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

[StitchSpawn]

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[StitchSpawn]

Thank you 2 these two CMs

This is SWW and these to CMs were very helpful with my video I made about the merchandise, as far as giving and finding me info...&

The Hostesses and Waitress at Tony's in Mk. They let me get a togo order when I guess your "technically" not allowed to order food to go at a table service retaurant...but they let me because it was one meal...and they cooked me sweet potato fries, where were not "technically" on the menu that day, but stashed in the freezer in the "basement".

I love you...

 

[mrcarder]

We usually wind up with a few extra fastpasses. I love the reaction you get when you offer them to someone who is about to enter a long standby line. Spreading the pixie dust is a great way to end the day.

We've had the chance to do this a few times...on our kids first trip we were totally on their schedule and had to leave HS a little early - not able to use our TSMM passes. One of those fun little memories was passing them off to a dad and his boys who were thrilled to get them (they had hopped and otherwise may not have been able to ride it).

 

[mrcarder]

We've always found this to be true for rides but the projected wait time told to us by a CM def. wasn't correct. We got in line for Tinkerbell and asked if the wait time (of 60 min.) was accurate. The CM said it would probably be more like 45 minutes. We ended up waiting almost two hours.

We usually go fall, off-season and this happens to us all the time. We know it's usually green CMs that just don't know any better, but they have to say something. Though I'm convinced that the CMs running Jungle Cruise on one particular evening last year knew exactly what they were doing when they maintained a 10min wait sign, pointing us all in for a short wait, that turned into a miserable hour long trap.

 

[utkscvol1]

If an attraction has multiple lines, always get in the one on the left.

If you need to know about something that's happening unexpectedly (like a ride broke down and you're wondering if it's open again yet), ask a custodian. (Or a manager--the people in suits and nametags.) Both groups have radios.

Let yourselves and *especially* your kids relax and smell the roses. Seriously. Don't be commando.

Never assume a line is "too long" until you ask the greeter CM or look at the ride board. Many rides/shows hold a bajillion people at once. I used to have a lot of people walk away from my attraction because the line was "too long" even though I knew it was only 15 minutes. (Which reminds me--the estimate the CM will give you is almost always high.)

Break your shoes in thoroughly and carry Band-Aids.

Best way to get a thrill out of Splash Mountain is to look straight out in front of you (not down) as you start to go down the flume.

Ok, I have to ask, why always the left line? Curious minds want to know.

 

[t_daniels]

My parents tried to do that once and the cashier wouldn't let them. Because technically the person has to be in your room/on your plan to be allowed to use the plan.

Think it just depends on the CM, really. We did this for a family at Via Napoli. Worst case scenario.. you can ask the family about it.... order it, and have it delivered to your table, then give it to the family.

Ok, I have to ask, why always the left line? Curious minds want to know.

Think it's just that most people instinctively go right? There are some posts on a few threads about it..

 

[mom2cookies]

Originally Posted by dogodisney
Sounds like my DH. Whenever we go on a trip I try to plan a budget and be frugal because my DH is always complaining about the money. Once we get to our destination, he's usually the one that is more willing to spend money.

OMG! Are we married to the same man? LOL Last trip my DD wanted pink minnie crocs, and I wouldnt buy them, the second morning we're there, DH goes down to get coffee, and what does he return with? Yup, pink minnie crocs! LOL


Boy this guy's really getting around bc i'm married to him TOO!!!!! rofl

 

[Cest_la_vie]

Remember that there will always be another boat/bus/monorail. Running up waving your hands or climbing over gates won't make us let you on, it'll just make us cross and have to yell at you. But that's not to say don't walk quickly.

If you have a question about something, no matter how inane you might think it is, ask. It's what CMs are there for, to make your stay pleasant. It goes along with talking, our jobs a lot of the time do get repetitive so that nice conversation with a woman about how every part of the country is different can completely change our day.

 

[saintstickets]

Ok, I have to ask, why always the left line? Curious minds want to know.

It's human nature (or societal bias! ) to go to the right. Ever notice that EVERY grocery store you enter the flow goes to the right? Same thing. If you want to see less crowds in MK, go to the left when you enter. It works.

 

[Pikezh638]

I'm not allowed to talk to guests and guests are not supposed to talk to me while I'm working. Yes, I do enjoy talking to guests. I don't consider it working. No, I don't want them to leave me alone. And in my case, I'm trapped with a max. of about 70 guests at a time for up to 30 minutes.

I have had a few drivers talks with us the whole way. We had one talk from Pop Century all the way to Downtown Disney. The guy was amazing, and I loved hearing all the things he knew. Best bus driver ever..

 

[JerseyGirl]

So glad this thread was bumped recently. I started reading thru it and couldn't find it again to read more!

 

[t_daniels]

Not a CM by any stretch of the imagination-- but our cousin at Ohana, Twana, told us we could have the characters sign a plush/toy/etc.

I have pics in my TR- it was the cutest thing, and I never would have thought of this on my own, (nor DH. )

One of the highlights of our trip.

 

[Julie521]

So glad this thread was bumped recently. I started reading thru it and couldn't find it again to read more!

your welcome! hahaha i love reading this thread and was hoping there were more people out there with great info to share

 

[disneylove69]

I was at WDW last January and while in the bathroom I missed the trash can throwing away a paper towel. I picked it up and threw it away. I looked up and a janitorial cast member was standing by me. She thanked me and gave me a look that made me want to cry. Hard to describe but it was a honest look of desperation and sincere thanks and I think she wanted to cry. I was doing it because it was the right thing but as I left it dawned on me how many people take advantage of the janitorial staff and treat them as servants. So to all the Janitorial staff "THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO."

 

[humboldthny]

Originally Posted by dogodisney
Sounds like my DH. Whenever we go on a trip I try to plan a budget and be frugal because my DH is always complaining about the money. Once we get to our destination, he's usually the one that is more willing to spend money.

OMG! Are we married to the same man? LOL Last trip my DD wanted pink minnie crocs, and I wouldnt buy them, the second morning we're there, DH goes down to get coffee, and what does he return with? Yup, pink minnie crocs! LOL


Boy this guy's really getting around bc i'm married to him TOO!!!!! rofl

We may be featured in our own Lifetime movie: "One Man, One World, Four Wives" I think I'm married to the same guy...I just got the lecture about not eating out so much, but the next day he turned around and asked dd and I what special thing we were planning on buying when we get to WDW because he wants a new baseball cap, a classic Mickey tee, a print, etc., etc....did I mention our trip is still 7 weeks out?!

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

Here's something that's less of a tip, but more of a request.

Please don't try to get us to "break character." There is only one Mickey Mouse and no amount of you winking or making sure there are only adults around will change that. He doesn't wear a costume, there is no one inside of him and the Cinderella you just saw was the same one you saw yesterday.

We love our jobs and we preserve the magic for everyone, not just those young enough not to know better. Of course, this doesn't mean that you'll never hear a backstage tip from a CM, but just because you tell me you've been to Disney 50 times and understand and there are no children around does not necessarily mean I'm going to break character to "let you in on it." .

I knew there was a reason that I love Tigger - besides his bounce. Thanks for all you do to make vacations Magical!!

 

[thestevied]

Loving the tips. When it's too hot at MK, ride tomorrowland transit authority. It's nearly always deserted and you get to sit down and cool off for a bit

 

[lifesgr8]

posting to find this thread later

 

[spring70too]

I love going to Disney and my disappointment in their "free" transportation will not stop me from going again and again, but the buses from DD to both POP and BWV is awful, waited 45 minutes two times The friendships boats have been goverened down so bad it takes forever to get anywhere and finally, the person hiring these bus drivers cannot be interviewing these people. awful CS.

I always like to focus on "how things work" at WDW. Everything we do is done on a grand scale, so here are some tid bits, which can help you understand why things don't always go according to plan. These are based on WDW transportation:

1. The buses do not simply shuttle point A to point B. A bus will pick up guests at PoP century and take them to DHS. While approaching DHS, the bus driver contacts dispatch and dispatch advises what the next destination will be. Therefore, the bus carrying pop century guests might pull into the POR slot at DHS and pick up guests there. Although it looks like everyone on that bus came from POR, they in fact came from POP Century.

Part of this system is computerized. Of course we all LOVE computers because they are never wrong and never cause a problem right? So when a computer messes up or a dispatcher doesn't have their head on straight, you end up waiting 40 minutes for a bus. It could also be that a bus has multiple stops scheduled and fills up on the first stop. Therefore another bus has to be dispatched to stop number 2, causing yet another delay.

I'll be completely honest, I HATE the buses. I have had quite a few bad experiences as a guest when using them and it's because of those experiences that I talked to a bus driver at work one day and asked about this.

2. All the boats operate on a shuttle cycle. If a boat is tied up and secured at a dock, but the gate/rope is closed, you're not getting on that boat, so don't waste energy running towards it.

3. This is a universal tip to anyone visiting WDW. Although you might think you're the center of the world, you're not. Waiting for 1 more person, can mean ticking off the other people on the boat or even worse, 120 people waiting on the dock at our destination(this can apply to rides, shows, etc). So even though you want us to wait for you, don't take it personally if we don't. Once we set in motion the "casting off" procedure, we are not going to stop it.

4. opening a gate on your own, jumping a gate, or ducking ropes are the quickest way to make sure you don't get on the next boat. I am not kidding, if I see another kid jump a closed gate thinking he will get on my boat, I will sssooo make him go to the back of the line.

I don't mean for this to be a negative post, but I want to stress that Disney transportation is MASS TRANSPORTATION! It's not quick, it will never be quick, so get over it. If you want to watch the fireworks, then don't be on the dock at 8:00 waiting for a boat and complain about it when you can't watch them. If you have a hoop de doo reservation at 9:30 don't be on the dock at 9:15 at MK and expect to get there on time and be mad when it takes longer.

There are multiple operational hazards we go through every night. That wonderful electrical water pageant effectively stops all water traffic from 9:25-9:32ish and from 10:15-10:20ish because it goes through the water bridge during that time. We can't dock when it's performing, we can't leave when it's performing, and we can't be within 150 ft of it at anytime.

When ferryboats come through the water bridge from dry dock, we have to wait. If the ferry is by the contemporary, it issues an all call to hold traffic. We then have to sit while it gets all the way through the bridge before proceeding.

When the water level is low(like it is now) we have 3 routes operating off 2 docks. That means someone is gonna be waiting for an open dock, which throws off our cycles.

These are all things we deal with on a consistent basis and I know every other aspect of WDW has the same issues to put up with. They are things that are 99% out of our control. Yet we do our best to be as efficient as possible. For me, understanding why things happen helps me calm down when I'm upset. That's the reason why, when I know a delay has been very long, as the captain I will get on the mic and offer any guest the opportunity to talk with me about the delay. Not everyone does this and in fact I might be the only one, but I strongly believe that education yields understanding.

Now, what can you do to help your expectations? Be nice to the CMs who are transporting you. I have seen this theme multiple times in this thread and it really is true.


So be nice to CMs, and be patient!!! I have had many guests be friendly to me and it really really helps my day. So to all of you who have done that, I sincerely say thank you. Sometimes it's that funny little comment about the "cows in the pen" at the ferryboat that can cheer me up and make me laugh. That's infectious and effects the rest of my day!

 

[JerseyGirl]

I was at WDW last January and while in the bathroom I missed the trash can throwing away a paper towel. I picked it up and threw it away. I looked up and a janitorial cast member was standing by me. She thanked me and gave me a look that made me want to cry. Hard to describe but it was a honest look of desperation and sincere thanks and I think she wanted to cry. I was doing it because it was the right thing but as I left it dawned on me how many people take advantage of the janitorial staff and treat them as servants. So to all the Janitorial staff "THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO."

nice post. I pick up my trash if I drop it too, but it made me realize how many people prob don't. I will be sure to thank them when I see them. There is nothing worse than going to a public bathroom and it being dirty...(never encountered it at Disney) but I will be sure to thank them.