Bad Show Question...

[Doctor McKey]

*** Warning... No Spell Check Available in the Utilidor PC's ***

Its a shame that the training ( non mouse related ) comes into play so often when I visit a park. See, in my past life I was an EMT, Fire Fighter, and Security Spec. and trained to find the things that cant be seen by the general public. I zero in on anything that is considered bad show or safety related. And as Big Wallaby can probably atest to... I see EVERYTHING......

Point in case... Ill just pick on MK sence I am currently here:

1: Their is two water fountins at the base of the Monorail platform, the lower of the two which is in general used for small children and handicaped persons has a clogged drain and is full of water in the baisen. I have reported this to not only security, but also to Main Street Ops / Turnstiles Coordinators on multiple occasions over the last couple of weeks.

2: In the mens locker room in the Utilidors, their is a leaky pipe that appears to be from the plumbing of the Faintisyland bathrooms that is leaking into/onto the lockerroom floor. The park does know about this due to the fact that a makeshift water catch has been put in ( by makeshift i mean a plastic tarp that been duct taped around 1" clear PVC tube that leads to a bucket ) the problem is that the tarp doesnot work properly and only about 25% of the fluid makes it into the bucket. Considering i first noticed this issue in late Feb. and it is now May....... WTF!!

3: Today while walking down Main Street USA, I noticed that along the sides of the rails for the trolly car just happens to be missing either the black rubber matting that cushions the rail to the pavment. I found not only one 4" section missing but many of them just in the span of my walk from Casy's to the front of the castle.

These are just a couple of the MANY things that I find on a daily walk.

My question is, if I report it and nothing gets done in some sort of a time frame, should I move up the food chain ( i.e. Phill, MK Vice Pres. ) until something is fixed. I was once told by a very high ranking manager that The Squeeky Wheel Gets the Greese, But a Broken Record Get Fixed and I should continue to be the "watch dog" that I am.....

What is your opinion??¿¿

:runaway:

[CMGUY89]

I've been struck with the same dilemma. Unfortunately not all of the time has it been just bad show, some are safety violations that management willingly ignored. I am afraid to keep being vocal and get some bad repercussions.

[albino_pygmy]

Could you toss in several complaints for the jungle while you're at it ;)

We're the only attraction with an outdoor break room (hut, actually) with no bathroom nearby (nearest one is behind crystal palace) and the water cooler's plastic tab is always broken, and I forgot my combination to my lock. And that's just the break room area, don't get me started about the jungle itself.

Albino "Hopes the attacking natives are dancing around in circles now" Pygmy

[Switchbeam 9]

This is one of the most unsettling things at WDW. There is so much bad show and nothing gets done about it. The Grand Floridan had most of its decorative lights and were still not fixed by the time I left. Some things seemed to have taken an act of Congress. Just like the mildew smelling air filters in the monorails and the trash filling up the monorail troughs (especially apparent at Epcot with the over-trough lighting). It took a lot to get something done about those. The small difference was amazing.

[joanna71985]

It's sad about the level of bad show in the parks. :(

[Shorty82]

I've been struck with the same dilemma. Unfortunately not all of the time has it been just bad show, some are safety violations that management willingly ignored. I am afraid to keep being vocal and get some bad repercussions.

IIRC there is a anonymous hotline you can call to report safety issues. I really need to get to bed so I can't look it up for you right now.

Management who ignores safety issues shouldn't be working here. Safety is job one. Most managers will fix any safety issues they see.

Heck, the other day a manager gave me a GSF card for fixing a safety issue I didn't even notice until he pointed it out to me. What happened is that I was crossing Town Square going to Expo Hall and I see one of my managers out there with a security guard. My manager calls me over and I wonder what's going on. He points out a globe on a lamp post that was loose and could easily fall He asks if I could reach it to get it down. I couldn't reach it without help but I got a step stool and got it down. After I step down the guard says I deserve a GSF card and my manager said he had one in his pocket he'll fill out and it says I got it for fixing a safety issue nobody else could reach (at 6'5" I'm taller than all but one person in my department). I just happened to be crossing Town Square at that time and normally I don't ever look at the lamp posts that closely.

[glendalais]

IIRC there is a anonymous hotline you can call to report safety issues. I really need to get to bed so I can't look it up for you right now.

If WDW is like the DLR, it should be on the back of your Cast ID.

If telling your managers doesn't work, go on up the chain. Safety should everyone's top priority.

[EeyoresButterfly]

My Fland managers were adament about safety, I can't managers blatantly ignoring saftey. There is indeed a safety hotline that you can call that is completely anonymous. Also, if you are FT and in the union, you can always consult a shop steward if you fear repercussions.

As for some of the bad show, while it is a shame that it takes a bit for things to get fixed, there could be valid reasons. (it keeps breaking again and they're having a problem finding the replacement.) In general, most guests are not going to notice every little thing that is broken or bad show in the park, and frankly if they are, they are obviously not going to ever be satisfied. Most guests are so in awe of being there that they walk around with blinders on. I know it's harder for us CMs to do so since we are taught to look for it. While we should strive for perfection, I think we should also realize that only one person in the history of the world has been perfect, and it wasn't Walt. There will always be something to change or fix, it's just the nature of things. Disney is still hands down the cleanest and best themed park I have ever been to.

[Zazu]

My question is, if I report it and nothing gets done in some sort of a time frame, should I move up the food chain ( i.e. Phill, MK Vice Pres. ) until something is fixed?

I sure think so, but the challenge is to figure out which link on the chain to rattle next.

I spent four years as the Show Quality Monitor for Main Street, and have seen each of the items you listed (which means they're at least two years old). Part of my job was to determine *which* of the 18 different maintenance departments were responsible, and make sure the repair was on their list. (Mind you, that didn't mean it would ever rise to the *top* of their list, just that they were aware of it and agreed it was their baliwick.)

For safety issues, call the Safety Hotline. It tends to get results pretty quickly.

For show issues, it's usually best to put an entry into the Maximo system. If you don't have access or know someone who does, call Engineering Central. They'll only take two complaints per call, so prioritize and spread it out. I've still got them on my cell phone's speed dial to handle safety issues I spot in the Parks.

I've never heard of anyone getting results from the Phil Hotline, but then I've never heard of anyone trying it, either. I never did because I was warned that doing good deeds at such a high level was likely to make me enemies at some lower level -- something I managed to do anyway.

Show Quality will always be an issue, there's no way you can build something, leave it out in Florida weather, and have millions of people a year passing through (many of them SGs), without things wearing out. Add to that the Eisner era where maintenance was charged to spend less money each year on aging facilities and you get a pretty fair backlog.

So keep up the pressure, but don't let it get to you when it takes an average of 18 months to get things fixed (my score on MS). After all, most government agencies take over four years!

Remember too that we do keep getting letters from (clearly less critically observant) guests who rave over how clean and well maintained it all is. We locals tend to be fussier than the average guest, which is exactly how we keep it that way.

[kurtisnelson]

(at 6'5" I'm taller than all but one person in my department).

Then explain your username?