A preface from Jeff:
Last week was take-your-kids-to-work day at my daughter’s junior high. My work schedule has been busy lately, but I knew this could be a great opportunity to connect with her. When I was a cast member at Walt Disney World, we had some terrific experiences lined up for my older kids. The Disney Institute, where I had responsibilities for professional business programming, provided great workshops to our kids utilizing the enrichment programs once offered there. Some years they created a news show. Other years they made clay animation. I celebrate those organizations who focus on the youth of tomorrow.
Now I have my own business and I work largely from home when I’m not traveling. So when my 12-year-old Jennica mentioned spending time with me for take your kid to work day, I had to get more creative. But what better place to take your kid for work, then my old stomping ground, Walt Disney World, the source of the articles I write for MousePlanet. So I invited my daughter to a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There was just one catch: Since I needed write an article for MousePlanet, she would have to write the article instead.
So today I’m happy to introduce my daughter as the newest columnist of MousePlanet. She’ll be sharing a kid’s view of kid-friendly customer service—Disney style.
Take it away, Jennica!
I have been observing how employees act towards younger children and what they do to try to make each attraction more enjoyable for them. My main focus is Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
First, I would like to talk about the High School Musical performances. I believe that if they did not have some reference to High School Musical a lot of young little boys and girls would have a less of a reason to come to this park. And to have a whole show dedicated to it, is just a perfect add-in to the whole Disney experience. If you don’t want to go on the fun rides, see the Disney characters, or eat great food , why not go for the High School Musical show! When they include the children in the show it makes the show much more pleasurable. I observed them letting several children come up in front of the crowd to learn some dance moves, do the limbo, and just let them be a part of the fun. This show has universal appeal when the actors/actresses perform in sign language what they are singing. In short, whether it’s the all kids sitting up front singing along, or dancing to your favorite songs from High School Musical, this show sure is quite something for the little tykes of Walt Disney World.
I didn’t get the chance to visit all of the attractions that should be included in this article but I was able to visit a couple of the biggest places that would have things that should be included in this article. (Note: All of these things that I mentioned are things you can easily find visiting for just one day at Walt Disney World). Anyway, I was able to visit Playhouse Disney for the first time since I was a little girl. While you are waiting in line, your child is easily entertained by videos that show little clips from the Disney Channel so you’re not dealt with the discomfort of your child becoming bored or starting to cry. When you get in, your child is relieved when they realize that they don’t have to sit in an uncomfortable chair during the show but sit on the floor and move around during the show.
The show is very interactive with simple things like waving or clapping of the hands. It includes characters from shows the kids would watch on TV. With Mickey and Friends as the star of the show, they included Handy Manny, Little Einstein, and Winnie the Pooh. Throughout they have unexpected things fall from the ceiling on kids such as bubbles, (which I have noticed the Voyage of the Little Mermaid do as well) paper leaves, and paper strings. I know when I was their age I loved stuff like that.
The actress in the show is exceptional in that she has a playful, winning attitude. When she is not performing (while the puppets are on stage) she is waving to little children and is still in a full preppy character. But the show does have its flaws—the cast members who load and unload everyone into the theater do not have the attitude a little child looks for with adults at Disney. Also, I believe that the announcer that says, “Please no flash photography” and stuff should say it at more of a kindergarten-age language so the kids could understand how important it is and to tell their parents who aren’t listening. But overall the show is awesome in the eyes of the youth and is a good add in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
In the shows Beauty and the Beast and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid the cast members will sometimes let a child announce the show beforehand. If I was ever chosen to do that when I was little that would make my day. Also a new attraction coming out called Toy Story Mania is made for little kids. And if you have been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios a lot you would probably know about the daytime parade they have with the characters in the cars driving the whole time. Well now they have a new parade called Block Party Bash where they actually interact more with the kids.
A thing I spotted in the guide map was a picture of Timon and Pumbaa. Timon is on a ride at Space Mountain and is pulling poor Pumbaa by the tail to get in. Under the picture it says “LET THE CUBS DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO RIDE.” On the side it says “Wild About Safety.” Then at the bottom of that it says “Grab Timon and Pumbaa’s Safety Challenge booklet at Guest Relations.” This shows a cute way to teach kids to be safe. Also it means that parents or any one should not force someone to ride a ride they are scared of which I have seen plenty of times. I am very happy that the park realized that problem too.
One of the newer attractions we saw was Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. In the show they made a very expensive hot red, flashy, life size, remote control car! A cast member would pick an audience member—which would be a little kid—to operate it! Pretty amazing right? The child would feel so special, so excited until they tell you there is a man behind the car driving it the whole time! This is what I think is a huge down fall to the people who are happy and are talking about how awesome Disney is for the huge interaction with little kids to make them feel special (someone like me).
You may be thinking why I am mentioning this now after all I said about Disney was so good. Well I will answer saying that no creation is perfect. No park is perfect. Nothing is perfect. But it is good to focus on the good things Disney does, which is why most of this article is about how Disney is being awesome in being a for-kids park. There are also restaurants and shops focused on making Disney enjoyable for children. And its not only the attractions that make it so enjoyable it is also the people who run it (for example: actors, actresses, cast members). That is probably what makes Disney more enjoyable and different compared to the other guys.
