Disney Knowledge...there is a Right place and a right time

[LoriMistress]

Not to get all Miss Manners here (because, you know, I'm a guy), but the most appropriate time to offer information is directly after information is requested. Otherwise, silence is golden.

Agreed.

 

[Innoventions]

If I were to overhear someone saying that only guests staying at Contemporary could use the monorail I would correct them. Politely and without interrupting, but if I can overhear them so can others who might not know and could believe them.

So a conversation between others is free game, not an announcement to others, but a conversation. As in a conversation between people of the same party speaking within each-other. Isnt it a little rude, at least IMO to overhear and correct, clearly you would have been listening in on a conversation you shouldn't and have not right to. I find it difficult to comprehend why someone would do this. Although maybe the intention is good that you would speak to someone you dont know, its there burden to bear not yours, move on. Let them figure out if they are incorrect, no need to correct them yourselves. Enjoy your vacation, you dont want to correct the wrong person and have them react negatively. (ie. violently in some cases) You only come off as either a "know it all". or "incosiderate", even if your intention is the opposite. Its the responsibility of a cast member to help guests not you. Let them do their job, and enjoy yourself.

Sorry this is kind of a pet peeve of mine.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

The last time I was at Magic Kingdom I was sitting quietly on the WDW railroad with my family. Yes, for once the kids were quiet! We were just watching out the sides as everything went by. Then I heard the people just behind me discussing where they could take their child to just play. The dad said that he knew their son loves playing at Pooh's thoughtful spot and they should go there. I didn't even think about it- I turned around, smiled and said, "Isn't it sad that they closed that down? My son loved it too!" The dad looked at me and said that they hadn't closed it down yet (keep in mind this was about two weeks ago) and I had to tell him that I saw where they had "replanted" the tree. He and his wife both thanked me profusely... and then he told me that he was just rather embaressed since he works in tomorrowland! Oops! But they were both happy that I had not allowed them to walk all the way to were the play area used to be before they found out!

I guess I just am a busy body because that kind of thing happens often with me. I don't say anything to people unless I know they are going to have a problem if they follow their course of action (example: today at the zoo a kid thought they had to play on the wooden playground with no shoes... a wooden playground in the bright July sun that gets burning hot! Again I didn't even think about it but pointed out to the child that they only had to take their shoes off to go in the baby area. I could not, in good conscience allow that child to get splinters and burns on their feet!) I have never had a person get mad at me for saying something, and I never get offended if they decide to find out for themselves, but at least I also don't spend the rest of my day feeling bad about allowing them to waste their time or get injured...:lookaroun

 

[Walt Disney1955]

WDW is a magical place with so much mystique. Sometimes ignorance is bliss you know? Other times it might truly help a person if you can help them avoid a long line or something like that. Use your discretion I would say, and if so, the last thing you want is to be a know it all

 

[thecompman]

Yep, I do the same. In fact the only time I can recall my saying something to complete strangers was last Christmas. It was quite late and we were on the monorail from Epcot to the TTC. As the train pulled into the station, I overheard a woman ask her husband (they had 3 young kids) if they needed to get off. The husband said no, that the train would go to their hotel next. And they continued to sit there as the train emptied out. The kids looked exhausted. I don't normally speak up, but I did then, and told the parents that the train was going back to Epcot. The Dad looked at me like I was crazy. I assured them that the train they were on went only to the TTC and Epcot, and if they wanted to go anywhere else, they had to get off. They eventually did, and the Mom thanked me as we exited.

Otherwise, I keep my big mouth shut.

Pretty much the same with me. I did save a family last year though who thought if they simply stayed on the Monorail it would take them to Hollywood Studios. Boy were they happy when I told them to get off

 

[the-reason14]

I'm not a big fan of people interrupting or chiming in on my conversations, esp if I wasn't speaking to them. So I try my best to not interrupt others.

 

[AREM]

Honestly, being a Cast Member, I tend to offer assistance and correct missinformation when I'm in street clothes in or around the parks. I don't do it to show offhow much I know, or to be a 'know it all', I just honestly like helping guests and people in general when it comes to anything Disney related. I just know so much about the resort, not only because I am a Cast Member, but because I have an honest and genuine love for the company.

So, if I tellyou that the 3 o clock parade will be taking place in the Epcot parking lot at 7:14pm, don't get mad at me. ;-)

 

[blackthidot]

Depends on the situation to me. I'd help someone if I saw they were about to make a huge mistake. But like it or not 9 times out of 10 you will look like an a-hole when helping out a stranger no matter how nice, or quietly you "correct" them. It is just the way things are. That is why I really will only offer help to someone that's doing something like waiting for a bus to Epcot from MK. Other than that I just try to NOT pay attention to people and what they are saying...Kind of like when Larry David sees someone he knows that he does not wanna talk too!

 

[Monty]

So a conversation between others is free game, not an announcement to others, but a conversation. As in a conversation between people of the same party speaking within each-other. Isnt it a little rude, at least IMO to overhear and correct, clearly you would have been listening in on a conversation you shouldn't and have not right to. I find it difficult to comprehend why someone would do this. Although maybe the intention is good that you would speak to someone you dont know, its there burden to bear not yours, move on. Let them figure out if they are incorrect, no need to correct them yourselves. Enjoy your vacation, you dont want to correct the wrong person and have them react negatively. (ie. violently in some cases) You only come off as either a "know it all". or "incosiderate", even if your intention is the opposite. Its the responsibility of a cast member to help guests not you. Let them do their job, and enjoy yourself.

Sorry this is kind of a pet peeve of mine.

You can have all the pet peeves you want, but if you are having a "conversation" that I can overhear, then others can overhear it as well. I really don't give a damn if you feel offended, I'm more concerned that someone else in earshot might take what you've said as truth. If you react negatively to being corrected, so be it. If you react violently, I'll defend myself quite adequately. :king:

As for being rude or listening in on a conversation I shouldn't and have no right to, sorry but if you are having a conversation in a public place and others can hear you, your conversation is part of the public domain and everybody has the right to listen. "Rude" would be if I was going out of my way to hear you, trust me, you don't matter that much. :wave:

 

[Innoventions]

You can have all the pet peeves you want, but if you are having a "conversation" that I can overhear, then others can overhear it as well. I really don't give a damn if you feel offended, I'm more concerned that someone else in earshot might take what you've said as truth. If you react negatively to being corrected, so be it. If you react violently, I'll defend myself quite adequately. :king:

As for being rude or listening in on a conversation I shouldn't and have no right to, sorry but if you are having a conversation in a public place and others can hear you, your conversation is part of the public domain and everybody has the right to listen. "Rude" would be if I was going out of my way to hear you, trust me, you don't matter that much. :wave:

If i dont matter that much dont chime in :wave: simple as that

And a conversation "between" a group is not public domain, its between my party and my party only, why do you feel you need to say anything.

 

[paul436]

Not to get all Miss Manners here (because, you know, I'm a guy), but the most appropriate time to offer information is directly after information is requested. Otherwise, silence is golden.

Bingo.

 

[wizards8507]

If i dont matter that much dont chime in :wave: simple as that

And a conversation "between" a group is not public domain, its between my party and my party only, why do you feel you need to say anything.

If you don't want people to hear you, keep your voice down.

Correcting information about when Space Ranger Spin opened is a bit petty but if someone is going to be stuck not being able to get back to their car or missing a dinner reservation because they have bad information, I think it's rude and irresponsible not to help them.

 

[AEfx]

I guess I'm a busy-body. :shrug:

If I were to overhear someone saying that only guests staying at Contemporary could use the monorail I would correct them. Politely and without interrupting, but if I can overhear them so can others who might not know and could believe them.

I guess I am too, LOL.

It's not like they were giving the OP the history of the parks, or monopoloizing their time. They sound like they just didn't want them to miss out on the experience of the monorail because they thought it was exclusive.

There is a difference between giving someone an operational tip versus taking over a conversation and spouting Disney knowledge, at least IMO.

 

[kaos]

I oftentimes like to agree with people when they tell me that they are going to take the monorail to DTD. I smile, nod, and tell them to tell me what they think about the ride, and also they should sit up front because the monorail trip to DTD is amazingly rare! I also love it when I hear people say that American Adventure is the same thing as Hall of Presidents, so they don't do them both. True story- that was my Uncle's reason for not doing AA... and when my brother and I were talking about it with my cousins, they were sorely disappointed that they missed AA.

My wife decided that my Danny Tanner styled "Clipboard of Fun" is definitely worth having on our WDW trip. She keeps kosher, so she found it very informative when she wanted to partake in a burger. Of course, she will never let me forget that I am more organized about planning a trip to WDW than I am running the hobby shop, but hey, I have fun at WDW...

Maybe I should work for Kingdom Konsultant... hiring anyone in the Chicago area? hahaha (but kinda serious)

 

[wizards8507]

I oftentimes like to agree with people when they tell me that they are going to take the monorail to DTD. I smile, nod, and tell them to tell me what they think about the ride, and also they should sit up front because the monorail trip to DTD is amazingly rare! I also love it when I hear people say that American Adventure is the same thing as Hall of Presidents, so they don't do them both. True story- that was my Uncle's reason for not doing AA... and when my brother and I were talking about it with my cousins, they were sorely disappointed that they missed AA.

My wife decided that my Danny Tanner styled "Clipboard of Fun" is definitely worth having on our WDW trip. She keeps kosher, so she found it very informative when she wanted to partake in a burger. Of course, she will never let me forget that I am more organized about planning a trip to WDW than I am running the hobby shop, but hey, I have fun at WDW...

Maybe I should work for Kingdom Konsultant... hiring anyone in the Chicago area? hahaha (but kinda serious)

You're still using the Clipboard of Fun? My mom used to rule our vacations with an iron fist and her Clipboard of Fun (and thats exactly what we called it). I've recently evolved to the Excel Spreadsheet of Fun. Not quite as catchy but everything is color coded .

 

[kaos]

I've recently evolved to the Excel Spreadsheet of Fun. Not quite as catchy but everything is color coded .

Yeah, mine is on Excel now... Perfectly sized to fit on one page, and everyone in the group gets one. It's more of just the times for our meals, who's staying in what room, and park hours...

 

[wizards8507]

Yeah, mine is on Excel now... Perfectly sized to fit on one page, and everyone in the group gets one. It's more of just the times for our meals, who's staying in what room, and park hours...

My overplanning will be the end of me. I just finished perfecting a one-page honeymoon itinerary including 14 meals, 7 nights of park-hopping, AND a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise. My shame is that this trip won't be happening for another 12 months. Though I relied on past patterns, I'm 100% confident that Disney will overhaul the EMH schedule and Fantasmic! will switch nights, forcing me to redo the whole thing.

 

[gallerie]

WDW is a magical place with so much mystique. Sometimes ignorance is bliss you know? Other times it might truly help a person if you can help them avoid a long line or something like that. Use your discretion I would say, and if so, the last thing you want is to be a know it all

well said and totally agreed with

 

[Innoventions]

If you don't want people to hear you, keep your voice down.

Correcting information about when Space Ranger Spin opened is a bit petty but if someone is going to be stuck not being able to get back to their car or missing a dinner reservation because they have bad information, I think it's rude and irresponsible not to help them.

:shrug: we were not being loud, idk where anyone is getting the idea we were loud, it was a women standing behind us, she was the only one in the car, no one could overhear us, unless they were trying to listen in, much like this women and apparently you and Monty as well.

I guess I am too, LOL.

It's not like they were giving the OP the history of the parks, or monopoloizing their time. They sound like they just didn't want them to miss out on the experience of the monorail because they thought it was exclusive.

There is a difference between giving someone an operational tip versus taking over a conversation and spouting Disney knowledge, at least IMO.

Ummm read the post again, it was a "joke" between friends, (we know its not exclusive) and she continued to give a history of the parks as we sat down in the car, again its funny how many people were on this monorail ride with us. :shrug:

She did overpower the conversation, enough to make it awkward and unsettling for us, enough to kill the magic for my friends who were all first timers.

This post is not about me, I was sharing a story. I guess I hit a nerve though, seeing as most of you would do the same thing this women would do. You may not think so, but you ruin the magic for others, and your attitude of I dont care, is unfortunate, and again, is selfish on your part.

 

[disney dharling]

Not to get all Miss Manners here (because, you know, I'm a guy), but the most appropriate time to offer information is directly after information is requested. Otherwise, silence is golden.

... and duct tape is silver. As hard as a it is, I know nothing unless asked... Nicely.