Stupid Guest Tricks

Hi, I wasn't sure if it was alright for me to register as I'm not a CM or anything, but after seeing a note of support from at least one other person who wasn't one I figured it was okay. :)

I stumbled across your webpage by accident while searching for online information, and I've taken the time to read about a lot of the incidents you CMs have had to put up with. I had heard a few stories in passing, but nothing has prepared me for the situations I've seen described on here. I had once had a CM tell me on my last visit they enjoying have "guests like (me)" who believe in the park because "we get a lot of complaints." I had been startled by the news, and now that I've seen your webpage I see what that CM had been talking about. It really makes me angry how so many people can take such wonderful efforts made by you CMs for granted, it just amazes me how such people who visit the parks saying how much they supposedly "love" the parks can be so rude (especially the fanatics) when all of you CMs are obviously working so hard to make Disneyland so wonderful and do all you can to make your guests welcome and comfortable.

I know it isn't much, and I know all too well the feeling of putting one's all into a job that's something special for others and feeling upset from the bad apples I've run into who didn't appreciate it, but I just wanted to give all of you CMs my personal thank you for being so wonderful to me during the few times I've been privileged to come visit Disneyland over the years. I haven't been able to visit Walt Disney World or any of the other parks yet, but I know I'd get the same excellent greetings there I have with Disneyland's cast members. After my visit last December, I later called up Disneyland to phone in my compliment, but even so it feels more special being able to share it directly with all of you.

I'm someone who takes the park at face value, I lose myself in the magic and once told a CM who had struck up a friendly conversation with me, "It's like a beautiful dream or a magic trick, I enjoy it as is." I avoid those "secrets behind Disney parks" books, and grew up knowing Disneyland only as seen through television and the many photo books of the park my parents always bought me. Every single CM I have ever encountered throughout my life has been so wonderful and welcoming to me, and even though I haven't been able to visit much, you CMs at Disneyland have still brought me more happiness and beautiful memories than I could ever express.

If it's alright, I would love to mention a couple of moments on my last trip that were particularly precious to me.

During my December visit last year, I got to see Fantasmic! for the very first time. I had looked through travel books and such trying to find information on what it was, but all the books I found were so vague I just couldn't get much of an idea at all. All I had ever seen was an illustration of Mickey Mouse in his "Sorceror's Apprentice" costume battling Malificent in her dragon form. So I had had no idea what to expect when I followed the crowd I saw gathering.
And while I was looking around at the sitting areas, a CM approached me and asked how I was doing. I told her, "Just fine, thank you. I'm just trying to decide where I should have a seat."
She asked me, "Have you ever seen Fantasmic! before?"
I said, "No I haven't, this is my first time. All I know is that it's supposed to be really popular."
She smiled and said, "Oh yeah, everybody loves it! Would you like me to show you my favorite spot to sit?"
I felt myself blush and felt sort of guilty, and said to her, "I appreciate it, but you really don't have to go through trouble like that just for me."
She laughed and said, "Oh, it's no trouble at all! Here, I'll show you where it is."
She took me to a certain area on the cement about maybe ten feet from the water's edge and said, "Now I guarantee you that here you will have the best view. I love sitting here."
I thanked her, and she moved off to help assist others. After a while, Fantasmic! started, and from the very first moment with that huge beam of light I was just staring with my mouth open, I was so incredulous. And by the time Mickey had appeared on stage, there was a tap on my shoulder: that same CM had come back and said in my ear, "See, I told you that this is the best place to sit!" I thanked her, and the whole presentation was just indescribable. I loved the whole thing, start to finish.
And when it had finished, she walked back to me and asked how I liked it. I honestly told her that it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.
She then added, "You know, the finale is usually done on board the riverboat." And I was all excited and said, "What? You mean there's more the next time I see it?" (lol)

The second moment involves my eating at one of the character meals in the park. The characters were all really wonderful to me, and I had loved it so much that I had gotten one character meal a day during my four-day stay. And what surprised me was that as the days passed, the CMs were recognizing me and came over to talk, they all told me they thought that they loved to have guest like me visit because the park was so real to me, I felt so flattered and didn't know what to say. And you know, by the last day two very important-looking people in suits came out to say hello to me, and after they told me how much they loved having me visit them they gave me two stuffed Disney beanies and brought the toys to the characters to sign for me? I just didn't know how to react, and as it was a short period of time before I had to leave for home (out of state), the CMs all gave me hugs goodbye and asked me to please come back to visit again as soon as I could, and I was just so happy and overwhelmed that I just stood there with the toys I had been given and cried. I don't know why they had all done that for me, I mean all I had done was simply show up each day and enjoy their restaurant's hospitality and characters so as far as I could tell I had thought I wasn't doing anything any more different than anyone else might have done, but I'm so grateful that they did all that for me because it was the best Christmas I had ever had.

I'm sorry if I'm saying too much, it's just that I could never share with all of you enough how grateful I am for all of you CMs at Disneyland.

I guess the best way is to repeat what I told Goofy in Toontown. He had happened to be strolling through Toontown alone one night I was there and since no one else had walked up to him yet, I walked up and said, "Goofy, may I please ask you a question?" He had nodded and I said to him, "I heard recently stories that apparently there are certain people who will come here to Disneyland and will get really rough and demanding and even abusive with you toons here, and that many of you toons have even gotten really emotionally and physically hurt from such people. Is that true?" He immediately nodded. And at that point I was so shocked and just had tears filling my eyes and I very, very gently hugged Goofy, he held me very tightly and I think I may have actually heard him sniffling. When I let him go, his head was sort of hung and I asked, "Will you be alright?" He nodded, and I told him, "Please don't ever change. The magic kingdom could never be the magic kingdom without all the cast members and you characters. You all ARE Disneyland, you all make the Disney magic real."

Christopher wrote: The magic kingdom could never be the magic kingdom without all the cast members and you characters. You all ARE Disneyland, you all make the Disney magic real."

WOW :!: :!: Wish there were more guests such as you Christopher. Your post certainly is a gigantic boost for a CM's ego! Now I'm POSITIVE I'll make it through Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years. Not often do we hear nor read such great input from a guest. THANKS :) One doesn't have to be a CM to post on SGT. Just read along & enjoy "our" special www. We rant but have fun also.

I think I am going to cry happy tears. That makes my whole morning! Christopher you are awesome. You are the kind of guest we love to see, you make all the icky ones seem like nothing. I hope you can visit again soon, we'd all love to see you in the park.

I'm going to go hug someone now I feel all warm inside.

Ok Im tearing up, Christopher you're the best guest ever. Thank you, just thank you. You really made my day. :m

Well said, Christopher! Like you, I never realized the extent of the crud that CM's take before finding this site. Even though the parks are great, they'd just be glorified Six Flags without all of you wonderful CM's. I wager most guests feel that way. Sorry we don't tell you more often!

Christopher wrote:Hi, I wasn't sure if it was alright for me to register as I'm not a CM or anything, but after seeing a note of support from at least one other person who wasn't one I figured it was okay. :)

Christopher, it's okay for anyone who's interested to join in here. For someone who *gets* what it is we're all trying to do at the Parks, you're *especially* welcome.

But don't expect us to always be on our best behavior here. As you can guess, there are days we just have to complain to *somebody* about the abuse and stupidity, and this then becomes our "unhappy place."

I know why the CMs treated you so well. You are indeed our favorite sort of guest. Someone who comes looking for the things we do best, who's willing to wait his turn, and who will forgive us when we occasionally fall short of perfect. Folks like you are a lot more rare than you might think.

While I hope you have a real job with a decent paycheck, permit me to suggest that you consider joining us. Disney is always in need of CMs who *get* it, and you're already there. I had to wait until I was retired before I could afford to work for the Mouse; perhaps you'll get lucky enough sooner. Let me know if you'd like a referral card to WDW.

Anyway, thanks for joining us. Please do stick around and contribute whenever the mood strikes. Ask whatever questions you dare. And if you find us especially Grumpy, if you wouldn't mind, remind us again why we put up with everybody else!

Wow, I'm sitting here blushing from all your responses :) Thank you all very much for them and your welcoming. I'm relieved I'm so welcome here and am really happy that my post was able to make you guys so happy, it's the least I can do after all you CMs have done for me in the past.

Zazu wrote:Christopher, it's okay for anyone who's interested to join in here. For someone who *gets* what it is we're all trying to do at the Parks, you're *especially* welcome.

But don't expect us to always be on our best behavior here. As you can guess, there are days we just have to complain to *somebody* about the abuse and stupidity, and this then becomes our "unhappy place."

That's alright, I understand. It makes perfect sense, especially after reading the incidents you've all had to put up with described on here.

Zazu wrote:I know why the CMs treated you so well. You are indeed our favorite sort of guest. Someone who comes looking for the things we do best, who's willing to wait his turn, and who will forgive us when we occasionally fall short of perfect. Folks like you are a lot more rare than you might think.

Now I'm really blushing. :)

I'm really surprised by the situation you're describing, I happened to mention your comment to my boss and a couple of co-workers today at work on break, and they had the same response I had, they all said "Wow, you'd automatically think that with them being a Disney park that they'd get huge compliments all the time." I normally would have thought so, too.

Zazu wrote:While I hope you have a real job with a decent paycheck, permit me to suggest that you consider joining us. Disney is always in need of CMs who *get* it, and you're already there. I had to wait until I was retired before I could afford to work for the Mouse]
Thank you very much for your offer. :)

I've had family and friends ask me if I've ever considered a job at one of the parks. I've thought about it from time to time, but am trying to think the idea through carefully and realistically, not easy for me (lol), and am trying to decide if doing that might accidentally "break the spell" for me if I see everything behind the scenes, as right now I'm so happy just accepting everything as is without knowing the basics of how thinks are run, how everything is created and operates, etc. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to take the plunge yet. But I am thinking about it.

So my answer right now would be a cautious "maybe". But one never knows.

Zazu wrote:Anyway, thanks for joining us. Please do stick around and contribute whenever the mood strikes. Ask whatever questions you dare. And if you find us especially Grumpy, if you wouldn't mind, remind us again why we put up with everybody else!

Okay, I'll do that. I'll especially be sure to post compliments after a visit to a Disney park or store since it seems like this is a really good way to share my appreciation apart from when I've complimented CMs in person.

Zazu wrote:Anyway, thanks for joining us. Please do stick around and contribute whenever the mood strikes. Ask whatever questions you dare. And if you find us especially Grumpy, if you wouldn't mind, remind us again why we put up with everybody else!

Geez. . do I bitch and complain here THAT much? LOL. Yeah, I do alot of my Disney venting here, but that's because it's funny once I'm done being t-ed off.

To repeat what everyone else said, yes Christopher, if you ever encounter me, you won't see the little biatch that I probably show myself to be here on the boards. I do help out a lot of guests when they need it (as we're supposed to); hey, I might as well be a flight attendant! LOL.

You're a good guest. Thanks again for coming here to share your experiences with us.

BTW, do you remember the CM's name who showed you a good viewing spot for Fantasmic? I usually give guests suggestions on where to view it from.

Christopher~ Thankyou for being you!!!!! Your story made me tear up. It's just refreashing to know that we, castmembers, are actually appreaciated. Sometime the days get long and it's difficult to make it to the next.....but I know when I hear a response like this it just makes me want to go out and continue what I do best...... MAKE MAGIC! Once again thankyou for being a good guest and do come back and visit us real soon!!!! :D

Grumpy wrote:BTW, do you remember the CM's name who showed you a good viewing spot for Fantasmic? I usually give guests suggestions on where to view it from.

Oh gosh, I was asked this same question by Disneyland cast members on the phone when phoning with my compliments, it made me almost wish I had brought some sort of pad of paper with me to write down names of CMs so I could give them to the management and say "These cast members gave me excellent service on my visit".

I'm afraid I just can't recall her name, especially since it was pretty dark outside at that point, and also because of that I can only vaguely remember what she looked like.

I'll try to describe her the way I did for Disneyland management when they asked me to: I remember her being maybe around 5 feet tall or so, maybe a little bit taller, very slim, with a quiet polite little voice and I think with shortly-cut dark hair and maybe oriental facial features. I know, I know, that could be anybody and I'm not doing a very good job of describing well enough, but it was dark around that point as I had attended that Fantasmic! showing right after I saw the "Believe... In Holiday Magic" fireworks presentation (lol).

Next time I promise I'll try to remember first names the best I can so the next time I give my compliments to Disneyland I can mention specifically who had given me superb guest service. Maybe I can try to jot them down once I get back to my hotel room or something if I can still recall what they are. I'll sure try my best!