Bad Disneyland experience?

[gibbage]

Last Sunday I had a GREAT time, but 1 event. Fortunately I was having such a great time, the event did not spoil it and it was quickly forgotten. But I had to post this.
It was between 8 and 9PM (heading for Buzz with out 8:15-9:15 fastpass) and we swung around the Matterhorn for some food. Churo's for me, and my friend wanted a Turkey Leg. At the cashier, one CM was talking to another as they were serving us and he said "My Fing vacation is next week" (Replace Fing with the real word) and the CM handling my friends money said "Dude, apologize." and had to say it twice before this guy did. Personally, I say many 4 letter words and don't care and so does my friend. We could care less about the apology. We just wanted our change the cashier was keeping till the other CM apologized. Well he finally said "I apologize" in a very sarcastic manner with his hand held over his name tag. As we were walking away, my friend said "Did you see that!!!" and I said "What?" and she said "He flipped me off under the counter!". I guess I was looking at the wrong hand! That boiled me rather well and my only thought was "I guess he does not like his job!"
We went on Buzz and had a Blast! Then onto DCA and forgot about what happened. It was not till we left the park and was on the way home that I remembered it. That's when it snapped in "I guess THAT'S why he held his hand over his name tag!"
Anyways, do you guys have any "bad" experiences you with to share? Also, do you think I should still complain about that dude? If yes, how?

[Whatever]

I talk like a sailor most of the time and I'm not easily offended.

The CM is "on stage", and should be fired for dropping an f-bomb where guests can/did hear it.

The thing that irritates me most often is when people cut in line, when it is obvious where the line is. I generally just step in front of them and wait for them to say someting. They usually don't.

[DemonicDemona]

read my sig LOL most cast members have a right to be rude to guests, they get kicked around like dogs most of the time and some crack. But the f-bomb in a kids theme park isnt cool. Even this little demon says so

[gibbage]

read my sig LOL most cast members have a right to be rude to guests, they get kicked around like dogs most of the time and some crack. But the f-bomb in a kids theme park isnt cool. Even this little demon says so

Its not that I minded the F word. I think I said it a few times to myself. It was the finger that pissed me off. That was more personal then accedently overhearing a conversation that was not ment for us.

[Reaver]

Its not that I minded the F word. I think I said it a few times to myself. It was the finger that pissed me off. That was more personal then accedently overhearing a conversation that was not ment for us.

Kind of like the difference between a CM carrying a tray of food tripping and spilling it on you and a CM with a tray of food getting pissed and thowing it on you. One is annoying but acceptable, the other is not.

I've been a CM, and have many friends who are, and I know they often get treated like crap sometimes. But guess what? That's part of the job. If you don't like it, quit. There are many others who will jump through hoops to be a CM in your place. I'm not saying there's an excuse for rude guests, because there certainly isn't, but there's also no excuse for rude CMs. That's not what you get paid for. If you want to be rude, I hear Knott's is hiring...

[DisneyMickey]

Still, they shouldn't be speaking or acting like that around guests.

[DisneyMickey]

Woops, I was talking to gibbage, not Reaver. However, I did like Reaver's bit about Knotts:lol: .

[WickedQueen]

NO cast members should be talking like that on stage. They (we) can do what we want off stage ... but on stage is another story! If you knew the cast members name and location he was working ... you should have gone to City Hall so that the cast members in there could have called a manager of that location! People like that should NOT be working for Disneyland ... they should go work somewhere else ... ANYWHERE else!

[gibbage]

they should go work somewhere else ... ANYWHERE else!

I agree. To bad I did not take the situation up at City Hall. I could of described him and there was only 2 guys working the booth at the time.

It still trips me out when the CM's call the park a "stage" and your all "cast members". Not knocking it none! Its just odd for me :lol:

[cellarhound]

I've been a CM, and have many friends who are, and I know they often get treated like crap sometimes. But guess what? That's part of the job. If you don't like it, quit. There are many others who will jump through hoops to be a CM in your place. I'm not saying there's an excuse for rude guests, because there certainly isn't, but there's also no excuse for rude CMs. That's not what you get paid for. If you want to be rude, I hear Knott's is hiring...

I can't believe you said that... that is totally unrealistic... People are not expendible... maybe that is really what is wrong with managment and the Disney Corporate Culture... How can Disney expect to treat their customers well, if they are not willing to stand behind their CM's from time to time? These are people; not numbers...

I am not saying that you have to go over board... But being a CM doesn't make anyone a second class citizen...

When I was studying for an MBA, it was pointed out that turn over rate of employees is the mark of mistakes in management... How some people can miss this, I don't know...

[DisneyMickey]

People like that should NOT be working for Disneyland ... they should go work somewhere else ... ANYWHERE else!

Magic Mountian anyone? Knotts?

[Reaver]

I can't believe you said that... that is totally unrealistic... People are not expendible... maybe that is really what is wrong with managment and the Disney Corporate Culture... How can Disney expect to treat their customers well, if they are not willing to stand behind their CM's from time to time? These are people; not numbers...

I am not saying that you have to go over board... But being a CM doesn't make anyone a second class citizen...

When I was studying for an MBA, it was pointed out that turn over rate of employees is the mark of mistakes in management... How some people can miss this, I don't know...

I apologize. I wasn't trying to infer that CMs were expendible or second class. If I offended anyone, I cry your pardon.

What I meant was that as a CM you are in the service industry, and sevice people get sometimes mistreaded, usually unfairly. As that is the nature of the beast, you have to deal with it in a way that isn't lashing out at, or in front of, guests. Even the rude, foul, horribly obnoxious ones. Its the people around I'm thinking about. If you're at DL with your family, and some CM, frustrated with an unruly guest starts yelling or swearing, how do you explain to your kids that yes, this still is the happiest place on earth?

Most CMs are bedyond reproach in this area, and I applaud them all. It only takes that one loose cannon, however, to ruin someone's day. "It comes with the territory" is a bit crude, but also appropriate, to an extent...

[DemonicDemona]

what it comes down to is this, be nice to the cast, if you dont cause a problem you wont get one back.

[Hector]

^
Wow...:botox:

I work at an amusement park, and It's not a Disney park so we have a much different crowd then what you guys get. That is so not how the world works sweetie. There is no excuse for any cast member to be anything but friendly and nice while on the clock, off the clock you are your own person. Maybe it's just me, but no matter what a guest says, or how bad my day is, I'm there to create memories, and I would like them too be great ones!

[Small Panda After All]

Unfortunately, I think that in this one case you can't expect Disneyland to be unique. This IS what comes with working with the public (something I thankfully don't have to do that much anymore) wherever. I worked at an upscale department store and people treated me like a dirt servant there to lick their boots clean. Something just makes customers who I'm sure are nice people go crazy mad with power.

The comment that if they're nice to CM's the CM's will be nice to them is ridiculous, IMHO. They just happened to walk up during a personal conversation. For some reason I don't see the rude behavior that merited the one finger salute.

Sorry about the bad experience, dude. Too bad you didn't get his name, but I know I usually am too shocked by such behavior to do anything about it.

[Steak]

I have been to disneyland 50-60 times. A lot. Maybe very little in comparison to many here, but still a lot. If a cast member Said '' and then ended up giving you the finger, you most likely deserved it. Even the folks frustrated with their jobs, will not go that far. They smile, even if they are hating their job underneath. There are many guests, though, that are painfully annoying, and need to be given the finger, even if they don't mean to be that annoying.
******Panda, of course the poster did not explain , or even acknowledge the spark that let the fire of the finger. There was something, they just tell their innocent side. They were just a customer, so they say,,, perhaps their kids were unruly and creating a wreck, perhaps their breath stank from 10 paces ( I recently kicked a customer out of my store for this, do not regret it), perhaps they had day-glo fanny packs, all worthy of a finger.

Far less could be worthy of this gesture......

(ie// people who sing along, or speak the spiel of a ride out loud, with other folks around) Those people not only need the finger, but a 'time out' in the smelliest bathroom stall in the McDonalds outside the park.

[Reaver]

This whole argument is ridiculous, really. This is DISNEYLAND we're talking about. Not McDonalds, not Knott's, not Six Flags, DISNEYLAND! The cast members MUST be held to a higher standard, regardless of their duty. A custodial worker or a vending employee must have the same courtesy, patience and respect as the people who work customer service in City Hall (now there's a job I wouldn't want!). There is simply no excuse for this type of behavior, regardless of what any idiotic guests do. That's what Disneyland is all about. That's part of what makes the experience so special. CMs don't have the luxury of adopting the "Do unto others" philosophy. I KNOW people can be rude. They swear, yell, and sometimes manhandle. That's when you get management (or hopefully security) do deal with the idiot, not the CMs. To an extent, every CM has to be something of a negotiator, doing their best to smooth feathers. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, they don't have the right to lash out. You agree to that when you accept the job. If you can't handle it (and honestly, some people can't), there are other jobs, even at Disney, where you don't have to interact with guests on a regular basis. Find one.

When I worked as a monster at Knott's during the Haunt, one of the bigges rules is no touching. Never. For any reason. That means if someone goes to hit or push you (and it happens all the time, you can't do anything about it. You can't fight back, you can't try to restrain the person. That's security's job. People have been fired for fighting back, and even defending themselves from a guest at Haunt. That's part of the job. We know it going in, and accept it. When I was working at DL, even when I'd go to the park as a guest (I still do this sometimes), I'll find myself helping people that look lost or confused. Giving directions, etc. That's what Disney CMs are for. I don't care what anyone does at the park, there's no excuse - none - for that sort of behavior while on stage. Anyone who says different should be looking for employment elsewhere...

[Wotan]

One key thing to be remembered about situations such as the ones described above is that one act by one cast member (or a team member at any company you mention) has the effect of painting everyone around them with the same brush. People quickly move to the assumption that everyone is like that, and will be, whether that is a just assessment or not.

Of course, one of the things that makes Disney parks so successful is the word-of-mouth--people go, people have a great time, people tell their friends, they go, and on and on for nearly 50 magical years now. Perception is reality--if that perception changes, reality will shortly follow.

[Reaver]

One key thing to be remembered about situations such as the ones described above is that one act by one cast member (or a team member at any company you mention) has the effect of painting everyone around them with the same brush. People quickly move to the assumption that everyone is like that, and will be, whether that is a just assessment or not.

Of course, one of the things that makes Disney parks so successful is the word-of-mouth--people go, people have a great time, people tell their friends, they go, and on and on for nearly 50 magical years now. Perception is reality--if that perception changes, reality will shortly follow.

Good point. And this is a crucial time for CMs. Morale is in the crapper, the food services shake up is only making it worse, and it shows sometimes. It's going to be rough, and likely get worse before it gets better. Most CMs are quality, and can pull through it smiling (on the outside, at least!), but some others... Well, you know what they say about one bad apple...

[Druggas]

In this case, the CM was WRONG! He should be held accountable. If his language is offensive, then an apology would be fine. But, if he thinks that he's had a bad day and it is justifiable, them termination should be required. This park was built for the kids in mind and no adult needs to rain on anyone's parade. Had that been me, I'm not so sure that I wouldn't have reported him. We all make mistakes, but what we do to correct them is how we learn to not make them again. I can honestly say that in the 45 years I have gone to DL, I have never encountered a CM that hasn't been anything but very kind to me. Then again I go with nothing but happiness in my heart.