Happiest Place on Earth?

[i-neighborhood]

I love Disney World, but sometimes it's far from the "Happiest Place on Earth". It is so crowded some days I feel bad for not only myself but those who are not able to return as frequent as I am. I try to plan to go when its least crowded but sometimes you get there and its just crowded.

Also, Disney does do an overall good job on smiling faces and customer service, like with anything, the more you frequent, the more chances you will encounter some not so magical cast members or customer service experiences and I've encounter quite a few, including one from a supervisor who acted in a manner as if he was intent on making the experience less than magical.

I kind of feel that there is so much intent on the bottom line for Disney, that sometimes the essence of the experience falls short.

I'm also disappointed that front riders are no longer allowed on the monorail. I don't know the real deal on this - I know about the accident - but I've heard DOT is the one that put the prohibition on this, yet in California its considered an attraction. What isn't an attraction at Disney? In any event, safety concerns, I've heard but an accident could happen on any ride. In any event. It was a tragic thing that happened.

Disney is a great place, don't get me wrong, but like I said there have been some less than magical experiences and indifferent dispositions that I would not have expected.

[joanna71985]

Yes, riders are no longer allowed in the front. And to be honest, I am perfectly ok with that.

Also, I've been going to WDW my whole life. And I still feel like it's the Happiest Place on Earth. I've never had an experience that would make me want to stop going

[joanna71985]

double post

[4Shoemakers]

I've got to agree with joanna71985, however... I think we've all seen the cast member who needs an extra day off to re-cooperate. My boys even noticed one on their FIRST ride on their FIRST trip to the Magic Kingdom.

We started with It's a Small World and there was no one waiting. As soon as we got to the spot where it divided the queue into the rows for the boat the cast member said out loud "just select one already!" My wife grumbled, "good morning to you too"... to which the ride operator (which we didnt know was up there) yelled "AND A SMILE MEANS FRIENSHIP TO EVERYONE!" When we got off the ride, we couldnt find that first cast member. Best Small World experience to date!

[supernova]

I think at the pittance Disney pays their employees, it's got to be hard to smile at people as you incessantly push a little red button to make the ride go around in a circle. Still, the company does do a remarkable job of hiding their worker's lobotomy scars.

[joanna71985]

I think the pay is fine (plus, you know what the pay is going in, so you can't use that as an excuse). I wouldn't want to work anywhere else

[ohiodisneydad]

My family and I love WDW. But I will say that once we get home, you couldn't pay me enough to go right back. I've had my fill of crowds filled with rude people and pushy people. The Magic tends to come back with the memories of the trip when we talk about it later on.

If a cast member has a bad day I try and remember that they deal with these rude and pushy people every day, all day long.

[HauntedGabe]

I think at the pittance Disney pays their employees, it's got to be hard to smile at people as you incessantly push a little red button to make the ride go around in a circle. Still, the company does do a remarkable job of hiding their worker's lobotomy scars.

I'm torn between agreeing with parts of this post and wanting to pinch you real hard.

I think the pay is fine (plus, you know what the pay is going in, so you can't use that as an excuse). I wouldn't want to work anywhere else

Meh, I don't know that I agree with that. With this economy and the high percentage of living wage or minimum wage employment opportunities in the Orlando area I have to believe a good chunk of CMs believe their wages could be higher. Just because you know what the wage is doesn't mean everyone is happy about it. As a Mom of CM and a Stockholder of Disney, I see both sides of the coin here. I've done the math and I can't imagine if Disney was his primary job that he could have his own apartment (had enough of the roommate thing in college) buy a car, have a wife or let alone someday have children and send them to college. I believe he would have to be very careful always and save for a long time to do anything out of the ordinary.

But I do agree, he loves his role, his friends and co-workers he has made there and when he is at Disney working he is happy minus the days from heck here and there. I'd be surprised if he ever returned full time even if that is where his heart is as he knows he earns more than his trainers and supervisors who have been there forever. Will he ever completely leave? I doubt it.

[supernova]

Loving your role and making 7.25 at 16 is great. Loving your role and earning 7.25 at 46 is embarrassing.

[Mo Noyz]

If you aren't happy doing what you're doing, find something else. I did over three years ago, took a monster hit in benefits, AND a nearly $20,000 hit in salary.

A thousand times happier now than I ever was working for that psycho circus.

[HauntedGabe]

My family and I love WDW. But I will say that once we get home, you couldn't pay me enough to go right back. I've had my fill of crowds filled with rude people and pushy people. The Magic tends to come back with the memories of the trip when we talk about it later on.

If a cast member has a bad day I try and remember that they deal with these rude and pushy people every day, all day long.

Some guests have unrealistic expectations and have a bit too much Pixie Dust floating in their heads. Some of the CMs last week were working upwards of 14 hours and a quick turn to return the next day. Add in the heat factor for some of these roles and it isn't always so magical. Other roles are more plum and CM's are in A/C venues most of the day. My son has been very fortunate to be placed in 3 different plum roles and sheltered for the most part from Stupid Guest tantrums.

I watch the bus drivers during opening and closing times and have empathy. I don't know how many times you can sweetly ask to step to the back of the bus to continue loading and guests are in cement shoes.

Loving your role and making 7.25 at 16 is great. Loving your role and earning 7.25 at 46 is embarrassing.

Not sure where you are pulling that hourly rate from, I know my DS rate is quite a bit higher than that even being part time now. The one thing I did see with him when he finished his 2007-8 college program stint was a more mature, polite young person that learned how to be diplomatic and handle stressful situations with others in a firm but pleasant manner. It did also open his eyes that the ceiling at Disney for full time was pretty low for a permanent career and has moved on.

Daily I see people who are well educated that exit college enter careers that remain crass and ignorant, lacking any form of class yet earn a decent living. Those are the humans that should be embarrassed. I'm not so judgmental about those in low wage positions, they are working and if they are enjoying themselves so be it.

----

As far as the Monorail cockpit, my girlfriends son was another pilot in the same loop the evening of the crash. The way that monorail just folded up on impact I understand why they are not allowing guests up there any longer. Shortly after the crash her DS left that role. Things like that just open your eyes wide.

[Mo Noyz]

I make jack squat these days. But, I have a fantastic boss and co-worker, hit the road while most everyone else is still sleeping in the morning, never work on the weekend, and am home to greet my awesome son and beautiful wife when they get home from school and work respectively.

$20k more, and four weeks vacation every year can't buy me that kind of happiness.

[supernova]

$20k more, and four weeks vacation every year can't buy me that kind of happiness.

Not THAT kind of happiness, no. But it CAN buy $20K's worth of ADDITIONAL happiness.

[Mo Noyz]

Not when it meant not seeing my son during the week because he was in bed by the time I got home.

But hey, we did go on three vacations a year...

[joanna71985]

Loving your role and making 7.25 at 16 is great. Loving your role and earning 7.25 at 46 is embarrassing.

I'm sorry you feel that way. And I guess I'll be an embarrassment, because I'll still be working for Disney at 46