Awesome Cast members

[thejens]

I have had many nice interactions with cast members, but probably my favorite was with Alice at the Park Fare breakfast. My youngest son became shy when she came to the table and instead of speaking or posing for a picture, he slid under the table. To my surprise, Alice popped under the table with him and chatted as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Oh, I love to sit under tables, don't you?" I even managed to get a photo of them! I still laugh to remember her staying in character so perfectly and his amazed expression.

[LauraF]

This one was from our honeymoon in DLR . . .

We honeymooned in both Florida and California parks. We had gotten the WDW "Just Married' buttons and wore them everywhere. Unbeknownst to us, these had been discontinued by Disney. They were very hard to find as a result, and quite a few people on our trip asked us where we had gotten them.

When we were at the gift shop in the Grand Californian, we were chatting with a CM who asked us about our buttons. We joked about our honeymoon around the World. He put on a mock offended expression since we had DisneyWORLD "Just Married" buttons on. "How could we", he said ' in DisneyLAND?"

Good point.

So he fixed that.
He jumped into the back room and came out with two "Just Married" pins for DLR. He told us they were his last two, so he better not see us walking around with those "Florida things" on again.

[Main Street Jim]

^^^ Nice

Can't tell ya how many *great* guest interactions I've had over my career working at the park. I might have only gotten two or three "Great Guest Service Letters", but those few letter *far* outweigh all of the negative situations I've been placed in.

Common sense - and courtesy - go a long ways. A "Please" and a "Thank you" will get much more accomplished than "yelling at guests". I trained my Cast so that if/when they ever got in to a situation that got heated, to get a coordinator or a manager, rather than trying to "solve it themselves". Even in the worst-crowded times, it pays to be courteous and respectful of the guests.

[EeyoresBestFriend]

Common sense - and courtesy - go a long ways. A "Please" and a "Thank you" will get much more accomplished than "yelling at guests". Even in the worst-crowded times, it pays to be courteous and respectful of the guests.

And to the CMs, too! Courtesy and respect is a two way street.

[ransam]

one thing I've noticed is that even the guests are more polite to one another and I believe that is led by example by the cast members. I especially noticed that this last visit a couple weeks ago.
That is why I go to Disney and will continue going, it's cause of the great customer service and how you're treated by everyone and we always return the good will to our fellow guests.

[k10]

I have had many nice interactions with cast members, but probably my favorite was with Alice at the Park Fare breakfast. My youngest son became shy when she came to the table and instead of speaking or posing for a picture, he slid under the table. To my surprise, Alice popped under the table with him and chatted as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Oh, I love to sit under tables, don't you?" I even managed to get a photo of them! I still laugh to remember her staying in character so perfectly and his amazed expression.

i can't stand it! i love this story so much! it seems "so alice". we saw another alice, just last week, at Epcot, posing for pictures. she was so witty and never skipped a beat. we didn't get in pictures, but just sort of watched her be "on" while we ate fish n chips on the sidewalk. everyone loved her.

[BayLaker25]

One trip my wife and I went to WDW with family memebers. Late in the week we were in MK and decided to split up from our family members and have some time to ourselves. While walking around we stopped to look at the wait time for Snow White, a CM approached us and asked if we were going on and I told her we were thinking about it. The CM told us to follow her and she walked us around had another CM stop the line and put us right onto the ride instead of waiting 30 min. I wanted to come out get the CM's name but she was gone by the time we got off the ride. This was a great suprise and it was also the last time we got to ride Snow White before it closed for good. Everytime I walk by I always think about that last ride and how the CM helped make it memorable.

[twinboyz]

Great post! There are some great CM's out there!!

We ate at 50's Prime Time Cafe a few times. Both times the waitresses and waiters went out of their way to make it extra enjoyable for us!! I can't say enough about how fun and special the meal was and the food was really good too. We always take a picture with our CM's if they are extra special awesome.. Helps to keep the fun and positive stuff in our memories!

We had a lot of trouble transferring our non expiring park passes to our room keys this past visit. By the next day I went back to the front desk to explain what had happened and the manager came over and handled it WAY better than the manager the night before. All smiles, lots of great conversation, and a nice room credit to boot! I was happy with him taking the time to actually fix it for us so we didn't have to have two card keys. The room credit was not expected, but wow was it awesome!

Customer Service in any industry is tough. I think the CM's are held to a higher standard because they are at Disney. I think our experiences with the great CM's completely outweigh the bad!!

[DonaldDuckUSA]

The CM said that he was a survivor of the Holocaust, and when his life was spared, he vowed to notice people always and try to help any way he could. My dad still gets choked up when he tells that story, even all these years later.

Thank you for sharing this amazing story! It brought me to tears. I'll probably be telling this story to several people. It's a story worth spreading.

I know we've had some pretty great experiences. My dad and his coworkers took an office trip to Disney and their family members tagged along. We had a HUGE dinner at Ohana (back when you could reserve Ohana a day before). The server was hilarious. She had one of those wonderful infections personalities. We just love her. She targeted my dad as the troublemaker of the group and they had a lot of funny exchanges. I think about that every time I am in the Poly. Makes me smile.

[azcavalier]

Customer Service in any industry is tough. I think the CM's are held to a higher standard because they are at Disney. I think our experiences with the great CM's completely outweigh the bad!!

I am currently reading "Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney" by Lee Cockerell. He talks about the training and corporate culture that Disney has created over the last few decades. The point of the book is that you can apply these to other industries and companies, and then relates stories about the successful implementation in other companies. It's fascinating to read, and really shows you some behind the scenes stuff about how Disney does what they do.

[masonlovesdisney]

When I was about 12 I was very big into the Disney pin trading, looking all over for specific cast member pins I wanted. We stopped in what I believe was the jewelry store on Main Street. While looking for the certain pin I was looking for (It was a Jafar head pin that would complete my set) we started to talk to a cast member named Gail(I believe, its been so long), and before we left she took down our home address and promised that if she came across the pin she would send it to us! While we thought it would never happen it actually did! A few months later I received the pin in the mail along with a handwritten note from Gail. It was very awesome and really made me happy!

[AgentC]

We had a great experience on our trip a few weeks ago. We were at MNSSHP and my 5 year daughter and I had just exited Princess Fairytale Hall into the store. My husband and son were waiting outside to ride the Haunted Mansion. My daughter was nervous I was telling her not to worry "It is just Disney magic."

A cast member heard us and came over. She told my daughter that it was just magic but she could give her some "pixie dust" for protection. She brought a wand of "pixie dust" and sprinkled it over my daughter's head. It was a very sweet moment and my daughter went on the Haunted Mansion happy.

[Maggie T]

2 years ago we did the HDD. We got off the bus and did not understand where they dropped us off we were suppose to get on another bus to take us us to the show. Well we walked and walked until a CM asked us where we were going. We were lost in the middle of the camp grounds. Well she was on her bike, rode back to her camper, got her van and delivered us to the show. That was her first day off in 2 weeks and was visiting her family and took time to rescue us. She would not tell us her name but she is a hero to us. The show was great.

[Cinderelley]

These posts are making me cry. Such wonderful stories.

When I started reading your post, I thought "at least I'm not the only one getting a little teary eyed." Then I got all the way to the end of yours and it made me cry the hardest.

[MrPeetrie]

I love these posts!

In 2012, we had such an amazing vacation with such terrific interaction with CMs that I posted my first Trip Report on this web site. (I felt "compelled to" after how amazing some of them were.) I'll tell one story that stands out and it was from our first full day on property, so the whole trip was set in the proper fashion!!!!!!!

My DD (then 9) is a huge Merida fan. She is bright, beautiful, sensitive, precious -- everything a parent could want in a daughter, but she is an extremely anxious person. Her own anxieties can get in her way. Anyone who is a parent with such a child knows what I'm talking about.

On our first full day on property, we spent it at the Magic Kingdom. She had on a Merida shirt, Merida lanyard complete with five Merida pins, and was holding a Merida doll. Obsessed? Just a bit.

Upon entering the Magic Kingdom she told us it was not important to make a point to meet her today. She didn't want to ruin our day, looking for her. We said we'd come upon her and we'd stop.

At lunch, my wife took my DS2 to the Baby Care Center while DD9 and I went to Cosmic Ray's. Suddenly she became very quiet. Too quiet. I asked what was wrong and she pointed outside. The Merida Meet and Greet was there. Her anxieties were getting the best of her. My wife joined up with us and I said I'd take her to see Merida while DW and DS shopped. While in line, again she said we didn't have to wait.

"It's fine. The line's too long."

We waited. The line moved quickly. Merida was kind and gracious to all the guests. But when she saw my daughter, she pulled her to her rock and they began to chat like old friends. My daughter's eyes lit up.

After talking for a bit and posing for pictures, she asked, "Are you going to take the archer's lesson?"
"Hmm, I'm not su..."
"Yes! Nick, this is my good friend, Sophia. Please give her your best lesson. Go, Sophia. Change your Fate. Be Brave!"

My daughter, who had been practicing, shot a perfect bullseye, bringing a slight applause from those watching, high-fived Nick, and we started to leave."

Merida turned from her stage and shouted, "Goodbye Sophia! Have a Magical Day, exploring the Kingdom!"

My daughter turned to me and said, "It's pretty neat when you meet a celebrity and they like you back!"

Her trip was made, and consequently so was ours. She refused to meet another Merida at any other Meet and Greet because it might tarnish the special relationship they had.

At the day's end, I stopped at City Hall and wrote a personal letter, thanking the young Cast Member and asked that her supervisor be made aware of her actions.

She was one of many who were great on that trip. Just wanted to share.

[My2Sons]

This IS a great thread!

We have had so many, but I will just share a few.

I have a peanut allergic son. Disney is GREAT with handling food allergies. We had dinner at 'Ohana one night, and as is the norm, we mentioned the allergy and the chef came out to tell us what was and was not safe. Back then (and perhaps still) at the end of the meal there is one big family dessert. It was not safe for peanut allergic people. Now my son is used to not being able to eat many foods, but, seeing as how that was the only dessert, his little face fell. The chef said to him, "I will make you a special dessert - just for you. Do you like ice cream?" My son was thankful and looking forward to his ice cream. WELL - when the chef brought the dessert out - it was amazing! It was on a skewer - layer upon layer of brownie, and ice cream, and so on and so on, and some pineapple, too! It was amazing! My son's eyes popped out of his little head. I don't think he has ever enjoyed a dessert so much. He is so used to being left out of eating the "goodies" - it was so great for him to have a special treat just for him! And the chef was awesome - funny, friendly, and he didn't act the least bit bothered - he seemed happy to do it.

My oldest son is an avid pin trader. At the end of one of our trips when he was just getting into pin trading, we were in the gift shop. We were leaving the next day, and he had run out of trader pins. He spotted a pin he had been searching for on the CMs lanyard. He asked her if he could see her pins. She obliged, and he stood there struggling with his decision. He would have to trade one of his special pins if he wanted to get the pin on her lanyard. He didn't say much, but I think she could read his face. He decided to make the trade. He took his pin off, she took hers off. She handed him the new pin and he handed her his pin in trade. She waited a few seconds, smiled at him, and handed him back his original pin - so he could keep both pins. He was SO happy! He thanked her about 10 times. She really made his entire trip!

We always have great interactions with Disney CMs. They are just so fantastic. Keep up the good work!

[MrPeetrie]

My2Sons, both are great stories. I really liked the dessert story. That's special.

[tjstrike]

Last October the girl at guest relations in DHS upgraded our annual passes to the $399 premium passes and gave me the extra money back that I had paid on regular passes. For 5 passes I got back about $150 !! She was A #1 in my book !!

[Zawadi]

To continue the positive vibe...

Last year we were in Soarin' in the last 30 minute of an evening EMH. The CM at the gate was giving the role everything. In perfect sync with Patrick's safety message she was doing all the actions of a cabin demonstration. It was the first time that I had noticed everybody take notice of the safety briefing.

At that time of night, there was no line and we rode Soarin' twice more, before being on the last flight of the night, and specifically asked to go to her gate.

We sent an email to guest relations and got a reply that the positive feedback would be forwarded to her manager.

[FenwayGirl]

Make sure to write Disney about these outstanding CM. I have 4 that stood out for me on my last trip...I wrote down the date, time and park so that I could let Disney know. Once home, I wrote a short note commending these people. I am sure that it is good for these folks to get praise when deserved