Are guests getting dumber?

[RebuildtheKingdom]

Although this topic could go in any of the particular park forums (DL, WDW, DLP, etc) I thought I'd throw it in here since WDW pulls in more guests per year, and thus could give a more far reaching answer.

Are guests getting dumber each year, or have they always "left their brain at the gate". Or is it simply a case of more people are "checking out" than those who used to. I'm wondering if this is a recent trend or something that has always existed.

I'd be interested in hearing from CMs with a lot of experience (10+ years) with the Mouse as well as newer CMs. I think some of the problems may be from some sort of sensory overload...but then again, there are some folks out there who are just smart enough to breathe. :D

[Sweetums]

There's always going to be the few tourists that are "dumber than dirt" no matter where they go. (Accounting for about 5% of all Disney Guests.) Whether it's Disney World or someplace else, they just don't get it. -and they never will. Hopefully they never breed, but all attempts to stop them haven't been successful.
But, consider this observation for the rest of the percentage; As the size of WDW property expands and new things are added, it's very easy for a tourist to get lost or overwhelmed by the sheer amount of entertainment possibilities. Even return guests may find themselves asking a dumb question every now and then just because they are aware that Disney World has evolved and they no longer know what to expect.
Of course, it's just a theory. TV and the internet could really be eating the world's brain cells and people are getting dumberer.

[ThenIDrifted]

I don't know about guests in general but I fear that I will be far dumber than usual on our trip, and we leave in the morning. This is because my dearest grandmother passed away last week and I am not firing on all thrusters.

Everyone told me that I should still take my daughter on this trip, which was already rescheduled once due to hurricanes and we have other family meeting us down there. I also had an undeniable sign from Grandma (long story, and I never believe that stuff, either!) that she wants me to go and remember her somehow there, as we spent a lot of time together in WDW.

So if in the next week you're asked an exceedingly dumb question by a 30-ish chick with geeky glasses rolling along in a wheelchair, please be merciful. It might be me LOL

I'll try not to do anything too worthy of mention here :oops:

~TID

[Zazu]

Are guests getting dumber each year, or have they always "left their brain at the gate".
I think the level of stupidity is holding pretty steady. This year, as in years past, roughly half the population is below average intelligence.

Two things are, I belive, increasing. One is a lack of comprehension of English. This is partly because we're seeing more guest from outside the US, but mostly because of US residents who aren't fluent. As these folks are allowed to vote, this worries me.

The other thing I see increasing is incivility. Guests seem yearly to be more and more willing to yell, threaten, or physically assault CMs. I even had an incident last year where two guests got into a fight with each other and had to be removed by Alpha Unit and OCSD.

But it's not really the violence that worries me most, it's the deliberate rudeness, the use of strollers for battering rams, the lack of a common standard of decent behavior.

I know it's not the 1950s any more, or even the 1970s. We're a more diverse society, and we're including more and more folks from other societies to join us here. Being a "melting pot" is one of the great things about America. But lately we seem not to be blending very well.

Yes, visiting a theme park is a stressful situation, if only for the stimulation of the new and strange. Disney doesn't really *want* to change that too much -- a certain amount of "glazing" I consider to be part of the goal. Yet it seems more and more to be a justification for acting in ways that would get you immediately killfiled if you tried them online.

I hope I'm wrong here. I've only worked at the park for five years, but it seems that these symptoms are being reflected outside the berm as well. Maybe it's just that I am getting older and less tolerant. Frankly, that would be preferable, but I doubt it.

There are days when I think it might be a good idea to take Jerry Pournelle's advice and require all able adults to carry firearms with them at all times when in public. This makes more sense when you recall Pournelle's Law, which is, "An armed society is a polite society... after the first six bloody months."

[TMiles]

Here is a stupid guest I had today. I drive the Monorail at The W.D.W. complex. For those of you that don't know, the north wing of the Contemporary is being leveled to make way for A 15 story vacation club building.

Well with that said, a guest, seeing the building in shambles, asked, "what happened to the building?"

I responded with the above statement. Then she said, "Are there still people in those rooms?"

So blown away with that comment, I couldn't answer, I just set there trying to keep from laughing until I reached the Magic Kingdom Station, where she got out.

Terry

[leftcoaster]

Well with that said, a guest, seeing the building in shambles, asked, "what happened to the building?"

I responded with the above statement. Then she said, "Are there still people in those rooms?"

So blown away with that comment, I couldn't answer, I just set there trying to keep from laughing until I reached the Magic Kingdom Station, where she got out.

Terry

So it is true what they say...."...no guests actually die inside any of the parks."








[Extra space for Zazu to delete]






They die in the resorts. :p:

[Syndrome]

I think that part of it is the two general attitudes that seem to be so prevalent today:

"It's all about ME."
"Somebody else always has to be responsible for my woes."

Kids learn that they don't have to respect authority because Mom and Dad don't want to hurt their fragile little egos. No surprise that the kid thinks he can disregard warning signs, CMs, etc., knowing that the parental units will back him up to the hilt.

And when the idiot offspring takes a header on his Heelies, it's Disney's fault for having rough pavement, and Disney should of course compensate them for the trauma.

[darph nader]

The sad part is,Syndrome is right. Don't make people feel 'bad',it might give them low self esteem. :(

[Moonliner]

The words 'dumber' and 'stupid' as used in this forum a catch-all phrases for a varirty of guest failings. Yes, some indeed would legitimately fall under the category of stupid, but others may be defined otherwise.

Clueless - these guests are so unprepared they have to be led by the hand and have everything explained to them. Good thing is they have the chance of learning and evolving into good guests.

Skeptic - these guests purposely fail to be drawn into the magic of the parks. Everything is fake. They are more concerned with maximizing there dollar spent then finding the joy of the experience.

Mugwumps - their mug may be in WDW but there wump is still in the outside world, and they bring all that baggage with them. They'll never enjoy the fantasy of the park as they won't let go of their ties to reality.

Oblivion - these guests just have no idea how what they do effects others around them. Whether in line, waiting for fireworks or eating in a restaurant, they are in a world of their own - end their children with them.

Spoiled - applies to many annual passholders, but not exclusively. They are truly legends in their own mind, and expect everyone, CM and other guest alike, to defer to their royal status.

So to answer the question "Are guests getting dumber", I would suggest that no, but the number of thes other variants - most notible the clueless and oblivions - are increasing. 'Smart' guests would be wise to learn to spot these guests, and ways to avoid them and their antics.

[Main Streeter]

[Extra space for Zazu to delete]Hey left, you like thin ice don't you? :D: ;)

[leftcoaster]

I think that part of it is the two general attitudes that seem to be so prevalent today:

"It's all about ME."
"Somebody else always has to be responsible for my woes."

Kids learn that they don't have to respect authority because Mom and Dad don't want to hurt their fragile little egos. No surprise that the kid thinks he can disregard warning signs, CMs, etc., knowing that the parental units will back him up to the hilt.

And when the idiot offspring takes a header on his Heelies, it's Disney's fault for having rough pavement, and Disney should of course compensate them for the trauma.

OMG! Someone in the medical/social worker type field that I agree with! (No sarcasm here, I'm being totally honest.)

*Bows, kneels, kisses the feet, etc etc...

Please, oh please tell me that it's still okay for teachers to use RED pen to correct kids' mistakes.

Please tell me that it is okay for parents to say NO to their kids when they demand something.

Please tell me that it's okay for schools to tell parents that "Yes, C is AVERAGE, and that most kids are not 'gifted and talented' and do not belong in AP classes."

[SWTexasBelle]

Nice job describing the various types of SG, Moonliner!

[leftcoaster]

Hey left, you like thin ice don't you? :D: ;)

Knowing you, if I fall through said thin ice, you'll probably throw me a pine float, eh?

:p: ;)

[Syndrome]

OMG! Someone in the medical/social worker type field that I agree with! (No sarcasm here, I'm being totally honest.)

*Bows, kneels, kisses the feet, etc etc...

Please, oh please tell me that it's still okay for teachers to use RED pen to correct kids' mistakes.

Please tell me that it is okay for parents to say NO to their kids when they demand something.

Please tell me that it's okay for schools to tell parents that "Yes, C is AVERAGE, and that most kids are not 'gifted and talented' and do not belong in AP classes."
Heck yeah!!! In the psych. field, look for professionals with a cognitive/rational emotive bent. We're the "get off your butt and deal with it" types (although not always quite that harshly...I tailor it for each client. I do a little insight oriented work, i.e. "Mom was mean to me so now my life is a mess," but mostly I focus on the cognitive approach, i.e. "Maybe you were stuck then, but you have the power now, so USE it!"

Originally I was going to do my dissertation on ADHD, but I changed my mind because my view is...well, let's just say it's not in line with the popular "Drug 'em all into zombies" mindset.

The reason "The Incredibles" is my favorite Disney movie is because of three wonderful lines: "Why do they keep finding new ways to celebrate mediocrity?" (Mr. Incredible bemoaning his son "graduating" from 5th grade), "Everyone is special, Dash"..."Which is another way of saying that no one is" (Dash and his mom), and "When everyone is super, then no one will be" (my main man Syndrome, and an apt description of the state the U.S. is rapidly approaching).

[BRWombat]

...The reason "The Incredibles" is my favorite Disney movie is because of two wonderful lines: "Why do they keep finding new ways to celebration mediocrity?" (Mr. Incredible bemoaning his son "graduating" from 5th grade) and "When everyone is super, then no one will be" (the state the U.S. is rapidly approaching).ITA, Syndrome -- right up there with "Everyone's special, Dash" / "Which is another way of saying that no one is."

And moonliner -- awesome list!

[Syndrome]

LOL! Great minds think alike!!! Just as you were typing your response, I was in editing mine to include that very quote...it came to me as soon as I hit the "reply" button. :p:

[Rosie]

Originally I was going to do my dissertation on ADHD, but I changed my mind because my view is...well, let's just say it's not in line with the popular "Drug 'em all into zombies" mindset.


OH MY GOD, someone, a professional no less, agrees with me on this issue! I would rather had 5 kids bouncing around the classroom than 1 zombie. No one at school agree with me though. I have one kid who is so out of it each morning I want to scream....Thanks you Syndrome, you have made my day.

Rosie

[msep003]

i think in all Disney Parks you'll find '' Dumb Guests '' .

FastPass make Tourists and lots of guest more stupid . At DLP they are a lots of tourists and this is what happened .

Buzz Fast Pass Return at the end of the day and no more FPs

Guest : sorry where i can get those FPs tickets ?
CM: We're sorry but all FPs have been distibued today
Guest : ok But why i paid that ticket for and can't get a FP Ticket ?
CM : Because FPs Tickets are limited tickets and no one can't get one after the machines closed .
Guest : Fuck what a Stupid Disney System

Space Mountain : grouper position

CM : I'm sorry sir you son is too small for this ride he can't ride it
Guest : Well I paid a Ticket to get in the park and why my son can't go on ?
CM : I'm sorry sir there is Height Restriction because this ride have some restraints that you son can"t fit .
Guest : Wait my son been on Rock'n Roller Coaster at the WDS and this ride looks similar .
CM : Yes sir but Space Mountain Opened almost 10 Years before Rock'n Roller Coaster Opened and the Safety Measure wasn't the same .
Guest : Ok i want to see the Manager right now because i've been queing for ages and my son are finally too small .

The guest finally left the ride after 10 min with his son and he was very mad
at the CM .

How are the British Guests overthere in America with the CM ?

[leftcoaster]

OH MY GOD, someone, a professional no less, agrees with me on this issue! I would rather had 5 kids bouncing around the classroom than 1 zombie. No one at school agree with me though. I have one kid who is so out of it each morning I want to scream....Thanks you Syndrome, you have made my day.

Rosie

I read on another message board where a mother has a "special needs" kid, who can be "out of control" at times, and the mother drugs the kid.

[Main Streeter]

Knowing you, if I fall through said thin ice, you'll probably throw me a pine float, eh?
:p: ;)Nope left, pine float is not my specialty. ;) If you're on thin ice forget me! I'm in Ca. & don't due ice!68 here & I'm freezing. Guess I'm only your fair weather friend. :) :o:

[leftcoaster]

Nope left, pine float is not my specialty. ;) If you're on thin ice forget me! I'm in Ca. & don't due ice!68 here & I'm freezing. Guess I'm only your fair weather friend. :) :o:

68 and your freezing ? :eek:

Maybe you need someone to keep you warm? ;)

[Main Streeter]

Maybe you need someone to keep you warm? ;)This is a CT position & is filled at this time. Try again in 3 months. :D:

[leftcoaster]

This is a CT position & is filled at this time. Try again in 3 months. :D:

You know I am kidding. :)

[Syndrome]

I read on another message board where a mother has a "special needs" kid, who can be "out of control" at times, and the mother drugs the kid.
All too common...in my internship, I saw supposedly "special needs" kids (who were really reacting to turmoil in the home) whose parents drugged 'em first, and if that didn't work sufficiently, put them in foster care. I'm so tired of labels...while there are many legitimate special needs, disorders, etc., "special needs" has become a PC buzzword to toss at anyone who might dare to toss any criticism: "How dare you say I am a bad parent with an out of control brat? My child has 'special needs,' and I am really a saint for having to bear this burden with a smile on my face (and a bottle of Ritalin in my pocket)."

Again, I don't mean this as a blanket statement as there are many children with legitimate disabilities, but sadly the label has been co-opted by too many members of Victims Anonymous.

(Donning flame-proof suit.)

[Pinoy_Stitch_84]

I think those parents should drug themselves instead of their kids

[Main Streeter]

I think those parents should drug themselves instead of their kidsFar too many do this as well as drink too. Very sad but all too true.

[Pinoy_Stitch_84]

I regret to inform some of you that I have noticed a lack of concern and care that some parents have for their child(ren). If conern and care exists within these select individuals, they would not have an problems with our safety procedures (height checks, no riding on the stinking heelies, etc.) and get mad at us for enforcing them. We, the Cast Members, will get in trouble for not enforcing the rules or if a guest gets hurt.

When the magic isn't present, here's what happens...

Magic Kingdom = Unmagical Kingdom
Epcot = It Sucks
Disney MGM Studios = Disney More Guest Morons Studios
Animal Kingdom = Untamed and Wild Animal Kingdom
Blizzard Beach = Blizzard Bitch
Typhoon Lagoon = Buffoon Lagoon

[LittleDollClaudia]

There was a lady in my lobby yesterday asking where Disney World was. I told her it's in Florida, but Disneyland is right around the corner from us. She got all upset, no no DISNEY WORLD! Like saying it louder would change the location. I kept trying to explain and even showed her a map but to no avail. Apparently she had gone to the Disney site and seen WDW in all its glory and was pissed that we didn't have Epcot and MGM and all that. She then proceeded to yell at her husband who had been standing there quietly how he ruined her vacation and he had better make it up to her. The look on his face as they walked out was priceless. The "yeah, i know, but i married her" face. How do you not know one from the other, seriously? When you are making your reservations, it's either CA or FL. Most people don't just hop on a plane that same day. Gah!

[Main Streeter]

How do you not know one from the other, seriously? When you are making your reservations, it's either CA or FL. Most people don't just hop on a plane that same day. Gah!INDY, here's another great HYS for your volume. :rolleyes: How funny LDC. :D: This gives stupidity a new meaning! LOL

[Pinoy_Stitch_84]

Sometimes I hope that I'm on a special edition of "Punk'd." Feels like "Punk'd, Disney Cast Members edition" Sadly, that hasn't been the case. I never knew what stupidity, brainlessness, numbskull, dumbass, etc. really meant until I started working for Disney. I feel as if I'm on another planet or dimension 'cause these guests do not behave like normal human beings. No wonder why some guests do not treat us like humans 'cause they're not humans and don't know how to behave like humans.

Come on, realizing that you're staying at a Disneyland Resort instead of a Disney World Resort when you're already there? Asking a CM what type of ride you're on when the doors to the ride are already open or when you're already sitting down in the ride? Expecting a CM to speak every language in this world when it's not humanly possible to do so? I hate to say this, but there are times when this land of magic feels like a freak show. :p: By the way, the best shows I've ever seen at Disney are guests getting stuck on rides for long periods of times and watching them experience pain and guests getting kicked out of the park for reckless behavior. All CMs give a round of applause :D:

[joanna71985]

Sometimes I worry about guests. I had one experience that had me wondering. I was working at the Teacups with the Tweedles when it started to storm. So I finished up the couple of people that were there and we started (dashing) in. However, before we left a family came up and I told them we were going in due to the storm. Well, guess what the mom said? "Oh they are covered". You know where they were standing? Under a tree. And where's the worst spot to be in a storm? :rolleyes:

[Panther007]

And where's the worst spot to be in a storm? :rolleyes:

Near a Stupid Guest?

[hobie16]

Near a Stupid Guest?

Unless they're very tall.

[Zazu]

Unless they're very tall.And wearing their Official FBI-Certified tinfoil hat (with grounding strap).

[ktulu]

And wearing their Official FBI-Certified tinfoil hat (with grounding strap).

shiny side in or out?

[hobie16]

And wearing their Official FBI-Certified tinfoil hat (with grounding strap).
CMs should be equipped with a bucket of water that includes a table spoon of baking soda so they can soak the ground around the tall guests to create a good ground. You don't want ungrounded exploding guests littering the paths as it creates more work for the cleanup crews.
:blowup:

[mechurchlady]

And wearing their Official FBI-Certified tinfoil hat (with grounding strap).
Is that heavy duty freezer tinfoil or the regular kind?

[Zazu]

And wearing their Official FBI-Certified tinfoil hat (with grounding strap).Is that heavy duty freezer tinfoil or the regular kind?That would depend on whether the aliens you're being observed by are from a hot planet or a cold planet, wouldn't it? Duh!

[Pinoy_Stitch_84]

Indeed they are...here are some instance I had during my first few months at Disney World

SGT: Para entrar aqui?
CM: Si
SGT: Thank you!
CM: (to himself) Wait a minute, weren't you just speaking Spanish? Oh no, do not tell me you were speaking Spanglish.

SGT: Habla espanol?
CM: Si senora, que necesitas?
SGT: Okay, so is this the Fast Pass Lane?
CM: (thinking to himself) Hello, I'm standing underneath the sign that says "Fast Pass Return." And why did you ask me if I spoke Spanish when you're not using it anyway?

CM: How many people in your party?
SGT: :confused: huh? que dice? no speak English. Blah blah blah!
CM asks the question several more times
SGT finally gives a number of people in their party :chainsaw: :duh:

[Cranbiz]

Had one last night.

SG a young male decides to go swimming in the castle moat. Another guest spots him and reports him, security is called and chases him thru the park. SG then thinks he has eluded security and hops on a bus to Music.

Of course, SG doesn't think that we know how to use the radio!

Coordinator puts out a call to all of us MK drivers, with a description and adds the SG is soaking wet! (like we are not going to notice) Driver calls in that he is on the bus (wasn't mine but I was going to Movies on that run), slows down so that security can greet him at Music.

Last I saw was 2 security cars and an Orange County sheriff at Music and the SG in silver bracelets.

[joanna71985]

The guest went IN the moat?! :eek: Wow, that's a first for me. How stupid. :rolleyes:

[SueOKW]

Had one last night.

SG a young male decides to go swimming in the castle moat. Another guest spots him and reports him, security is called and chases him thru the park. SG then thinks he has eluded security and hops on a bus to Music.

Of course, SG doesn't think that we know how to use the radio!

Coordinator puts out a call to all of us MK drivers, with a description and adds the SG is soaking wet! (like we are not going to notice) Driver calls in that he is on the bus (wasn't mine but I was going to Movies on that run), slows down so that security can greet him at Music.

Last I saw was 2 security cars and an Orange County sheriff at Music and the SG in silver bracelets.

I missed all the fun!! :mad:

[mechurchlady]

"Is that real?" is my favorite line from SGs. I heard that at a campfire in DL and about the Christmas tree. Are the ducks real in Rivers of America?

DL would have snow falling from the sky at the end of fireworks. It was fake snow but there would be guests with their mouth open trying to catch snowflakes.

Some guests do not understand that water in rides can be unsanitary or that sticking you hand between a boat and the edge to splash water can get your fingers smashed.

[drcorey]

Had one last night.

SG a young male decides to go swimming in the castle moat. Another guest spots him and reports him, security is called and chases him thru the park. SG then thinks he has eluded security and hops on a bus to Music.

Of course, SG doesn't think that we know how to use the radio!

Coordinator puts out a call to all of us MK drivers, with a description and adds the SG is soaking wet! (like we are not going to notice) Driver calls in that he is on the bus (wasn't mine but I was going to Movies on that run), slows down so that security can greet him at Music.

Last I saw was 2 security cars and an Orange County sheriff at Music and the SG in silver bracelets.

funny, I know someone who spent the night in the MK and was never caught. man, it was hard to sleep in those bushes untill
they turned off that stupid wolf sound track near the HM.
but thats for another story...

[hobie16]

SG a young male decides to go swimming in the castle moat.There has to be a "Hey, watch this!" somewhere in the story.

[hobie16]

funny, I know someone who spent the night in the MK and was never caught. man, it was hard to sleep in those bushes untill they turned off that stupid wolf sound track near the HM. but thats for another story...Say it, say it!!

[leftcoaster]

I don't know where to put this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1wzSw6B2Hw

[CBeilby]

I don't know where to put this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1wzSw6B2Hw

Looks to me like this thread's just the perfect place for it. :rolleyes:

[darph nader]

Hey cranbiz. I regards to post #40,that was SO nice of the local authoritys to give that guy silver bracelets.Aaahh, a souvenir that'll last a life time. :rolleyes:

[mechurchlady]

I love youtube and found some videos. I wonder if 911 can help me cook a ham.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4wCiqxR2QM
Rude guest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8W-i-O92kw
Guest did not get to ride the teacups with friends. Does this sound familiar?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzS-OdWVpHo
"This hurts" Mom is hysterical as her son is being joked by a harness on a ride.

This is a series of videos of rule breaking from long ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdB8HKraBws

This one takes the prize for stupidest guest trick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpOMLO_OT_I

[Syndrome]

Duh...that fat kid is NOT on a roller coaster like all the more-oooons on YouTube are posting. It's one of those reverse bungee things like they have at Old Town. That would have been a heck of a splat if he'd fallen out, since they usually shoot a minimum of 200 feet up, and I think the one at Old Town is 300 feet.

[Cranbiz]

Hey cranbiz. I regards to post #40,that was SO nice of the local authoritys to give that guy silver bracelets.Aaahh, a souvenir that'll last a life time. :rolleyes:

I was actually surprised to see that.

With all the political correctness these days, I would have expected the SG to get a new wardrobe and comped the entire stay because the moat jumped up and grabbed him or he slipped and fell in and it was our fault. :rolleyes:

[mechurchlady]

I feel sorry for the fat kid because he is joking and sliding while his mom is laughing hysteically. The kid was crying for help and mom looked at her kid who was now a foot lower than before and never did anything. At least the dumb witch could have comforted her kid when he was screaming. Why do people go on rides and get so engrossed that they forget about other people around them. i have seen too many times parents staring at a parade while junior is cringing, hiding, or has its hands on its ears.

She is one dumb broad.

Syndrome they call it a roller coaster because they are dumb. The vidoe is from a television show so it is copywrited and not supposed to be on youtube. Billion dollar lawsuit against youtube for them allowing people to put videos from copywrited shows.

[bpgstudios]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMDPLQn1ZzU
The third part of the series of those awful kids destroying the parks. This struck a particular nerve with me, since they are seen DESTROYING small world. :mad: These kids are the reason TL98 sucked :twisted:

[mechurchlady]

I wonder if Disney ever did anything about them and what they are doing now. It is sad that parks have to invest so much money in security to protect themselves. What about the girl dancing behind the security CM and getting way too close for comfort. They were in back stage areas as seen in th beginning.

unfortunately the bad people never die young.

[bpgstudios]

for what they did o the park, I would love to find out their current place of employment and show this to their bosses. These kids actually make me want to work a grad night just so I can set kids like this straight. :twisted: