Stupid Guest Tricks

Esmerelda wrote:Robert is so nice! He and (sometimes) his friend Brett come into the Emporium EVERY SINGLE NIGHT and try to help us close. They try to put things away and stay there until every last guest is out of the store, which is sometimes as late as 1:45 on nights the park closes at midnight. I always wondered what he had in that notebook! From what he has told me, he gets to the park sometime around 10 in the morning every day and is, I believe, the last guest out the gate. Now that's dedication!

I remember Robert!! I had no clue who he was until you said how he "helped" close Emporium every night!! NOW I know! Awww, he was so sweet. I tried not to work Emporium very often, but there were times when I had to and he'd be there at closing EVERY time I closed there. He would walk around and help straighten up and he'd say goodnight to all the guests ... haha! It was cute. Some people were freaked out by him but I knew he was mentally challanged. Guests would come up and go, "Does he work here??" because he'd be helping straighten and directing guests to the nearest cash register, etc. LOL! Anyway, good times....

flippin_mermaid wrote:

BRWombat wrote:Makes me wonder -- can you spot them? Do they take notes or anything?

When I was last at WDW, I carried a PassPorter guidebook and took lots of notes for our family scrapbook and online trip report. We received fabulous treatment everywhere we went. I've always thought it was just the usual Disney magic, but now I'm wondering.... Would someone taking notes in the park make you think they were possibly evaluating you?

Actually, no ... Mystery Guests don't carry notebooks or visably take notes ... they're supposed to be very incognito. After awhile, I came to be able to tell who the Mystery Guests were. They usually start off by asking three varied questions and then purchase something, etc. Alot of us can tell who the MGs are just by their actions ... but it's still so hard to judge! Each shop gets evaluated every month.

Now that is seriously a job I wouldn't mind having ... I wonder how the pay is and where you go to apply??

I've done them before (not as disneyland) there are a bunch of companies that hook you up with them, but it's independent contractor work and it isn't steady. It's nice to help out with the bills a little.

Typically you get payed by the job, like $10-$15. Depending on the company you may get to keep what you buy and charge them for it (I once got to drive a nice rental convertable for a weekend for free [including gas]) some make you return the items (saves money, and allows them to check out the return policy).

It's not as fun as it sounds. You have strict guidelines, and sometimes it hurts to give out the scores. One of the last places I went to (I did these during a brief stint of unemployment, they are great then since you can schedule them around your job interviews) there was a really sweet young lady, extremely nice and friendly, but the company wanted to hear her use there 'slogans' and she didn't, and therefore I had to dock her major points.

BRWombat wrote:When I was last at WDW, I carried a PassPorter guidebook and took lots of notes for our family scrapbook and online trip report. We received fabulous treatment everywhere we went. I've always thought it was just the usual Disney magic, but now I'm wondering....

This was caused by the PassPorter. CMs at WDW and the DCL (and soon Disneyland!) know it as the sign of the very best guests of all -- guests informed, organized, and unlikely to act like Passholes.

And the fact that I'm a technical editor for the PassPorter guidebooks has nothing to do with the above statement! </plug>

[quote="Zazu"]...the fact that I'm a technical editor for the PassPorter guidebooks has nothing to do with the above statement! &lt]
ROFL!!! :D :D

dannydp wrote:I've done them before (not as disneyland) there are a bunch of companies that hook you up with them, but it's independent contractor work and it isn't steady. It's nice to help out with the bills a little.

Typically you get payed by the job, like $10-$15. Depending on the company you may get to keep what you buy and charge them for it (I once got to drive a nice rental convertable for a weekend for free [including gas]) some make you return the items (saves money, and allows them to check out the return policy).

It's not as fun as it sounds. You have strict guidelines, and sometimes it hurts to give out the scores. One of the last places I went to (I did these during a brief stint of unemployment, they are great then since you can schedule them around your job interviews) there was a really sweet young lady, extremely nice and friendly, but the company wanted to hear her use there 'slogans' and she didn't, and therefore I had to dock her major points.

So you only get paid $10-$15 for the entire job?? Or do you mean $10-$15 an HOUR? Well, I'm only working part-time for minimum wage right now anyway and I seriously wouldn't mind finding out how to get a job like that. Like, where do I look to get in touch with the companies? I know there are certain things that suck ... like having to dock points on a really nice person ... but still ... it'd be nice to be able to do this kind of work so I can be a stay-at-home-mom!

flippin_mermaid wrote:So you only get paid $10-$15 for the entire job?? Or do you mean $10-$15 an HOUR? Well, I'm only working part-time for minimum wage right now anyway and I seriously wouldn't mind finding out how to get a job like that. Like, where do I look to get in touch with the companies? I know there are certain things that suck ... like having to dock points on a really nice person ... but still ... it'd be nice to be able to do this kind of work so I can be a stay-at-home-mom!

Entire job, which usually takes much less than a hour. I've seen a couple that pay more, but they are rare.

Theres a few companies that help you out:
http://www.secretshoppercompany.com/
http://www.secretshopper.com/

And the fact that I'm a technical editor for the PassPorter guidebooks has nothing to do with the above statement! </plug>

Are you really? My boyfriend and I actually bought a passporter for our previos Disneyworld trips. It was very useful considering we had no idea what we were doing. :)

lady ulrike wrote:

And the fact that I'm a technical editor for the PassPorter guidebooks has nothing to do with the above statement! &lt]
Are you really?

As I reply to stupid questions at the Park, "I don't have to make this stuff up, I work here!"

Go to page iv and look for someone who's described as "working at a major Central Florida theme park" and you can even see my picture.

My boyfriend and I actually bought a passporter for our previos Disneyworld trips. It was very useful considering we had no idea what we were doing. :)

Thanks, that was exactly what we had in mind when we wrote it. Glad to be of help.

It is a great guide book, Zazu... I recommend it to others regularly. Good work. (I'll be pre-ordering the 2005 edition once it's available for my family's next trip to the Mouse!)

You know SMILEY is not a bad guy.....He is kinda creepy..because he comes by himself..and always has a smile on his face. As a girl Cast member on one of his favorite rides to ride at the end of the night I know how it is. He kinda creeped me out but never threatened me in anyway, it was kinda weird always having hiim try and to stay on the same area as the female cast members. But other than that he was always polite...he never said anything or made a scene....but I HAVE HEARD STORIED!!!!! :shock: