SGs and Balloons

[ttztotdca50]

At least fifty times during a balloons shift, I'll have people run up to me and have this conversation:

SG: Can I have a Mickey and a Buzz balloon?

Me: Sure, that'll be fourteen dollars.

SG: Wait... those aren't free?!

Me: No, [sir/ma'am], they are not.

SG: Disneyland should have free balloons!

Me: I'll pass the word up to management (yeah, right).


Or SGs who, when walking by, come and hit my balloons. Once a guest popped one, and took off running! Little jerk.

[DisneyMom]

OMG, a Mickey Balloon was my Holy Grail when I was a kid. Never got one, as I'm sure my mom thought it was too expensive :(
It is good to not always get what you want, though.Makes you appreciate things more. ;)

[turkeyham]

I did blow up the balloons in the old balloon room next to cash control and the old ODV office. Welcome to SGT! You will find lots of them lurking in the parks and in the Espanade.

Back in 1988, we had the castle mylar balloons and they Mickey laytex balloons. We changed over to the glass house about 5 years ago and then about 2 years ago with the flashing color balloons.

My favorite is when a SG claims that their balloon flew away and they don't have anything to prove it. These days the ballooon controlers tweek the strings and attach it into a device that keeps everything in tack. Then the string is strongly knotted (sp) around the area at least 6 times.

I was told that we now bring back the bar code on the balloon. My days, we brought back the neck of the balloon.

Your days will get better. Just watch out for the windy and rainy days.

[Freak]

Yes, and watch out for SGs that plow into you full force.

My least favorite area for balloons is Downtown. Drunk SGs who have no money because they blew it all on booze demanding to get free balloons. Or SGs trying to corner you and take balloons from you! I can't stand the ones who pop/mess with your balloons either. Its like they see them and are instantly determined to touch them.

I've experienced the "My balloon flew away give me another one" a few times. The thing that makes me laugh is they say they JUST bought it from me, when I have 0 recollection selling one to them.

[delsdad]

Balloons looks like it must be one of the most difficult merch positions to work. I cant imagine trying to deal with selling the balloons while being crowded by guests, and with the wind messing with the rest of your inventory. I do think that the plastic weights are brilliant though !

[Freak]

Its not so bad inside the park, but Downtown Disney is much harder since you're so disconnected from your department. You're right about the wind, the balloons almost act as a sail and it becomes so much harder to move, not to mention they like to get all tangled up! And the weights need to be heavier! On the bigger mylar balloons I put two weights on just to be safe!

I'm not fond of the position, but I still like it better than ice cream.

[Purpura]

People come up to Plaza Inn, when we have leftover balloons from the breakfast, and they ask how much the balloons cost, then we tell them the balloons are free. When they ask they start pulling out money. :D

[turkeyham]

I remember about 5 balloon locations at Disneyland.

Balloons: 1 left side of castle
Balloons: 2 right side of castle
Balloons: 5 Small World Mall
Balloons: 7 Splash Mountain
Balloons: 9 City Hall area

My memories when 2 of the castle balloon vendors sold balloons at the Christmas Tree Pointe. SG would get into an arguement on who was in line. I personally made the SG line up and those who waited got to buy a balloon. :D:

Of course when we had the castle mylar, those where attached with a silver tape and usually did not come un-attached to the string. I made sure that the guests could not remove the weights. I tied them on so tight that there was no string left. :twisted:

There was one day that I was next to the photo supply area with the regular laytex balloons and a bunch of ducks crash landed into my balloons. The only way to get the ducks free was by permission by security and the managers to let go of the full delivery. We counted 50 balloons and 50 were let go. The ducks finally broke free and flew away.

[Freak]

^ I've heard stories about that. During my OTJ Training, I asked if anyone ever lost a full issue of balloons, and that story was told!

[DisneyMom]

There was one day that I was next to the photo supply area with the regular laytex balloons and a bunch of ducks crash landed into my balloons. The only way to get the ducks free was by permission by security and the managers to let go of the full delivery. We counted 50 balloons and 50 were let go. The ducks finally broke free and flew away.

hahahahaha! :p: