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people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:43 pm
by americawestguy
whenever a ride broke down and i was in line sweeping, people would ask me why the ride broke down. i wanted to say "how would i know that, i am not working the ride". or i would try to be creative and say well the snakes got loose in indy. then guests would get mad, and want to know the real reason.
it is like mamn your not going to understand, so why should i tell you even if i knew.
you are not to understand that something stalled on lift b or something that.
Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:40 pm
by Yeti Chaser
A new twist on "my dog ate my homework" response ala Disney.......... "The Yeti got loose in the mountain chasing after a yak. Chris, whose turn was it to feed the Yeti today ? " That type of remark usually leaves the guest even more stumped

because they know they won't get a "real" answer. This is usually after the guest has heard from every other CM "we are down due to technical difficulties". They might be still mad, but that's life..............
Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:50 pm
by darph nader
It's all about being selfish. Just tell them "It's probably the Apollo 1 syndrome,or a major malfuntion in the Heisenberg compensater".
That will baffle the hell out of them.

Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:16 am
by mentu
after having to deal with this question so many times, I will no longer ask people how much longer the ride is down.
Honestly, sometimes you get a phone call to stop people at Greeter and you wait until you get a call to re-open and that is all the information you are given.
Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:46 am
by mechurchlady
No matter what you say someone will get angry or not think your answer was funny, correct or sufficient.
It is also a common guest misconception that all staff know everything there needs to be known about a business. If the staff does not know then they will immediately be able to call someone who can take care of the problem or answer the question. Some guests will get bullistic if you do not know the answer. Never give out false information as that can get you in trouble and face the fact that no matter what you do there are still going to be upset people.
From years of public service I have learned that you are broiled if you do and broiled if you do not. Sorry but you know that phrase. They are the same people who demand to know why the shake machine is not working, why the doctor is late, why goldenrod colored paper is out of stock, or why they the part needed for their car is still in a warehouse in Japan. Make some people laugh or feel good and ignore the rest.
Not a cm, never will be and opinionate me advice from years attending parks and working with customers.
Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 2:07 am
by darph nader
Churchy,you can say "darned' if you want.We wont think any less of you. :)
Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:44 am
by BirdMom
We had a horrid 8-hour breakdown on Pirates the day of the O.J. Simpson car chase, so we were telling the guests that O.J. was loose in the ride, and no one got it (before the days of streaming news).
Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:02 am
by mechurchlady
I was not thinking of having fixed socks as in darned but as in the word that you say when the beavers dammed up the river behind your house which is now flooded.
I do not drink, do drugs, or use tobacco ever in my life so cussing is my weakness and major sin after gambling probably. You should see me on this one board where i was mad at a dude who got very drunk and while keeping him from going to jail I hurt my achilles tendon. Boy can i cuss at times.
Who just poked me?
Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:56 am
by Notatourist
My thing about cursing, Churchy, is when you use similar, and correct words from the dictionary. It's harder for folks to understand, but it gets the job done.
Although I have been known to use passhole when needed.
Re: people who get mad at breakdowns
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 1:21 pm
by Scream162
I like using themed phrases just like some of the ones mentioned above.
At Pirates for any 101: "After 39 years, the dog at the jail finally gave up the keys. The pirates escaped and are now pillaging about. We cannot re-open until we get them back inside their cell."
At HM when Leota's projector goes out of alignment: "Madam Leota has lost her head."