Well....it IS an animal park...

Submitted by: Disneyo Sapiens

Photo by: @JSpence

We were about to close the guest relations lobby at Animal Kingdom during the first few months after opening in 1998 when a very tired family walked in to get some information. There were three of us in the lobby. Two of us were cleaning and straightening while the third was helping the guests.

The mom and dad had a lot of questions about Disney transportation on how to get from here to there and also mapping out their transportation plans for the next day. It had been raining almost all day and they were hot, wet and as patient as someone who had been in a theme park all day could be. The kids were getting bored. They were nine or ten years old if I had to guess. 

The parents told the kids they could walk around the lobby while they spoke with us about the requested info. For those who may not know we had some pest problems around the park prior and during the first few months of operation. Everything from a huge wasp nest to rats to rabbits...we had it.

As the kids were on the floor playing they both stopped and tried to peek around the corner of the front door outside. It was dark outside and hard to see. I looked at the other guest relations host and pointed over to the kids to see what they were doing. The crept closer and closer to the front door. The parents were oblivious to what was going on. I asked the kids "What do you see out there?"

They both froze. A giant rat ran across the threshold across to the other side quickly followed by another rat running after it. The two kids looked at each other in shock and started backing up towards us. At that time a black snake shot across the entryway following the same paths of the rats.

The kids lost it. They ran up to their parents freaking out and the parents became annoyed dismissing them and their claims. They looked at us and said "uh these kids are tired. We need to get them fed and in bed." We looked at them and agreed and played it off as if we had no idea what had just happened. The kids were horrified to leave that lobby and the parents had no idea.

If you are a current or ex-Disney Cast Member and have a story or experience to share, please e-mail us at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com. All emails will be posted ANONYMOUSLY or by a nickname if you prefer.

Remember to Take Small "bytes" While Eating

Submitted by: Ana Landeta

                                                                 Photo by: Makin' Memories
It is the year 1998, finally they have transferred me from the Cantina to the San Angel Inn Restaurant. Long waited "promotion" and amazing to be inside with air conditioning because life outside in the Food & Beverage Disney World is tough! 

 

It was a busy afternoon, as usual, the Iconic Pyramid at the Mexican Pavilion in EPCOT attracts hundreds of visitors, and being the first pavilion is definitely an advantage, or in this case also a disadvantage because sometimes, people don't really understand where they have just entered.

 

The Mexican restaurant is located at the back of the pyramid, the dimmed light makes it a nice ambiance pretending to be night time, as you enter the pyramid you find yourself in a Mexican market where carts are located selling Mexican handcrafts, on the left is a river that takes you on a boat ride throughout the Mexican Heritage and history, and far in the back of the building is the San Angel Inn Mexican Restaurant. From the restaurant you can see the boats passing by, and the tables are allocated along the shore, so it gives you the feeling of being in a terrace where paper mâché is hanging in lines making a fiesta next to the river.

 

As you approach the restaurant area, the first thing you encounter is the hostess podium. That's where we are.

 

As a hostess our job was to welcome our guests, give them a table; if it was too busy then, reserve them a space, take their names and call them once a table was available.

 

In the middle of the busy hour a short Asian gentleman approaches us, he greets us with his head, we reply bending our heads same way; slowly and without saying anything he continues his way entering the restaurant and at the top of the stairs looking down he stops, he takes his camera out, pulls his glasses down, looks back at us, looks back at the restaurant where the waiters are running back and forth, where the boats are passing by. He looks back at us, then looks back at the restaurant, smiles and starts taking pictures as there is no tomorrow, the shooter is on full speed and no one can stop him. He walks a few more steps closer to the tables below him, and continues to take pictures. 

 

We are mute looking in odd... He does it one more time, looks back at us, puts back his glasses, looks at the restaurant again, takes them off again, pulls back his camera and making a 360 he continues to take pictures.

 

He looks confused and finally we approach him.

 

ME: Is everything okay Sir?!

 

GUEST: mmhmm

 

ME: Sir? Excuse me, is everything ok, can I help you?

 

He looks back at me and smiles, finally he says.

 

GUEST: Ha! Yes! Tell me.

 

He puts on and off his glasses again, calls his lady that is in the back, when she comes, he grabs my arm and comes closer and says...

 

GUEST: Are they computerized?!

 

ME: ?????? 

ME: Excuse me sir?!?!?!

 

GUEST: Yes! That... 

 

(pointing out at the people eating at the restaurant)

GUEST: ARE THEY COMPUTERIZED?!

ME: eemm Sir? Do you refer to the people eating at the restaurant?!?!?!

 

GUEST: HA! Yes!! Are they Computerized?!?!


If you are a current or ex-Disney Cast Member and have a story or experience to share, please e-mail us at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com. All emails will be posted ANONYMOUSLY or by a nickname if you prefer.

Animal Abuse? or Abuse by Animal?

Submitted by: St.Hooch
 
During the opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998, Guest Relations Cast Members were stationed throughout the "Oasis" to assist guests and to answer questions they had about the park or animals in general. One of the concepts of the park was to not have any signage so guests would get "lost" in their adventure. This proved to be problematic and until more signage was installed Guest Relations Cast Members were there to help.
 
One day I was stationed in the middle of the "Oasis." It was pretty slow that morning and a lady came up to me and immediately started complaining to me.
 
Guest: This place is ridiculous. I don't see how you people get away with this.
 
Me: Hello how are you? I'm sorry what do you mean?
 
Guest: Well this place is supposed to be all about the environment and caring for animals and then you don't even give them the proper areas to live in.
 
Me: Well, we believe in creating environments for the animals that closely resemble their natural habitats. I assure you... (she interrupts)
 
Guest: You are trying to tell me that this area is sufficient for this animal? (She points to the enclosure behind me where we were standing.)
 
Me: Yes ma'am. The rocks are even temperature controlled so when it is too cold the rocks are heated... (she interrupts again)
 
Guest: NO! THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE! You are telling me that this is enough room for an rhinoceros? Are you stupid? How can you do allow this to happen? I am going to report you to as many animal activist groups I can find you can bet on that! There is no way in hell a rhinoceros will fit in this area!!! You should be arrested for what you are allowing in this zoo.
 
Me: Ma'am...you are correct that this area is way too small for a rhinoceros....but.....(as I point to the sign)....it is actually for a rhinoceros iguana. They only grow to about five feet long on average.
 
Guest: (She looked at me with this horrific blank stare and stormed off in disgust.)

                                                                     Photo By: Brian Martsolf

 

Photo By: Unknown

 

 

If you are a current or ex-Disney Cast Member and have a story or experience to share, please e-mail us at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com. All emails will be posted ANONYMOUSLY or by a nickname if you prefer.