Goofyernmost wrote: But that said, I still don't see why a CM would take it personally. No one that deals with the public day in and day out have a skin that thin do they?
I haven't worked for Disney. But I have had to provide service with a smile, occasionally while wearing some pretty silly things. And no matter how much -I- think that the outfit makes me look like a dork? It doesn't make me feel better for someone to say "Y'know - that makes you look like a dork. They should change it!" It tends to make putting the costume on harder, makes me resent it a little more, and that makes it harder to put on a smiling, cheerful, helpful face. I can complain about it, make jokes with my coworkers about it - but I don't know customers well enough to interpret their comments as jokes, even if I smile and chuckle along with them. It's not so much having a thin skin as comments piling up, and eventually one is the straw that broke the camel's back.
I appreciate the level of service I get at Disney World. Part of expressing that appreciation is offering criticism where it belongs, and that means not expecting front line CMs to keep a count of how many times someone said to them "Gosh, I hate your new costume."
I'd be much more likely to comment on a bright smile, some extra efficiency, or a cheerful attitude on a hot/busy/chaotic day.