Just flew in from Paris and boy are my arms tired!

[Elonwy]

I've been living/working in Europe and Africa for 8 months now and took and extra day of vacation to visit Disneyland Paris before coming back to Canada and was surprised at the response from CM's there about Disney World.

I was chatting with one CM when Buzz Lightyears laser blast was having some "minor issues" and I was held back at the front of the line for about 10 minutes. She asked if I had been there before and I said I had a few years ago but I'm more familiar with WDW.

WELL, she talked about how she heard everything there was so dirty and broken down and old (funny since HER attraction was broken down at the time) :lol: She said that she had heard that EE was a complete disaster and such a waste of money. True the Yeti might not work all the time but I wouldn't call it a complete disaster.

Then at the hotel another CM who had been to WDW before said that alot of their characters come from WDW and that DL Paris recruits the best ones away from WDW, that's why WDW is known for having the worst characters of all the Disney parks.

Really, is WDW that bad...and even if it was should CM's from other parks be talking like that?

I admit I have seen a character or two that may not have been exactly magical (i swear i saw a 45 year old Peter Pan when I was a kid) but I didn't think WDW was the laughing stock of the entire Disney family :shrug:

 

[TP2000]

I admit I have seen a character or two that may not have been exactly magical (i swear i saw a 45 year old Peter Pan when I was a kid) but I didn't think WDW was the laughing stock of the entire Disney family :shrug:

I have a neighbor who works at Team Disney Anaheim and has been working at Disneyland in management for nearly two decades. We have sunset cocktails every few weeks, and the conversation often turns to things Disney. She has some very unkind things to say about the showmanship/maintenance quality at the WDW property, especially Magic Kingdom, and who they let go out in the parks playing the Characters.

You have to take anything a CM says with a grain of salt, whether its a 10 dollar an hour ride operator gabbing during a downtime or a tenured salaried person after her second martini, as the grass is always greener.

But just judging from a few of the folks I've seen at WDW myself, I think there may be some validity to the Character issue at WDW.

 

[Victor]

Maybe the CMs have let the fact that they might actually have the best Disneyland clone go to their heads. Disneyland Paris has got some real quality stuff. There was a lot of love (and money) put into that park. On the other hand they shouldn't forget that they are also home to Disney Studios Park...:hurl:

 

[disney9752]

Maybe the CMs have let the fact that they might actually have the best Disneyland clone go to their heads. Disneyland Paris has got some real quality stuff. There was a lot of love (and money) put into that park. On the other hand they shouldn't forget that they are also home to Disney Studios Park...:hurl:

at least disneyland paris is only 17 years old, wdw is almost 40!!! WDW has gotten infamous for not keeping the park up due to the cheap eisner era & things not improving much since he left. Althought after my visit last week the MK does seem to be getting some overdue attention. All in hopes of a pretty MK for the 40th like DISNEYLAND got for the 50th:wave:

 

[wdwmagic]

I've been living/working in Europe and Africa for 8 months now and took and extra day of vacation to visit Disneyland Paris before coming back to Canada and was surprised at the response from CM's there about Disney World.

I was chatting with one CM when Buzz Lightyears laser blast was having some "minor issues" and I was held back at the front of the line for about 10 minutes. She asked if I had been there before and I said I had a few years ago but I'm more familiar with WDW.

WELL, she talked about how she heard everything there was so dirty and broken down and old (funny since HER attraction was broken down at the time) :lol: She said that she had heard that EE was a complete disaster and such a waste of money. True the Yeti might not work all the time but I wouldn't call it a complete disaster.

Then at the hotel another CM who had been to WDW before said that alot of their characters come from WDW and that DL Paris recruits the best ones away from WDW, that's why WDW is known for having the worst characters of all the Disney parks.

Really, is WDW that bad...and even if it was should CM's from other parks be talking like that?

LOL that is funny. Someone has a bit of a chip on their shoulder over there it seems!

Do you really think that typical CMs at WDW are going to relocate to DLP to be paid $6 an hour? Total nonsense that they recruit WDW CMs.

I've visted all of the parks that you mentioned, and WDW have some of the best entertainment CMs anywhere. In my opinion all of the parks worldwide do a great job in entertainment, and none stand out as being better or worse. Go check it out for yourself and I am sure you will agree.

 

[Elonwy]

LOL that is funny. Someone has a bit of a chip on their shoulder over there it seems!

Do you really think that typical CMs at WDW are going to relocate to DLP to be paid $6 an hour? Total nonsense that they recruit WDW CMs.

I've visted all of the parks that you mentioned, and WDW have some of the best entertainment CMs anywhere. In my opinion all of the parks worldwide do a great job in entertainment, and none stand out as being better or worse. Go check it out for yourself and I am sure you will agree.

I kind of felt like they had chip on their shoulder, too. I've been to DL in Cali, Paris and WDW (still have to head to Asia and finish it off) but they all have great things and could all improve in places. I'm pretty easy to please so anytime I'm in a Disney park I tend to have my "Disney vision" on and see the best of the best...and I like it that way.

I know that the Belle from WDW from about 12 years ago was going to work in DL paris but from what I understood she just wanted to live in Europe for a while...who could blame her but I can't see working for the same company in another country to be a markedly better experience.

I also think WDW has fantastic characters...i know I mentioned one Peter pan who seemed a little long in the tooth for "the boy that never grew up" but really, that is an exception. I have seen the most amazing Snow White, Cinderella and in fact, a few years ago a great Peter Pan.

I just wished the Disney team feeling would extend beyond the borders...i thought they were one big happy family, not in competition.

(I'm trying my darndest not to sing IASW right now) :lol:

 

[TubaGeek]

You have to take anything a CM says with a grain of salt, whether its a 10 dollar an hour ride operator gabbing during a downtime or a tenured salaried person after her second martini, as the grass is always greener.

Sheesh, if ride ops actually got paid $10 an hour... :hammer:

 

[smk]

If I was a young adult, working as a character or any WDW CM, and had the opportunity to go to France to work I would jump at the chance to have that experience. Does that mean only the "best" do that? I doubt it. However, I don't hold anything agaisnt someone who has the chance to go.

Paris Disneyland is brand new when compared to WDW and I also doubt they have the same crowds on a daily basis that WDW has. I have never been to Paris Disneyland, but I have been to Paris. I did not choose to got to Disneyland while there, too many other things to see and do. I think of myself as a WDW snob anyway, I love the place, apparently dirt and all. I don't care what anyone says, there's no place like home and for me it is WDW.

 

[foreverbelle]

Personally, I think everyone complains about their job in some way or another..And the grass always seems better on the other side....

And since I have never been to any other park besides DW I can not compare. But that is just my feelings...

 

[TP2000]

Sheesh, if ride ops actually got paid $10 an hour... :hammer:

I was talking Disneyland wages I guess. Entry level folks working the rides in Anaheim start just over 9 bucks an hour and their scale goes up to about 13 bucks an hour after several years of tenure. The average hourly pay in Anaheim is 10 or 11 bucks an hour, slightly above the average jobs at the local malls and such.

I have no idea what it is out in Florida, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn it's a dollar or two less.

 

[C&D]

Pride on her side is commendable but I believe I detect a bit of WDW envy as well.