Talking to the animals not welcome at AK

dandaman

dandaman

Well-Known Member
Maybe they didn't want you to discover the bird wouldn't respond because it was nailed down.

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Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Sounds like an overzealous CM to me, probably new, who had just got finished reading her procedure manual and memorized all of it. Would it have offended me if she had told me I couldnt talke to the bird, probably not since it actually makes sense.
 
D

darthjohnny

Active Member
The castmember might have been a little too strict, but I could see that they don't want guests bothering the animals, just like they don't want guests banging on the glass in the Gorilla habitat.
 
DABIGCHEEZ

DABIGCHEEZ

Well-Known Member
DABIGCHEEZ said:
Sound silly to me. As I haven't seen it in a while... Don't they have talking parrots at Flights of Wonder?

Swear words is one thing ... but hello? C'mon.
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ConstanceIrene said:
I spoke with a cast member at Flights of Wonder. She was as perplexed as everyone else about this "rule". She told me that FOW is a separate company and the birds were not "Disney" birds. The more I delved into this, the more kooky I sounded so I let it go.

I asked at Guest Relations about when and why this rule came about. She couldn't help me either. I guess I'll have to write a letter and ask.
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Hmm.. I didn't know it was a separate company. Even so I wouldn't let it really bother me. Try talking to the gorillas next time.:lol:
 
ConstanceIrene

ConstanceIrene

Member
Original Poster
To me, it doesn't make sense to place two beautiful parrots within 3 feet of park guests without any substantial barrier for their protection and then say that you're trying to maintain their natural habitat. I would think that a guest saying hello to the birds is the least of their worries.

Are we just supposed to gaze for a moment and move on? Parrots are known for their personalities and these two are quite cute.

.....and yes, I'd say "hi" to the gorillas as well. :p
 
C

Champion

New Member
WDWEric said:
While I understand the part about swear words, why would the cast member yell at you for saying hello. you would think she would have yelled at you if you said a swear word to it.
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Because it isn't about swear words. They don't want the birds talking *AT ALL*. Like someone said, its impossible to stop it 100%, but they can limit it by not allowing guests to directly talk to them.
 
W

WDW Monorail

Well-Known Member
ConstanceIrene said:
You would've told a guest not to talk to the birds? Why?
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Having a Cockatiel myself, and knowing that he picks up random words quickly, only partially effects my opinion.

It has been mentioned before but these birds are placed in an environment that is as close as possible to their natural habitat. When I was working out in my yard today, I didn't notice a Cardinal sitting on the fence saying "Hello, how art thou on this fine day." The point is that it isn't natural for a bird in the wild to interact verbally (comprehendable) with humans. One can say that the AK birds are not wild but they are 'supposed' to be wild if you know what I mean.

I hope I made my point well. Of course, this is just my opinion.
 
ConstanceIrene

ConstanceIrene

Member
Original Poster
WDW Monorail said:
Having a Cockatiel myself, and knowing that he picks up random words quickly, only partially effects my opinion.

It has been mentioned before but these birds are placed in an environment that is as close as possible to their natural habitat. When I was working out in my yard today, I didn't notice a Cardinal sitting on the fence saying "Hello, how art thou on this fine day." The point is that it isn't natural for a bird in the wild to interact verbally (comprehendable) with humans. One can say that the AK birds are not wild but they are 'supposed' to be wild if you know what I mean.

I hope I made my point well. Of course, this is just my opinion.
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I understand what you're saying. I had a cockatiel years ago and grew up with parakeets who were trained to "talk". They were pets and lived in a domestic environment. These WDW parrots are supposed to be living in an environment that's close to their natural habitat. In that case, and if WDW doesn't want people to utter any harsh words like "hello" (and I promise that's all I said) they really shouldn't be placed so close to human contact with their wings clipped.

OK, so in a couple of decades I guess I'll be the crazy lady on my block who says hello to the birds, the squirrels, and other wildlife. I'm fine with it, even if WDW isn't.
 
GoofyMom2

GoofyMom2

New Member
ConstanceIrene said:
In that case, and if WDW doesn't want people to utter any harsh words like "hello" (and I promise that's all I said) they really shouldn't be placed so close to human contact with their wings clipped.
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This is my point....parrots are known for mimicking.....if they don't want the birds to "mimick" humans, by "talking" or making noises, they shouldn't have them so close to the public. I know it sounds silly, but that is the nature of parrots.

I am a parrot owner: my birds love when I interact with them. If I walk away, they make all kinds of calls and noises to get my attention. They are basically calling to their "flock", this is what they do in the wild. And, yes, they "speak human"....my one also imitates the smoke detector, whistles, cell phone, kissy noises etc. Mimicking is a totally natural behavior for parrots in the wild.....when they live in our homes or a Florida park, they learn to mimick the sounds they hear in those enviroments.

So, yelling at a guest for saying "hello" is crazy.....it's impossible for them to stop everyone from saying hello......if they don't want them having guest interaction, put them further from the guests.

OK, crazy parrot lady is done..... :p
 
pixel-dust

pixel-dust

New Member
I guess that is why it is called "parroting?"
I'm another crazy parrot parent. Along with words, my extremely talented quaker has picked up the fart noise. It's a real gas when we have company.

My birds love to interact with people. They also love to pick the buttons off the TV remote but thats another thread. If the Disney birds are to be sheltered from us, they should be behind one way, sound proof glass.
 
PintoColvig

PintoColvig

Active Member
So was there a "No talking to the birds" sign? If not, the CM should keep quiet. How's a guest to know without proper information?

I wonder if it is okay to stand near the birds and say to my daughter, "Pretty bird"? Is that allowed?
 
T

The Mak

Member
I think I have an excellent pic of the birds in question.



Note: during this pic, the birds have a squirrel cornered in a knothole in their tree. Said squirrel was burglarizing their food. The parrots were NOT happy. After a brief standoff with the birds, the squirrel dashed past them and up the ropes into the trees.
 
Figment82

Figment82

Well-Known Member
Those blue birds are Hyacinth Macaws.

And yes, FOW is run by an outside company. Back when I was in my Ornithologist stage, I first saw FOW when it was in that little makeshift tent. We ended up talking to the CMs there and they mentioned that it wasn't a Disney-run show.
 
scorp111

scorp111

Well-Known Member
Maybe pretty soon, guests won't be allowed to talk at all in AK, in case the animals might hear them?:hammer:

Seriously though, I think it would bother me quite a bit if my 4 year or 18 month old were talking to the birds and the cast member said something to me or them.

I am a rule-follower (often to my wife's chagrin) but without a posted sign etc., I would definitely have an issue with it.
 

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