Fantasmic! SG Report

[glendalais]

So I worked a Fantasmic! HH (or FSW, as it's now known as) shift tonight.

As a result, I have a nice, plump load of SG tales to further enchant, delight, and entertain you (it's 3 a.m. in the morning, cut me some slack on my attempts at humour, lol). Oh, and I have an SCMT and an SCM for you as well :).

SG tale #1:

I'm standing in front of Riverbelle Terrace, spieling that you must continue walking straight down the path and cannot stop at any time.

A family of 4 comes up and just stands in the middle of the way as the show is starting. I ask them to keep moving.

Their response (and I quote this verbatim): "Why are you being such an a**, we're just trying to watch the show! It's not like we're blocking anybody!"

This is while a queue is beginning to form behind/beside them. Some people are going around them, but a lot of people are just waiting for them to move (SG tale in and off itself).

I eventually tell them with what is probably my most forced Disney smile that they must move and point out alternate viewing areas. They tell me that I'm being an a****** and storm off.

SG Tale #2:

After the first show, I got sent to the entrance of Frontierland to help with the crowd control for the people coming from watching the Fireworks to see the 2nd show. I ask the crowd to be patient and wait a few minutes until we drop the rope so they can proceed to see the show or access the Westside. Most importantly, I tell people not to attempt to cross the planter that I'm standing on that is filled with cactus and other desert plants.

Almost as soon as I'm done with my spiel, at least 10 people attempt to climb over the planter.

You think they would be dissuaded by the giant cacti with sharp thorns.

SCMT:

As you might know, Fantasmic! has several unexpected large explosions as part of the show. I've seen it a bunch of times, so you think I would be used to it, no?

Nope, at the first explosion, I leaped up and almost threw the flashlight straight into my face.

Again, my name is glendalais, and I'm an idiot :D:.

SCM:

The one bad thing of the evening was that one of the Foods CMs who works Fantasmic! regularly has a major attitude problem. I mean, I can handle the verbal abuse he directs at other CMs (did I mention he seems to have an superiority complex, as well). But, when you start swearing horrible things on stage in full view of families with small children (and he wasn't being that discreet about it, either), it just gets my blood boiling :mad:.

That kind of behaviour isn't appropriate in ANY workplace. AND IT MOST CERTAINLY ISN'T APPROPRIATE AT DISNEYLAND!:blowup:

He's lucky we were so busy, and didn't get backstage until later, otherwise I would have certainly let him know my opinion of his behaviour. I'm still thinking of reporting him to a manager.

[GaTechGal]

glendalais please don't wait to report bad behavior of another employee. If his manager doesn't know about the behavior, then he can't change it. And it really amazes me when folks do what you JUST told them not to.

[mechurchlady]

there are infractions that can be overlooked but never should guests be subjected to cussing. Immediately he should have been reported or a manager out there. People are happier in line than being cussed out. Also by having the manager out there ASAP then you might still have witnesses.

Thanks for the story, lol, they were good.

[DisneyMom]

Wow, good Report! It would be funny to see how many would cross into the planter if you added, "And we don't want to disturb our newborn rattlesnakes!" into the warning:twisted:

[GuestJockey]

I cannot say it enough - guest control is the most abused position in the park. You guys take SO much abuse from guests just for trying to do your job and keep everyone safe, and then there are the lovely 2-3 CMs on GC that get the power trip and use it to abuse guests. Your trip report has both, and I would like to be probably the only one to say: thank you for doing what you do!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Wow, bad show for the CM. I can understand the SG's that seems to have become a normal thing. (RULES? but I'm a guest, you can't tell ME what to do!) The danger of that CM cursing, is that a LOT of people have camers that are able to take movies, and it could show up somewhere!

I would report them as soon as you could! I would hate to have my grandkids in tow, and have them here that from a CM!

[missmonkey]

And it really amazes me when folks do what you JUST told them not to.

I've heard that this happens because people disregard the "don't" in the "Don't do this!" command. They only hear "Do this!" so they follow orders. It was explained a being a type of brain fart. People are expecting a positive command. It was suggested that one should rephrase; instead, say, "Stay away from the sharp cactus!" I've always wondered if that would work.

Nah! Go with the baby rattlesnake thing. :D

It must have been an especially crappy shift for you to still be steamed about it at 3 in the morning. My appreciation goes out to everyone doing guest control.

[glendalais]

It wasn't that bad, I just got home late, lol.

I would have reported him right then and there, but it was one of those "the managers are never there when you need them" things.

[joanna71985]

I agree, doing crowd control is hard. It seems that guests hear the opposite of what you are telling them to do (for example: "please don't go under the ropes, because a 5-ton float is coming" seems to come out as "oh yeah, you can go under the ropes. Don't let the float hit you on your way out").:rolleyes:

[Princess Susi]

Yeah, I gotta hand to you guys who do Guest Control for those shows. You take a licking and keep on ticking!
Oh My, F! is back already!:rolleyes: I thought we had until at least May til it was up again. So that with the twofers and all the regular SG's, you are just having a swell time!
Hey Glendalais, PM me with your hours from Sat April 5th to Wed April 9th. When you get them is fine. I will be checking my PMs and emails everyday. Want to try to catch up with you this trip. :D: We missed you last time.:(
Susi

[Polar33]

As you might know, Fantasmic! has several unexpected large explosions as part of the show. I've seen it a bunch of times, so you think I would be used to it, no?

Nope, at the first explosion, I leaped up and almost threw the flashlight straight into my face.

On a similar note, I often take my lunch break during pyro. And for those unaware, the Inn Between patio is right between two launching points for the show. I've grown quite accustomed to the timing of the blasts, but most have not. It makes for some quite entertaining moments.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

On a similar note, I often take my lunch break during pyro. And for those unaware, the Inn Between patio is right between two launching points for the show. I've grown quite accustomed to the timing of the blasts, but most have not. It makes for some quite entertaining moments.

Yes, but do you chew your food in syncopation to the explosions?

[ktulu]

Yes, but do you chew your food in syncopation to the explosions?

No but if eats the right foods before hand he can fart in sync with them :D:

[hobie16]

No but if eats the right foods before hand he can fart in sync with them :D:
You should work on a drum roll during the countdown to the first explosion.

[Mad Maxx]

'm standing in front of Riverbelle Terrace, spieling that you must continue walking straight down the path and cannot stop at any time.

A family of 4 comes up and just stands in the middle of the way as the show is starting. I ask them to keep moving.

Their response (and I quote this verbatim): "Why are you being such an a**, we're just trying to watch the show! It's not like we're blocking anybody!"

This is while a queue is beginning to form behind/beside them. Some people are going around them, but a lot of people are just waiting for them to move (SG tale in and off itself).

I eventually tell them with what is probably my most forced Disney smile that they must move and point out alternate viewing areas. They tell me that I'm being an a****** and storm off.

Ohh, I got a family like that during circle flow right infront of the Plaza Inn during pyro. We had a few families show up after the show started with wheel chairs. Now, we cant exactly tell them to go into the street with the lights off, so I give them the spot on the rail back into the entrance of the restaurant. No harm done. Its out of the way of the walkway enough that it doesnt hurt the flow. But then I had this family show up. They started to sit on the rail. I told them that it is a walkway and they do need to find a spot in the ropes or the street unfortunately. The father/husband starts telling me right ot my face that they arent in the walkway (yes, you are. the railing is the one side of the walkway) and that one more family on the rail wont change a thing (yes, it does. You sitting there means that I have to let EVERY OTHER family sit there) and then he pulled the golden one. He yells at me that they did not drive 1,000 miles to get told that they can not watch the fireworks. Uhh, Im not saying that you cant watch, just not from right here. So, in the end, they took the rail (I couldnt get a lead or anyone to help me with them) and I just stood RIGHT IN FRONT of them yelling over the music to keep the walkways moving. Oh, and did I mention that I have a flashlight, so they prolly got to see the orange cone on if for half the show.

So, the walkway almost did fully jam up. People we sitting on all the railings to like 3 and 4 deep in some areas and leaving just enough room for a single file of guests to get through.

I think because of them, I had about 10 other families pull the same thing with wanting to sit on the rail. And I got yelled at about how all they can do is walk around and around about 3 or 4 times. Boy am I glad that we didn't have to do a CFA run in the middle of the show like last week.

[ktulu]

You should work on a drum roll during the countdown to the first explosion.

I have that down pat, but last time I practiced, it resulted in a dutch oven and my wife was NOT happy :eek:

[hobie16]

I have that down pat, but last time I practiced, it resulted in a dutch oven and my wife was NOT happy :eek:
Something about an open flame comes to mind.

[Purpura]

On a similar note, I often take my lunch break during pyro. And for those unaware, the Inn Between patio is right between two launching points for the show. I've grown quite accustomed to the timing of the blasts, but most have not. It makes for some quite entertaining moments.

HEY POLAR! You know-*giggle* We could have been feet apart. I work at Plaza... and sometimes I get breaks before/during Pyro... I usually eat/stay inside Inn Between though. Wanna meet you too :D

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Something about an open flame comes to mind.

Now THATS a pyro show!!!


That reminds me of a pyro show some australian sailors showed us at a bar one night!

[EeyoresButterfly]

Crowd control is always interesting. I remember working PAC for 4th of July at MK in WDW, and it was a nightmare. This was when we still had the planters in the hub and I was on planter duty. I had to crouch in the planters and tell people not to get into them. I spent my night getting scratched on the legs by plants and yelled at by SGs who can't figure out you don't stand in the planter.

[MaddenHatter]

Now THATS a pyro show!!!


That reminds me of a pyro show some australian sailors showed us at a bar one night!That's a dangerous mixture right there.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

That's a dangerous mixture right there.

Their humor is.....unique!

[lady ulrike]

I agree, doing crowd control is hard. It seems that guests hear the opposite of what you are telling them to do (for example: "please don't go under the ropes, because a 5-ton float is coming" seems to come out as "oh yeah, you can go under the ropes. Don't let the float hit you on your way out").:rolleyes:

You know I had a woman arguing with me about not letting her across the parade route (she was in a crossover area) because her family was on the other side. Thing is the float was literally in the middle of the crossover. She used the line, 'you don't understand, my family is on the other side' I replied with, 'You don't understand there's a huge float in the way'
Yes, she said family, which to me implies adults, if she had said child I would've had more sympathy, but I think adults can handle themselves for 5 minutes while she waits for the next crossover.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

You know I had a woman arguing with me about not letting her across the parade route (she was in a crossover area) because her family was on the other side. Thing is the float was literally in the middle of the crossover. She used the line, 'you don't understand, my family is on the other side' I replied with, 'You don't understand there's a huge float in the way'
Yes, she said family, which to me implies adults, if she had said child I would've had more sympathy, but I think adults can handle themselves for 5 minutes while she waits for the next crossover.

??? Maybe she was expecting you could sprinkle some magic pixie dust and make her fly over the float?

Or make the float disappear for a few minutes so she could cross?

Duuuuuuhhhhhh!!!

[Randy B]

??? Maybe she was expecting you could sprinkle some magic pixie dust and make her fly over the float?

Or make the float disappear for a few minutes so she could cross?

Duuuuuuhhhhhh!!!

Actuallty she was in her "mild mannered secret identity" and was secretly able to walk through the float. But you were protecting her secret identity as it was very likely that someone in the crowd would see her exercising her super power while not in hero uniform. ;):rolleyes::D:

Randy

[Terrytunes]

uh, hero COSTUME!!

TT

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

uh, hero COSTUME!!

TT

Would that be the one that has the letters SG on the front?

[Theme Park Where]

Like this?

http://www.themepark-where.com/images/superguest.jpg

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Like this?

http://www.themepark-where.com/images/superguest.jpg

VERY GOOD!!!!


You should send that to Zazu!!!

[Main Streeter]

I often take my lunch break during pyro. And for those unaware, the Inn Between patio is right between two launching points for the show.Me too, & I see you there sometimes. Am positive I'm one of the CMs you laugh at as I tend to leap during blasts. :o: Go ahead & have fun as I jump. Security always makes fun of me during pyro. ;)

[Zazu]

You should send that to Zazu!!!No need. I've already got it. :supergst:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

No need. I've already got it. :supergst:

Sorry, should have figured you be on a "new" icon!

[Theme Park Where]

I'm honored that "Guy" is now an official SGT icon!

[glendalais]

Well, I just finished my stint at Fantasmic!, I ended up working 7 shifts over a 3 week period, which is a goodly number for a Eastside Foods CM.

Anyway, I have a few more SGT stories for you all, lol. Unless otherwise noted, these all occured near the entrance of Frontierland, where we direct traffic in a way that people heading to the Westside (for Fantasmic! and other things) are held up at the Mark Twain Riverboat Landing for a few minutes, while we clear out people from the first showing. There are benches set up to enforce this, as well as planters filled with sharp cacti (I have the scratches on my leg to prove this, lol)

Story #1
I'm spieling that everyone should wait patiently and not attempt to cross the barriers/planters. Suddenly, some guy jumps the barrier, runs across the planter (jumping over several rather large cacti), flings himself over the other side of the planter, and makes a run for it. He got caught by several other CMs down the way and sent to the back of the line.

He might have not made it, but if he ever wanted to, he could certainly make the national Olympic Cross-Country running team, lol.

Story #2
A couple attempted to cross the benches, they forced their way through screaming that they had PS arrangements at the Blue Bayou that they were going to be late for (in reality, Blue Bayou knows the GC policies, and don't have a problem with you being late if your reservation is around that time, as far as I know).

I jokingly mentioned to a lead who was passing by that there should be a way that we could cancel the PS arrangements of Guests who do that. He nodded and walked over and called someone on the ODV stands' phone.

I don't know who he called, but one can hope that the couple got a "lovely" surprise when they arrived for their reservation :twisted:.

Story #3
We had dropped the rope and people were beginning to flood, ever so slowly, into the Westside. I spiel the normal safety things (walk, don't run; no shoving; etc.). Suddenly, this girl standing in front of me turns and goes:

What???

And, I know she heard me. :rolleyes:

Story #4
This is over by River Belle Terrace. I ask a family who had decided to watch from the middle of the pathway to move to our standing area, since they couldn't watch there. They look at me like I'm crazy, and basically ask each other in French if any of them know what I'm saying. I speak French as my second language (and have a Language Pin to prove it), so I repeat myself in French.

They still stand there looking at me like deer in headlights. I had to resort to hand gestures to get them to move.

[Randy B]

Story #4
This is over by River Belle Terrace. I ask a family who had decided to watch from the middle of the pathway to move to our standing area, since they couldn't watch there. They look at me like I'm crazy, and basically ask each other in French if any of them know what I'm saying. I speak French as my second language (and have a Language Pin to prove it), so I repeat myself in French.

They still stand there looking at me like deer in headlights. I had to resort to hand gestures to get them to move.

Don't you love it when someone tries the "I don't have to follow the rules because I can't understand you" ploy and you can crush their hopes? :D:

It might be worth it to learn the spiel in a dozen languages (including sign language) and when someone tries the "?" trick you just bombard them with the instructions in one language after another (while signing as well). :D:

Randy

[Zazu]

Don't you love it when someone tries the "I don't have to follow the rules because I can't understand you" ploy and you can crush their hopes? :D:

It might be worth it to learn the spiel in a dozen languages (including sign language) and when someone tries the "?" trick you just bombard them with the instructions in one language after another (while signing as well). :D:My usual routine on the train:

"Please sit down!"
"¡Setentese por favor!"
"Setzen sie sich, bitte!"
and finally
"Itsay ownday easeplay!"

For some reason, that last language always seemed to work when the others failed.

[Randy B]

My usual routine on the train:

"Please sit down!"
"¡Setentese por favor!"
"Setzen sie sich, bitte!"
and finally
"Itsay ownday easeplay!"

For some reason, that last language always seemed to work when the others failed.

It couldn't be because you accompany the last one with the dog trainers trick of bumping the back of their knees at the same time?

Randy