Toto, We're not in Amity Anymore

[Theme Park Where]

There is an area in the back of Disney MGM Studios that often gets the guests confused. It looks like a dead end so Disney decided to put a cast member out there during the day to answer guest questions and help give directions. That job became part of the work rotation for those of us working the Honey I Shrunk the Kids children’s playground.

I was working the New York Street position one afternoon when a lady came up with a map in her hand.

“Where’s the ride with the shark?” the lady asked.

“Oh,” I said, “I think you’re thinking of Jaws. It’s over at Universal Studios which isn’t part of the Disney parks.

“No,” she insisted. “Not Jaws, the one where you ride the boat and the shark jumps out of the water at you.”

“Yes,” I reiterated, “That’s Jaws. It’s over at Universal, not here.”

“No,” she was getting angry! “The one where you go into the boat house and then they blow up the gas tank!”

“Ma’am, that’s Jaws at Universal!” I insisted.

“No, the one where they cook the shark at the end with the gas explosion!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but that IS the Jaws ride at Universal.”

“NO IT ISN’T!” She huffed. “You don’t know your own park very well!” And she stormed off!

“Have a magical day!” I hollered after her! I wonder if she ever found the ride with the shark?

[Syndrome]

You should have sent her to the snorkeling reef at Typhoon Lagoon. I can just imagine her lambasting the lifeguards because she has to swim instead of riding in a boat and because the sharks don't jump at her or get burned up by propane.

[Floridian]

Gotta love it when the guests are convinced they are right no matter what you say! I can completely understand how someone would make the mistake of looking for the Jaws ride at MGM, mixed up a few attractions myself :o: , but to keep insisting that it is there after being told its at universal is just ridiculous.

[Big Wallaby]

Today I was dropping off from Animal Kingdom at Saratoga Springs. Man comes up at Congress Park (the fourth of five stops there), asking if this is the Beach Club. I told him no, it wasn't that he must have boarded the wrong bus. He told me he had been waiting in the Beach Club load zone, to which I replied that I was sorry, but at AK the Beach Club is part of Load Zone 2 and I had departed from 4. Now, rather pissed, he asked how he should get there, to which I replied that the Downtown Disney bus was (physically) right behind me, and that would get him to DTD where he could transfer easily. He stormed off the bus and down the path, and neither I nor the DTD bus driver saw him again.

[leftcoaster]

Didn't a huge shark take a vacation at Sea World in one movie ?

[Shorty82]

I guess he took a taxi! You know it is your fault you went to the wrong destination, you should have read his mind and knew he wanted to go to Beach Club.

Seriously, how can anybody screw up Saratoga Springs and Beach Club? The names are nothing alike! He had to ignore I don't know how many signs and being told the destination to get onto your bus. There's the sign on each stop naming what busses stop at that loadzone, the sign on front of the bus, the sign on the side of the bus, you maybe telling the destination to everybody as they get on, you announcing the destination at least once before leaving, MiMs talking about the destination, and probably a few more notices.

Guess he figured he could ignore all signage and announcements as he was on vacation and let luck get him to where he wanted to go.

[JustSomeGuyTN]

What about this. The woman obviously didn't know where she was. She became irate and agressive. Wouldn't it be appropriate to call security and have her handcuffed and removed from the park. You know to protect the lady and others from herself? :twisted:

There is an area in the back of Disney MGM Studios that often gets the guests confused. It looks like a dead end so Disney decided to put a cast member out there during the day to answer guest questions and help give directions. That job became part of the work rotation for those of us working the Honey I Shrunk the Kids children’s playground.

I was working the New York Street position one afternoon when a lady came up with a map in her hand.

“Where’s the ride with the shark?” the lady asked.

“Oh,” I said, “I think you’re thinking of Jaws. It’s over at Universal Studios which isn’t part of the Disney parks.

“No,” she insisted. “Not Jaws, the one where you ride the boat and the shark jumps out of the water at you.”

“Yes,” I reiterated, “That’s Jaws. It’s over at Universal, not here.”

“No,” she was getting angry! “The one where you go into the boat house and then they blow up the gas tank!”

“Ma’am, that’s Jaws at Universal!” I insisted.

“No, the one where they cook the shark at the end with the gas explosion!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but that IS the Jaws ride at Universal.”

“NO IT ISN’T!” She huffed. “You don’t know your own park very well!” And she stormed off!

“Have a magical day!” I hollered after her! I wonder if she ever found the ride with the shark?

[svickersart]

The customer is always right.
You should have sent her to EPCOT, theres sharks in the Nemo ride, maybe thats what she wanted. They even talk.

[Big Wallaby]

I also had a lady rip into me because her Universal tickets didn't get her into MGM. That was almost two months ago, though. Couldn't be the same person.

I mean, c'mon! They don't even really have similar theming!

[BRWombat]

What about this. The woman obviously didn't know where she was. She became irate and agressive. Wouldn't it be appropriate to call security and have her handcuffed and removed from the park. You know to protect the lady and others from herself? :twisted:I like it!! "Ma'am, you're obviously delusional. Come have a seat in this nice air-conditioned (and padded) ambulance!" :D:

[Theme Park Where]

It was several years ago, so I figure the woman has figured out the difference between Universal and Disney MGM Studios by now. Or, maybe not! ;)

It was back before Finding Nemo too, so the sharks at Epcot were safely hidden in the old Living Seas attraction. No boat rides there, although you DID ride a little tram thingy through the reef.

Nope, I think she had magically transported to the land of SGT and was throroughly lost and confused, not unlike a million other guests!

I've had guests yell at me too because they had tickets to the "wrong park." Usually they want Magic Kingdom, and the come up to us at Disney MGM Studios complaining that they wanted to purchase tickets to Disney and ended up there instead.

My favorite though was the guest who came up to me at Disney MGM Studios and asked to lodge a formal complaint. "Sure," I said. "What's troubling you? Maybe I can help?"

"No," he stated. "You'll have to pass this on to a manager. I'm very upset though."

"What is your problem, sir?"

"I'm very angry that you've removed the castle and replaced it with this Chinese Theater!"

"Um, sir ..." Ah, our guests are so lost on their own!

[Syndrome]

The confusion about the resorts just brought me to a flashback of how I was a stupid guest myself one night. Mr. Syndrome and I ate at Cape May and realized there was time to walk down to Epcot for Illuminations. After the show, we walked back to the hotel and wandered, dazed and confused, through the parking lot where the configuration had somehow mysteriously changed and where our car had disappeared. Thankfully a CM who was obviously familiar with SGs like us informed us that we were at Yacht Club. God, I was embarrassed!!

[Theme Park Where]

Yeah, I've done that one too! I never can remember which of those is which (which is pathetic since my Dad worked there for several years!).

[darph nader]

I may be wrong but can't Florida afford highway signs to point you in the right direction? Oh wait,that would involve having to read said signs. Never mind.

[SRT_GB]

I may be wrong but can't Florida afford highway signs to point you in the right direction? Oh wait,that would involve having to read said signs. Never mind.I feel the same way about Washington state.

[Cranbiz]

We have plenty of signs. The problem is getting people to read them.

Like the SG tonight. Get's on the bus at the Marketplace going to the Epcot 5, then asks me at the Swan "how to get to the Grand Floridian" ?

Well sir, if you had bothered to read the sign, you wanted loadzone 4 for Wilderness Lodge / Grand Floridian!

[Big Wallaby]

Well sir, if you had bothered to read the sign, you wanted loadzone 4 for Wilderness Lodge / Grand Floridian!
Wait... Run that by me again? :D:


But I can't tell you how many times on my day off, at the end of spending the day in a park, I've gone to the parking lot only to find out I forgot where I parked... sometimes even, which lot! Gotta love still having my Crater Lake (Oregon) plates!

[Shorty82]

But I can't tell you how many times on my day off, at the end of spending the day in a park, I've gone to the parking lot only to find out I forgot where I parked... sometimes even, which lot! Gotta love still having my Crater Lake (Oregon) plates!
You need to use the tourist trick of taking a picture of the section and row markers using your cell phone or regular camera. The old trick of writing down the information works too.

There's so much going on in the parks it is easy to forget where you parked. The parking lots are HUGE and it is next to impossible to find your car ifyou forget where you parked it.

[ktulu]

My ride is always parked and waiting or arrives shortly for me at the proper loading zone :)

[Big Wallaby]

My ride is always parked and waiting or arrives shortly for me at the proper loading zone :)Yeah, well, that works if you're on vacation here... Unfortunately, there is not a transportation system to where I live other than my own four wheels or a stupid Lynx bus. :p:

[RTSPilot]

I was holding in the MGM load zone at Epcot one afternoon when this lady walks up looking confused…..

ME: (dressed in my high-vis purple pants) “Howdy! Can I help you”

SG: “Yes, how do you get to Epcot”

I had heard stories about questions like this, but up to that time, I had not had a verified, SG question of such magnitude. But I was ready…..

ME: “Well, you are already here!” (big smile and arms outstretched for emphasis)

SG: “No, no, I mean Epcot”

ME: “Yes, Epcot” (turning around to show her the big, unmistakable “golf ball”)

SG: “Umm, no Epcot”

ME: “Yes, really, you’re in the right place” (now trying to hold a straight face)

SG: With a perplexed look, she mumbles a slight “thanks” and walks off.

Wow…..

The real kicker is it happened again a few weeks later. Now that I think about it, it might have been the same women.

Maybe an SG ghost forever confusing drivers in that load zone?!? (Insert scary music here).

We may never know… :)

RTS Pilot

[SorcererMickey]

I think the stupidest guest I know of was at Grand Fla breakfast screaming and yelling because Minnie was racist against African Americans and ignored their table. (Minnie was on break probably in hysterics) Technically Minnie is black except part of her face, right? This man finally got so irate that Grand Fla management brought Minnie's friend out. She was African American herself. Some people just want a free whatever.

[stefunierocks]

Im one of those people that other people constantly love to talk to, Idk. I look friendly or something.

I make costumes for a living, and constantly when im at Joannes. Women come running at me with trim and fabrics and asking me if this and that matches and wanting my opinion on this pattern and so forth. Its so bizarre.

It happens at Disney too.

I was standing in Fantasyland, right near Liberty Square, waiting for my friend to come out of the bathroom. When a frantic looking women walks by me. Comes back and says "Do you know where the spooky castle is?" I laughed. lol. I said, 'You mean the haunted mansion?' She said NO. My SON said its called the Spooky Castle. I said 'Well, cinderellas castle is really the only castle here, Pirates is a fortress...and this is the Haunted Mansion. (pointing into LS) She rolls her eyes at me and walks off YELLING 'doesnt anyone know anything around this g-- damn place!!?'

I watched her walk up to the CM outside the HM and have the same conversation... lol So now when we go, we're like "lets go ride the spooky castle" :D:

[dizneeluvr]

we just came back from WDW and Universal. while in Universal, a SG was giving the employee a hard time about something, asking stupid questions etc. she was getting really annoyed. finally the SG left i looked at the employee and said, so, what time is the 3 o'clock parade? she looked at me, scowling, we don't have a 3'o'clock parade here, i said "gotcha", and put the smile back on her face.

[Theme Park Where]

Aw, now I want to go ride the spooky castle again!

I got asked the 3:00 parade question again a few months ago! I love that question! We used to do this great activity in new hire orientation at Universal. We'd send someone out of the room, and then give little strips of paper to a couple of the remaining students. The banished team member was then instructed to come back into the room and walk up to the front of the classroom as if coming in to work for the day. Each team member who had a slip of paper was to stand up one at a time (the papers were numbered) and ask the walking team member the question on their paper. There were about 6 or 7 questions: "Where's the restroom?" "Do I get a AAA discount?" "Can you tell me where the restroom is?" "Where's the restroom?" "What does my hotel card get me?" "Where is the restroom?" "What time are the fireworks?" It was always funny seeing the new person's reaction. The restroom question usually illicited different answers each time, even though the team member had been told where in the park they were supposedly walking. The fireworks question always got a great reaction though. We'd get any number of times! Problem was, when we were doing this activity - Universal HAD NO fireworks! The point was to show that they needed to be quick on their feet, know their park and work area, and that they would get asked the same things day in and day out, but they had to make it sound like they were answering for the first time.

[Kwahati]

The point was to show that they needed to be quick on their feet, know their park and work area, and that they would get asked the same things day in and day out, but they had to make it sound like they were answering for the first time.

That's a great exercise! I'm already thinking of how we could apply that to where I work!

And by the way: can I come ride the spooky castle with you? I might be a little late though, I'll need to see the fireworks and the late run of the 3:00 parade first! :D:

[Theme Park Where]

You got it! The 3:00 parade begins promptly at 4:15 so be there or be square!

[darph nader]

You got it! The 3:00 parade begins promptly at 4:15 so be there or be square!

I knew it. :cool: (and all these years I figured it would start on time) :(

[mechurchlady]

3 pm is when the preparade show starts at the other end of the parade then there is the meet and greet with characters and well it takes about 75 minutes for the show to actually to get to this point.

[PrinceOfSka]

yesterday the guests were a little jumpy, although I did little constant shooting because of rain I had one of those incidents where guests are standing in front of what they want, except this person got pretty irate:

Guest: (already huffing) "Where can I see my pictures?"


me - almost directly in front of Coverstory in MGM (where the view stations are for the park) -
"Right there (pointing) in Coverstory"

Guest: "No No... where is the place I can see my pictures"

Me: "right over in this building, the one that has red and black stripes. It is called Coverstory"

Guest: "I don't want a F****** Newspaper, I want to see my pictures."

Me, taken aback: "um... we don't sell newspapers in there so there is no worry about that, it is just the name of the store. You can view your pictures in there."

Guest: "I want to see my pictures on my photofast (she may have said photopass, but I swear it sounded like fast) not some newspaper images."

Me - now just not knowing what to say: "I am sure if you go in there, the photographers behind the counter can help you find what you are looking for."

Guest: "You are a prick."

Me: (just kind of quiet and in shock when they walk towards the park exit instead of ten feet to Coverstory...)

I have no idea what happened lol... I am still in shock about this one.

[mechurchlady]

PrinceOfSka you are hugged.

The problem is that the guest saw a newspaperstand and could not get it through their head that it was a facade. People do that all the time in parks and other places too. Also it is a way of thinking as I would say "Are you sure that is where I have to go?" then I would go over there and either find what I want or complain about the misinformation.

They are the same people who are stuck on the parks moving, attractions being obliterated, and CMs and guests being wrong about park information.

With that attitude I would apologize for the wrong information and send them to Guest Services. They can then berate the CM who has the official title of Guest Services CM and tell them they do not know what they are doing, lol.

[Big Wallaby]

Guest Services CMNow, there's a job I don't care to have... Ugh...

[mechurchlady]

Now, there's a job I don't care to have... Ugh...

It is lots of fun. You get guests who need urgent help but speak on English let alone one of the top 20 languages. The whiners, beggars, and fanatics. You have to be nice all the time and perky.

You would have lots of fun helping guests. :rolleyes:

[BRWombat]

You have to be nice all the time and perky.At least to their faces. :rolleyes:

[Cheshire Figment]

I love the ones who, when I am handling their ticket if they have turnstile problems, tell me that I am trying to put the ticket into the turnstile incorrectly.

I will normally just tell them (in a polite tone of voice) that the turnstiles will accept tickets any way but sideways.

What I hate are the ones who want a refund, after an hour or more in the park, because they can't find a beach chair when we are operating at nor near capacity; we have enough chairs for about 45% of capacity.

Or, even more fun are those who complain that they are pestered to much by insects (love bugs) and want their money back.

[mechurchlady]

At least to their faces. :rolleyes:
You are on stage all the time and must smile and be nice because when the pain in the neck SG leaves you do not go off stage or have a down time. At any moment someone could come in and see you snarling.

There was a guest services kiosk and I would stop by to chat with CMs sometimes. One night as they were closing a woman wanted to know how to get to Santa Monica. Basically you take the bus to downtown Los Angeles which is 4 hours then take a Santa Monica owned bus which is half an hour or more. Busses usually do not run late at night. The CM and I both knew she could not get from DL to Santa Monica other that a very expensive taxi ride. I ended up driving up to LA then across to Santa Monica. I was tired but knew the way by heart. The CM was cool and calm despite probably thinking what was someone waiting until closing to try to get to Santa Monica let alone Buena Park wa brain dead, lol.

[BRWombat]

I love the ones who, when I am handling their ticket if they have turnstile problems, tell me that I am trying to put the ticket into the turnstile incorrectly.

I will normally just tell them (in a polite tone of voice) that the turnstiles will accept tickets any way but sideways. ...I know you know better, but I can't help but notice SG's are still having problems with it. While the slot will read the card no matter how you insert it, on my last trip I repeatedly saw guests unable to find the slot!

Seems that there is a very small gap between the top half of the slot and the metal housing. Rather than stick the card in the very obvious card-sized slot, I observed numerous Mensa rejects trying to feed the card into this gap. :confused: :eek:

Build an idiot-proof system, and someone somewhere will build a better idiot.

[PrinceOfSka]

Or, even more fun are those who complain that they are pestered to much by insects (love bugs) and want their money back.

ugh... love bugs... worse than the heat.... Last week I was stationed as the first photographer you see in the park for most of my shift... it was hot, sunny, and no rain in site - hence the lovebugs swarmed. People were screaming, kids were crying, people were yelling at me because aparently i was "immune" to them. (I wasn't, I was getting swarmed just as much as them... in fact since we wear white shirts the love bugs are attracted to it!) BUt, by far the funniest thing is counting how many families don't even make it to the crosswalk of Hollywood Boulevard before putting their hands up, swearing, or just saying "this is disgusting" and turning around and leaving the park.

I usually tell screaming kids that they are just movie bugs and that they don't bite.... sometimes that works... sometimes not.

[Zazu]

I know you know better, but I can't help but notice SG's are still having problems with it. While the slot will read the card no matter how you insert it, on my last trip I repeatedly saw guests unable to find the slot!

Seems that there is a very small gap between the top half of the slot and the metal housing. Rather than stick the card in the very obvious card-sized slot, I observed numerous Mensa rejects trying to feed the card into this gap. :confused: :eek:

Build an idiot-proof system, and someone somewhere will build a better idiot.Those better idiots come to the Main Street Railroad Station at Mk and put their cards into the old mechanical turnstiles there. :turn: Yup, that little opening that shows the count is just big enough to swallow them. Imagine their surprise when the cards don't pop out the other side!

And since management won't trust the cast there with a screwdriver, it's a 45 minute wait for maintenance to come out and get their cards back for them.

I'd cheer more, but more than not it's guests from outside the US who also have language challenges, which makes everything more fun!

[mechurchlady]

Now you got me wondering why CMs are not trusted with screwdrivers there.

[Syndrome]

ugh... love bugs... worse than the heat....
It was a riot watching the SGs and love bugs on my last visit. I did a little blog post about it: http://celebrationfl.blogspot.com

[Cranbiz]

Now you got me wondering why CMs are not trusted with screwdrivers there.


Because we will poke our eyes out. :D:

[mechurchlady]

Oh I thought they were afraid the CMs my make a shiv out of the screwdriver and stab some SG in the rump. Boo boo on rump means no sitting down for a week and you need to sit on the trains and rides, lol. I could see Zazu or another CM saying that the SG was poked by a wreckless guest with an umbrella or corn dog stick, lol. :rolleyes:

[BRWombat]

Now you got me wondering why CMs are not trusted with screwdrivers there.Gin & tonics, yes, and maybe the occasional daiquiri, but not screwdrivers.

[Big Wallaby]

Now you got me wondering why CMs are not trusted with screwdrivers there.Well, in buses it's a union thing.

[Kwahati]

Gin & tonics, yes, and maybe the occasional daiquiri, but not screwdrivers.

And in parts of MGM, Manhattans, of course! <rim shot> :D:

[Rob562]

I know you know better, but I can't help but notice SG's are still having problems with it. While the slot will read the card no matter how you insert it, on my last trip I repeatedly saw guests unable to find the slot!

Seems that there is a very small gap between the top half of the slot and the metal housing. Rather than stick the card in the very obvious card-sized slot, I observed numerous Mensa rejects trying to feed the card into this gap. :confused: :eek:

Build an idiot-proof system, and someone somewhere will build a better idiot.

I had this happen to a SG in line in front of me. It took me a minute to figure out what he'd done, and at that point I just shuffled over to another turnstile and kept on going. (Though I was a bit curious to hang around and see how long it took them to retrieve his ticket) :)

I *almost* had a similar thing happen to me at an ATM near my apartment. The bank opened a new branch that included a drive-through ATM. The problem was, the card reader device wasn't properly mounted to the frame of the ATM. So there were *two* slots of equal size within the opening marked "Bank card". One was the actual slot, and the other was the gap between the reader and the frame. The first time I used it (at night, I might add), I *almost* put my card in the wrong opening, but quickly realized the error.
The machine was like that for MONTHS (maybe even a year) until they finally fixed it. During that time, I'd use the ATM and see cards WAAAAYYYY in there in the gap (and sometimes bits of broken-off pens, pencils or sticks from when they tried to get the card back again). Made me wonder whether a) the cards slid freely after you let them go, or b) the users just kept shoving the card into the slot thinking they had to push harder...

I'm also curious why it took the bank so long to fix such an obvious problem.

-Rob