Do You Have A Brain?

[Chabobo]

Ok, so Im doing my once a month Town Square dutie, (which I hate cuz Baloo sucks!) and everything is going smooth as always (ha!) and this family comes up with three adults and some kids around the age of 7 or 8. k, nothing new at all. After a few autographs they want a pic, sure no prob. So as the camera person if figuring out they left the lense on, i feel a hand start going up my back underneath the fur and they are now touching MY acctual neck (if you have never seen a baloo costume the head just sits on your shoulders and there is a long flap of fur in the back but it just hangs and its only velcroed in the front) THEN they start lifting my HEAD OFF!!!!! and as Im trying to beat them off of me I frantically look for my greeter and she is off flirting it up with someother CM!!! I just dont understand why you would do that with a freeaking kid right there!!!

[lady ulrike]

I work in Mickey's house inside the theater. We get people all the time asking how many Mickey's are there and stuff like that. Sometimes, they at least whisper it to you (I still tell them 1) but other times they ask it right out loud and with their own kids there. Talk about ruining the magic.

[Zazu]

I work in Mickey's house inside the theater. We get people all the time asking how many Mickey's are there and stuff like that. Sometimes, they at least whisper it to you (I still tell them 1) but other times they ask it right out loud and with their own kids there. Talk about ruining the magic.
I got that question one day on parade duty. The correct answer was met with the loud response, "Don't give me that, I've been to that tent in Toontown, and I know there's more than one!"

It was almost funny how all the kids head swiveled around and locked on me like attack radar. My reply:

"There is only one Mickey Mouse, but he has four rooms in the Judge's Tent where he meets his friends."

This satisfied both the boob who asked the question and the kids who all started to tell each other, "Told you so!"

Dodged that bullet.

[Chabobo]

zazu, were you working DCT?

[Zazu]

zazu, were you working DCT?
Don't even know what DCT is. I was working PAC on Main Street at the time. Does that help?

[Chabobo]

yeah its funny sometimes when I get off I'll watch Spectro and I have the SAME conversation EVERY time...

Guest: So..... are you here by yourself?????
Me: Yes Ma'am (cuz its so hard to get rid of that disney politness!!)
G: Oh,..........
so where are you from????
Brandon, its about and hour from here
Oh, were from _________
Oh, long drive huh??
Yeah, so you're just here all alone?
yes
really?
(and sometime i cant help but slip into the second part)
yes ma'am I acctually work here
OH!!!!!!! what do you do?????
Work in entertainment.
Oh, so what do you do
help out mickey, ya know get cheese, make dinner resv. for him and minnie, walk pluto...(20min. passes of more "sneaky" prying, and me givin' em every answer in the book and then some!!!)
person next to me who has been listening: Where is the Bathroom???
Its so funny how the think if they word it correctly they'll get us to crack!!! Never Suckas!!!!

[Chabobo]

Don't even know what DCT is. I was working PAC on Main Street at the time. Does that help?

DCT is Disney's Share A Dream Come True Parade

sorry to use the lingo... it gets in your brain...

[Dack48]

Since I'm an unpaid Campus Rep, I also work at Best Buy (although my job at Ben & Jerrys is so much better). I got there early for my shift, so I went next door to Target to find snacks.

Me: Looks at snacks
Stupid person: "Excuse me, where is the salt?"
Me: "Hi. Does it LOOK like I work there? Since when do Target employees wear blue?"

That felt good.

[MEng85]

its weird that you mention that, on the island we get that question too...the rangers sometimes are asked that and they have those smokey the bear hats and those pickle color uniforms, and so of us including me wear black pants a nasty cream color polo and a grey jacket all marked with a big park service arrow patch...on top of that we all wear a radio that dates back to the early 80s bigger and heavier than a brick and a weapon within itself. then we have a set of large brass keys (like those kiddie plastic keys) that clang alot...name tags of course...and yet we still get asked that obvious question.... :D: :eek: ...ah well all i can say is...tourists...yikes

[Zazu]

DCT is Disney's Share A Dream Come True Parade

sorry to use the lingo... it gets in your brain...
No problem. On Main Street we just call it the Stupid Snowglobe Parade.

A different vocabulary for every department....

[AngelEyes]

Do all of you protect the magic because it's what Disney wants you to do, or because it's what you feel is the right thing to do? Personally, asking a CM how something is done is kinda like asking a magician the same thing. I don't want to know, cause most of the time the answer isn't as spectacular has you would think it would be.

There is a great story in a book written by former pro wrestler Mick Foley. He's a big theme park fan and loves Disney. He said that he was at the Magic Kingdom, sitting behind the scenes with his family, cause of the whole celeb thing. He saw a woman out of the corner of his eye who was carrying her Mickey head under her arm. He looked at her, she looked at him, saw his kids, and DOVE behind something (a car maybe)to avoid being scene. The kids didn't see her. He walked over and asked if she was alright. She was more concerned about his kids and asked if the little ones saw her. He said no. She asked him to give her a second, and after about a minute, MICKEY came out from behind that car and spent a few minutes with him and his family. Great story, and a real testament to the job you guys do.

BTW, how do you handle celebrities when they come to the park? I've read about Jordan and his kids getting escorted around behind the scenes, using back doors to get onto rides.

[Stduck]

Mansion has a "VIP" door (I'm talking DL I have never been to WDW). Plaid will bring them up the front of the house. (I've never been at Foyer when a celebrity has come through. I know Johnny Depp and his antorage went back stage once around the time of the Pirates premiere.

At Pooh we load them from the staging area. Not too hard.

As for keeping the Magic I feel lucky that I was given such an awesome task. From letting a kid watch Fantasmic from the corner of the VIP section (he couldn't see and the kids in front of him were such jerks) or telling a kid that the Columbia was hijacked by James T. Hook. What does seem to "irk" me is the adults that question me for making magic and telling "white lies". We all want to believe in Santa Claus or that Mickey Mouse is real. Why not just believe? Mickey greets his friends from all over the park as do many other characters. As adults yes our rational minds know that they are people in big costumes. Yet (I used to be in theater) when you put on that costume (and this holds true for me as an Attractions CM) you become something different. You aren't so-in-so from wherever majoring it whatever. You're So-in-so a Maid at the Haunted Mansion or for our Characters you are Mickey Mouse.

[Zazu]

Do all of you protect the magic because it's what Disney wants you to do, or because it's what you feel is the right thing to do?
I do it because without the magic, Disney parks are just overpriced amusement parks with people wearing fur suits, and who needs that?

I came out of retirement to work at Disney because I like to play in the parks. I've played, and continue to play as a guest, and now I've got the chance to play on the other side of the nametag. It's still fun (despite the moron guests and managers), or I wouldn't still be here.

BTW, how do you handle celebrities when they come to the park? I've read about Jordan and his kids getting escorted around behind the scenes, using back doors to get onto rides.
Some celebreties just come in the turnstiles. Without makeup and their entourage, they can often pass without notice. Most will hire a guide, the "plaid" you see mentioned in this thread. This in itself doesn't get them special treatment or line bypass, but it does provide someone to run interference (or call for help) if they are recognized and a situation develops. But don't assume that the plaids are always escorting a celebrity, anyone can hire a guide, and it's becomming more popular every year.

Things are different with they sort of guest we call a "VIP" even backstage. (Onstage, *everyone* is a VIP, which sorta dilutes the definition.) These are folks so recognizable that any attempt to walk down Main Street would create an immediate scene. The late Princess Dianna, Michael Jackson, heads of state, this sort of folks. These are the people who are snuck around backstage, backdoored into attractions, and generally given the run of the place.

We do this for them not because they're celebrities, but because if we didn't, it would screw up our operations beyond any hope of repair. If the celebrity can pass for normal, we toss 'em in with the rest of the crowd, which is how I ended up telling Spike Lee to go sit in the back of the train, but that's another story....

[leftcoaster]

That is what is so awesome about all you CMs! Keeping the magic alive for the kids, and even adults (when they aren't morons).

Reminds me of a time I was at WDW with my wife. We were standing in line for a character (I forget which one), when the CM said that "_______, had to take a break." Some guy says aloud, "Yea, it must get pretty hot inside that costume." :eek:

There had to be at least a dozen kids within earshot, and you could see a few start asking things like, "Mickey is a costume?" I could have sold a case of pitchforks to the parents at that point.

[AngelEyes]

I do it because without the magic, Disney parks are just overpriced amusement parks with people wearing fur suits, and who needs that?

I came out of retirement to work at Disney because I like to play in the parks. I've played, and continue to play as a guest, and now I've got the chance to play on the other side of the nametag. It's still fun (despite the moron guests and managers), or I wouldn't still be here.


Well said. There is no better way that I would like to spend my time after retiring. Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind. Granted, I'm only 31, but I can look ahead, can't I? :D:


Some celebreties just come in the turnstiles. Without makeup and their entourage, they can often pass without notice. Most will hire a guide, the "plaid" you see mentioned in this thread. This in itself doesn't get them special treatment or line bypass, but it does provide someone to run interference (or call for help) if they are recognized and a situation develops. But don't assume that the plaids are always escorting a celebrity, anyone can hire a guide, and it's becomming more popular every year.

Things are different with they sort of guest we call a "VIP" even backstage. (Onstage, *everyone* is a VIP, which sorta dilutes the definition.) These are folks so recognizable that any attempt to walk down Main Street would create an immediate scene. The late Princess Dianna, Michael Jackson, heads of state, this sort of folks. These are the people who are snuck around backstage, backdoored into attractions, and generally given the run of the place.

We do this for them not because they're celebrities, but because if we didn't, it would screw up our operations beyond any hope of repair. If the celebrity can pass for normal, we toss 'em in with the rest of the crowd, which is how I ended up telling Spike Lee to go sit in the back of the train, but that's another story....

That makes perfectly good sense. I love the fact that the special treatment is given for DISNEY'S sake and not the celebs. IMHO, if I was famous, I would rather try to disguise myself and walk around normally than being kept behind the scenes. Talk about a magic killer! BTW, you know that you have to tell the Spike Lee story now that you've brought it up. Hope you treated him nice, or he'll make a "joint" about how racist Disney is. :D:

[RebuildtheKingdom]

If the celebrity can pass for normal, we toss 'em in with the rest of the crowd, which is how I ended up telling Spike Lee to go sit in the back of the train, but that's another story....

I'm not gonna let you off that easy, you gotta tell us that story.

[Zazu]

BTW, you know that you have to tell the Spike Lee story now that you've brought it up.
Oh very well. I figued this would result.

Spike and his family, accompanied by a Plaid, came in the exit at Toontown Station when my train was almost ready to depart, and the Plaid asked where they should sit. Since the train was nearly full, I told them to sit in the back.

:pissed: "Excuse me!?!?!" he said, while his Plaid turned absolutely pastel. :bugeyes:

"That's where the empty seats are. Or you could wait ten minutes for the next train," I explained.

Spike sat in the rear.

That's what the Magic Kingdom is all about; we make the Fantastic Real and the Real really stupid.

[hobie16]

"That's where the empty seats are. Or you could wait ten minutes for the next train," I explained.

You baffled them with logic!!

[AngelEyes]

Oh very well. I figued this would result.

Spike and his family, accompanied by a Plaid, came in the exit at Toontown Station when my train was almost ready to depart, and the Plaid asked where they should sit. Since the train was nearly full, I told them to sit in the back.

:pissed: "Excuse me!?!?!" he said, while his Plain turned absolutely pastel. :bugeyes:

"That's where the empty seats are. Or you could wait ten minutes for the next train," I explained.

Spike sat in the rear.

That's what the Magic Kingdom is all about; we make the Fantastic Real and the Real really stupid.

I'm surprised he didn't try to compare himself to Rosa Parks. Gotta love people that try to create a situation that was never there in the first place. Well done Zazu! You kept you cool, and I commend you for that. I would've told him that with the exception of Do the Right Thing, ALL of his movies suck. :D:

[DPRSSDNKY]

My big magic protector is when the kids buy those little bags of jewels. I know they're plastic, their parents know they're plastic, but to the kids those things are worth a mint. So every time I sell one I tell the child to make sure to hold onto the bag nice and tight so the Pirates don't steal them and add them to their gold room. (Easiest to do when working Pieces of 8) The kids usually nod and clutch the bag tightly even if their parents tell them the Pirates aren't real.
The concern I have is the number of people that stick their hands in the jewels (usually to just swim their hands through them). I don't know of any DLP guest bathrooms that have hot water (that is assuming they all wash their hands) so those things must be just a haven of germs (course I touch money that has been god knows where, so I really don't have much rom to talk about germs...I think I need a scalding hot shower about now...)

[gurgi]

actually antibacteial soap and the coldest water you can stand is what we are taught here at work. work = hospital. warmth and moisture actually help bacteria grow. but then again, you are probably right. lucky if more than 1 out ofr 20 wash their hands. so what does it matter? :D:

[Euterpe]

I swear I must be from the least Disney resort in Florida. I work at Port Orleans Resort Riverside... and... There isn't really magic to protect at a resort, but... I don't even feel part of Disney sometimes. I work in Quick Service... and we just aren't very Disney. We're nice, and we have costumes and name tags... and that's about it. We only have one manager that ever mentions any magic preserving stuff, most people think he's a jerk. I once got into an argument because a guest asked to see a manager, so I went back and I was new, and I told him "There's a customer that wants to talk to a manager." And he just stared at me. So I was just like "sooo....?" and he was like "I'm sorry we don't have customers." And he wouldn't help the guest until I called them a guest.

That's all I can think of preserving the magic or the Disney legacy. It's a wonderful place to work and I"ll be back at my Riverside home in July.... but I don't feel very Disney. So this talk of preserving the magic... seems weird to me.

Just had to say.
elle.

[AngelEyes]

I swear I must be from the least Disney resort in Florida. I work at Port Orleans Resort Riverside... and... There isn't really magic to protect at a resort, but... I don't even feel part of Disney sometimes. I work in Quick Service... and we just aren't very Disney. We're nice, and we have costumes and name tags... and that's about it. We only have one manager that ever mentions any magic preserving stuff, most people think he's a jerk. I once got into an argument because a guest asked to see a manager, so I went back and I was new, and I told him "There's a customer that wants to talk to a manager." And he just stared at me. So I was just like "sooo....?" and he was like "I'm sorry we don't have customers." And he wouldn't help the guest until I called them a guest.

That's all I can think of preserving the magic or the Disney legacy. It's a wonderful place to work and I"ll be back at my Riverside home in July.... but I don't feel very Disney. So this talk of preserving the magic... seems weird to me.

Just had to say.
elle.


I stayed at Riverside back in December! While the magic may not be as prevalent as it is in the park, we really enjoyed out stay! We used to stay off property at Orange Lake, so at the end of the day, you had the feeling of leaving Disney. That feeling was never there in December. We just felt like we were going to another part of Disney. I've always said that the magic is provided just as much, if not more, by your guys that work there. Everyone was super nice, the maid service made some great towel animals, and we liked the location as well. IMHO, the magic is there, is just feels different, if that makes any sense. :)

[gurgi]

geez, does everybody stay at orange lake? :D:

[AngelEyes]

geez, does everybody stay at orange lake? :D:


It sure seems that way doesn't it? :D: We stayed there 3 out of the 5 times we've been. The condo belongs to a friend. However, the past 2 times we've gone, we've stayed on property. I'm kinda spoiled now. Orange Lake was nice but I doubt I'll ever stay there again.

[gurgi]

we own there (one of the few familes who outright own i believe) anyway, when we bought there, the palce was really surrounded by orange groves. that strip didnt even exsist. its been weird watching thigns spring up over the years. i will stay on property, but for now if i can have the condo for a week for like 500 bucks, i am going to stick with that.
hahaha

[AngelEyes]

we own there (one of the few familes who outright own i believe) anyway, when we bought there, the palce was really surrounded by orange groves. that strip didnt even exsist. its been weird watching thigns spring up over the years. i will stay on property, but for now if i can have the condo for a week for like 500 bucks, i am going to stick with that.
hahaha

For that price, you should stay there! Like I said, it's a great place and we always enjoyed our time there. I'm not really friends with the guy that owns it now, so that plays a big part in not staying there anymore.

[Euterpe]

I stayed at Riverside back in December! While the magic may not be as prevalent as it is in the park, we really enjoyed out stay! We used to stay off property at Orange Lake, so at the end of the day, you had the feeling of leaving Disney. That feeling was never there in December. We just felt like we were going to another part of Disney. I've always said that the magic is provided just as much, if not more, by your guys that work there. Everyone was super nice, the maid service made some great towel animals, and we liked the location as well. IMHO, the magic is there, is just feels different, if that makes any sense. :)

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. It's actually more important coming from another Cast Member who knows what the magic should be. Of course, being a cast member, you probably knew how to behave, and so got treated better too. I hope for your sake you weren't there when the Pop Warner brats were there. I'm guessing you weren't since you said you did enjoy your stay.

Did anyone else have to deal with the Pop Warner terror? I think it's really more of a resort thing.

I was still there in December, although I was sick on Christmas Eve with tonsilitis. Otherwise... I would have been there. I hope you enjoyed it. The food court is the best place on property, just to let you know. :) Although I read a gues review on some site that said the "only one thing" that made the resort bad was the "over priced and unappealing" food court. I was a bit upset.

Thanks!
elle.

[CM626]

Did anyone else have to deal with the Pop Warner terror? I think it's really more of a resort thing.


I don't know which is worse though, Pop Warner or Cheerleaders.... I worked at All-Star Sports (or as I like to call it ASS) in foods during the first part of my College Program (until Blizzard Beach opened for the season) and holy cow thoes girls are freking annoying. They all had meal Vouchers and I was working in the Bakery/ice cream place.... I so wanted to smack this 15 (+/- 3 years) y/o cheerleader who made the comment "I don't wanna get ice cream, its going to make me fat..."
That was a long few weeks!!! and I was ever so happy when BB opened.. Much better Managers over there.

[hobie16]

We get the annual influx of cheerleaders for the Hula Bowl. Talk about island wide whining!

A year ago one got loose from her chaparone and hooked up with some guys in the hotel hot tub. She knocked back a bunch of margaritas and went to the guys room. After the guys went to sleep, she took off her clothes and fell off the lanai railing eleven floors to her death.

[mentu]

"Mansion has a "VIP" door (I'm talking DL I have never been to WDW). Plaid will bring them up the front of the house. "

Yep, we have a VIP door too. We normally use it for guests with disabilities. Yesterday, we had a party come through with a plaid, but they wanted to skip strech so I took them to unload and put them on there.

[Stduck]

"Mansion has a "VIP" door (I'm talking DL I have never been to WDW). Plaid will bring them up the front of the house. "

Yep, we have a VIP door too. We normally use it for guests with disabilities. Yesterday, we had a party come through with a plaid, but they wanted to skip strech so I took them to unload and put them on there.

Why would they want to skip the ER? That's the best part (except when they all scream for 5 minutes after the lights come back on) We can't have people skip the ER anymore cause they won't let us keep door 2 unlocked.

[mentu]

Far be it from me to guess why Puff Daddy's party wanted to skip stretch. I would've set up a private stretch for them.

We let people skip stretch if they request it (claustraphobic) or if they have to remain in the wheelchair until they can transfer to a buggy.

[Stduck]

^ We USED to be able to do the same for guess fearful of the ER or claustrophobic guests. But since they locked door 2 its impossible for us to do an escort like that anymore. (We CAN just there has to be like 2 extra cast members to do it). If a guest is in a wheel chair they have to take the ER down (they get to ride the ER back up with us too). For some claustrophobic guests I've been able to send a light load and that seems to satisfy them.

[hhsrat]

Had a great one while I was grouping today ... group of 20 ... ok, I can deal with this

Me: "Take rows 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8"
(group starts filling in rows 1, 2, 3)
Me: "I said 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8"
(group moves, to rows 4 and 5, 1 person goes to row 8)
Me: "You're not going to be able to fit 10 people in each row, you might want to spread out a little bit, you've got 2 rows you're not using at all, and 1 row with only one person in it"
(group very reluctantly spreads out and fills in the rest of the rows)

The worst part of this story is that the group seemed to all be native, or at least fluent speakers of english.

[PirateJohn]

Had a great one while I was grouping today ... group of 20 ... ok, I can deal with this

Me: "Take rows 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8"
(group starts filling in rows 1, 2, 3)
Me: "I said 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8"
(group moves, to rows 4 and 5, 1 person goes to row 8)
Me: "You're not going to be able to fit 10 people in each row, you might want to spread out a little bit, you've got 2 rows you're not using at all, and 1 row with only one person in it"
(group very reluctantly spreads out and fills in the rest of the rows)

The worst part of this story is that the group seemed to all be native, or at least fluent speakers of english.I had a foreign tour group at DL once who didn't speak English. Fine. So I used hand signals and pantomime to direct them to rows 1-4.

I stand directly in front of row 5, right in the gates, and start pointing to the front rows. So genius decides to PUSH RIGHT PAST ME and into row 5.

Jerk.

[Girz71]

I swear I must be from the least Disney resort in Florida. I work at Port Orleans Resort Riverside... and... There isn't really magic to protect at a resort, but... I don't even feel part of Disney sometimes. I work in Quick Service... and we just aren't very Disney. We're nice, and we have costumes and name tags... and that's about it. We only have one manager that ever mentions any magic preserving stuff, most people think he's a jerk. I once got into an argument because a guest asked to see a manager, so I went back and I was new, and I told him "There's a customer that wants to talk to a manager." And he just stared at me. So I was just like "sooo....?" and he was like "I'm sorry we don't have customers." And he wouldn't help the guest until I called them a guest.

That's all I can think of preserving the magic or the Disney legacy. It's a wonderful place to work and I"ll be back at my Riverside home in July.... but I don't feel very Disney. So this talk of preserving the magic... seems weird to me.

Just had to say.
elle.

Elle,
Just had to jump in and say that, as a guest with small children, the cm's at the resorts are a HUGE part of the magic. Just the attitude, which MOST of the time is way more positive than just the average checkin person at some hotel, makes our stays onsite special. Sometimes the little things make up the magic... and even resort cm's do little things sometimes. No other hotel uses the line "have a magical day" etc.

Beth

[Main Streeter]

A guest, from USA, brought me 3 written post cards & actually asked; "I don't need stamps to mail these do I? I Told her she would need stamps. She then looked @ me & said; "But I'm at Disney Land! Why do I need stamps :confused: Go figure this one out :rolleyes: