Cast Member Tells Guest With Hearing Disability to “Do a Better Job Listening”

The Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort are some of the best places in the world for a Disney vacation. The magical Central Florida Disney Resort is home to four incredible Theme Parks that attract visitors from all over the world, including ones like Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and the Southern California Anaheim Disney Resort has two wonderful Parks, Disneyland Park, and Disney California Adventure Park. With exciting rides, attractions, and amazing dining and entertainment offerings, there’s something for everyone at either Disney Resort.

Any Disney Fanatic knows that the Disney Cast Members are the heart of the Dinsey experience.

From bringing the characters we know and love to life to keeping the Parks running smoothly, the Disney Cast Members truly make the Disney Parks what they are to so many of us. But there have been occasions when Guests have reported Cast Members being less than friendly to them. Guests have even shared that Cast Members have yelled at them in the past. And while this is indeed very rare, it does sometimes happen.

Most recently, there was one instance that demonstrated particularly callous behavior (even though unintentional). One Guest took to social media to ask “What’s with the cast members being so rude lately?”

U/dlanderer explained that “One [Cast Member]told me to get in line number 2 for a ride and I thought I heard her say line number 3, so I went to line 3 and she walked up to me and told me that I need to do a better job listening. Funny thing is that I have a hearing disability. I’m deaf in one ear.”

While this was certainly likely an honest mistake on the part of the Cast Member, who as the OP mentioned was probably “having a bad day” it also comes off as particularly insensitive. Many in the comments, however, explained the likely cause of why Cast Members appear to have less patience lately.

u/PrunyBobJuno shared,

It used to be that cast members mostly had to look out for young children and unruly teens. Now there’s a crop of asshole adults and narcissists who never learned basic courtesies. Lots of toxic people now who can’t let go of their anger, even in Disneyland. And before you say, “It’s always been this way”… no, it’s a lot worse now.

Another former Disneyland Cast Member chimed in, “Exact reason why I quit after 5 years in 2022. 30 guest compliments, I was good at what I did and loved it. The guests became so toxic it was hard for even me to stay positive. On top of that you have a corporation who during the last negotiations (while we were mid pandemic) called us overpaid carnival workers. You get what you pay for morale wise.”

This said, Disney’s steps to start giving Cast Members a pay raise and working toward a better working environment are ones in the right direction. Here’s hoping for some real change in the Parks!