Disney CMs calling guests " Friends"?

[_caleb]

What I find interesting is that this was being shared as a terrible example of excessive political correctness—“Look how ridiculous Disney is being!”—when there’s nothing the least bit extreme or unreasonable about it.

Certainly nothing I can see. Which is why I (and you) keep asking for someone of the other opinion to explain. But instead of dispassionate explanations, we’re 36 pages into this thread and I’ve seen a lot of what I assume to be insider-speak, jargon, and shorthand that I don’t understand (but I’ll admit doesn’t sound ver charitable to me).

Since this thread began, I’ve encountered multiple outside-the-parks, IRL instances:

• Teachers of younger school-age children referring to their students as “friends”
• A trip overseas where shopkeepers in the bazaar called out “Hello, my friend!” to tourists (I assume this is the “shady car dealer” usage mentioned upthread)
• “Don’t worry, you’re among friends,” said by participants at a comic book convention to a shy cosplayer

These seem to be similar usages to what WDW guests have been reporting by CMs. And I don’t think any of these resulted in anyone taking offense.

Also, I’m reminded of the Disney tradition (policy) of character CMs to never say, “I play Goofy in the parks,” but instead to say, “I work at WDW, where I’m friends with Goofy.”

 

[MisterPenguin]

Have you ever spent time in Europe? This post leads me to believe you have not.

Pfft. I've been to World Showcase at least a dozen times.

 

[_caleb]

Pfft. I've been to World Showcase at least a dozen times.

You joke, but how many people think the Germany pavilion is *basically* a trip to Germany?

And how many have actually traveled to Germany and evaluated it against their previous experiences in Epcot?

 

[Shiriki_Utundu]

“Look how ridiculous Disney is being!”—when there’s nothing the least bit extreme or unreasonable about it.

earlier we talked about "context" and now it's time for "intent"

let's not pretend here as honesty counts, too.
Countless find Disney's intent for the change to be unreasonable. The change itself to "friend" in most of its usage(with select times of foolishness) is fine but Disney's reason for the change borders on absurd.... just more reason to be a lightning rod for ridicule.

Yep, more Disney PC nonsense running amuck.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Countless find Disney's intent for the change to be unreasonable.

How were you able to poll countless number of people?

 

[LittleBuford]

let's not pretend here as honesty counts, too.

I’m not sure what this is getting at, but I’m being entirely candid. You may not share my view, but that doesn’t make you more honest.

 

[mkt]

Good night friends!

 

[Goofyernmost]

This conversation just gets dumber and dumber! Just when you think it can't get any worse my friends, it does!

 

[_caleb]

This conversation just gets dumber and dumber! Just when you think it can't get any worse my friends, it does!

Thanks for your contribution to it

 

[Goofyernmost]

Thanks for your contribution to it

Guess you got me there, what a burn!

 

[Shiriki_Utundu]

I’m not sure what this is getting at, but I’m being entirely candid.

Your posts are much appreciated.....Yes, I know you are candid as you always have been in all of your work here(that is why I interact with you on this topic. I more or less do not respond to those who post dishonestly, fail to own up or use misdirection)

I dispensed my "let's not pretend as honesty counts, too" as a generalized admonishment/caution to all readers. You were not the specific target but since I responded to you I can see now that it should not have been included in post 724.

 

[JoeCamel]

How were you able to poll countless number of people?

Maybe they have countless friends....

 

[castlecake2.0]

CM chiming in here, nowhere has “the Company” mandated we call guests “friends”. It seems to just be spreading through CPs mostly. I think one person hears it and they adopt it and so on. Just how “welcome” has morphed into “welcome in” inexplicably over the last few years. I also know a lot of cast don’t like saying “folks” so maybe friends is just more comfortable for them to say? We did go through a time when we were told to stop saying “guys”, not because it could be rendered gender specific, but because the uppers thought it sounded sloppy. That’s when I switched to “everyone” or “everybody” to address groups of guests. Either way, the whole “friends” thing isn’t some evil mandate, there’s not one piece of literature backstage instructing us to use that word.

 

[JoeCamel]

CM chiming in here, nowhere has “the Company” mandated we call guests “friends”. It seems to just be spreading through CPs mostly. I think one person hears it and they adopt it and so on. Just how “welcome” has morphed into “welcome in” inexplicably over the last few years. I also know a lot of cast don’t like saying “folks” so maybe friends is just more comfortable for them to say? We did go through a time when we were told to stop saying “guys”, not because it could be rendered gender specific, but because the uppers thought it sounded sloppy. That’s when I switched to “everyone” or “everybody” to address groups of guests. Either way, the whole “friends” thing isn’t some evil mandate, there’s not one piece of literature backstage instructing us to use that word.

As long as I don't hear "no problem" when I thank someone. Its annoying, just say you are welcome

 

[LittleBuford]

CM chiming in here, nowhere has “the Company” mandated we call guests “friends”. It seems to just be spreading through CPs mostly. I think one person hears it and they adopt it and so on. Just how “welcome” has morphed into “welcome in” inexplicably over the last few years. I also know a lot of cast don’t like saying “folks” so maybe friends is just more comfortable for them to say? We did go through a time when we were told to stop saying “guys”, not because it could be rendered gender specific, but because the uppers thought it sounded sloppy. That’s when I switched to “everyone” or “everybody” to address groups of guests. Either way, the whole “friends” thing isn’t some evil mandate, there’s not one piece of literature backstage instructing us to use that word.

Thanks for this insider perspective. This may be a stupid question, but what does CP stand for?

 

[Disney Analyst]

Thanks for this insider perspective. This may be a stupid question, but what does CP stand for?

College Program

 

[LittleBuford]

College Program

Thanks! I should have been able to work that out!

 

[castlecake2.0]

As long as I don't hear "no problem" when I thank someone. Its annoying, just say you are welcome

That was the other phrase we were told to get rid of when they were trying to get rid of “guys”

 

[_caleb]

As long as I don't hear "no problem" when I thank someone. Its annoying, just say you are welcome

 

[Smiley/OCD]

As long as I don't hear "no problem" when I thank someone. Its annoying, just say you are welcome

That’s why I’ve heard them say “no worries” many times…to me, that sounds fine to the point that I’m starting to use it and every time someone says it to me, I always ask if they’re Disney fans…