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Guests Debate if Disney Cast Members Have Become “Unfriendly”
Being a Disney cast member is not an easy job. Whether you work for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, or Adventures by Disney, none of it is smooth sailing. It is not easy to deal with thousands of people every day who have different wants, needs, and temperaments. Being a Disney cast member is so different from any other kind of retail job you could have.
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One of the most difficult parts of being a cast member can be keeping a smile on your face at all times. People have bad days, but Disney parks are magical places, so cast members have to have an entirely different attitude. And we all know how hard it can be to plaster a smile on your face when you aren’t having a particularly good day.
Recently, a guest went on the social platform Reddit to vent about their recent experience when visiting Disneyland Resort. User Weirdcupcakes6942 said that they had recently visited The Happiest Place on Earth and noticed that the cast members were not overly friendly. They even said that they heard cast members talking about each other behind their backs.
Anyone else found they have come across unfriendly CM’s while on a visit to the parks? In one day alone the following happened: came across a very rude CM managing The Haunted Mansion line. She displayed an attitude and tone directing guests where to move toward for zero reason. So much so my friend that was here visiting looked at me and we both were like geez that was odd. 3 different times came across CM’s standing around talking to one another gossiping about other CM’s. That just comes across unprofessional imo. That stuff should be talked about away from guests. The 3rd one of those times was at the popcorn stand on Main St. near the train. The CM seemed bothered by me asking for popcorn. While pouring it, him and the other CM continued to gossip and he held my popcorn so close to him I had to reach into the stand to grab it from him. I literally walked away thinking WTF to myself. Later on I went to purchase something in a store and the CM literally threw a pen toward an adjacent computer while displaying a clear attitude like I was bothering her. These instances all happened at Disneyland. I also attended the Oogie Boogie Bash last night and my boyfriend had purchased the dessert package which I was not initially aware it was outside or that it was to watch the parade. I wasn’t aware and didn’t know that was even an option when I got tickets . When we were being seated I said oh the parade is coming through here? The CM who helped us said “ well yeah what did you think this was for”. I just thought it was rude. I have a pass and spend a lot whenever I go and paid a lot per ticket for the Bash. I’ve spoken with multiple people who I know who have gone recently and they to my shock stated the same things I am. It’s just disappointing how much it costs and when it’s called the “happiest place on earth” yet you’re met with rude unprofessional CM’s. I know that was long but have others had similar experiences? All This happened within 3 trips to the parks in 2 weeks.
This experience sparked a big debate among fans, with some agreeing that the attitudes of cast members have changed. That change has been noticed by guests who visit both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
It’s not just you. This sub is very reluctant to disparage CM behavior in any way, but the rudeness/distraction/gossiping are undeniably unpleasant and for me, a stark contrast to interactions before 2020.
Others said that Disney is to blame for the attitudes changing. Disney is frequently called out — and has even been sued — over how little money they paid. There was even a ruling made recently in California that reinforced that Disney must pay its cast members a living wage.
I place the blame for that firmly at Disney’s feet. They need to pay more. They need to offer better benefits, better schedules, better training. They need to have more than the bare minimum of staff working. They need to be more diligent about responding to bad guest behaviour. They need to alter their crowd level metrics, because the parks are consistently too busy (which leads to more altercations between guests, grumpier guests, etc). They need to back up their CMs when guests are out of line, because I have seen stuff at the parks over the past few years that would never have flown in the past.
The declining experience is Disney’s fault. Every horrid cast experience I’ve had since reopening is a symptom of the larger issue of Disney cutting costs at every turn while simultaneously charging us all more. My most recent trip for the Oct 18th OBB will probably be mine and my husband’s last trip for a while. My sister’s key expires early 2024, so she will go maybe once more (we live in Canada), and she won’t be renewing. The ROI isn’t there for us right now, and I need a break. It’s a shame, because there’s simply no reason for it to have gotten this bad other than greed.
Another issue that cast members have to deal with is the abhorrent behavior of guests. It seems that nearly every other week, there is a fight breaking out in one of the parks. Guests appear to be throwing punches and frightening children more than they ever have before.
In addition to the violence, cast members have to deal with guests who want to be — or consider themselves to be — social media influencers. Disney has rules that all guests must abide by, but “influencers” are frequently seen breaking those rules, so they can film something.
They need to throw more people out of the parks. Castmembers take more abuse and crap now than they used to. Like another post about livestreaming on rides. They need to adjust some of the rules, mix security in and start snagging and throwing people out of the park. My guess is after they build a reputation for handling rude people incidents will start to go down.
Related: Guests Kicked Out of Deluxe Disney Resort After Being Caught Getting Frisky in Hot Tub
When you visit a Disney park or take a Disney cruise, remember, the cast members are people too. They deserve respect and kindness. If you have a problem, they will help you to the best of their ability. If you do encounter a cast member who isn’t in the best mood, try to remember that they might just be having a bad day.
Sometimes, all it takes is one person being friendly and kind to change someone’s day. Plus, you’re at Disney, so take it all in and just remember how lucky you are to be there!
Do you think the attitudes of cast members have changed?
This post originally appeared on Disney Fanatic.
