OK, the new update when fireworks and Fantasmic! guest control is being discussed the term "pimple-faced ride operator in a pirate outfit". I am pirates ride op, I work guest control in the hub. We do out job very well despite the many guests that ignore us (that's when shining a flashlight in an eye or blocking a video camera comes in handy). We do not need help from security, WHO BELIEVE ME, is no more competent than us. Security often tries to come out and help us, but being as they have no experience in crowd control or moving people quickly from one place to another, they usually stand around doing nothing. We politely tell them to stop slowing us down and go find a lost kid. Bottom line here, we attractions kids do our job in the hub/plaza area, and we do it damn well! And BTW, I have beuatifully clear skin and look damn sexy in my Pirates outfit!

FF

:| ok :|

OK, the new update when fireworks and Fantasmic! guest control is being discussed the term "pimple-faced ride operator in a pirate outfit". I am pirates ride op, I work guest control in the hub. We do out job very well despite the many guests that ignore us (that's when shining a flashlight in an eye or blocking a video camera comes in handy). We do not need help from security, WHO BELIEVE ME, is no more competent than us. Security often tries to come out and help us, but being as they have no experience in crowd control or moving people quickly from one place to another, they usually stand around doing nothing. We politely tell them to stop slowing us down and go find a lost kid. Bottom line here, we attractions kids do our job in the hub/plaza area, and we do it damn well! And BTW, I have beuatifully clear skin and look damn sexy in my Pirates outfit!

FFI Had The Best Visit Last Month During the b-day week & Thank you Guest control. I am a big fan of fantasmic/RDCT fireworks! People Can Be so Ignorant!!! I love the part about stopping people fromfilming in walkways etc. thats great! Thanx again it's because of you guys that the magic was regulated & Exprienced! I hate people who think they can bend the rules, by cutting through viewing areas,stopping in walkways , & just plain disrespect for others careening through crowds the wrong way!!! just ignore it! besides don't CM's call it pest control under their breath when they get the schedule for the day? I know I used to!!!!
:D

Note that the epithet in question (from the News and Views (http://www.mouseplanet.com/parkupdates/dlr/dlr050801.htm#NewsAndViews) section of the August 1-8 Disneyland Resort update) is a quote from "an insider". MousePlanet editors didn't say that, it's simply being reported. We welcome your feedback (http://www.mouseplanet.com/php/mailform.php?topic=mailbag) and/or contributions (http://www.mouseplanet.com/php/mailform.php?topic=update).

Note that the epithet in question (from the News and Views (http://www.mouseplanet.com/parkupdates/dlr/dlr050801.htm#NewsAndViews) section of the August 1-8 Disneyland Resort update) is a quote from "an insider". MousePlanet editors didn't say that, it's simply being reported. We welcome your feedback (http://www.mouseplanet.com/php/mailform.php?topic=mailbag) and/or contributions (http://www.mouseplanet.com/php/mailform.php?topic=update).

I wouldn't even call it an epithet...Didn't the quote came from David Koenig reported by MP. The phrase he used is most likely a reference to the pimply faced kid in "The Simpson's" that always seems to be working at Krusty Burger.

I'm sure the author was trying to illustrate Disney’s belief that the mere presence of an imposing figure in a security guard outfit will help control the crowd somewhat better then a regular cast member who many people ignore in the mad rush after the show. With it being such a madhouse, anything they try is a plus.

Besides, the phrase is funny! When I read it, I didn't think it demeaning at all...it made me want to go watch my DVD's of the Simpson's!

I
Besides, the phrase is funny! When I read it, I didn't think it demeaning at all...it made me want to go watch my DVD's of the Simpson's!

Actually when I read it I thought "geez that is not very nice to those kids working crowd control" - it sounded demeaning to me - not that I haven't heard worse but still seemed like a rude comment to me. jmo

Moderator's note: I moved this to columns.

-Helen
Who does not write for MousePlanet

I wouldn't even call it an epithet...Didn't the quote came from David Koenig reported by MP. The phrase he used is most likely a reference to the pimply faced kid in "The Simpson's" that always seems to be working at Krusty Burger.
So we can be absolutely clear, I am pasting the relevant portion here and have italicised the quoted material to easily differentiate it from the editorial material.

Operations could use the help. “It's no secret the Hub-centric fireworks have turned Disneyland into barely controlled civil unrest on busy summer nights, and until they can bring in the bulldozers to rip out planters and widen walkways this fall, they are desperate to try anything,” said one insider. “[Management] feels it would be beneficial to have some security officers working Guest Control shifts, as most people would obey the "Stay To Your Right!" command from a mature Security officer over the desperate pleas of a pimple-faced ride operator in a pirate outfit or yellow polyester shirt. Those security cast members will still make their normal pay rate, and it will usually be $6 or $7 more per hour than the average part-time ride operators who currently fill all of those Guest Control shifts. It will also be a way to get more Security cast members working a full 40 hours per week, since most other cast members in Operations departments are working 50 or 60 hours per week this summer.”
I don't particularly like the description either, but your anger should be directed at the "insider"--presumably someone in Disneyland operations, though as I am not involved in the editorial process I don't know--and not the MousePlanet editors. That's all I have to say on the topic.

It was an ill-advised phrase to use as well as demeaning to all CMs, whether they be wearing pirate outfits, yellow polyester shirts, or whatever. Over all, there seems to be a quick impulse to dump on Disney CMs whenever any little thing doesn't go perfectly.
I'm behind ya, Sexy Pirate Guy!

It’s true that perhaps a better choice of words could have been used, but I’m not so sure this phrase was meant to be insulting to cast members working crowd control. I think it was used to underscore how difficult it’s become to handle the enormous crowds before, during and after the fireworks which I think everyone agrees is getting unruly, and at times down right dangerous to both guests and cast members.

In large part crowds ARE ignoring cast members who are doing their best to maintain control, but in a massive free for all, they do not have much impact. Maybe Disney’s thought process is by putting numerous uniformed security guards in key places during the fireworks show, their presence will hopefully allow other CM’s to get the crowds under control. People are less likely to become unruly around uniformed guards and guests don’t know that security is not trained in crowd control; they just see a uniformed authority figure.

It would be interesting to know if the quote “pimple-faced ride operator” is a direct quote from Koeing’s source or if he is paraphrasing. However, it’s certainly no fault of Mouseplanet for publishing the information.

I would assume that, if David put it in quotes, it was a direct quote. Paraphrased information is never quoted. David's work is not sloppy.

OK, the new update when fireworks and Fantasmic! guest control is being discussed the term "pimple-faced ride operator in a pirate outfit". I am pirates ride op, I work guest control in the hub. We do out job very well despite the many guests that ignore us (that's when shining a flashlight in an eye or blocking a video camera comes in handy). We do not need help from security, WHO BELIEVE ME, is no more competent than us. Security often tries to come out and help us, but being as they have no experience in crowd control or moving people quickly from one place to another, they usually stand around doing nothing. We politely tell them to stop slowing us down and go find a lost kid. Bottom line here, we attractions kids do our job in the hub/plaza area, and we do it damn well! And BTW, I have beuatifully clear skin and look damn sexy in my Pirates outfit!

FF

Yes, the term was not appropriate and could've been worded differently. Though, I do have to agree, your frustration is understandable and justified, it should be directed not at MP but at the insider.

I Had The Best Visit Last Month During the b-day week & Thank you Guest control. I am a big fan of fantasmic/RDCT fireworks! People Can Be so Ignorant!!! I love the part about stopping people fromfilming in walkways etc. thats great! Thanx again it's because of you guys that the magic was regulated & Exprienced! I hate people who think they can bend the rules, by cutting through viewing areas,stopping in walkways , & just plain disrespect for others careening through crowds the wrong way!!! just ignore it! besides don't CM's call it pest control under their breath when they get the schedule for the day? I know I used to!!!!
:D

I do have to agree with this. As I stated in a previous and different thread, if both guests and CMs could just work together during these times, more magic could be shared. Be nice to the CMs. They're just trying to get by in life, doing a good AND DIFFICULT job, at the happiest place on earth.

I'm sure the author was trying to illustrate Disney’s belief that the mere presence of an imposing figure in a security guard outfit will help control the crowd somewhat better then a regular cast member who many people ignore in the mad rush after the show. With it being such a madhouse, anything they try is a plus.

And I do have to agree with this. Because MAYBE guests would be more inclined to listen if there are some security guards were around to assist with it. Because they do make a more imposing presence. And, as the OP had stated, if they would actually do more than just stand around, but work TOGETHER with the CM's, I think traffic can be controlled a lot better.

In large part crowds ARE ignoring cast members who are doing their best to maintain control, but in a massive free for all, they do not have much impact. Maybe Disney’s thought process is by putting numerous uniformed security guards in key places during the fireworks show, their presence will hopefully allow other CM’s to get the crowds under control. People are less likely to become unruly around uniformed guards and guests don’t know that security is not trained in crowd control; they just see a uniformed authority figure.

And this one I have to agree with as well. Maybe Disney was a little bit unprepared or didn't expect the amount or actual size of the crowds that would come to the park for the 50th and the fireworks. The fireworks are SO good and gets such a draw, maybe they just may not have anticipated just how much of a draw the show would really bring. The exiting crowd, and the CMs and security trying to control it going down Main Street, is like seeing goat in the middle of a huge cattle drive. (My apologies if that metaphor offends anyone, it's not meant to. The exiting crowd just reminds everyone as I'm sure, of a cattle drive. And somehow I think the term sheepdog, wouldn't quite fit.) There is a way that could possibly help TRY to solve this problem, and the powers that be have already tried using this. Attract the audience away from the plaza hub to other areas of the park. Such as Small World and Rivers of America. But the action during the show in the hub is just SO good, that it will be very difficult to do this. Everyone wants to see the different sequences, and see Tinkerbell. There's not really a whole lot anyone can do, security OR cm's, with the massive amounts of people exiting the park after the show. Maybe it just might look bad because with the huge amount of people going down Main Street among those buildings is like herding cattle through a canyon with high walls on both sides. It's a long bottleneck,and there's only one way, one direction, to go. Everytime I have seen the fireworks, I go wide and travel through the shops, and usually, once I get to Town Square, it's loosened up greatly. So, this just adds definition to that metaphor of cattle in a canyon. As I stated earlier, if both guests and CM's could just work together (mainly, the guests just working with the CM's, though I will admit that even some CMs can be rude as well), the traffic and the effort of trying to exit wouldn't be such a pain. If we as guests can just TRY to remember that CMs are there for our safety, are doing the best job and effort that they can, are just doing what they are instructed to do, AND NOT BE RUDE TO THEM, but just work with them and cooperate at least a little bit, things wouldn't be so tough and a lot more magic can be had AND shared. I know as guests, by this time of night, our feet are sore and we're tired. But so are the CM's. They're on their feet from like 5 to 8 or more hours all day or night, and they're tired as well. But they're working hard to make sure that we are kept safe and enjoy a visit to Disneyland. Remember....they're people too.

It is quite offensive.




Please use the term "snot-nosed punks" from now on.

It actually quite sad but this does happen Ive seen this when I go to the park all the time.The article is well done though