Originally Posted By jonvn "You walk into a McDonald's in Florida and they're filthy" Which leads me to question why would you even do such a thing in the first place?
Originally Posted By jonvn "Especially when it is to appease a bunch of rude, demanding and spoiled park guests. Totally not worth it." Most employees become extremely jaded in very short order. I personally don't see what's the big deal in people talking. If you need help and they are talking, you say "excuse me." Besides, when I walk up to people, they generally stop what they are doing and look toward me anyway. It is one of the benefits of being horribly disfigured.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***certain cast members aren't even allowed to use backstage facilities in costume That is possibly the dumbest rule I have ever had the bad fortune to hear about.*** I think if you saw an internet picture making the rounds of Minnie Mouse standing at a urinal, you might feel differently.
Originally Posted By u k fan Firstly, I don't think I'd ever call a McD's anywhere near upscale - European or otherwise! I totally understand that costumed characters shouldn't go to the bathroom in costume. I would think that someone in a Donald costume wouldn't have a very good view anyway! I don't really see an issue for someone in a basic retail/attraction costume though. I also completely agree that chewing gum is something that I don't want to see CM's doing. In fact, I'd be happy never to see anyone chewing gum ever again. I guess I'm in the minority though when I say that seeing the German CM eating a Subway really wouldn't bother me. I wouldn't want to see Cinderella doing the same thing, but this CM is only human and the fact that shock, horror, he's eating lunch really wouldn't bother me. As for conversations between CM's I would say that unless the CM is speaking to a Spanish speaking GUEST then speaking in Spanish is inappropriate. I don't, however, have a problem with CM's talking as long as the subject matter is appropriate and that guests are not ignored. It wouldn't bother me if I walked into a store where two CM's were talking and they acknowledged me with a quick "Hello" and a pause to see if I nedded them and then continued their conversation. I wasn't impressed by the Frontierland CM at DLP this Summer who had to stop sending a text message to serve me though!!!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 "You walk into a McDonald's in Florida and they're filthy" <<Which leads me to question why would you even do such a thing in the first place?>> You know why, Jon. I'm a FAT AMERICAN and I am preprogrammed to be so and must consume large quantities of fast food. No diet or lifestyle change will ever help me ... so save yourself!!!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Firstly, I don't think I'd ever call a McD's anywhere near upscale - European or otherwise! >> I would. Some of the outlets I've been in in Milan, Amsterdam and Paris are like bistros. Amazingly clean with modern decor, paintings and giant plasma screens. They aren't like the dumps you walk into in Florida (and most of the USA) that's for sure. <<I guess I'm in the minority though when I say that seeing the German CM eating a Subway really wouldn't bother me. I wouldn't want to see Cinderella doing the same thing, but this CM is only human and the fact that shock, horror, he's eating lunch really wouldn't bother me.>> Well, it doesn't matter whether it wouldn't bother you or whether it would bother me. It's inappropriate. CMs eat offstage. It's just that simple. Disney is able to WalMart its product when the idea that someone can munch on lunch while onstage is 'no big deal' ... pretty soon, all these Disney differences aren't there anymore and their just a nicer version of Six Flags. <<I don't, however, have a problem with CM's talking as long as the subject matter is appropriate and that guests are not ignored.>> Agreed. I don't think Disney ever didn't want its cast to talk to one another. Just that it isn't offensive to guests and that it ends when the guest comes into earshot. <<It wouldn't bother me if I walked into a store where two CM's were talking and they acknowledged me with a quick "Hello" and a pause to see if I nedded them and then continued their conversation.>> No, provided they IMMEDIATELY stopped, acknowledged you and then quietly continued, there isn't anything wrong ... now being loud and bitching about their shift or guests or their lead or their boy/girl friends ... that is always a no-no. <<I wasn't impressed by the Frontierland CM at DLP this Summer who had to stop sending a text message to serve me though!!!>> No. But that's the kind of thing that happens when you start saying 'this is OK ... or that is OK' etc ...
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, the interesting part to me is how many have commented "well, I hate gum chewing but conversation is okay", and vice-versa... Fact is, everyone has different stuff that bugs them. And some are bugged by a lot of stuff, and some never at all. The point of the Disney standards, though, is so the CM's don't bug ANYONE (pointing with two fingers, anyone?)..and it's pretty important to the image of the place imo.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 Amen. It's not prison. It's common sense and common courtesy. If you can't understand that or don't subscribe to it, don't take the job.
Originally Posted By u k fan I don't get why its inappropriate for CM's to be eating in the parks during their breaks. I wouldn't want to walk into a store where the CM was eating whilst on duty, but to eat a takeaway lunch during his/her lunchbreak away from where they are normally situated I don't have a problem with. To say that this gives Disney the greenlight to "Walmart" it's product seems like a pretty big leap of faith to me!!!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^It isn't, UK fan. Disney considers its employees to be cast members and when they are in public areas, they are onstage. They are part of the show. You don't eat then. I'm sorry you don't agree with the policy, but Disney has had it right for 50 years, so I really don't believe they should dumb it down because CMs can't eat in breakrooms and/or cafeterias. No excuses.
Originally Posted By Mr X **I don't get why its inappropriate for CM's to be eating in the parks during their breaks** It's inappropriate because it's not part of the show. They have designated places to dine, offstage. The whole Disney concept of the park being "onstage" is the issue, UKFan. They are "cast members" performing a "show". Everything they do onstage is supposed to relate to that concept (so punching out for a quick bite in full view of the audience doesn't qualify ).
Originally Posted By jonvn "I'm a FAT AMERICAN" Then you're doomed. I don't eat at McDonald's if I can help it. If I do, it's like their smallest burger and that's about it.
Originally Posted By jonvn I think it is an impossible standard to never annoy anyone ever. I personally don't like gum chewing, but really, who cares. It just goes along with the general failure of all American culture. There are bigger things to worry about. Like people eating at McDonalds.
Originally Posted By Mr X **I think it is an impossible standard to never annoy anyone ever.** Of course, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo UKFAN - the fact the guy was in lederhosen, noshing a subway in front of the American Pavillion is a big no-no in my books. Walt went ballistic when he saw a cowboy in Tomorrowland for good reason. That is one of the reason why the MK has utilidors. To me, Disney is about suspending reality and having perfect immersion to theme. The standards are slipping totally in all the Disney parks (except maybe DLP where they are actually on the rise0, and to me that is unforgivable. It is why I was able to go to a non Disney site on vacation this year and not lament the fact I was not at a Disney park. That's a really big deal to this Disney nerd.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 It is why I was able to go to a non Disney site on vacation this year and not lament the fact I was not at a Disney park. That's a really big deal to this Disney nerd.<< Exactly, Dave if you ever get a chance, check out Europa Parks, the standards there have eclipsed Dianey in some aspects when it comes to customer service and the suspension of disbelief.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I went to Europa Park a few years ago and was pretty impressed with some of the standards there. In fact we had booked to stay at the Colliseo the other year, but Germany hosting the world cup really put us off, so we went to WDW instead because we go a killer deal.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 My wife and I had annual passes this past year and both agree that for the price Europa Park outshines the Disney product for a considerable margin, considering an annual pass is only 120 Euro per person for the Season. I think alot of it has to do with the genuinly high standars Europeans have for customer service.
