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

[I-4Bound]

From personal experience...If you lose something in the park, don't waste your whole day retracing your steps. Check in at the main Lost and Found location (at MK, it's City Hall) at the end of the day. If it hasn't been found, they will give you a card for the Central Lost and Found (at the TTC where the kennel used to be), and you can call and check periodically. Just specify the park and the date the item was lost. Any items not claimed at the end of each day gets shipped over to the Central Lost and Found the next morning.

We lost my DH's brand-new android phone on our first day this last trip. We wasted an hour or two retracing our steps, checked City Hall several times, and felt pretty miserable about it. After a day or two, they had it at the Central Lost and Found location. Apparently, it slipped out of his pocket during Space Mountain and it took a while to be found.

 

[Mark the Moose]

::BUMP:: even though it's my first post, I've learned a lot from this awesome thread.

 

[karensi]

From personal experience...If you lose something in the park, don't waste your whole day retracing your steps. Check in at the main Lost and Found location (at MK, it's City Hall) at the end of the day. If it hasn't been found, they will give you a card for the Central Lost and Found (at the TTC where the kennel used to be), and you can call and check periodically. Just specify the park and the date the item was lost. Any items not claimed at the end of each day gets shipped over to the Central Lost and Found the next morning.We lost my DH's brand-new android phone on our first day this last trip. We wasted an hour or two retracing our steps, checked City Hall several times, and felt pretty miserable about it. After a day or two, they had it at the Central Lost and Found location. Apparently, it slipped out of his pocket during Space Mountain and it took a while to be found.

Wish we knew this when we went last year! My DD lost her camera at AK. We looked all over and the next day went back to the lost and found at AK, only to be told they didnt have it ,no info about the Central Lost and Found. It wasn't even so much the loss of the camera that we felt bad about but the pictures!

Anyway, does anyone have the phone # of the Central Lost and Found. It was last year but maybe worth a try if she calls.

Thank you!

Karen

 

[lucifie]

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.)

This is slightly different than what you're describing, but we were there in January and we were going to HM. The line looked pretty long and the board said something like 90 min. I said something to DH about how I'm not waiting 90 min. since HM was not on my "must do" list. There happened to be a CM right there and she told us it wasn't that long. Sure enough, it was only (I'm guesstimating) about 20 minutes, if that, until we got into the stretching room. Of course, I was regretting even that wait because my 4 year old was terrified and cried the whole ride.

 

[mummabear]

AMEN! Seriously, I'm so tired of people looking at me (or even complaining about me) skipping! All I'm doing is standing NEXT to you filling in the extra space.... we are all going the same place and I promise when we get into the stretching room, I'm not going to be next to you - I'll be standing by my red light hahaha

I think the thing that is frustrating about this is that after a sometimes rather long wait, you are put in the room where you "loose" you spot in line and can end up behind people you were in front of before then

 

[dansamy]

I think the thing that is frustrating about this is that after a sometimes rather long wait, you are put in the room where you "loose" you spot in line and can end up behind people you were in front of before then

That can be very frustrating. I got a new perspective on that this week with my dh in an ECV. HM was particularly bad since you're last into the stretching room & last out. Then you have to park & walk back up the exit to load. That one & BTMRR were really hard for my husband.

 

[smallblackstars]

PLEASE if you want / need to take a taxi either go to taxi stands at resorts, parks, DTD or call a legitimate company for your needs These drivers are licensed professionals through state of FL and City of Orlando cars vans clearly marked with company name car number etc and have dispatchers

This is safe

so called independent taxis are most times someone using their own car not licensed not insured not answering to anyone & anything could happen to you

Happy Vacationing and Be Safe

We are staying at POFQ and want to go to the Florida Mall so plan on getting a taxi there. Will there be taxis outside I can just jump into? Will the driver give me a card or a number to use to call for our journey back to the resort? I am really, really nervous about doing this as we have never done it before. I used to get the $2 each way bus from DTD but I have been informed that route has been terminated

 

[lucas]

A couple of years ago, my youngest son and I were outside the China pavillion in Epcot, and he really needed to go to the bathroom. I asked the first employee I could find where the nearest bathrooms were. I could tell that she was an employee because she was dressed up. Anyhow, she accompanied my son and I all the way to the bathrooms, chatting with him the whole way.

When we got out, my son recognized her at the front of a looooog line. Mulan had been the one to bring us to the bathroom

OK, sorry, but I only have boys. Princessy stuff still leaves me a little bewildered

Cute story!

 

[joebdisney]

My sister was a CM and has always told us to tell cast about any problems we are having or had and they will usually try their best to right the wrong. Also, always be nice to CMs, they have more power than you would think. Final tip from her, if you or anyone traveling with you has disabilities, tell guest services and they can help make accommodations for your trip. And one final tip from an avid visitor, eat upstairs at The Columbian Harbor House. There is always no one up there and it is a perfect place to get some air conditioning and relax in the middle of the Florida afternoon. I believe there are a few restaurants with an almost unused upstairs also.

 

[2012bella13]

Often someone in a Wish family will be wearing a Make-A-Wish, other foundation, or Give Kids the World shirt. The Wish child will be wearing a big button (either pink or light blue) if they are staying at GKTW.

I was "yelled at" by Dora (@ Universal) after I had my son wait in line for her autograph. After signing, she flipped to a back page and wrote "NO lines w/ Button!".

PLEASE, understand that Wish families would rather not be one, and many of us have felt guilty about not waiting in as long of a line as everyone else. But when you are told by a doctor to take your 6 year old home and "enjoy every moment"...

Maybe you'll hold your family tighter for that extra 45 seconds in line.

We are one of those Wish Families, but we are one of the lucky ones. Our DD is stable now & off her meds. We just got back from our second trip to Disney World, we went this time to celebrate her 5th birthday & her good health, something that we did not know the last time we were there if we would ever be able to do it again. We used the GAC & Wheelchair sticker for her stroller because she still gets tired easly. She really enjoyed this trip. With Life Threatening Illnesses, you never know what to expect, so we try to enjoy every moment.

Thank you to all of the kind Hearts out there!!

Please, Please just remember when you see someone using a GAC, Wheelchair, Stroller Wheelchair or an EVC, you do not know their story, do not judge them, trust me they would rather be standing in your shoes.
About looking normal, my DD never looked sick even when they were talking about putting her on a transplant list. When people visited us in the hospital, that was the first thing they would say, but she was. She looks like an average 5yr old but she has a Life Threatening Illness.


I wanted to thank all of the CM's, our trip was awesome, we ran into alot of wonderful CM's & I will be sending in a letter to Disney World telling them about the ones we encountered on our trip, from our maid at our resort, the CM that helped us in Epcot with our GAC & Wheelchair sticker, at Animal Kingdom, the CM that Picked our DD to open Camp Mickey & Minnie, the CM that picked us to be the Opening Family & The CM that took us around MK that morning!!! There are of course many more that we met during our stay, names that I did not get, praying for many blessings for you all!!!

 

[2012bella13]

I just finished reading this whole thread, what a wealth of information!

First a tip: FroggToggs Chilly Pads!!! You can get them at walmart. Yes, they are $13 but you can cut them in three strips and they are the perfect size for drapping around your neck/tying around a child's head. Our son has problems with the heat and these literally saved the trip for us! You dip them in water, wring them out and they keep you cool for 2 hours at a time in 90degree heat! Get a glass of water, dunk them in and start over after that!

Next a CM memory.(sorry long!) Our first trip was a wish trip so of course based on other's stories we expected there to be a LITTLE extra treatment of our SON. We really had no idea! The moment we walked in MK a CM saw the button and immediately walked right up to us, welcomed us and ask us to follow her for our free stroller for the girls. wow. Then she said she'd radio for someone to help us find City Hall for the wheelchair tag for our son's chair. The CM that came up was named Barbara and I'll never forget her. She acted like our family was royalty and whisked us away. Was saw we were heading toward City Hall but then we went past it, around and she opened a door and there was Rapunzel! (She had heard our girls asking us when we'd get to see her) I was so shocked I didn't even have their books ready or anything. But no fear Rapunzel walked over to us took all the time she wanted talking to the kids, asking them questions, answering theirs. Then she took them to the arbor for pictures and kept changing poses. I was crying for the joy on the kids faces. I turned around and that line must have been a mile long! *insert guilty feeling* It was me who finally pulled the kids away after what must have been 15minutes of interaction, the CM's literally acted like my kids were all there were. Then Barbara walked us over to get the wheelchair tag, their first visit buttons and again asked us to follow her, right over to have a private meet & greet with Mickey & Minnie! Again, no rush, all the time you need. She still wasn't finished though. Before she sent us on our own we saw Snow White, Cinderella, Belle & Aurora all in the span of an hour! She told us to always let the CM know we were a wish family before getting in ANY line so they could help us have a magical day. Her assistance showed us just how magical our day was going to be and we made sure to take a picture with her! (Wish I could figure out how to post!)Without her showing us the magic we would not have had such an amazing day. She cast the spell for our whole time at the parks. ALL the CM's we saw showered us in pixie dust and I was wet eyed all day (I am NOT an emotional person by nature but this did it!) I SOOO wish I had thought/knew about the comment cards.

Doing anything with our son's equipment in tow is always a hassle which is why we'd stopped trying to take any vacation aside from family visits. DS always had to sit out, be left out. The CM's at Disney showed us it was possible to include him in everything, didn't stare, didn't roll their eyes at his needs and did everything possible to insure he was having a good time.(They even let us ride TSM 3 times in a row!) Our daughters were treated like real Princesses. It's because of the CM's that we are going back and will keep going back for as long as our son's health holds out. I had never seen him so happy and carefree.

We know the next trip will not be at the same level of "spoiled rotten" and we've been reminding the kids that we will be waiting in line like everyone else but reading this thread reminded me that it will still be magical, because the CM's will still be smiling and talking to us and will still not stare or make DS's needs feel like a burden. Love the CM's!

We just return from our second trip, we were picked to be The Opening Family of the Day & Barbara was the one that showed us around MK, she is awesome!! I smile everytime I think of her & all of the other CM's that was so kind to us. Just remember you can still get the wheelchair sticker for you son & a GAC for him as well. GOD BLESS!!!

 

[Luvchefmic]

We just return from our second trip, we were picked to be The Opening Family of the Day & Barbara was the one that showed us around MK, she is awesome!! I smile everytime I think of her & all of the other CM's that was so kind to us. Just remember you can still get the wheelchair sticker for you son & a GAC for him as well. GOD BLESS!!!

I am blessed to know Barbara outside of WDW she is the sweetest most loving person inside WDW she is THE picture of what a CM should strive to be I have to say I have NEVER seen her have a bad day Oh I'm sure she does like everyone else but she just has so much caring and love for everyone it just shines right out of her

 

[Minnie222]

Thanking for bumping this thread. I was reading it whole afternoon and had it up to p.50. I learned a lot and there are a lot of touching stories.

With all this info, I would plan (or not plan) my future trips, know what to do with extra FPs, meal credits, and ask who to sign the autograph book.
And a big Thank You for all the CMs for making Disney magical.

 

[jfulcer]

I am blessed to know Barbara outside of WDW she is the sweetest most loving person inside WDW she is THE picture of what a CM should strive to be I have to say I have NEVER seen her have a bad day Oh I'm sure she does like everyone else but she just has so much caring and love for everyone it just shines right out of her

Wondering if we should all seek out Barbara.

 

[bjakmom]

I am blessed to know Barbara outside of WDW she is the sweetest most loving person inside WDW she is THE picture of what a CM should strive to be I have to say I have NEVER seen her have a bad day Oh I'm sure she does like everyone else but she just has so much caring and love for everyone it just shines right out of her

Wonder if this is the same Barbara we danced with at the Move It! Shake It! parade? - she was the most fun CM EVER!!! (and there are a LOT of fun and awesome CMs!!) I have also seen her around Main St many times - always spreading the magic and enjoying her job. I'm so glad to know she gets to make magical moments special for special guests (and WISH children are very special guests and we will gladly stand in line for them to go first) - no wonder she's so AWESOME!

 

[electricsoup]

I've had the pleasure to meet Barbara. She's just amazing.

 

[BethanyF]

Barbara's name (and picture) has come up many times on these boards; always with glowing rewards about her energy and happiness.

I had the pleasure of meeting her last March and mentioned that she had quite the fan club here. She seemed genuinely surprised to leard that people were talking about her on a message board. She told me how much she loves what she does and was thrilled to learn that she is so appreciated.

 

[Peachkins]

My sister was a CM and has always told us to tell cast about any problems we are having or had and they will usually try their best to right the wrong. Also, always be nice to CMs, they have more power than you would think. Final tip from her, if you or anyone traveling with you has disabilities, tell guest services and they can help make accommodations for your trip. And one final tip from an avid visitor, eat upstairs at The Columbian Harbor House. There is always no one up there and it is a perfect place to get some air conditioning and relax in the middle of the Florida afternoon. I believe there are a few restaurants with an almost unused upstairs also.

Amen to the CHH tip. It was pandemonium downstairs when we were there last, and thankfully I remembered the place had an upstairs. There were maybe three other parties up there, plenty of tables for larger groups which is what we needed, and restrooms as well.

 

[juliebug1997]

We are staying at POFQ and want to go to the Florida Mall so plan on getting a taxi there. Will there be taxis outside I can just jump into? Will the driver give me a card or a number to use to call for our journey back to the resort? I am really, really nervous about doing this as we have never done it before. I used to get the $2 each way bus from DTD but I have been informed that route has been terminated

Ask Bell Services to call a cab for you. There are usually some waiting in the parking lot to be called. I would also ask them (bell services) if they have a recommendation as well. They can be very helpful. We stay at POR most of the time and they have helped us with cabs many times!

 

[2012bella13]

Janice at Animal Kingdom is another great CM.