Today is my new favorite day.
“Any day spent with you is my favorite day. So, today is my new favorite day.”
— Pooh (Winnie the Pooh)
As I write this, I’m fresh off a phone call with a Guest, answering questions and helping to make plans for a multi-generational family vacation with her grandsons. And do you know how I feel after answering all those questions? AMAZING. So I’m writing today’s blog for any of you who have ever apologized for “asking so many questions” or “needing clarification.” Because right now, you need to stop apologizing for that! When you say “thank you,” and I say “my pleasure,” I’m not just imitating the vernacular that accompanies the Lord’s chicken. No, I’m telling you the truth. I love answering your questions, and the more questions you ask, the more confident I am that you’ll enjoy your vacation because you feel equipped to do so.
Can I break from my usual Disney theme for a moment, and use a reference from The Office? If you know me really well, you know my affinity for this show, but you also might know that I have (semi-secret) aspirations to one day be a hotel concierge (at the Wilderness Lodge, obviously). In Season 5, Episode 8: Business Trip, Michael Scott travels to Canada (pronounced Cah-nah-dah) to make a sales presentation to a client. It is stellar television, but I will call your attention in particular to Michael’s interactions with Concierge Marie, wherein he asks her hard-hitting questions like “It’s Christmas Eve, and you need to get some dry cleaning done, and it’s 12:00 midnight. Where do you go? What do you do?” Does she know the answer? Yes! Is Michael absolutely delighted with her extensive knowledge? Also yes! Thank goodness David Wallace told him to speak to the concierge upon arrival. Otherwise, how would he know where to eat sushi with a view in Winnipeg?
In all seriousness, though, I have spent decades gathering personal experience and knowledge regarding Disney destinations. If you have a question, I will do my best to answer it thoroughly, and to anticipate additional questions as well (Concierge Marie doesn’t just tell you which sushi place to go to, she also gives you a variety of transportation options to get there). And truthfully, I love this part of my job. I spend part of each day staying up to date on the latest information. When I don’t have the answer to your question, I enjoy researching it.
I like to think that as we work together, I’m sending you a travel guide for your destination, piece by piece. But it’s not just the same old guide you’d pick up from your local library. It’s special because of its co-author: you. Every question you ask, or every minute you spend telling me about your child’s favorite character or the kind of cuisine you’d like to try, is an opportunity for us to improve your guide book: to fill in the details and make it unmistakably yours. From questions like “we have a reservation at Topolino’s Terrace and we’re staying at Pop Century, how should we get there?” To “where can I find the best snack that includes Nutella?” To “my child is fascinated by dinosaurs, what activities might be of interest?” There are no silly questions, and if you care about it, I care about it. Together, we’ll make this your best vacation yet.
Most of all, thank you for taking the time to tell me about yourself. I’m delighted to know you.
