Question For WDW Cast Members

[WEDWDW]

Do you guys like it when a Guest fills out a Guest Fanatic Card for you?

Is it something you really like getting?Is it a "big deal"?

When we as Guests have a magical experience with a CM,should we DEFINITELY make a point of making time to go by GR and fill out a form or is more of if we have time,fine,if we don't have time,fine?

Thanks!

[ugadog99]

Mother of a CM: YES, YES, YES please if a CM stands out to you in some way, please fill out a GSF card! It does matter!

[mickeyonasticky]

As a former CM, absolutely, 100x YES.

It's one thing to get a GSF from a fellow CM, coordinator, or even leader. It's another thing ENTIRELY to know that a Guest took a few minutes of their wonderful, expensive vacation to commend you on something that you probably didn't even realize you were doing so well.

Guests can either go to Guest Relations and ask to leave a CM comment or fill out a GSF card, or they can look for a manager in/around the location of the Cast Member.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST thing is a letter written by a Guest after they got home from their vacation. I never received a Guest letter, but in my work location, Guest letters were printed out (or copied, if they were hand-written), placed in a special folder, and presented to the Cast Member at a morning/mid-shift/closing meeting, sometimes with pixie dust thrown.

It really is one of the best feelings when you do something for a Guest that makes them want to formally compliment you on it.

[Berlioz70]

For further clarification ...

When a Guest fills out a card at Guest Relations it's considered an applause-o-gram and goes on the record card as such and is great.

If a Guest goes home and hand writes a letter it's considered a Guest Letter and is an ever BIGGER deal (depending on the situation, some Cast recieve pins and other awards based on that letter).

The GSF referenced above (which were actually discontinued in 2012 and replaced by the 4KB cards) are for Cast to Cast - that is not something a Guest can fill out (unless said Guest is also a CM). Those are good to and also go on the record card.

Any recogintion is GOOD - thank you to the Guests that take time to mention their special moments with Cast!

[mickeyonasticky]

Originally Posted by Berlioz70

For further clarification ...

When a Guest fills out a card at Guest Relations it's considered an applause-o-gram and goes on the record card as such and is great.

If a Guest goes home and hand writes a letter it's considered a Guest Letter and is an ever BIGGER deal (depending on the situation, some Cast recieve pins and other awards based on that letter).

The GSF referenced above (which were actually discontinued in 2012 and replaced by the 4KB cards) are for Cast to Cast - that is not something a Guest can fill out (unless said Guest is also a CM). Those are good to and also go on the record card.

Any recogintion is GOOD - thank you to the Guests that take time to mention their special moments with Cast!

I've received a GSF card from a Guest. I assume they went to Guest Relations, asked to leave a compliment for a Cast Member, told the Guest Relations CM what I did to make their day, and the Guest Relations CM filled out a GSF for me on their behalf.

Edited to add: I also never had an applause-o-gram show up on my record card. All GSFs/4KBs were notated as GSFs or 4KBs. I'm certainly not saying you're wrong, it's just my experience :]

[Berlioz70]

Originally Posted by mickeyonasticky

I've received a GSF card from a Guest. I assume they went to Guest Relations, asked to leave a compliment for a Cast Member, told the Guest Relations CM what I did to make their day, and the Guest Relations CM filled out a GSF for me on their behalf.

Edited to add: I also never had an applause-o-gram show up on my record card. All GSFs/4KBs were notated as GSFs or 4KBs. I'm certainly not saying you're wrong, it's just my experience :]

That's weird that GR wouldn't use the A-O-G or perhaps the Guest was a CM? I carry around 4KB in my purse and fill them out for Cast when I'm visiting the park, I know many others that do the same thing. I always give them directly to the Cast Member, some will give them to Leaders in the area.

You should make a copy of any A-O-Gs you have and give them to your Leader - those should go on your record! Unlike a 4KB that has 2 copies, the A-O-G needs to be photographed. I know I photograph my casts' before I give it to them so we can get it on their record.

[jtowntoflorida]

Originally Posted by mickeyonasticky

THE ABSOLUTE BEST thing is a letter written by a Guest after they got home from their vacation. I never received a Guest letter, but in my work location, Guest letters were printed out (or copied, if they were hand-written), placed in a special folder, and presented to the Cast Member at a morning/mid-shift/closing meeting, sometimes with pixie dust thrown.

Originally Posted by Berlioz70

If a Guest goes home and hand writes a letter it's considered a Guest Letter and is an ever BIGGER deal (depending on the situation, some Cast recieve pins and other awards based on that letter).

Thank you guys so much for these comments. I sent an email about an outstanding CM we encountered on our vacation in 2011 and I was surprised to get a followup call from someone with Disney. She said that the CM in question would get a copy of our letter and would receive some sort of recognition for it, but I had no idea that it was really THAT big of a deal. I'm so happy that I could do something good for someone who created so much magic for our family.

[auntfrannie]

Originally Posted by mickeyonasticky

As a former CM, absolutely, 100x YES.

It's one thing to get a GSF from a fellow CM, coordinator, or even leader. It's another thing ENTIRELY to know that a Guest took a few minutes of their wonderful, expensive vacation to commend you on something that you probably didn't even realize you were doing so well.

Guests can either go to Guest Relations and ask to leave a CM comment or fill out a GSF card, or they can look for a manager in/around the location of the Cast Member.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST thing is a letter written by a Guest after they got home from their vacation. I never received a Guest letter, but in my work location, Guest letters were printed out (or copied, if they were hand-written), placed in a special folder, and presented to the Cast Member at a morning/mid-shift/closing meeting, sometimes with pixie dust thrown.

It really is one of the best feelings when you do something for a Guest that makes them want to formally compliment you on it.

That is so good to know! I write a letter to Disney Corporate after every visit where I've had outstanding service and always have a couple of CMs to name. I'm glad that this gets pushed down to the person who made the impact and they get some kind of recognition.

[Mom2six]

If you wanted to write an email about a super great CM, where would you send it?

[leeg229]

Originally Posted by WEDWDW

Do you guys like it when a Guest fills out a Guest Fanatic Card for you?

Is it something you really like getting?Is it a "big deal"?

When we as Guests have a magical experience with a CM,should we DEFINITELY make a point of making time to go by GR and fill out a form or is more of if we have time,fine,if we don't have time,fine?

Thanks!

As a former CP and hopefully a CP again for fall 2013 allow me to say...

YES YES YES YES

OK sorry about that. There are three levels of recognition that you could give us:
1st you talk to our leader and they issue us a GSF or 4 keys basics card. (I got about 11 of these!!)

2nd You talk to Guest Relations and we get an Applause-o-gram, this is really really cool looking and looks very official. (I got 1!)

3rd, and this one meant the most to me, you write a email or letter to corporate and everyone from your area leader down to you knows you got a guest letter and they print out a copy of it for you and you are the subject of the morning opening meeting that day. When I got my letter I was nearly brought to tears to think that a guest would remember me when they got home and think that the simple little thing I did had a big impact on their vacation.

It makes you feel soooo goood when someone takes even a minute out of their day to simply say, "You were awesome". This is the equivalent of a magical moment for CMs.

A picture of the very cool Applause-o-gram you get!

[DVCBELLE]

I once wrote a letter about a Cast member(character) who made my daughter's trip extremely magical...they printed the letter in the Main St Diary and on future trips we saw the CM/Princess on two other occasions and I know it was a BIG DEAL b/c she went WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND the call of duty on those future visits with my daughter!!!

We always make a point of stopping by guest relations because I know that it means a lot to the CMs. I know so many of them have totally thankless jobs and yet they still have such great attitudes so if someone makes our day a little brighter I am sure to return the favor!!!

[DisneyGirl421]

YES!!

I've gotten a few applause-o-grams from guests, and I've also gotten a couple guest letters. It's such an awesome feeling to know that a guest took some time out of their vacation (or even took the time to write a letter after the fact) just to recognize you!

[goofieslonglostsis]

Originally Posted by leeg229

As a former CP and hopefully a CP again for fall 2013 allow me to say...

YES YES YES YES

OK sorry about that. There are three levels of recognition that you could give us:
1st you talk to our leader and they issue us a GSF or 4 keys basics card. (I got about 11 of these!!)

2nd You talk to Guest Relations and we get an Applause-o-gram, this is really really cool looking and looks very official. (I got 1!)

3rd, and this one meant the most to me, you write a email or letter to corporate and everyone from your area leader down to you knows you got a guest letter and they print out a copy of it for you and you are the subject of the morning opening meeting that day. When I got my letter I was nearly brought to tears to think that a guest would remember me when they got home and think that the simple little thing I did had a big impact on their vacation.

It makes you feel soooo goood when someone takes even a minute out of their day to simply say, "You were awesome". This is the equivalent of a magical moment for CMs.

Don't know what it is, guess it might be the way you're expressing yourself, but somehow this post hit me. I knew about positive feedback going into files. I knew about trickling back to those named. Knew it, been there, done that so to say. And yet this post somehow made it sink in to another level. I've become a sobbing fool on the subject of interaction but there was something in the post that actually moved me to tears.



On subject; yes it is a big thing. First learned about it on -where else - here, so when some amazing things happened on a first trip I took the time to make sure it got noticed. Have been doing so ever since, either by mailing, dropping in by GS or concierge. Whenever possible always voice my findings right then and there to the involved CM, but that's not always possible and I just value giving back what you receive. Hearing thanks is always lovely, but I can totally understand that it's even more welcome when that can have a positive effect when letting the company know. It's not like that's asking so much of me to do, so I do it.

And sometimes there are just those............ loose ends. On my last trip, let's just say stuff happened. It's been talked over and about multiple times, both between me and CM's (involved and/or their managers -also involved-) and I know it's been subject of discussion between themselves. I've been able to thank most involved personally face to face afterwards. Also took the time to write in afterwards, it was the very least I could do. Yet, there are a few loose ends. Some I know I will be able to kinda end on a next trip. One, sometimes doubt if I ever will find out. That one CM sometimes almost "haunts" me. So young, so not expecting to be confronted with what I came upto her desk with, for one second seemed as if she was too shocked but then got onto things and "just did her job". The first in a long line of those involved in a huge amazing thing. Haven't got a clue who she was. Not that that is important to me, but it nags at me not knowing for sure she knows how gratefull I am and how huge of an impact she made. The "haunting" is a combination of that and....... call it worrying about her. Remembering her first reacting, that impact, remembering impact it had on me and others involved, it sometimes makes me wonder. Hoping it hasn't had a negative impact.


When wondering if your feedback might harm a CM; simply do not mention anything you are not 100% sure about feeling OK with mentioning. Sometimes it does not need getting into details about any and all. Using a more general description and just sticking to how that CM influenced you/your group can be enough without always having to tell how they did it.

[ars0525]

I sent an email to WDW.Guest.Communications@disneyworld.com

I rec'd an instant your message has been sent notification & then a day or 2 later I got a more personal message stating they were happy to hear I was happy & that the comments would be shared with the areas mentioned (I specifically mentioned 1 CM plus generic overall good service spots).

I have found since my last Disney visit I am quick to praise good customer service because it seems to be such a hard thing to find lately. I work in customer service so I understand, but a smile, pleasant attitude & willingness to help goes a long way. I have asked for managers at McDonald's, Victoria's Secret, Kohl's, anywhere I have an encounter with somebody who does their job well or above & beyond. Usually it's funny cause the manager gets this "uh-oh" look & are so surprised to hear a compliment.

[rlthomas7]

Can a CM ever get in trouble for going above and beyond? At AoA in September, a lady from housekeeping heard my son going on and on about a painting of Mr. Ray (his favorite character of all time). So she came out and made him a stingray out of washcloths and hand towels and told him he could take it home. I have a picture of her and could get her name from it, but could she get in trouble for giving away the hotel's property? I don't want my kudos to backfire!