Is dlp worth doing after wow?

[Gill H]

We once met two Anaheim CMs at DLP and spent a fascinating hour talking with them. They understood the cultural difference perfectly. When a French person walks into a shop, they say 'Messieurs-Dames' (Ladies and Gentlemen) as they enter. It is the customer's role to do this, not the staff. Then they are left alone to browse until they ask for help. It is considered very rude and pushy for staff to 'pester' a customer, they should not be interacted with until they ask for something.

The US style where a CM swoops on you, asks you about your day and practically invites you for dinner would be loathed across most of Europe. It's seen as tacky, fake, pushy or just plain rude.

However, if you go up to a CM and start a conversation, they are thrilled. We chatted with so many who go to WDW every year for their holidays. In particular we were impressed with Sebastien in Town Square. We were at the end of a character queue and it was closing. He had to tell guests the queue was closed, which he did, in about 6 languages, always guessing the correct language before the guests even spoke! We asked him how he did it, and he laughed and said usually by their clothes!

Then there was the time in Inventions when a little girl near me started getting anxious because she couldn't see her mum. A nearby CM noticed, quietly went over and said in French that she could see her mum just coming back from the buffet. No-one else would have seen or heard what happened. To me, that is the DLP 'Disney way' - unobtrusive rather than showy.

If you want friendly interaction from CMs, you need to initiate it by being friendly to them.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Gill H

We once met two Anaheim CMs at DLP and spent a fascinating hour talking with them. They understood the cultural difference perfectly. When a French person walks into a shop, they say 'Messieurs-Dames' (Ladies and Gentlemen) as they enter. It is the customer's role to do this, not the staff. Then they are left alone to browse until they ask for help. It is considered very rude and pushy for staff to 'pester' a customer, they should not be interacted with until they ask for something.

The US style where a CM swoops on you, asks you about your day and practically invites you for dinner would be loathed across most of Europe. It's seen as tacky, fake, pushy or just plain rude.

However, if you go up to a CM and start a conversation, they are thrilled. We chatted with so many who go to WDW every year for their holidays. In particular we were impressed with Sebastien in Town Square. We were at the end of a character queue and it was closing. He had to tell guests the queue was closed, which he did, in about 6 languages, always guessing the correct language before the guests even spoke! We asked him how he did it, and he laughed and said usually by their clothes!

Then there was the time in Inventions when a little girl near me started getting anxious because she couldn't see her mum. A nearby CM noticed, quietly went over and said in French that she could see her mum just coming back from the buffet. No-one else would have seen or heard what happened. To me, that is the DLP 'Disney way' - unobtrusive rather than showy.

If you want friendly interaction from CMs, you need to initiate it by being friendly to them.

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a few good points

It just didnt work in DLP though, i gave a example of the guy ignoring my family and my french speaking wife while he continued to chat to his friend ( stood next to us ), now thats just rude, surely we can agree on that

The servers ( more than once ) just throwing down plates, no " bon appetit ", nothing, we really wanted to embrace DLP, the number of times we said " bonjour " to CM's as we walked into the parks with nothing back, once again, rudeness

we asked a CM if they had a larger Remy ( once again in french ) the CM just shrugged her shoulders and walked of

Your example of the lost girl, we have seen in WDW aswell, of course they dont go over the top, they keep is low key to keep the child calm

As i have said, my 7 yr old asked " why was he / she so grumpy " now we could say that she is used to the happiness of WDW, the CM's high five'ing her as she got of a ride, the fact that in DLP she was met by a surly face just pointing to the exit with not a ounce of happiness or even the chance of cracking a smile

its easy to say " If you want friendly interaction from CMs, you need to initiate it by being friendly to them " but when you see the same sour face after sour face greeting you, it makes you think, it is a lost cause


It sounds like we had a bad time, we didnt, infact i was asked today if we had been to DLP as a csutomer of mine is going in 2 weeks, i said " yes and it was ok, we had fun " they then asked if it was as good as WDW, i just laughed and said " no, not even close, but you will have fun "

[Gill H]

Fair enough. Shame though, in 9 visits we have never met a rude CM. But we don't have children so wouldn't expect things like being high-fived - certainly never happened to us in WDW!

Just to clarify, the little girl wasn't lost, she was sat at her table. Her mum had been at the buffet in the next room a while and the girl couldn't see her. Nobody else would have noticed she started to get a bit wriggly and her bottom lip started sticking out. I was really impressed by the extra level of care taken.

[Stitchfan626]

In all my visits I don't think I've ever met a rude CM and only one slightly grumpy one!

Just out of interest what language do you speak in DLP? I try and speak as much French as possible (often badly) as years ago I was told by someone (can't even remember who and this was before DLP existed!) that it is really appreciated if you make the effort even if you get stuff wrong. That really resonated with me and therefore I speak as much as I can and encourage my DS to do the same. In my last visit I had some brilliant moments of my DS saying Bonjour and Merci at random times. He even made the scary Eurostar security man laugh even though he was trying not too

[Tink75]

The thing is we came across rude servers and CMs in WDW last year! My Mum was largely ignored in a CS in HS until I went across and asked if they could see her - too busy chatting to each other!

I've never come across such rude and cold staff as the staff at our resort - OKW. We stayed 18 nights and I was very unimpressed. They make a beeline and fuss over DVC customers. Fine, however this shouldn't be at the detriment of the cash payers - 18 nts in a 2 bed in August didn't come cheap but we never once felt like we were given service to match that price tag.

I could produce lots of examples of superb care at DLH. And yes, one or two not so good examples.

But, you can pick out examples anywhere you go to be honest. Especially if you are actively looking for it.

DLRP is magical to us and always will be. I know I'm in the minority, but our family would rather go to DLRP than WDW. The only thing that we miss is Epcot!

[Tink75]

Originally Posted by Stitchfan626

In all my visits I don't think I've ever met a rude CM and only one slightly grumpy one!

Just out of interest what language do you speak in DLP? I try and speak as much French as possible (often badly) as years ago I was told by someone (can't even remember who and this was before DLP existed!) that it is really appreciated if you make the effort even if you get stuff wrong. That really resonated with me and therefore I speak as much as I can and encourage my DS to do the same. In my last visit I had some brilliant moments of my DS saying Bonjour and Merci at random times. He even made the scary Eurostar security man laugh even though he was trying not too

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To be fair Matt says his wife speaks French. But encountered rude staff/issues even with that.

I am of the same opinion as you though - even my children try the odd word and it's really appreciated. Or at least we have found it is!

The thing is, everyone's experiences are different. But I think one of the main problems is people step through that gate and expect it to be an American Disney, which despite the quotes above, it isn't. If you go with that in mind, you may well be disappointed.

I'd also say that Walt died an awfully long time ago - I'm fairly sure his vision (and so quotes) were meant for an American market and Disneyland. I'm certain had he been alive today, he would have had a different slant on the European and Asian parks.

[Gill H]

I take issue with that 'awfully long time ago' as he died the day before I was born ...!

(Yeah, I'm old)

[lisa12000___]

i have to agree with those above. I had a gap between 2010 and last year going to WDW, and had 2 visits to DLP in between those and thoroughly enjoyed them both. My partner is totally anti theme park, and he prefers DLP to WDW (he much prefers universal which has less CM interaction anyway). I found last year that the standard of friendliness and service had gone down so much in the parks, and MK was overcrowded, and just not pleasant to be in. Now don't get me wrong, i absolutely adore WDW and have been there 6 times in the last 12 years but i was left decidedly underwhelmed

As for DLP, i don't expect the CM to be 'American' or have the US style of interaction, and tbh I'm glad about that as i find the constant over-the-top nature a little bit too much at times but i have only encountered one rude cast member who, when asking a question at a ride, walked off just shouting 'no english' (i really did try to say a bit of french lol), everyone else at the hotels were lovely and it was an awesome short trip.

now don't get me started about a few French people outside the parks! i got into Paris by plane from Barcelona and the TGV had been stopped due to a fatality on the line so we tried to ask the guard what to do with the tickets and he literally ignored me, and a couple of other English couples, and would only speak to the French/Germans etc it was so blatant (i also got told off for not asking for milk in my tea from a vendor lol) Now i have NEVER seen that sort of rudeness in the parks, its always been lovely

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Stitchfan626

Just out of interest what language do you speak in DLP? I try and speak as much French as possible (often badly) as years ago I was told by someone (can't even remember who and this was before DLP existed!) that it is really appreciated if you make the effort even if you get stuff wrong.

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My wife speaks french, both my girls and myself would say Merci, bonjour etc etc

[BevS97]

We are here at the moment, we've been to WDW 10 times, and this is our 3rd visit to DLP and the first in 10 years.
We are having a great time, no it's not WDW but I have thoroughly enjoyed our day at Disney Studios today, and it was all the better for being a completely new experience. Apart from Tower of Terror, everything we did today was new to all of us, and the new Ratatoille ride, and in fact that whole area, is superb, as is the Cars and Toy Story area.

I have a few niggles, but they are small. We have some vouchers for a 'tea time' snack, but you can only redeem them between 3 and 6, and only for some very specific items, a donut or an ice cream, plus a drink. We wanted a drink earlier in the day but had to buy one, and at 5:30 we still hadn't really wanted our snack, so ended up cashing them in for water and donuts to save for later. I don't see why they need to be time restricted, and a few more choices would be nice, but it's quite a minor niggle.

I also think the hotels need food courts, or some sort of quick service. Tonight we don't want a big buffet, but we will need to eat something. We are going to head into the bar where there are nachos and hot-dogs, but something between bar snacks and a full buffet would be useful.