Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

[melmel]

I hate to put it the way I did in the thread title, because I'm SO GRATEFUL to 99% of the CMs and all the work they do to make the park experience really great. But occasionally, some cast members can and do step out of line.

I went to DCA with my roommate on Monday (this was at about 4 pm), and the photo guy under the Golden Gate Bridge was like harrassing us... We were walking very quickly away from him, but he followed us almost all the way to the exit gate-- past the bathrooms. Then he asked us for a phone number! WHAT?!?! Ex-CUSE me, aren't you a cast member?! That is not your job, picking up women. We humored him and he took our picture, with the BATHROOMS in the background, and then he asked us to take another picture! One of each of us alone. I don't even know what he wanted to do with them. He took a long time handing us the photo slip, too, so I don't know what information he was trying to get out of us.

But in exchange for that BAD CM story, I will tell a good one (for me at least):

Waited in line for a long time at Bengal Barbeque, and when we got up to the front, I got really friendly with our cashier-- just casual conversation, and I mentioned that I knew another CM who worked at River Belle Terrace. He/She said he/she knew him, and left to make our skewered meat sticks. When he/she came back, he/she doubled our order. It was very nice of him/her, and I can't say that I expected it!

I'm looking for bad CM stories, but for every BAD CM story, you have to tell a good one! How's that for a deal?

[Michelle]

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[Sasafratz]

Bad: We went to the Mercantile store in Frontierland early in the morning to drop off some packages that we were going to be picking up later in the day. First of all, there were no other customers in the store at that time and the two CM's in there did not even acknowledge us when we came in (they were heavily into some kind of conversation). I finally asked if I could leave my packages with them. The first CM rudely tells me that I'm at the wrong counter and tells me that I need to be at the next counter.

I did what she asked, and she then moves over to the counter I was at and pushes a form for me to fill out. I fill it out and hand it back to her. She pushes the paper back and rudely tells me that I'm missing information, I asked her what information is she looking for. She again rudely tells me that I need to disclose what are in the packages, to make a long story short, I did what she told me to. We didn't get a smile or a thank you from either CM's in the Mercantile store but my sister who was observing all of this turned to them and cheerfully told them "to have a nice day" as we were exiting the store.

Good: We were at the Main gates into Disneyland and the CM (an older gentleman) who was checking the tickets, cheerfully said to me "have a great time, kiddo." I know this is lame but I was tickled pink because someone called me kiddo (haven't been called that in a long time) and I even thanked that CM for making my day.

[Sam the iPod]

FYI: Those folks who take your pictures at the entrances and at the photo spots are technically not Disney CMs. They're employed by Kodak (I think there was another name I heard, Spectrum or something). But, since they wear the costume and a nametag, they're still representing a Disney experience. I'm not excusing his behavior, though.

[Steve DeGaetano]

I was at Main Street Station one day, leaning my elbows on the open window sill and watching as a train rolled into the station. The Conductor CM manning the station told me I couldn't stand there and look out the window!

And he was very serious!

[Big Drunk Dave @ DL]

I was at Main Street Station one day, leaning my elbows on the open window sill and watching as a train rolled into the station. The Conductor CM manning the station told me I couldn't stand there and look out the window!

What the...?

I remember walking in New Orleans Square before Fantasmic! and a this female CM said: "Remember when you were going to give me your phone number?" and I said, "No." And she said, "Well, you did." And I ended up giving it to her... talk about the Jedi Mind Trick.

[monorail1]

Just an FYI, the "castmembers" who stalk you for a picture as soon as you enter the park work on commission. That's why they're so eager to get your picture!

[Nephythys]

I don't have a bad one...hummm...

But I do have a good one- It's WDW though....

Rose and I stopped to get a crepe in France at the World Showcase in Epcot. We ordered a chocolate crepe and the girl gave us a chocolate AND a strawberry- but only charged for one. I said Merci! (I don't know how to type the little thing over the letter) and she smiled and we sat under a tree in "France" and ate our yummy crepes.

[DisneyDan24]

All of my experiences with CM's have been good except for one time.
A couple years ago we were on Indy and it broke down. It took a long time for people to come get us out. By the time we walked out of the ride, the park had closed. At the exit there were two cast members chatting it up when the people ahead of us asked for a pass for a ride. She had them there right on her podium but she pretty much told us, sucks to be you guys. She was really mean about it. But, on the way out, one of those survey people interviewed us and ended up giving us passes.

[melmel]

Just an FYI, the "castmembers" who stalk you for a picture as soon as you enter the park work on commission. That's why they're so eager to get your picture!

I'm aware of this, but there is no reason for that commission to force you to follow someone almost out of the park and ask for their phone number. It's inappropriate, and I"m shocked that you're attempting to justify it. :\

Eager is one thing... we walked across the way after this to DLR, and a woman asked for our picture,s and we both said "No, we just had a bad experience.." And she told us then that we needed to have a good one! Now, that's the right way to get me to stop and help a good CM out!

[Captain Zissou]

splash mountain broke down so i took my free ride pass and went to indy...which then proceeded to break down, the cm who escorted my group off began to do quagmire impressions from family guy...not annoying, kinda funny actually.

[Bibliophile]

Really?

FYI: Those folks who take your pictures at the entrances and at the photo spots are technically not Disney CMs. They're employed by Kodak (I think there was another name I heard, Spectrum or something). But, since they wear the costume and a nametag, they're still representing a Disney experience. I'm not excusing his behavior, though.

That's kind of odd, because one of my friends is doing an advanced internship with Disney (in photography) at Disney-MGM...I didn't know they hired outside the company for that.

[Disney Wrassler]

Re: Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

I have a good story only about a CM because I was able to make her laugh.

Okay here it is.

I was hanging out at Disneyland by my self for a senior day that my high school was holding at the park (I was a senior and was allowed to go do things by myself). So 15 minutes before the park closed, I ran from Jungle Cruise to Haunted Mansion because the line was empty and the doors were still opened. So as I rushed into the line, now struggling to breathe LOL, I passed by a CM and asked here if she thought the ride would be over within 15 minutes she said yes. Then I told here, while still out of breath and with the hope to get her to laugh, that I had to be out of the ride within 15 minutes, and run all the way back to main street to hopefully catch my school group before they left, and she laughed and said that I would be out in time. I am so happy that I was able to make here laugh because I thought it was a funny situation to. LOL

You have to admit that if you were a cast member just monitoring the Haunted Mansion line and from out of no where a crazed, Sweaty, breathless, Beat red, high school senior came running up saying that he had to ride HM and then run down to main street afterwards to hopefully catch his group would be quite funny to experience.

[Druggas]

Re: Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

I only have good CM stories. I think CM's are just like you and I and will reflect your attitude. Having said that, I had a young lady who was working in the Camera Shop overhear me say that I wished I had brought a camera. Mary Poppins was just coming on stage, and me without a camera. Well this Cm brings a new in the package camera for me to snap pictures with. I was so caught off guard but recovered enough to snap pics of Mary and the CM. I now go by the Camera Shop to say thanks and tell her how much DL is better when she's working there. We now e-mail each other and have developed a friendship.

[randall]

Re: Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

My family was park-hopping from DCA to Disneyland, and I was in a wheelchair. We were all in the entrance line together, and my parents and sister went through the turnstile, then my husband then pushed me to the middle area where the wheelchairs can get through, and I held out my ticket to the CM. But he ignored me and let about 10 other people behind us through. My husband finally said, "Excuse me, sir, our party is already through." He looked at us and YELLED, "How am I supposed to know these things? MENTAL TELEPATHY!?!"

[Wotan]

Re: Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

My husband finally said, "Excuse me, sir, our party is already through." He looked at us and YELLED, "How am I supposed to know these things? MENTAL TELEPATHY!?!"

He certainly gets my vote for being mental.

The last time we were there, there was this woman from FL doing crowd control for POD named Kaite.

The only interaction she had with any guest was to complain to one that they hadn't pronounced her name correctly. Apparently, this was an outrageous affront.

Other than that, she was one of those CMs to whom guests were apparently more a nuisance than anything else; nearly all of the time she spent doing crowd control was used in socializing with other CMs, interspersed with glares at the various guests. It was sad.

However, the good CM stories are too many to count!

[wjerseyqueen]

Re: Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

ive never had a bad cm experience. not one that i can remember anyway. they are always the most friendly and very helpful. you have to admit that as far as entry level positions for high school age kids go disney has the cream of the crop. have you ever met an employee half as nice at a baskin robbins? didnt think so..

[Stephanie2786]

Re: Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

Well last October I walked into Pooh Corner after riding the Pooh ride. I walked up to the candy window and order my son a cookie, this mid 20 something women Cast member walked up to me and asked how old baby brother was, I replied hes my son and she started laughing. She asked how old I was and I told her 18 she started talking to all the Cast members around her and guests and asked them can you believe it this women probably got pregnant at 15. I said in a nasty tone, NO ITS WAS 16. She was acting like shes never seen a young mom. This carried on until she finally gave me what I ordered and payed for it. I wish I would have said something at City Hall. After that happened I wanted to leave Disneyland. After that whenever I saw her there I avoided going into that store.


Probably 4 months ago in Toon Town I was with my son and we stoped walking so I could grab him some Crackers from the stroller. Then right beside us walked one on the chipmunks, either Chip or Dale. Quickly a line started to form right next to us. Chris, my son didn't even notice them. After they took one picture with some kids, he walked up to us and took Chris' sippy cup and pretended to drink it, so Chris handed him a handful of his crackers and he pretened to eat it. They played for about 7 minutes or so, you could tell people where getting upset, since we weren't even in line. It was so awsome that he took time to play with him. Chris was soo happy. He gave him a high five and gave me a hug and left.

[cbkonczak]

Re: Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

I'm aware of this, but there is no reason for that commission to force you to follow someone almost out of the park and ask for their phone number. It's inappropriate, and I"m shocked that you're attempting to justify it.

I would chalk this one up to being funny and flattering. It's not like he exposed himself or something like that...He just found you attractive. That's a warm fuzzy in my world. :blush:

[NemoZorro]

Re: Annoying CAST MEMBER stories!

This is from WDW's Space Mountain. My wife and I were first in queue, the next ones to be called to a row number. Well, it was very loud in there, and granted, it was our fault for not paying more attention, but apparently he called us twice to fill the next row. Since I was still in my younger, less refined days :cwink:, I said OK - not too sarcastically, but louder than I should have. He confronted us , saying EXCUSE ME? very loudly (much more so than I did), and I said I'm sorry but I couldn't hear him. He directed us, very pointedly, to pay more attention or move on. We moved onto the assigned row, then I unfortunately muttered something under my breath that I shouldn't have, something about him being a donkey cavern, and he heard me. Next thing I know we are pulled out of line and given a lecture by the lead that they could throw us out of the park anytime, and we should be more respectful. I tried to explain my side to no avail, finally just shutup, and we went on about our day.

We really try to be respectful and appreciative of CMs, but this one got under my skin.

Thinking back, maybe this should have been in the annoying rider thread