Should we share the wisdom?

[Kwahati]

This appeared on MousePlanet a few days ago:

Audress J. writes:
I have an idea for a future column, inspired by your good advice to be courteous and polite to cast members. I don't know if it would be a "Cast Place" column, strictly speaking, but it would be very helpful to a lot of Disney fans. This would be a column on what sorts of things cast members would like guests to know before they come to WDW. As an example, one bit of information I read recently that I'd never have guessed: cast members may not help guests into or out of their ECVs when getting on rides. I was glad to find this out, as my mom is going to be in an ECV for our December trip.

I'd really love to know if there are other bits of information on what cast members can and cannot do, or any other tips that I, as a polite, well-meaning guest, would find useful. Perhaps this would make a good column?

I love MousePlanet—thanks for all your hard work!

That is a great tip and would make a good column. The rules are ever-evolving, but I don't see why we couldn't put some of the more longstanding ones together. Thanks for the kudos and keep reading—we'll have a new Cast Place column later this month.

So, I think this person reads SGT because that ECV thing was posted earlier here, right (and, additionally, she seems to be silently screaming "I'm not an SG!!!")? Beyond that though: what do you guys think? Could we oblige by assembling our best loved (and most often unknown) pieces of information to edumacate the ignorant, unwashed masses? Then maybe Cujo, Polar and Zazu could send it in to the people at mouseplanet on behalf of all of us here at SGT...

Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

1) There are designated smoking areas in all parks for your convenience, please do not smoke unless you are in one of these areas.

2) The monorails only go to MK, Epcot, TTC, and three hotels. Corollary: familiarize yourself with a map of the entire WDW resort complex prior to your arrival. This will enable you to better plan transportation to (and ensure feasibility of getting to) anywhere you want to go.

3) Please abide by what CM's ask of you at all times. Cast members do their jobs to keep you safe. They're not denying you that last ride on space mountain five minutes after closing to ruin your trip. They're denying you the ride because they've closed it, and after that point they cannot guarantee that CM's a properly located to run the ride correctly and safely.

I'm thinking we can continue this, kinda like the park rules column, but a little more nicely worded (mostly non-confrontational) so that someone can cut and paste (with as little editing as possible) this into a nice letter to the mouseplanet people...

Well, anyone like this idea? (Or is trying to talk to them as though they'll listen an SGT?) :D:

[ICStupidPeople]

I paid a lot of money for my vacation and if i want to ride space mountain after it closes, then they better let me... :D: :twisted: :p:

[Big Wallaby]

I'd throw in one thing at a time and watch the reaction. Either that, or so much information that you drive them unconscious in the first post. Anything in between might be good for starting a flame war or just be lost on people.

[Kwahati]

To clarify: this wouldn't be for their forums. I took the thing in the original post from the "MousePlanet Mailbag" column. I think we should send in our suggestions in a nicely worded, non-confrontational letter to Shoshana Lewin, who writes their "Cast Place" column. I bet they'd even be willing to use our suggestions semi-anonymously so we don't subsequently get flooded with SG's who just wanna come shit all over our parade. Of course, that's only if people here think it's a good idea...

[ICStupidPeople]

I paid good money for my vacation and i'll shit during the parade if i want

[Kwahati]

I paid good money for my vacation and i'll shit during the parade if i want

I'm cool with you shitting during the parade. The problem arises when people choose to shit ON the parade. If people try to shit on our parade, I worry they'll be beat up by close friends of giant rats, run over by busses, trains and monorails and they won't even get to talk to our managers about it afterward! (And we may not even tell them where the bathrooms are so they can clean themselves up after the beating either!) :D:

[Cranbiz]

I paid good money for my vacation and i'll shit during the parade if i want

I'm not in entertainment, so shit away. Please refrain from shitting in any form of Walt Disney World Transportation.

[darph nader]

Don't send nuttin to them. Remember,it applys to EVERYONE ELSE but them. :( Like ICS said (out of context) "F-U,pony-up with MY good time". :D:

[mechurchlady]

That was me. The discussion ended that a CM can steady a guest such as getting into a monorail, boat or ride but they can not actually list the guest out of their wheelchair, ECV or Scooter. Guiding is different from lifting.

PIN TRADING

DO NOT put pins in your mouth to wash them or remove the backs.

Be specific as to what pin you want. "I want Mickey" and there are 12 Mickey pins.

NO boingy boing on the lanyards of ANYONE. Some men do not like being touched and it is rude to boing on the chest of ANY female guest or CM.

Pulling on the lanyard is unsafe and rude. You do not want a 300 pound person tipping over on top of you.

Take turns.

Do not try to con guests or CMs.

Rubber, plastic and wood pins are not tradeable with CMs.

CMs with lanyards have assigned jobs and make sure you are not interfering with their jobs.

Some CMs have kids only lanyard so SHUT UP AND STOP WHINING. Every CM can wear whatever lanyard they want to wear except if it is a safety hazard or management says otherwise.

CMs sometimes wear pins that are not for trade. These are personal pins. Only certain CM issued lanyards are for trading and please SHUT UP AND STOP WHINING if a CM does not want to trade with you their pins.

CMs have the right to say NO if a pin trader is breaking rules or is out of line and if necessary they have the right to call their leads, management, the cops, security, etc. CMs do not need people threatening them, reporting them, or making a scene over a pin.

Study before coming to the parks and know what pins are coming out so you do not ask stupid questions. Know the pin trading etiquette and rules and make sure you have traders on you. Know before hand exactly what you need as CMs do not need to stand there while you dig through your stuff trying to find out if you have a certain pin.

CMs do not have to hold a pin while you run to a store to buy a trader.

DO NOT TOUCH CMs. Some CMs for certain personal reasons do not like being touched. It you need to speak to them then say "excuse me" and get their attention. Be polite with CMs. At times they can be overwhelmed by pin traders all shouting their requests. Have patience.

I got a long list but that should get us started.

Next is my strollers and ECV list.

[Big Wallaby]

Churchy, you have a true talent when it comes to making exhaustive lists of REALLY GOOD information.