Now Comes ‘Themed Lingo’

[mkt]

Now Comes ‘Themed Lingo’

ORLANDO (Orlando Sentinel) -- Employees who greet guests at Universal Orlando rides and shows are now being given specific words of welcome to say. The greetings, which vary with each attraction, are scripted to be what Universal calls “themed lingo.” Universal officials say it’s a strategy to further immerse guests in the experience of the ride or show. In a recent copy of the weekly employee newsletter, Mimi Lipka, presentation instructor at Universal Studios, stated, “We’ve spent millions of dollars creating the smallest details in our parks, but the theming can’t stop with just the stuff.” Here are some of the new greetings: At Dr. Doom’s Fearfall thrill ride in Islands of Adventure: “Welcome. I sense your fear. You are a perfect candidate for extraction.” At the anti-utopian themed Terminator2 3-D show in Universal Studios: “You are about to step into tomorrow.”

 

[Legacy]

I have a feeling that exit surveys are going to prove this idea rather campy and pointless.

 

[pheneix]

I think it's pretty cool. At the Tower of Terror and HM at WDW a lot of CMs already use "themed lingo." I just hope they don't over-do it.

 

[RobFL]

I thought it was jsut called "Speil."

-Rob

 

[MrPromey]

Originally posted by mktiggerman
Now Comes ‘Themed Lingo’

ORLANDO (Orlando Sentinel) -- Employees who greet guests at Universal Orlando rides and shows are now being given specific words of welcome to say. The greetings, which vary with each attraction, are scripted to be what Universal calls “themed lingo.” Universal officials say it’s a strategy to further immerse guests in the experience of the ride or show. In a recent copy of the weekly employee newsletter, Mimi Lipka, presentation instructor at Universal Studios, stated, “We’ve spent millions of dollars creating the smallest details in our parks, but the theming can’t stop with just the stuff.” Here are some of the new greetings: At Dr. Doom’s Fearfall thrill ride in Islands of Adventure: “Welcome. I sense your fear. You are a perfect candidate for extraction.” At the anti-utopian themed Terminator2 3-D show in Universal Studios: “You are about to step into tomorrow.”

What was that? Did I just hear a collective groan from all the break rooms in Universal? I’m sure the employees are just LOVING this one – not that I blame them ore anything.

The T-3D one isn't all that bad but could you imagine having to say that Doom thing with a straight face all day long?

I wonder if the people at the Bilge Rat Badges will carry a speech impediment now?.. Sorry, I’m in a strange mood.
:lookaroun

 

[JLW11Hi]

What's wrong with that? I thought Disney had been doing that for a while now with certain attractions. I'd say for some attractions it is necessary and works well (Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror), but for others, like, say Epcot attractions, the focus of the ride is more on what the imagineers have already provided, and not the CMs. Jungle Cruise is a ride that relies a heck of a lot on CM performance (at least the guide). A ride like Winnie the Pooh, however, wouldnt require that.

I think it woudl be really cool (and funny) if they did this in Seuss Landings. CMs would use those goofy, Dr. Seuss words greeting guests.

"Have a funtubulous time!"
"Hang on to all loose articles, including glasses, hats, dill-ma-dilts, and win-tublers.

lol

 

[MrPromey]

Well, (and this is from my experiences only) most of the employees that I’ve encountered at IOA while nice don’t tend to seem all that enthused about their job. There are exceptions but to me it seems that the Fear Fall thing would be the funniest because those guys have always looked like they were ready for a nap when I’ve gone through there. I just can’t imagine any of them saying it with any degree of believable “oomph”… All that aside, my point is just that I’m sure a lot of the people who have to recite these cheesy (not meaning to say bad) lines probably aren’t all that thrilled about it. I mean, if you were excited about this sort of thing you would probably be already doing it to some degree – wouldn’t you?

(BTW, this is not a slam on Universal or their employees – I don’t think I’d be too enthused about having to spill overly dramatic lines working at a lot of the attractions there either)

 

[pheneix]

>>>Well, (and this is from my experiences only) most of the employees that I’ve encountered at IOA while nice don’t tend to seem all that enthused about their job.<<<

Well, if these employees (and I know who you are talking about from personal experience) feel that saying a few extra lines to enhance the guest experience is too hard for them, then I would hope that they would step aside and let some poor umenployeed sap looking for a job step in.

Geez, if they can't provide quality guest service with a smile then please get the hell out of Universal Orlando and work at Wal-Mart.

 

[MrPromey]

Originally posted by pheneix
>>>Well, (and this is from my experiences only) most of the employees that I’ve encountered at IOA while nice don’t tend to seem all that enthused about their job.<<<

Well, if these employees (and I know who you are talking about from personal experience) feel that saying a few extra lines to enhance the guest experience is too hard for them, then I would hope that they would step aside and let some poor umenployeed sap looking for a job step in.

Geez, if they can't provide quality guest service with a smile then please get the hell out of Universal Orlando and work at Wal-Mart.

Guess it's a good thing I don't work in customer service! :lookaroun

 

[pheneix]

It's also a good thing I'm not an executive at UO. If it were up to me I would use the double-dip reccession as an excuse to make some creative restaffing changes...

 

[MrPromey]

Originally posted by pheneix
It's also a good thing I'm not an executive at UO. If it were up to me I would use the double-dip reccession as an excuse to make some creative restaffing changes...

Those kinds of changes aren't always a bad thing. So I wouldn't go so far as to say it is a good thing. :hammer:












In case you are wondering about the: :hammer: I just haven't used it in a while.

 

[sillyspook13]

Originally posted by RobFL
I thought it was jsut called "Speil."

-Rob

Yeah...... Role in the show. "Hello, welcome to our island......"

 

[pheneix]

Saw some "themed lingo" in action this weekend. It depended on the employee, but for the most part I really think this adds to the experience.

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by pheneix
Saw some "themed lingo" in action this weekend. It depended on the employee, but for the most part I really think this adds to the experience.

Did you hear the doctor doom one?

Thats gotta sound awful!

 

[pheneix]

Nope, I used my room key to get in through the back door at Dr. Doom.

 

[Luau Cove]

It's not that this "themed lingo" will boost your stamina, but it might add a little more realistic atmosphere to the little ones, and the ones that love perfection.

 

[RogueHabit]

Originally posted by Luau Cove
It's not that this "themed lingo" will boost your stamina, but it might add a little more realistic atmosphere to the little ones, and the ones that love perfection.

One would hope so, but when you get employees who just don't give a cr@p then it just sounds aweful

Take 1 Fish, 2 Fish as an example. I have never once been on this ride and heard the 'speil' delivered with any kind of enthusiasm.

The CM always sounds so board, as if to say 'I hate saying this garbage but I have to, do here goes!'

I think the difference is that (some of the time) Disney hires people who want to entertain whilst Universal hiures people who want to earn...

Just my $0.02.