What has been your biggest WDW letdown/surprise over the last 5 years?

[Candris79]

Cast members were great my first trip, but I feel like each trip they get a little worse than the last.

 

[B4DlandOpened]

Cast members were great my first trip, but I feel like each trip they get a little worse than the last.

What are some aspects of Cast Members' behavior that have changed?
What do you think has contributed to this change?

Also, as Disney lovers, have we raised, or will we raise, our children to be the type of persons who will grow up to be great Cast Members?

 

[Branflakes]

What are some aspects of Cast Members' behavior that have changed?
What do you think has contributed to this change?

Also, as Disney lovers, have we raised, or will we raise, our children to be the type of persons who will grow up to be great Cast Members?

I can agree on one aspect of cast member let down. We have experienced, on more than one trip to WDW, that when you're dining in a larger group, 6 to be specific, and the gratuity is included, many cast member servers could just about care less. We have had some of the worst service in every way at Disney under these circumstances. While I realize that is their policy, and many restaurants in general, servers at Disney have been in our experience as if they could care less when tip is a guarantee. When we split our group into a table of four and one of two, service was good. When paying the equivalent of $60+pp for a meal plus wine and cocktails etc, you're looking at upwards of $500 for the meal. 18% is a nice tip off that total you didn't even try to earn. Conversely, i'll add to the gratuity for exceptional service.
Other than that, I find cms to be wonderful at Disney.

 

[Jules76126]

What are some aspects of Cast Members' behavior that have changed?
What do you think has contributed to this change?

Also, as Disney lovers, have we raised, or will we raise, our children to be the type of persons who will grow up to be great Cast Members?

On my most recent trip in November, I found most of the cast members to be very pleasant and helpful. This was especially true at our resort BCV. We did encounter one rude CM at SM who wouldn't let us enter the FP line even though our FP time was valid. I had to pull up the information on MDE before she would let us through. Overall, I tend to have more patience for CMs after havign done two college programs. Disney wants their employees to promote that Disney magic and many of them due. But we all have off days and I try to remember that. I also try to be extra nice to them if I see another person or family being less than magical. Just because you are at Disney, doesn't mean you can demand the impossible and believe me I have seen and heard it all (broken up fights, lost kids, called stupid, dealing with intoxicated guests, etc.)

 

[merry_nbright]

No electrical parade and no cheeseburger egg rolls!

 

[Candris79]

What are some aspects of Cast Members' behavior that have changed?
What do you think has contributed to this change?

Also, as Disney lovers, have we raised, or will we raise, our children to be the type of persons who will grow up to be great Cast Members?

I guess their interest in serving the customer has seemed to have declined. From greetings to mousekeeping to servers, the magic has just declined a bit. Don't get me wrong, I still love it there!

My daughter wants to be in the college program so I'm hoping she's taking note of those great cast members and will remember how she felt when they treated her so special and will want to do the same!