(no subject)
makes it all worth it..
i'm working the unload position at star tours. in other words, i'm pacing around the exit, awaiting guests to get off the ride and exit the building. as they exit, i thank them for flying with star tours and wish them a good day. one ride lets out after another. it's fairly routine, although very enjoyable. one ride, in particular, simply made my day today. the doors to one of the vehicles opened up, and guests began to exit the building. i'm doing the usual "thanks for flying with us, everyone. hope to see you again soon.", while smiling and giving little children a high five. a young man, about eighteen years old exits with his mother. this young man was very obviously mentally handicapped. his mom had sortof lost control of him. he comes running towards me screaming out mumbled words. it's very hard to understand him. his mother is far behind, and yells down to me, saying "i think he wants to ride again. is there anything you can do?" is there anything i can do? that's what disney's all about. i tell the mother i'd be more than happy to help, and i had them follow me back to the loading platform. the mother tells me she doesn't really want to do it again, but if i could just help him get on again, she'd greatly appreciate it. i show her to the bench where she can wait for him to exit. the young man takes me by the arm, and follows my lead. as we walk to the other side of the building, i begin small talk with him, just to make him feel that he can trust me. he's very anxious. although he cannot seem to speak any actual words, i pretend i understand what he's saying.
i show him to one of the simulators, and i tell him that i'll help him get onto the next flight. immediately, he shakes his head. he's upset. he doesn't want to get on that flight. he points down to the same simulator he just exited. he knew where he had been, and wanted to do the exact same thing again. he didn't want it to be different. although the simulator he wanted to ride in wasn't being loaded at the time, i make the special effort to take him down to that one. he wouldn't have it any other way, and neither would i. i ask him if he wants me to ride with him, to keep him company. instantly, he has a huge smile on his face and he nods his head. i get another flight attendant over to start the simulator while i sit and ride with him. not a problem at all. guest situation? let's take care of it, as a team. so here i am, sitting in this motion simulator. just the two of us. i'm on the job, i left the position i was working, and i helped this guest. while we rode, he had tears down his face, and he never let go of my hand. he laughed while he cried. he loved it. when the ride was over, he looked at me and mumbled something that sounded like "thank you." we exited the simulator and found his mother. she was so thankful and so happy. she said "i really appreciate everything you guys at disney have been doing for us during our visit. it has made him so happy." and she spends a little bit of time talking to me about him and his condition. the two of them couldn't have been happier.
and all for what? did i really go that much out of my way to help? no. it takes just that little effort, and it can make such a big impact. i think that's why i love the theme park industry so much, especially disney. there are so many opportunities to make someone's day in a theme park, and i love doing that. just seeing the expression on people's faces. that's what makes it all worth it. i asked one of my managers afterwards if i would get in trouble for leaving my position to go ride with a guest. he said "no, in fact, i wouldn't have handled that situation any differently. guest happiness is more important than you being where you're supposed to be according to the computer." that's exactly what i wanted to hear. i love working for the mouse.
p.s. - that was one of many random acts of kindness that i did today, as a cast member. it happens every day at disney.
i'm working the unload position at star tours. in other words, i'm pacing around the exit, awaiting guests to get off the ride and exit the building. as they exit, i thank them for flying with star tours and wish them a good day. one ride lets out after another. it's fairly routine, although very enjoyable. one ride, in particular, simply made my day today. the doors to one of the vehicles opened up, and guests began to exit the building. i'm doing the usual "thanks for flying with us, everyone. hope to see you again soon.", while smiling and giving little children a high five. a young man, about eighteen years old exits with his mother. this young man was very obviously mentally handicapped. his mom had sortof lost control of him. he comes running towards me screaming out mumbled words. it's very hard to understand him. his mother is far behind, and yells down to me, saying "i think he wants to ride again. is there anything you can do?" is there anything i can do? that's what disney's all about. i tell the mother i'd be more than happy to help, and i had them follow me back to the loading platform. the mother tells me she doesn't really want to do it again, but if i could just help him get on again, she'd greatly appreciate it. i show her to the bench where she can wait for him to exit. the young man takes me by the arm, and follows my lead. as we walk to the other side of the building, i begin small talk with him, just to make him feel that he can trust me. he's very anxious. although he cannot seem to speak any actual words, i pretend i understand what he's saying.
i show him to one of the simulators, and i tell him that i'll help him get onto the next flight. immediately, he shakes his head. he's upset. he doesn't want to get on that flight. he points down to the same simulator he just exited. he knew where he had been, and wanted to do the exact same thing again. he didn't want it to be different. although the simulator he wanted to ride in wasn't being loaded at the time, i make the special effort to take him down to that one. he wouldn't have it any other way, and neither would i. i ask him if he wants me to ride with him, to keep him company. instantly, he has a huge smile on his face and he nods his head. i get another flight attendant over to start the simulator while i sit and ride with him. not a problem at all. guest situation? let's take care of it, as a team. so here i am, sitting in this motion simulator. just the two of us. i'm on the job, i left the position i was working, and i helped this guest. while we rode, he had tears down his face, and he never let go of my hand. he laughed while he cried. he loved it. when the ride was over, he looked at me and mumbled something that sounded like "thank you." we exited the simulator and found his mother. she was so thankful and so happy. she said "i really appreciate everything you guys at disney have been doing for us during our visit. it has made him so happy." and she spends a little bit of time talking to me about him and his condition. the two of them couldn't have been happier.
and all for what? did i really go that much out of my way to help? no. it takes just that little effort, and it can make such a big impact. i think that's why i love the theme park industry so much, especially disney. there are so many opportunities to make someone's day in a theme park, and i love doing that. just seeing the expression on people's faces. that's what makes it all worth it. i asked one of my managers afterwards if i would get in trouble for leaving my position to go ride with a guest. he said "no, in fact, i wouldn't have handled that situation any differently. guest happiness is more important than you being where you're supposed to be according to the computer." that's exactly what i wanted to hear. i love working for the mouse.
p.s. - that was one of many random acts of kindness that i did today, as a cast member. it happens every day at disney.