I never thought I’d be writing about the “F Word” for work, but here we are!

I was a Disney World Cast Member, and I’m here to tell you about the word that most of you have probably heard Cast Members use a LOT when you’re in the parks. I used to work over at the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom, and I used this word multiple times a day every day. Can you guess what it is?

Yep, I’m talking about the word “friend.” As you’ve probably noticed, Cast Members use this word left and right. Almost anytime they address someone, they call them, “friend.”

“Hi, friends! Let’s step down off that railing.” “Hi, friends! Let’s push that stroller over to the red umbrellas.” “Hi, friends! Let’s throw that popsicle stick in the trash and not the ground, please!” Yes, those were phrases I used on the daily when speaking to children and adults alike.

The thing about this is…no one’s really sure how it got started. As Cast Members, we’re never told to call anyone “friend,” but we all just picked up on it from each other. It’s a polite way to grab someone’s attention if you don’t know their name! And, as we all know, Mickey likes it when Cast Members are extra polite.

Some folks talk about this and suggest that sometimes, Cast Members use the word passive aggressively. In my (and probably a lot of my former coworkers’) experience, I’ve never intentionally been passive aggressive when using the word, but there’s sometimes no other way to take the word “friend” when paired with a reminder not to break a rule. So, if a Cast Member ever calls you “friend” while redirecting you, they probably aren’t being mean. It’s truly just a habit!

So, the next time you’re at Disney World, play a game and try to count how many times you hear a Cast Member use that F Word. We’ll be here updating you with all the latest Disney news, so make sure to follow along so that you never hear a thing.

Looking for more Cast Member stories? Click here! 

Have you noticed Cast Members using this F Word? Let us know in the comments!

The post Why Disney World Cast Members Are Always Using This “F Word” first appeared on the disney food blog.