before we left for our trip, i read so much about the lackluster attitude by CM's. after going, i can totally understand how someone who works their could just "give up" trying to give people a magical experience.
if you are planning a trip to WDW in the near future, here are some suggestions and tips to get great service from WDW:
1. make eye contact when you encounter a CM, especially when they look a bit worn out. i can't tell you how many times i saw a CM "just going through the motions", and just by looking at them in the eye and saying "hello" or "merry Christmas", totally changed their attitude, AND i found that it "brought them back to life" and watched them begin to interact with the people behind us more than they did with us.
2. don't get mad at CM's when they ask you to follow the rules. GO TO THE END OF THE ROW! don't plop down and then make a CM have to ask you five times to move down. and if you are one of the ones that obey the rules, make sure to smile and make small talk with the CM after you witness incidents like this. i found that an exasperated CM can "get their magic back" just by having someone showing them a little attention and letting them know you understand how crummy it is to have to tell grown people to follow the rules.
3. i noticed that a lot of people ignore the elderly CM's who basically just stand around and keep a line moving or who stand by themselves to help tourists with questions. it was my experience that these CM's are just waiting for someone to strike up a conversation with them. ask them about their job, how long they have been at WDW, etc. i was amazed at some of the stories i got from some of these CM's and i could tell by their smile that they really appreciated the fact that i acknowledged their part in making WDW such a wonderful place.
4. if you have a problem with a particular CM, before you allow yourself to get angry and lash out at them, remember that these people have to deal with rude, obnoxious people all day. people who show them no respect and treat them like trash. if they perceive you as one of those folks, you can't blame them for not caring whether or not you have a "magical day". sometimes just saying to a CM that you understand how hard it must be to deal with "some" people, totally changes how they react with you. it's almost like you have let them know that you are not "one of those people" and so they almost go out of their way to help you.
5. don't walk into WDW with a chip on your shoulder and don't treat CM's as your personal servants. what do these people make, 7 bucks an hour? if you walk around thinking everyone "owes" you the time of your life, don't be shocked if everyone doesn't jump when you demand something.
6. finally, think how tired you are after just a few hours touring. and just imagine what it must be like to be on your feet all day, day after day, trying to bring magic to other people, while not getting to "have any fun" yourself. i think CM's are great people and they made our last trip the best ever!
if you are planning a trip to WDW in the near future, here are some suggestions and tips to get great service from WDW:
1. make eye contact when you encounter a CM, especially when they look a bit worn out. i can't tell you how many times i saw a CM "just going through the motions", and just by looking at them in the eye and saying "hello" or "merry Christmas", totally changed their attitude, AND i found that it "brought them back to life" and watched them begin to interact with the people behind us more than they did with us.
2. don't get mad at CM's when they ask you to follow the rules. GO TO THE END OF THE ROW! don't plop down and then make a CM have to ask you five times to move down. and if you are one of the ones that obey the rules, make sure to smile and make small talk with the CM after you witness incidents like this. i found that an exasperated CM can "get their magic back" just by having someone showing them a little attention and letting them know you understand how crummy it is to have to tell grown people to follow the rules.
3. i noticed that a lot of people ignore the elderly CM's who basically just stand around and keep a line moving or who stand by themselves to help tourists with questions. it was my experience that these CM's are just waiting for someone to strike up a conversation with them. ask them about their job, how long they have been at WDW, etc. i was amazed at some of the stories i got from some of these CM's and i could tell by their smile that they really appreciated the fact that i acknowledged their part in making WDW such a wonderful place.
4. if you have a problem with a particular CM, before you allow yourself to get angry and lash out at them, remember that these people have to deal with rude, obnoxious people all day. people who show them no respect and treat them like trash. if they perceive you as one of those folks, you can't blame them for not caring whether or not you have a "magical day". sometimes just saying to a CM that you understand how hard it must be to deal with "some" people, totally changes how they react with you. it's almost like you have let them know that you are not "one of those people" and so they almost go out of their way to help you.
5. don't walk into WDW with a chip on your shoulder and don't treat CM's as your personal servants. what do these people make, 7 bucks an hour? if you walk around thinking everyone "owes" you the time of your life, don't be shocked if everyone doesn't jump when you demand something.
6. finally, think how tired you are after just a few hours touring. and just imagine what it must be like to be on your feet all day, day after day, trying to bring magic to other people, while not getting to "have any fun" yourself. i think CM's are great people and they made our last trip the best ever!
:sohappy:
