Has anyone else that has visited the parks recently noticed CMs referring to you/your party as "friends"? This has happened the last 2 days at Animal Kingdom numerous times from interactions from entrance to exit. For example buying food, exiting rides, visiting gift shops, and just strolling down the walkways. Wondering if this is a new protocol or if it was a happy coincidence, either way I liked it. In my opinion it good without being overly sweet.
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Disney CMs calling guests " Friends"?
- Thread starter tallica
- Start date
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
I first noticed it in California last summer. It is indeed an excellent habit. “Hello friends are you looking for parade viewing” is much more welcoming. Even when said with the typical it’s been a long day cm tone, adding “my friends” really does sound better imho. (And yes I heard plenty of that in California lol).
dmw
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Have you never eaten at a Mexican restaurant where the server called you Amigos? Calling people Friends sounds fine to me, and actually very friendly.
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
There seems to be a lot of places trying to find an appropriate term for saying hello to a group of people.
Lots of places used to use "Hey guys!" but this sounds like an overenthusiastic server at TGI Fridays and also the word guy traditionally means a man, therefore isn't the best term for a family or group of mixed-gender adults.
Sir/Madam are seen as too formal in most settings nowadays.
Hello friends, is welcoming, very Disney and gender neutral. It works well as a greeting for groups of people.
Lots of places used to use "Hey guys!" but this sounds like an overenthusiastic server at TGI Fridays and also the word guy traditionally means a man, therefore isn't the best term for a family or group of mixed-gender adults.
Sir/Madam are seen as too formal in most settings nowadays.
Hello friends, is welcoming, very Disney and gender neutral. It works well as a greeting for groups of people.
Around the world in many cultures, calling strangers you meet 'friends' is customary and idiomatic.
When foreign speakers translate that into English and call Americans they meet 'friends,' it can sound odd to us, since that's not our custom.
So, in DAK and World Showcase, it seems more 'authentic,' to me, when the CMs call us 'friends.'
When foreign speakers translate that into English and call Americans they meet 'friends,' it can sound odd to us, since that's not our custom.
So, in DAK and World Showcase, it seems more 'authentic,' to me, when the CMs call us 'friends.'
Wonder why they didn't go with "Mouseketeers"? "Have a Magical Day Mouseketeers" sounds more "Disney" - than "Hello, Friend"
LaughingGravy
Well-Known Member
Friends is personal. It loses its meaning if applied too often.
If one is trying to win someone over who may be skittish, like a leaper or hostage taker for example, yes, use it as an attempt to gather favor in a critical situation.
Otherwise, it's not genuine. It's not much more of a leap to Family. Bad idea, IMO.
If one is trying to win someone over who may be skittish, like a leaper or hostage taker for example, yes, use it as an attempt to gather favor in a critical situation.
Otherwise, it's not genuine. It's not much more of a leap to Family. Bad idea, IMO.
GimpYancIent
Well-Known Member
A none hostile term used by Disney personnel on Disney property! Excellent! By all means continue to do it.
DCLcruiser
Well-Known Member
100%. We ate at a local higher end steakhouse in the suburbs and one of the servers kept saying Friend. Very creepy. It's ok once, and then it's a problem. This is NY, we don't talk like that.
Did the server also make the mistake of making eye contact?!
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
I’m not sure what the alternative would be? It needs to be gender neutral, friendly and welcoming.
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
I have noticed this too, and probably comes from us being instructed to not use the word "guys" when referring to a group of guests because it’s too slangy. I prefer to use everyone/everybody (or if on castaway cay, welcome ashore castaways!)
Parker in NYC
Well-Known Member
'Friend' and 'pal' were used often in the '20s-'50s as greetings to strangers, both male and female. Distinctly lower-middle and lower class, of course, and definitely more of a coastal city thing.
How about we just greet one another with "Hey, all you cool cats and kittens!"?
dmw
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Using the term "you guys" or hey, guys" is a very common greeting in the US, especially in Southern California. It's definitely not traditionally recognized as a term for men only in that region.
But, greetings do vary even across the US. I now live in Georgia where y'all is the replacement for "you guys". Of course, y'all is singular and "all y'all" is plural, except in questions like, "how y'all doin' today?"
And to read in a separate post that New Yorkers don't like to be called "friends" was a surprise. I guess they are not as friendly in NY? (kidding!!!!)
I really like the "friends" term. As you noted, gender neutral, works singular or plural, and sounds welcoming.
correcaminos
Well-Known Member
It's also sorta problematic since many view it as make gendered leaving out half the population. While some argue or feel otherwise there is a ton of backlash against it right now in terms of inclusivity. I try to avoid it knowing how it makes others feel.
Friends is used often in schools and kid groups. All inclusive and friendly sounding. I don't mind it but it does make me think of preschool or K teachers lol