Required to ride?Wow! Some managers got out of their offices to see real life. More should be required to ride a few weeks every year, then maybe they would support some needed changes. Also the affect of negative changes on the passengers.
(1) I'll generally agree about the decent value. I will also say that the food at WDW (particularly Epcot) is definitely better than at Sea World and somewhat better than at Universal (though the Harry Potter areas are better than the parks tend to be on average). It depends on where you go, though, to be fair (and Magic Kingdom has traditionally lagged the other parks in this respect). I will say that while I love Busch Gardens Williamsburg dearly, outside of the Food & Wine Festival the in-park options leave something to be desired (though I should check out some of their overhauled venues this year).A few thoughts about food at Disney...
I worked for the Mouse for 8 years (5 in Tokyo and 3 in Florida). I'll only refer to my time in Florida.
The quality of the food and the value paid has generally been better than its competitors. As much as I complained about the cost at Disney, when I went to Universal or Sea World, the prices scared me.
My first job at WDW was working in F&B at the Yacht and Beach Club resort hotels. The cast member (employee) cafeteria was located in between the two hotels. They offered food left over from the restaurants from both hotels. Most memorably, they served AWESOME New England Clam Chowder from Cape May Cafe for only 90 cents.
Then Aramark signed a contract with the company to provide for all the food service to the employees. Prices tripled and quality deteriorated. Meanwhile, the customers could still rely on Disney-Employee-Prepared food "on stage". Only the cast backstage had to suffer.
Then the newest (at the time I was there) resort opened - Coronado Springs. In addition to Fulton's Crab House and most of the Pleasure Island restaurants being contracted out, for the first time, a Disney resort was outsourcing their F&B. By that time, I left, and I have no idea what's happened since 1998.
That all being said, for the most part, you won't be getting bargains at Disney - but you tend to get decent value - a differentiation from other themed properties.
Amtrak's F&B is one of the most disjointed operations that I'm aware of being under one company banner. Even though some routes are subsidized by states, etc., the inconsistencies in Business Class are legendary - with absolutely no apparent effort in the past TWO DECADES to correct (or improve).
I find ways of talking myself out of riding Amtrak more and more lately.
You know - the Shinkansen in Japan when it opened in 1964 made the 320 mile journey in around 4 hours. Now it takes as little as 2 hours and 22 minutes. The dining and buffet cars were abolished not necessarily due to revenue/cost, but because the necessity of it was obsoleted by the speed. The only staff on board the train are pushing trolley carts or the conductor and assistants. No OBS or car attendant. Everyone knew where their seat was.
My now former OBS manager just took a promotion and is essentially in charge of all OBS managers on the west coast. He flew out Monday morning, and he's already been out to see the Capitol Corridor or San Joaquins, I'm not sure which. Thursday he says he'll be out on the Pacific Surfliner. I'm sure he'll keep at it, knowing him. Some here do take pride in their job.Wow! Some managers got out of their offices to see real life. More should be required to ride a few weeks every year, then maybe they would support some needed changes. Also the affect of negative changes on the passengers.
I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.Do you actually have any data to support your contention that Amtrak managers never get out of the office, or is that just another one of those "realities" that found their way into the "everyone knows" category without any actual connection to reality?
What concerns me is the well-known tendency for employees to be on their best behavior while The Boss is watching but then go back to business as usual when the coast is clear. I'd expect most OBS to recognize their managers and supervisors. Is there much cross-pollination between regions so that someone other than a familiar face is doing the checking up?I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.
I don't remember what the OBS managers from NYP or WAS look like, and they've visited me.What concerns me is the well-known tendency for employees to be on their best behavior while The Boss is watching but then go back to business as usual when the coast is clear. I'd expect most OBS to recognize their managers and supervisors. Is there much cross-pollination between regions so that someone other than a familiar face is doing the checking up?I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.
If they were checking on your performance discretely how did you even know they visited you?I don't remember what the OBS managers from NYP or WAS look like, and they've visited me.What concerns me is the well-known tendency for employees to be on their best behavior while The Boss is watching but then go back to business as usual when the coast is clear. I'd expect most OBS to recognize their managers and supervisors. Is there much cross-pollination between regions so that someone other than a familiar face is doing the checking up?I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.
Amtrak should employ "secret shoppers" of sort. And it would be quite easy to do. Every so often, contact a ticketed customer, be it someone in coach or first class, and ask them to do a survey of food service from the staff to see how they are doing and include the food itself....taste, selections, availability, suggestions, etc. They would then be comped a percentage off of the cost of their trip. Or else they could "hire" people to ride the different trains and ask for their reviews. The crews would not know who or if a secret shopper was on their train. Personally, I would volunteer whole-heartedly for that job.What concerns me is the well-known tendency for employees to be on their best behavior while The Boss is watching but then go back to business as usual when the coast is clear. I'd expect most OBS to recognize their managers and supervisors. Is there much cross-pollination between regions so that someone other than a familiar face is doing the checking up?I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.
Secret shoppers are a good idea and when done properly they can work wonders exposing institutional failures and management blindness. Unfortunately a proper secret shopper setup tends to require more time and effort (and money) than most businesses are willing to spend, so they simply outsource it with third parties who couldn't care less what is discovered or who does the inspecting.Amtrak should employ "secret shoppers" of sort. And it would be quite easy to do. Every so often, contact a ticketed customer, be it someone in coach or first class, and ask them to do a survey of food service from the staff to see how they are doing and include the food itself....taste, selections, availability, suggestions, etc. They would then be comped a percentage off of the cost of their trip. Or else they could "hire" people to ride the different trains and ask for their reviews. The crews would not know who or if a secret shopper was on their train.
I happen to think allowing employees to treat customers poorly just because they're having a "bad day" is part of the problem. Employing AGR members will likely skew the results toward whatever minimal standards commuters expect on the way to and from work, which is probably not much and unlikely to be applicable to the rest of the country. I'd rather hear what new customers and people who are familiar with passenger rail in other countries happen to think about Amtrak's service standards.Perhaps they could cross-reference with AGR members to select those with enough Amtrak experience to have some sense of the difference between a real problem and just a bad day.
That's a possibility too. Usually they get up in your face and nosey. Had one manager who drove everyone nuts (thankfully she's retired) who tried to get after me for having a newspaper in an unused ice well. I had put it there so I didn't offend a passenger who told me to have it because I looked bored, and I was waiting until they were out of eyesight to throw it out. Apparently she missed that part. On a previous date she also forced me to do something that I should have refused to do in the name of safety, but being fairly new I did it anyway. I was so irritated by the rules she was breaking and making me break that I almost marked off and deadheaded home.If they were checking on your performance discretely how did you even know they visited you?I don't remember what the OBS managers from NYP or WAS look like, and they've visited me.What concerns me is the well-known tendency for employees to be on their best behavior while The Boss is watching but then go back to business as usual when the coast is clear. I'd expect most OBS to recognize their managers and supervisors. Is there much cross-pollination between regions so that someone other than a familiar face is doing the checking up?I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.
I don't know if it's urban legend or not, but I have been told by many different that there are spotters, though it's said they're more concerned with making sure I'm not giving stuff away for free, and I'm providing receipts like I'm suppose to. How true it is, I'll probably never know.Amtrak should employ "secret shoppers" of sort. And it would be quite easy to do. Every so often, contact a ticketed customer, be it someone in coach or first class, and ask them to do a survey of food service from the staff to see how they are doing and include the food itself....taste, selections, availability, suggestions, etc. They would then be comped a percentage off of the cost of their trip. Or else they could "hire" people to ride the different trains and ask for their reviews. The crews would not know who or if a secret shopper was on their train. Personally, I would volunteer whole-heartedly for that job.What concerns me is the well-known tendency for employees to be on their best behavior while The Boss is watching but then go back to business as usual when the coast is clear. I'd expect most OBS to recognize their managers and supervisors. Is there much cross-pollination between regions so that someone other than a familiar face is doing the checking up?I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.
I don't get out there too much but my trips on the Cascades I've had really exceptional service in the cafe car. A few years ago (not sure if they still operate this way) they had 2 people working the "Bistro" car and the hot food they served was more dining car style. A specific example.. I ordered oatmeal and was expecting a cup of instant oatmeal.. I got the dining car oatmeal in an amtrak bowl with the side of brown sugar and raisins served just like you would get it in the diner.My now former OBS manager just took a promotion and is essentially in charge of all OBS managers on the west coast. He flew out Monday morning, and he's already been out to see the Capitol Corridor or San Joaquins, I'm not sure which. Thursday he says he'll be out on the Pacific Surfliner. I'm sure he'll keep at it, knowing him. Some here do take pride in their job.Wow! Some managers got out of their offices to see real life. More should be required to ride a few weeks every year, then maybe they would support some needed changes. Also the affect of negative changes on the passengers.
I told him to just let me know when he gets to the Cascades, since that's all I'm curious about!
I was quite pleased with Jiko. It wasn't "dumbed down." They were bold with their spices and flavors.All depends on what you call "Disney food" - you can get the worst over-priced burger in your life at electric umbrella... Or have a AAA 4 or 5 diamond rated meal at Jiko or Victoria and Alberts. And everywhere in between all over property.
If they were checking on your performance discretely how did you even know they visited you?I don't remember what the OBS managers from NYP or WAS look like, and they've visited me.What concerns me is the well-known tendency for employees to be on their best behavior while The Boss is watching but then go back to business as usual when the coast is clear. I'd expect most OBS to recognize their managers and supervisors. Is there much cross-pollination between regions so that someone other than a familiar face is doing the checking up?I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.
Amtrak should employ "secret shoppers" of sort. And it would be quite easy to do. Every so often, contact a ticketed customer, be it someone in coach or first class, and ask them to do a survey of food service from the staff to see how they are doing and include the food itself....taste, selections, availability, suggestions, etc. They would then be comped a percentage off of the cost of their trip. Or else they could "hire" people to ride the different trains and ask for their reviews. The crews would not know who or if a secret shopper was on their train. Personally, I would volunteer whole-heartedly for that job.What concerns me is the well-known tendency for employees to be on their best behavior while The Boss is watching but then go back to business as usual when the coast is clear. I'd expect most OBS to recognize their managers and supervisors. Is there much cross-pollination between regions so that someone other than a familiar face is doing the checking up?I can't speak for upper level managers, but lower level managers such as OBS managers, and even the OBS supervisors that work in crew base fielding any problems that might arise for us, are definitely -required- to do a certain amount of ridealongs.
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