Possible Trip to WDW in January...Advice?

[glendalais]

Anyway, just thought I would give an update.

I arrived at WDW last night, had a fairly uneventful set of flights, with one exception (and on the Philadelphia-Orlando route, so I'm sure you could guess where this SG was going). As I'm sure you know, you're supposed to turn off Cell Phones before takeoff and then keep them off for the duration of the flight.

Anyway, just as we're about to take off from Orlando, this guy is talking away on his Cell Phone. When the Flight Attendent finally is able to get him to stop, he whines about how his call was interrupted . Let's not even think about the fact that it could interfere with the plane's GPS and cause us to crash .

The "Disney's Magical Express" over was quite nice. The driver even unloaded my stuff even though he wasn't supposed to (I brought all my luggage as a carry on, so it wasn't tagged). As you can imagine, I tipped quite generously (even though the bus drivers aren't Disney, it still feels a little odd to be tipping at all).

The hotel staff, er....a lot of them seemed to not know what they were doing. I bought dinner and had to basically teach the cashier how to enter the payment and discount (thankfully, WDW uses the same cashier system as DL, down to the touchscren button layout). They were nice enough, and great examples of CMs exhibting Disney Show and Courtesy, but they all seemed a little wet behind the ears (not that it was a big deal or anything)

Anyways, I'm going to Magic Kingdom today, Epcot tomorrow and Disney Hollywood Studios/Animal Kingdom on Thursday (though I'm going to try to book the Backstage Magic tour, so that may change). Anyway, if you're working at anytime over the next 3 days, PM me! I'll be happy to come and visit :D: .

EDIT: I forgot to mention. It is REALLY humid here. How do you people live like this ?? It's the middle of January and I feel like I'm visiting Singapore in the middle of July.

[Princess Susi]

Glad you made it there and with more days to enjoy the Parks! Have a great time and watch for SG stories for us.

Unbelievable that the guy actually complained that his call was interrupted! Next time charter your own jet and you can talk all you want that is WHEN the pilot says it is okay! Someone needs to have their phone thrown out at 35,000 ft. Why would his phone be any different than anybody elses? When they say turn the thing off, they mean you too, dumbass! The entitlement issues are alive and well on the airlines!
Good SG story! :twisted:
susi
susi

[hobie16]

I forgot to mention. It is REALLY humid here. How do you people live like this ?? It's the middle of January and I feel like I'm visiting Singapore in the middle of July.

Think of it as a gigantic spa moisturizing treatment. Some people pay big money for it. And think how good your skin will look by the end of the trip. :D:

[Big Wallaby]

Thursday, Animal Kingdom... Make sure you come visit me on Safari (I'll send you info), and don't miss the Festival of the Lion King. If you've been at Disneyland long, you might recognize some of the props for that show :D:

[Whazzup]

Think of it as a gigantic spa moisturizing treatment. Some people pay big money for it. And think how good your skin will look by the end of the trip. :D:

HA!! Think of it in August with sweat running down your face and your hands sticky from all that "moisturizing treatment" and the last dredges of a Mickey Bar that you couldn't eat fast enough and it melted all over your hands.

That's why I can't live in central Florida - I don't tolerate the heat well at all. Even northwest Florida is a killer. I hibernate in the house from about May through mid-November. Now, we have been in WDW in January (our favorite time to go) when it has been downright frosty in the morning and at night, and pleasantly sunny and cool during the day, but that can change in a heartbeat to hot and sunny, or hot and rainy.

I went to WDW in August with my son and his family when he returned from Iraq a few years ago - NEVER AGAIN!! I guess that's why they offer free dining in Aug-Sep, to bribe people to come to the parks during the summer heat (and hurricane season).

[hobie16]

HA!! Think of it in August with sweat running down your face and your hands sticky from all that "moisturizing treatment" and the last dredges of a Mickey Bar that you couldn't eat fast enough and it melted all over your hands.

Stay away from Hawaii mid to late September. The tradewinds (ENE) quit, the Konas (South) are dead, and we get stifling humidity. It's the only time of the year we close the doors and run the A/C.

[Cranbiz]

What heat and humidity? The weather here is great! If you want heat and humidity, visit New England in July.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Anyway, just thought I would give an update.

I arrived at WDW last night, had a fairly uneventful set of flights, with one exception (and on the Philadelphia-Orlando route, so I'm sure you could guess where this SG was going). As I'm sure you know, you're supposed to turn off Cell Phones before takeoff and then keep them off for the duration of the flight.

Anyway, just as we're about to take off from Orlando, this guy is talking away on his Cell Phone. When the Flight Attendent finally is able to get him to stop, he whines about how his call was interrupted . Let's not even think about the fact that it could interfere with the plane's GPS and cause us to crash .

The "Disney's Magical Express" over was quite nice. The driver even unloaded my stuff even though he wasn't supposed to (I brought all my luggage as a carry on, so it wasn't tagged). As you can imagine, I tipped quite generously (even though the bus drivers aren't Disney, it still feels a little odd to be tipping at all).

The hotel staff, er....a lot of them seemed to not know what they were doing. I bought dinner and had to basically teach the cashier how to enter the payment and discount (thankfully, WDW uses the same cashier system as DL, down to the touchscren button layout). They were nice enough, and great examples of CMs exhibting Disney Show and Courtesy, but they all seemed a little wet behind the ears (not that it was a big deal or anything)

Anyways, I'm going to Magic Kingdom today, Epcot tomorrow and Disney Hollywood Studios/Animal Kingdom on Thursday (though I'm going to try to book the Backstage Magic tour, so that may change). Anyway, if you're working at anytime over the next 3 days, PM me! I'll be happy to come and visit :D: .

EDIT: I forgot to mention. It is REALLY humid here. How do you people live like this ?? It's the middle of January and I feel like I'm visiting Singapore in the middle of July.

Thats suprising on the SG on the plane, most flights I have been on, they won't push back until they are all off!!

Maybe I am different, but I tip every CM that does something personal for me at the resorts, especially handling luggage. I thought it was customary, like tipping wait staff, and so forth.

[Shorty82]

Maybe I am different, but I tip every CM that does something personal for me at the resorts, especially handling luggage. I thought it was customary, like tipping wait staff, and so forth.

Even at Disney you should still tip customarily tipped positions, the bellhops, wait staff, etc. Front desk is a non-tipped position and while housekeeping is technically a non-tipped position most will take a tip if you leave it for them (though I've heard of a few who won't).

[glendalais]

Thats suprising on the SG on the plane, most flights I have been on, they won't push back until they are all off!!

Maybe I am different, but I tip every CM that does something personal for me at the resorts, especially handling luggage. I thought it was customary, like tipping wait staff, and so forth.

The plane was on US Airways, they allow for Cell Phone use while on the ground. Heck, they promote it ("if you have a Mobile PDA, please access usairways.com to check for connecting flight information")

And they pounded it into us during Traditions that, as CMs, we do not except tips. We're supposed to refuse forcefully three times, and then take it and call a lead or manager. Then again, it might be just Parks CMs and not Hotels.

Anyway, continuing what has apparently become a live trip report...

I had a wonderful time at Magic Kingdom today. It was familiar, but different at the same time. Thanks to some advance planning and the relatively light crowds, I managed to actually get in line for every attraction (though I did end up chickening out on Space (which is HUGE compared to DLs) and BTMRR). I also got to see the parade and the fireworks. Combined this with the lack of large numbers of SGs (or at least any I've noticed), I'm feeling pretty good right now.

However, there's just one thing I have gotta ask, I kept noticing it all day, and it just got to me.

Basically, I kept noticing that there were a really large number of Onstage CMs who were still wearing the DL 50th Anniversary nametag (this one) instead of the current one.

At DL, we do still have people wearing old nametags, but they are really few in number (I've only seen 2), and they are always in Backstage roles, mainly Costuming or Cast Scheduling. Even then, they're wearing the old nametage from when DCA opened (this one). We've completely phased out the 50th Anniversary nametag.

It's not a big deal, I was just wondering. Is it harder to get a new nametag at WDW (at DL, we just have to go to the TEAM Center and pay the fee, if the nametags are being replaced, we are issued them by our managers),

Anyway, I'm off to plan for Epcot tomorrow. And of course trying to visit a certain marsupial on Thursday ;) .