Page 140 of 346

Travel Thread

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 8:48 am
by robbiestoupe
Acadia/Bar Harbor alone is worth a trip to Maine. Just not easy to get there.

Travel Thread

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 12:32 pm
by shafnutz05
Acadia/Bar Harbor alone is worth a trip to Maine. Just not easy to get there.
Why stop there? If you drive another couple hours you can check out the Bay of Fundy.

Travel Thread

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 12:43 pm
by blackjack68
Quick in and out work trip to Louisville next month including tour and cooking demo at Churchill Downs and Peerless Distillery.

Dinner on our own first night. Any suggestions? I'm considering Royals Hot Chicken or a BBQ joint.

Travel Thread

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 2:12 pm
by tifosi77
If I were to find myself in Nashville, I'd be seeking reservations at MilkWood or 610 Magnolia. (Both run by Edward Lee.)

And even though I loathe baseball, I'd probably want to try to finagle a trip to the Louisville Slugger factory.

Travel Thread

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 2:22 pm
by dodint
If I were to find myself in Nashville, I'd be seeking reservations at MilkWood or 610 Magnolia. (Both run by Edward Lee.)

And even though I loathe baseball, I'd probably want to try to finagle a trip to the Louisville Slugger factory.
Oh?

Travel Thread

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 3:29 pm
by tifosi77
Derp derp PEBCAK

Everything else is on point, tho. ;)

Travel Thread

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 3:33 pm
by blackjack68
610 Magnolia is closed on my free night, but I'll see about MilkWood.

Travel Thread

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 3:34 pm
by dodint
Guy Fieri's Smokehouse.
Don't go to Guy Fieri's Smokehouse. If you happen to be in 4th Street Live go to Bourbon Raw.

Travel Thread

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 3:37 pm
by blackjack68
Allergic to shellfish, but the other stuff looks good.

Travel Thread

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 3:54 pm
by NTP66
Source of the post Allergic to shellfish
I truly feel for you now.

Travel Thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 4:03 pm
by tifosi77
Wasn't sure where to put this, but this seems as apropos as anywhere....

Yesterday, a bunch of people from Mrs Tif's team went to a seminar at the Disney Institute about customer service and experience. It was held at the Grand Californian hotel/resort, and then they were taken for a walk through California Adventure. They were given a deep tutorial on how seriously the company takes making the customer experience as flawless as possible. The level of detail that goes into every last element of customer satisfaction was extraordinary.

- Every Cast Member - from ride ops, to store managers, to actual janitors, to Princesses - goes through the same base customer service and communications training.

- Every Cast Member is a janitor. While on their walkthrough of the park, the VP-level guy who was guiding them stopped to pick up bits of trash multiple times. There is a famous story (don't know if it's real) of opening day at Anaheim in 1950-whatever. WED was touring the park with some company execs, and one of them stepped over a piece of litter. WED asked "Why didn't you pick that up?" and the guy replied that it was not his job; legend is he did not finish the tour as a Disney employee. (This in part explains why there is a trash receptacle every ten yards or so throughout the park)

- The most commonly asked question (like 60-70 times a day) is "I lost my parking ticket, how do I find my car?" If you can remember roughly what time you arrived and parked, the attendants can tell you pretty much where your car is. They keep logs of when each row and section is filled (usually takes about ten minutes per row during peak times), and can guide you to approximately the right area. And a Cast Member will stay with you until you locate your car.

- Speaking of parking, the attendants are regarded as absolute equals with all other Cast Members including friends of the characters (meaning, the actors who play them). They are the first and last Cast Members you interact with on your day at the park, and as such they can define your experience.

- Retail Cast Members are empowered to make customer service calls on the spot. They told the story of one gift shop Cast Member who overheard a Guest family talking about a bad experience their newly-adopted daughter had at the park, and lamenting how expensive this one plushy toy cost. The worker said, "I'm sorry that happened. I think it would be okay if you just had this toy on us. And you know what... you should go to this-or-that shop at the other end of Main Street and ask for my friend Lucille (or whatever)." So the family goes there, and Lucille gives the girl an autograph book that had already been signed by all the Princesses. And they were staying at one of the properties, and when they got back to their room, it was full of other plushy toys, with a note that simply said "Thank you". All because a single $15/hr shop employee made a spot decision to right a perceived wrong.

Travel Thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:08 pm
by Freddy Rumsen
I have a friend who started out as a photographer at WDW and now is a VP. She said their internal promotion is unreal, and unlike any company in America.

Travel Thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:40 pm
by DigitalGypsy66
We've had several students work for Disney for the college intern program, and they've raved about it. One is actually going back while she's back in grad school - she's 32 or so - and can't wait to get back.

Travel Thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 9:25 pm
by tifosi77
The corporate culture at WDC varies widely from vertical to vertical. For example, Walt Disney Pictures is colloquially known as 'Mousechwitz'.

Travel Thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 9:27 pm
by Freddy Rumsen
We've had several students work for Disney for the college intern program, and they've raved about it. One is actually going back while she's back in grad school - she's 32 or so - and can't wait to get back.
We have a student doing it this year. She's super excited.

Travel Thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 9:34 pm
by willeyeam
Even more impressive knowing how big of an ass the guy in the pro shop at the Disney course was when they got our tee time wrong

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 9:25 am
by nocera
And yet, Disneyland cast members had to sleep in their cars because they couldn't afford rent in Anaheim with what Disney was paying. It wasn't until public outcry and bad press that they raised their hourly rate to $15 at the start of the year.

I absolutely love WDW and a lot of that is due to the cast members. You can tell how much most of them love their job and are constantly looking to improve your experience. We had our "Happily Ever After" engagement buttons on and received a ton of special treatment, free desserts at nearly every meal, champagne, free breakfast, and an anytime fast pass. We didn't ask for any of this stuff.

Pro-tip: going to WDW or DL? Wear a celebration button.

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 12:15 pm
by tifosi77
If you go on your birthday, or anniversary, or other special occasion, you get a "hello, my name is" type sticker you wear on your shirt. Cast Members are trained to recognize these (they are color coded to the type of special occasion, so they can recognize it from a distance), and then to address you by name. "Hello, Tif! Happy birthday! Are you enjoying your special day in the park?" Like that.

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 12:21 pm
by Gaucho
Do they also have stickers that indicate you want to be left alone, thanks?

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 12:23 pm
by dodint
:lol:

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 12:25 pm
by shafnutz05
Do they also have stickers that indicate you want to be left alone, thanks?
You're at the wrong place, pal.

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 12:27 pm
by Gaucho
Definitely.

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 12:35 pm
by Nuge
Disney is the worst. Calling everyone who works there a "cast member"? Get over yourself.

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 12:38 pm
by dodint
There was an episode of Roseanne where David went to work at a Disney-like theme park with the same kind of cultish ideals. So I just picture that when we have these discussions. ;)

Travel Thread

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 12:44 pm
by nocera
There was an episode of Roseanne where David went to work at a Disney-like theme park with the same kind of cultish ideals. So I just picture that when we have these discussions. ;)
Wow. What a pull. That was a German themed park named Edelweiss and David was a "friend of" Hans the Hare.