Goody bags?

[iria64]

Last summer, costodial leads were telling us to bring a Propel. I lived off of it because it had antioxidants in which the normal Dasani had salt.

One year the paramedics came out on a hot day explaining why to drink water and sports drinks. Drink a soft drink and it will make you more thirsty. Drink bottle water and sport drinks such as Powerade, you will survive. My sister is a nurse and sees this all the time in the emergency room. People decided they can ice cold sodas all day at home near the pool. She said that is the number #1 way to end up in the hospital.

Last year on Memorial Day our kid was in the parade with the Scouts. There were two troops participatings. After the parade there were some ceremonies that they had to stay for. Our kids drank water while standing there and the others were drinking soda and iced tea. At least three kids from the other troop were taken away in ambulances due to dehydratiion.

[Cheshire Figment]

I did post a response to that thread. I said that I am not allowed to accept any gift from a Guest. And if they insisted and it was food I would throw it away, anything else I would check with a manager to see if I could keep it or what.

I also suggested using preprinted cards with their family name and visit dates and thanking me for attitude and/or services performed; told them that, when turned in, is considered a written compliment by management.

And then others agreed with me.

[LadySiren]

We'll be doing the pre-made thank you card thing, as well as leaving comments at Guest Services when we go this year, but I do have a question about giving items to CMs, as we don't want to put them in an awkward spot or have them violate company policy.

If I have those glowy bracelets and necklaces for my kids, can we offer them to CMs working crowd control along the parade route? I have a ton of these, as the dollar stores sell 'em almost by the gross. I know my kids will be wanting to "share" them with the CMs. Can CMs accept these or is it a policy violation? Again, we don't want to put CMs on the spot, so if it's not a good idea, I'll instruct the kiddos appropriately.

[Zazu]

If I have those glowy bracelets and necklaces for my kids, can we offer them to CMs working crowd control along the parade route?

Officially, no. They're not part of the costume, and they could tend to distract from the parade, and "The Show's The Thing" as it were.

[LadySiren]

Thanks and good point, Zazu. We'll offer up our thanks instead. :)

Officially, no. They're not part of the costume, and they could tend to distract from the parade, and "The Show's The Thing" as it were.

[Shorty82]

Thanks and good point, Zazu. We'll offer up our thanks instead. :)

That's the best thing to do, in addition to leaving compliments with Guest Relations for the great CMs.

We don't do what we do, making magic and what not, wanting or expecting getting anything in return from the guests. We do it because we enjoy doing it (though the paycheck every week doesn't hurt...). We don't work for tips of any kind, we work for the enjoyment we get from making magic.

[Zazu]

We don't do what we do, making magic and what not, wanting or expecting getting anything in return from the guests. We do it because we enjoy doing it (though the paycheck every week doesn't hurt...)

No, something as small as my paycheck might sting a bit, but it's too small to generate a "hurt".

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Now some of the "SG's in training" on board X are saying that they do not care, they are still going to give out stuff. And some others think that the CM's don't know the rules, because they had some accept gifts, so it must be okay, and after all, they are the "good guys" and not negative nellies!

one even claims that she got a "go ahead" from guest relations to give out candy.

so pay attention all you CM's, that guest knows more than you !!!! [/scarcasm]

[rosebud4539]

Hello, I am the "lunatic" to which you have been referring to about the goody bags. I had taken my 15 year old daughter for a two week vacation. Her school allowed her to develop several projects to work on at Disney and she was not considered absent from school as long as she checked in to the school project website daily and recorded her activities for the day. One of her projects was to learn how to bring the magic of Disney back home and spread it around the school daily. She discussed the project with her teachers and thought she could best learn how to spread the magic by spreading magic to CM's while on her trip. She made up 400 goody bags from the small bags used for jewlery. Each bag contained 4 to 5 tootsie rolls. Each day in the park, she would take a small sandwich bag full of candy to pass out. She would watch CM's to see how they made the magic, and would give candy to those who she though made the magic for her. She especially rewarded those who cleaned the park, the rest room, the tables, or had a rude guest to deal with. Her small token of thanks cost maybe .15 cents a piece. She would then talk to the CM about her project and learn more about working in Disney or the college program. She would ask if she could take a picture to record it for her school project. Rather than getting upset over getting a small goody bag, I would think that the CM's would want thoughtful, appreciative guests who followed the rules of the park and the attractions. At 15 she could make CM's miserable with typical teen antatics but she chooses to try and make CM's feel special, the way they make her feel special in the park. Unfortunately, she read the posts on the DIS boards and then came to this forum to read the posts. The CM's of WDW are her hero's, the type of people she aspires to be, and she was not prepared to hear or read how terrible it was of her to do this. But after a few hours, and letting it set in, she decided that the majority of the CM's were very happy to receive the small token of appreciation from her and she will continue to do it on trips to come.

As for taking the pictures, they were never taken without asking permission, and was not a "trophy". They were used in her report to show the many CM's she met and also to show how many different countries CM's are from. I then used the pictures in a letter to Disney to acknowledge the great CM's that are working in the parks and how they took the time to answer questions about working for Disney from a curious 15 year old. I did not email this letter, I mailed it USPS. Guest Services called me upon receipt of the letter and asked if it was alright to send it where the cast members could see it and she would make sure all pictured would be acknowledged for their great service. I also asked if it was alright to hand out the goody bags and was told that since it was such a small token, there was no problem with it. It is a way to reward great service we receive in the parks. I tip well my food servers and mousekeeping. We just felt there should be a way to reward great CM's. As for stopping at Guest services on the way out of the park, if we left before closing it would be possible, but my daughter loves to stay for every minute she can.

I'm sorry for offending any CM's in anyway. If you don't want the goody, we will not be offended if you say no, and the same for the photo. I will make sure I have a note pad and pen to write you name down to acknowledge your great service.

And yes, this is my first post, but I felt that I had to stand up for my daughter. I prefer to raise her as kind, respectful, and willing to express her thanks to all in her life that make it great for her. And yes, we do acknowledge others in our everyday life who do great service with goody bags, tokens of appreciation, tips, speaking with the manager, and if really great service calling the corporate offices.

Have a wonderful day and see you in December. You'll recognize us, we'll be the ones with goody bags and a camera, smile!

[darph nader]

Your daughters 'goody bags' were thoughtful and well meaning,(I hope she did well on her school project btw),sad to say,people have to be careful on what comes in from the outside world. :( Even my wife and I put our name and addy in halloween bags we hand out each year,as to give some assurance that nothing is afoot.