Things that make your day?

[Marilou]

Just like almost every thread that I've ever been a part of here.


Today, I had a group going to the Epcot Five (The Bird Hotel, The Fish Hotel, The Dinghy Club Resort, The Sand Club Resort and the Wood Plank Traverse Resort), and as I was leaving the load zone, I made a joke that received no response. Since this was all before I started moving, I decided to do what I heard here, with my own twist. I shut the door, put the bus in reverse, started moving (very slowly, there were no other buses or people around) and said that if they didn't laugh at my jokes, we'd be backing up the whole way to all five of the resorts. It was enough, and I had good interaction the rest of the day.

And for those wondering what I was thinking, I moved less than two feet backward. The previous driver had pulled up too close to the stop posts and I had to back up anyway, so I just worked it into my schtik.

I like that one! Hope I get fun drivers like U & Cranbiz when I'm there next week!!!

[Big Wallaby]

I have a few different schticks I do on the bus, ranging from a pirate routine, to fun facts and trivia, to one where I try (rather unsuccessfully) to be scary. This involves maniacal laughter, and often I end up "teaching" them how to do it themselves as a group. I give them a cue (such as turning on my interior lights) and that's when they start laughing maniacally too. I save that one for a route that has multiple stops where most of them won't be getting off the bus but more people will be getting on. When you get on a bus, get about halfway back and the entire bus suddenly erupts into maniacal laughter, I would have to assume it's a rather unnerving experience until they realize it's a joke. Wouldn't know, I've never had it happen to me; I just instigate it. So I had that going from AK through Blizzard Beach and into Coronado Springs. When I do my scary schtick, I also crack my normal exit spiel jokes, some of which I stole from here ("Watch your step as you exit the bus; if you choose not to watch your step watch your language" and etc.). I had a bus that, by the second stop was only a quarter full. I had this one family that exited through the back door, except their five-or-so-year-old son, who walked up to the front, as I was spieling about something, and the mock-fear expression on his face stopped me dead in my tracks. I so wanted to pull out my phone and take a picture. With that look, and not a single word, he completely stole my show. That was all the rest of my guests wanted to talk about for the rest of the trip. He used me to create a very magical moment for my other guests. I wish I had had my pixie dust pins on me at that moment.

[KidAtHeart]

[quote="Big Wallaby"]I have a few different schticks I do on the bus, ranging from a pirate routine, to fun facts and trivia, to one where I try (rather unsuccessfully) to be scary. This involves maniacal laughter, and often I end up "teaching" them how to do it themselves as a group. I give them a cue (such as turning on my interior lights) and that's when they start laughing maniacally too. I save that one for a route that has multiple stops where most of them won't be getting off the bus but more people will be getting on. When you get on a bus, get about halfway back and the entire bus suddenly erupts into maniacal laughter, I would have to assume it's a rather unnerving experience until they realize it's a joke. Wouldn't know, I've never had it happen to me]

Oh, yes, I am so going to find your bus while I'm there, if I have to stand at the bus stop all day and wait for it.

[strlnblue]

I know how often CM's made -my- day, and my question to you CM's is this: What can a non SG do to help make your day? And, following that, do you -want- guests to go to that effort to show what your effort means to their vacation, or would you rather be quietly appreciated?

One thing that I feel they would appreciate is if you would at least stand up for them verbally when one SG is being a jerk just because the CM is doing his/her job. It would mean something to them and it would put the SG in his/her place. Remember, strength in numbers.

[JAG]

I am on my way today. I read this thread and will do my best to try and do all of things that will make you guys feel better about yourself.

Hopefully I won't run into too many SG's

[StephM]

I am a huge fan of the WDW bus drivers! My 2 youngest are 4 and 2 and the highlight of their day is "widin' da bus" :D:

I never understand all of the crabbin on board x and/or y about the bus rides. It is an adventure! We love the drivers' spiels, songs, and trivia. To us, it is part of the experience.

I think the best bus ride we had, though, was when we boarded a bus from Downtown back to the Boardwalk. Some SG was upset that the particular bus we were on was not going to Old Key West, so he stood in front of it with his arms out. Finally, security carted him away and the bus driver sat down, turned off the lights and started to announce in an aggravated voice (not that I blame him) "okay folks, thanks for waiting. We are about to get going on our way back to...." The guy in front of me yelled out "OLD KEY WEST!" :D: The driver cracked up and seemed to be in a much better mood after that.

I am going to have to stalk Big W in October. My 12 yr old has been teaching his 2 year old brother how to do an "evil genius laugh." If we end up on your bus, he may never want to get off!

[Big Wallaby]

I am going to have to stalk Big W in October. My 12 yr old has been teaching his 2 year old brother how to do an "evil genius laugh." If we end up on your bus, he may never want to get off!

Good. I've been looking for a good sidekick, but the auditions are not going well.

[Randy B]

Good. I've been looking for a good sidekick, but the auditions are not going well.

Ever think it may have something to do with your insistance that they audition in cape and tights?

Randy

[Big Wallaby]

I don't require tights. But you're right, the cape is a mandatory thing. I mean, what's a good sidekick without a cape?

Tights help, too... but only if the sidekick is female, blonde and quite attractive.

[Cranbiz]

I had two today.

The first one was at AK. I was one of the last park buses and I was told to hold in #1. As I'm waiting for guests, a family with a girl in a wheelchair comes up the sidewalk and they all are waving wildly at me. I wave back and don't think nothing about it. The coordinator asks where they are going and then points to my bus. As they get closer they are calling my name. Now I'm confused (which doesn't take much). They come up to the bus saying that they were so happy to get me as a driver again. I finally remember that I had them earlier in the week. The girl wheels up the ramp and into place, says to me, "Don't forget the seatbelt, I'm don't want to come up and drive" (This is the line I use to get wheelchair guests to put on the lapbelt)

We had a bunch of laughs back to the Dolphin and they said that I helped make their stay special.

The second one took place going back to All Star Movies. The bus was fairly full and I had another MiM's box with no audio (Gee, what a shame). I did my normal spiel and did not hear any reaction and thought that I was not reaching these guests today (yea, it happens).

So as we get closer to the All Stars, I do my exit spiel. Again, nothing. When we get to Movies I say "Since no one laughed at my jokes, GET OFF" That finally got some chuckles that I heard. A family comes all the way up front from the back seats and said, Thank you, that was the best bus ride we had all week and we are leaving today. The kids offered me some of the candy that they bought on their own.

Both of these are the things that make me want to come to work.