Originally Posted By monorailblue This isn't really a trip report, but a few observations from yesterday, 2/17. Went with 3 kids (all 5 and younger), a very pregnant wife, and grandma. Paying full price. Haven't done that for almost 20 years (paying full price). Hadn't been to Disneyland at all in 2.5 or 3 years. Park was open to 11:00 p.m. on a Wednesday in February. That should tell you something about what they were expecting, crowd-wise. Crowds were tolerable. Overall, the park looks great, with a couple of horrendous exceptions. The new paint job on Astro Orbiter is really snazzy, though I do wish the whole thing would go. The "Celebration" decor, on the other hand, is so much more horrible than internet photos can possibly convey. It is so offensive to the eye that I believe I have suffered severe emotional distress. Putting up those decorations all over the place is, in my opinion, extreme and outrageous conduct. The other very substantial eyesore are the new-ish "it's a small world" boats. They are just horrible, horrible, horrible looking. (Other small world thoughts: the U.S.A. room is terrible, the rainforest scene made me sad although I'm glad they saved part of it, and, except for Donald and Stich, I actually didn't mind the characters too much, which I cannot actually believe I find myself now saying.) Magic Eye Theater signs that had been covered in all the recent updates were uncovered while we were there: "See the Incredible Shrinking and Enlarging Machine." Ummm--so those aren't actually changed at all. One final word--the Cast, bless their hearts, are simply not what they once were. But what can you do? 16 years ago when I first started at the park, Disneyland was a premium employer--applicants beat a path to the door, they started pat at a large % above minimum wage, and the Disneyland product was, itself, still untarnished by Disney's Crapola Adventure. That Disney is now a substandard employer shows again and again and again. This is not an individualized observation--many CMs had all the spunk and verve that was the hallmark of the old days. But probably most didn't care at all, and it showed. Sigh.
Originally Posted By LuLu What was up with the extended hours this week? We went yesterday and found it WAY more crowded than Thursday 3 weeks ago. Did some schools have the whole week off?
Originally Posted By TP2000 You would think that with this economy the CM's would have improved from the depths of the last decade. But they haven't. I've had some truly dreadful CM interactions and service lately, by punky and sloppy kids who could quite clearly care less about customer service or showmanship or anything even remotely connected to "magic". Really quite dreadful, even by outside the berm standards of customer service. I'm convinced it's the fault of Disneyland management and their training programs, if they even have training programs at Disneyland any more. Judging by the look and performance of too many front line CM's working the park now, they are simply throwing a nametag at them and telling them to stare blankly at any customer who dares come near them.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I have noticed that style of customer service also. They do not want to speak at all. And I walk away with my popcorn and soda in my hand and I wonder how that transaction was done.Good thing modern technology is advancing to get rid of their jobs for them, And Good Luck competing human robot versus electronic machine. I can't believe I am saying this but I guess I would prefer a machine to this new behavior. Very sad.
Originally Posted By gidget_girl_rose I worked there in the summer and they do have training...don't know what it compared to in the past though. Ppl on here were complaining about CMs back then too...same old same old. I started at $8.25 per hour...not too much money to live on. They might get a better quality applicant if they offered better wages. I know Disney is a big big company, but I always felt like a number and not a valued employee...glad I worked there, but never again. Still love going to DL and find that many CMs are very pleasant and helpful.
Originally Posted By UR101 I worked at Disneyland a long time ago and today I enjoy the opportunity to show my children where daddy used to work. One thing that bugs me is when I hear complaints about what the Cast Members make and how much more it was in the old days. I just can't believe that it is THAT much different. I never sat down to look at the numbers but it never felt quite right that Cast Members could be making less today than what I made 20+ years ago. So after reading the OP, I sat down to do just that. I hired in as a Casual Temporary Cast Member in 1988. At that time, I took a cut in pay from the job I was leaving to come work for Disneyland (and it was just Disneyland at that time). I made $4.74 an hour. In 1988, minimum wage was $4.25 per hour. I was making 11% over minimum wage in California. In 2010, a Cast Member that hires into the department that I used to work in would make $9.05 per hour. Today, minimum wage in California is $8.00. You would be making 13% over minimum wage. Based on the inflation calculator available at www.bls.gov, the buying power of $4.74 in 1988 is the equivalent of $8.68 today. So what does this exercise prove? Well, I think it demonstrates that for an entry level Cast Member, wages have actually improved slightly in the last 22 years. And you know what conversations I remember the "old timer" Cast Members were having back then? They just couldn't stop talking about how much better the Cast Members of the 1970's were than the ones that hired in the 1980's.
Originally Posted By Manfried For the amount of detail written I am wondering how many times Monorail Blue used to go to the park?
Originally Posted By monorailblue I've been to Disneyland more than 500 times, Mr./Ms. Manfried. When I began working in 1994, I was paid $5.50 per hour--and minimum was $4.25. When I rehired in 1997, I got $6.00--don't recall what minimum wage was in CA at that point. When I left in 2000, I made a whopping $6.50 per hour. CA minimum wage at that time, if I recall correctly, was $6.25. I was a CT at all these times. Based on the same comparison UR101 discussed, CT rates were abysmally worse in 2000 than in 1994. (Additional note: I was in MS Restaurants in 1994, and Attractions from 1997 to 2000. The CT Custodial Busser rate was better than the Attractions CT rate in 1994, and probably was in 2000, so I did compare a bit of apples and oranges. To make it even more striking, I also got busser tips in 1994. At CMS (Carnation Main Street, as it was called on schedules), servers were required to leave bussers 10 cents per table, which we split with all bussers all day on an hourly basis. That averaged about $.50 to $1 per hour more. I actually made more per hour in 1994 than much of the time in 2000.) I could go on about the hiring process--it took 4 months to get hired in 1993-94, and they only hired twice a year, but in 2000 you could get hired on the spot (and many people did)--about how appearance standards have slipped, how attendance standards have slipped, etc., but there'll always be an ex-CM or two who refuses to acknowledge what the vast majority of CMs (including management) and Guests agree on: the Cast of today is far inferior, as a body, in terms of Guest service, assistance, interaction, etc. There are many individual exceptions, but the decline is true--and not confined to Disneyland. Think of this seemingly unrelated example: when was the last time you paid cash for something and the cashier actually counted back your change? Not showed you that they were handing you the change that the cash register said you were owed--but counted it back out of the drawer and into your hand? A generation ago, that simple little skill was mandatory for anyone who handled money in any way. Today, it is like a miracle if you can find anyone who can actually do it. But I'll leave it at that. If you believe you are getting the same service standards today that you got 10 or 20 years ago, more power to you. I notice no one said anything about my comments on the Celebrate decor or the "it's a small world boats." Other than those things (and the construction), the park really did look like it was in quite good shape.
Originally Posted By tigger_twin89 You know, I agree with your cast member comment. When I was there in December a majority of them looked haggard and acted like they just did not want to be there, and in the past I have run across some VERY rude cast members. It makes me want to work there to bring back the happiness and magic that I used to get when I was a kid. Its horrible to see a child's spirit crushed by a grouchy cast member (which I have seen.)
Originally Posted By UR101 monorailblue - thanks for the additional data. you are successfully proving my point that the starting rate for a CT Cast Member at Disneyland has been consistent for more than two decades. The minimum wage history for California can be found here: <a href="http://www.dir.ca.gov/Iwc/MinimumWageHistory.htm" target="_blank">http://www.dir.ca.gov/Iwc/Mini...tory.htm</a> Let's run through the dates and numbers again, shall we? 1988 - I hire in - I make $4.74 per hour. Minimum wage is $4.25 per hour. I make 11% over minimum wage. 1994 - monorailblue hires in - He/she makes $5.50 per hour. Minimum wage is STILL $4.25 (it went 8 years without going up during this period). He/she is making 29% over minimum wage. 1997 - monorailblue rehires in - He/she makes $6.00 per hour. Minimum wage actually goes up twice during 1997 and could either be $5.00 or $5.15 depending on the time of year. He/she is making either 16% or 14% over minimum wage. 2000-monorailblue leaves Disneyland - He/she is making $6.50 per hour. Minimum wage is actually $5.75 (not $6.25) at this time. He/she is making 11% over minimum wage. 1988 - 11% over minimum wage 2000 - 11% over minimum wage 2010 - 13% over minimum wage Now, there is clearly a period of time where the CT rate was significant greatly than minimum wage but it seems to me that this is due to the fact that CA went 8 YEARS without increasing minimum wage (1988 to 1996). For the most part, it seems to me that Disney has paid a premium to tap into the unskilled labor market of Orange County. Look, I think that Cast Members have a challenging job. But I also think that they are compensated fairly for it. I enjoy my time in the Parks and Hotels with my children. I love it when I see a Cast Member go out of their way to make my kids day. Have I received substandard service. On a rare occasion, yes. But I've called out the Cast Member and spoken with managers about it. And I've done it in a civil and thoughtful way. I just don't believe that today's Cast is far inferior to the group of Cast Members that I worked with in the 1980's. I see hard-working and friendly people that are just trying to make some magic. To look at them and to think that I was a better Cast Member than them, well...I'm afraid that is just arrogant.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I noticed your comments about Celebrate at DL. I hate Celebrate at DL but Love it at WDW. It is different
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "when was the last time you paid cash for something and the cashier actually counted back your change?" There's a big box retailer that does it on a very regular basis, and I've seen it done there many times. I'm not 100% sure, but I really think it's Walmart, which kind of makes me laugh with the reputation they've been getting. Which ever one it's been, I can distinctly remember getting my change counted back to me in several different stores in several different states across the country. Things like that may be on the way out, but they're still not completely dead yet.
Originally Posted By MickeyMommy This thread reminds me that I should write a letter of appreciation about the good CM's I come in contact with. They really seem to stand out now, such as the older gentleman that works Astro Orbitor. I always look forward to seeing him, he is always so pleasant and professional. I need to remember to get his name next month. Does anyone know what the procedure is? Would I give the letter to someone at City Hall, or is there an address to mail it to?
Originally Posted By oredisneyfan Buger King counted my cash back to me today....I have to say I was surprised though.
