Trending blog post: "What it's really like working at Walt Disney World"

[natatomic]

Just a blog post about some guy who probably was fired and wanted to get even. Also I don't know if this blog article should be featured here do to its abundance of vulgar language.

I am a CM, and I, for the most part, enjoy working for this company. So no, not everything is bad like the article states. And yes, it does come off as just a disgruntled rant.

However, I am also a 120lbs 5'4", female and I have been shoved, grabbed, spanked, spit on, told "I will put you into the ground!" asked if I masturbated, called every colorful word you can imagine including (but not limited to) "racist," "b****," "a******," "c***" among others. In only ONE of these examples was the guest chastised in any way (the guy who threatened to kill me.)

In one situation, a guest tried to use a Fastpass during extra magic hours at night, even though he wasn't staying at a Disney resort. The guy working the FP line wouldn't allow him (as per the rules), the guest started causing a scene, so I joined in to support my fellow CM (I.e., "I'm sorry sir. These are the rules. The CM is doing the right thing. I'm sorry for your troubles, but unfortunately the park is only open to resort guests right now...." Stuff like that.) The guest then called me a "f-ing b," and he called the other guy "retarded," and a "f-ing f****t," and then shoved me out of the way to push the guy CM to the ground and yelled that he was gonna have "all [our] f'ing jobs," in front of TONS of kids, mind you.
Do you know what happened when the manager got out there? Not only did he let him use his FP, he also gave him tickets that would allow him to stay in the park for all of EMH (back when it was 3 hours!) as well as enough FPs for all the rides in the park.


Or how about the time a 4 year old punched my even more petite co-worker in the stomach for telling him he wasn't quite tall enough (just FYI, I was in the position next to her and was pregnant at the time, so had it been me getting punched, the situation could have been worse). The dad then told her, "You deserved that, !" So we called a coordinator, who not only DIDN'T measure the kid, he also just immediately backdoored them and put the whole family on the ride, safety regulations be d*mned.

These things happen every day, and the worst of the worst guests are being rewarded for their bad behavior, while decent ones who accept the rules and would normally walk away from being told "no" get absolutely nothing for complying with that answer graciously and with a kind, though maybe disappointed, acceptance.

Yeah, maybe it was "just a rant," but CMs have a LOT to rant about when it comes to the treatment by guests and management.

 

[draybook]

As for the comment about not having this thread here due to its "vulgar language", apparently you don't watch any of the Disney owned television channels. Even that Melissa Joan-Hart Christmas movie had profanity in it.

 

[natatomic]

If you're in the Hospitality field, like me, you must know that the golden rule is that "The Customer is ALWAYS right", no questions.

It's a business. Like any other business, the only thing they honestly care about is revenue. If the guests aren't happy, then there's no $$$.

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx_mobile.html

Actually, that line of thinking results in worse customer service.

 

[WondersOfLife]

This article reminds me of Swoozie's review! :3

 

[BrerJon]

If you're really unhappy, speak out, talk to your supervisors, email some company heads, BE PROACTIVE, SPEAK OUT, don't just whine on Tumblr.

Err, this is Disney we're talking about. Complaining to a supervisor or manager, emailing a company head... those are the quickest ways to get fired. No-one who rocks the boat is tolerated for very long.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Or how about the time a 4 year old punched my even more petite co-worker in the stomach for telling him he wasn't quite tall enough (just FYI, I was in the position next to her and was pregnant at the time, so had it been me getting punched, the situation could have been worse). The dad then told her, "You deserved that, *****!" So we called a coordinator, who not only DIDN'T measure the kid, he also just immediately backdoored them and put the whole family on the ride, safety regulations be d*mned.

I hate the world.

 

[Marc Gil]

Err, this is Disney we're talking about. Complaining to a supervisor or manager, emailing a company head... those are the quickest ways to get fired. No-one who rocks the boat is tolerated for very long.

So, your** options are quitting or dealing with it?

Here's a question: What would you do if you were in the CM's shoes?

Edited for the grammar nazis

 

[PhotoDave219]

There is very little embellishing in this article and CMs are all saying its pretty accurate. Yes, it is all negative, but are plenty of articles and blogs and whatever else out there that cover the positive aspects of working at WDW.

After reading things like cast members being spit on, punched, threatened, only to have your management team reward the guests responsible, some of you still want to blame the attitude on their work ethic?

I think its interesting how the leadership style in the Parks (MK) contrasts so much with the resorts. Seems like a night and day disconnect with how leaders treat their cast and handle situations.

 

[natatomic]

Err, this is Disney we're talking about. Complaining to a supervisor or manager, emailing a company head... those are the quickest ways to get fired. No-one who rocks the boat is tolerated for very long.

This is so sad but true. I once got in trouble for reporting very concerning behavior from a person in an authoritative position (sorry for being vague), and I got in trouble for "not supporting my peers."

 

[Chernaboggles]

Years ago, I did a series of museum jobs, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and The International Spy Museum, in Washington, DC. Most of the complaints the author lists are the same complaints that I had or heard at those places, and absolutely nothing he says here is unique to Disney.

The reality is that when dealing with large amounts of people, many are rude and some are abusive. The pay is low, the hours are long. Colleagues and managers are a mixed bag, and personnel quality tends to go down as numbers go up, because they're just trying to fill the spots. Tourists can afford to leave their good manners at home because there are very few consequences for being terrible to people you'll never see again, and the more money a person is spending the more entitled they feel to having anything they want whenever they want it.

I think the reason so many people are dissatisfied and disillusioned when they start working for Disney is that up until they get the job, they just don't realize how HARD it is to be "the happiest/most magical place on earth" - all day, every day, without fail. Working with the public can be wonderful, but it can also be a really special kind of hell. Like a lot of people, I think this guy just didn't realize how bad it would be until after he'd done it.

 

[PhotoDave219]

So, your** options are quitting or dealing with it?

Here's a question: What would you do if you were in the CM's shoes?

Edited for the grammar nazis

Wunderbar!

 

[CDavid]

And spare me the "underpaid" argument. If you're underpaid either go work somewhere else with higher pay, or develop skills that will get you higher pay. If you're willing to work for a certain rate of pay then you can't say you're underpaid. It's your choice to sell your labor to Disney for $9/hr. No one held a gun to your head and said you had to take this job.

No, it isn't really "your choice to sell your labor to Disney for $9 per hour". For millions of unskilled and semi-skilled workers, across the nation and in central Florida, there often aren't many significantly better paying alternatives. Their "choices" may have been limited to who - Disney, Universal, etc. - to work for for approximately the same wages.

Was this written by a middle schooler? Obviously he had a bad experience, but he sounds like he's also part of the entitlement problem.

In an era of people staring at their iPhone all day sending text messages, many of them have simply abysmal writing skills. It shows, too, in articles and written communication from persons in far more professional venues than someone's blog. However, that in no way suggests anything he wrote was anything less than completely accurate and forthcoming.

No, I wouldn't. I've chosen another career path. And if employees begin leaving in droves due to the wages and treatment then Disney will open their eyes and change. But as long as people are willing to work, and guests are willing to spend then I think it will continue.

People will continue to be "willing" (read: accept, sometimes grudgingly) to work at Disney (and many other employers) for low wages so long as there remains a lack of better alternatives. That doesn't make it right or even a good choice for anyone. For every CM who gets frustrated and leaves (or finds something better), there is someone else coming in who needs a job (only to then experience the same low pay and frustrating working conditions). Rather than make excuses for the situation, wouldn't it be more productive - and better for everyone in the long run - to actually address the problem?

This is a forum, and we're supposed to have discussions and rebuttals.

Then people should refute what this blogger has reported, with solid evidence and citing examples to support their rebuttal. Instead, posters are attacking the blogger (his attitude, poor work ethic, bad grammar, language, and so on). Nobody has even attempted to articulate why they believe his comments are inaccurate or tell a misleading story.

I'm sorry, but I just hate people who whine and moan and groan and don't do anything about it.

How do you know he didn't? The blog is hardly a complete, day-to-day account of his activities; He may well have discussed matters with his superiors and co-workers, seeking a remedy. At the very least, he finally did do something about it - he wrote a blog (even though hardly an effective means of airing concerns), making others aware of his experiences.

Regardless, when you are in a situation which feels like your valid concerns fall on deaf ears and there is a lack of respect for your viewpoint, it tends to stifle complaints (producing a feeling of "what's the point"). Anyone here think the federal government wastes billions of our tax dollars? Well, when was the last time you actually complained to someone in a position of authority - letter, phone, or even e-mail to a representative?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Years ago, I did a series of museum jobs, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and The International Spy Museum, in Washington, DC. Most of the complaints the author lists are the same complaints that I had or heard at those places, and absolutely nothing he says here is unique to Disney.

The reality is that when dealing with large amounts of people, many are rude and some are abusive. The pay is low, the hours are long. Colleagues and managers are a mixed bag, and personnel quality tends to go down as numbers go up, because they're just trying to fill the spots. Tourists can afford to leave their good manners at home because there are very few consequences for being terrible to people you'll never see again, and the more money a person is spending the more entitled they feel to having anything they want whenever they want it.

I think the reason so many people are dissatisfied and disillusioned when they start working for Disney is that up until they get the job, they just don't realize how HARD it is to be "the happiest/most magical place on earth" - all day, every day, without fail. Working with the public can be wonderful, but it can also be a really special kind of hell...one that isn't at all unique to Disney World.

Off topic - Loved the International Spy Museum. Fantastic place. Natural History has that great restaurant downstairs.

Also I would agree that the problems & societal observations mentioned in the piece are more indicative and reflective of what American society has become rather than a Disney-centric problem. IMO.

 

[PhotoDave219]

It's a job. Just because you're working at WDW doesn't mean that it's going to be glitzy and exciting all the time.

You chose to be a CM, you agreed to the low-wages and high hours.

Do you expect management to continuously kiss you on the forehead and give you a gold star every time for dealing with difficult guests.

Wake up sweetheart, it's called life, and you have to deal with it.

So what you're saying is that people are just (.....) and we all have to suck it up and deal with people's (....)-ish behavior?

Not gonna happen. I will not tolerate that kind of behavior in my life or society.

 

[Chernaboggles]

Off topic - Loved the International Spy Museum. Fantastic place. Natural History has that great restaurant downstairs.

Also I would agree that the problems & societal observations mentioned in the piece are more indicative and reflective of what American society has become rather than a Disney-centric problem. IMO.

Both were great places to work, despite the challenges.

I think it's more of a people problem than an American problem, to be honest. I bet if you polled museum and tourist attraction workers in different countries, they'd all have very similar complaints. The ability to be a jerk while on vacation is a universal trait across all cultures.

 

[Marc Gil]

So what you're saying is that people are just (.....) and we all have to suck it up and deal with people's (....)-ish behavior?

Not gonna happen. I will not tolerate that kind of behavior in my life or society.

If you don't want to get fired.

Sometimes you have to deal with a tyrant for a boss or rude guests.

I've worked at GAP during my high school days, and there's been a more than handful of rude shoppers, especially on Black Friday. My boss wasn't the nicest of sorts either. I had to work long hours, during weekends and holidays.

Sure, I complained to my parents and friends, but I stuck to my job and accepted that life isn't always going to be roses and sunshine.

Eventually I quit because I didn't want to deal with that much of a demand anymore.

Like I said before.... Work and deal with it or quit and learn from the experience.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Both were great places to work, despite the challenges.

I think it's more of a people problem than an American problem, to be honest. I bet if you polled museum and tourist attraction workers in different countries, they'd all have very similar complaints. The ability to be a jerk while on vacation is a universal trait across all cultures.

I've seen competing theme parks be much quicker to trespass and turn things over to LEO.

Guests will try and generally do get away with anything as there is no retribution.

As for the original blog post? His line "I don't negotiate with terrorists" when discussing with a guest IMO is grounds for termination. That is as unacceptable as the behavior of the guests.

 

[Gig 'Em Mickey]

↑
And spare me the "underpaid" argument. If you're underpaid either go work somewhere else with higher pay, or develop skills that will get you higher pay. If you're willing to work for a certain rate of pay then you can't say you're underpaid. It's your choice to sell your labor to Disney for $9/hr. No one held a gun to your head and said you had to take this job.

No, it isn't really "your choice to sell your labor to Disney for $9 per hour". For millions of unskilled and semi-skilled workers, across the nation and in central Florida, there often aren't many significantly better paying alternatives. Their "choices" may have been limited to who - Disney, Universal, etc. - to work for for approximately the same wages.

They can choose to acquire better skills and better themselves. Why are they unskilled? Because of choices they made. I'm tired of the attitude that it's somehow somebody else's fault that they don't have the skills to get higher paying jobs and that they somehow feel entitled to better pay even though they don't have the skillset to warrant it. Wages are dictated by supply and demand and value added from the work performed. They aren't owed more than what the market will sustain.

People will continue to be "willing" (read: accept, sometimes grudgingly) to work at Disney (and many other employers) for low wages so long as there remains a lack of better alternatives. That doesn't make it right or even a good choice for anyone. For every CM who gets frustrated and leaves (or finds something better), there is someone else coming in who needs a job (only to then experience the same low pay and frustrating working conditions). Rather than make excuses for the situation, wouldn't it be more productive - and better for everyone in the long run - to actually address the problem?

Yes, it absolutely would. ANd if you read my other posts you'll see I address that. Yeah maybe it's not a good choice for everyone. So don't make the choice and then complain about the results. Make a different choice. But yes, employees should be treated with dignity and respect. And scumbag guests should be escorted out and not allowed to return.

 

[BrerJon]

So, your** options are quitting or dealing with it?

Here's a question: What would you do if you were in the CM's shoes?

Edited for the grammar nazis

One thing those defending Disney seem to be ignoring is that for many people, despite all the hassles there are reasons why they want to work for Disney over other employers.

I suspect the top one is the good feeling that comes from 'making magic' and when Guests actually are thankful or even overcome with emotion at small actions that have brightened their day... there's no feeling in the world quite like making someone's vacation with a small deed, and it is a pleasant working environment to be in a theme park all day, I'm sure.

The other main reason many people tolerate the job is a general love for the company, or at least what the company was/could be, that comes from positive childhood experiences. To be a part of something so magical, so clever and so different, is quite compelling. Many will have dreamed of being CMs, and will put up with the dramas because the good sides do outweigh the bad for them.

So should people 'quit complaining' if, on balance, the job is better than the alternatives?

I don't think so, because a better employee experience would lead to a better guest experience. I really don't understand the logic that says the worse time a CM has, the better for everyone.

With the culture of nepotism, corruption and pride in poor service if it increases margins that runs through the heart of TWDC, sometimes a public post like that blog is the only way to try to shame Disney into changing its attitude for future employees.

Most people will read that and say 'so, nothing new here', but I've already seen at least one person here who was surprised by what they read, or didn't know that was what Cast Member life was like, which shows the blog post has done it's job of educating people on the realities of Disney life.

 

[PhotoDave219]

If you don't want to get fired.

Sometimes you have to deal with a tyrant for a boss or rude guests.

I've worked at GAP during my high school days, and there's been a more than handful of rude shoppers, especially on Black Friday. My boss wasn't the nicest of sorts either. I had to work long hours, during weekends and holidays.

Sure, I complained to my parents and friends, but I stuck to my job and accepted that life isn't always going to be roses and sunshine.

Eventually I quit because I didn't want to deal with that much of a demand anymore.

Like I said before.... Work and deal with it or quit and learn from the experience.

But looking at the Macro experience as a whole... We've got a theme park where the "Guests will Always Come(tm)" (*except after 9/11), so why bother rewarding bad behavior? The revenue will come back from another guest, so why on earth reward or accept it? All that behavior does is encourage others to behave in the same fashion, so they can get rewarded. Its like an (....) entitlement system, where people are subsequently rewarded for being (....)s.

As a society, we shouldnt accept this anymore.