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Quitting A Dream Job
7 years ago
Today is my last day working for Disney World, a dream I had since I was five (so a real long time now) which has now come to a close. It is quite the magical place to work and getting in for free was quite nice but the time has come to part ways. In the time that I have worked there I have dealt with all sorts of guest issues that I can now share for those interested.
- An upset family enraged to the point of security having to remove them from the property because the lady could not bring her actual tiger cub into the park in a stroller. She claimed that she had been able to do so at Animal Kingdom but Magic Kingdom was turning her away. Her husband chimed in that we had just made up the rule saying 'no tigers' just then and therefore it wasn't enforceable. They were also upset that the local news (which should give you an idea of how long they were raging and how loudly they were raging,) both radio and internet, were referring to his wife as a "foreigner." An article of it can be seen here: http://mousechat.net/bengal-tiger-disney-world/
- Guest demanding that I personally pay for her "distress" from having purchased a toy pistol from the Indiana Jones show and trying to bring it on an airplane. The airline of course didn't like this idea and confiscated it. Guest was also upset that she had been given the run around and the phone number she'd been given was to the trailer of the Indiana Jones actors trailer. I mentioned how lucky she was to have talked to Harrison Ford and she got even more upset. By the end of the conversation she was demanding that in addition to money (lots of it) the guest demanded that we put signs over all the toy guns saying "You cannot bring guns on an airplane." She didn't find that as amusing as I did.
- Guest with special needs demanding that all balloons be removed from the entire property. All 50 square miles of it. When I suggested that we would not be able to remove all balloons from all parks and resorts the guest began to swear that I was personally endangering their child with a latex allergy. When I tried to clarify that they perhaps only meant their room, they said no it would have to be the entire property or they were going to sue me personally for failing to follow the American Disability Act.
- One of my personal favorites was a guest who wanted to complain that the Harry Potter area of Disney (which isn't owned or operated by Disney nor is it even near our property) was poorly run, took forever to get from there to the current location (her resort on property here) and that the number of people were outrageous to the point where it was shoulder to shoulder people. Furthermore she made it quite clear that she was hugely disappointed in how Disney ran it and that the cost was far too high to do this "Witchcraft stuff." When I said that I agree it could be run better but that we did not own nor operate that park (Harry Potter is at Universal) she thought I was making fun of her and demanded to speak with Walt Disney. That isn't possible said I, he's been gone for 40 years almost. The guest then went on to rant that I was ignoring her and demanded to speak to someone with the last name of Disney. I said that they were all busy at the Sorting Ceremony but here is their email if you want it.
There are countless other times that I got to make magic for families and those are some of the best memories I shall be taking from this place; there are also countless times I was personally threatened with either harm or litigation for various silly things such as rain or other nonsense. I will be sad to leave but it also will be a relief to not be having to deal with much of what goes on in the background that had started to bother me for the last year or so, mostly as it comes down to marketing and general pricing. Disney has never been cheap but the room costs literally doubling, tickets up by 20%-70%, parking fees now for everyone, and discounts up to 40% but that are shockingly rare for all dates in the range; have just become too much.I shall also be moving in a few weeks but that journal shall be for another time and day mostly because it's 2.30 am and I'm tired.
- An upset family enraged to the point of security having to remove them from the property because the lady could not bring her actual tiger cub into the park in a stroller. She claimed that she had been able to do so at Animal Kingdom but Magic Kingdom was turning her away. Her husband chimed in that we had just made up the rule saying 'no tigers' just then and therefore it wasn't enforceable. They were also upset that the local news (which should give you an idea of how long they were raging and how loudly they were raging,) both radio and internet, were referring to his wife as a "foreigner." An article of it can be seen here: http://mousechat.net/bengal-tiger-disney-world/
- Guest demanding that I personally pay for her "distress" from having purchased a toy pistol from the Indiana Jones show and trying to bring it on an airplane. The airline of course didn't like this idea and confiscated it. Guest was also upset that she had been given the run around and the phone number she'd been given was to the trailer of the Indiana Jones actors trailer. I mentioned how lucky she was to have talked to Harrison Ford and she got even more upset. By the end of the conversation she was demanding that in addition to money (lots of it) the guest demanded that we put signs over all the toy guns saying "You cannot bring guns on an airplane." She didn't find that as amusing as I did.
- Guest with special needs demanding that all balloons be removed from the entire property. All 50 square miles of it. When I suggested that we would not be able to remove all balloons from all parks and resorts the guest began to swear that I was personally endangering their child with a latex allergy. When I tried to clarify that they perhaps only meant their room, they said no it would have to be the entire property or they were going to sue me personally for failing to follow the American Disability Act.
- One of my personal favorites was a guest who wanted to complain that the Harry Potter area of Disney (which isn't owned or operated by Disney nor is it even near our property) was poorly run, took forever to get from there to the current location (her resort on property here) and that the number of people were outrageous to the point where it was shoulder to shoulder people. Furthermore she made it quite clear that she was hugely disappointed in how Disney ran it and that the cost was far too high to do this "Witchcraft stuff." When I said that I agree it could be run better but that we did not own nor operate that park (Harry Potter is at Universal) she thought I was making fun of her and demanded to speak with Walt Disney. That isn't possible said I, he's been gone for 40 years almost. The guest then went on to rant that I was ignoring her and demanded to speak to someone with the last name of Disney. I said that they were all busy at the Sorting Ceremony but here is their email if you want it.
There are countless other times that I got to make magic for families and those are some of the best memories I shall be taking from this place; there are also countless times I was personally threatened with either harm or litigation for various silly things such as rain or other nonsense. I will be sad to leave but it also will be a relief to not be having to deal with much of what goes on in the background that had started to bother me for the last year or so, mostly as it comes down to marketing and general pricing. Disney has never been cheap but the room costs literally doubling, tickets up by 20%-70%, parking fees now for everyone, and discounts up to 40% but that are shockingly rare for all dates in the range; have just become too much.
PS: that guest with the balloon removal leaves me quite speechless. How can people get so petty and self-centered?
Even a dream job probably isn't worth it if it gets constantly tainted by idiots and impotent assholes.
I think that's one of the funniest thing i have ever read.
You've made magic happen for so many others and helped dreams come true; I wish you luck in pursuing all of your dreams, because Disney is only the beginning of your journey and there's so much more you can achieve in the years ahead. Be true to and believe in yourself.
😳 but still, 3.5 grand a year JUST IN CASE the family wants to go to Disney.
I remember working at Abercrombie and Fitch and a customer pull out a black credit card. I had my parents explain to me what that was.
Yeah, we'll layer a 16,000 acre forest in insecticide, sure.
What could possibly go wrong 🙃?
Still, I'm glad you got to have fun while it lasted!
(A shame you arent allowed to just eat the unruly ones... ah well...)
I have witnessed and heard plenty of Horror Stories at Magical Kingdom. It's like people lose their common sense out there. And since that place has the longest hours and the most traffic, it's pretty constant. That and the resorts.
That being said. I did enjoy myself out there, and gained many great memories from it as well. Specially with over-seas friends. I'm sorry how things turned out for you man, hope things go well on whatever you do next in life.