World War Showcase

Submitted by: T.J. F.

Photo by: Discount Tickets Orlando

 

I worked custodial one summer on college program at World Showcase (edit: Epcot). I was working around the American Adventure and had a guest ask me where he could get a good beer. I explained to him that the best place was probably the Rose & Crown over at the UK pavilion.

He asked me the easiest shortest way to get there and I explained to him to just keep waling around the lagoon and eventually he would run right into it. He pointed straight ahead and said I just go this way. I walked him closer to the lagoon and said yeah and pointed across the lagoon a bit to the Rose & Crown and showed him where it was on the water front.

He pulled out his sweaty guidemap from his back pocket and I could not understand what the problem was. It wasn't that hard. Just keep walking. He asked if he had to go through the Morocco area to get there because he was not very fond of people from the middle east. I was in shock. Did not know what to say.

Not only was I in shock from the discriminatory statement but also the lack of knowledge in geography and culture. I told him to go back the way he came and follow it around and stay left. What an interesting experience to say the least.

May the Voban be With You....Always

Submitted by: TrixieDust

Who can forget that smell? Any Cast Member working in the parks is probably familiar with smelly stuff known as Voban.

When I worked at Star Tours we had it on hand cautiously watching as each cabin ended its cycle and guests began to exit. If the guests trickled out as normal we knew we were clear to load with no hassle. If they were running out as if they were being chased by a Bantha, we knew something was wrong. We would run to the cabin to verify that indeed someone puked.

The challenge was getting through the guests, verify the vomit and then communicate that to load. So many times people were loaded into the Star Speeder into a dirty cabin before we could stop them to clean up. Have to be quick on your feet in a galaxy far, far, away....

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You Mean I'm Gonna STAY This Size?

Submitted by: Dreamy&Figgy

Photo by: WDWINFO.COM

I was working at Honey, I Shrunk the Audience 3D movie at Epcot. During one of the shows the theater went dark and we had to evacuate. There were a few kids and one lady in particular who was freaking out because she was still "shrunk."

She said she was not leaving until we fixed everything and "make her big" again. She could not see outside from the first exit doors the way they are positioned. We walked her to the exit and showed her the exit doors at the top of the ramp leading outside.

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Birds of a Feather - PART II - All the Ducks are Robots

Submitted by: Photoboy

Photo by: Dad from "Dad's Guide to WDW"

 

I have many stories from my Disney Time and vacations. One I want to share today I was doing the College Program and I was apart of the Photopass crew at Magic Kingdom. On this day I had just been moved from the street over to the first aid station to take pictures from that angle of the castle and out guest. 

No one ever really see's the photographer in the spot. So I had tons of time to stare at the ducks over by Casey's Corner.

When from behind me a family comes up and Say's Hello Photoppass Card in hand. 

To which I had then replied out of nor where, " they look real don't they? "

the guest says " What "

Photopass: " The Ducks they look real don't they? "

Guest: " What do you mean? "

Photopass " You know Disney is doing lots of stuff with anamatronics!? "

Guest: " You mean to tell us all these ducks are robots?! "

Photopass: " Yep! "

Guest: " what about that one right there? and the one walking walking around?

Photopass: " Yep, and the one walking around it walks to censors in the ground. Do you see the one sitting under the tree? "

Guest: " Yeah "

Photopass: " It's going to shake it's head! "

Not 2 seconds after I had said that the duck shook it's head! My eyes were wide and huge at what just went on I was like Babe Ruth calling my shot! 

Guest: That's amazing!!! They look so real!

Photopass: I know huh! Well you guys have a great day!! 

 

 

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Pixies Simplex 10

Submitted by: Justin B.

Photo by: Fairy Dust Vacations

 

 

 

Walking through the Magic Kingdom in my Guest Relations Plaid when a woman stopped to ask me if I knew where Tomorrowland was. Gave her directions. Then asked if she was having a fun day in the park, to which she said verbatim, "Eh... my herpes is acting up..." Disgusted, I walked away.

 

 

 

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In Space No One Can Hear You...sob

Submitted by: Justin B.

Photo by: LaughingPlace.com

With the recent success of GRAVITY, it reminded me of the time when having to evacuate Space Mountain that I approached a woman in her mid-40s, bawling. She was truly petrified that she'd be "stuck in space."


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Imagi-FEAR-ing

Submitted by: Anonymous

When Animal Kingdom was putting the final construction touches on everything some operations upper management was allowed to start going into the park before front line cast were hired.

A few months before opening we took a tour of the building that was to house guest relations. We were walking through the back hallway and as we turned the corner there were a few construction workers finishing an open area in the wall. Our Imagineer tour guide explained this would be the area where guest would be able to process their tickets or as we called it...pass processing.

One person in our small entourage asked "Pass processing for what?" The Imagineer looked at us with confusion and claimed "you know, when guests purchase passes and they have their picture taken and have the prin......" He stopped. She said "You do know that we have not taken guests pictures for passes for years....right?"

Over the next few weeks they ripped the "window" out and filled in the wall. Nothing to see here, nothing to see here folks...move along.

This was an example of the creative side not talking to the operations side of things. Imagineering designed and constructed a "window" for out-dated pass processing that had not been utilized for years and had no idea that the parks had upgraded to ATS or Automated Ticketing System.

I thought this would be an interesting fun story in a time where even ATS is now being phased out for radio bands.

 

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Birds of a Feather

Posted by: Anonymous

One hot summer (aren't they all hot in Florida?) I worked at Splash Mountain and the "Mountain Complex." This was before the time if Fast Pass so the queue before the barn was usually full. I was working height stick at the barn entrance.

Sometimes depending on load times the line would be stagnant for a few minutes without any movement and guests would get bored. I saw a fellow Cast Member walking from the bridge to bump me in rotation. He stopped and was talking to guests. The conversation lasted a few minutes as they chatted and pointed to a few ducks that were waddling through the area. The guests started taking pictures of the ducks.

When he came up to me to bump me he was laughing and said that I would not believe what just happened. He said that as he was walking through the guests were trying to feed the ducks. He told them to please refrain from feeding any animals because it causes problems. The guest said that they were not sure if they were real because they were not eating the popcorn on the ground which was odd.

He told them that actually the ducks were not real. Those particular ducks were actually audio animatronics. They asked how could they just walk around on their own. My friend told them that if they look close at their tail feathers, the largest one that sticks up is actually an antenna. They believed it and began taking pictures of the robotic ducks. True story!


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Yes Ma'am...the Shamu Show is in Fantasyland

Submitted by: Anonymous

I was working at the Emporium on Main St. USA in the Magic Kingdom. Shortly after we opened to guests, a lady came in with a Publix bag and said that she had a return. I walked over to help her with the return and she pulled out a bottle opener that still had the price tag on it.

I kindly asked her if she still had her receipt. She suddenly became annoyed and snapped "no, I just want my money back." Being a new Cast Member I was not quite sure how to handle the situation because I had never been placed in such an awkward spot.

She said again that she wanted her money back. I explained to her that  I was not sure if we could take it back. Then it started...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK??? YOU ARE DISNEY WORLD. WHERE IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE I ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT?

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but I am not sure you purchased this bottle opener from this store. Are you sure you purchased it here?

YES I DID! ARE YOU CALLING ME A LIAR?!?!?!

"No ma'am. It's just that this bottle opener has a picture of Shamu and says Sea World on it."

THIS IS INSANE! WHERE IS YOUR MANAGER? I BOUGHT THIS HERE AND YOU ARE CALLING ME A LIAR!

"Where is my manager?" I'll be right back.

I went to the back to talk to my manager so I did not have to explain the situation over the phone at the register. He said that we were going to take it back and that we would use an existing sku to return it under and give her cash back. I asked why we were doing this when she clearly was in the wrong. He simply replied "sometimes you can't fight crazy!"



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Tony Baxter the Next Pope?

Submitted By: CP-94-30

I was a merchandise Cast Member at the Magic Kingdom and had to work Night of Joy in 1994. There was a Cast Member working that night by the name of Roy and he and I were assisting guests. He was there picking up overtime and was telling me a lot about Disney and having a good time.

During our conversation a teenage boy and his friend approached us to purchase a pen and a mug. While Roy was ringing them up I was wrapping the mug and bagging the merchandise for the guest. It was slow time between rushes that night which allowed us to talk.

While the guest was paying he asks "Do you know that Jesus is our savior and lord?" Without missing a beat Roy responded "Do you know that Walt Disney Imagineering created Jesus?"


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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?!?!


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Stupid is as Stupid Does

Submitted by: StudioChick

While working at the Disney -MGM Studios on the College Program, they were filming episodes for Tom Hank's drama series "From Earth to the Moon." A girl I was an acquaintance with was terminated due to harassing Tom Hanks.

While he and his group were walking from the sound stages she yelled "RUN FORREST RUN!"

Someone didn't like her doing that and I asked a few days later what happened and they said she was terminated.


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I'm Sorry You Did Not Get the Memo

Submitted by: St. Hooch

                                                                 Photo By: Walt Disney Company

In 1998 Disney's Wild Animal Kingdom opened in 1998 at Walt Disney World. After working some of the kinks out over the first few months I experienced a guest situation not quite like anything I had ever experienced before. It was slow, quiet, hot and humid in the Guest Relations lobby towards the front of the park. That was until a lady and her child came in with a complaint for the ages.

Guest: We are late to eat at China at Epcot and you need to change our time. Its not our fault.

Me: I'm sorry ma'am. I will be glad to do that for you. If I may ask...is everything ok?

Guest: No. We were stuck on the safari ride which made us late and there is no way we will make it to Epcot in time to eat.

I excuse myself briefly to get the facts and see if there was a problem with the attraction or if it was "101." After confirming with operations, the Kilimanjaro Safaris was up and running with no delays.

Me: Ma'am what exactly happened on the safaris that delayed your departure to Epcot?

Guest: Well, the truck stopped because a giraffe was in the road and he would not go around it. We were told the ride was only 30 minutes long.

Me: Yes ma'am I understand. The Kilimanjaro Safaris is estimated to last an estimated 30 to 45 minutes.

Guest: How long is the Dinosaur ride?

Me: The ride portion of Countdown to Extinction is right over three minutes. Three minutes and five seconds I believe...I can get you the exact time if you would like.

Guest: (with slight sarcastic laughter) So you can tell me exactly how long the Dinosaur ride is but there is no way you can tell me exactly how long the safari is? That is ridiculous!!

Me: No ma'am I cannot give you an exact time for the Safaris.

Guest: Why not? Why can't you tell me how long it takes? How am I supposed to plan if you people cannot give me exact times?

Me: Well, the difference is that we do not always know what the animals are going to do. Sometimes they will sit or eat in the middle of the road and for the most part we let them do their thing.

Guest: So I still do not understand how you can give me the exact time for the Dinosaur ride and not the safari.

Me: Well, the dinosaurs do not walk in front of the ride vehicles and block the road like the giraffes and other animals do on occasion.

Guest: What do you mean?

Me: The dinosaurs are not live animals. They are not real.

Guest: What do you mean "not real?"

Me: Will a 2:00pm priority seating work for you at Nine Dragons today at Epcot?

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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

 

 

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