Do’s and Do Not’s
"Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit." --e. e. cummings
Happy Halloween, everyone!
It’s been Halloween in Disney since August, so even the most ardent Halloween lovers are getting tired of it. Thankfully, in Disney, as soon as Halloween stops, Christmas begins! The Christmas season is my favorite time of year, and I know I’m not alone- my trainer at my new job says that the music they play during the holiday season makes the guests happier and friendlier!
Speaking of my new job, it’s going great! I just finished my second day of training and I’m having so much fun. On day one we had a tour of Magic Kingdom and got to experience some of the fun Main Street has to offer, like meeting Tinker Bell, riding the steam train, and watching the Festival of Fantasy parade!
Today, we got to watch (and participate in!) the Move It, Shake It, Dance, and Play It Street Party! We watched as the parade came down Main Street and into the Central Plaza in front of Cinderella castle, then we all joined in the fun as the characters led everyone in a big dance party!
We looked totally foolish, but had so much fun. We helped escort the parade, danced with two ADORABLE tiny princesses, and hung out in the street with Nick Wilde from Zootopia. And that was just what we did before lunch!
I’m really enjoying my new role and I can’t wait to learn more about it. I have my first shift working the beloved Happily Ever After fireworks show tomorrow night, and then I’ll be trained on day parades like Festival of Fantasy and Move It, Shake It, and special events like the Christmas Parade!
I’m also looking forward to having family visit this week! This will be my first family visit since I’ve arrived in Orlando, and I want their trip to be the best it can be. As a result, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to make the most of a Disney vacation, and I’d like to share with you some of my Disney Do’s and Do Not’s so those of you planning vacations or CP’s can enjoy them as much as possible! Let’s get started!
-DO: be respectful to Cast Members, no matter what! This should really be a no brainer. We’re people too! Listen to Cast Members when we give you directions or instructions and speak to us politely when you have a question or complaint. With very few exceptions, we want to make your visit as amazing and special as possible. Trust me, we’re not here for the money: we’re all here because there was something about the story and mission of Disney World that spoke to us. Sometimes we do have to tell you things that are less than magical, but don’t shoot the messenger; if a Cast Member tells you something that you don’t want to hear, like a ride is closed or they can’t find your dining reservation, please stay calm and courteous while you work with them to find a solution. Cast Members are trained to do anything in our power to keep our guests happy, and if you are patient and understanding I PROMISE you will get better service than someone who is screaming and causing a scene. We will take care of whatever problems you encounter in the park, and if you feel like a Cast Member isn’t, all you need to do is politely ask to speak to their Coordinator or Leader. These are people who have been with the company for a long time; they’re the Disney equivalent of managers. They are experts at Guest Relations and if you feel like a regular Cast Member hasn’t taken care of your needs, they will be more than happy to step in and help.
-DON’T: assume that you know better than a Cast Member. This is my pet peeve. If a Slide Operations CM asks you to take off your sunglasses, don’t say “oh, they’re on a cord, they’ll be fine.” If a Parade Audience Control CM tells you not to stand in the parade route, don’t say “oh, well I could stand here when I saw the parade six months ago.” Every single rule at Disney World is in place for a reason. They are there because something happened and we don’t want it to happen again. Sometimes rules change. If you’re curious about why a rule is in place, it’s totally okay to ask, as long as you’re polite about it and open-minded about the response. We LOVE big Disney fans, but no one knows everything about how the parks operate- not even us! Rules are set by people several steps above us, and even Coordinators and Leaders can’t change them. If you have a concern, feel free to bring it up to one of these higher-ranking CM’s- as I said before, they’re happy to help.
-DO: your research! I cannot stress this enough. Especially if you’re traveling with children or guests with special needs/accommodations, be as prepared as you can be. Know which rides have super high waits so you can use your FastPasses accordingly. KNOW HOW TALL YOUR CHILDREN ARE, in inches if possible! Disney’s measuring system isn’t perfect, I’ll admit- there’s room for human error. If you know your child is juuuust at 48 inches or 44 inches or whatever the height requirement is for a ride, you can mentally prepare yourself (and your child!) to be turned away and sent to another attraction. If this happens, you can always ask the Cast Member what they recommend instead. If you’re traveling with a guest who will need any kind of accommodation, know ahead of time what they will need and talk to a Cast Member at the park as soon as you can. Know which rides can accommodate wheelchairs and which rides require transfers, which rides have loud noise or flashing lights, etc, etc. All of this information, and I do mean all of it, can be found in the My Disney Experience app. You can look up any attraction and see height requirements, accessibility information, current wait time, and a description of the ride.
-DON’T: force your child to go on a ride. “What?!” you say. “Who would do that?!” Believe it or not, in my time as an attractions CM, I have seen SO. MANY. PARENTS physically force or bully their children onto a ride they are terrified of. Not only is this, in my opinion, awful on a moral level, but it’s not safe. If your child stands up or starts thrashing around on the ride, they could be seriously hurt. It doesn’t matter if the ride is one we commonly deem as “not scary”; kids don’t know any better. If your child is getting nervous about going on a ride, ask a Cast Member if you can step out of line and watch for a little bit. Talk to them. Try to build up their courage and lead them to the decision to go on the ride for themselves. If all else fails and they just aren’t ready, don’t ride the attraction. I’m sorry. Being a parent is about sacrifice- Disney World is no different.
-DO: take alternative forms of transportation home from Magic Kingdom at night! This is very specific but really one of the best pieces of advice I can give. It is always a zoo getting out of MK after the evening fireworks. It just is. Anytime between then and park close is just as bad, no matter how long you wait. This is because, unlike the other parks, Magic Kingdom doesn’t connect directly to its parking lot: guests must take a monorail, boat, or bus to get in and out. YOUR FASTEST OPTIONS IN THE EVENING ARE:
-the Resort Monorail (stop #2 is the Transportation and Ticket Center, or TTC, where the parking lot is)
-the Resort launches (small boats that take you to the resorts around the Lagoon; get off at the Polynesian and walk to the TTC, about 10 minutes)
-Disney buses (take a left when you exit the park; there are two bus lines that run to the TTC and they’re usually not as popular. Ask a Main Entrance CM for more information)
-DON’T be afraid to take breaks! Yes, the parks are awesome, but it is so easy to burn out if you plan to be there all day. Head back to the hotel in the afternoon for a nap and a swim, then come back or head to another park for the evening. If you do choose to stay in a park all day, build in some quality rest time; all parks have “decompression zones” designed to be a little quieter and more peaceful. You know what I’m gonna say: Ask a CM where they are and take all the time you need to sit, charge your phone, and rest up for the rest of your day.
-DO: bring water and snacks! You’re allowed to bring in all the outside food and drink that you want (except alcohol), so take advantage of it! I’m not going to lie, park food and bev is EXPENSIVE. A bottle of water is $3.50 now. Bring your own water bottle and ask any quick service food location for cups of ice water to refill it with- they’re free! If you have picky eaters or you’re just looking to save some cash, bring your own meals and snacks, too! I will often head to a park around 2 with my water bottle, a couple snacks, and a sandwich, and stay there quite happily until close without buying anything. Another money-saving pro tip: buy kid’s meals! Disney portions are huge anyway and CM’s will always let you get one- you could be buying it for a younger sibling or child!
-DON’T: get lost in the photographs. Please, take pictures of your vacation! Those memories are so special- I would never ask anyone to stop taking pictures of their friends and family. However, I have seen guests become so absorbed in documenting their vacation, they forget to experience it! Those pictures could vanish any day. Your camera might get stolen, your phone might get wet, but you will have your memories forever. Make good ones. Don’t stop every five minutes in the Flight of Passage queue to snap a selfie: take one or two or three, then enjoy the beautiful surroundings for yourself. Don’t hold your phone in the air, filming the entire 20 minute fireworks show; really watch it. It’s spectacular. If you want to relive it at home, there are dozens of professional recordings on YouTube. Plus, the constant photography can be annoying to other guests if it holds up a line or blocks someone’s view: be aware of those around you and pick appropriate times to get your phone or camera out.
That’s it! Ta da!!!! Obviously, all opinions expressed here are my own, and they are just that: opinions! I’m sure other people will have their own thoughts and that’s just fine. These are some things I have learned in my three months here, but every experience is unique- do what you need you for your own personal visit. If you’re planning a trip and have any specific questions, just ask! I don’t profess to know everything, but I love Disney and I want to help everyone else enjoy it as much as I can.
Thanks for bearing with me through this long, ramble-y post. I hope it was helpful at most, informative at least. Coming up: Working a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, birthday fun, and more Main Street Merriness.
Have a magical day, everyone!
-FR