Submitted By: Disneyo Sapiens
Picture by: BwanaBlog
It was Easter Sunday at Disney's Animal Kingdom. At mid-afternoon we had a family come in very upset. From time to time wild native Floridian animals would make their way into some of the animal exhibits.
This particular incident involved meerkats. What some may or may not realize, meerkats are very territorial and pretty aggressive animals even for their size. The family explained that while they were watching the meerkats their kids noticed a rabbit in the exhibit. It did not take 60 seconds before the "lookout" meerkat saw the threat, gave the call and banded together for attack. They destroyed the rabbit.
The kids screamed and cried because they thought they had just witnessed the demise of the Easter bunny. I called and confirmed that a bunny did indeed expire in the meerkat exhibit that day.
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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.
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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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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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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.
