Fourth of July Monorail Incident

[February]

Syndrome has the best idea...silent tribute.

I wanted to do something too for the CMs, but after reading BW's post (#6) decided the best thing I personally could do was try to get others to honor his and their wishes.

Emotions are still raw and, I have to believe that between the SGs, the SM (stupid media) that there hasn't even been time for many of the CMs to even grieve.

I am also wearing a silent tribute, saying a lot of prayers, shedding a lot of tears and other than that keeping quiet.

This is a great post, thank you for writing it. I personally (since I can only speak for myself) that that's the best thing any of us can do- offer silent tribute.

This is why I have decided that I am not going to be posting about my trip or the vigil itself.

To me there was a sacredness about the whole thing - the trip from beginning to end and also about the vigil itself- that would be damaged by doing so. I hope that people here won't be upset by this but honestly, with apologies in advance if you are- my main concern has to be the Monorail CMs.

All I will say is this.

I made sure, before I left, that every one of them that I had a chance to interact with, knew how much their guests, their fellow CMs at other parks, all of us, feel for them at this time. I did my best. I gave a lot of hugs and got even more.

I spent the whole day Saturday before the vigil going around thanking CMs. Searching them out to do so. Not just monorail CMs but cms EVERYWHERE. You should have seen the looks on their faces and there wasn't a single one that didn't thank me for saying thank you. So that just goes to show me that they need to hear it a lot more often than they do.

I told them that I was but one person representing many who appreciate them more than they know. in talking with the monorail folks, I made sure they knew that 'many', are all those online and elsewhere who wished they could do more and didn't know what to do or say.

My advice to those who may be going to WDW soon is, just be kind. Smile at them. Thank them when they open the monorail gate for you to let you on the train. Use any and all chances to say those two words. They are meaningful and they are powerful.

Be the good, polite, kind guests that others aren't. Say thank you to them for all they do to make magic for their guests, and leave it at that.

Believe me, hearing those two simple words, "thank you", will mean more to them than any ribbon or pin a guest could wear and don't carry the risk of upsetting them if they see something that is a painful reminder.

We have to remember we're all on the outside looking in. We can't know what they're going through. That's why I feel so strongly that Stripes has the best idea.

Silent tribute, in honor of their quiet strength. These people are brave beyond all imagination and I love them from the bottom of my heart.

hugs to all
Bru

[BRWombat]

Well said, Bru. Thank you for representing us so well.

[joanna71985]

*hugs* Bru. I'm sure the CMs appreciate it- I know I would if I was there now. I really hope I will be able to meet you someday. :)

[Syndrome]

Just as a heads up...one year I wore my wings on my pin lanyard and a pilot told me that if a manager saw me with them I could have them confiscated.

Yikes! The security men in Mouse suits would be chasing me around the monorail because I'd never give 'em up. I got 'em back in the days when I was heavily into pin trading. Since we cruise Disney a lot, I was able to get the Artist Choice pins onboard which were like a gold chip for trading. I got some really good stuff, including my wings.

[Switchbeam 9]

Bru, you are an embodiment of what Disney is all about and why many CMs love what they do! Thanks you.

As for the wings. Technically they are costume. Still. I would be proud to wear them. No Disney corporate regulations transcends the spirit of Monorails!

[Monorail_Red]

As for the wings. Technically they are costume. Still. I would be proud to wear them. No Disney corporate regulations transcends the spirit of Monorails!

Me too, I would wear mine with pride like I used to (before that pilot told me that mine could be confiscated), but I don't want to risk it...ya kno?

Depends what wings you have...like in my brother's Official Disney Pin Trading Book there are wings...but the back of the trading pins have the two pins w/mickey backs and stamped on the back that said official disney pin trading.

But the real ones have that one long pin on the hinge...nothing stamped on the back.

[SandrA9810]

From what I've heard, pilots were giving away thier wings to guests. But costuming wasn't charging them for the missing pins. Eventually they started getting low and had to constantly re-order them. That's when Disney got mad and started complaining to the monorail cast about not handing over thier wings so easily.
I think that pilot was just disgruntel that he had probably gotten in trouble in the past for handing over his wings. I really don't think a manager is going to go after you for having them, unless of course you're a previous CM that kept thier wings when they shouldn't have.

[Syndrome]

But the real ones have that one long pin on the hinge...nothing stamped on the back.

Yup, that's mine. Just one long pin on the back. Out of all my pins, it's in my top 3 favorites.

[Monorail_Red]

:hijack:

Not to hijack the thread over the wings...but either way, I would not want to risk loosing my wings...

Getting back to the Monorail Incident, I haven't heard anything via the media lately on it. Things seem to have died down? Then again, I'm all the way up here in CT...most of the time looking at the Sentinel. I noticed that it's starting to take the back seat under "Hot Topics"

[Syndrome]

It does seem to have died down, thank goodness. I'm hoping that Casey Anthony cuts a fart in prison because that will take all the TV reporters' attention so they can report on the length, decible level, and smell analysis for the next week.