What was your worst holiday working at Disney?

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Christmas day was not too good this year. I don't mind working holidays on principle - it's exactly as was said earlier, we work while others play. That said, this Christmas we got that lovely announcement:

...Ladies and Gentlemen, due to winds at higher elevations...

The line at City Hall was out the door, around the corner, and almost to the side door of the Emporium with people who wanted refunds. One woman actually came in with her hand stuck out open-palmed in my face and said "So what are you people going to do about the fact that you canceled the fireworks and ruined my Christmas?" What do you say to that? I hate being in situations where I don't have a way of making it a little better, and Christmas Day this year was one of those.

I know it would be frowned on, but I whould have asked her "You really NEED fireworks to make it Christmas?" Ya should have had a big basket of candy canes, and just hand them one with a "happy holidays" and send them to the exit!!

[Randy B]

I know it would be frowned on, but I whould have asked her "You really NEED fireworks to make it Christmas?" Ya should have had a big basket of candy canes, and just hand them one with a "happy holidays" and send them to the exit!!

I think it would be me who would make sure to have a nice poster sized print of a scan of the disclaimer on the back of every ticket. And maybe a poster stating that "Safety of our guests is important. So when winds have a potential to blow exploding fireworks into the crowds, safety comes first before entertainment. Thank you for your understanding." Then I would put these in standing frames that can be placed in the lobby next to the forming line. When the "you ruined my vacation" begins you can point to the fireworks poster and say "a burning firework on your head would ruin more than just one vacation". And if they persist, point to the ticket poster and say "did you look at the back of your ticket?"

Of course it wouldn't hurt to have two of the most burly security persons (or someone who looks the part) standing nearby. Sometimes an undeclaired, subtle signal that no foolishness will be tollerated can go a long way towards defusing a situation before it begins. And it makes it a lot easier to smile (or grit teeth while looking like a smile) if you don't feel physically threatened.

Randy

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I think it would be me who would make sure to have a nice poster sized print of a scan of the disclaimer on the back of every ticket. And maybe a poster stating that "Safety of our guests is important. So when winds have a potential to blow exploding fireworks into the crowds, safety comes first before entertainment. Thank you for your understanding." Then I would put these in standing frames that can be placed in the lobby next to the forming line. When the "you ruined my vacation" begins you can point to the fireworks poster and say "a burning firework on your head would ruin more than just one vacation". And if they persist, point to the ticket poster and say "did you look at the back of your ticket?"

Of course it wouldn't hurt to have two of the most burly security persons (or someone who looks the part) standing nearby. Sometimes an undeclaired, subtle signal that no foolishness will be tollerated can go a long way towards defusing a situation before it begins. And it makes it a lot easier to smile (or grit teeth while looking like a smile) if you don't feel physically threatened.

Randy

Good idea, put them on display right inside the town hall, but the problems is that most SG's wouldn't even bother to read it, let alone comprehend it.
They could just have the WDW fire company let a hose loose, spraying ice cold water!!

[Randy B]

Good idea, put them on display right inside the town hall, but the problems is that most SG's wouldn't even bother to read it, let alone comprehend it.
They could just have the WDW fire company let a hose loose, spraying ice cold water!!

Or maybe a "slippery when wet" sign, with an "inadvertant" spill of silicone oil that was spread all over the floor in a failed attempt to "clean" it up. Think of a greased ice rink. :twisted: :D:

Randy

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Or maybe a "slippery when wet" sign, with an "inadvertant" spill of silicone oil that was spread all over the floor in a failed attempt to "clean" it up. Think of a greased ice rink. :twisted: :D:

Randy

Or they could use the driving surface we had to drive in training, teflon coated driving surface, with a sheen of water!1 (simulated ice) Weeeeeee!!

[glendalais]

Christmas day was not too good this year. I don't mind working holidays on principle - it's exactly as was said earlier, we work while others play. That said, this Christmas we got that lovely announcement:

...Ladies and Gentlemen, due to winds at higher elevations...

The line at City Hall was out the door, around the corner, and almost to the side door of the Emporium with people who wanted refunds. One woman actually came in with her hand stuck out open-palmed in my face and said "So what are you people going to do about the fact that you canceled the fireworks and ruined my Christmas?" What do you say to that? I hate being in situations where I don't have a way of making it a little better, and Christmas Day this year was one of those.

Yea, Christmas Day this year was TERRIBLE! The forces that be just didn't seem to like DL that day. And while people may be all riled up about it, this is one of those occasions where I can actually see why.

Even worse, the weather forecast for New Year's Eve is predicting Santa Ana Winds .

God help us all.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Yea, Christmas Day this year was TERRIBLE! The forces that be just didn't seem to like DL that day. And while people may be all riled up about it, this is one of those occasions where I can actually see why.

Even worse, the weather forecast for New Year's Eve is predicting Santa Ana Winds .

God help us all.

Does everyone miss the fact that like the PP said, the fireworks could cause injury or property damage. People need to get over the entitlement issues,

DW and I always use a cancelled show or fireworks as an excuse to come back!! (they cancelled the parade, darn! guess we come back tomorrow!!, I'll call the office, extend my time off!!)

Although I am sure you get the"this is the last time EVER we will get a chance to see______" (whatever, fill in the blank)

[Big Wallaby]

Although I am sure you get the"this is the last time EVER we will get a chance to see______" (whatever, fill in the blank)

That, or the day I was working out front of KSR with another CM, she had some guy come up after it closed wanting to get on. When she told him it had closed almost an hour ago, he responded with an angry, "Well, then, you need to explain to my daughter why she can't go see the animals!"

Sorry, but the attraction closes before sundown so they can take care of the animals. If we don't have the trucks off the ride path by a certain time, there are literally animals that will not receive the care they need. And with some of the very endangered animals we have in there, it's rather important that we take care of them.

Now, if only someone could cut through the red tape so Disney could get some pandas, we'd have a huge panda population in the world in no time!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

That, or the day I was working out front of KSR with another CM, she had some guy come up after it closed wanting to get on. When she told him it had closed almost an hour ago, he responded with an angry, "Well, then, you need to explain to my daughter why she can't go see the animals!"

Sorry, but the attraction closes before sundown so they can take care of the animals. If we don't have the trucks off the ride path by a certain time, there are literally animals that will not receive the care they need. And with some of the very endangered animals we have in there, it's rather important that we take care of them.

Now, if only someone could cut through the red tape so Disney could get some pandas, we'd have a huge panda population in the world in no time!

You would think that with all the publicity and good will that China is trying to generate for the Olympics, that they would consider something like that. We have some here in San Diego, and they have been making baby Pandas for quite some time, the only problem is that the agreement with China is that any Pandas born here, have to go there when they reach a cetrain age! (I think it's three)

Now if we could get some flying Bongos....

[Princess Susi]

Christmas day was not too good this year. I don't mind working holidays on principle - it's exactly as was said earlier, we work while others play. That said, this Christmas we got that lovely announcement:

...Ladies and Gentlemen, due to winds at higher elevations...

The line at City Hall was out the door, around the corner, and almost to the side door of the Emporium with people who wanted refunds. One woman actually came in with her hand stuck out open-palmed in my face and said "So what are you people going to do about the fact that you canceled the fireworks and ruined my Christmas?" What do you say to that? I hate being in situations where I don't have a way of making it a little better, and Christmas Day this year was one of those.

Oh yeah, Fireworks got cancelled the whole week we were there, from 12/21-12/26! It was so freakin windy, it would have been too dangerous. I spoke with a concierge CM one night and asked if he had any interesting guests and he told me one lady got really pissed and said their vacation was ruined because there had been no fireworks. Geeze folks. SAFETY first! On 12/26, the wind was howling like a hurricane through the DL Hotel area and you could hear it whistling in the sliding glass doors to the small balcony area outside the room. It was fierce! On the news there in So Cal, it showed so many trees down and these idiots were complaining about no fireworks. I am not surprised, The sense of entitlement grows ever stronger with the Ssssss Geeeees. Even Nature has to bend to their needs. Hey, Disney could have put big dome up over the Park to protect it from the wind, right? :hysteria:
Self centered Morons! I fortunately have seen the Holiday fireworks and geeze, the colors look pretty much the same as the other fireworks during the year. I have seen fireworks every 4th of July too, so what is the big deal? I know it is nice to have the fabulous Disney firework show, but it is also nice to have the Park not burn down to the ground from stray burning embers.
susi