Jeese, you think that you know someone.
I mean, I had thought — given that letter that JHM published here yesterday (the one that described — in great detail — how difficult it was to for WDW cast members to work at DAK’s “Kilimanjaro Safari” attraction) sounded so arduous … I thought for sure that other Disney World employees would come forward and show a little sympathy for their Animal Kingdom brethren.
But that’s NOT what happened, people. Instead, I got an in-box full of “suck it up” letters. Somewhat hostile e-mails from other Disney World cast members who took Kilimanjaro Safari staffers to task for daring to say that their job was actually the hardest to do at the Central Florida Resort.
Take — for example — this letter from a WDW cast member who works over at MGM:
Hey there, Jim.
I work at the Disney-MGM Studios at “The Great Movie Ride,” and I have to say I totally disagree with the article you ran today.
Yes, it’s a shame that the (“Kilimanjaro Safari”) cast members have to (work in) uncomfortable conditions like a lack of AC or uncomfortable seats. But — as far as being classified as entertainment — that’s another story.
We at “The Great Movie Ride” have an equally long spiel to deliver. Admittedly, we’re indoors on a slow moving vehicle and our animatronics can’t dart out (in front of) us and hit our vehicle. But that doesn’t mean we don’t work just as hard as they do.
Believe me, the question has been raised (previously) as far as if we should be considered entertainment. If we did, we’d have to become Equity performers. And — in doing that — all of us would have to audition (to be drivers on “The Great Movie Ride” again. MGM management) wouldn’t just say “Well, you’re already here. You can stay here.”
And — let me tell you — not a whole lot of us would make it past an Equity audition. The streetmosphere characters would take over the ride and we’d be out of a job. There wouldn’t be a chance for a regular guy like me to be a tour guide, gangster or bandit.
So — yes — we do have some lackluster tour guides (working at “The Great Movie Ride.”) But — if they’re TRULY horrible — we do talk to them and try to help their performance. And (if that doesn’t work, we) occasionally do remove a tour guide and send them to (work at another Disney-MGM attraction.)
As for becoming a Gangster or Bandit, we don’t have auditions (that would be illegal to have closed auditions just for GMR tour guides). But our managers do pick who they think would be the most reliable people for the job — those who have quality show (experience, a) good attendance (record, a) good attitude, etc.
I think the (cast member problems over at Animal Kingdom have) to come down to the individual managers at Kilamanjaro (Safaris). At GMR, we have fantastic managers who would (and have) bend over backwards to help us.
If we have an accident (like hitting another vehicle), we don’t get “termed,” although we will get a reprimand. We’re not (always) under (such) intense pressure to go-go-go all the time. And we (also) get a very high percentage on gate capture as well, seeing as we’re the only family ride in the park that’s open right now.
But since the writer’s a member of the 362 union they should remember one thing: You can always transfer out. If you’re being horribly mistreated and don’t want to stay, nothing is making you unless you’ve already got reprimands under your belt for things you shouldn’t be doing anyways.
Yes, it does kinda suck that I’m only making $6.35 an hour. But you know what? I packed up and moved from several states away just to be here. I sacrificed a job that paid me $10.50 an hour to come be a Disney cast member.
Some people have to remember that if they don’t want their job there’s scores of other people waiting to take it from them.
Not exactly a sympathetic show of support, is it? Well, wait ’til you get a load of this letter from Robbo, another Disney World cast member who also didn’t see to be all that sympathetic about all the crud that DAK’s “Kilimajaro Safari” drivers are going through:
Jim,
As another WDW Attractions Host, let me offer you (and your readers) a better picture of things (of the way things work at Walt Disney World) without so much “sob story” included.
The (Disney World cast member who sent in that letter today did their) best to make it seem (like the drivers on DAK’s “Kilimajaro Safari” attraction have it a lot tougher than any other WDW) hosts (by including lines like): “You can just not imagine what a tough job it is to be a safari guide on DAK’s Kilimanjaro Safari, Jim.”
Well, can you not imagine the difficulty of ANY attractions position?
Let’s start with the spiels. When you go to Casting and ask to be considered for Attractions, they ask you — point blank — Can you stand for long periods of time? Can you recite lengthy memorized narrations? Can you be outdoors for long periods in the FL weather?
All Attractions require spiels. Some are long, like “The Jungle Cruise,” “Living with the Land” and “The Great Movie Ride.” Some are medium length — about 8 minutes per show — like the “Universe of Energy” (All direct narration in “Energy,” including pre-show introduction/conclusion, interactive segment, and the LONG boarding safety spiel, and the exit narrative is delivered live by a host). To say “Safari” has an “unheard of” spiel requirement is nuts. It’s part of the job in attractions. Even simple attractions have to deliver a spiel — even “Dumbo.”
How about those 40 guests? That’s how many each host is responsible for at “Body Wars” and “Star Tours” in each vehicle. That’s a small number. Theater shows have more, of course. But — even sticking to things that move and thus are potentially dangerous and could maim — how about “The Carousel of Progress”? Are we asking too much of those hosts? Again with “Energy,” it has 500 people per vehicle set (2 sets, 1 pre-show) and only one host per 500.
Each attraction has its own “problems.” “Test Track” hosts are so stressed that they have to get doctor’s notes to get transferred away from the attraction — or they threaten to throw themselves on the track. But some hosts thrive there.
The nightmare of (daily dealing with all those strollers parked out in front of) “Small World” is enough to make anyone rethink working Attractions. But some people love those little dolls.
At “Energy,” when it breaks down, you’re facing 500 angry people because the ride cannot be restarted without a full reset and 45 minute test-show for safety. (BTW, it breaks down more often than “Test Track” which was notorious for it.) Oh, and you’re also responsible for moving the vehicles, show doors, and massive turntables back into position manually. If you wreck a show element or vehicle by pushing the wrong button sequence, you’re a goner.
Responsibility? People get out of vehicles all the time. You’d think they wouldn’t, but they do. All hosts have to monitor their guests and try not to hit them with vehicles — and they’re held responsible if they do. At “Star Tours,” you can be termed for launching (when) someone who is under height (and/or seated without) their seatbelt (being) fastened. If you fail to perform seatbelt check properly at “Test Track,” you’re gone. It’s a safety thing, you cannot put the guests in danger and by making a mistake like driving off the track is just as dangerous as pushing the wrong sequence at “Energy” or letting a simulator launch without seatbelts fastened.
Injuries? Pain? Again, it comes with the territory. Try pushing wheelchairs up non-ADA-compliant ramps all day. Heck, basic hydraulic doors can slam shut and bash you in the face. Ever try walking on a moving platform? Consider what happens when it stops?
Come to think of it — that’s why I heard the SeaCabs at “The Living Seas” went away. The host was required to walk on a platform, stopping briefly to stand tippy-toe on a metal ledge so they could deliver live spiel into a console microphone, jump back onto the platform to load guests without missing a beat. The best part being (that) the vehicles had no doors. So — if someone stuck their foot out and skimmed an intrusion mat — the whole system emergency stopped and the host on the platform was almost guaranteed to fall flat on their face.
(Those folks over at DAK’s “Kilimanjaro Safari” ride?) They signed on for a job which is an attraction.
Don’t like the pay? (Then) don’t do it. But (those folks are NOT entitled to ask for) anything more than anyone else with the same (job) title (gets).
Interesting e-mails, don’t you think? Sort of puts the whole thing in perspective … kind of.
Which brings me to my next question? What IS the toughest job to do at the Disney theme parks? I always thought the cast members who walked around in those character costumes had it tough. But — at the same time — I thought that Disney employees who handled crowd control at the park’s parades had it bad too. And let’s not forget about the poor guy who sweeps up after the horses.
But what about you? Who would you say has the toughest job to do at the Disney theme parks?