Banned from the Shops at Walt Disney World.... by my Wife.

[SMS55]

I think what you are doing is typical of people when looking at other places/people in their field. As someone that is in real estate/construction, I am quick to point out flaws in construction. My last few trips I've seen the construction of the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train and I've examined the process. Last time I was there Splash was being refurbished and I stopped for a moment to watch the men on the scaffoldings plastering. I'll notice that the moldings are off on the pre hung doors at a friends house too. Just what our trained eyes are trained to spot.

 

[Hrudey3032]

I think what you are doing is typical of people when looking at other places/people in their field. As someone that is in real estate/construction, I am quick to point out flaws in construction. My last few trips I've seen the construction of the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train and I've examined the process. Last time I was there Splash was being refurbished and I stopped for a moment to watch the men on the scaffoldings plastering. I'll notice that the moldings are off on the pre hung doors at a friends house too. Just what our trained eyes are trained to spot.

See I am in the safety and security field so I am always looking for the cameras and possible Loss Prevention workers everywhere I go. I also used to be a store manager so I also judge displays and the set up of racks. I will even sit there at times and find myself putting merchandise back in right location or straightening things out.

 

[Phonedave]

OMG So funny! When I was a teenager, I worked at Walgreens and any time I'd go into another store and mumble about how poorly they "faced" things, IF it was faced at all. To this day, 10 years later I still notice! haha

I never refold clothes. OMG That was the bane of my existence in retail! If *I* unfold it, I refold, but if it's just sitting there unfolded, I pretend not to see it. LOL

During High School and College I worked in a grocery store. Over 20 years later, my wife still has to tell me from time to time to stop blocking and facing product when we go grocery shopping.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

As it is now, I work in Telecommunication Engineering Management (thats a mouthfull) but I have degrees in Civil Engineering. I used to do a lot of geotehnical engineering before this job. Anytime there is construction, especially earthworks, I have to go look at it. They are building a strip mall across the street from my house right now, my wife refuses to let me go over there at night and poke around - probally for the better.

-dave

 

[Disvillain63]

DH and I spent high school and college years working in local grocery stores. We have a habit of 'blocking' the shelf while the other is shopping/looking ... to pass the time. I've also worked in a Disney Store, so I try to fold the shirts back the 'Disney way' when I'm looking at one.

 

[lunchbox1175]

Dude....I can totally relate and have the same thing! I was a restaurant manager for 15 years, I am always seeing tables that need refills or are ready to order but the server is not around, or even if they have been waiting too long for their food....I have even clued our server in on occasions when I can tell that another one of their tables is in need of something but they haven't noticed. My wife hates it, and is always telling me to turn it off (she calls is "manager mode") that it isn't my job. I have gotten a little better over the last couple of years, but I don't think I will ever be able to not notice things.

 

[SagamoreBeach]

I can't relate to any of this...when I'm on vacation - I AM ON VACATION! I have no desire to bring my professional life with me to Disney or anywhere else, for that matter. LOL!

 

[BiggerTigger]

My work now doesn't quite relate to the parks (much), but I did use to work for the Mouse and can't seem to turn that off with the two finger point, directions, picking up trash, and offering to take pictures for families. My family just continues on until I'm done and catch up with them.

 

[Ben_since_1971]

If Momma Aint happy.... NOBODY is happy...

Or as my wife of 21 years says - "I know I'm right, I'm always right"

 

[LAKid53]

So I got a directive not from Disney World leadership or Security to not enter a store, but from my Wife.

Being a HUGE Disney fan AND a retail executive with 30 years of experience my DW of 23 years gets SOOOOO mad when I am in in a shop. "Why can't you just enjoy yourself???"

I can't seem to NOT refold shirts, size and colorize apparel,face items and dust. To make matters worse, I then seek out leadership and offer suggestions to cross merchandise and maximize sales per sq foot.

I may need to just take my meds before I go next time.

OCD+ Disney fan+ Retail guy= MAD SPOUSE..

I worked retail for 1.5 years over 30 years ago and still walk through a department straightening racks, refolding clothes, taking things I've tried on back to the rack where I found it and put it back exactly in the same spot and then spend time putting garments in size order. And if you could see my closet at home - shirts organized by color and sleeve length. It bugs me that people toss clothing around in bins instead of folding it neatly and putting it back in the correct size pile, making it easier for the next customer to find their size. You can loose sales if someone has to dig through a bin of 100 unsorted jeans piled in a heap to find the size 4.....

 

[LAKid53]

One specific time I was in DTD and Wife and Kids went to use bathroom. I was in Candy Cauldron. I noticed when you first walked in there were a few dead flies on the front display by door.On way back from bathroom wife was walking by did a DEAD STOP... saw me in window with spray cleaner and paper towels along side a CM... If looks could kill.. I would have been flat lined right there in that store...

Can you come by my house, please?! I have window sills that are begging for your attention....

 

[LAKid53]

Because I clean before the cleaning lady comes (now that is the ultimate OCD), I straighten up my bed in our resort room, neatly hang up the used towels, clean up the bathroom counter and if I had bathroom cleaner and a sponge, I'd do the sink, toilet and bathtub all before leaving our room in the morning, leaving little for housekeeping to do, other than make cute animals out of towels and wash cloths. While my daughter's side of the room looks like a tornado went though it. I even line my shoes up so I won't trip over them during the night. I just don't want the housekeeping staff to think I'm a slob.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I just saw this thread and I wondered if your wife knows mine because she said the same thing. My DW is ill and her family came for a visit over the weekend. As I made coffee and set the table I found myself asking people if they wanted Mickey, Donald or Goofy for their coffee mug.

 

[wedway71]

See I am in the safety and security field so I am always looking for the cameras and possible Loss Prevention workers everywhere I go. I also used to be a store manager so I also judge displays and the set up of racks. I will even sit there at times and find myself putting merchandise back in right location or straightening things out.

Kelly.. you enjoy tackling shoplifters down and then giving them a Wet Willy..

 

[Hrudey3032]

Kelly.. you enjoy tackling shoplifters down and then giving them a Wet Willy..

I so did that once at a Family Dollar(I was just a shopper) where 2 ladies ran out carrying a bunch of merchandise. I heard the Store Manager yell stop and saw ladies to my left. The one dropped something and went to pick it up so I dropped her and held on til police arrived. The boyfriend and other lady started to get out of car but saw how big I was and ditched her lol. I held her 5 minutes til police arrived. I have never been called so many magical things in my life!

(I forgot the wet willy though!)

 

[Goofnut1980]

This is great. I thought I was the only one with OCD-ism in these shops.

I constantly am folding and straightening the racks. Even sizing! Best part is, I don't realize I am doing it. Everyone I am with asks me, What are you doing???

I think tho, I want "my" Disney World to look perfect for the next guest. CM's are so overworked and always super busy. By me taking 2 seconds to fix something only makes the next guest experience more enjoyable and a CM's work a little less. We all know they don't get paid enough to deal with some of the people they deal with! Also, partially some guests are just PIGS and make a mess anywhere they go!

 

[VirginiaCreeper]

I worked in a mall toy store as a teenager and I too used to straighten up the shelves in other stores while out shopping.