Next year I'm selling Thanksgiving Turkeys from the Monorail Platform

[Big Wallaby]

And judging by this last Thanksgiving, I should have quite a supply.

Before I begin, I should explain that I operate to load and unload the platform as quickly as possible. I can take any resort platform and have a monorail in, unloaded, loaded and out of the station in under a minute and a half, even on a busy day. However, I do occasionally have people who do not see the fact that they move faster, but instead they have a problem with how I might allow people coming onto the platform to start loading before everyone is off the platform. I assume that people know where they are going, and bank on the idea that they will take care of themselves. By doing that, even on the busiest days, the platform is clear in a minute thirty. I use efficiency to get them where they want to go. That comes into play in the story I am about to tell.

As you know, we don't always get cooperation from all of our guests. So there I was on the Polynesian platform, and when I asked everyone to please move to the end of the platform, almost no one wanted to help by moving. Then, I had someone come up in a wheel chair. It's difficult to explain what happened next, but I'll give it my best shot.

On the Poly platform, there are four main gates, and there is one on the side to the left, in the fence between the exit and the holding area. When I get a guest in a wheel chair, I take them through that side gate so as to bypass everyone else. As that guest and their party was waiting at that fifth gate, I asked people to move down. They simply looked at me. I locked the gate ahead of them, so that everyone was going to have to go through the first two gates, farthest toward the front of the train. The purpose of that was to make myself some space to load the guest in the wheelchair while those people went through the front gate, and as by the time they got to me, I would have the guest in the wheelchair onboard and the ramp out of the way. When the train arrived, I also had a guest in a wheelchair to get off the train. Now, I really needed that time I had bought myself.

I opened those front two gates, left the last two locked.

Again, I had asked the people at the two gates that I was not opening to move down, as much so they would be closer to the gates I would be opening as to make more room for more people to get into the area.

I opened the two front gates, then went back to the side gate, grabbed the ramp, and helped my guest in the wheelchair to board the train. As I pulled the ramp up from the ground and came to a full stand, the man at one of the gates I had locked was standing less than a foot from me. I could tell he was angry, and I wasn't sure I wasn't about to be hit.

Him: You locked that gate on me so I couldn't get onto the monorail before those people at the front gates.

Me: Sir, I was doing what was necessary to give myself the space to safely unload and load some guests in wheelchairs, while keeping you moving so you can get where you want to go

Him: You locked that gate in front of me so my family and I couldn't get out because we wouldn't move like you asked.

Me: Sir, I asked you to move because I wouldn't be opening that gate you were in front of. I did ask you to move down for a reason.

Him (just about sobbing in anger): You're... just... a little
bastard... abusing what... little power... you have...

I couldn't think of any response to that. I'm really surprised he didn't come after me by talking to a manager. But I did talk about him to a manager, just in case.

[Big Wallaby]

There's also the night that weekend when I was on the Magic Kingdom Resort load, and I saw a little girl come up carrying a light stick that we use to direct guests. The type is only used by Monorails, as far as I know, as the light sticks used in the parks are usually a different color. If you're not sure the tool I am talking about, think of what they use to guide an airplane into the gate, or what police use to direct traffic. Exact same thing.

So this little girl was carrying one. As they passed by, I asked where she got it.

Little Girl: I picked it up in the grass.

Me: Okay, well, I need to take it back. Right now...

Girl's Mother: You're not actually doing this, are you?

Me: Yes, ma'am, I am.

Mother: You're not doing this to a child, are you?

Me: Actually, ma'am, yes I am. That is Disney property, it's not something we sell, it's not merchandise, it's a tool we use. I can't allow it to be taken from Disney World. It is not a toy, it is a tool we use.

Mother looks at my nametag. I turn it to her to make sure she can see it, I read it to her, my name and hometown. Both are unique in Monorails. After I read it to her, I also tell her I'm making sure she knows my name in case she wants to talk to a manager.

Mother: Oh, yeah, I'm gonna talk to a manager.

I happen to spot a manager on the platform at this time.

Me: Hold that thought a moment.

I pull him over to the situation. He's a good hundred feet off, but starts over.

Mother: You're not actually going to do this in front of a child, are you?

Me: Well, you do seem very concerned about this, you are going to speak to a manager, and I can get one here while the incident is fresh in your mind.

Manager arrives, asks me what's going on.

Me: This lady would like to talk to you about something I did. I wouldn't allow her daughter to take this (pulling out light stick).

I now step away from the car where the lady is, and the manager tries to ask her about it. She clams up and won't talk to my manager. He allows the train to depart and comes back to me.

Manager: What was that about?

I explain the situation

Manager: I hope she reports you. You have nothing to worry about. I'll cover for you, and we'll have her name and address.

That's the first time I've ever had to be confrontational with a guest. I would do it again instantly in a similar incident.

Those are my two best SG stories to date.

So I wonder what Christmas will be like?

The way I figure it, these are the people who, for the holidays, look for ways to spend time with their family without being with their family. By coming to Disney World "together", they can be together, but still not see them. Sure, we're together at Disney World. We're together in a 42-square-mile area. Those are the ones that come and are surprised by the four hour-wait for Soarin' and Safari and wonder what the hell all the other guests are doing here.

Makes me love getting the happy guests all that much more.

[Notatourist]

Not related, but Wallaby, did you see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade this year?

I was in it. Let me tell you, New Yorkers on Thanksgiving Day are like SGT's in many situations. My favorite are the spectators who on the night before the parade think that they can drop their kids over the fence to "Go touch a balloon" and that they can get a picture with it.

Why is the fence there? Anyone think of that?

[kurtisnelson]

Before I begin, I should explain that I operate to load and unload the platform as quickly as possible. I can take any resort platform and have a monorail in, unloaded, loaded and out of the station in under a minute and a half, even on a busy day.

The reason the monorails load slowly is purely because of the SGs. When I was sitting at the platform with The_Doctor he would come in under a minute thirty as long as there were no SGs. The only reason he was ever above was because of SGs just stopping in the middle of the queue.

[turkeyham]

Big Wallaby-

I don't understand those SG who can't figure out what it means to move on down so the wheel chair guests can get on safely. The wheel chair crew needs more time to get on. If the gates are locked, move your butt down to the open ones and don't bitch about it.

For the mom who thinks if the guest control stick is in the grass is free, NOT! Don't grab it. The fence is there for a reason.

On the turkeycarts, the beverage display is now on the right side of the vendors. It prevents SG from stealing the beverages. The chips no longer are pointed out to the guests. The chips are now turned into the counters. If vending could copy how WDW parks do it, stick it behind glass and keep the SG swipers away!! :mad:

[BRWombat]

Wow, Wallaby, you are a mean SOB, aren't you? ;) :D:

Just kidding -- thanks for putting up with the idiots and still having a heart for making magic!

[ktulu]

I love Big Wallaby SGT stories. More!!!

[hhsrat]

There's also the night that weekend when I was on the Magic Kingdom Resort load, and I saw a little girl come up carrying a light stick that we use to direct guests. The type is only used by Monorails, as far as I know, as the light sticks used in the parks are usually a different color. If you're not sure the tool I am talking about, think of what they use to guide an airplane into the gate, or what police use to direct traffic. Exact same thing.

Main St. Ops usually uses blue light sticks made by a company called Polybrite. These are lighter, and less durable than the ones used in other areas of the company (yet cost about the same). They have a few red ones left in their collection, but not many.

A lot of other areas (Monorails, Security, and basically every Operations area that uses light sticks but is not Main Street) use red light sticks made by Dorcy.

(yes, I probably know too much about this ... one of my managers at one point asked me to research this, because we were thinking about switching away from the Dorcy Sticks, if we could find an alternative that worked as well or better)

[hobie16]

Him (just about sobbing in anger): You're... just... a little bastard... abusing what... little power... you have...

I couldn't think of any response to that.

How about, "Yes I Am!!"

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

How about, "Yes I Am!!"

How about the reply: "Power unused is power abused!"


hehehehehehe


RUM?