Walt What Happened!!!!!

[blowinbubbles]

I don't think that it's so much "rewarding" good behavior grade-school style, as much as it's showing appreciation for good service. So many rude, pushy and snotty guests frequent the parks, that I think it's nice to show our appreciation to CMs, and to try to counterbalance the jerks in the park!

 

[wendylovesdisney]

I think someone else asked this too - what are these pins??

-Wendy

 

[eeyore1226]

I would think the cast members find it challenging to be "on" at all times. Imagine if you were "on stage" every minute of your job and you worked in extreme heat with a lot of noise and commotion always going on. Not to mention the general public with sometimes extremely high expectations of you at every moment? I am always amazed at the rudeness of some people; not just at WDW but everywhere. I live on a country rode in a suburb in Maine; I have to make weekly treks up and down the road with trash bags to pick up all of the garbage that the lazy slobs throw out their car windows. Yesterday a glass beer bottle was laying in my driveway. We've found assorted clothing items left for us too; it's like a cat leaving a dead mouse for us to see I think some people in general need to clean up their act; if a cast member isn't "perfect" or "magical" they may have been sworn at a few times already before you encountered them. I bet if you tried walking in their shoes for a day you would understand. Just my two cents...I work in PR and am not always "magical" either but certainly try to be.

 

[Jen D]

Eeyore 1226, I agree. I am not defending bad customer service in the least-- I've been lucky never to encounter bad service at WDW or DL, but I haven't been as often as some of you folks. But I do think maybe it might be exhausting for your average low-wage employee to please some guests-- we were on a bus on one Disney trip, and the driver was your usual monosyllablic bus driver-- well, maybe not usual for Disney, but gruff bus drivers are the norm pretty much everywhere else so I didn't even notice it-- until one agressively sunny woman, festooned with hats and lanyards full of pins, clothed with Mickey head to toe, was calling attention to his non-Disneyness with her uber-Disneyness-- she got off the bus, and chirped, "Have a great day!" And getting no response, she stopped, fixed him in the eye, and said again more insistently, with a huge, aggressive smile, "Have a VERY DISNEY DAY!" He looked at her and finally nodded and smiled weakly, and she departed, apparently satisfied that she had pushed him into sunny submission.

The whole thing was pretty funny. Yeah, he should have been friendlier, but I don't know if I could deal with all these demanding guests who want you to snorting pixie dust at every second.

That said, I appreciate the generally great customer service at Disney.

 

[Cinderellee]

I have one of the WWWD pins on my bulletin board at home and I think I picked up at one of the pin kiosks in the park. This was a while back though. Surely they still sell them at the pin kiosks.

 

[PatriciaH]

I don't think the WWWD pins were ever sold at WDW because it was a fan site idea:

http://whatwouldwaltdo.com/

I agree that being a Cast Member has to be a very very hard job in this day and age! People can be so mean to them. It IS shocking how dirty people are today. I would NEVER think to throw garbage on the ground or out of my car window and people feel like suck jerks when DH or I comment on it. I could never stand by and watch someone trash the Earth so I don't know if I could bear watching it all day as a CM. I love when you see a dirty diaper lying in a parking lot or the middle of a store-I think- oh boy I hope those kids are not going to be classless like their parents when they grow up-sad.

 

[phyllis1966]

I have to say, I've been to WDW 4 times, the last 3 times being in the last 2 years (we just returned from the CR 2 weeks ago). We've never, ever encountered any downright rude CM's. In fact, I would say that 9 out of 10 CM's we encounter are super-friendly and super-helpful, with just a few being average.

I've read quite a few complaints about the CM's at the GF, for example, and in my 2 stays there and 3 meals we had there during our most recent WDW vacation, DH and I found them to be wonderful, esp. regarding our DD. They were all so kind and happy to help us.

I agree with the opinions of the posters who feel that WDW guests can be pretty demanding and rude themselves, and perhaps they sometimes expect too much (I am in no way referring to the OP, by the way).

I can't explain or figure out the discrepancies in peoples' experiences in WDW... . I just don't believe it's all luck, though.

 

[dreamflight99]

I'm sorry for all the trouble the OP experienced.~No one enjoys such an encounter, especially at the beginning of a vacation. Yet, everyone deals differently when faced with a similar situation. It's all a matter of personal choice based upon many factors, (personality,etc.).

Yet, I still seem to be completely oblivious to most all the "negative" aspects of WDW. I mainly tend to focus attention on my DH & DD...and spending time together with them, as a family. During the rest of the year, we are so busy and caught up with the DAY-TO-DAY grind, we rarely have time to truly FORGET about all responsibilities of life. Walt Disney World is a sanctuary, and affords us the ability to LEAVE IT ALL behind. We feel the SAME exact euphoria and excitement when we escape to DL for an afternoon.

Therefore, when we are together during the summer, which is the longest of all our yearly excursions, we thoroughly ENJOY and SAVOR every second. There is truly NO WAY anyone could possibly "ruin" our visit. Oh, we've definitely encountered the sour-faced CM's, and frustrated pent-up angry with the world, guests too...but we laugh, and let it run-off us...like water off a duck's back. Life is too darned short, NOT to have a great time. So, we simply "choose" to ignore the negative aspects/people, and focus on all of the positive. The sun shining, the water flowing, one another's voice and smile...etc. As long as we are together, and safe from harm...we are FREE to enjoy our time(anywhere). "Misery LOVES company." There are plenty of unhappy, miserable folks in the world...and unfortunately, some work and visit WDW. So, we make a concerted conscientious effort to avoid these malcontents whenever possible, and the rest of the time...we simply "kill them with kindness."

We feel the same about the Disney Cruise we reserved for 2005 off the coast of our home...Southern Cali. We could care less about the ports...and would enjoy the cruise if the MAGIC merely turned circles off the coast! It's the TIME we share together as a family...that's the true essence of the meaning of the MAGICAL GATHERING to us. We've always had our little inside secret. In our family...the MAGIC, lives permanently "inside" of us. SAFE from the clutches of the naysayers....and the pessimists. We gaze past their discontent and Jaded glare, and see nothing but BLUE SKIES, BILLOWY CLOUDS...and CASTLES FILLED WITH FANTASY!

I wish all of you the same MAGIC we experience, time and time again.

TTFN...DF99

 

[dreamflight99]

^_^ to mommy2angels, photobob!

 

[Pig Pen]

Maybe I am just a pollyanna, but I cannot recall a single miserable CM during any trip. Even when we had problems (i.e. leaky air conditioner unit) the CMs were courteous and pleasant.

I try to imagine myself acting perky for 8 hours straight while hot, cranky tourists are making demands one after the other after the other....I am amazed they can do it!

During our most recent trip we had several CMs who were hilarious, helpful, and quite witty. We had a great time.

I did notice a few restrooms that needed attention - more than in previous visits, but the parks were busier this time.

 

[DVCPAT]

Originally posted by caverill

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I tend to look for the good and overlook the bad, if possible. Maybe that is why we really enjoy our trips to WDW.

I agree. I plan our family vacations around specific activities we enjoy. If I want to celebrate an event, I plan it and pay for it. I would never rely on hinting to a CM and hope something special happens.

I can’t imagine spending family vacation time focusing on other people’s behavior. When a Disney employee goes above and beyond the call of duty, I’ll leave them a nice tip or report it to a supervisor. In all my years of vacationing at WDW, I’ve never experienced a problem that wasn’t resolved.

 

[DisFam95]

We've been to WDW many times and have usually experienced good treatment. I can't recall anything 'magical' or anyone going above and beyond but usually good to very good attitude. This last trip we actually had a CM bell man who brought our luggage out to the car accuse my DH of not giving him a tip!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did not find out about this until a month later. We were travelling with friends and a DS for the 1st time so I was clueless! The guy brought our luggage out, just 2 suitcases and some small carry-ons and tipped him $10. A minute later another guy approached DH saying he understands we did not give so-and-so a tip. DH walks up to the 1st guy who brought the luggage and point blank asks him what about the $10 etc etc and asks if he's calling him a liar...the guy just shrugged his shoulder at DH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was livid when I heard about this. We stayed at the WL by the way. What an A$$!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[4thof52003]

Yes, in response to the rewarding cms that do a good job question, there is something that you can do. There is a thing called, I think, an "applausogram," or something to that effect that the cm gets when they go above and beyond. Some of these won't count towards greater rewards, but some of them go towards higher recognition. Either way, the cms do enjoy hearing from guests that they did a good job and were recognized for it. I filled one out for a cm at the guest relations in Epcot because of a fanastic cm.

 

[Maleficent2]

Cinderella37
well said!


Magical Gatherings a rip off? WHY? you are not charged extra for this. But they are clueless to it also. The benefit to registering a MG is the International Storybook Dinner, Safari Dinner, Magical Fireworks Cruise or Good Morning Breakfast!
http://130.94.75.33/showthread.php?s=&threadid=474814

We did the Magical Fireworks Cruise and it was Fantastic! to put it mildly.

That said the CM's are totally clueless and untrained and working with the Grand Gathering people planning this trip was a joke I have over $150 in Long Distance bills to prove it!

http://130.94.75.33/showthread.php?s=&threadid=570720

We did not expierence the credit card or room key problems you had but they do not surprize me either.

For this being a WDW promo they sure did not train the CM's very well.


Mal

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Maleficent2
Cinderella37
well said!


Magical Gatherings a rip off? WHY? you are not charged extra for this.



Mal

It's a rip off if it entices people to gather up all their friends and family to WDW and spend a truck load of money and make it sound like it will be extra special and then not deliver.

I don't have any experience with magical gatherings, but we organized one of our own years ago (didn't call it that! just called it -- hey, know what would be fun? let's all go to WDW at the same time! ) Anyway, there were a lot of us and everything went really well. Maybe the CMs just haven't been trained well enough for this promotion (as others of you have said).

We've been going to WDW since, well, a long time, and over the who knows how many trips we've encountered nasty CMs. These employess aren't Stepford Wives, they are real people and this is real life and just like any place else you can run into a not so great one. Overall, WDW does much (much much much) better than other places!

 

[Mickey Fan in PA]

We just returned from an awesome 10 days in WDW. We had (4) 7 day hoppers and after we used 6 days I went to City Hall wanting to upgrade an extra day on each one. The CM said I must upgrade to a 4 day hopper which I did not want to do due to the $$ issue. I asked if I could get (4) 1 day uph tickets and was told no. CM suggested (4) 1 day tickets but we wanted to park hop on our last full day so that wouldn't work.
After a few minutes of silence from the CM who was staring at his screen he said he would give us 4 complimetary 1 day hoppers. I almost fell on the floor!

There still is magic in The World! Can't wait to go back.

(And yes, I did get his name, Brian of Georgia, and am sending a letter to WDW commending this CM)

 

[steveanddonna]

While we have had things run a little roughly on occasion, I'd have to say that the CMs have always remedied our problems with a smile and a little extra. We go back to WDW at least yearly because we feel that as a company they are one of the most responsive to their guests' needs, wants, complaints, etc. Interaction with cast members is one of our favorite things about Disney, and has made for some of our most special memories. Maybe we've just been lucky, or maybe it's because we try to shrug off the negatives as soon as they occur, but our experiences over the years have just gotten better & better.

 

[Cinderella37]

What concerns me about the attitudes of CMs isn't when you encounter a grumpy one or one who isn't overly nice - that's normal and in no way indicative of 95% of the CMs we've encountered on our many trips. We've had amazing experiences with CMs - too many to count - and I appreciate all of the hard work they do to make our visits magical.

The problem, I feel, is the reluctance to remedy issues when they arise. This has been getting worse and worse over the years, not so much at the parks but at some resorts. We stopped staying at the GF for this reason. We had very legitimate problems on our last eleven day stay (July 2003) and were basically ignored. We wanted nothing free, just the many problems solved. No one cared that we were having these problems (including a filthy room that was not even being cleaned for some reason) and after repeated requests, the management wouldn't even try to ensure that our room was vacuumed.

We stayed there every year since 1996 (usually concierge). I loved the resort, but we voted with our feet and switched to the BWI. The percentage of loyal WDW guests has got to be small. The posters on this board are all loyal, but what percentage of WDW's business do we account for? The GF should not have lost loyal guests who spent at least 15 nights there per year. But, because of the new management culture, they did. Do they care? Probably not and that's the sad part.

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by outstandinfarmer
I They just barricade through like a pack of wild gorillas with their strollers.

Now THAT'S a visual.....

 

[Maleficent2]

1/2 here in the States and 1/2 in the UK. We make the trip to WDW with most of the family every year.

This year we actually stayed there less than most years. UK side usually stays 21 days. USA side stays on ave 8 days.


Even with the problems we had with the MG/GG CM's I think this is an overall good deal if you take advantage of the perks.


But only if you plan on doing one or more of them. If not steer clear!


Mal