the line by myself. I also explained that I had no intention of riding since I was expecting and still had DD1 with me. The CM let me take DS through the FP line, which I wasn't even hoping for, and then after he was in the boarding line they escorted me and all of my stuff through where I could wait for him to exit. They were so wonderful.

On another occasion we were at DTD and we didn't realize that busses did not go directly to the parks from there. We had an ADR so we hopped on the first bus that was headed to a resort with the intention of catching the next bus from the resort to HS. The bus driver heard us talking and since he didn't have anyone get on the bus at the resort told us he would drive us to HS. We were so thankful, if it hadn't been for him we would have been late for our ADR.

Also, on the same trip while waiting in line for our bus at AK after park closing DD1 was geting fussy. A child waiting in line with us had a stuffed snake she had won and started playing with our DD. When the bus came I gave the snake back to her she said she wanted DD to have it and then got on the bus. She was so sweet. We still have the snake DD plays with it now with her little sister.

 

[SKTiger]

I don't think this was written by a CM, but it sure is worth reading! It's got all kinds of tips about the MK

Hidden Gems at the Magic Kingdom

 

[Indychick]

I love this thread! I also have had people look at me like I am trying to sell something when I try to give them a FP, they probably think we are working for Disney!

I think that all these tips are awesome, especially the ones about being nice. It is just my nature to be polite and I have had many CMs be so nice back! I have a disabled family member and we have had so many nice CMs who try to help with her riding an ECV. I am not a CM either, but I think that a great tip is to try the single rider line. We did that at EE with me, my DH and my DS. We almost always got on the same train and sometimes not that far apart. If we were we usually just yelled and waved to each other when going up hills etc. It almost makes it more fun! And you get on the ride MUCH faster!

 

[mollygirl13]

Just finished reading whole thread. Awsome thread that kinda took on a life of it's own.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me proud to be a part of the Dis Boards and keeps me coming back to WDW. We have all met those great CM's that make it special and make memories that we never forget. From Ranger Stan to the sweeper guy on Main Street that drew a Mickey face on the pavement with water you seem to realllly love your job.To the CM's that cook the food and clean the restrooms. Thanks.

Thanks for the tips and comments. I will use some of this stuff come August heat in the parks. Thanks again CM's.

Oh, Ranger Stan!!! In Feb, I spoke to him everyday!! WHat a wonderful, wonderful man!

 

[Nazran]

My mom and I were in line at Columbia Harbor House on our last day and overheard the family in line behind us. They were reading the menu and prices and calculating what it would be and if they had enough cash and maybe they should just put dinner on the credit card, it was their last day,etc. The kids were so cute and polite and had no idea what it was costing the parents. Anyway, we decided to use our combined 4 leftover CS to pay for theirs. They had no idea we heard them and we just said we didn't want them to go to waste. The mom was nearly in tears. A few minutes later the CM came over to our table and presented us with a couple of special pins and a magical moments certificate for being so kind. Our kids will never forget that moment of sharing with others, that's for sure.

You rock! That is so awesome! God bless you!

 

[dizneegirl]

as a guest, here is a sure fire way to bring a smile to someone's face - Say thank you to the woman cleaning the ladies room. 9 times out of 10 the bathrooms are remarkably clean for all the people that go through and 9 times out of 10 someone is physically in the bathroom cleaning. How'd you like that job...cleaning disney's bathrooms all day? Not me. But I absolutely appreciate that the bathroom is clean. I always tell the CM's THANK YOU and the smiles I get are amazing. Sometimes I think these women go for weeks and no one says thank you to them.

so Thank a restroom CM today!

I'm another one that will always give them a smile, ask them how their day is going, or chat a little... I figure they probably get overlooked most of the time. It's a job I don't want (even if it *is* at Disney! ), and I'm extremely thankful they're there doing it. Glad someone else is giving them a smile, too.

 

[RocketCityMama]

Thanks everyone for these great ideas and tips!