Stupid Guest Tricks

After the applications, two and a half interviews, all the paperwork, sacrificing some other very important things in my life, and weeks of waiting, I finally began my CM experience last weekend with my resort orientation and line of business training.

Let me first tell you what I'm doing and why. I've been hired for Show Support (also called Show Services) as a driver. I may have one of the CT, low paying jobs, but I'm not a teenage, high-school attending, summer job seeking, "I-wanna-work-at-the-happy-place" kid. At 23, I'm a slightly older kid with background in retail sales, and in the last few years, in retail operations and business management. In the fiascoes of my former employer, a major computer company which is now losing ground, I learned enough about business to survive reasonably well on my own in a harsh corporate environment. So why get a CT job at DLR? They were the first place I've applied in the last 6 months that's even bothered to interview me. That being said, I have no problem working there, in fact it might even be kind of fun.

I grew up in the entertainment business with my father, and I've never been "star struck" or in awe when I see a movie lot. I feel at home backstage at a theatre, and backstage at DLR has a similar feel that I so far enjoy. When I was younger I was an AP, but never a "passhole". I was the kid who would sit there just people watching, always picked up my own trash, and went to the wheelhouse on the Mark Twain just to hang out with the CM up there (MT pilots were always really cool).

I was weary that the "Making Disney Magic" resort orientation would be a bunch of brainwashing....and maybe it was. But the fact is, I really had a good time, I learned a lot about the company, and in the end they managed to get me to drop my harsh pre-disposition against some things about DLR, and actually made me happy I'm here. I like the people so far...and I hope I get along with everyone in my department. I'm kind of worried about fitting in, but I'm going to work as hard as I possibly can (I need the money!!). Hopefully I can earn my keep.

I'm not one for getting real excited about being part of "the magic", but I've got to say that when I thought about it on Saturday, there is something that really does excite me. It was when they told us the statistics of out of state, and overseas guests -- and it was also a moment when I was in the Grand Californian and heard a guest recording a video saying "Well, it was a long drive from Kansas, but we made it...". Something about people coming from all over the world, even DRIVING across the country to be here for just a few days is really special...that even though we may read about a lot of angry guests here, there are a lot of people, children especially, who are given some really happy experiences.

*shrug* Call me a softy, but I am buying into it....hell, maybe they did brainwash me...but all my working life I've sold appliances, computers, fax machines...I've never worked anywhere where people bought happiness. Yeah, I mean I'm not cool with Disney gouging guests....$3 for a bottle of Coke we get for free, for example...but the other stuff...the incredible effort thousands of people put forth every day to make experiences (for lack of a better word) "magic". *sigh*....In a way, I feel so naieve...I get the feeling some of you are thinking that about me right now.

I got to do some really cool stuff this weekend. Visited the costume shops, the head shop. Went inside the parade float warehouse. Yikes! I'm actually going to squeeze into that seat and drive one of those floats in this weather?? I admit that prospect is a bit frightening....it was 103 degrees on Sunday. I think it was code 90 before 11:00.

Of course no new CM's introduction is complete without a lunch at the Inn Between. Both days we stopped there between Space and MS to eat lunch. Both days I already wasn't feeling well. Both days I felt worse afterwords, especially the first day. I don't know if I'll be doing a lot of eating there at the Inn Between....but I was very happy to see the prices!! Thank God, Disney doesn't see the need to gouge us too! For a buck or two I could get some fruit and juice...I suppose they couldn't ruin that too much!

My first guest experience was just outside Toontown on Sunday with my line of business group. Incidently, my group was being led by a parade lead I'll likely be working with so he and I were spending a lot of time talking about stuff (no, I was NOT kissing his ass). I was in the "conservatice casual" attire (my "costume" for this weekend) wearing my new name tag and ID badge around my nexk (since we were coming on / off stage). Next to the Snow White theatre, a little boy started tugging on my pants and said "Excuse me mister, can you tell me where the bathroom is?". I knew in what general direction it was, but wasn't sure, so I said "Sure I can. Let's see...Rick do you know?" Rick, the lead, then explained to the boy where they were -- not more than 10 feet from where we were standing (but out of line of sight). Then Rick said it was appropriate that that's what my first guest experience should be, since it's the one question I will be asked the most...incessantly.

I know I won't be interacting with guests much if at all in show support...but I ALMOST with I would get the chance. If nothing else, to have stories to tell like all of you do :) I've worked customer service for years though, and it'll be a nice break to not be in a position that is on the "front lines" of customer service.

Well...that's all for now. This post is long enough as it is, that I doubt no one will take the time to read the whole thing anyway. If you did, however, thanks! :) I go back in on Saturday for my department training...then hopefully I'll be ready. I hope to see you all out there....though we'll probably never know when we bump into each other.

Peace!!

My theory is that EVERY orientation, class, training or coaching you ever have is all meant to brain wash you. But it's a really FUN way to be brainwashed, isn't it?

I'm glad that you seem to be enjoying yourself so much... as much as we all pick on the company or complain about it, in the end most of us have to admit it's a GREAT place to work. It's a fun place that has great employees, it's a place where you make friends for LIFE. All of my BEST friends are Disney cm's (as sad as that sounds... it's true...). I'm able to do what I love and get paid for it. There are still nights I go to sleep and I can't believe I get paid for doing what I do, and that's even after I've been working in the park for 2 years... so no, we don't think you're being naive. I've worked quite a few different places, and none of them are as great as Disney... yes, Disney does have quite a few flaws, but you compare that to other places and you start realizing how great it is. We get a LOT of perks, and most management treats the cast members VERY well, and you usually get your breaks around when you should, and even when they are late that's better than some other places I've worked where breaks were considered a priviledge, not a right... I've heard lots of horror stories about management, I've even shared a few of my own horror stories about management, but overall I've always loved every manager and even most the leads I've ever worked with, they've all gone waaaaaaaaaaaaay out of their way to help me however they can, no matter how small my problem was they always made time for it and treated it like it was just as important as everything else.

I do hope you get to interact with guests at least a bit too... can you guys pick up GC shifts? If so, that's a good way to interact with the guests. I usually have fun playing with the little kids. I once got pulled to work a parade, and ended up sitting on the ground playing with a little kid who was showing me his new toy... then I saw the lead coming towards me, and I remembered we weren't supposed to sit (which I didn't mean to do, I just wanted to get down to his level, and well, he was sitting on the ground, and he was the one who tugged on my leg and asked me to play with him), so I jumped up and started appolgizing and she just laughed and told me to go play with him a bit more... that was shortly after I hired in, and it was the most fun I've ever had working a parade. Definitely try to interact with the guests every chance you get... we complain about them a lot, but whenever I'm feeling burnt out, it's always a guest that makes a huge difference. When I'm sick of the "magic", when I'm sore and tired from a 50+ hour work week, when I'm feeling grumpy and fed up with guests and just the company in general, it's always that one nice guest that stands out when you need it most and just totally changes your day around.

Pretty much exactly what SpaceRanger said, only I've done it for 3 years :) Traditions is brainwashing, but it was fun. Along with a lot of my friends being CMs, my boyfriend is a manger :) It sounds like you're going to have fun, and you're definately going in with the right attitude!
By the way, I did read you're whole post ;)

Although I must say that when you get to your location you probably will have a trainer that is a bit more "down to earth" and some of that brainwashing that you recieved in Traditions, or whatever they call it in Califorina will be deprogrammed. I remember some of the first words my trainer at Space Mountain said. "The guests are idiots" I later found out what he ment by that, and it was while I was still training. He was a shop steward, and became a good friend of mine.

Welcome to the nut house, CB!

Traditions is brainwashing. Getting this excited about a low-paying job is naive. Expecting the fun to last is unrealistic. Food backstage is unpalatable. And I've been enjoying all of these for over five years now.

That tug on the pants leg and the chance to play with the guests (in both senses of the word) are indeed some of the most important perqs of working at the Parks. Perqs not commonly found elsewhere. Enjoy it as long as you can.

Yes, some guests are idiots (thankfully, only a tiny percentage). Yes, some managers are martinets (only a fraction). Yes, some of your fellow CMs are also morons (somewhat less than half). But if you come here and tell us about them, we can all get a laugh out of it.

At Magic Kingdom, we use the term "fresh meat" to describe newbies, because those without the right attitude about the work will get chewed up and spat out. Frankly, it's not for everyone.

Here's hoping it's for you!

Zazu wrote:At Magic Kingdom, we use the term "fresh meat" to describe newbies, because those without the right attitude about the work will get chewed up and spat out. Frankly, it's not for everyone.

I forgot about that part. I can't count how many people I've seen quit after 6 months or less. However generally I must say that as much as many people bitch and moan about Disney. If they have been there for over a year then theiy must generally like it. My little brother and sister up in Detroit brag to their friends at school that their older brother works at Walt Disney World. Although I've seen many people go nuts working some of the attractions.

coldfire409 wrote:

Zazu wrote:At Magic Kingdom, we use the term "fresh meat" to describe newbies, because those without the right attitude about the work will get chewed up and spat out. Frankly, it's not for everyone.

I forgot about that part. I can't count how many people I've seen quit after 6 months or less. However generally I must say that as much as many people bitch and moan about Disney. If they have been there for over a year then theiy must generally like it. My little brother and sister up in Detroit brag to their friends at school that their older brother works at Walt Disney World. Although I've seen many people go nuts working some of the attractions.

Heh, ya at Fantasmic there is a huge turnaround in CMs. About 1/4 don't make it a month before they quit, or get lucky and can still get back to Casting.

yes i did read your whole post and i found myself agreeing with most (if not all) things you said. i was brainwashed in mine, and then reality hits. but you know what it's still a great place to work. there's a certain amount of pride in working for disneyland..especially when you mention it in conversation to someone and people get all excited.
in other jobs i would always act happy and be very nice with my customers or guests and people would tell me i should work for disneyland (no i'm not overerly nice and freakish) so i tried it out and i like it. people i work with take pride and just generally have good work ethics and it's such a far cry from a place like arbys where i constantly have to keep telling my employees to not cuss in front of customers or argue for that matter.
it's fun and in the end what makes my day is watching a little kid sooo excited about being in disneyland....umm yeah...the end.
*steps off the soapbox*

Ya, I love when people get excited when you tell them you work at Disney. My lil bro goes around all the time telling people that his big sis works at Disney... It's so cute too when I take him out of school early and say he has a dr appt and he thinks he's going to the doctor, then I just take him and sign him into disney, and then the next day he wants to get to school early to tell all his friends about it.

I had a great time for five and a half years, and I am looking forward to a few months in a new department. I also went through Making Disney Magic this weekend, but the creepy part for me was that I was a University leader when it debuted, so I knew almost the whole script! I had to do the whole thing for one video, but I still learned some new things.
By the way, I met my husbad at Disneyland, so I can safely say, my life was changed forever because I worked for the mouse.