Thanksgiving War Stories
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:48 am
For whatever reason, I get the most SGs during Thanksgiving week. I have never understood this phenomenon, as it is busier during other holidays, but Thanksgiving is a fairly thankless time to be a Cast Member.
Like the lady I had on Thanksgiving istelf, who came up to me. I was working at Contemporary, and because I knew it was about to get busy, I had the entire queue opened up, so that people had to go to the end of the building to board. This creates what I call the swirl, where everyone, whether getting on or off the Monorail, is walking in the same direction.
As I closed the gate and the Monorail at the station closed its doors, this lady (I am being sooooo nice by calling her that) came up to me, shook her head and started a rant that lasted until the next train arrived. And yes, she made it personal, from the beginning.
"You know, I've been coming to Disney World since the 70's, and this place is really going down hill... fast! I mean, I've already gone to Guest Relations about it and called the corporate offices... You know, there was a day where they would NEVER hire someone like you."
From that point on, suffice it to say, she lost my attention. I just stood there. There was no answer I could give her that would be the right answer. She continued to berate the company and me (I think she might have been mad that I closed the gate when she was halfway down the ramp and would never have made it aboard anyway), and she was absolutely nasty. I did not move away, because I figured she would follow me and more guests would hear. It's amazing the hypnotic effect it has to listen to someone in the same line as you complain.
I simply sat there formulating my response. As I opened the gate...
"Thank you. I hope your Thanksgiving is as Magical and wonderful as you have tried so hard this Thanksgiving to make mine."
I simply pointed the way and smiled.
I don't think she liked that very much.
Like the lady I had on Thanksgiving istelf, who came up to me. I was working at Contemporary, and because I knew it was about to get busy, I had the entire queue opened up, so that people had to go to the end of the building to board. This creates what I call the swirl, where everyone, whether getting on or off the Monorail, is walking in the same direction.
As I closed the gate and the Monorail at the station closed its doors, this lady (I am being sooooo nice by calling her that) came up to me, shook her head and started a rant that lasted until the next train arrived. And yes, she made it personal, from the beginning.
"You know, I've been coming to Disney World since the 70's, and this place is really going down hill... fast! I mean, I've already gone to Guest Relations about it and called the corporate offices... You know, there was a day where they would NEVER hire someone like you."
From that point on, suffice it to say, she lost my attention. I just stood there. There was no answer I could give her that would be the right answer. She continued to berate the company and me (I think she might have been mad that I closed the gate when she was halfway down the ramp and would never have made it aboard anyway), and she was absolutely nasty. I did not move away, because I figured she would follow me and more guests would hear. It's amazing the hypnotic effect it has to listen to someone in the same line as you complain.
I simply sat there formulating my response. As I opened the gate...
"Thank you. I hope your Thanksgiving is as Magical and wonderful as you have tried so hard this Thanksgiving to make mine."
I simply pointed the way and smiled.
I don't think she liked that very much.
