We recently spent a week at Walt Disney World. Throughout our trip we enjoyed the unique Disney hospitality from the CastMembers. None the less, I had a couple of experiences with some CastMembers who did not live up to what I have come to expect out of anyone working at Disney.

First of all, I will say that I realize that CastMembers are human and that they too can make mistakes. Maybe it had been a long night, maybe they were having trouble at home. Nevertheless, I have paid a lot of my hard earned money to enjoy the beautiful atmostphere Walt Disney World has created. These two CastMembers seriously put a dark spot on the memories of my vacation. I did not put in a formal complaint beacuse I was too upset on one of the occasions, and because I do not feel I should put their jobs in jeopardy just because of one incident. I decided to write my experiences here first of all to get the frustration out and to feel that I have done something about it. Second of all, I do believe that some CastMembers visit and read epinions. I hope this helps them to realize just how much I (and most other guests I imagine) truly appreciate their smiling, helpful faces and how much damage a snappy, rude comment can do to someone who is just trying to enjoy their vacation.

My first experience was at MGM. The crowds were thinning out and we were going to see the Osborne Spectacle of Lights. As you walk down New York Street, a lady was there handing out special glasses to help see the lights. I went to get the glasses for my party (as I saw most other guests just sending one person per party). She asked me how many? I answered, as I had been trained to do after several days at the parks, "5 adults, one infant". She snapped back at me saying, "I don't need to know that...just six is fine." I quickly turned away feeling embarrased at her reaction. Was my answer really that stupid? As I walked back to my family, a lady that was near me in line said, "She must be having a bad day, I can't believe the way she answered you!" I felt a little bit better because I obviously didn't imagine the CastMember's rudeness, but I felt even more embarrased that everyone around me had obviously witnessed my humiliation. I don't think I was stupid in the way I answered, after all that had been the correct answer almost everywhere else. It was the CastMember's tone of voice that made me feel that I was no more than an inch tall.

The second experience was even worse. We just arrived at the parking lot to go to Magic Kingdom. We hadn't driven to a park before (we had used the Disney transportation up until this time), and went to the white cones to wait for the tram that was pulling to a stop. The tram was stopped we were (apparently) on one side of the tram stop. The guy talking in the speaker, Tom, said (twice) that this would be the only stop in the Goofy parking lot. Obviously we didn't want to get left behind, so my sister and I boarded the tram. My husband fell behind because he was folding the stroller. Just as we boarded the tram, the CM yells at us that we were supposed to have waited for the tram to come around and to my husband to wait for us. He didn't give us the opportunity to get off, nor for my husband to board. After more rude comments ("I hope you know where you parked because since you weren't supposed to board, I didn't see where you came from. It may take you a long time to find your vehicle when you leave.") and a seemingly extra long tram ride (we waited for a long time for non-existent people to board in a full section of the lot), we finally got back to where we boarded. My husband was not there! Now I was panicking, I was upset, the tram driver kept making rude comments ("The last tram will be leaving around 11. If you don't get here sooner, you'll have to walk a long way to get to your car.) Finally, after getting off the tram we found my husband after about twenty minutes or so. He ended up walking since the tram hadn't come back. Apparently he was in the pedestrian walkway (not visible from the tram) when we went by. Needless to say, this put a serious cloud in our evening.

Thinking back, I should have reported the rude tram announcer. After all, we were not trying to break the rules. We simply boarded after he announced that this was the last stop in our parking lot. The lady with the glasses was rude, but did not cause our family to be separated.

CastMembers: I know you have long days...I know that sometimes you must be ready to strangle the next guest who comes up to ask you a stupid question, but please remember that the guests have come to this haven to get a taste of hospitality that is not available anywhere else in the world. We truly appreciate the work you do! Please think before you make that rude comment, please don't cause one of your guests to have a bad day because of you.



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