Letter to WDW

[Davis224]

I've never dealt with a cast member that was anything other than extremely polite or helpful. From what I understand thats what you have to be if you want to work. My hats off to all the cast members that enforce the rules to people that try to break them
Whether you break them by an inch or a mile its still breaking the rules and all cast members try to do is make sure everything is fair.
So I say again bravo CMs :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[monorail256]

i totally agree with you tyler... the system does work!! there are 21 resorts people! somethings better than nothing... imagine using all your own gas at disney.. disney is actually helping you with transport... +... its disney, why fight over useless things?! :brick:

 

[tinkrbel]

Originally posted by Fantasia Boi


You would not believe the abuse we take... *sigh* I mean, I understand that they've had a long day, and may be tired and frustrated, but we're humans too. Half of the time, the problem lies because the guest isn't listening, or doesn't want to listen.

Other times, they have a legitimate problem. The more polite and cooperative they are, the more likely that cast member is going to go above and beyond to rectify that situation and try and provide great "Guest Service Recovery"... however, if the guest starts to cause a scene, and verbally abuse us, most cast members will still remain professional, but will do the bare minimum to take care of the situation.

I do have to say though... for every rotten apple... I get at least a hundred smiling happy super fun guests And it is those guests that I get to have a lot of fun with, and totally makes my job the greatest in the world.

Oh yes I would believe the abuse you take I have seen it first hand and I think that the restraint maintained by CM's is amazing. I posted on another subject about a bus driver that was in a bit of a hurry and wouldnt wait while I ran to get my camcorder I had left at a bench, I made it back but he shut the door .. I wasnt mad at him .. felt a little disappointment .. but I didnt feel it was something to go running and tattling on. It could be he had just been on the carpet about not staying on time, my complaint would have just made it worse for him If he really had a problem then I am sure he wouldnt be working for Disney much longer .. and if it was a one time thing why should I make a fuss and cause him trouble. It wasnt like there wouldnt be another bus In fact I should mention that when I got on the other bus I met some really nice people that had been to my WDW webpage !! So who was hurt by what happen? You can not blame those who follow what they are told to do .. nor sometimes should you blame who ever is over them. I have never ever been treated real bad by a CM .. yes there has been differences in service, but I dont believe disney keeps the people that dont treat the guest as "guest"
I dont think Disney will ignore the letter, but I think who ever reads it might feel like foxfire is the type that wouldnt be totally happy no matter what they did.

 

[foxfire]

I definitely admit that 99.9% of CM's do a fantastic job despite all the abuse people dish out, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of them. I was @ the media-only event- Fantasmic World Premiere back in 98 and MGM did an outstanding job making it a night to remember. (I even got to meet David O. Stires, although he was less than pleasant...) So ears off to the CM's of Disney, world wide.

 

[tinkrbel]

Originally posted by 2much2do
You get more bees with honey than vinegar!

yep there is a right way and a wrong way a complaint with a smile, will always make someone more willing to help you

 

[mdelo]

WDW Letter

This is my last post for awhile because my flight to mouseville leaves in less than 5 hours.:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: But, Foxfire you did it again when you said "...he was less than pleasant". Start focusing on the positives not the negatives. Not only will WDW seem like a nicer place to you, but so will everywhere else.

 

[niteobsrvr]

There is only one thing to say about cast members being terminated for bad attitudes. UNIONS.

All cast members are represented by unions whether they actually pay dues or not because Florida is a right to work state. The people who actually pay the union dues and carry the union card are usually the ones that are most likely to be the crabby ones.

The union protection under most circumstances is what allows them to be this way because it is next to impossible to get fired. As a cast member myself, I apologize for these people because you will continue to see them day after day and year after year. Long after the rest of us are gone.

The best part about working at Disney is the guest. The worst part is having to listen to other cast members gripe.

 

[thedisneyfan]

The complaint does have some reasonable concerns.

First the buses over the past year have been running very poorly over all compared to the previous two years. This really does need to be addressed. As to the person who stated the high cost of the monorail expansion(which was way overinflated on a per mile cost as stated), you said that its only a few miles between parks anyway---so really it would not be that draining to Disney and the capacity was way understated as you can get a busload in just about 1 section. Not to mention that the overall end cost is far more efficient than polluting, jerking, gas guzzling buses! But of course as of late Disney has lost its future vision and is sacrificing it to squeeze out money for today which is a very very bad business practice. This was how American industry was destroyed and why in the past Disney did so well! You have to spend money to make money---apparently Disney has lost sight of this and wants the maximum bucks today while disregarding the future and the fact that such squeeze (increased prices and reduced benefits, reduced hours, reduced customer service, reduced park expansion and improvement) will result in fewer and fewer customers and hence fewer and fewer revenues and so the cycle of raising prices to keep the same profit margin continues. This is a disastrous business practice that I hope will end, maybe Disney's abismal performance will likewise end when they abandon such a bad practice!

Criticism like foxfires is important because Disney does need every last customer to keep going! And constructive criticism can be a good tool to a wise business if they listen to it and become the better for it!

 

[Invero]

Originally posted by thedisneyfan
First the buses over the past year have been running very poorly over all compared to the previous two years. This really does need to be addressed.

I beg to differ. As a Disney Transport cast member, I see the ins and outs of the entire operation (Busses, Monorails, and Watercraft) on a day to day basis. I even use Disney Transport for personal travel when I am in the parks playing. I'm the type of person who will even take a round about long way, just for the scenery, or to see something new.

I will admit... there are some busses out there that do run a bit behind. The Studios/TTC route happens to be one of them. And they are being addressed. Starting Monday, there will be new system changes to the TTC and Fort Wilderness. These kinds of changes happen all the time, in order to maximize service to our guests. We are constantly adding load zones, changing routes, implenting and tweaking Magic on Demand... We are in a constant state of improvement. Sure, we're not perfect... And we're bound to have a bus that runs late, a crabby driver, someone who accidentally forgets a stop, or takes a wrong turn. We're all human. But... we are improving our already good service.

However... if you don't like our bus service, I invite you to try the alternative. Rent a car. Pay $50+ a day... so that you can wait in line at the Toll Plaza... then ride the tram in... wait in line for the Monorail... and then when you leave, wait in the huge line for the monorail, then wait in line for the tram, find your car, drive all the way back, find a parking space.

Originally posted by thedisneyfan
As to the person who stated the high cost of the monorail expansion(which was way overinflated on a per mile cost as stated), you said that its only a few miles between parks anyway---so really it would not be that draining to Disney and the capacity was way understated as you can get a busload in just about 1 section. Not to mention that the overall end cost is far more efficient than polluting, jerking, gas guzzling buses!

I could go into great depth as to why your statement isn't valid... But I will summarize with this... Monorail Expansion *IS* expensive, impractical, and would cost approx $800-900 million. (This is an established fact, taken from an actual Disney Transport study) We all know that nothing stays within budget, but even if it does, I don't know about you, but to me, that's an awful lot of money. In addition to the extremely high cost, Disney Resorts were just simply NOT designed with Monorails in mind. And the way guest traffic flows, it simply wouldn't work. So, in reality, the overall end cost is by far less efficient than the Disney bus.

 

[McArcDes]

Rush, rush, rush...Why is it when you have to wait for a bus that people think it is a bad thing....We rush for the bus, Rush to the entrance of the park, Rush to the ride lines, Rush to get our food and rush to get that great parade spot. We get ouselves in a fast forward mode where we are so uptight that we can't truly take in and enjoy what we are seeing and doing. I say, take the time when waiting for the bus to relax a bit and start to get yourself into a state of mind where you can move slower and enjoy more. Do we really need to ride Space Mountian for the 27th time in the trip or can we go sit along Main Street and just absorb the atmosphere and enjoy some downtime.. I like to do things on my vacations but I run myself ragged all year earning the money to go on that vacation. Why move at the same speed during it?

 

[Invero]

Originally posted by McArcDes
Rush, rush, rush...Why is it when you have to wait for a bus that people think it is a bad thing....We rush for the bus, Rush to the entrance of the park, Rush to the ride lines, Rush to get our food and rush to get that great parade spot. We get ouselves in a fast forward mode where we are so uptight that we can't truly take in and enjoy what we are seeing and doing. I say, take the time when waiting for the bus to relax a bit and start to get yourself into a state of mind where you can move slower and enjoy more. Do we really need to ride Space Mountian for the 27th time in the trip or can we go sit along Main Street and just absorb the atmosphere and enjoy some downtime.. I like to do things on my vacations but I run myself ragged all year earning the money to go on that vacation. Why move at the same speed during it?

:sohappy:

WELL SAID!!!

All too many times do I hear "kamakazi" tourists with a plan like this: "Okay, and at 10:17 we will ride Space Mountain. And at 10:34 we will ride TTA. And at 10:44 we will do Buzz Lightyear"

What do I tell guests when they ask what they should do first? "RELAX. You're on vacation. Take the time to enjoy the scenery, to smell the roses..."

 

[Disney4648]

Very Well Said Fantasis Boi....

 

[tinkrbel]

Originally posted by McArcDes
Rush, rush, rush...Why is it when you have to wait for a bus that people think it is a bad thing....We rush for the bus, Rush to the entrance of the park, Rush to the ride lines, Rush to get our food and rush to get that great parade spot. We get ouselves in a fast forward mode where we are so uptight that we can't truly take in and enjoy what we are seeing and doing. I say, take the time when waiting for the bus to relax a bit and start to get yourself into a state of mind where you can move slower and enjoy more. Do we really need to ride Space Mountian for the 27th time in the trip or can we go sit along Main Street and just absorb the atmosphere and enjoy some downtime.. I like to do things on my vacations but I run myself ragged all year earning the money to go on that vacation. Why move at the same speed during it?

ohh yes .. we agree with you .. there is so much you miss if your hurrying It drives me nuts to be rushed through Swiss Family Tree house! And I love taking a slow stroll through WSC .. Actually we tend to really enjoy walking around looking at all the detail. And it upsets me when I see adults running and nearly knocking over a small child in thier rush

 

[thedisneyfan]

Originally posted by Fantasia Boi




However... if you don't like our bus service, I invite you to try the alternative. Rent a car. Pay $50+ a day... so that you can wait in line at the Toll Plaza... then ride the tram in... wait in line for the Monorail... and then when you leave, wait in the huge line for the monorail, then wait in line for the tram, find your car, drive all the way back, find a parking space.

This is the prime example of the Disney arrogance that's showing up more and more. Apparently people like you are the ones who must be absolutely deaf to the customer complaints I hear all the time when we go. these are the same customers without whom, I might add, you wouldn't have your job. You must be completely oblivious to the fact that WE are paying a great deal of money and we do expect to receive a great deal of quick, reliable service for that money. When you get less than that you get less customers and hopefully maybe less workers with such arrogant attitudes to the people who keep you employed! Your wisdom is obviously very questionable by the fact that you can say what you said about the bus service. The simple fact is that the bus service in the past year has sucked overall. That's not to say that there hasn't been some good service but after we had really good service consistently before overall and now experience awful service overall our complaints and the actual truth can not be ignored. I will say that during our last visit it was much better and the new buses are better than the old ones. Hopefully, this trend continues. But you are only as good as your last performance.

As to the monorail you simply ignore the future and you have absolutely no or very little vision. Buses may be cheaper now, but they won't be in the future as gas prices continue to rise and rise. Furthermore as more and more resorts are built and more and more stoplights pop up all over Disney roads, the increased traffic will make the delays and overall inefficiencies of the bus system more and more apparent. In addition even if it is 800-900 million as you say, that's a lot less than the 2 billion it will cost in 15 years and the absolute panic that the realization of such a need will have if the monorail expansion is delayed any longer. The real cost that YOU don't want to admit is the fewer and fewer bus drivers WDW would need if such expansion occurred not to mention the millions each year that would be saved from not having to have such drivers!

 

[niteobsrvr]

My first comment, to TheDisneyFan, is this: If you can do so much better at running a transportation operation then please send your resume to casting immediately.

My college degree just so happens to be in Transportation and Logisitics and I have spent a considerable part of my career in public transportation, as well as private transportation. Without sounding too egotistical, I am speaking with a reasonable amount of authority.

The Monorail expansion prices I have quoted are not over inflated but taken from actual monorail projects around the world. Consider that a new lightrail line powered by diesel and using many existing rights-of-way in some cities around this country costs 1 to 2 billion dollars to cover approximately 15 miles. I use this example beacuse it is approximately the roundtrip distance from Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge to Downtown Disney.

Now imagine if this one loop of track also connected Animal Kingdom, the All Stars, Blizzard Beach, Coronado Springs, The Swan/Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk, MGM Studios, Carribean Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and Disney Institute. We will call this The Buena Vista Drive Corridor. Thats 11 stops. Suppose it takes 2 minutes per stop. Thats 22 minutes in stopping time alone. Then you have to factor in that the current monorail speedlimit is 40 mph. You are now easily looking at 45 minutes to an hour for a one way trip from AK Lodge to Downtown. (The buses entire round trip is around 45 minutes). The total number of miles of track is now higher too because of routing to make all the stops. And more importantly, we havent begun to connect this loop to the current system nor address places like Old Key West and Port Orleans.

As for capacity of buses and monorails, well, one bus holds about 72 people. One Monorail Train holds about 360 in its 6 cars. 6 buses can move about 432 people. Its close.

As for pollution, there is no doubt that the 10 to 20 year old buses that are a large part of Disney's fleet create more visible pollution. However, dont forget that somewhere fossil fuel is burning to create the electricity that is powering the monorails too. I have yet to see a study done to compare the active pollution of a fossil fuel burning vehicle to the passive pollution of a "clean" electric vehicle.

No matter what kind of transportation system Disney uses in the future, the same problems will exist. Some times buses fill up and can't finish their scheduled stops because 65 people from the Jones's family reunion were waiting at the first bus stop in Coronado. Sometimes, monorail trains get full too. Or, they can't wait to fill up because another train is waiting to get into the station. Sometimes things break down.

Until more and more people around the country decide they want rail based transportation and start parking their cars, the price of the construction and equipment will remain high. Thus making new systems at Disney as well as elsewhere cost prohibitive.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

DisneyFan...
It's guests like you that make GREAT cast members like Tyler's job hard.

If your "future visions" are going to help Disney so much, why haven't you applied at casting yet? I seriously doubt that you could make transportation at WDW any more efficiant then it already is. As for your vision on Monorails. The bare truth is this, the monorail is free to ride. An expansion would cost several million dollars. (I don't know exactly how much, you'll have to find out for yourself from the manufacturers of Disney's monorails, Bombardier Transportation) The only way that this could most likely be paid for is if park admission was jacked up more. So DisneyFan, until you have the knowledge and experience of how the WDW transportation system works like Tyler does, please stick your attitude where we don't have to deal with it. Thank you.

-Jake

 

[Disney4648]

What has happened to these boards.....now granted that the disney transportation could be better. But, you have to take a look at the amount of demands from coustomers they get and it gets really confusing.

 

[Smitty]

Well for the first time on these boards I think, I am going to agree with the majority of you. I have never wanted to rush while I am at WDW. This was the major advantage of living there and being able to go as much as I wanted. I could really take my time. I can see how people do get rushed though. There is so much to see and if you only have a week, you feel like you have to rush to see it all!

As to the point about rude CM's and rude guests, I have some great stories about both. If you ever want to hear them, let me know.

 

[Thespis]

Starting Monday, there will be new system changes to the TTC and Fort Wilderness.

This is the only problem I have had with WDW Transportation. I'm glad to see it's being addressed.
As for the future, I think the logical progression is light rail. Properly themed, it could be almost as fun as the monorail, move just as many people, and is much cheaper to construct.

 

[jcmayid]

You must be a complete MORON if you think Disney Exec's are going to give a rats @ss what soem stockholder says, forget about it man, you are wasting your time, ink, postage, and saliva.:lol: :lol: :lol: :hammer: :hammer: :hammer: