Pardon, Are You Real?

[TwistedMethod]

I find it odd how I can be in one of the parks, MK for instance, off work in plain clothes with my cast I.D. hidden and Guests still come up to me somehow knowing I work there asking me questions. I was walking to catch up to a friend one time and heard a lady asking me if I worked here, I was already so far past her I just looked back and kept walking. Most of the others I'll help just because I have nothing else to do at the moment. One day I'm going to ask them how they know I work there. Must be my "Disney Look". I really don't know...

[aliceindisguse]

Instead of the run of the mill, "Do you work here?" question, today I got, "Did I see a nametag on you?" I just thought, sure did but I wish you hadn't cause I've got 2 minutes to run across Fantasyland from the Village Haus to the Matterhorn.....

[leftcoaster]

I find it odd how I can be in one of the parks, MK for instance, off work in plain clothes with my cast I.D. hidden and Guests still come up to me somehow knowing I work there asking me questions. I was walking to catch up to a friend one time and heard a lady asking me if I worked here, I was already so far past her I just looked back and kept walking. Most of the others I'll help just because I have nothing else to do at the moment. One day I'm going to ask them how they know I work there. Must be my "Disney Look". I really don't know...

Maybe it's your "Disney aura" that you acquire when you start working for the mouse.

[LittleDollClaudia]

I had that happen to me when I went to D-land on my birthday. I had not one but three different guests ask me where certain attractions were. I was sitting in the smoking area by the Columbia at the time. I keep telling Cujo and Polar that Disney brands it on your forehead in special ink that only guests can see. It doesn't wash off. Believe me I've tried.

[ExR2P2]

Buzz Lightyear used to frequent our restaurant. He would come and hang out by the breadsticks, trying to "upsell" for us. He'd lean on the counter and wait for people to walk up to him. Then he would point at the breadsticks, and a lot of people would pick them up, thinking they were supposed to take them. (A lot ended up being returned, which we had to throw away.)

A couple of times he would bring Woody with him. Woody would stand behind where we stock the trays and grab a stack. He would sit there perfectly still and people would grab trays from him like he was just decor. When a small kid would seem hesitant about taking a tray, he would slowly bend over and offer him one. Smaller children would really freak out. We thought it was funny as hell, but I think Woody was told not to come back. He made the kids cry.

[Sweetums]

Sorry folks, I haven't been on the board in a looooooooooooong time. But I'm back, and hopefully I'll post a little more often. Anyways, to get us back on topic, I have one of my own "are you real" stories to share. It's bad when a guest asks you that, but when a stage manager asks,... it's just shameful.
So I'm sitting backstage at Beauty & the Beast wearing just the pants & feet. The main portion of Beast (the head & torso with cape attatched) is on it's T-bar stand. I'm sitting and gabbing with the rest of the cast as we get ready for show when the stage manager comes over. Now granted, she's new, but she walked right past me and proceded to go to the Beast Head and say to the face "Excuse me, Beast, would you mind doing a meet & greet for a wish-child after the show?" All of us characters sitting on the ground were in shock! we didn't know whether to laugh out loud, or try to point out her mistake politely. All the while we're watching her continue on saying "Hello? Beast? Are you okay?" At which point I said, "Um, hello...I'm right here behind you." The look on her face was priceless! Now I know most people would say you never see black people blush, but I swear we saw it happen that day.

[Ottar]

Guests still come up to me somehow knowing I work there asking me questions.

Heh - I can relate to that - when I was last in the parks here in Europe as a guest several CMs came up to me asking questions too!!! :twisted: :p:
I Think it has something to do with your tone of voice and your general way of behaving - most people don't sound and look very confident when they are not "at home" with the surroundings...

[Buggy]

I've never been a CM, but I get questions from other guests too. If you look like you know what you're doing, you'll get questions.

I have also gotten an "are your real" moment, sort of. My girlfriend and I were going to dine at Victoria and Alberts and decided to dress in Victorian costuming, since we both have a nice collection.

As we waited in the lobby of the hotel for a cab, a young girl passed by with her father. She pointed at us and asked, "who are they, daddy, who are they?" It was cute.

[RebuildtheKingdom]

Heh - I can relate to that - when I was last in the parks here in Europe as a guest several CMs came up to me asking questions too!!! :twisted: :p:
I Think it has something to do with your tone of voice and your general way of behaving - most people don't sound and look very confident when they are not "at home" with the surroundings...

You know, you may have just figured out the mystery of how guests can recognize an off-duty CM. They don't look lost or confused. :D:

[BRWombat]

I'd never thought if it this way, but this could be the key. I don't think I look like a CM any more than anyone else in my family, and we all are wearing the red name badges. But I do feel at home and know what's going on when at in the parks, more so than the rest of my family. This could explain why I get most of the questions.

A Jungle Cruise skipper 21-gun salute to Ottar and Buggy for explaining this!