MiMs

[Cranbiz]

I always thought that "buttercup" was a term of endearment and not derogitory at all. You knew if you were OK with Kim if she called you buttercup.

I remember one night at MK, the drivers were not listening to the radio and Randy (Field 2) was trying to get a hold of Kim (Zone 2), drivers talking over everyone so nobody could be heard. All of a sudden I hear "Buttercup from Buttterball"

Everybody just shut up and they were able to talk.

[Big Wallaby]

All of a sudden I hear "Buttercup from Buttterball"

Everybody just shut up and they were able to talk.

I wish I could have been there to hear that.

[Zazu]

Wow! Congrats to both Big Wallaby and Cranbiz. Sounds like Bus Ops have lost two of their best people the same week!

[Big Wallaby]

So tonight was very, very interesting along the lines of this thread. I was on one of my last runs in a bus with a 10-7 computer, and I had a lady that came up with tears in her eyes, thanking me. She told me how she had been telling her kids allllllll about the crazy bus drivers and how they were such wonderful entertainers. She had been disappointed when she got here and not one of the drivers had talked until tonight with me, and I was her last driver this trip. She told me how she had almost lost faith in the Disney bus system, because it was not the system she had grown up with and loved.

[ktulu]

So tonight was very, very interesting along the lines of this thread. I was on one of my last runs in a bus with a 10-7 computer, and I had a lady that came up with tears in her eyes, thanking me. She told me how she had been telling her kids allllllll about the crazy bus drivers and how they were such wonderful entertainers. She had been disappointed when she got here and not one of the drivers had talked until tonight with me, and I was her last driver this trip. She told me how she had almost lost faith in the Disney bus system, because it was not the system she had grown up with and loved.

If only Walt was around...

[lady ulrike]

You know, I've been waiting for the day that I would be around Nemo when it went down so I could have the following conversation when guests ask:

Guest: Why is the ride closed?
Me: Oh, we found him.
Guest: What? Found who?
Me: Nemo...we found him. Hence, there is now no reason to send submarines out to look for him.
Guest: <blank stare>
Me: Don't worry, I'm sure he will get lost again soon.

That's pretty good, I now kind of wish I could get a Nemo GC shift. Maybe I can find someone to shift change me.

[mechurchlady]

I go on vacation and my friends are changing jobs, I am glad it was not a 7 day trip to hades and back instead of 5 days. I will need a complete report on everything I missed.

Congrats to Cranbiz and Peach Fuzz :rufus: aka Wallaby.

[Main Streeter]

while we are on the subject of amusing radio call signs, during Disneyland's 50 birthday, the manager in charge of overseeing the operation of handing out all the cupcakes to the guest was "Cupcake One".

Polar, I'd forgotten this. 50th was such a fantastic day! :) Are you the CM who heard; "Cupcake one to Cupcake two." over the radio? I heard this twice as I was near the castle. Rob C. - ODV also told me abt these great call signs later. YOMD sure lacks call signs. ;)

[Shorty82]

I've finally broken down and am going to email Guest Services a complaint about MiMs. I'll put the email below so you all can critique it and tell me if there is any way to improve it. I'm hoping if enough people complain that Disney will be forced to bring back driver interaction.

To whom it may concern,

I would like to complain about part of the MiMs system installed on Disney Buses. A wonderful part of riding Disney buses for years has been the driver interaction. This interaction makes the time on buses more enjoyable and magical. Now with the canned music and spiels bus rides have gone from being magical to being just a bus ride.

The GPS tracking and dispatching aspects of MiMs is a good idea as it will improve the service by reducing wait times and all but taking away driver interaction lowers the quality of that service. Not many people listen to recorded safety spiels but when said by a live person more people listen, especially if the driver makes it funny.

I've read a decent bit on this system on a few web forums from both drivers and guests. Both the drivers and guests much prefer the interaction. I've read about numerous guests who complimented the driver saying that was their best bus ride when riding buses with non-functioning audio because of the interaction. With MiMs the guests just ride and maybe talk amongst themselves, with a good driver they laugh and have an enjoyable time the entire way to their destination. One driver said that this system turns bus driving cast members into just bus drivers who happen to work for Disney.

I can understand having a pre-recorded system for drivers who are unwilling or unable to interact with the guests but, in my opinion, the drivers should be able to override that part of the system when they want to interact. I've read about a number of drivers who started working at Disney because of the interaction even though they could have gotten higher pay elsewhere.

Taking away driver interaction hurts Disney Transportation as it takes away the magic of the bus ride. With a god driver bus rides at Disney become an attraction in their own right, but MiMs turns it into just a way to get from point A to point B.

BTW, anybody know a public email address for Transportation? I'd like to send them a copy of this email too.

[Randy B]

I've finally broken down and am going to email Guest Services a complaint about MiMs. I'll put the email below so you all can critique it and tell me if there is any way to improve it. I'm hoping if enough people complain that Disney will be forced to bring back driver interaction.

I like it, but I wonder if, in this case, being a knowledgeable guest may count aginst you. If you say that you miss the interaction with the driver, that is good. Mentioning that with the taped message, riders tend to ignore the message, good too. And if you wish to say you spoke with a driver and understand that the taped announcements are part of the GPS dispatch system, good. But if you come across too knowledgeable about the entire thing, such as using the name MiMs, may somehow count against you. That would take you out of the category of disapointed guest and into the category of annoying insider. Kind of like when complainers mention they have an AP.

Otherwise I think that a writing campaign would be a good thing.

Randy