Do You Have A Brain?

[AngelEyes]

Do all of you protect the magic because it's what Disney wants you to do, or because it's what you feel is the right thing to do? Personally, asking a CM how something is done is kinda like asking a magician the same thing. I don't want to know, cause most of the time the answer isn't as spectacular has you would think it would be.

There is a great story in a book written by former pro wrestler Mick Foley. He's a big theme park fan and loves Disney. He said that he was at the Magic Kingdom, sitting behind the scenes with his family, cause of the whole celeb thing. He saw a woman out of the corner of his eye who was carrying her Mickey head under her arm. He looked at her, she looked at him, saw his kids, and DOVE behind something (a car maybe)to avoid being scene. The kids didn't see her. He walked over and asked if she was alright. She was more concerned about his kids and asked if the little ones saw her. He said no. She asked him to give her a second, and after about a minute, MICKEY came out from behind that car and spent a few minutes with him and his family. Great story, and a real testament to the job you guys do.

BTW, how do you handle celebrities when they come to the park? I've read about Jordan and his kids getting escorted around behind the scenes, using back doors to get onto rides.

[Stduck]

Mansion has a "VIP" door (I'm talking DL I have never been to WDW). Plaid will bring them up the front of the house. (I've never been at Foyer when a celebrity has come through. I know Johnny Depp and his antorage went back stage once around the time of the Pirates premiere.

At Pooh we load them from the staging area. Not too hard.

As for keeping the Magic I feel lucky that I was given such an awesome task. From letting a kid watch Fantasmic from the corner of the VIP section (he couldn't see and the kids in front of him were such jerks) or telling a kid that the Columbia was hijacked by James T. Hook. What does seem to "irk" me is the adults that question me for making magic and telling "white lies". We all want to believe in Santa Claus or that Mickey Mouse is real. Why not just believe? Mickey greets his friends from all over the park as do many other characters. As adults yes our rational minds know that they are people in big costumes. Yet (I used to be in theater) when you put on that costume (and this holds true for me as an Attractions CM) you become something different. You aren't so-in-so from wherever majoring it whatever. You're So-in-so a Maid at the Haunted Mansion or for our Characters you are Mickey Mouse.

[Zazu]

Do all of you protect the magic because it's what Disney wants you to do, or because it's what you feel is the right thing to do?

I do it because without the magic, Disney parks are just overpriced amusement parks with people wearing fur suits, and who needs that?

I came out of retirement to work at Disney because I like to play in the parks. I've played, and continue to play as a guest, and now I've got the chance to play on the other side of the nametag. It's still fun (despite the moron guests and managers), or I wouldn't still be here.

BTW, how do you handle celebrities when they come to the park? I've read about Jordan and his kids getting escorted around behind the scenes, using back doors to get onto rides.

Some celebreties just come in the turnstiles. Without makeup and their entourage, they can often pass without notice. Most will hire a guide, the "plaid" you see mentioned in this thread. This in itself doesn't get them special treatment or line bypass, but it does provide someone to run interference (or call for help) if they are recognized and a situation develops. But don't assume that the plaids are always escorting a celebrity, anyone can hire a guide, and it's becomming more popular every year.

Things are different with they sort of guest we call a "VIP" even backstage. (Onstage, *everyone* is a VIP, which sorta dilutes the definition.) These are folks so recognizable that any attempt to walk down Main Street would create an immediate scene. The late Princess Dianna, Michael Jackson, heads of state, this sort of folks. These are the people who are snuck around backstage, backdoored into attractions, and generally given the run of the place.

We do this for them not because they're celebrities, but because if we didn't, it would screw up our operations beyond any hope of repair. If the celebrity can pass for normal, we toss 'em in with the rest of the crowd, which is how I ended up telling Spike Lee to go sit in the back of the train, but that's another story....

[leftcoaster]

That is what is so awesome about all you CMs! Keeping the magic alive for the kids, and even adults (when they aren't morons).

Reminds me of a time I was at WDW with my wife. We were standing in line for a character (I forget which one), when the CM said that "_______, had to take a break." Some guy says aloud, "Yea, it must get pretty hot inside that costume."

There had to be at least a dozen kids within earshot, and you could see a few start asking things like, "Mickey is a costume?" I could have sold a case of pitchforks to the parents at that point.

[AngelEyes]

I do it because without the magic, Disney parks are just overpriced amusement parks with people wearing fur suits, and who needs that?

I came out of retirement to work at Disney because I like to play in the parks. I've played, and continue to play as a guest, and now I've got the chance to play on the other side of the nametag. It's still fun (despite the moron guests and managers), or I wouldn't still be here.

Well said. There is no better way that I would like to spend my time after retiring. Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind. Granted, I'm only 31, but I can look ahead, can't I? :D:

Some celebreties just come in the turnstiles. Without makeup and their entourage, they can often pass without notice. Most will hire a guide, the "plaid" you see mentioned in this thread. This in itself doesn't get them special treatment or line bypass, but it does provide someone to run interference (or call for help) if they are recognized and a situation develops. But don't assume that the plaids are always escorting a celebrity, anyone can hire a guide, and it's becomming more popular every year.

Things are different with they sort of guest we call a "VIP" even backstage. (Onstage, *everyone* is a VIP, which sorta dilutes the definition.) These are folks so recognizable that any attempt to walk down Main Street would create an immediate scene. The late Princess Dianna, Michael Jackson, heads of state, this sort of folks. These are the people who are snuck around backstage, backdoored into attractions, and generally given the run of the place.

We do this for them not because they're celebrities, but because if we didn't, it would screw up our operations beyond any hope of repair. If the celebrity can pass for normal, we toss 'em in with the rest of the crowd, which is how I ended up telling Spike Lee to go sit in the back of the train, but that's another story....

That makes perfectly good sense. I love the fact that the special treatment is given for DISNEY'S sake and not the celebs. IMHO, if I was famous, I would rather try to disguise myself and walk around normally than being kept behind the scenes. Talk about a magic killer! BTW, you know that you have to tell the Spike Lee story now that you've brought it up. Hope you treated him nice, or he'll make a "joint" about how racist Disney is. :D:

[RebuildtheKingdom]

If the celebrity can pass for normal, we toss 'em in with the rest of the crowd, which is how I ended up telling Spike Lee to go sit in the back of the train, but that's another story....

I'm not gonna let you off that easy, you gotta tell us that story.

[Zazu]

BTW, you know that you have to tell the Spike Lee story now that you've brought it up.

Oh very well. I figued this would result.

Spike and his family, accompanied by a Plaid, came in the exit at Toontown Station when my train was almost ready to depart, and the Plaid asked where they should sit. Since the train was nearly full, I told them to sit in the back.

"Excuse me!?!?!" he said, while his Plaid turned absolutely pastel. :bugeyes:

"That's where the empty seats are. Or you could wait ten minutes for the next train," I explained.

Spike sat in the rear.

That's what the Magic Kingdom is all about; we make the Fantastic Real and the Real really stupid.

[hobie16]

"That's where the empty seats are. Or you could wait ten minutes for the next train," I explained.

You baffled them with logic!!

[AngelEyes]

[quote="Zazu"]Oh very well. I figued this would result.

Spike and his family, accompanied by a Plaid, came in the exit at Toontown Station when my train was almost ready to depart, and the Plaid asked where they should sit. Since the train was nearly full, I told them to sit in the back.

"Excuse me!?!?!" he said, while his Plain turned absolutely pastel. :bugeyes:

"That's where the empty seats are. Or you could wait ten minutes for the next train," I explained.

Spike sat in the rear.

That's what the Magic Kingdom is all about]

I'm surprised he didn't try to compare himself to Rosa Parks. Gotta love people that try to create a situation that was never there in the first place. Well done Zazu! You kept you cool, and I commend you for that. I would've told him that with the exception of Do the Right Thing, ALL of his movies suck. :D:

[DPRSSDNKY]

My big magic protector is when the kids buy those little bags of jewels. I know they're plastic, their parents know they're plastic, but to the kids those things are worth a mint. So every time I sell one I tell the child to make sure to hold onto the bag nice and tight so the Pirates don't steal them and add them to their gold room. (Easiest to do when working Pieces of 8) The kids usually nod and clutch the bag tightly even if their parents tell them the Pirates aren't real.
The concern I have is the number of people that stick their hands in the jewels (usually to just swim their hands through them). I don't know of any DLP guest bathrooms that have hot water (that is assuming they all wash their hands) so those things must be just a haven of germs (course I touch money that has been god knows where, so I really don't have much rom to talk about germs...I think I need a scalding hot shower about now...)