Rude Cast Members

Originally Posted By DismayingObservation

I can only think of two times where I was incensed enough by the actions of a CM to make me go to City Hall to file a complaint. OTOH, I've praised CMs via City Hall for a job well done.

Disneyland is interactive theater, pure and simple. In order to pull of theater, one must first have actors. This doesn't mean that a CM at the entrance to BTMRR has to speak in a contrived cornpone accent. It does mean that those who are interacting with the guests are, in fact, performers and Disneyland should nurture the hiring of those who enjoy performing and not merely pantomiming the actions of a $7.21 job. This is why they are called "cast members." There is, if you look carefully, a sign at an employee entrance clearly visible as the Mickey and Friend tram leaves the station and makes that first right turn. It basically says, "you're on."

My daily job requires me to perform and to say many of the same things over and over again. The trick is in how I interpret the same concert promotion or station promotion after reading it for the umpteenth time. I try to keep things fresh by injecting my personality into the mix. I am extremely fortunate insofar as my program director keeps me on a long leash and doesn't restrict me to time, temperature and call sign. For someone doing the Haunted Mansion "dead center" spiel for the 4,322nd time, why not have a bit of fun with the interpretation?

They need to clone Maynard Smith. Seeing that man in action is a treat. I tell him so whenever I have the incredible good fortune to see him in action. He's become famous merely by having fun.

What will it take to convince other CMs to take notice?

 

Originally Posted By Disney Joy

<<This is why they are called "cast members.>>

Good point DismayingObservation.

I still think minimum pay should be $10.00 in most jobs. GEE as I said the cost of those Pepsi - oophs - Cokes could make up the difference for everyone. : o )

 

Originally Posted By TMICHAEL

Ok RAM1984, I'll bite, what was it that you asked for in City Hall?? Maybe the only answer you could be given is that they could do nothing for you. And seriously, that happens whether you like it or not.

One of my biggest gripes are guests, and APer's, that think they know everything and are entitled to what ever they want. So, if you're one of those, I'm with the CM.

 

Originally Posted By mele

I highly doubt that RAM1984 is one of those people. I've met her and she doesn't strike me as a person who thinks she is entitled to have whatever she wants.

 

Originally Posted By goofy4041

That is a big thing for me as well, not even CM know all. If they did there would be no need for managment. I am an APer and i know i dont know it all but i will fight for what i do know to be so. The one thing we all need to remember is will all have different breaking points, and what we think is rude 99% of the CM work hard its the small amount that are rude or have had a bad day. The same goes for the Guests that visit DL.

 

Originally Posted By TMICHAEL

Thanks for sticking up for her mele, but to say that she had a rude CM and not explain leaves me with questions. There are times when the answer she recieved is legit.

And so true about the breaking points goofy4041. If we all could just realize this fact of life, more forgiving attitudes can prevail.

 

Originally Posted By goofy4041

I agree if we could just get all to follow would be great. Its for fun and enjoyment. we dont go to scream and yell. people lets all put our best foot foward and take the first step towards getting along. CM are Guest tooooooo
and we need to treat each other with respect

 

Originally Posted By PirateJohn

>>I am an APer and i know i dont know it all but i will fight for what i do know to be so.


"It's not what we don't know that's dangerous. It's what we do know that ain't so."

-- Mark Twain


Be careful about what you "do know to be so" because sometimes things have a tendency to change on you. I had that happen not too long ago with a guest that started yelling and screaming -- and quite frankly getting belligerent -- about something she just _knew_ was right, but had changed in the interim.

She even filed a guest complaint against me, but management backed me up, and the complaint isn't even on my record.

So be careful about "fighting" for what you "do know to be so." Remember that the cast members will usually have the more up-to-date information at their disposal.

 

Originally Posted By goofy4041

i agree And i know a lot of CM and get info before i even say ny thing. i would never assume i am right when there is a chance i am wrong. The old saying know before you go. I call a CM friend and asked before i have ever said anything.... He and she are in managment i feel well informed. And i know the CM should be up to date but some times it does not always work that way. IMO

 

Originally Posted By Rivkah86

<<I highly doubt that RAM1984 is one of those people. I've met her and she doesn't strike me as a person who thinks she is entitled to have whatever she wants>>

I totally agree, mele. I'm certain she doesn't feel that way. She is a very understanding, sweet person!

 

Originally Posted By RAM1984

>>Ok RAM1984, I'll bite<<

Thanx Beckah and Mele. You are good friends.

This has been brought up on past threads
and many people know my position. As stated earlier on this thread, I go to City Hall to fill out commendations much more often that I complain. I was called on this particular incident many months ago. If you really want the whole story you can go to community and go back to around Oct/Nov and look for "Paging imadisneygal." It is all there.

 

Originally Posted By RAM1984

It is topic #842.

 

Originally Posted By imadisneygal

Criminy, that's me! I remember the post, Ram. You definitely had a legitimate concern!

 

Originally Posted By RAM1984

Thank you all so much!!!!!!!!

 

Originally Posted By Actress56

at least this thread is a lot more understanding than it was a couple of weeks ago.

two days ago, in the first two hours of an 8 hour day, i found out that a friend of mine had passed away the night before. it was the second time that i have been at work and have found out that a friend had died.

but i am a disneyland cast member. i am not human and have to be happy at all times and never let anything bother me while working. that is why i checked my voice mail and went on with my shift and wasnt allowed to cry until i got home that evening.

i dont care what people think. we are human too, even though we work for disney. yes, the expectations are higher for us, but to expect nothing to effect you while at work is rediculous and doesnt understand human nature or the human personality.

thank you to those who know that even though we work at disneyland, we are people too and the things that are going on in our lives or the things that are said to us do affect our behavior. Those that are understanding and have a smile on thier face help me continue to have a smile on my face.

 

Originally Posted By mele

I'm sorry that you lost your friend, Actress.

Chatting with CMs is one of my favorite things to do at Disneyland. I've met some of the nicest people.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

Actress56, you are absolutely correct in that you CM's are human, and subject to the same ups and downs that the rest of us have. But the whole concept of "on stage" comes into play. You're not at a regular job - you're a CAST MEMBER in a Disney park. The expectations are higher, both from your employer and from your customers. It's the same mentality that professional musicians and actors have to live with. It doesn't matter how bad you feel, or what happened to you the night before. When the curtain goes up, people are expecting your greatest effort.

It sucks at times, and I can sure sympathize with you. But I feel really strongly that the Disney park culture of "on stage" is an important reason for the success of the company. And I fear the company has been letting down on this standard for some time now.

 

Originally Posted By Tiggirl

Actress56... I too am sorry to hear of your loss.

<<at least this thread is a lot more understanding than it was a couple of weeks ago.>>

I do not see how this thread was not "understanding". The OP had several problems where they had some CM's treat them in a way they perceived to be rudely. Afterwards many other people chimed in saying that they too had noticed a decline in the friendly attitude CM's are known for. No one said all CM's are terrible... but the fact is many many people are seeing what they feel is a decline in the friendliness and general pleasantness in a lot of CM's. And if you think its just AP's who think this because they are looking for things to complain about... think again. I heard this same thing from a family member who visited the park for the first time in 5 years. I've also heard this same sentiment for past and current cast members. Its sad and I believe what most everyone who has posted on this subject is saying is that they'd like to see it corrected.

~Beth

 

Originally Posted By DISDANCEMOM

To all the CM who come and read the discussion boards. I have never met any CM who would not help when needed. You do a great job. and no matter how hard you work there will always be some people that you just can't make happy. And to all of the people who came and complained about a CM stop and think about did you want something they could not or should not do and if you did truly get a bad CM did you let someone know so it could be fixed (not everyone can work with the public ). But most of all when you did have a great CM did you take the time to tell DLR.Thanks to all the great CM . I have been in the parks many times this year and know that even the slow days have been busy and you still have been great from the CM at the gate to the show CM and ride CM. DLR should be very proud of you.

 

Originally Posted By Tiggirl

I find it odd that some people assume that people who have noticed a decrease in the service think that those who have noticed the decrease are at fault. I do not doubt that there are rude guests. I worked for an airline for almost 6 years and I talked to plenty of rude people... but I remained polite. And I admit that I worked with some people who were terrible at costomer service and WERE indeed rude to people who, had they not encountered such poor service, would have been very plesant customers to assist.

I find it interesting that if someone came on and said they spoke to a rude airline employee on the phone, no one would have a hard time believing it. But that it is impossible for some people to admit of believe CM's to be rude or even just clueless about how to work with people.

Case in point... While working at Disneyland I worked with one girl who just shocked me with the things that came out of her mouth. The one thing that stands out most in my mind was I worked in stores and was helping a really nice lady and her two children. It was Christmas time and the kids were telling me the how they were going to send the souvineeres they bought to their dad who was in Iraq. The CM next to me butted in and said her ex-boyfriend had gone to Iraq but he recently came home... in a body bag. OH MY WORD! This girl had no idea how to work with the public and should have never been hired to work on stage. The look on this poor woman's face and her children's faces broke my heart.

Also as a guest I've experianced rude CM's (note my earlier stories of the main entrance CM who gave me and eye roll and slapped my AP down when I asked him to have a nice day or the multiple eye rolls I recieved when I wished CM's a happy new year and thanked them for working on NYE.) As I've discussed many times with my best friend who is a current CM... perhaps when you run across a guest who is cranky you should stop and think perhaps they've had a run in with a grumpy CM or two and give them a little slack. A little listening and understanding goes a long way and its the CM's job to do that.

Please know that I am not saying CM's should take abuse. My friend was spat at while working Fantasmic! and had that been me I would have spat right back at the person but fearing for his job my friend did not retaliate (good boy!) and directly after that the guest punched another CM in the face and escaped before security got to him. It should go without saying that these types of things are totally out of line and Disney should do everything in their power to prosocute guests like this (even thought they don't and try to convince CM's not to press changes against the guests.)

Whew! That was long winded. Congratualtions if you made it through. LOL!