What gives you the right?

[Big Wallaby]

Last night, I was working at the Epcot platform, at the front cab, helping guests who were riding in the front cab, etc. A family of three comes up and gets in, two adults and one child. Another mother starts pushing her kids up and asks if they can ride. I explain the four person policy and she, like so many before, responds that her two kids can count as one. No, ma'am, if you have a pulse you are one person here. I can take one of her kids. She comes up to inspect the front cab, turns around and tells me loudly enough that everyone around can hear, "Well, you should kick one of the adults out." I start working to form an answer that is nice enough that if she reports me, anything mean she says will be exaggeration and I can back myself up, also so that if she reports me I can have said something somewhat unique that will jog my memory if I have to explain myself. Within two seconds, she responds, "That's right, you don't speak English."

I pointed to the door at Car 1, and she went back and sat there. Her kids had done nothing rude, so I let one of them ride in the front cab, being sure to apologize all over myself to the other people there for that rude lady's conduct (and yes, in front of her son... maybe he can still be saved from a life as an SG). I wound up driving that train, so I was able to see them again at TTC. When the doors opened, in front of everyone in the car, I said to her, "You know, when you made your very rude comment, I was working to nicely respond to your question, but then you... Oh, sorry, I just forgot English again. I guess I can't explain anything to you, as you won't understand me anyway."

She must have known she was in the wrong, because she shuffled past, and I went about my business. Other guests were on the verge of laughing, as they had heard the entire exchange from their car.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Sheesh, you shouldn't have to explain to SG's like that! Too bad they dont have a small camera that you can tuck it your pocket, and record the SG!

We were riding the Monorail from Poly to TTC, and on a whim, asked if we could ride up front. (we had asked several other times, but kids and parents had already been selected.)

The CM checked when it pulled in and we got on! There was another father with his little girl and she was having a great time, the father not so much!

The CM driving was doing his best to cheer up the dad. DW and I had a great time, talking with the Driver and generally getting some good pictures! (see album)

After they got out at MK, we asked if he wanted us to give up the seats for someone else, but he said to just stay put.

Had a good conversation with him (and gave him the SGT web site!!)

I don't understand WHY SG's think that they HAVE to have their kids experience every little extra bit. Do they think that the WHOLE trip will be ruined because timmy or tammy dosn't get to ride up front? (Don't answer, I already know!)

I think the last time we rode in the front was at DLR about twelve or thirteen years ago. A fun expreience but not mandatory for us to have a great vacation!

Just keep up the good work BW, don't let them get you down!!

[joanna71985]

Grrrr. I hate people who are like that! Just because it's WDW, why can't adults do fun things too? After all, adults are the ones who pay to get in (not kids). Walt meant the parks to be for people of all ages.

[Big Wallaby]

At that moment (you don't speak English), I was working on something about at Disney World, everyone being a kid.

I don't let this get me down, or anything else. Not five minutes later, I had an awesome interaction with a guest that, I just happened to notice looking like she might need some help. Come to find out, she didn't, but it spawned an awesome conversation.

One purpose of bad people is to make it so that you appreciate the wonderful people you meet even more.

[hobie16]

I've been going to Disneyland since 1956 and never knew what it took to ride in the front until it was brought up on this board. When we went to DL last October we asked the driver if we could and he ushered us right on. Totally cool!!

We got the front two more times in our three days there. Next time we're gonna try the back. :D:

[felinefan]

I haven't been to DLR in so long, I'm not sure if I ever rode the Monorail, but it's possible--we went to DL often when I was a kid--back when parking was 50 cents and adult admission was like $2, seniors and military in uniform $1.75, juniors (over 11 years) got in for 75 cents, 3-11 was 50 cents, and under 3 was free. And it wasn't I got on this site that I found out you can ride in the cab of the monorail.

And no, I didn't have a dinosaur as a pet.:p:

[ktulu]

I've been going to Disneyland since 1956 and never knew what it took to ride in the front until it was brought up on this board. When we went to DL last October we asked the driver if we could and he ushered us right on. Totally cool!!

We got the front two more times in our three days there. Next time we're gonna try the back. :D:

The back was awesome! I had a sleeping 3 yr old, nice A/C blowing and no SG's to deal with!

[Tater]

Okay that's it, this is my first post, but no one picks on a fellow Oregonian without a fight (Rock on BW).

This summer my family and I were able to sit in the front of the monorail twice. Both times we got to the top of the platform and the front line was empty so we asked if we could ride in front. It would never occur to me to split up, why would you want to separate from your kids while at WDW? Aren't you there to experience the magic with them?

I know this sounds old fashioned, but I would rather wait in line longer with my family than separate to get on any ride/transportation faster. Is it wrong that I actually like my Family?

Anyway, keep your chin up BW, it's CM's like you that make the magic going for the rest of us.

[Syndrome]

Sorry you have to deal with SGs like that, BW, and good for you to stick up for the adults. Although we don't do it much now that we're local, Mr. Syndrome and I always used to do a front-car monorail ride during each trip when we visited as tourists. If some entitlement-minded SG tried to make me feel guilty because I was taking up a seat that her kid could occupy, I'd tell her to bite my shiny metal ass.

[Whazzup]

Okay that's it, this is my first post, but no one picks on a fellow Oregonian without a fight (Rock on BW).

This summer my family and I were able to sit in the front of the monorail twice. Both times we got to the top of the platform and the front line was empty so we asked if we could ride in front. It would never occur to me to split up, why would you want to separate from your kids while at WDW? Aren't you there to experience the magic with them?

I know this sounds old fashioned, but I would rather wait in line longer with my family than separate to get on any ride/transportation faster. Is it wrong that I actually like my Family?

Anyway, keep your chin up BW, it's CM's like you that make the magic going for the rest of us.

Welcome, Tater, from another Oregonian. :locomotiv I couldn't find the monorail smiley, sorry.
Glad to have you aboard. Obviously you've been lurking if you know BW was an Oregonian, too. Hope to see you posting again soon. :cheerldr:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

HERE IT IS:

:monotoss:
:amtrak::train:

[CBeilby]

Welcome from the DLR contingent as well, Tater. One of the Marsupials will be along presently.

[Zazu]

I couldn't find the monorail smiley, sorry.It's in the "Wide" section at the end.

:monotoss:

[Big Wallaby]

Okay that's it, this is my first post, but no one picks on a fellow Oregonian without a fight (Rock on BW).

...

...Is it wrong that I actually like my Family?

Well, then, :welcome: to :sgt: from :wombat: and :wallaby: !!! Nice to have you here!

In answer to your question as quoted, there are those to whom it would be a bad thing. But we don't talk about them

Obviously you've been lurking if you know BW was an Oregonian, too. My secret is out...

[Shorty82]

Well, then, :welcome: to :sgt: from :wombat: and :wallaby: !!! Nice to have you here!

In answer to your question as quoted, there are those to whom it would be a bad thing. But we don't talk about them

My secret is out...

You're from Oregon?! I didn't know that! :eek:

(J/K, of course I knew that. Can't know the wallaby personally and not.

[turkeyham]

I hate it when SG think food carts with separate carts with beverage in it is like being at a super market. Come on folks, the cast members don't want you going in and grabbing their inventory. Yes, they do count that in at the end of the day. Also, inside there are sharp edges, do you seriously want to grab something sharp and end up cutting your self? I would not want to, but I have seen the cast members warning to keep your hands out. Cut your self and go to the hospital and get a tetnis shot. Not fun and you should just not do it.:twisted:

[Elena (aka: Bubble Lady)]

okay that's it, this is my first post, but no one picks on a fellow oregonian without a fight (rock on bw).

Anyway, keep your chin up bw, it's cm's like you that make the magic going for the rest of us.



WELCOME to sgt!!!

[Elena (aka: Bubble Lady)]

i had never ridden in the front of a monorail until going to wdw and bw took us up there (he wasn't yet a driver...or do you call them pilots? or engineers?)...THANKS BW!! i have my card still...i still have not ridden in the front of the monorail at dl, but i have ridden in the back (mostly so we could spy, i mean, see what they were doing with the submarine/nemo ride)

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

We got to ride up front this last trip (see album!)

we shared with a dad and his little girl, the girl was having fun, the dad...not so much.

[Mystic]

How often is there a line up to ride in the front with the driver on the trip from the TTC to Epcot? My mom and I are heading to the World on Dec 2, 2008 and we're taking her cousin and partner with us and were hoping to be able to ride up front with the driver once as it's not something they've ever done before.

[EmptyCinema]

I'm sure BW could provide a more specific answer, but as someone who loves riding in the front of the monorails (especially on the way to Epcot... great view going around the loop) I'll give my best estimate.

In my experience, so few guests know you can do it that there is rarely a line. When there is, it is usually only one monorail and the CMs on the platform are usually more than happy for you to stand behind the family in front and wait for the next monorail. At peak hours, when there is a wait, I believe the monorails usually come every 6 minutes or so.

I love it when the Monorail Pilot is one of the talkative ones who seems to enjoy having guests in the front... I've had a few who seemed like they felt like the cab was their opportunity to be away from guests and wouldn't even answer questions. (Nothing tricky, things like "How long have you been a pilot?")

[disneyaddict]

I love it when the Monorail Pilot is one of the talkative ones who seems to enjoy having guests in the front... I've had a few who seemed like they felt like the cab was their opportunity to be away from guests and wouldn't even answer questions. (Nothing tricky, things like "How long have you been a pilot?")

My dad, stepmom, and I rode in the front once. The pilot just stared at us the entire time, and didn't talk much. Quite freaky. We have a scrapbook of that trip, and he has a page all to himself...a giant picture of him, labelled "Scary Conductor [name]".

[BRWombat]

...I love it when the Monorail Pilot is one of the talkative ones who seems to enjoy having guests in the front... I've had a few who seemed like they felt like the cab was their opportunity to be away from guests and wouldn't even answer questions. (Nothing tricky, things like "How long have you been a pilot?")On our family's first WDW trip we were able to ride the TTC-Epcot line at dusk. Our monorail pilot was pretty quiet, but we didn't mind. We were too busy soaking up the view.

But what made him really memorable was the one time he did get enthusiastic, when I mentioned that this amazing trip must just seem like a job to him. You could hear the affection in his voice as he replied, "Oh, no. It's like having my own giant train set to play with every day!" :)

On a tangent... Hey, Wallaby, how much of your Safari spiel have you been able to adapt to the monorails? I'm curious if you're still using the line you gave us when we entered the savanna -- you know, something like "I love this view. I only get to see it every two weeks or so. I wish I could get here more often." :D: That would be awesome on the trains!

[kurtisnelson]

I have ridden on the Wallabyrail, and he did have fun replacing the broken door spiels. He did not have a spiel for the cab, but I think that is best.

On riding in the front it really depends on if you are at peak, but there is at most one train ahead of you.

[EmptyCinema]

I really hope that when my GF and I are there in December, we might be able to track down the Wallabyrail and going for a ride in the cab.

[turkeyham]

When I was there with my friends, we did take the monorail nightly to the Polynesian resort. We would get our vanilla dole whip and take a few laps on the resort monorail. We meet up with bigwallaby and Shorty82 and a few other cast members. We had a blast, we plan to do that in the future again.:)

[Doctor McKey]

At that moment (you don't speak English), I was working on something about at Disney World, everyone being a kid.

I don't let this get me down, or anything else. Not five minutes later, I had an awesome interaction with a guest that, I just happened to notice looking like she might need some help. Come to find out, she didn't, but it spawned an awesome conversation.

One purpose of bad people is to make it so that you appreciate the wonderful people you meet even more.

BW: You should have started saying something in ASL, I know you and Brook had intresting conversations..... =-P

[Tinker Bell]

Okay that's it, this is my first post, but no one picks on a fellow Oregonian without a fight (Rock on BW).

This summer my family and I were able to sit in the front of the monorail twice. Both times we got to the top of the platform and the front line was empty so we asked if we could ride in front. It would never occur to me to split up, why would you want to separate from your kids while at WDW? Aren't you there to experience the magic with them?

I know this sounds old fashioned, but I would rather wait in line longer with my family than separate to get on any ride/transportation faster. Is it wrong that I actually like my Family?

Anyway, keep your chin up BW, it's CM's like you that make the magic going for the rest of us.

I snorted diet coke thru my nose when I read that. Isn't it funny how some people behave? I swear, I have reach the point were I honestly question some people's brain functions. If you family annoys you at home what possibly makes you think you will like them a 1000 miles away from home. I do not get it and it's fairly often that I see that.

[turkeyham]

There was one night my sister, my friend and I got to sit in the front with BW. This family came up to him and demanded that they had to sit up there. He said "Sorry, there is a family in there already." They had a hissy fit and they wanted a manager. Our group waited at the MK monorail station for 15 minutes to get the front. There should be a fasspass machine at each monorail stop. The machines would let a certain amount of riders each hour for the front. :twisted:

[hobie16]

Demanded?!?! Dude,just hang out until the next monorail comes in. You will get up front.

[Whazzup]

Hey Wallaby! We'll be there Nov 8-15th. PM me your schedule and we'll try to meet up, okay? Hope to see Shorty82 also.
If anyone else wants to PM me your schedule or your description, we'd love to stop by and say howdy and introduce ourselves. Cranbiz, I wanna ask you again about the bus route at OKW - I'll send you a PM.

Gettin' excited about our trip to WDW next week. YEEEEHAWWWW!! :D:

[iheartny]

Welcome, Tater, from another Oregonian. :locomotiv I couldn't find the monorail smiley, sorry.
Glad to have you aboard. Obviously you've been lurking if you know BW was an Oregonian, too. Hope to see you posting again soon. :cheerldr:

I'm an Oregonian ALSO! Oregon <3's Disney!... not SGs.

[drcorey]

I am a vegan, err, not the veggie eater one, the ones from Las Vegas, Nv!

[turkeyham]

I lived in Corvallis, Oregon. I miss all the green and rain. My dad taught at OSU. Go Beavers!;)

[hobie16]

I lived north of Seattle. I miss the green but I sure don't miss the rain and snow.

[turkeyham]

Right now we are getting hit with the rain. Maybe if it rains enough, my grass in the front yard might turn green. The sprinkler system in our condo complex does not turn on near my unit. I was just in Seattle visiting my youngest sister. The weather was nice and cold in June. Everything was green.:)

[Princess Susi]

Last trip, to DL we rode in the front. There was a couple standing behind us that was waiting for the first car and the CM on the platform asked if there was another party of 2 who wanted the front. Most people just looked at him with a blank stare. I told the couple behind us to take it and ride the front. So they joined us and had the best time of their lives. They had no idea they could ride there just by asking. It was certainly one of the most memorable treats for them, they told us! :D:

It seems a LOT of folks don't know about asking. But as we were getting in the front, a woman with 2 children tried to shove herself and her kids into the door, when the CM told her no, it was full and she would have to ride in a car. She tried to argue with him. We saw her get out of the first car when we arrived in Tomorrowland.

The young couple thanked us over and over for showing them one of the best kept secrets about the monorail. I told them all you have to do is ask and if there are other parties waiting and you really want to ride the front, it is worth waiting in line to do so. We always ask now if we feel like a front cab ride. It is so much fun. We had such a great pilot too. He was so cool!
Vampire Princess Susi

Rain?Snow? We have a high of -11 today and snow all over. We are expecting more snow tomorrow, then Thursday and the weekend. I just hope we can get out of here and the airport stays open on Tuesday when we fly to John Wayne for our Christmas trip. I don't want another 2006 when they shut the airport down for 2 and half days and we flew standby 14 hours later. If it snows too much and becomes a nightmare to get out of here, we are cancelling the trip. :(

[Big Wallaby]

I love when I get a family or group of people that have no clue they can ride in the front cab, but they come up to the front car. Even better when they are the only people on the platform, and it's even better when I am about to drive the next train out. I'll make a point of not allowing them to ride in the car in some way, and instead direct them toward the cab. The looks of wonderful confusion are great. Sometimes, I'll ask if they want to see the cockpit, but not let them know they're going to ride there. The longer I can keep them from knowing what's going on, the better.

[ktulu]

You know what is more fun than riding in the front of the monorail, the wheel house of the Mark Twain :D:

Seriously, I got to blow the whistle AND ring the bell! Abby did too, but she wasn't that impressed until she found out the Captain really would let her ring the bell/blow the whistle. It was really cool to hear about the room that Walt had up there as well. Ah...good times!

[drcorey]

I love when I get a family or group of people that have no clue they can ride in the front cab, but they come up to the front car. Even better when they are the only people on the platform, and it's even better when I am about to drive the next train out. I'll make a point of not allowing them to ride in the car in some way, and instead direct them toward the cab. The looks of wonderful confusion are great. Sometimes, I'll ask if they want to see the cockpit, but not let them know they're going to ride there. The longer I can keep them from knowing what's going on, the better.

heck, some don't have a clue they can ride in the back...

[mechurchlady]

Best thing was riding in the caboose on the train at DL.

[turkeyham]

The Lillybelle (sp) is nice too. Any where that has an open space is just fine with me. :)

[hobie16]

It wasn't Disney but my best ride ever was in the jump seat of a Gulfstream 4 jet going in for landing. It seemed like we were floating in air until the annunciator said fifteen feet. Everything suddenly accelerated like on the Millenium Falcon when it went into hyperspace.

[turkeyham]

You should try Mission Space. Not the green level. That is a good ride, but don't eat anything before going on it. if you get motion sickness, avoid at all means.:eek: