Thankfully, I was placed with Miss Peggy. Miss Peggy is a great-grandma, still spry and quick, working the front desk. She's the best trainer I could have hoped for. She's smart, sassy, and has taken such great care of me the past two days.
My first guest, of my first day was horrible. He walked into the lobby with a clear attitude, and was one of the rudest people I have ever met. Even Miss Peggy said he's one of the worst guests she'd ever seen! It just figures that he'd be my first go! Who checks into a hotel at 8:30am, and expects a room to be ready?! He demanded to speak to the person who allegedly told him that it would be, and even went as far as to try and get her home phone number when we informed him she wasn't in!
As overwhelming as checking in/out tons of guests was, the day did get better. Later in the afternoon, a family of four came to my desk to check in. The little girls were giggling with their dad, so I said "Well, you girls seem awfully excited! What, are you going to Disney World or something?" to which they promptly shouted in unison "We are in Disney World!". Their mom quickly filled me in that the girls had just been informed where they were, and it was their first trip to Disney!
As I proceeded with their check-in, chatting with her, she informed me that her husband had been laid off last week, and a friend of theirs gifted them Disney Vacation Club points. She went on to tell me, that even though they'd be saving up, once her husband lost his job, they weren't sure they'd be able to afford it. The points they had been given was allowing them to stay in our resort for a week, for only $95!
I had to step into the back office, to get a new room assignment for them, and while back there, I asked Miss Peggy if there was anything special we could do for them. She told me we were allowed to make those calls ourselves, to guests we felt needed a little extra magic. I walked out of the back office, with two big balloon bouquets, two bags of Mickey chocolate coins, two coloring books, and two Squirt plushes. The eyes of these little girls were as big as saucers, and their smiles were a mile wide. I handed them some "First Visit" buttons, and the armful of goodies. The girls began running around playing with their dad in the lobby, after a huge round of thank-yous.
The lady just stood their silent for a moment, and then began spewing off more thank yous than I knew what to do with. She had tears in her eyes, and at the point, so did I. She even went as far as to tell me how magic Disney really was, and how people like me really make all the difference. It was such a special moment, and not one I'll never forget. It totally eclipsed my bad morning-guest!
So I had a great moment, but all-in-all, it was still a very long, and stressful day. I came back to the apartment, was wiped out, and was asleep by 8:30. Thank goodness, because day two's shift started at 5:45AM!
xoxo
