A puzzling exit from Disneyland

[Christopher]

I was asking Zazu about a particular situation I saw happen at Disneyland last year to hear a CM's perspective on it. It was fascinating hearing his response, and as he and I both seemed to think it might be an interesting topic for public discussion and different perspectives I decided to go ahead and share it here. I'll do my best to explain, please excuse its length as I couldn't think of a shorter way to explain it.

As you read this, please keep in mind that in no way did I see this situation as being worthy of a complaint about CMs or anything because no CMs did anything wrong. It's just something that occurred that has me puzzled to this day and I'm still trying to figure out what had happened, so I wanted to ask since I'm not familiar with Disney's procedures and I know you guys are the ones who would know.

Here's basically what happened. I was on my very last day of my Christmas trip last year, and I was supposed to be back at my inn to catch my shuttle around 1:30 PM (can't remember the exact time, but that doesn't matter). This meant that I had around four hours to enjoy the park that day, and I promised myself to be back out the main gate and walking back to the inn around 1:00 just to be safe.

Four happy hours passed, and finally my watch said it was 1:00 PM, and it was time to leave even though I wished I could stay. The last thing I had done was the Casey Jr. train for one last time. So I started to walk semi-quickly back to the main gate, looking around at all the decorations and buildings one quick last time because I hated having to leave.

I was passing the base of the giant Christmas tree when suddenly a blonde-haired gentleman with a large camera quickly walked up right up to me and stopped me in my tracks asking brightly, "Excuse me, sir, would you like to have your picture taken in front of our Christmas tree?"

I smiled and I started to say, "I would love to, but I'm afraid I'm in a hurry..." and to my surprise he interrupted me by taking a hold of my upper arm saying, "Oh no, it's alright, it will only take a minute. Here, stand right in front of the tree right here." He led me over to the base of the tree, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings as he seemed so nice as I felt he was only trying to be friendly, so I nodded and stood there and he quickly said before I could say anything, "Ok, and just one moment - " and he snapped it, then gave me the claim ticket saying, "And when it's done you'll be able to use this to pick it up."

I blushed and said, "Thank you, but I'm afraid I won't be able to. You see, I'm on my way back to my inn and am getting ready to catch my phone back home."

He nodded smiling, then said, "That's a very interesting necklace you're wearing." (I was wearing a cross my mother once gave me.) I said, "Thank you," and when he said something else, it was obvious he was hoping to continue a conversation, and because he was so friendly I talked with him. I cheerfully shared with him at his asking all about the trip I had had, and told him basically all I had shared in my first post on here about the excellent CMs and the great time I had had, but then suddenly realized my watch said 1:15. I thought "Uh oh" and said, "I'm terribly sorry, I'm afraid I have to rush, it's already 1:15. Thank you" and he said goodbye.

The crowd was really thick at that point, and it was sort of a struggle to make it towards the gate, so before I left Main Street USA I stopped to catch my breath and thought, "Wow, a lot of people here this afternoon. Oh well, let's take one last look around since I don't know when I'll be able to make it back." So I looked quickly around and behind me just for a last look, and then looked back at the tree. At its base where I had been standing, the gentleman whom had stopped me to talk was saying something into a cast member's ear while he was pointing over towards me and both were looking straight at me, and they both had really serious looks on their faces. I wondered why they were looking at me as there was something about their expressions that made me feel sort of strange, and I uneasily raised a hand and waved to them but there was no response from them although they were looking directly at me.

That's when I suddenly remembered that I had a rolled-up flyer for "Haunted Mansion Holiday" that had been handed to me sticking out of the back of my pocket.

It did look awfully strange as I now realized it was sticking out by maybe six or eight inches, and then suddenly wondered if it might have looked like I was trying to sneak something out of the park. I immediately recalled a friend once explaining to me about how CMs could try to stall guests to make sure that they weren't potential shoplifters or something like that, and I thought, "Did I accidentally cause a problem?" I was thinking maybe with my walking directly towards the main entrance with this thing sticking out I might have ended up looking suspicious.

But the crowd was so thick and I didn't have time to try to go back through it to ask the cast member I had been talking to or to apologize if there were any apologies I might have needed to have made. And my watch said 1:20. So since I was so close to the main gate, I thought, "I'll show this to the cast members at the main gate for courtesy. I hope I didn't get anyone accidentally concerned."

So I did. While going through the exit, I politely explained to the cast member there all that had happened, pulling out the rolled up flyer and handing it to her (she was very friendly). Because more exiting guests were showing up she needed to take care of, she said to me, "Just a moment," and I obediantly waited where I was. She then called another cast member over to me, a middle-aged man who I think was wearing a red shirt and was wearing a blackish leather belt with a large walkie-talkie on it. I figured he must be security.

When he showed up she told me, "Go ahead and tell him just what you just told me" as she handed the flyter back to me. So I politely explained everything that had happened all over again and handed him the flyer, apologizing if I had accidentally caused a problem.

He looked at it and said, "This is the ad flyer for Haunted Mansion Holiday, right?" I said yes.

He said, "Don't worry, I'm sure you're fine. Where did this incident happen?" I said, "It was while I was passing the base of the Christmas tree."

He then asked, "What did the cast member look like?" I said to him, "He was a blonde gentleman with a camera, but please don't take this as my making some sort of complaint. That isn't my intention at all, he didn't do anything wrong."

The man said, "Don't worry, you're not making a complaint." He then checked something with his walkie-talkie I couldn't understand then said, "Okay, thank you very much for your visit. Please come again" and handed me back the flyer. I thanked him for his time and made sure it was alright for me to be excused before I left.

My watch said 1:25, and I walked as quickly as I could back to the Castle Inn where I was staying hoping I wouldn't be late. Fortunately my shuttle was ten minutes late, but I was really puzzled by everything that had happened as I didn't understand it. I wasn't angry or upset or anything, just puzzled, and I must admit I was feeling pretty stupid.

While waiting, I told my story to the lady at the check in area of Castle Inn where I was waiting. She basically told me she used to work for the park and said, "I wouldn't worry about it, the cameraman was most likely trying to strike up a conversation because they cast members need to be sure that they look busy, and when certain misunderstandings happen they usually ask someone to come talk to you first before leaving like they did. They want to make sure you leave with an excellent impression all the way up to the end and they don't want anyone to go home feeling upset or anxious or anything, so they probably did that to assure you that everything was alright." And my shuttle arrived.

That's my story.

It's odd, somehow I've never been able to get it out of my memory. It didn't "taint" the wonderful time I had there or anything, there's no way anything could ruin the wonderful time I had, but it does still have me puzzled and sort of embarrassed when I think about it.

What do you guys think of what happened? Any theories?

And I'll be the first to admit that I was probably trying too hard to please, but that's only because you were all so great to me on my visit and I just wanted the cast members to enjoy me visiting as much as I enjoyed the visit.

[coldfire409]

From what I remember the photographers near the front of the park work on comission. By striking up the conversation he thought you may have bought the photo, and he would have made some extra money.

[Weeble]

Yeah, I don't think much of anything was going on except in your head. I think you assumed that they thought the flyer was stolen merch? Trust me, the CM was oblivious to anything in your pockets. No way they thought you were shoplifting. The exit CM called over that supe/security just so she could get back to work. If the story you told us is what you told her....it probably took a while.

[GMC]

the guy with the radio was probly being called on his radio, and had to answer. that's really bothersome when i'm on radio and i'm talking to someone, and i hear my call sign, the guests understand that i have to answer the call, but it makes me feel like i'm failing to provide the best service, then agian, i might be getting the call to help provide service to an entire train.

[Christopher]

Yeah, I don't think much of anything was going on except in your head. I think you assumed that they thought the flyer was stolen merch? Trust me, the CM was oblivious to anything in your pockets. No way they thought you were shoplifting.

Yes, that's what I had been thinking at the time might have happened. There was a period of time when for years I was working in a large department store, and they really drilled it into our heads to watch out for anyone walking around with anything sticking our of their back pockets like that. They used to have a lot of us, including me, "carefully observe" anyone appearing like that from a distance if our manager instructed us to, so I sometimes tend to judge myself on reflex.

The exit CM called over that supe/security just so she could get back to work. If the story you told us is what you told her... it probably took a while.

Fortunately, I quickly told her in about three sentences, I'd be too embarrassed to go into it in person any longer. I just figured that with this being a forum, I could take the time to tell it completely.

[Christopher]

the guests understand that i have to answer the call, but it makes me feel like i'm failing to provide the best service,

There would be no worries from me about that, as I've seen some of your other posts and you seem to me to be very dedicated to the guests and your position. Just thought I'd let you know. :)

[flippin_mermaid]

Christopher, you seem like such a nice guy...but I really just think you made a bigger deal out of it all than it really was. But that's nice of you to want to make sure there were no problems for the cast members!

I really think maybe you THOUGHT they were looking at you, when really they might have been looking at something directly NEAR you instead. Especially since you waved and neither waved back. And trust me, I'm SURE they didn't notice the flyer in your back pocket. They weren't merchandise cast members so they honestly probably didn't care much at all. Once you've left a store, anyone outside of the store just assumes you paid for whatever it is you have, unless they've been tipped off already by security if it's otherwise...and in THAT case, they wouldn't have let you walk away that easily.
As for the guy with the walkie-talkie...he was probably just answering another call from the radio that had nothing to do with you...it happens often. Don't sweat it.

I hope you enjoy your next trip to the park!

[Christopher]

Christopher, you seem like such a nice guy...but I really just think you made a bigger deal out of it all than it really was. But that's nice of you to want to make sure there were no problems for the cast members!

After seeing all you guys' replies, I really think you're right. I think I was just trying too hard to please as I love Disneyland so much.

[lovethefuzzies]

The photographers don't work for Disney anyways, they work for Kodak.

[Yfoog]

Of all places, the CASTLE INN??!!! :)