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Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:36 pm
by Monorail Piglet
I saw that accident on my way home from work that night. I was direced to make a U-turn the other way to get home. I remember tons of smoke and one of the cars being literally totaled (basically, the car was smashed into itself).
It looks like Aaron was part of watercraft (there are funeral services times announcements available around the watercraft area). Now thinking about it, I "vaguely" know the CM from seeing him the break room area and talking to him once or twice.
It's really sad to come to this realization that the accident was cause by eitehr a SG, a drunk or both (or whatever reason).
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:39 pm
by Monorail Piglet
mapo wrote:Well, having worked the first two nights, I can say that the kids have been great! Very few incidents overall.
Studios will only host this event this year. Next year it returns to Magic Kingdom.
Global operations staff and leaders have been pressed into service from all points of the property. Mandatory overtime has, as usual, been assigned to those senior people lucky enough to have Friday or Saturday off, from Global Operations. CMs statused at Studios do have longer days but most of the lines of business have been covered by voluntary shifts. Since most lines of business (not global) have been a bit starved for hours, this is a welcome relief.
Studios management have been quick to constantly ask how to improve the operation on a nightly basis from those of us in the trenches. Improvements have evolved quickly -- implemented the NEXT night!
Universal consensus has been that Studios has more than it can handle but is working as hard as they can to cover. Attendance is very, very low compared to MK Grad Nights so that helps Studios out immensely. Everyone has been asked to be as flexible as possible. I have not seen one CM not rise to the occasion, to pitch in as needed to make this work.
Senior management from all areas including Phil Holmes, VP MK have been on hand for hours walking the grad paths and areas helping target possible problem areas and SOLVE these challenges as seamlessly as possible.
So far it has been the best example of team work I have seen as a CM in my five years!
It has not been perfect. It has some major flaws. But these leaders openly admit they are not MK, do not have the resources of MK, and continually ask (not demand) patience and resilience from the front line cast.
I do not know if this is due to the recent shake up of leadership (layoffs, packages, and retirements). I will say that it gives me hope that we are now moving in the right direction as a global team.
As for the kids and the offerings:
- More concert stages than MK
- Two Fantasmic Shows per night
- Two dance parties on opposite sides of park
- All rides open; Toy Story mania and Star Tours getting a good work out too
- Coaster area very popular; some issues but marginal given crowds
We still have a night with the historically difficult schools to go. Rival schools coming in this weekend.
Overall, the kids have been there to have fun, not fights. Chaperones have been more of a pain in the ass not wanting to adhere to dress code or listen to security. Love ejecting problem chaperone from park, lovely! :p:
[Disclaimer: It may sound like I am a company lackey from some of my comments. They really are doing a superb job working with front line CMs. Do we still have blue badges walking about doing nothing but holding pickup sticks? YUP...lots of em. However, being in global operations, I can tell you there is a core group that is more than covering for those slackers.]
Wait, it returns to MK next year?
*remembers last year staying until 7am at the MK monorail station*
if this is true......nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:45 am
by Ho-say
Curious - does anyone know what was behind the decision to move grad nites to the Studios, esp. if only for one year?
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:51 pm
by edua87
On the Merchandise Side, Youse Guys, on streets of america was VERY well staffed for the event. Directly across one of the stages we expected many problems, however they did great having 6 CMs watching the place rather than the usual 2.
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:52 pm
by Rob562
Ho-say wrote:Curious - does anyone know what was behind the decision to move grad nites to the Studios, esp. if only for one year?
My thought was that it was because of Space Mountain. It would have only been open for the first Grad Night or two before going down for its multi-month refurb.
Perhaps upper management thought that not having all E-tickets available would have been a bad idea? (No Space Mountain would most likely leave Tomorrowland VERY empty of students, and very busy over in Fronteirland)
-Rob
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:15 am
by mapo
As I understand it, this is a very very recent decision to return to Magic Kingdom. The stripes figured out that MK brings em in, Studios doesn't. and most importantly, Studios just is not resource laden to take on this event.
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:38 pm
by Big Wallaby
Cranbiz wrote:Well, the first thing is a SCT (Stupid Company Trick). World Drive will be closed to traffic during the fireworks as pyro will be setting mortars up in the median to achive the desires effect. It's bad enough when MK has perimeter fireworks (ask any cast member about road closures) but to shut down World Drive for 25 minutes or so! My driving nightmare has just begun.
I have to beg this question: Whose decision was it, that in order to keep things moving, we should reroute people staying at AKL, Pop, ASR, CB, CS, and anywhere else in that vicinity down Bear Island Road? I mean, I know guests love to see backstage, but the sewage processing facility is a wee bit over the top.
I hated doing that one by myself. I would never take guests back there. I would rather go to Coronado Springs by way of Idaho Falls in 2780 (may that thing finally die soon) than take guests on Bear Island Road. Can anyone say, "Bad show"?
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:29 am
by mapo
Big Wallaby wrote:I have to beg this question: Whose decision was it, that in order to keep things moving, we should reroute people staying at AKL, Pop, ASR, CB, CS, and anywhere else in that vicinity down Bear Island Road? I mean, I know guests love to see backstage, but the sewage processing facility is a wee bit over the top.
I hated doing that one by myself. I would never take guests back there. I would rather go to Coronado Springs by way of Idaho Falls in 2780 (may that thing finally die soon) than take guests on Bear Island Road. Can anyone say, "Bad show"?
Big Wallaby, sorry to say but Transportation made that call.
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:56 pm
by hobie16
I just got an email from my niece. Her parents rented a limo to haul her and her friends to the prom. On the way to the prom the limo driver caused a wreck and ran. The cops caught him and charged him with DUI.
The kids had to call their parents to come get them and deliver them to the dance.
How mortifying!
Re: Grad Nite 2009
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:01 pm
by kurtisnelson
At least the kids weren't drinking. I guess I should make the obligatory rum comment.