Great customer service at Universal Studios

Last week on our annual spring break voyage to

Florida we visited the Universal Theme Parks in Orlando.

On our second day at the parks we were at the Islands of Adventure park. We had been planning this visit for several years ever since the announcement that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter would become a main attraction at this park. Our kids have thoroughly enjoyed the Harry Potter as millions of Americans have.

The Harry Potter area does not disappoint as it draws heavily from the books and movies and has lots of clever touches throughout the area. It really is a must-see if you are into Harry Potter.

So last Wednesday morning we were there for the 8AM park opening to get an early chance to ride the "Forbidden Journey" the ride inside Hogwarts Castle. We walked "slowly" with hundreds of other guests and got to go on the ride. It's a very cool theme park ride - probably the most advanced in the world right now. So after the ride my daughter becomes ill and throws up. So we've just spent a small fortune on tickets, stayed at a Universal Hotel the night before so we can gain early entrance and now we have a sick child.

We took her to the first aid station so she could lie down and rest. Here on a day she has been looking forward to for a long time - she ends up getting sick. We spend several hours at first aid as she rests, etc.

And here is where the great customer service comes in - one of the staff members says since she couldn't enjoy the park today - if she feels better tomorrow we will provide you passes. We were relieved to hear this and are very appreciative of the Universal staff. They quickly made a positive experience by letting us come back the next day.

Does your business treat your customers like this? Would love to hear any of your positive customer experience stories. Share them.

Which path do you take?

Every morning millions of people from around the world get up and go to their daily jobs. How many do you think take the same road/path each and every day. The routinenessof the same way in every time. Maybe it is comforting to same, just plain easy to others and clearly boring to many.

For years I've tried to come into work a different route several times a week, just to see some different stuff and start my day a little differently. Why? Simply because I think it's important to experience things differently - see what is changing or not along the way.

In our business it is important to bust out of our routines and try things differently. And everyone has their own way.

How about you - what do you do to break the daily routine of getting to work?

You have to see this - March Madness App

March Madness is about to begin and those with an iPhone or an iPad are going to want to check this new app out. It's a free app called "NCAA March Madness on Demand".

You can watch every game of the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament live on your iPhone or iPad. This great app is loaded with lots of bells and whistles. You can set up score alerts for your favorite teams, you can follow your bracket and see how you are doing. Check out the latest scores and schedules. And of course you can connect into Facebook and Twitter.

This past Sunday night I was able to watch the selection live on the screen and it worked out great. I'm very excited to try it out this week and next week when I'm on vacation.

Would love to hear what you think of it. Let me know.