That one moment **TISSUE ALERT**

[devores]

I know there have been several threads on here about the Disney Magic. What I wanted to know is, what was that one moment at Disney that really impacted you?

Mine is the time we were at Epcot. Im not sure exactly how this all happened, but we witnessed a little girl interacting with Mickey. The little girls was deaf, and Mickey was signing to her. The mother of the girl was welling up watching her little girls excitement. We almost could not hold back the tears. This was the moment I truely understood the Magic of Disney.

So, what was your moment?

[onelilspark]

I can't even remember mine! But my parents tell me about it all the time.

My very first trip we came in right as the afternoon parade was going on at the MK. Minnie leaned down and waved to me. According to my parents, we could have gone home right then and I still would have been hooked for life!

[Heluvsme]

As a family we'd been to Disney numerous times (and so many times prior to having kids), but the one moment that stands out to me involved my 2nd child, my son. My son was a very late talker. We had already been through numerous evaluations for him and because he always fell into a 'gray' area with the testing, we didn't have a definitive diagnosis. Receptive/Expressive lang. delay? Autism? Natural late talker? Apraxic? We just didn't know for sure. Well, when he was 3 we took our annual trip to WDW and there was just something magical about it. He started talking, he started being more interested in things, he was so full of joy and trying to communicate everything he saw to us! While in line for It's A Small World he said "Mommy" and he clapped his hands and said "Ride." It was by far a turning point for us, for him. It truly will always be a trip to remember for our family. From that point on, his speech really took off. We continue to go to WDW every year, and it seems like every year he is still making improvements!!

I think the curiosity and wonderment that Disney evokes works magic, I truly do. No one will ever convince me of anything different.

[pat fan]

I guess on our first trip, our youngest was 7, and we were watching the fireworks at MK and he leaned over (while watching the sky) and gave me a half hug and said "Thanks for bringing me here mom".....just the way he said it, still makes me well up.

[jayandstacey]

Our one moment also happened to be our first moment.

Our DD5 had a fair number of health complications from Type 1 diabetes, including many hospital trips starting around her first birthday. We saved our money and wanted to take her and her younger brother on a Doosie of a Disney vacation, her first. So we booked 10 days at the Beach Club and hoped for a relaxing vacation during a slow first 10 days of November. We also hoped for some magic but didn't have any particular expectations. The rides, atmosphere and "escape" were all that we were looking for.

We arrived midday to beautiful weather and decided to head to Epcot through the International Gateway. As we scanned our tickets, our DD saw Snow White a few paces away and ran to her. Snow White talked with our daughter, got to know her and, well, you know... No one else was around... it was about 10 minutes worth of hanging out with Snow White.

Our DD talked about how she recently was a "townsfolk" player in the local high school production of "Beauty and the Beast." - "Oh really?" said Snow White, "Then I'd like you to meet my friend." Snow White took my daughter's hand and they skipped all the way over the bridge into France, where Belle was in her courtyard and my daughter was in heaven, just beside herself and talking as fast as she could. Belle was happy to "finally meet someone else from my village!"

We spent about $6000 on that trip. It was all "paid back" in the first 15 minutes.

Amazing.

[Lolie]

While I was standing in front of the Partner's statue a year ago I asked to nobody in particular "Why is it called Walt Disney World?" and a cast member said to me....

"Because a big brother loved his little brother so much, that he would do anything it took to make sure his little brother's dreams came true."

Walt died before Disney World opened, and even though Roy finished off the plans he wanted to make sure everyone knew who made it all happen and whose dream this really was.

[t_catt11]

Here I am, a grown man, with tears on my eyes at my desk, while I keep this window open at work. Thanks, Disers! :goodvibes

[DisneyLover75]

As a family we'd been to Disney numerous times (and so many times prior to having kids), but the one moment that stands out to me involved my 2nd child, my son. My son was a very late talker. We had already been through numerous evaluations for him and because he always fell into a 'gray' area with the testing, we didn't have a definitive diagnosis. Receptive/Expressive lang. delay? Autism? Natural late talker? Apraxic? We just didn't know for sure. Well, when he was 3 we took our annual trip to WDW and there was just something magical about it. He started talking, he started being more interested in things, he was so full of joy and trying to communicate everything he saw to us! While in line for It's A Small World he said "Mommy" and he clapped his hands and said "Ride." It was by far a turning point for us, for him. It truly will always be a trip to remember for our family. From that point on, his speech really took off. We continue to go to WDW every year, and it seems like every year he is still making improvements!!

I think the curiosity and wonderment that Disney evokes works magic, I truly do. No one will ever convince me of anything different.


OMG! My son has almost exactly the same story.

Last May, when he was four, the only word he knew was Mama. He didn't even TRY talking other than that. He signed, but that was it. He is autistic. We went to Disney and spent six days there, and he was enchanted!

Within two weeks of getting back, he was talking! Not conversations, but lots and lots of words! He still mispronounces words, and still has some trouble, but that made an enormous difference for him. Unbelievable.

I'm excited to see if this upcoming trip will have a further impact on his development! :thumbsup2

[disneydreamer1970]

The moment I witnessed did not include a Disney character but did Santa Claus! While waiting on Main Street with DD to see Santa a couple of years ago there was a family in front of us that had two children, one of which was handicapped and could not speak. He was so scared of Santa, and mom wanted nothing more than a picture of he and his sister with him, and it just didn't happen. As they walked away, Santa motioned to a Cast Member to quietly get mom to turn around with her camera as he walked up behind him in his wheelchair with his sister walking next to him. As she went to take the picture the little boy caught Santa out of the corner of his eye and looked back at Santa and began to smile! It was a picture perfect moment! Mom was crying as well as myself and several other people in line that day! I still get choked up when I think about it!

Trish

[kiranic]

My magical moment happened on my DD's 7th birthday. We had been to the BBB and she was dressed like Tinkerbell, her favorite character. During one of the parades, when she was up on her daddy's shoulders, Captain Hook came over and shoot his hook at her. She said "I think he thinks I am the real Tinkerbell." When the float with Peter Pan and Wendy came by I was taking pictures. My husband said, "Did you see that Peter Pan just pointed right at DD." I was disappointed that I hadn't seen it until I looked in the camera viewer and saw that I had "magically" caught the moment in the camera. (I don't have the picture loaded to photobucket or I would post it.)

[Kurby]

we had gone only once when i was a kid and i hadn't been back until dh took me a few months after we got engaged.

ya ya disney will be fun -

we flew in, checked in and headed over to mk

oh this is kinda cool

ya right - i'm standing infront of that round garden thing infront of the castle watching the show and dh looks at me and askes what's wrong.

here i stood - a 30something women standing in themiddle of a bunch of people, tears running down my face.

to this day i still don't know why i was crying, its not like i remember going as a kid it was just emotional for me.

to this day i get that twinge of emotion the first time we walk down main street each visit.

[kiranic]

My magical moment happened on my DD's 7th birthday. We had been to the BBB and she was dressed like Tinkerbell, her favorite character. During one of the parades, when she was up on her daddy's shoulders, Captain Hook came over and shoot his hook at her. She said "I think he thinks I am the real Tinkerbell." When the float with Peter Pan and Wendy came by I was taking pictures. My husband said, "Did you see that Peter Pan just pointed right at DD." I was disappointed that I hadn't seen it until I looked in the camera viewer and saw that I had "magically" caught the moment in the camera. (I don't have the picture loaded to photobucket or I would post it.)

Okay I found it!
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q377/kiranicsmom/PeterPanpointingatK.jpg

[angela3676]

Here I am, a grown man, with tears on my eyes at my desk, while I keep this window open at work. Thanks, Disers! :goodvibes


dito, except for the man part. I'm such a push-over for good stories like these. :sad: :blush:

[Cinderella3]

We went to WDW in Dec of 2007, there we stood in line to get an autograph with characters at Mickey's tent(Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy) we was the next to get our picture and there was this little girl with a walker, just so happy to see them. My son, who at the time was 10:flower3: , told her " it is more important if you get the picture then I do", so he let the little girl go, the characters gathered up in one photo so the Mom could get a great picture. The Mom thanked my son, he said no problem and gave her a big smile. The CM came over and told my son that since he was more interested in passing along the magic of Disney that My son got to get a picture of all the characters. I was so proud of him..

[suejai]

I had three moments on our first trip last May. We were watching Wishes on our first evening, I turned to see tears streaming down the face of my big tough biker husband, I was already crying. Then our 16 year son turned to us to tell us 'thank you for bringing me to Disney' sees us crying and starts crying himself. Our 13 yr son looks at us all bawling and asks why are we all crying.

A momemt that again made my DH well up was watching a little 2 or 3 yr old girl walk straight into Buzz Lightyears arms with such complete innocence and trust. I guess he's not as tough as he makes out (I already knew that:lovestruc )

My third moment was watching Wishes on our last evening. We were sitting at the edge of the terrace at the Noddle Station (I know now that it is not a great place to watch from) but it IS right under Tinker Bell's flight path. I was turned talking to my husband when he said 'look Tink is flying' I leaned forward and she pointed at me and blew me and my DS a kiss. I was thrilled to say the least! I'm not sure how she did this hurtling down a wire at that speed, but she did and it was such a nice ending to our trip.

Sorry for such a long post, but it is hard to narrow it down to just one moment - our trip was filled with so many, that we are going again this May.

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

I was 35 years old the first time I went to WDW with DD11. I was so enchanted from the moment I stepped on the ME bus until our trip back home. I'm a big softie, but DD11 is not so much. She likes thrill rides while I prefer the shows. I had seen Nemo, FOTLK, Philharmagic, ITTBAB, Little Mermaid etc. and was touched each time I saw the next one. BUT - I knew I would come back every chance I got when I went to see Beauty and the Beast live on Stage. I cried. In the middle of the day, I was tearing up and crying as DD11 watched me out of the corner of her eye and just sighed b/c there goes her mom again crying. :confused3 I LOVED 4 for a Dollar singing before the show began (reminded me of Rockapella from Carmen Sandiego).

And I absolutely loved my "independent tough girl" get the biggest smile on her face when a character would hug her. And I mean "full on wrap your arms around each other" body hugs. She adored the costume characters and even though she tried to act all teenagery and she was too big for that... the pictures that year and the next showed her with the biggest grins on her face.

I'm definitely hooked for life.

[DWFan4Life]

for us, it's when we had a surprise birthday trip for our elder DS. It's his 5th birthday and first time in Disney. The day of his birthday, he hug and kisses us and thanking for the birthday trip his experiencing. :)

[urbandonovan]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

[jzzikamarie]

we had gone only once when i was a kid and i hadn't been back until dh took me a few months after we got engaged.

ya ya disney will be fun -

we flew in, checked in and headed over to mk

oh this is kinda cool

ya right - i'm standing infront of that round garden thing infront of the castle watching the show and dh looks at me and askes what's wrong.

here i stood - a 30something women standing in themiddle of a bunch of people, tears running down my face.

to this day i still don't know why i was crying, its not like i remember going as a kid it was just emotional for me.

to this day i get that twinge of emotion the first time we walk down main street each visit.

I know exactly what you mean...nothing like seeing that castle! We just came back from a trip this past week. When I saw the castle (the first time in 10 years!) all I could do was cry! :thumbsup2

[Corjack]

Ours was last year when we took our DD4 for her first trip. We had a 6:30pm BBB appt and then were staying for evening EMHs.

We had mini corn dogs at Caseys and then started back toward the castle to go to her appt. SHe was in her Cinderella dress and as we came around the corner Lady Tremaine was there signing autographs. We were like 2 or 3 in line and when my DD walked up she was very nervous about waht LT would say. She made some small talk and told DD she " looked better in that dress than 'someone' else she knew". My DD was so excited.
So then we headed to her BB appt and she loved it. When we came out of her appt she looked so pretty. Several other little girls were pointing and calling her little Cinderella(she LOVED THAT TOO). She asked DH if he would be her Prince and dance with her and they Danced right there in the crowd like no one was watching. :lovestruc We had not ridden the carousel so we went and got in line. Everyone was telling her how pretty she looked. Then a Dream Maker came over to DH and i and told us that he was looking for a little girl in a blue dress to lead the carousel by riding Cinderellas horse and be made Honorary Princess. (DD taps me on the arm and says...I have a blue dress on, :lovestruc ) So he gets us out of line and anounces to everyone she is honorary princess and gives her a certificate. She gets on the carousel first. She is just BEAMING.
Later that night we go to the Laugh Floor and DD gets picked to participate and they ask her where she is from and then Marty announced to everyone she is Princess Gracie of Indiana. It was like mushy magic for her. She felt like everyone really believed she was a Princess.

At the carousel I cried and I cried when I watched Dh dance with her behind the castle. A few years before this we thought we would never be parents and here we were in the most magical moments with our kids.

DS was a baby last year and will be 18mo this year. I cannot wait for some Magical Disney memories for him!

I have a few pics!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8da06b3127ccec3a327a0e7f900000010O38Abt2jRozZNQ e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D3/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8da09b3127ccec3ad1ee5690e00000010O18Abt2jRozZNQ e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8da09b3127ccec3acd318887100000010O18Abt2jRozZNQ e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8da09b3127ccec3ac3084493400000010O08Abt2jRozZNQ e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8da09b3127ccec3ac3d6c094200000010O18Abt2jRozZNQ e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Jackie

[jzzikamarie]

omg, got to love those pics! nothing like daddy/daughter while she's dressed as a princess! when my daughter was dressed up as jasmine, she kept calling her daddy aladdin. we rode aladdin's magic carpets...i was in the back they were in the front. they kept singing "a whole new world" duet during the ride. makes me cry thinking about it....sniff.

[Floydian]

Ok, I've got a few...

1) Before I was married, taking my then fiance, her dd9 plus a friend, and her dd3 to DL for their very first visit. We kept it a surprise, even flying to SoCal, driving there, never telling them where we were going. Then the older ones saw the sign for the Disneyland Hotel, and I'd swear they were going to jump out of their seats right through the roof of the car.

2) Another trip to DL, maybe a year later, it was right after rope drop, and I had the youngest one in a stroller walking around Fantasyland while the wife and other did something else. The youngest saw Cinderella off to the side meeting people, and I couldn't say no. So we got into the shockingly short line (4-5 people ahead of us), and when our turn came, Cindy crouched down and extended her arms, and almost got knocked over as this little 4yo girl charged at her for the biggest hug ever.

3) This past Sunday at MK. I was at the Hub relaxing when the stage show in front of the castle started, so I stayed. Near the end of the show, a family walked up next to me, including a young girl maybe 7-8 years old. They arrived just before the finale, and as the princesses came out, and Mickey and Minnie did their thing on the raised part of the stage to the right, I looked over and saw this girl.....both hands covering her nose and mouth, gasping for breath, then pointing, then gasping again, with the "1st Visit" pin on her shirt.....then I looked over and saw her mom looking at her, with the biggest smile on her face and tears in her eyes.....I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried too, and am crying again remembering it now. pixiedust:

[Ariel Wanna-be]

We went to WDW in Dec of 2007, there we stood in line to get an autograph with characters at Mickey's tent(Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy) we was the next to get our picture and there was this little girl with a walker, just so happy to see them. My son, who at the time was 10:flower3: , told her " it is more important if you get the picture then I do", so he let the little girl go, the characters gathered up in one photo so the Mom could get a great picture. The Mom thanked my son, he said no problem and gave her a big smile. The CM came over and told my son that since he was more interested in passing along the magic of Disney that My son got to get a picture of all the characters. I was so proud of him..

:thumbsup2 What a great little guy you have!!

...As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.


:sad: :sad: :sad:

[LadyGracey]

I am sitting here crying too. Keep these stories coming--they are making my day!

[donahue5]

What magical memories! My eyes are full of tears too.

[MNDisney2268]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

Ok this one completely did me in!!!! Thank you for sharing!

[torsie24]

My most memorable disney moment(other than engagement) was on my January trip to disneyland paris.

For the 15th anniversary celebrations they have placed golden characters on the turrets of the castle who are holding candles, at park closing miceky and minnie come out onto the castle balcony and talk and then do a dance kind of thing and the candles light up one by one, finishing with tinkerbell at the highest point releasing lots of magical pixie dust into the sky.

I loved this on our July trip so was keen to see it on our first night this year.

After the tinkerbell bit I was ready to turn around and head to the hotel but then Mickey said "And now its time for a very sepcial guest - Tinkerbell" which I assumed meant tinkerbell had sprayed her glitter early.

But it didn't

All the christmas lights started to come on on the castle, something I have wanted to see for years and had expected to miss! I jsut broke down instantly and Jack had to hold me up, it was so beautiful and magical and even more so as it was SO unexpected! Something that just couldn;t happen anywhere other than disney!

[t_catt11]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.


This one got me, too. Love the "regular" Disney tales that make me teary, but this one... wow.

[CaptMarge]

I didn't realize that my Disney moment had happened on a trip until our next trip. You see we took my parents on their forst WDW trip in Oct 2006.
DS 7 :darth: DD 18 months :tinker: We had a wonderful time with lots of fond memories. :lovestruc After returning home DH :surfweb: made a dvd of the trip for DD princess: to watch and watch it she did for a month straight. Then when we returned for our annual trip in Oct 2007 I was running with DD princess: through Cosmic Rays to get to the potty on time and she stops dead in her tracks, points to the "dance room" and says "that's where I ate with my PAPA". :) Although she was too young to remember at the time having the dvd has created the memory for her. My moment is this...even after my father (PAPA) is gone I will have this memory to hold on to. And then when I'm gone DD princess: will have this memory to hold on to too. I will go into Cosmic Rays every visit now just to remeber my Father holding my little girl (dressed as Tinklerbell) sharing French Fries and Ketchup dancing to the music.

[megveg]

One moment from last trip...

DBFs older brother was in Iraq for 18 months. He has 2 children (DD4 and DS7) and the day he came home from IRaq he surprised them and told them we were going to Disney. (the whole family was going)

Fast forward to when we get there and the First Night of our trip... we walk into Magic Kingdom and go to the American Flag.

DBFs brother tried to do this off to the side so no one would hear (everyone ran to the bathrooms by town hall and DBF and I and his brother and his daughter stood at the flagpole)

DBFs brother knelt down to his daughter and said "You see that castle over there?" And she looks and can't see it because of her height and the people around so DBFs brother picks her up and puts her on his shoulders and I saw her face see that castle for the first time and she just looks down and says "oh Daddy thank you so much for coming home"


it was the cutest thing i have ever seen i was welling up <3

[TSMAMI]

I had gone to Disney as a child with my best friends family, I knew some day when I had kids I would take them there. Years passed, married with 2 kids and the thought really didnt enter my mind again until my grandfather passed and we were taking care of my grandmother that had alzheimer's. It was a very depressing and stressful time. I looked at my family and the toll that it had taken on us all, so that is when I decided I needed to get everyone down to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Our first night there watched Wishes, and seeing all the smiles on the faces of my kids and my mothers face did it for me. I knew that its the escape that we need and have gone every year since.

[hollierae]

My son (4 years old at the time) and I was walking through the fast pass line of BTMR for probably our fourth ride on it of the day and he turned to me and said,"Mom, I am so glad that we are at Disney".:love:

[Bethann23]

These stories are so great ... it should start with a TISSUE ALERT....:sad:

I too went to Disney on my honeymoon and dreamed of when we would have children and come back and enjoy it with them..... This will be our 3rd trip with our DD12 and DS8 , and I can't imagine a vacation I look forward to more.... we go other places and do other things, but Disney is special... everyone is a little nicer, a little more tolerant of others... it is a place I wish we lived in everyday. But, I will settle for visiting as often as I can , and dreaming of it ... in my dreams....:cloud9:

[AustinTink]

I told myself, "I'm only going to read a couple." Now that I'm done reading the whole thread with tears streaming, I just wanted to say thanks for all the lovely stories.

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I told myself, "I'm only going to read a couple." Now that I'm done reading the whole thread with tears streaming, I just wanted to say thanks for all the lovely stories.
Me too! :sad1: I just had someone look at me at work. I think he wanted to ask a question but just shook his head and walked away. :rotfl2:

[devores]

I added the TISSUE ALERT:sad: after it being suggested. These are great and this thread turned out better than I thought. Thanks everyone for sharing.

[lecach]

Mine isn't really a tearjerker but involved my DS on our trip last May. He was 3 1/2 and while he had been potty trained for pp he had not been able to get the hang of the other. About 2 weeks before our trip I told him that Mickey Mouse would really like him to poo in the potty. That he didn't like stinky pullups. We had tried EVERYTHING. But that did it. A week before our trip he became fully potty trained and didn't have a single accident the entire week at WDW! That was truly a special moment.

[BayouMickey]

Mine came a LONG time ago back in the 70's. I didn't even enter the park yet!
I remember driving on the interstate with groves and groves of orange trees, then out of nowhere this big sign "Welcome to Walt Disney World" appeared. That sign! that devilish sign enchanted me and haunts me everyday I'm not there. I'm not even going to go there about when we reached the Kingdom....

[ScrapperBelle]

1st visit, 1972. I'm turning 3. I remember very clearly walking up to the TTC and seeing the castle. I wouldn't wait to get on the monorail or ferry, I just wanted to stand at the edge of the lake and look at the castle.

I'm sure my memories aren't exactly correct, but I can remember standing there with mama and daddy on either side of me holding my hands.

Later on, when I brought my son (he was 4) our moment was at AK. We had recently had a talk about heaven. We were in Dinoland (he was absolutely crazy for dinosaurs) and looked at me and said, "We're not in Disney any more, we're in heaven!

Last year, we had a trip planned for early Feb. Our oldest son (my stepson) passed away in Dec. 07. I called and cancelled our trip because we just didn't feel like we could go at the time. A couple of months later, DH tells me we need to book another trip because he is tired of feeling depressed and "needs some happy". We plan a trip for May. Myself, DH, DD (my step), DSIL, DGD, and DS.

When I called back to make our ressies, I guess the CM who cancelled our earlier trip had put the reason in the notes. I had a very nice conversation with the CM about how hubby wanted to go, I wasn't so sure, etc.

The 1st night we're at WDW, we go to 1900 PF for dinner. When we check in, the hostess notes that it's someone's bday (mine was later in the week). DH tells her that the dinner is actually more for DGD and the trip is a present for her bday (which was a couple of months ago). During the meal, our waiter brings her a "happy birthday" tiara, a cupcake, a princess purse, and a princess wand. He tells her that her uncle had her bday gift sent to her there and that he wished her the best bday ever.

We were all crying (even tough guy 15 y/o DS). A few days later we were in AK and my son just stops, looks at me and said, "You know when I was little I thought this place was heaven. Now I'm pretty sure it is." I didn't even think he remembered that.

Sorry this is so long, but it took one story to lead into the next and get to where I was eventually going.

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

My dd and I have been going to WDW since she was a little girl. Her first trip at 18 months came right on the tails of my mom finding out she had cancer. My mom wanted to take dd and I before she started treatment. Well, we went and had a fabulous time. DD, my mom, and I would look over the photos very often.

My mom died a little over a year later. DD and I still look at the photos often.

On our trip last May on our last night we are at MK watching Wishes. DD is sitting in my lap. She turns around and tells me - Mommy - it feels like Grandma is right here holding us both! Naturally I was teary enough at just watching wishes but that made me cry. My mom loved WDW - she would love to know that dd feels her presence there!

[surfergirl602]

my moment? My then dd5, and a HUGE jack Sparrow fan, couldn't believe that she was going to meet him at the pirate and princess party. When we finally were ushered into the room that jack was in, she gasped like only a princess would, hands over her mouth about ready to faint, picked up her princess skirt and ran into his arms and beamed up at him, "I've waited my whole life to meet you!" in the most dramatic, disney princess voice I've ever heard. Remember, she's five. lol Jack could only laugh and gave her a huge hug! the best part, the photopass photographer got it! I wish I had it on this computer so I could post it, but her dream had come true. It brought tears to my eyes while I was laughing.

[zuly]

ohhh I look like Rudolph :sad1: this is why I love Disney! :hippie:

[Captn Jack Sparrow]

I have two:

Our first trip was in 2002 as a family. my wife found the disboards, what a big day that was! well my wife starts to plan our first trip and we suddenly think we shouldn't tell the kids where we are going. we rented a car that year and drove. the kids never really asked where we were going. we stayed at CR and we were through the front gates to MK/Resorts and were wondering if they were asleep because we didn't hear anything from the backseat. we pull through the 'tunnel' and the CR was right in front of us and we hear this HUGE gasp followed by "WE ARE AT DISNEY" ahh what a moment.

the other is one that i got to create when i was at disney on the College program. My first night on what was called bridge, basically stand at the entrance to Adventure Land at closing and making sure that no one 'gets in' after hours. As i was walking out to the entrance of Adventure Land i notice a coulple looking frntically around the benches. I asked if I could help and they said that they had just got engaged, i congratulated them and asked what was wrong. they said that they had a Stitch plush that had been used but had set it down and had lost it. I gave them a 'gift certificate' to get a brand new one from any of the MK shops on the way out of the park. they both hugged me and thanked me for making their night complete.

[shordiebecka]

I've had many moments...but my most recent one was when I stood there watching Wishes with two 21 year old VERY manly men who never cried..and both of them cried like babies and afterwards said "yeah..it brought a tear to my eye..let's go to pleasure Island now!" Although i saw them sobbing about half way through.....:rotfl:

[tkoran]

Well, thanks a lot everyone! I was doing just fine until I read this thread. :rotfl: I cried many times throughout our trip because I was so happy that DH actually agreed to go there (He was totally anti-Disney and anti-Florida). I had never been there and had always hoped I could take our kids.

What really did it for me was on our last day. We had to meet ME by noon so we decided to have a nice relaxing breakfast and enjoy the resort instead of hitting the parks since we also had a long drive home from the airport.

At one point we were lounging in our room when I noticed that DD7 (her birthday was the previous day) was sitting on the balcony looking out very quietly. I went to check and see if something was wrong because she's normally very active and bubbly or throwing a tantrum (no happy medium with her :rotfl: ), to find her sitting there quietly crying. When I asked what was wrong, she told me she was crying because she didn't want to leave. It melted my heart.

[TSMAMI]

:sad1: how am I going to go to work now!

[Corjack]

I will go into Cosmic Rays every visit now just to remeber my Father holding my little girl (dressed as Tinklerbell) sharing French Fries and Ketchup dancing to the music.

:lovestruc :sad:

[tinksgilrs251520]

We were there on 2007 and it was the last night in the parks and we went to the princess storybook dinner at norway. My daughters favorite princess is Jasmine and up until that night we had no sign of her. Well while were waiting for our table the matordee was talking to my husband and then he starting nuddging me. Well at the same time as he was nudding me i was stopping the girls from bickering. Well he finally whispered in my ear that she was here and i asked him who and he said Jasmine. Well i did not say anything to my youngest that her wish was about to come true and when they started to come out her mouth dropped when she saw Jasmine from across the room and when Jamine finally got to our table my daughter started to cry and she gave her a big hug and thas when I knew Disney Magic had happened.

[bdiddy]

For me, it was seeing my daughters face during the parade at MK. It brought tears to my eyes and luckily I got a picture of her face. It is now one of my most favorite pictures....


Ugh!! I cannot get the picture to post!! This is the best I can get it but it's so tiny!!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8ce23b3127ccec5117d7ed8d100000100O08AcNmzhm2atg e3nwc/cC

[teddygurlkeekee]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

Awwww this just made me cry at work. It sounds like something my daddy would do (help the guy up)

[WeLoveLilo05]

I know there have been several threads on here about the Disney Magic. What I wanted to know is, what was that one moment at Disney that really impacted you?

Mine is the time we were at Epcot. Im not sure exactly how this all happened, but we witnessed a little girl interacting with Mickey. The little girls was deaf, and Mickey was signing to her. The mother of the girl was welling up watching her little girls excitement. We almost could not hold back the tears. This was the moment I truely understood the Magic of Disney.

So, what was your moment?

I got all teary eyed with that one

[koolaidmoms]

I have two magical moments that bring it all together for me.

1. We flew to WDW one month after 9-11. We went into the American Adventure to see the show. Patriotism at that time was at an all time high. As the show played we sobbed as the Statue of Liberty came on and especially at the end as the picture of the Twin Towers came up on the screen. Everyone was walking out wiping tears from their eyes.

2. The second and most important to me was just a few months after my son had been diagnosed with Autism we were in Magic Kingdom. He watched his sister get dressed in her princess dress just before the parade was to start. As he looked longingly at the bag the dress was in he asked, "I don't supposed there is anything in that bag for me?" There was.

We dressed him in his new Peter Pan costume! Peter Pan is his favorite character and he recites lines from the movies for hours. As the Peter Pan float crossed the bridge from Liberty Square into the hub my son saw Peter Pan on the front of the float. He started jumping up and down and screaming, "Peter it's me! It's me!" I started to cry. Peter Pan looked down right at him, pointed to himself and then to my son and back again. He then gave him a big wave. My son knew that Peter Pan saw him and he knew he WAS Peter Pan.

I knew in that moment that everything was going to be all right. It may not be the path I would have chosen for my son but he could still believe and he still believed in pixie dust so why couldn't I? :goodvibes

[AlohaPolynesian]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

I loved this and it made me tear up!

My dd and I have been going to WDW since she was a little girl. Her first trip at 18 months came right on the tails of my mom finding out she had cancer. My mom wanted to take dd and I before she started treatment. Well, we went and had a fabulous time. DD, my mom, and I would look over the photos very often.

My mom died a little over a year later. DD and I still look at the photos often.

On our trip last May on our last night we are at MK watching Wishes. DD is sitting in my lap. She turns around and tells me - Mommy - it feels like Grandma is right here holding us both! Naturally I was teary enough at just watching wishes but that made me cry. My mom loved WDW - she would love to know that dd feels her presence there!

I just started crying so hard my roommate came out of her bedroom to see if I was okay!!!! What a wonderful memory to have :hug:

I've had many moments...but my most recent one was when I stood there watching Wishes with two 21 year old VERY manly men who never cried..and both of them cried like babies and afterwards said "yeah..it brought a tear to my eye..let's go to pleasure Island now!" Although i saw them sobbing about half way through.....:rotfl:

This one was awesome, it made me laugh after reading all of the other stories!

[rluey29]

When my DS was 6 , we took him on his first trip to the world. Two of his favorite characters were Chip & Dale (even though he would mispronounce their names) but we had no luck finding them at the parks. On the last day, we were at AK and were leaving the park to go and catch our flight, and there stood Chip & Dale outside the front entrance signing autographs but apparently it was time for them to go in. I begged and pleaded with the CM to wait for me to find a pen and dig my camera out but she refused and made the characters leave the scene. My DS6 grabbed the autograph book and started running across the entrance screaming "CHIP & DIP....Waaaaaiiiiiitttt". It was so heartbreaking.

I told this story on the DISBoards and the nicest person mailed my DS an autographed picture of Chip & Dale to our house. He was sooo happy to receive it!

Fast forward to his second trip in 2008, we were in Epcot on a day that didn't seem crowded. We were about to pass the International Gateway and my son let out a gasp. I looked down the hill and there stood Chip & Dale all by themselves. DS started running toward them and one of the chipmunks started running toward DS and they just embraced in a huge hug. DS was telling him how he had tried so hard to find them last time. I got a picture of Chip and DS walking arm-in-arm back down the hill to meet Dale. It is one of my favorite pictures!!

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this thread! It's heartwarming, uplifting, sad, and i am so grateful to have been able to read it!:thanks:

[erincon23]

The first time we took our boys to WDW, they were 4 and 1. The oldest was a major Toy Story nut, and MGM was running the Toy Story parade. We had front row, curbside seats, and he was beside himself! It was almost like he had a sign on him, "I LOVE TOY STORY" because first, the green soldiers stopped right in front of him and saluted, and then the monkeys rolled right up to him and shook his hand. This was the best thing that could have happened to him here! He's 16 now, but still remembers the soldiers and the monkeys.


- Erin

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv314/erincon23/monkey.jpg

[Nancyg56]

One moment from last trip...


DBFs brother knelt down to his daughter and said "You see that castle over there?" And she looks and can't see it because of her height and the people around so DBFs brother picks her up and puts her on his shoulders and I saw her face see that castle for the first time and she just looks down and says "oh Daddy thank you so much for coming home"



Okay, this one did me in...I was teary with the stories before this one but :sad1::sad1: now.



2. The second and most important to me was just a few months after my son had been diagnosed with Autism we were in Magic Kingdom. He watched his sister get dressed in her princess dress just before the parade was to start. As he looked longingly at the bag the dress was in he asked, "I don't supposed there is anything in that bag for me?" There was.

We dressed him in his new Peter Pan costume! Peter Pan is his favorite character and he recites lines from the movies for hours. As the Peter Pan float crossed the bridge from Liberty Square into the hub my son saw Peter Pan on the front of the float. He started jumping up and down and screaming, "Peter it's me! It's me!" I started to cry. Peter Pan looked down right at him, pointed to himself and then to my son and back again. He then gave him a big wave. My son knew that Peter Pan saw him and he knew he WAS Peter Pan.

I knew in that moment that everything was going to be all right. It may not be the path I would have chosen for my son but he could still believe and he still believed in pixie dust so why couldn't I? :goodvibes

:goodvibes What a wonderful sign for your family that all would be okay.

The first time we took our boys to WDW, they were 4 and 1. The oldest was a major Toy Story nut, and MGM was running the Toy Story parade. We had front row, curbside seats, and he was beside himself! It was almost like he had a sign on him, "I LOVE TOY STORY" because first, the green soldiers stopped right in front of him and saluted, and then the monkeys rolled right up to him and shook his hand. This was the best thing that could have happened to him here! He's 16 now, but still remembers the soldiers and the monkeys.


-

My nephew went to DL to visit his sister, who is a CM there. She knew some of the "Green Men" and told them her brother was stopping by before his next deployment. As they watched the parade the soldiers stopped adn turned to Tim and saluted him. My sister (and me too) cry every time we hear this story. A little thing perhaps, but huge to us.

[tchrrx]

Mine was on our first trip. We woke DD (then 6) up and gave her a gift box. Inside was a Cinderella dress & a note inviting her to breakfast at the castle. When I read her the note, she looked at me and with wide eyes said, "For really Mommy?" I started tearing up right then (just like I am now, thinking about it!). Our daughter had been in foster care for 5 years & it was awesome to know that we were able to make her dreams come true. The pictures from that morning are incredible because she is literally glowing with happiness. It absolutely amazes me.

[BabyRN]

Ugh this thread is just KILLING me!! The more and more I read the sadder yet happier I get!

Mine isn't a sad story, but on our first trip last April all 3 of my kids had an experience that for me would be the experience of a lifetime. It was even mine and my husband's first time there. We went to watch Festival of the Lion King. When we were being seated, the CM told me to have some of us sit at the end of one bleacher and some of us at another, right in front of each other. I was a little annoyed and didn't really want to split up. She was kind of firm about making us split up, which upset me even more. Then she said "trust me, these are good seats". I gave in because I just wanted to see the show and my kids didn't seem to care. Anyway, at the end of the show when the characters choose kids from the audience to come down and march around the middle with the instruments, all 3 of my kids were picked to go down. I sat there blatting like a baby while video taping it with my camera! That day at Animal Kingdom sold me on Disney!

Thank you to everyone for sharing your stories here. They are truly uplifting! (It doesn't help that I'm only 6 days post-partum and cry at the drop of a hat anyway!:rotfl: )

[sunny1016]

Okay ours was after my dd had saved a matching bracelet in a tiny box for MONTHS, then remembered to bring it to Disney (I didn't even know she had it still!) she gave it to Cinderella who put it on and KEPT it on! My dd was beyond ecstatic! This was our final morning at Disney and we left to start our drive back to Pittsburgh pa. We stopped for gas and potty at the gas station right outside of MK, then headed north. Almost 2 hours into our trip we hear these faint sobs from the back of our suv. I turn around and dd is drenched in tears quietly crying her eyes out. I ask her what is wrong and she tells me that she took her matching bracelet off at the gas station to wash her hands and left it there. She was absolutely heartbroken. Her entire face was red and swollen, she must have been crying for some time! I am trying to tell her that we will call and they can mail it back- as my dh takes the next exit,...... back south.
We pull into the gas station and sitting right there on the sink, the bracelet.
4 hrs extra travel time -rough
Curing your daughters heartache-priceless!

[lorli]

Well, thanks a lot everyone! I was doing just fine until I read this thread. :rotfl: I cried many times throughout our trip because I was so happy that DH actually agreed to go there (He was totally anti-Disney and anti-Florida). I had never been there and had always hoped I could take our kids.

What really did it for me was on our last day. We had to meet ME by noon so we decided to have a nice relaxing breakfast and enjoy the resort instead of hitting the parks since we also had a long drive home from the airport.

At one point we were lounging in our room when I noticed that DD7 (her birthday was the previous day) was sitting on the balcony looking out very quietly. I went to check and see if something was wrong because she's normally very active and bubbly or throwing a tantrum (no happy medium with her :rotfl: ), to find her sitting there quietly crying. When I asked what was wrong, she told me she was crying because she didn't want to leave. It melted my heart.


I think our dd our twins from other mothers. My dd does this every time we leave Disney and for weeks later at home wondering when we are going back.

[lorli]

When my dd was 5 we were watching Wishes for the ninth or tenth time and she is enamered of it still. She turns to me (I have tears in my eyes because it always make me think of our Angel in heave - we had a dd pass away at 4 months old when dd was 2) and says, "Mommy, I think Kristiana is in heaven watching wishes with us." That was the most precious thing a mother could hear.

[scottsod]

ok before our last trip on nov 08 my oldest ds dylan who is 10 now he
has cerebral palsey and aspergers and uses a wheelchair or a walker
he is the bigest star wars fan and all he can talk about for 6 months leading up to our trip is getting picked for jedi training. we told him over and over its not for shure that you get picked we were there for 10 days and in hs for a few so i told him we would try alot. so my dw and ds make a sign with mickey and star wars characters on it and it says in big letters the force is strong in this one!! (yoda speak) so when we 1st get to hs he says hes to scared to try and do it even though we luged the sign all over wdw. so we skip it and ride star tours like 3 times. the next time we go a day or so later we try again
this time he says he will try. we were early and my dw went and talked to a cm to make shure they could get the wheelchair up there if he was picked didnt want to crush his hopes. so im in the back waiting with 2 toddlers and ds and dw are in front row waving this sign. and guess what he got picked!!

they took him up had the jedi masters helper help my son get into position and watch out for him as he practiced as my wife watched from just off stage and i videod from the ground.

when it get to the final part were each jedi gets to fight darth vader my son YELLS at darth vader I'M NOT AFFRAID OF YOU!! wich the jedi master repeats for all to hear and he battles him verry well with ALL of the audiance cheering VERRY loudly for him and my dw bawling in tears on the side of the stage. and even after it was over the jedi master posed for pictures and they took his sign back stage and had it signed by all the cast!

it made his childhood let alone his trip! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8cxZckkcUo&feature=channel

thats why among about 10 other magic moments from that trip alone including picked for lion king pirate training and my family riding the tea cups with alice ! i love disney

[ToddyLu]

:) Here I am crying.
1. My FIL had cancer in 2004 and it was our last WDW trip with him. He had never driven a scooter before but we had one for him for this trip. He actually drove it well but this is funny.....my DH is 5"7 at 260 pounds and my BIL is 6'1" at 280....both in dark sunglasses....one on each side of the scooter....like he was the president and they were his secret service. They never left his side and helped him navigate the parks. :cool2: What a special and fun picture. My BIL would call DH on his cell phone from the gate and say "Nemo has left the bus, I repeat, Nemo has left the bus" so DH could meet them and help him with Pop.

2. In 2005-we lost our home in Katrina and well as my MIL and FIL home. Katrina was 8/29 and Pop passed on 10/04. We weren't sure if we needed to do Disney that year. DH and I went anyway so he could have a break from building and fire fighting....I was fine until we stood at the end of the NYC Backdrop at MGM and they turned on the Osbourne Lights....HE is a terrific Husband and just held me while I cried.....

Thanks for letting me post and for the magic I get daily from the Dis!!:wizard:

[svalencia1]

One of the most magical moments I remember was at Epcot. We decided to head over and begin the fun right after our plane landed and had checked in. The first ride we hopped on was Spaceship Earth. I let my two kids sit in the front row and I sat behind them. When our ride was completed I looked in front where my kids were sitting. My son (6 at the time) had tears streaming down his face. I said, "what's wrong sweetie"? He turned to me and said "I just love this place." I gave him a big hug and said "I know... I love it too"

[luvthemouse71]

This is why I love WDW so much...it's not just a vacation..it's a place where milestones are reached, and where people make memories that last their whole lives. I can truly say I feel badly for those people who don't understand the Disney magic.

I'm off to go rinse my face off...mascara is everywhere.;)

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Y'all are KILLIN' me here! KILLIN' me I tell ya!!!!!

:sad: :sad: :sad:

[mrsbornkuntry]

I have two special moments, both from our first family trip in 2001. We took this trip because my then 3yo DS was in a short remission from leukemia and our family needed an escape, it was a spur of the moment trip. The first moment was when we were at then MGM Studios, we walked passed a building that had a sign out that said Mickey was in there, but he was getting ready to leave so DH said "Oh, hurry and park the stroller, DS really wants to see him" so I hurried, but the CM was shutting the doors so we said "Oh, maybe we'll see him later" and she said "oh, no, you go on in" and held the door for us. There were only a couple people in line and when it was our turn DS ran up to Mickey, gave him a hug and kissed him on the nose. It's my favorite Disney picture.

The second one on that trip was when we were riding POTC. Once we got on that same 3yo DS got scared and started whining like he was going to cry. Before I could say anything his 5yo brother starts pointing at things and distracting him saying things like "hey, Jordan, look what those pirates are doing, isn't that silly?" I was so proud of him. As a side note, that older brother is 11 now and is still very compassionate like that.

[cmonroe]

What feels like many years ago, it was my daughter's first trip to Disney World. She was 2 1/2 yrs old. It was a Grand Gatherings, with the 15 of us (my son wasn't born yet) walking through the Main gate at the Magic Kingdom.

As we walked through the tunnel, and rounded the circle my daughter started to see the castle appear as we made our way onto Main st. Once the castle totally came into view, her mouth dropped in awe as her eyes remained transfixed on the towering castle. She was in disbelief that the castle she had seen so many times in Cinderella, stood before her. Meanwhile, this was the first time I had brought my daughter to Disney World. In a split second, the memories of my childhood at Disney with my parents filled my body and I couldn't contain my emotions. I started crying right there on Main street.

I thought I had recovered, when we passed the bridge. My father (Grampy), who has a hard time walking, took my daughter's hand and finished the walk into Tomorrowland together. In between the second round of tears I managed to take a photo of the two. We framed it and gave it to my parents.

http://www.themonroes.net/images/disney028.JPG

[Janet100]

*

[TheDisneyGirl02]

One of my favorite Disney moments occurred when I was working at WDW. I was standing by the Castle waiting for the character to come out after Cinderella's Surprise Celebration. There was a little girl who was completely bald, obviously from some illness. She had one of those princess crowns that had the ribbons down the back of it and she looked like she was just having the time of her life. That for me was what what Disney is all about.

Another time was when I was working with Mickey Mouse in the Judge's Tent and this woman who was probably in her 80's in a wheelchair met Mickey for the first time. She was so happy that she cried. I also cried too because it was so touching.

I just love Disney magic! :lovestruc

[Janet100]

On November 1st, 2008, I surprised my 78-year-old mother, Mary Lee, with a princess breakfast at the Ankerhus Restaurant at Epcot. She just thought it was breakfast in Norway. She didn't know there would be Princesses until she got inside. One of my best friends came along with her mother. My mother will tell you that her favorite character is Snow White. She will recount how it was the very first movie that she ever saw and how the wicked witch almost scared her to death! She saw the movie the first year it came out!

I told one of the hostesses that I had a very important letter for Snow White and would they please deliver it to her. She gave me a strange look and I repeated my request. She said that she was unsure if she was here, but would try. My note explained what I had written in the above paragraph. Also told her my mom's name and what she was wearing. I kept my fingers crossed.

After a visit to our table from Mary Popins and Mulan, here comes Snow White. She asked how we were doing and if we were enjoying our breakfast. I asked her how the drawfs were doing? She said they were working very hard in the diamond mine. I asked her if she was baking them anything special? Snow White said that she had a gooseberry pie in the oven. Then she looked at my mom and asked if she was Mary Lee? Imagine her surprise when Snow White came to our table and knew her name. My mother had the look of surprise like a little girl seeing her princess for the first time. That was a priceless moment that I will never forget. Disney Magic. Mother then proceed to tell Snow White that she was her favorite and she was the first movie that she ever saw. Snow White then did a twirl and proclaimed that she didn't look one day older. Then mom asked for a picture with her princess. Before she left, I reminded Snow White not to eat any more red apples. She said, “Oh no, I don't eat red apples anymore and I’m very disappointed that they have red apples on the buffet.”

I want to thank everyone that answered my posts several months ago. I wanted to find Snow White at a restaurant. What was important to find out is that she is not always at every meal. With your help, I found out that my best chance to meet her was during the breakfast time! You guys are great on this board. Here are some pics.

http://images.photo1.walgreens.com/232323232%7Ffp43252%3Enu%3D3235%3E%3A%3A%3B%3E%3B% 3B3%3EWSNRCG%3D3233%3A%3A%3C453%3B%3A3nu0mrj

[sasha's goofy]

I love reading everyone's moments. Disney truely is a magical place. My moment took place about 10yrs ago. I was a 30 something on a solo trip who had been to disney more times than I can count. I was getting ready to leave MK and head to another park for the afternoon. As I was walking twords the fire station out pops cinderella. There were 2 little girls walking in front of me and Cindy asked if they would help her cross the street. Cinderella then took each of the girls hands and they walked across to the center island. I remember a little gasp from me, several tears, and thinking she just made these little girls dreams come true. To this day I wonder if it was as special a moment for them as it was for me.

[topmonkeygirl]

This didn't happen in Disney but at Publix where I work as a cashier.

A mom, dad, and and adorable little girl were in line, unloaded their groceries, and paid for them. The whole time the little girl was being patient, just kind of standing around waiting, and after the parents paid she very politely asked if she could have a balloon. (We give balloons and coloring books out to the little ones, sometimes we don't think about it.) I said sure what color would you like she said Tinkerbell Green, not just green but Tinkerbell Green. That is one of the best Disney moments I've ever had.

Just goes to show you can take the magic with you.

[Cruise04]

Wow you all - I can't tell you what this has done to me besides crying - some great great great people you all are!!!! And the one after 9/11 awwww.... Thanks for what you did!


My moment was our first trip in 1999 as a family. We got married in September and as the planning of the wedding was going on we decided instead of a honeymoon that we'd go to Disney for Christmas - one of my dreams. The other one of my dreams was just taking dd there but I never thought I could because I was a single parent barely making it. Anyway, the first night - we arrive and just hung out. The next day we went to AK and then MK. We got to MK just before the tree lighting. Get my camera ready, put it up to my eyes and blammo - the tree and all of the lights on Main Street get lit. And I'm standing, literally, in the middle of Main Street, facing the tree, the camera still up to my eyes, and tears streaming down my face. I was 9 when I first went to Disney for my birthday and here we were, my dd is 9 and it has just been her birthday and we were there. We made it. I never imagined I'd ever get there again.

We have made several trips since and there's always something I find that makes me cry - and it's something different every time. Except for the American Adventure and the end of Illuminations - both do it to me everytime.

[fall08CP]

There is this absolutely wonderful story that I heard this summer while I was a CM. I've been searching online to see if I can find it because I don't remember all of the details, but perhaps someone else can find it.

It was about an elderly couple that had an ADR at crystal palace a few years ago. They were a bit early so he took her out in front of the castle and danced with his queen as if nobody was watching. This year they returned and the cast members knew their story. They set up a very special dinner for them again at the C. Palace and this time I believe the wife was extremely ill. He picked her up and twirled her around in front of the castle for what might be the last time. They were pics that came with the story and he was just beaming, they were so in love.

Hopefully someone can find the story- I've been looking for the last 30 mins with no luck. I just wish I could remember it better!

[michael's mom]

Okay, so I have been reading for about 30-40 minutes now and crying during almost every post. I am always saddened by people who think Disney is just another vacation spot. I have now read 76 posts that say differently.

This is why I love Disney!

I do have a few moments to share.

The first is actually my DH's moment, and truth that anyone can become a kid again. DH was 8 the first and only time his parents took him to WDW. They were "world travelers" and didn't really get the Disney thing. To top it off, my DH wasn't the best behaved kid either. All he wanted was to meet Donald Duck. As the trip was nearing a close, and DH never saw Donald, he apparently threw the worlds biggest fit (pretty bad being 8 and all). So, fast forward 13 years when DH (then DBF) comes to WDW with my family, extended and all, probably 20 of us. He ran down Main Street with more excitement than many young children. Thinking back, it was so cool. When we went to the Judges Tent to finally meet Donald, DH had a smile on his face that would melt your heart. He chose WDW as our honeymoon spot (even though I secretly wished for it).

My "magical moments" happened in June of 2007 when we took our DS (then 14mon) for his first trip. I had no expectations of magic with DS at this early age. I went into that trip thinking, this is a trip for the grownups and he's here for the ride. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. I had read on wdwinfo.com that the barber shop on Main St. specialized in first haircuts. Now, DS needed one at 8 months (darn hair grows like weeds), but I refused! Our first day in the parks, we walked into the barber shop and my baby boy wasn't a baby anymore. She sat him on that chair, spoke to him in the most calming, melodic, hypnotizing voice and he was mesmerized. He stared out the door just listening to her. She reminded me of a fairy from Sleeping Beauty...shape and all :) I don't know if there was any better place for him to get his first haircut. I cry thinking about how special that moment was for DH, my parents, and myself.

This same trip, but the last day in the park, we had had enough of AK. It was just soooo hot that we needed to head back to the resort. We decided to catch FotLK if it was playing soon. We got in about 10 minutes before the show started, sat up almost to the top of the bleachers and waited. To be honest, I was just relieved to have airconditioning! As soon as the music started and the performers came out, DS stood up on my dad's legs and made the most beautiful sounds any mother could hear. He was oohing and aahing like only a baby can. He was jumping up and down, grunting with excitement. He had his very first magical experience in Disney and when I looked up at my dad (for whom DS was named) he wiped a tear from his eye. There I was, thinking that I wouldn't be able to make memories with DS until he was older, emersed in the middle of the single most important memory that I have of Disney (20+ visits). FotLK will always be on my list of "must do no matter what's" because I can never think of it without tearing up! Now that DS will be almost 3, I cannot wait to be with him when he experiences this again!


Thank you to all who have shared, and provided me with the opportunity to share my story. It's always great to shed tears of happiness...even if that happy Disney memory comes from something sad.

[bostonsnana]

My moment was years ago when my daughter was about four or five. Cinderella was favorite character. During the nighttime parade, Cinderella looked right at my daughter and waved and blew her a kiss. The look on my beautiful daughter's face was worth every penny we spent on that vacation. That was at least fifteen years ago and I still can't think about it without crying. That's the Disney magic; there's no way to describe it to people who haven't experienced it.

[AuroraBorealis]

nevermind. wrong thread. :)

[quantumottle]

Here I am, a grown man, with tears on my eyes at my desk, while I keep this window open at work. Thanks, Disers! :goodvibes
Yes, what he said...
:thumbsup2

[JoMarie]

1st visit, 1972. I'm turning 3. I remember very clearly walking up to the TTC and seeing the castle. I wouldn't wait to get on the monorail or ferry, I just wanted to stand at the edge of the lake and look at the castle.

I'm sure my memories aren't exactly correct, but I can remember standing there with mama and daddy on either side of me holding my hands.

Later on, when I brought my son (he was 4) our moment was at AK. We had recently had a talk about heaven. We were in Dinoland (he was absolutely crazy for dinosaurs) and looked at me and said, "We're not in Disney any more, we're in heaven!

Last year, we had a trip planned for early Feb. Our oldest son (my stepson) passed away in Dec. 07. I called and cancelled our trip because we just didn't feel like we could go at the time. A couple of months later, DH tells me we need to book another trip because he is tired of feeling depressed and "needs some happy". We plan a trip for May. Myself, DH, DD (my step), DSIL, DGD, and DS.

When I called back to make our ressies, I guess the CM who cancelled our earlier trip had put the reason in the notes. I had a very nice conversation with the CM about how hubby wanted to go, I wasn't so sure, etc.

The 1st night we're at WDW, we go to 1900 PF for dinner. When we check in, the hostess notes that it's someone's bday (mine was later in the week). DH tells her that the dinner is actually more for DGD and the trip is a present for her bday (which was a couple of months ago). During the meal, our waiter brings her a "happy birthday" tiara, a cupcake, a princess purse, and a princess wand. He tells her that her uncle had her bday gift sent to her there and that he wished her the best bday ever.

We were all crying (even tough guy 15 y/o DS). A few days later we were in AK and my son just stops, looks at me and said, "You know when I was little I thought this place was heaven. Now I'm pretty sure it is." I didn't even think he remembered that.

Sorry this is so long, but it took one story to lead into the next and get to where I was eventually going.

What the CM did at the dinner made me cry like a baby. :guilty:

[Disneymama09]

Looking at my Daughter's eyes the first time she sawll Mickey, It was Priceless!

[Barbossa'sWench]

All of mine come from a trip I took the week before Thanksgiving last year with my Dad and S-Mom. I am an APH and only live an hour away, as they do. I fretted and fussed, thinking perhaps they wouldn't enjoy it all. That I had made a horrible mistake, but they happily booked their Safari view room at the AKL. So our first day I had made ressies at Chef Mickey's for that evening. I went into it thinking I had made a TERRIBLE mistake, the atmosphere would be all wrong, they would wind up getting annoyed. On top of it I had talked them into shelling out the extra money for MVMCP that night.


So we got to Chef Mickey's. My parents are divorced and my Dad has overcome alot in his life, a bout with alcoholism, cancer and so on. We have had lots of lapses but I just wanted those little girl moments I didn't get much of. My Step-Mom was a great sport, she kept the ressies secret and I consider her my "Other Mom". I was so worried about everything.


Well we get thereand I am STILL a basket case. We settle down, and whaddya know? Here comes Donald. My Dad's favorite.

These pics are priceless.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06199.jpg


I love the look he's giving Donald here.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06200.jpg


Uh-Oh! He's almost cracking a smile!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06202.jpg


Now you have to understand my Dad is a tough guy. A work-a-holic, doesn't have alot of fun time, and rarely lets loose. When I looked up and saw this I both laughed and cried.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06205.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06206.jpg


Then I look up to see THIS! I exploded into fits of giggles.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06208.jpg


Then another moment. As Minnie is singing my book, and playing with my scarf and taking pics Goofy comes an un-ties her apron. My Dad chastises him, and jumps up and does the gentlemanly thing. I couldn't believe it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06214.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06215.jpg


Cue me trying to figure out what he's doing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06216.jpg


And his reward!


Seriously this picture makes me grin like a idiot everytime I see it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06217.jpg


We joked with my Dad about his "New Girlfriend" the entire trip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06218.jpg


This is adorable. Pluto just launched himself at my Dad, who was suddenly very into it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06220.jpg


Then off to the Magic Kingdom for MVMCP

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06228.jpg


Here's the tear-jerker. My Dad is not a physically affectionate guy. While were watching the fireworks I cautiously place my hand on his shoulder. He then wrapped his arm around me, called me his "little girl" and held me throughout the fireworks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06232.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06232_2.jpg


Then he said he wanted a "Cinderella Castle picture with his two favorite girls"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06306.jpg


I cried alot that trip as you can see.

[janiejake]

Thanks for sharing your special moments, everyone. I should be packing, but decided to sit down and see if I've missed anything on the DIS today...well, you know what I found...

[LittleFlounder]

[COLOR="Blue"]
Here's the tear-jerker. My Dad is not a physically affectionate guy. While were watching the fireworks I cautiously place my hand on his shoulder. He then wrapped his arm around me, called me his "little girl" and held me throughout the fireworks.


Awww! Barbossa'sWench, what a magical story! What a great memory that must me for you! Of all the "moments" in this thread, yours is the only one that made me break down into tears!

pixiedust:

[alliesmommy]

Great stories everyone!

Ours happened on our last trip in Feb 08.

DH and I celebrated our honeymoon at WDW in '03. We made several childless trips after that and dreamed of the time when we could bring our own children. Having had two miscarriages back to back, it was a couple of very tough years.

We were finally blessed with a beautiful daughter in Feb '07 and decided to celebrate her 1st birthday at the World. It was so heartwarming to see everything through her eyes. We had to slow down quite a bit with a baby, but it also gave us an entirely new perspective on everything.

Our DD was terrified of the characters. She loved looking at them from a distance, but once they invaded her personal space, she'd start screaming. So we did a lot of standing and watching the characters from afar.

I'll never forget one morning at Epcot at the character meet and greet in Future World. Allie wore her birthday pin all week and this was the day before her actual birthday. We parked her stroller outside the building where Mickey, Minnie, and the like were and just watched them interact with the crowd. During one of their breaks, Minnie came over to the window and waved at Allie. She noticed her birthday pin, and starting waving her hands back and forth. She was "singing" Happy Birthday to our DD! Allie was having a blast. This went on for a good couple of minutes. I couldn't believe that Minnie spent her break bent down interacting with our DD through a wall of glass, no less. :lovestruc Sealed the deal for DH and me. We were Disney fans before, but now, we don't care if we ever take another family vacation outside of Disney.

[cpdwiz]

You guys are killing me....I hope my laptop keys can handle tears!!

Our moments....We both had bad relationships before we met each other. I believe in soulmates....We are each others. Our first trip was WDW...I proposed in front of the castle, she said yes...Photopass got pics....It was our magic moment, and WDW became "our" place...THEN...ABout 1 year later, we win DVC membership for 47years for FREE in the Year of a Million Dreams!!! Want to see tears? Yow....Then, our first trip as DVC members, we walk into SSR, and they say WELCOME HOME and Congratulations....Balled like a baby....Then we go to our room and there is a welcome home package from the front desk staff......

Disney is our dream, and she was my wish come true!!!

[Puccaw]

Mine is not a tear jerker but I thank all of you for sharing your special moments, it brings out the humanity in us all.

Last year we went to CRT breakfast before park opening, we were the first family there and therefore one of my daughters was about to be chosen as Honorary Princess of the day. When the CM asked which one of my daughters was younger I explained that they were twins, 11 at the time (they look nothing alike and there is a huge height difference). The CM, suprised said, " Oh well, that complicates things". By this time another family strolled up behind us with a little girl. Both of my daughters conferred and said that the little girl behind them should be the princess of the day. The CM put her hand on her chest and told my girls that because they truly had the Disney magic and were selfless that there would be two princesses of the day that day. I was so proud of my girls and so grateful that the family behind us was oblivious as I would have felt awful if the little girl had known.

[Nancyg56]

I cried alot that trip as you can see.

I loved this story! Now I am crying again :goodvibes

[lilybrooke14]

Ours was at Epcot. Actually, it was just a magical day. It was nearing the end of our week, and we were all pretty tired from all the activity. DD was 2 1/2, and we had an ADR for Akershus Princess Breakfast right as they opened. DD was the second little girl in the door. When she saw Belle, she just threw herself at her and buried her head into Belle's neck. Belle just knelt down on the floor holding DD. For quite a while. The Photopass photographer couldn't even get a photo of DD looking at the camera because she didn't want to stop snuggling Belle. (There wasn't anybody else in line at the time, so she wasn't hogging the Princess).

Fast forward later in the day. My FIL and MIL were joining us on the trip, and they met up with us at Epcot. They really wanted to buy DD a princess dress. We headed into MouseGears, and DD picked out the Belle dress. Then she spotted some hot pink glitter sneakers that she liked, so Gampa had to get those too. We changed her into her new outfit, and she and Gampa walked all over Epcot hand in hand. Mini princess Belle in her hot pink glitter kicks (cause that's what all the cool princesses wear). We got lots of great pictures. Later in the day, we were at Club Cool, and a member of the Dream Team came up and asked her for her autograph. She was declared "Princess for the Day" and she got a certificate.

When we got home at the end of the week, she just sobbed! "I want to go back to my hotel!" DH and I are trying to work it out so that we can take her again this year. It was just the most amazing week! And we just HAVE to go back to Akershus to see Belle.

[demonskrye]

Mine is not a tear jerker but I thank all of you for sharing your special moments, it brings out the humanity in us all.

Last year we went to CRT breakfast before park opening, we were the first family there and therefore one of my daughters was about to be chosen as Honorary Princess of the day. When the CM asked which one of my daughters was younger I explained that they were twins, 11 at the time (they look nothing alike and there is a huge height difference). The CM, suprised said, " Oh well, that complicates things". By this time another family strolled up behind us with a little girl. Both of my daughters conferred and said that the little girl behind them should be the princess of the day. The CM put her hand on her chest and told my girls that because they truly had the Disney magic and were selfless that there would be two princesses of the day that day. I was so proud of my girls and so grateful that the family behind us was oblivious as I would have felt awful if the little girl had known.

Tearjerker or not, it's a lovely story and your very lucky to have two wonderful princesses in your family.

[lawone]

This past January 20th while watching Wishes. On that day I celebrated my 41st birthday with DH Neil, Courtney (5) and Kendall (4). It really is no surprise that I cried as the colored lights burst overhead while ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ played from the speakers. I didn’t need a wish. I was living a dream.

[joy13]

Wow - I am an absolute wreck after reading all these stories! Thanks everyone for sharing!

[Puccaw]

Tearjerker or not, it's a lovely story and your very lucky to have two wonderful princesses in your family.

Thank you...I am very proud of my girls. We had our son pass away before they were born, so I know how special each moment is with your child. Hug em, love em and take them to Disney!!

[fey_spirit]

So I've always been a huge Barbosa fan, much bigger fan of his then of Cap Jack as a matter of fact...
And I have always heard of the characters in a parade paying special attention to the kiddies, but having none of my own - and being well out of my own official childhood, I never thought anything like that could happen to me.

Anyway we were waiting for the MNSSHP parade and I saw the Pirates' float come ambling down the lane, I got excited and pointed to the top of the float where sat the Captain Himself. I remember calling out as I pointed "Look it's Captain Ja..." and then I saw him making his way down the lane in front of the float on the ground and I couldn't stop myself - I cut off mid sentence before I could even finish Jack's name and screamed "Oh my god, that's Barbossa!"

He looked over at me and did a very Barbossa smile and said "Yeah!" seemed to think about it for a second and then crossed out of the parade to come over and kiss the back of my hand... I don't think I'll ever top that moment...

Though the so still wont let me forget the time I drove my EVC into a wall because I was too busy watching Cruella go by on the float... (What can I say? She's hot!)

[fey_spirit]

Thanks for the wibble.

While I was standing in front of the Partner's statue a year ago I asked to nobody in particular "Why is it called Walt Disney World?" and a cast member said to me....

"Because a big brother loved his little brother so much, that he would do anything it took to make sure his little brother's dreams came true."

Walt died before Disney World opened, and even though Roy finished off the plans he wanted to make sure everyone knew who made it all happen and whose dream this really was.

[esbrick]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

OMG what a beautiful story. :goodvibes You just gave me chills and a snowflake in my eye. Thank you!;)

[fey_spirit]

Thank you for lighting that candle...
Sometimes it feels like there is far too little light in this world.
And then someone like you does something like this.

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

[FIVEFANS]

:earsboy:

This is why we do it.

[scrappinmom]

Wow, what great stories. It's no wonder we all keep going back...Disney truly brings magic into our lives.

I have to warn you, mine is kinda sad, but really sealed the deal for me.

We had been to WDW once with oldest dd, and once with both the girls...then in 2005 the first of the free dining offers came out...it happened to be over fall break...dh didn't want to go, he doesn't really "get it" probably never will. So I decided I would take my then 9 yr old and 4 yr old dd's to disney by myself. Money was tight & this was a budget trip. We stayed at POP, had free dining, and my girls earned their spending money by doing little extra chores around the house and saving their bday money. We were shopping at the emporium on the first day of our trip, they're looking at everything with big giant eyes...they pick out a few things...a pirate hat & sword among them...I didnt know why they wanted that...but figured youngest dd must have. We pay & walk out...they ask if they could have the hat & sword...& just walked up to the very first boy they saw that looked about 5 and said "hi - we want you to have this".....I was shocked..so were the boys parents! I didn't understand, the parents tried to refuse, so I asked the girls why...Well, my son, their brother would have been turning 5 that week, he died a couple of days after he was born. They said they wanted to buy something for him on birthday and share it with another 5 yr old. Well at this point the boys parents, and I were crying....they accepted the gift, we hugged and went our seperate ways. That was my moment, I knew right then I would figure out a way to celebrate my son's life each and every time I went to disney. So even now 5 years later...when my teenager and IWANNAbeateenager are screaming at each other...I remember what great kids they are...

[FIVEFANS]

I keep reading and keep crying. The bus comes soon so I need to pull myself together.;)

[Willow1213]

Wow, what great stories. It's no wonder we all keep going back...Disney truly brings magic into our lives.

I have to warn you, mine is kinda sad, but really sealed the deal for me.

We had been to WDW once with oldest dd, and once with both the girls...then in 2005 the first of the free dining offers came out...it happened to be over fall break...dh didn't want to go, he doesn't really "get it" probably never will. So I decided I would take my then 9 yr old and 4 yr old dd's to disney by myself. Money was tight & this was a budget trip. We stayed at POP, had free dining, and my girls earned their spending money by doing little extra chores around the house and saving their bday money. We were shopping at the emporium on the first day of our trip, they're looking at everything with big giant eyes...they pick out a few things...a pirate hat & sword among them...I didnt know why they wanted that...but figured youngest dd must have. We pay & walk out...they ask if they could have the hat & sword...& just walked up to the very first boy they saw that looked about 5 and said "hi - we want you to have this".....I was shocked..so were the boys parents! I didn't understand, the parents tried to refuse, so I asked the girls why...Well, my son, their brother would have been turning 5 that week, he died a couple of days after he was born. They said they wanted to buy something for him on birthday and share it with another 5 yr old. Well at this point the boys parents, and I were crying....they accepted the gift, we hugged and went our seperate ways. That was my moment, I knew right then I would figure out a way to celebrate my son's life each and every time I went to disney. So even now 5 years later...when my teenager and IWANNAbeateenager are screaming at each other...I remember what great kids they are...

Ok I was holding together pretty well until this :sad: :sad: Your girls are wonderful!

[disneygirlinnj]

Ok Now that I'm crying at work and can't stop sniffling... keep them coming!! :)

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I knew I should not have gone back into this thread.:sad1:

[chocovrdmicears]

I know there have been several threads on here about the Disney Magic. What I wanted to know is, what was that one moment at Disney that really impacted you?

Mine is the time we were at Epcot. Im not sure exactly how this all happened, but we witnessed a little girl interacting with Mickey. The little girls was deaf, and Mickey was signing to her. The mother of the girl was welling up watching her little girls excitement. We almost could not hold back the tears. This was the moment I truely understood the Magic of Disney.

So, what was your moment?

Geez...I can't even get past your first post without :sad: :sad: :sad:

[Ariel Wanna-be]

We had been to WDW once with oldest dd, and once with both the girls...then in 2005 the first of the free dining offers came out...it happened to be over fall break...dh didn't want to go, he doesn't really "get it" probably never will. So I decided I would take my then 9 yr old and 4 yr old dd's to disney by myself. Money was tight & this was a budget trip. We stayed at POP, had free dining, and my girls earned their spending money by doing little extra chores around the house and saving their bday money. We were shopping at the emporium on the first day of our trip, they're looking at everything with big giant eyes...they pick out a few things...a pirate hat & sword among them...I didnt know why they wanted that...but figured youngest dd must have. We pay & walk out...they ask if they could have the hat & sword...& just walked up to the very first boy they saw that looked about 5 and said "hi - we want you to have this".....I was shocked..so were the boys parents! I didn't understand, the parents tried to refuse, so I asked the girls why...Well, my son, their brother would have been turning 5 that week, he died a couple of days after he was born. They said they wanted to buy something for him on birthday and share it with another 5 yr old. Well at this point the boys parents, and I were crying....they accepted the gift, we hugged and went our seperate ways. That was my moment, I knew right then I would figure out a way to celebrate my son's life each and every time I went to disney. So even now 5 years later...when my teenager and IWANNAbeateenager are screaming at each other...I remember what great kids they are...

Okay, I *know* I keep posting this :sad: , but oh my God, what wonderful, awesome, terrific girls you have!!!!!

:hug:

[EricaG]

When I was about 27 and already married, my husband and I went with my Mom and Step-Dad to Disney World--it was Step-Dad's first time ever. He had always wanted to go as a child but never got the chance. We had tried to explain to him how amazing Disney was, but you can't really convey that until people see it, can you?

We spent our first day at MK, and after we watched the fireworks that night, I turned to him and said, "So was it everything you thought it would be?" I was so surprised when he actually got choked up and had tears in his eyes as he said, "It was so much better than I imagined." We were so glad we had convinced him to go! :goodvibes

[Ladybugsy]

:sad: My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.


:sad:

Great story. Thanks

[surfergirl602]

This took place at Sea World, but when they do the Heroes Salute before the Shamu show brings me to tears every time. Seeing all those soldiers stand up with their families, and seeing my husband humbled with the people clapping for him just doing his job - it makes me weep like a baby.

[scrappinmom]

This took place at Sea World, but when they do the Heroes Salute before the Shamu show brings me to tears every time. Seeing all those soldiers stand up with their families, and seeing my husband humbled with the people clapping for him just doing his job - it makes me weep like a baby.

I totally agree...just last week at dd's band concert, they played the "theme" song for each of the armed forces, and asked members to stand...I was crying as I clapped & thanked the men & women standing...

sorry, kinda OT...

[Krisy1301]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

Thank you, THIS was wonderful. :):love:

[bearbear]

I have to say this thread is amazing.
My moment is when I watch wishes. Everytime I get emotional and the tears just start. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and three beautiful children. As wishes plays I usually look at my family and the tears just start falling. My oldest DD always says look at mom she is crying again.
For Christmas last year, my DH made me a video of some of our pictures of Disney to the wishes music. I watched it and of course the family watched for my tears and they were there, but the best part was that my husband had the pictures of the kids in front of Caseys that we take every year and he made it look like they were growing before my eyes.
When I am having a bad day I just look at that video and it cheers me up.
We have many moments and my DH captured them is that video perfectly.

Thanks to everyone that has shared. I have enjoyed reading
Cindy

[Krisy1301]

Wow, what great stories. It's no wonder we all keep going back...Disney truly brings magic into our lives.

I have to warn you, mine is kinda sad, but really sealed the deal for me.

We had been to WDW once with oldest dd, and once with both the girls...then in 2005 the first of the free dining offers came out...it happened to be over fall break...dh didn't want to go, he doesn't really "get it" probably never will. So I decided I would take my then 9 yr old and 4 yr old dd's to disney by myself. Money was tight & this was a budget trip. We stayed at POP, had free dining, and my girls earned their spending money by doing little extra chores around the house and saving their bday money. We were shopping at the emporium on the first day of our trip, they're looking at everything with big giant eyes...they pick out a few things...a pirate hat & sword among them...I didnt know why they wanted that...but figured youngest dd must have. We pay & walk out...they ask if they could have the hat & sword...& just walked up to the very first boy they saw that looked about 5 and said "hi - we want you to have this".....I was shocked..so were the boys parents! I didn't understand, the parents tried to refuse, so I asked the girls why...Well, my son, their brother would have been turning 5 that week, he died a couple of days after he was born. They said they wanted to buy something for him on birthday and share it with another 5 yr old. Well at this point the boys parents, and I were crying....they accepted the gift, we hugged and went our seperate ways. That was my moment, I knew right then I would figure out a way to celebrate my son's life each and every time I went to disney. So even now 5 years later...when my teenager and IWANNAbeateenager are screaming at each other...I remember what great kids they are...


You should be so proud to have raised such wonderful, caring and mature children. I only wish I could see more of that in this world. :love:

[princessmom29]

We took our first trip inNovember with DD5. My moment was the first night there. We had thanksgiving ressies at Park Fare. All my daughter had been talking about was seeing Cindy and the stepsisters. I even made her the pink dress from the movie to wear. Well, all that went out the window when she saw prince charming. Th look on her face was priceless. She was just overwhelmed. When he nelt down and kissed her hand, I almost lost it. That sealed the deal for her. She is now asking when we are going back to see "her prince".

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/princessmom29/DSCF0209.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/princessmom29/DSCF0210.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/princessmom29/DSCF0211.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/princessmom29/DSCF0212.jpg
Our one moment not directly involving our family was a little girl we say 2 different times who was obviously a cancer patient. She and her parents had the table next ot ours at the princess lunch in Norway, and watching the wonderon her face seeing the princesses was magic We had early BBB ressies the next day and the same family was there agian. I wasn't sure what was going on when i saw them ourside. The little girl was completely bald and I was concerned about how she would feel seing the others get their hair done ect. Wsell, to my suprise the FGIT pulls out the most beautiful Cindy wig and styled it to perfection. Seeing that little girl's face when she saw herself in the mirror made me tear up, and that's just not something I do!

[DisneyLover75]

Our one moment not directly involving our family was a little girl we say 2 different times who was obviously a cancer patient. She and her parents had the table next ot ours at the princess lunch in Norway, and watching the wonderon her face seeing the princesses was magic We had early BBB ressies the next day and the same family was there agian. I wasn't sure what was going on when i saw them ourside. The little girl was completely bald and I was concerned about how she would feel seing the others get their hair done ect. Wsell, to my suprise the FGIT pulls out the most beautiful Cindy wig and styled it to perfection. Seeing that little girl's face when she saw herself in the mirror made me tear up, and that's just not something I do!


Wow, you got me on that one. :sad1:
I'd been doing well so far on this thread. But that was the deal breaker.

[SerinaEmily]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

[Ladybugsy]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

Just Beautiful. My dh's sister died of cancer the day after Christmas. I would love to do some kind of tribute or something to make him remember her at Disney...Thanks for the idea and the beautiful story. What a special Grandma :love:

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

Okay that sent me over the edge! :sad1:

[disneygirlinnj]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

OK that totally turned me into a blubbering mess. I got choked up even just reading that you loved the memories with your mom the first time before I read she passed. :grouphug: Have a fabulous time!

[kiranic]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

Oh my goodness...I have had tears on some of the other stories but yours now has me sobbing like a baby. As your mom is watching your family from Heaven I am sure she will be smiling.

[DaParkers]

Ok, here we go. First, a little background. I grew up in New Orleans, La. Not the fun place that most know of, but the place that had and still sometimes have the highest murder rate in America. I grew up in a public housing project where I witnessed robberies and even murder. My uncle was murdered when I was 4 and I've known at least 50 people that were murdered since then(All under age 30).And if that wasn't enough to deal with, my father decided that his drug addiction was more worthy of his time than his family, so he left. Needless to say, my life was rough. Meanwhile, my wife was growing up in another part of the city in even worse conditions. But, by the grace of God, he blessed me with the desire to not indulge in the negativity around me and the courage to live elsewhere. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17. We had one major thing in common. We didn't want to live like we did growing up. At the ages of 21 and 20, we left New Orleans for good when she was pregnant, because I refused to raise a child in that environment. Fast Forward 8 years, we had a 7 year old son and my DW decides she wants to go to WDW. I didn't want to go. I ignored her when she tried to talk about it and even tried to talk her out of it. I eventually gave in and we went for the first time in Aug, 2006. I thought we'd go, I'd have a bad time, we'd come home, and it'll be behind us. Obviously, it didn't work out that way. As soon as I hit Main Street, it hit me. :wizard: I was utterly amazed. The castle that I'd seen on TV was in front of me. But my "MOMENT" was when I looked at my son and realized that his childhood is completely different from mine. It made me realize how far GOD had taken us. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be dead or incarcerated, but I wasn't. I was in WDW with my DW and DS and the feeling overwhelms me to this day. At that moment, I came to the realization that my DS doesn't know anyone that has been murdered. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood and he will never feel the pain his mother and I felt growing up. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.

[FSUDisneyGirl]

Absolutely wonderful...everything. I'm crying and up too late, but thanks for sharing!!!!!!!

[surfergirl602]

Absolutely wonderful...everything. I'm crying and up too late, but thanks for sharing!!!!!!!

I'm blubbering like a baby over here, and that's nott good because I have the worst head cold right now and all this crying is making it even more difficult to breathe!!!:sick: i need to stop reading these until I get better! :laughing:

[Mousekateer In WI]

As a family we had gone to WDW every year since 1974 for Easter or Spring Break. Fast forward to 2003, I am married, my husband is in flight school in Florida and I get a job at my favorite place in the Universe - WDW. My mom was living near Tampa, and I was so excited to share all my Disney benefits with her. I took her shopping, out to Disney restaurants, to the parks, everything Disney. We grew so close during this time.

In December 2003 we learned that she was terminally ill due to complications from COPD. The doctor said she could have up to 2 years, but could only live 2 months. My husband was building flight hours to qualify for an airline job. In January of 2004, I sat with my mom while she quietly passed away. I was heartbroken. The night before she passed, she told my husband that she would be watching over him as flew, and she knew that he would be successful at getting a job with the airlines.

That spring he applied for 2 airline positions, and we had gotten sick of waiting for calls after all his interviews and tests were over. We decided to go to Epcot. We were in the butterfly tent and I was thinking of my mom and how she never got to the Flower and Garden Festival, and how much she would have loved this butterfly tent. My husband and I were talking about her, and of course I was tearing up. Suddenly his cell phone rang, and out of my mouth comes "It's my mom!" Well, it wasn't really, but it was the airline my husband wanted to work for the most, calling him to offer him a position.

We believe that my mom helped him with that. Disney is always a special place for us, and even though we live in Wisconsin now, we still try to make it there several times a year. It's the place we feel closest to my mom.

[prfctlyximprfct]

These stories have me cryin' like a baby. Disney is honestly the most magical place on Earth. Everything about the atmosphere is just so surreal, it really is as if you are living in a fairy tale. This thread brought tears to my eyes, just knowing that there are amazing people in this world. Disney brings out the best in all of us, I'm sure Walt would be proud.

[Puccaw]

Ok, here we go. First, a little background. I grew up in New Orleans, La. Not the fun place that most know of, but the place that had and still sometimes have the highest murder rate in America. I grew up in a public housing project where I witnessed robberies and even murder. My uncle was murdered when I was 4 and I've known at least 50 people that were murdered since then(All under age 30).And if that wasn't enough to deal with, my father decided that his drug addiction was more worthy of his time than his family, so he left. Needless to say, my life was rough. Meanwhile, my wife was growing up in another part of the city in even worse conditions. But, by the grace of God, he blessed me with the desire to not indulge in the negativity around me and the courage to live elsewhere. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17. We had one major thing in common. We didn't want to live like we did growing up. At the ages of 21 and 20, we left New Orleans for good when she was pregnant, because I refused to raise a child in that environment. Fast Forward 8 years, we had a 7 year old son and my DW decides she wants to go to WDW. I didn't want to go. I ignored her when she tried to talk about it and even tried to talk her out of it. I eventually gave in and we went for the first time in Aug, 2006. I thought we'd go, I'd have a bad time, we'd come home, and it'll be behind us. Obviously, it didn't work out that way. As soon as I hit Main Street, it hit me. :wizard: I was utterly amazed. The castle that I'd seen on TV was in front of me. But my "MOMENT" was when I looked at my son and realized that his childhood is completely different from mine. It made me realize how far GOD had taken us. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be dead or incarcerated, but I wasn't. I was in WDW with my DW and DS and the feeling overwhelms me to this day. At that moment, I came to the realization that my DS doesn't know anyone that has been murdered. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood and he will never feel the pain his mother and I felt growing up. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.

Another day of feel good tears!! You must be so proud of what you and your wife have rose above.

[scrappinmom]

My moment is going to happen next week...

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

How wonderful, what a memory for your kids. I hope you have a truly magical trip.

. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.

How true...& how beautiful that you & your DW rose above all that crud and created such a beautiful family. :goodvibes

As a Suddenly his cell phone rang, and out of my mouth comes "It's my mom!" Well, it wasn't really, but it was the airline my husband wanted to work for the most, calling him to offer him a position.


I'm a HUGE believer in angels working their special magic here on earth. I'm positice it was your mom calling in a way! I can't even tell you the number of times since my son died that something like that has happened to me, and it's not that it happened before but I didn't notice..it's stuff that never happened...but does now. So absolutely your mom is watching over your dh each & every time he flies a plane.

[live4christp1]

Ok, here we go. First, a little background. I grew up in New Orleans, La. Not the fun place that most know of, but the place that had and still sometimes have the highest murder rate in America. I grew up in a public housing project where I witnessed robberies and even murder. My uncle was murdered when I was 4 and I've known at least 50 people that were murdered since then(All under age 30).And if that wasn't enough to deal with, my father decided that his drug addiction was more worthy of his time than his family, so he left. Needless to say, my life was rough. Meanwhile, my wife was growing up in another part of the city in even worse conditions. But, by the grace of God, he blessed me with the desire to not indulge in the negativity around me and the courage to live elsewhere. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17. We had one major thing in common. We didn't want to live like we did growing up. At the ages of 21 and 20, we left New Orleans for good when she was pregnant, because I refused to raise a child in that environment. Fast Forward 8 years, we had a 7 year old son and my DW decides she wants to go to WDW. I didn't want to go. I ignored her when she tried to talk about it and even tried to talk her out of it. I eventually gave in and we went for the first time in Aug, 2006. I thought we'd go, I'd have a bad time, we'd come home, and it'll be behind us. Obviously, it didn't work out that way. As soon as I hit Main Street, it hit me. :wizard: I was utterly amazed. The castle that I'd seen on TV was in front of me. But my "MOMENT" was when I looked at my son and realized that his childhood is completely different from mine. It made me realize how far GOD had taken us. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be dead or incarcerated, but I wasn't. I was in WDW with my DW and DS and the feeling overwhelms me to this day. At that moment, I came to the realization that my DS doesn't know anyone that has been murdered. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood and he will never feel the pain his mother and I felt growing up. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.

What a great post (and testimony)! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!:thumbsup2

[Vickis3js]

Well just the fact that we were there was a HUGE thing for us. We struggled finacially for years due to DH being out of work because of major back surgery and me not being able to work because I needed to care for him and our 3 kids, our youngest is autistic and finding someone who watch her was impossible. DH thankfully did really really well after 2 surgeries and was able to return to work and he worked his butt off to start his own company and build it up enough to be able to not only afford to go but to also afford to close for a week to take us. So being there in general was a huge tissue moment for me.

BUT the big momen that had me in tears then and even now I am getting all misty was the night before we were to leave. We decided to hit the MK after diner at 1900 PF mainly because when we got off the monorail the lines leaving were a mess. We we entered and realized CRAP the fireworks are starting. Now like I said my DD is autistic and fire works are her are a HUGE no no. So I talked to her about Tinkerbell flying, she loves herself some Tink, and she said she wanted to see it. I knew I would probably have to run her out of there though but she wanted to try and I was not telling her no. Well my Baby girl for the first time saw fireworks. She looked up at me and said Mommy they are so beautiful. I cried like a baby standing in the middle of Main Street. 3 years ago she was almost completely non verbal and she was a typical Autistic kid. But thanks to major therapy and an amazing school she was able to be there and watch Tink fly.

[woodkins]

Ok, here we go. First, a little background. I grew up in New Orleans, La. Not the fun place that most know of, but the place that had and still sometimes have the highest murder rate in America. I grew up in a public housing project where I witnessed robberies and even murder. My uncle was murdered when I was 4 and I've known at least 50 people that were murdered since then(All under age 30).And if that wasn't enough to deal with, my father decided that his drug addiction was more worthy of his time than his family, so he left. Needless to say, my life was rough. Meanwhile, my wife was growing up in another part of the city in even worse conditions. But, by the grace of God, he blessed me with the desire to not indulge in the negativity around me and the courage to live elsewhere. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17. We had one major thing in common. We didn't want to live like we did growing up. At the ages of 21 and 20, we left New Orleans for good when she was pregnant, because I refused to raise a child in that environment. Fast Forward 8 years, we had a 7 year old son and my DW decides she wants to go to WDW. I didn't want to go. I ignored her when she tried to talk about it and even tried to talk her out of it. I eventually gave in and we went for the first time in Aug, 2006. I thought we'd go, I'd have a bad time, we'd come home, and it'll be behind us. Obviously, it didn't work out that way. As soon as I hit Main Street, it hit me. :wizard: I was utterly amazed. The castle that I'd seen on TV was in front of me. But my "MOMENT" was when I looked at my son and realized that his childhood is completely different from mine. It made me realize how far GOD had taken us. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be dead or incarcerated, but I wasn't. I was in WDW with my DW and DS and the feeling overwhelms me to this day. At that moment, I came to the realization that my DS doesn't know anyone that has been murdered. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood and he will never feel the pain his mother and I felt growing up. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.


What amazing people & parents you are. Be proud of your accomplishments & Congratulations to you for your determination & success!!!

[drnlhome]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

Ok, now I am sobbing. I love stories like this.

My contribution to this is from last Spring Break. I admit that I shed a tear when I first see the castle and when I walk to the exit for the last time. My dd (8 at the time) inherited the "waterfall" tears from my sister and aunt. She was quite upset that we were leaving and the tears were flowing. A photopass person saw her and took some great pics of her to help her feel better. We have some great pics of her with the Tinkerbell in her hand. As we were walking down Main Street, my ds (9 at the time) put his arm around her. It was priceless. When we went into the store where the main photopass stuff is, a CM gave her a special pin as well. The sobbing continued but that's her. To see her big brother console her was the best. They were arguing within an hour but that moment was worth it.

http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww165/drnlhome/Disney08449.jpg

[kidsrfun]

Like everyone, there are lots of 'disney moments'. But the one that will stick with me forever is when my son was 17. We were leaving MK via the ferry after the parade and fireworks. We always do this on the last night, stand at the back, watching MK for as many moments as we can. I looked over at him and he was crying. I asked him what the problem was and he said "this is the last time that I'll ever be here as a kid". I just hugged him and started tearing up too. Matt knew that we wouldn't be going again for a few years because we would be focused on paying for 2 kids in college. I did tell him that no matter what, whenever he comes to disney, he'd always be a kid! The best part is that Matt got married last Oct. and their honeymoon was to wdw!! His wife hadn't been there since she was young, and having 'non-disney' parents, she really missed a lot! My son planned everything for them!! He kept saying "Mom... I'm just like you!!" He started planning over a year before they went! He had note cards and the whole bit! During the honeymoon both my ds and ddil called me every day and texted me with lots of pics! The best one was a pic of wishes! He wrote "you were right. I'm a kid again!" So cute!

[Colleen27]

There are two that come to mind for me every time I think about Disney's magic.

The first was on our 2005 trip. DH's aunt passed away that year and left us a small sum of money. She was a Disney nut in the way that only DISers really understand and DH's only trip to WDW as a child was when she took the entire extended family - her siblings, kids, grandkids, neices, nephews, etc - to Disney World the year EPCOT opened. So when we found out she had left us a few thousand dollars, he decided there was no better way to use it than to pay for the Disney trip we'd been talking about but could never quite afford.

We planned the trip, probably 8 months in advance, for Sept - free dining, the perfect ADRs, the princess tea for DD, the works. That spring, we decided to start trying for a third child, an effort that turned out to be disasterous. After several miscarriages, I decided I just couldn't keep trying. DH didn't want to accept that, and by the time the trip rolled around I was in no mood to go anywhere and it felt like our marriage was teetering on the brink of falling apart completely because we just couldn't resolve that one huge issue. But of course we'd told the kids all about the trip, so we both forced a smile and headed off to Florida.

The magic came on the second night of our trip, at the end of our first park day which we of course spent in the Magic Kingdom. As we stood there watching the kids watch Wishes with that look of pure awe on their faces, DH took my hand and said that he couldn't ask for anything more. And that was the end of all the stress and arguing and grief. It just evaporated, and even when we came back to reality it never did resurface. (A happy footnote to that story - two years later we were blessed with a completely unexpected and completely uneventful pregnancy and a healthy baby girl who will be making her first trip to the World with us in May princess: )


The second was a purely happy moment and a story I tell often to people who don't get why Disney is so magic to us. In 2007, we were lucky enough to get our very first PIN code, which we used to book a short trip for my older DD's birthday in August. The night before her birthday was the Pirate & Princess party, so of course I had to get tickets.

The whole day, DD was telling anyone who would listen that she was going to turn 6 the next day, and she loved all the "Happy Birthday Princess" that she got from cast members. At the very end of the party, probably 10 minutes before midnight, she was the only one waiting for Dumbo and was chatting with the CM about her birthday being the next day and how Dumbo was her favorite ride. The CM replied by asking her if she knew that the new day started at midnight, then proceeded to make sure that she got to start her birthday on Dumbo by letting her ride twice without getting off. So DD got to start her special day under the sparkling lights of a virtually empty Magic Kingdom, riding her favorite ride. :cloud9:

[mamaprincess]

It was our first trip June 2005. DH and the twins ran off to ride Space Mountain. My youngest daughter, 10 mos old at the time and I were relaxing in the Child Care Center when Wishes started. I ran outside with her and stood in the walk way next to Crystal Palace and we watched together. I can't explain the magic of that warm night and viewing Wishes with my cute little fat baby in my arms. I was in complete awe and she was so calm and happy. To this day when ever I hear Wishes, my love for WDW is made brand new.:wizard:

[mamaprincess]

Ok, here we go. First, a little background. I grew up in New Orleans, La. Not the fun place that most know of, but the place that had and still sometimes have the highest murder rate in America. I grew up in a public housing project where I witnessed robberies and even murder. My uncle was murdered when I was 4 and I've known at least 50 people that were murdered since then(All under age 30).And if that wasn't enough to deal with, my father decided that his drug addiction was more worthy of his time than his family, so he left. Needless to say, my life was rough. Meanwhile, my wife was growing up in another part of the city in even worse conditions. But, by the grace of God, he blessed me with the desire to not indulge in the negativity around me and the courage to live elsewhere. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17. We had one major thing in common. We didn't want to live like we did growing up. At the ages of 21 and 20, we left New Orleans for good when she was pregnant, because I refused to raise a child in that environment. Fast Forward 8 years, we had a 7 year old son and my DW decides she wants to go to WDW. I didn't want to go. I ignored her when she tried to talk about it and even tried to talk her out of it. I eventually gave in and we went for the first time in Aug, 2006. I thought we'd go, I'd have a bad time, we'd come home, and it'll be behind us. Obviously, it didn't work out that way. As soon as I hit Main Street, it hit me. :wizard: I was utterly amazed. The castle that I'd seen on TV was in front of me. But my "MOMENT" was when I looked at my son and realized that his childhood is completely different from mine. It made me realize how far GOD had taken us. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be dead or incarcerated, but I wasn't. I was in WDW with my DW and DS and the feeling overwhelms me to this day. At that moment, I came to the realization that my DS doesn't know anyone that has been murdered. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood and he will never feel the pain his mother and I felt growing up. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.

OMG you did me in with this story. God bless you and your family. I am so proud of you guys and I don't even know you! May you have many more magical trips to come where you can celebrate the beautiful new direction your lives have taken.:wizard:

[Colleen27]

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

:sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:

How beautiful, to remember your mother that way. I hope your trip is more magical than you could even imagine!

[disneyworldluvr349]

The moment when I realize how powerful Disney magic truly happens every time I watch Wishes. I tear up every single time, and though I try to hide it, it happens anyways.
Another is whenever I ride "It's a Small World," and just take a look at the passengers on the same boat as us. It makes me so emotional at how one theme park (granted the best theme park in the entire world) can manage to bring so many different people together in one part of central Florida.

The moment when I realize that I will never not be able to go to Disney World, is when I see Cinderella's Castle illuminating in so many beautiful colors, Mickey's Wizard Hat sparkling in the dark, the Epcot Ball seemingly glowing after sundown, or looking over my should at the most amazing tree in the entire world, and I realize that is our last day at this park, or we only have three days left, or it is time to go home. :sad1: :sad:

I had to put some characters in here to make me feel better :)
::MickeyMo ::MinnieMo :tigger: :goofy: :dumbo: :eeyore: :stitch: :simba: pooh:

[Scoobmuzic]

My moment came last year on my 40th birthday. :cake: My DH & my parents planned a surprise. My family lives in RI and I live in Kissimmee, FL so they decided since their oldest child was turning 40, they wanted to be here to celebrate with me. DH kept the secret even though he said he was busting to tell me.

He told me his friends were flying in and we had to go get them at the airport. I was so shocked to see Mom & Dad walking towards me. It was a great surprise. The best was to come at dinner. We planned my birthday dinner at The California Grill (my fav) and thanks to our friend and CM Ashley, it was magical. She made sure our table was decorated and bought our first round at the bar and she also brought out a special birthday desert.

Dinner was amazing!! Fantastic food, fantastic wine and then…..WISHES, but not just any Wishes, Pirate & Princess Wishes. pixiedust:

We went outside to view it from the top of the Contemporary. They pipe in the soundtrack and all I heard from both my parents was WOW over and over. Dad said “only you could make sure you had fireworks like that when you turned 40”. It was the best birthday ever and it could only happen like that at Disney. :cloud9: I think my parents finally understand. :woohoo:

[Trixie15]

What an awesome thread. Thank you so much for starting it and for contributing to it!

Our moment was during Wishes. The trip was wonderful for all of us, but our moment came watching our then 6 year old dd watching wishes. My dh had her on his shoulders and I was holding one of the other ones. Watching Wishes is emotional enough, but right at a part where the music builds up and then there is a little break where it's quiet - just a tiny quiet moment (omg I'm crying just remembering it) my 6 year old dd calls out into the night, "I wish I was a REAL princess!" and then the finale of Wishes starts to play. It literally caught my breath in my throat and I cried, and I know dh cried as well. He told me later that he would pay another $4000 on the spot just to relive that one moment. I will never forget it.

[ToddyLu]

:thumbsup2 For those of that went for the first time as adults and upon seeing that castle for the first time..... jumping up and down and pulling someone else's shoulder or arm out of socket....pointing in excitement at the castle.....almost screaming.....it is real....it really is real!!!!

Been there, done that and get a new t-shirt there every year.:banana:

[matthew_hull]

Sub'ing

[kshattuck]

Ok, here we go. First, a little background. I grew up in New Orleans, La. Not the fun place that most know of, but the place that had and still sometimes have the highest murder rate in America. I grew up in a public housing project where I witnessed robberies and even murder. My uncle was murdered when I was 4 and I've known at least 50 people that were murdered since then(All under age 30).And if that wasn't enough to deal with, my father decided that his drug addiction was more worthy of his time than his family, so he left. Needless to say, my life was rough. Meanwhile, my wife was growing up in another part of the city in even worse conditions. But, by the grace of God, he blessed me with the desire to not indulge in the negativity around me and the courage to live elsewhere. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17. We had one major thing in common. We didn't want to live like we did growing up. At the ages of 21 and 20, we left New Orleans for good when she was pregnant, because I refused to raise a child in that environment. Fast Forward 8 years, we had a 7 year old son and my DW decides she wants to go to WDW. I didn't want to go. I ignored her when she tried to talk about it and even tried to talk her out of it. I eventually gave in and we went for the first time in Aug, 2006. I thought we'd go, I'd have a bad time, we'd come home, and it'll be behind us. Obviously, it didn't work out that way. As soon as I hit Main Street, it hit me. :wizard: I was utterly amazed. The castle that I'd seen on TV was in front of me. But my "MOMENT" was when I looked at my son and realized that his childhood is completely different from mine. It made me realize how far GOD had taken us. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be dead or incarcerated, but I wasn't. I was in WDW with my DW and DS and the feeling overwhelms me to this day. At that moment, I came to the realization that my DS doesn't know anyone that has been murdered. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood and he will never feel the pain his mother and I felt growing up. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.

THANK YOU for sharing your story. My DH and I grew up in very different circumstances. His childhood is very similar to yours. He, like you, did all but refuse a trip to WDW. He absolutely loved our trip and is helping me plan our next vacation. He recently talked to a friend of ours who is less than thrilled about his first trip to WDW. I was more than misty-eyed when I heard him say, "You get to see how you would have reacted to Disneyworld when you look at your child get her first glimpse of that castle and it's even better than you can imagine."

[LilGMom]

While I was standing in front of the Partner's statue a year ago I asked to nobody in particular "Why is it called Walt Disney World?" and a cast member said to me....

"Because a big brother loved his little brother so much, that he would do anything it took to make sure his little brother's dreams came true."

Walt died before Disney World opened, and even though Roy finished off the plans he wanted to make sure everyone knew who made it all happen and whose dream this really was.

I love this!!!:lovestruc

I don't know that I've had just one moment but I've had more than a few 'eye welling up' moments and moments that have really touched me. The one that stands out for me is on one of our trips our oldest, who was probably around 4 or 5 at the time, was taking it all in and being a bit of a people watcher. He told me that he knew why Mr. Disney had created such a magical place. He said it was so that everyone could feel happy and escape all of their problems for at least a little time.

[btallennc3]

OK here is my 2. I went with my Dh(his first time going). My dad and mom in jan 2005. It was seeing cinderella in her castle for the first time, I had gone a few times before but this is the first time that I truley rember being one on one with her. When I was getting my pic taken with her my Dh,mom and dad where standing there on the side. And she leans over to me and said is that your PRINCE CHARMING. I looked over at my dh and almost started to cry and said yes he is.

The second is on the same trip. It was my dad's bday and of course we made him wear a pin. We where going on to the star wars ride. And a cm say the pin and wished him a happy bday (as many people and Cm had done that day), my dad was happy with just that. Well when we get out of the ride that same cast member hands my dad a bday card. It was signed by the who crew of the ride. It made that ride extra special of him. That is why I love disney it is the little things and can not wait to go back in june.

[Blueeyes101817]

I just sat here and read the entire thread--I got teary multiple times....this is why I love going to Disney and why i keep going back

[adventure_woman]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

Okay - I am sobbing now...:sad: I am sure your mom will be with you.

[Snoozan]

I'm just back from my 18th trip to WDW and I think this trip was one of my most favorite - it was a trip for just my DH and myself(lots of our trips are with other family members/friends). I was at the MK on my last night, this past Thursday and was watching Wishes. I was so enjoying it as it was (finally) a nice night to be outside and the sky was clear - I got all choked up at the end of Wishes thinking that I'm one of the luckiest people I know as I get to take these wonderful trips and I'm still madly in love with my DH, after 30 years together!

[JRoyster86]

What beautiful memories these are!

[swald91]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

This by far is such a wonderful story!!! (I can remember being glued to the tv & seeing that over & over again.) But when you said you finally went to the chair & helped him up....:sad1: that did me in!!! I think that is not just patriotic but so very respectful. Thanks for sharing!

[swald91]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

OK--I can barely comment on this one...I know what it's like taking your parents so they too can experience the Magic of Disney through their grandchildrens eyes. It's always tough to take that 1st trip without them...what you are planning sounds wonderful-have a great trip.

[Tigger79]

Bump

[Pixieflip]

Okay, I have absolutely lost it here! My kids already think I'm crazy, but now that I'm crying over people I don't even know... oh, well.

We have a lot of moments. One favorite was back when my DD was 4 and so into everything Ariel. We actually found Ariel and Prince Eric at a meet and greet in their show queue (have never seen them do that again). We were at the end of the line and yet Ariel and Eric spent all the time my daughter wanted to visit. DD was wearing a princess charm bracelet and wanted Ariel to understand that even though all the other princesses were on her bracelet, SHE was her favorite, and pulled the Ariel charm up to the top of her wrist to show her. Ariel was very impressed and so sweet about it.

The NEXT DAY, we saw the snowglobe parade in MK, ... DD was politely trying to contain herself as Ariel and Eric drew closer and ARIEL waved right at my DD and rubbed her wrist and pointed and waved at her!! She totally remembered my DD from the day before at MGM!! My DD held up her arm and her Ariel charm right back at her. Disney magic lives again...

[rosiejo]

What a great thread. I've had several moments but I think my favourite has to be getting married at Sunset Pointe with the Castle in the distance...

[DeblovesPoohbear]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

Ok, that did it :sad1: . Bless your Mom, what a sweetie

[DeblovesPoohbear]

Ok, here we go. First, a little background. I grew up in New Orleans, La. Not the fun place that most know of, but the place that had and still sometimes have the highest murder rate in America. I grew up in a public housing project where I witnessed robberies and even murder. My uncle was murdered when I was 4 and I've known at least 50 people that were murdered since then(All under age 30).And if that wasn't enough to deal with, my father decided that his drug addiction was more worthy of his time than his family, so he left. Needless to say, my life was rough. Meanwhile, my wife was growing up in another part of the city in even worse conditions. But, by the grace of God, he blessed me with the desire to not indulge in the negativity around me and the courage to live elsewhere. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17. We had one major thing in common. We didn't want to live like we did growing up. At the ages of 21 and 20, we left New Orleans for good when she was pregnant, because I refused to raise a child in that environment. Fast Forward 8 years, we had a 7 year old son and my DW decides she wants to go to WDW. I didn't want to go. I ignored her when she tried to talk about it and even tried to talk her out of it. I eventually gave in and we went for the first time in Aug, 2006. I thought we'd go, I'd have a bad time, we'd come home, and it'll be behind us. Obviously, it didn't work out that way. As soon as I hit Main Street, it hit me. :wizard: I was utterly amazed. The castle that I'd seen on TV was in front of me. But my "MOMENT" was when I looked at my son and realized that his childhood is completely different from mine. It made me realize how far GOD had taken us. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be dead or incarcerated, but I wasn't. I was in WDW with my DW and DS and the feeling overwhelms me to this day. At that moment, I came to the realization that my DS doesn't know anyone that has been murdered. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood and he will never feel the pain his mother and I felt growing up. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.

So true, and bless you and your beautiful family

[happymommy]

Wow.

Our first trip taking both kids...

We had a trip planned to go to Hawaii without the kids for the first time in October 2001. Airline tickets were bought, my mom was going to fly here to stay with the kids, everything was set. Then, September 11 happened.

I thought, there is no way I'm going away from my kids. We cancelled everything, bought a minivan (it was time for a new car) with a DVD player (we didn't own one yet) and I planned a drive to Disneyworld for all 4 of us. I bought a bunch of Disney DVD's to watch, and we did the 12 hour drive together to Disneyworld (DD was 2 and a half, DS was almost 5).

The whole drive down was magical for me. My husband kept commenting on how fun it was to watch the movies while we drove, and the kids were great!

We enjoyed 10 nights at the Boardwalk villas - early December - all the decorations were up - it was so beautiful. The kids loved Epcot the best. The place was very quiet.

One afternoon, we were letting the kids take a nap in our double stroller at AK while we had a beer at the Bawa Bar. The bartender asked if we were staying for the parade. I didn't know about it, but said sure, then he asked if we wanted to be in the parade. He told me who to go look for (Manny and some other guy) - they were looking for families to be in it. I found them, and lo and behold, we got to be in the parade. It was so fun! My DD sat on my lap clapping her hands - it was so fun!

We had such a great time that trip. I have been taking my kids ever since, sometimes without DH as I just love it.

[RN4Babies]

Mine isn't really a tearjerker but involved my DS on our trip last May. He was 3 1/2 and while he had been potty trained for pp he had not been able to get the hang of the other. About 2 weeks before our trip I told him that Mickey Mouse would really like him to poo in the potty. That he didn't like stinky pullups. We had tried EVERYTHING. But that did it. A week before our trip he became fully potty trained and didn't have a single accident the entire week at WDW! That was truly a special moment.

:rotfl:

Neither of my kids were fully potty trained until they were over 4YO ...yikes...the one thing we didn't try was a trip to WDW.

I can't believe your MIL gave your son bacon for Christmas...hilarious!!!

[RN4Babies]

We just came home from my kids' first Disney trip. I had three extra special moments from our best vacation ever.

We got to MK about 2:30 on the first day, after our plane had landed. I had my sister hold dd8's hand when we were about to round the corner and she'd see the castle straight ahead for the first time. I got about 15 feet in front of them, then turned so I could see her face. I purposely didn't dig my camera out; I wanted to have that image of her reaction in my head without worrying about "framing a shot". Her total look of awe and amazement was absolute magic! We then started walking down Main Street, just browsing, when the 3pm parade started. We sat on the curb to watch, and my dd gave me a big hug and said, "Thank you for making my wishes come true." She's high functioning autistic, and for her to express this much emotion and verbalize what she's thinking was miraculous.

My ds17 hadn't seemed too excited about the trip; I think he thought it was mainly for little kids, with a couple of roller coasters thrown in. The first two things we did were to see "Monsters Laugh Floor" and to go on the Buzz Lightyear Shooting Gallery. He had a ball, and from that point on was totally into the whole experience, no matter what park we were at, and even seemed to enjoy the princess breakfast in Norway. (It helped that Jasmine was there). :rotfl:

On the plane on the way home, we were going down the runway to take off, and I felt a little tap on my hand. DD was looking up at me with big crocodile tears rolling silently down her cheeks. I asked her what was wrong, and she said, "I don't want to leave DisneyWorld" I gave her a hug; I knew exactly how she felt.

[DeblovesPoohbear]

2007 was our DS4's first trip to Disney and he couldn't wait to meet Buzz!
Well, we spotted him in Tomorrowland (Tomormow as DS calls it) :goodvibes
and we get in line. Once it's our turn, we position the boys to get their
picture taken with Buzz.
All of a sudden, Buzz starts pointing to my DH's arms and pointing to the ground :confused3 Then he squeezes DH's arms (he does have nice guns) ;)
Then we realize, Buzz is challanging DH to push-ups!
My DH assums the position and they are off, the people all lined up behind us
are saying 'what are they doing?" :lmao:
Needless to say, DH "let" Buzz win ;) But I looooooved the looks on my sons
faces, and it also was a magical moment for DH :wizard:
and here it is...



http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b34/rockyy2k/DSCN0453_0109_109.jpg

[disneyfanUSA]

Bump

[katiejo]

I love these and I'm only on page 1! How could anyone not understand Disney magic after hearing stories like these?

[eelderm1]

subbing

[Joanna71985]

What beautiful stories!! :sad: :sad:

[SunnieRN]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

Oh my goodness. I lost my Mom about a year and 1/2 ago. She got the diagnosis of liver cancer and the doctor told her she had 6-24 months left to live. Being an RN and seeing my Mom, I knew this would not be the case.
The doctor has taken care of my parents for over 30 years and I knew he could not look at the situation realistically or honestly as he had misdiagnosed my Mom a year before and felt guilty.
Unfortunately seeing the debilitation that had occured in my Moms health I knew her time with us would be shorter. We went home from her appointment and she was excited about the fact that the doctor had given her such a "long time to live". We filled out her 5 wishes form for how she wanted things to proceed during the course of her illness and after her death.
My Mom loved all that was Disney! My parents took us on our first trip in 1967. We were one of the first families to ride POTC when it was being "previewed" and she fell in love then.
She wanted to take one more trip with her kids, grandkids and her great grandchildren. We spent the next 4 days starting to plan our disneyland trip.
On day 5 it was the 4th of July and we were all there with her. My brother, and his family, from CA, my daughter and grandson from TX and myself from CO (at the time).
We watched the fireworks from her front yard (a family tradition). The next day Mom was lethargic and not very aware of things. She did talk about disneyland however. The following morning she passed away. She lived her last days with love for her family and her love for disney. She was happy!
Reading this thread I would NEVER have thought of this as my "disney memory" until I rad the quoted thread above.
I so admire your family for still surprising your children!! Spectaculor!! It took quite some time for me to be able to type this through the tears.
I have so many happy memories of Disney, it is truly a magical place!!

[boakl]

We were watching Wishes from the observation deck on top of the Contemporary. An extended family came out and stood next to us. The oldest couple (the grandparents I presume), stood with their granddaughter between them and their adult son stood behind them with his arms draped around the grandparents shoulders.

The grandparents had obviously never seen Wishes and were oohing and aahing at everything. About 3/4 of the way through the Grandfather yelled: "I hope this moment never ends!". I am welling as I type this...


That, and every time I see my kids enter Disney ...

[Princess Sleepy]

we had gone only once when i was a kid and i hadn't been back until dh took me a few months after we got engaged.

ya ya disney will be fun -

we flew in, checked in and headed over to mk

oh this is kinda cool

ya right - i'm standing infront of that round garden thing infront of the castle watching the show and dh looks at me and askes what's wrong.

here i stood - a 30something women standing in themiddle of a bunch of people, tears running down my face.

to this day i still don't know why i was crying, its not like i remember going as a kid it was just emotional for me.

to this day i get that twinge of emotion the first time we walk down main street each visit.

That was me this year. It was the first time my DH, DD2, and DD5 had been there. We were standing outside MK watching the opening show and they started the countdown. I got chills and had tears streaming down my cheeks. It was like I had been planning this trip for almost 2 years and it was finally going to happen. I'm sure my DH thought I was nuts.

[paintnolish]

This thread is long, so I certainly haven't read them all, but the ones I have read are wonderful! I have sooo many memories of wonderful trips...

DD was 5 and saw Tink fly from the castle during Wishes. She gasped and said, "She's real! She's really REAL!"
I went yearly growing up and my first trip with kids was with my mom. I got so choked up when on Dumbo, I looked down and saw her playing with dd (1), while I rode with ds (3). It was just one of those moments that make you stop and appreciate how wonderful life is.

[MickeyPalace]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

What a beautiful family you have and how wonderful that you are teaching your family that life and love go on. Thank you so much for sharing this story.

[disneychic]

For me it was while on our honeymoon. I had only been to WDW once, as a teenager w/ my family. And, I have a husband who has traveled all over w/ his family while growing up. The one place he really hadn't been was WDW (he went once as a teen, but it was a weekend trip and he didn't see all that much.) When it came time to plan our honeymoon, he thought I'd want to go to Hawaii, Fiji, something like that....nope, there was no question about it, I told him that I wanted to go to WDW. He said he'd think about it. I immediately ordered the planning video, when it came he agreed, that it would be a lot of fun. So, we choose to stay at the Grand Floridian for 2 weeks on the "Grand Plan." We had just arrived, checked into the hotel, met w/ concierge, saw our room, etc. It was in the late afternoon, and we took the monorail over to MK because we were going to have dinner at CRT. When we walked into the MK and were on Main St. USA, and I saw the castle & heard the music in the background, it was so overwhelming that I started to cry. My husband said "You're CRYING! Why are you crying!?!?!" And I said "Because we're HERE! At Disney!" It was just so perfect. Even now, 8+ years later, when I think about that moment I get myself all choked up :cloud9:

[my2disneyboys]

As a family we'd been to Disney numerous times (and so many times prior to having kids), but the one moment that stands out to me involved my 2nd child, my son. My son was a very late talker. We had already been through numerous evaluations for him and because he always fell into a 'gray' area with the testing, we didn't have a definitive diagnosis. Receptive/Expressive lang. delay? Autism? Natural late talker? Apraxic? We just didn't know for sure. Well, when he was 3 we took our annual trip to WDW and there was just something magical about it. He started talking, he started being more interested in things, he was so full of joy and trying to communicate everything he saw to us! While in line for It's A Small World he said "Mommy" and he clapped his hands and said "Ride." It was by far a turning point for us, for him. It truly will always be a trip to remember for our family. From that point on, his speech really took off. We continue to go to WDW every year, and it seems like every year he is still making improvements!!

I think the curiosity and wonderment that Disney evokes works magic, I truly do. No one will ever convince me of anything different.

Ok- So this one made me tear up a little. Mostly because I have a 19 month old (My 2nd boy) and he is a late talker- has had numerous ear infections, tubes, and testing that isnt "bad" but isnt "good" either. So for now, he just tries to talk but it all kind of sounds the same. We leave in 53 days... who knows, maybe in Disney he will start talking more for us:-)

[paintnolish]

SerinaEmily- What a beautiful story. :hug:

[mhalpern]

Okay this isn't a tissue alert - and it probably falls in the category of WAY too much information - but...what the heck. My DH and I were trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for a year. We went to Disney World in October that year and well, let's just say that our daughter was born the following July. You do the math. ;)

We now have two beautiful kids who will be going to WDW for their fourth time this June and the oldest is only 9. :thumbsup2

[madams2]

so many memories but the most recent that I can remember that shows the innocents of children..

My son wasn't even 2 yet and we were at MGM waiting for a picture with Pluto. When it was our turn Pluto bent down to be at my son's height. My son thought, since Pluto had his mouth open, he would take his pacifer and put it in his Pluto's mouth. Pluto loved it

[luvgoing2disney]

Ok, I've got 2 from our first trip.

The first one happened after SpectroMagic one night. We were standing on the north side of the Hub in front of the "birthday cake" castle and as "Fantasy in the Sky" started, I picked our 4 1/2 year old son up and held him so he could see better. He kept his eyes on the fireworks, but said to me, "Oh, Daddy, I wish I could live here FOREVER!" Suddenly the fireworks, at least viewed from my sentimental eyes, became very blurry.

The next night we were at EPCOT and as we were leaving, decided to stop in Mouse Gear. There were very few people shopping at the moment when all of sudden Mickey comes out. My son saw him and ran to give him the biggest hug, and Mickey knelt down to give him a big hug as well. I was able to capture most of it on video and it is a favorite moment. There were no other people pushing to get autographs or pictures, so we had several minutes with the Mouse.

Gotta love that Disney Magic.

[Glendamax]

Ok, here we go. First, a little background. I grew up in New Orleans, La. Not the fun place that most know of, but the place that had and still sometimes have the highest murder rate in America. I grew up in a public housing project where I witnessed robberies and even murder. My uncle was murdered when I was 4 and I've known at least 50 people that were murdered since then(All under age 30).And if that wasn't enough to deal with, my father decided that his drug addiction was more worthy of his time than his family, so he left. Needless to say, my life was rough. Meanwhile, my wife was growing up in another part of the city in even worse conditions. But, by the grace of God, he blessed me with the desire to not indulge in the negativity around me and the courage to live elsewhere. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17. We had one major thing in common. We didn't want to live like we did growing up. At the ages of 21 and 20, we left New Orleans for good when she was pregnant, because I refused to raise a child in that environment. Fast Forward 8 years, we had a 7 year old son and my DW decides she wants to go to WDW. I didn't want to go. I ignored her when she tried to talk about it and even tried to talk her out of it. I eventually gave in and we went for the first time in Aug, 2006. I thought we'd go, I'd have a bad time, we'd come home, and it'll be behind us. Obviously, it didn't work out that way. As soon as I hit Main Street, it hit me. :wizard: I was utterly amazed. The castle that I'd seen on TV was in front of me. But my "MOMENT" was when I looked at my son and realized that his childhood is completely different from mine. It made me realize how far GOD had taken us. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be dead or incarcerated, but I wasn't. I was in WDW with my DW and DS and the feeling overwhelms me to this day. At that moment, I came to the realization that my DS doesn't know anyone that has been murdered. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood and he will never feel the pain his mother and I felt growing up. WDW is more than rides, shows, and resorts. It symbolizes a different way of life for me. But, It's normal for my DS and that is the magical part for me. So please, don't take anything for granted, because what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else.

Love your story! Thanks so much for sharing! We really do need to keep in mind that "what's normal for you may be a fantasy for someone else". :goodvibes

[mmtska]

I still remember this 22 years later. Background-I love my dad, but he's a very introverted person and rarely lets his happy-go-lucky side show. Not into theme parks much at all....but that's ok.

I was 7 and my parents took me to WDW for the 2nd time. We went to a character breakfast and my dad likes Pluto. Well my mom found a way to make sure that Pluto came over and hung out with us. He LICKED my dad's cheek and my dad burst out laughing and couldn't stop. It was the coolest thing because I thought my dad and Pluto were friends ;) Hey I was 7! Then all the characters came over and I got a hug from Goofy (my fave at the time). It was the best thing ever and one of my most favorite Disney memories.

Heck I'm tearing up now because I miss my dad. Japan is too far....

[SassyTink213]

My most memorable Disney moment was when my family was on my brother's Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World in 1998. He was 7 at the time (spinal tumor and yes is in great health today, you'd never believe it was him if you didn't see his scar and radiation marks). My brother had on a big Give-Kids-The-World pin.We were inthe American Pavilion in Epcot deciding what to eat when a swarm of Meeko started "snacking" on my brothers teddy grams, which he pilfered from my brother's backpack on the back of his red wheelchair. At the time my brother couldn't walk. Goofy started pushing him around in a crazy trail around America. Chip and Dale were chasing after him all the while stopping to mess my sister and my hair. Mickey, Miney, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, and even Pocahontas herself came and joined in our impromptu wheelchair parade. They spent quite a while with us. The CM's even took a family portrait of us and all the characters. It was the first time I'd seen my brother smile in about 8 or 9 months. They had him grinning, laughing, and teasing them right back. It was truely magical. I will never forget how wonderful they were. We will forever be grateful!

[HayGan]

Mine and DH's was on our first trip to WDW with our boys. We had dinner at the castle and walked out just in time to have a front row seat for Wishes. It was the perfect ending to our first perfect MK day. It was such a special family moment.

[Tbelle1976]

Mine would be this past Valentine's Day when DD twirled in the parade at MK. For as many years as I've been to WDW and have loved to see the parades I've dreamed of how awesome it would be to actually be in one...and now my DD got to experience it. I definitely had to have the tissues ready!

[pampam]

This thread is too good to let die.

[Robindianne]

Our one moment also happened to be our first moment.

Our DD5 had a fair number of health complications from Type 1 diabetes, including many hospital trips starting around her first birthday. We saved our money and wanted to take her and her younger brother on a Doosie of a Disney vacation, her first. So we booked 10 days at the Beach Club and hoped for a relaxing vacation during a slow first 10 days of November. We also hoped for some magic but didn't have any particular expectations. The rides, atmosphere and "escape" were all that we were looking for.

We arrived midday to beautiful weather and decided to head to Epcot through the International Gateway. As we scanned our tickets, our DD saw Snow White a few paces away and ran to her. Snow White talked with our daughter, got to know her and, well, you know... No one else was around... it was about 10 minutes worth of hanging out with Snow White.

Our DD talked about how she recently was a "townsfolk" player in the local high school production of "Beauty and the Beast." - "Oh really?" said Snow White, "Then I'd like you to meet my friend." Snow White took my daughter's hand and they skipped all the way over the bridge into France, where Belle was in her courtyard and my daughter was in heaven, just beside herself and talking as fast as she could. Belle was happy to "finally meet someone else from my village!"

We spent about $6000 on that trip. It was all "paid back" in the first 15 minutes.

Amazing.

I just got goosebumps. Literally! On my arms and legs :goodvibes

[Bagheera23608]

This thread is helping me to keep in mind that the REALLY good stuff is not planned!

[Birdrav]

My moment was almost 10 years ago. My daughter was 5 years old, and all she wanted was to meet Cinderella. I had tried to get into CRT for breakfast with no luck. We had breakfast at 1900 that day, which was great, but "Cinderella wasnt there" my daughter says to me.:sad1:

We went to the afternoon parade later that day, and the Cinderella float stops right in front of us, and we see that she is getting off the float. She walks right to where we are, and holds her hand out to my daughter! princess: She takes her away, and my daughter is IN the parade dancing with Cinderella AND The Prince.

I was so happy, proud, excited, and relieved that her Magic had happened after all!:cutie:

[Muse83]

I have 2 moments that happened while in Disneyworld in may.

1. Sitting on the curb on Main Street USA, it had just rained a little and it was dusk. I had just gotten back from Casey Jones with a hot dog, cracker jacks and a coke fr my wife and I. We were sitting there eating and wating for spectro Magic when suddenly I just got extremely teary eyed. It just all kicked in all of a sudden, I just all of a sudden was engulfed in the moment of how magical this place truly is.

2. Leaving Hollywood Studios on our second to last day there, It was around 9pm once again I teared up bad as I slowly walked backwards (so I could still see everything) out of the exit as Star Wars music lightly played over the speakers ( Star Wars weekend). There is truly no place like Disneyworld.....im getting a little misty just typing this haha

[my2boysrtwicethefun]

My moment, that I will never forget, happened during the last day of our May trip. My family & I were on Splash Mountain & it was to be our last ride before heading home. My 2 sons sat together in the front of the log ride and my husband & I sat directly behind them. As we passed by Brer Rabbit my youngest son began crying. When I asked him what was wrong he said "This is my last ride. I'm going to miss Splash Mountain. I'm going to miss Disney World. When our we going to come back." I of course cried with him. We had a terrific time with many memories but I knew that I would always remember that moment. It was at that moment that I knew that he was hooked & that I would always have someone to share Disney trips and memories with. :cloud9:

[Stephanator]

I found this thread today, read the whole thing and now I've got lots of tears and smiles. Keep the magical stories coming. popcorn::

[Disney Spaz]

I have 4;

The first is when DS was 11. We had not been to WDW in several years and I was coming out of a really bad marriage. DS had lost a lot of the magic feeling. Well Christmas was coming up and I asked him what he wanted. He said it didn't matter. I pushed and said if you could have anything what would it be. He sarcastically said I want to hang with Donald Duck on Christmas. Well that was it I planned a suprise trip right then. First I suprised him on the drive down telling him we weren't really going to visit family in VA. He was almost in tears when I handed him the confirmation for two weeks at WDW. But the best was Christmas eve. That morning I was purposly dragging me feet leaving the resort. DS was quiet. I asked him what was wrong. He said it was going to be hard not being with his Grandpa on Christmas for the first time. At that moment out of the corner of my eye I saw my father arrive on the ME bus. I told DS we could call DGpa and DS went for my cell. I said no, call his name. DS looked at me like I was nuts but called Grandpa outloud. My father was right behind him at that point and answered. DS instantly began crying and hugged his Grandpa.

The second is also about my DS, now 18, at the time 15. We have always gone to Crystal Palace for breakfast because DS and I are such huge Pooh fans. Well on this trip he swore he was too old for the whole charater thing. He even went so far as to say it is just some guy in a costume. Well the morning of our breakfast I asked DS to just take a picture of me and Pooh becuae i still believed. Well DS almost knocked Pooh over hugging him. Afterwards i said I thought he was too old for charaters. He said he couldn't help it he saw Pooh and the magic hit.

The third involves my DD. she had just turned 1 and we had early ressies for Crystal Palace so we were let in early to the Magic Kingdom before it opened. She slowly waddled up mainstreet waving to everyone as if she was greeting her loyal subjects. I couldn't help but sob as I video taped it. Even now when I watch it I cry.

Finally DD has had to have surgery twice to place tubes in her ears so she could hear. I knew her speech had been affected but I didn't realize how much until this past trip. We brought a close family friend with us that had never been to WDW. Before we left we had been showing him our home movies of our previous trips before DD's surgery. In the video you could see how hard she struggled to speak and be undrstood. We watched as she would get frustrated and sign instead of try to speak. But when we arrived in MK last week she took DFF hand a walked him down mainstreet clearly telling him everything about "her castle". She was so clear in her speech and so quick to talk I just cried. She has come a long way.

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

I made it thru the autistic kids speaking, and all the other wonderful stories, but this one got to me. Lovely story :hug:

[dobtia]

We have been to Disney five times so far. We have had a lot of magical moments. We only have one child, so we find a lot of small things magical. It can be almost anything.

The one I remember the most happened this trip. We are in EPCOT near the end of our. My brother, sister-in-law and two nieces have been with us for most of the trip. This day we had one the World Showcase, our first ever trip to Biergarten, tons of characters and fun, and first time ever for Illuminations.

My nieces had told me how much they loved me and how much fun they were having. They headed off to the monrail. Me, my wife and son take it slow heading out. We are just talking about how great our trip has been. Holding hand and looking at the lights. Our son is a very caring young boy. He pulls us close. We do this thing called Group Hug, Group Kisses. He then just simply says....."Thanks for bringing me here. Yall are the best."

Great trip.

[Fairyntraining]

[QUOTE=DS6 grabbed the autograph book and started running across the entrance screaming "CHIP & DIP....Waaaaaiiiiiitttt". It was so heartbreaking...DS started running toward them and one of the chipmunks started running toward DS and they just embraced in a huge hug...Chip and DS walking arm-in-arm back down the hill to meet Dale. It is one of my favorite pictures!![/QUOTE]

:sad:This broke my heart, but I am so glad that he was finally able to meet his "Chip and Dip"! Priceless;)

[Fairyntraining]

My moment is going to happen next week...

Back in 2005 my mom decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Disney with my son for his 5th birthday, she wanted him to experience the magic when he was young and the plan was to go back in 5 years when his sisters were older. My mom, my DS Ryan, me and my sister took off to Disney for a 4 day weekend and had a great time together watching the magic being created through my son's eyes. I have such fond memories of sharing Disney again with my mom as an adult and with my little boy.

http://serina.smugmug.com/photos/31731963_W5tMr-M.jpg

Well here we are 5 years later, Ryan is 10, his sisters are 7 and 4, it is the time my mom was waiting for to go on a Grand Gathering with her, my dad, me and the kids, my sister and her husband. My mom told us of the idea to go in March 2009 last September and that we were going to keep it a surprise from the kids until they got to the airport.

We booked the trip and had just started secretly planning when my mom died suddenly of a heart attack on October 31.

The past few months have been horrendous .. but never once did we veer from our plans to do this trip, as a surprise, for her grandchildren, in her honor. She so wanted to be here to see their faces and I know she will be with us in such a special way on this trip.

So, the children think they are going to fly to the beach next week, they have no idea we are taking them to Disney ..we will get to the airport and find Grandpa and their aunt and uncle waiting for them .. then they will find this letter addressed to them from their Grandma.


Dear Ryan, Emily and Caitlin,
I know it has been hard for you all since I have been gone. I miss being with you and sharing all of the special times together. I didn't know I would have to leave you so soon, there were still so many things I wanted to do with you. I was planning a special surprise for the whole family before I went to Heaven, and I hope you will all still go and have the time of your lives. I hope you are as surprised as I wanted you to be!
I miss you every day, but I'm still with you – always watching over you.

So have lots of fun and make lots of memories together, as a family.
Love Forever,

Your Special Angel

Grandma
P.S. Say "Hi" to Mickey for Me.


and that's when they will realize we are going to Disney and that it's a gift from Grandma.

I hope that this trip brings with it many unique experiences and lasting family memories. Thank you for sharing this story and honoring your Mother's memory in such a wonderful way!:lovestruc

[disneydreamgirl]

I'm exhausted after reading this entire thread...so many terrific stories...DH came in from work and asked me what was wrong because I look like a wreck! :sad1: Thanks everyone for sharing. :grouphug:
We're looking forward to our upcoming trip with DGpa, DGma and Dniece...some of my happiest childhood moments were at WDW and the scrimping and saving that went on was formidable for us to be able to go. I really want to create some terrific memories for all of us.

[Fairyntraining]

Like everyone, there are lots of 'disney moments'. But the one that will stick with me forever is when my son was 17. We were leaving MK via the ferry after the parade and fireworks. We always do this on the last night, stand at the back, watching MK for as many moments as we can. I looked over at him and he was crying. I asked him what the problem was and he said "this is the last time that I'll ever be here as a kid". I just hugged him and started tearing up too. Matt knew that we wouldn't be going again for a few years because we would be focused on paying for 2 kids in college. I did tell him that no matter what, whenever he comes to disney, he'd always be a kid! The best part is that Matt got married last Oct. and their honeymoon was to wdw!! His wife hadn't been there since she was young, and having 'non-disney' parents, she really missed a lot! My son planned everything for them!! He kept saying "Mom... I'm just like you!!" He started planning over a year before they went! He had note cards and the whole bit! During the honeymoon both my ds and ddil called me every day and texted me with lots of pics! The best one was a pic of wishes! He wrote "you were right. I'm a kid again!" So cute!

What a sweet story! I love having Disney kids and hope that they continue the tradition when they are older.

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Oh wow...you must wear waterproof mascara when reading this thread!!!
Well, let me see , I have a few magical memories! The most vivid is on our first family trip. I remember standing in Frontierland with a decent view of Wishes. My two older kids were in the pin store with their grandmother and my dh. My youngest was with me(dozing off in the stroller)..it is here that I remember first getting teary eyed and falling in love with Disney! The street was almost empty..it was just me watching Wishes and watching my youngest fall asleep! Sweet memory.

I also have great memories of Crystal Palace with my youngest on that trip. I still use the pic of him grabbing Tigger's nose for my computer wallpaper sometimes! He was 18mo.old at the time! He loved the characters!!

One more memory from that first trip..my dd(who gets very moody and upset quite easily) was upset about something in a store at MK I believe. A CM came over to her and said "What's wrong princess..you can't be sad at DisneyWorld"! DD perked up a bit after that! THAT was dd's first of many times to be called a princess at Disney!LOL

Can't leave out my oldest ds here! On our trip this month our oldest ds seemed to "get bored" with WDW and I think he thought he was too old for some of the characters, etc. So, we go to see Chip and Dale..ds had on a shirt that says "come to the dark side, we have cookies"(Star Wars fan).They played around with my ds (wanting those darn cookies!!) until the people behind us were all laughing it up!! They kept moving around trying to find the dark side in hopes of getting cookies! Eventually they just moved ds into the corner and left him there! They finally took his autograph book and wrote "false advertising"!!! LOL! Finally!! some laughs out of ds!!! It was just what he needed!

I cannot leave out how excited my ds(4) was on our trip this month...about fireworks!!!! He absolutely loved them! While attempting to film Wishes, I could not help but turn the camcorder on ds instead! He shrieked with excitement and clapped while yelling "fireworks are soooo pretty"!!! It was the sweetest thing ever! I brought the dvd home to show to my mom and she said "these are the moments that I love to see"!!

There are so many magical moments!! Those are just a few that stick out in my mind right now!

[flowergirlbecca]

This thread is so beautiful.. *sniffs* I am only half way through page 10 but I can't stop reading.. these are the reasons why Disney is our home away from home.

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Even though I already posted my moments above, I just had to add this! During our trip last month my dd and I were shopping on Main Street when I saw the cutest thing. A pregnant woman was holding up a cute tiny "my first disney trip" t-shirt to her belly and her dh was taking her picture! AWWW, I thought I was gonna cry!!

[Fairyntraining]

:goodvibes
We have many memories with the Dkids, Dgrandparents and Dextended family. More than I can type but the magic for me starts at the turnstyle when I swipe my ticket for the first time at MK and continues to build with the anticipation of seeing the castle when I walk through the train station. We here on the boards have all experienced that "moment" on main street when the castle comes into view and you see it for the first time ever or on that particular trip. Emotions well up and tears stream down my face, then I thank my DH for understanding that Disney is more than a vacation, it truly is home away from home where family memories are to be made and cherished year after year. Needless to say...I cry when we arrive and I cry when we leave. Gotta love the magic!!!

[Disneyliscious]

Im a nutcase after reading the first 3 pages of this thread. Im bawling like a baby. Wow.

I am SO looking forward to my 8 year old DS's first trip in October.

[~EverAfter~]

Thank you everyone for the beautiful stories. I feel so blessed right now. :grouphug:

[Amanda_the_awesome]

great stories everyone I was balling my eyes out from the first post.

I have 3 moments
First was when we took my bf on his first trip to the World. He thought that it was just going to be another amusement park but with all the convincing we got him to go. First thing when we get to the MK when he sees the castle he just had this look of wonder on his face like that of a young child being there for the first time. It was just wonderful to me and my mom. I guess that proves that everyone is a kid again when they go to WDW.

Next was in 2008 when I was there with my bf and mom we were watching the Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade (happens to be my bfs favorite parade because of the drummers that according to me and him look like Phil Collins). There was a little girl in a wheelchair that had an oxygen tank next to us. She was celebrating her birthday and she was just so happy to be there any time a character passed by she would be screaming their name and getting all excited. I just looked at how happy she was and I started to cry just made me think that people should be happy with what they have and I can tell you that this little girl was one of the most happy thankful people that I have ever seen in my life.:goodvibes
sorry if this makes no sense when I get emotional I have a hard time writing.

last one
we were not planning on doing a Disney trip this year because were a little tight with money but this all changed when my bf (the newly made Disney fan) asks my mom so why are we not going to Disney this year. I knew he was a fan but I wasn't sure if he was as much of a an as me and my mom are. Well he wanted to go back so bad the he offered to help my mom pay for half of it. That is why were going this year and I am so thankful for him and my mom and just being able to go to the one place where we are all happy.
There is a reason why Disney World is called the happiest place on earth.:)

[JoShan1719]

"They finally took his autograph book and wrote "false advertising"!!! LOL! Finally!! some laughs out of ds!!! It was just what he needed!" Priceless! Very cool!

My moment started in May 2007. FH and I were at lunch talking and he suggested we go to Disneyworld for my birthday in August. I was shocked because he had never been to the World and had no desire to go. I brought that up and he said, "Well, it's your birthday and you want to go, so we'll go." :hug:

Fast forward to September of that year and we're finally on our trip. I chose to do MK last because I was afraid all the "lands" and kiddies would throw him off and he wouldn't have fun. So on our last day we enter the park and as soon as we round the corner and get that first view of Main Street and the castle he says, "This is awesome," and demands that we duck into the first shop so that I can buy my first grown-up ears. :love:

When it came time to plan our September honeymoon for this year, he had no qualms about going to Disney. I can't wait to have some more moments, and maybe he'll have some of his own.

[RCharnay]

I haven't been feeling well and couldn't sleep. I just spent the last hour reading this thread and have shed a mountain of tears and smiled until my face hurt. Disney is truly filled with magic and it is such a joy that we can share it with others. Thanks for sharing your stories and passing the magic along.

[lustergirl]

My favorite has always been standing up on the train station depot overlooking MAINSTREET USA and seeing the castle. Gets me every time.

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Thanks everyone for these stories! They are great.

I have a couple. On my eldest daughter's second trip, she was 3, we did the whole bibbidi bobbidi boutique and then CRT morning. She literally felt like a princess. She was bouncing along through Fantasyland getting all the ooohs and ahhs the little princesses get when this one mom just kind of stopped and looked at her and had this sweet, but kind of sad smile on her face. I then saw her teenage daughters and realized she was having a Mommy moment and remembering when her girls were little princesses, too! I got all teary right there realizing that one day that would be me, so from then on I vowed to take my kids to Disney as often as we can while they are little and especially let my two little princesses be totally immersed in it while they still want to be!

The second is the first time we went as a family--I went often growing up, but when my son was 3 and older daughter 18 months, we took them. And the moment we walked in and saw the castle I couldn't believe how emotional I was! I was trying to tell the kids, look at the castle, it's Cinderella's, but they were just staring in shock and I could hardly talk. I hadn't seen it in about 9 years and will never go that long again! My picture is from that trip and I LOVE it!

[summermac]

My moment on our past trip was seeing my son meet Tigger. I actually had to excuse myself from the table afterwards to go wipe my eyes. You can see the excitement in my siggy pic so you can imagine how it was to actually be there for it.

:)

[kshattuck]

I wondered where this thread went -- thanks for the bump! Great to read all of these magical moments.

Makes me even more excited (and more grateful) for our upcoming trip!

[MossFamilyMom]

These stories are the best...don't we all love a little pixie dust?:goodvibes

[KimiCoconuts]

Our families most magical Disney trip was when our dd was 4 yrs old and she was in her Tinkerbell costume (Daddy surprised her at the hotel and said Tinkerbell left it for her in the night). We were at the Who wants to be a millionaire show and she pushed the numbers just right and got into the hot seat! They really loved her in the seat and it was very cute. The best part was afterward though when she looked at me and said, "Mommy that hot seat wasn't even hot!"
:lmao:

[CTmommyx3]

This is mine from our trip in March. My toddler was not sure about any of the characters. He seemed to be shy around Snow White. He started showing her his blankie and she got down to see. She just had THE sweetest look on her face while he was showing her.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t263/LaurieLaconto/Image075.jpg

[sabrecmc]

We've had so many magical moments at Disney. My most memorable...in October, 2007, my daughter sat on my shoulders watching Wishes...It had taken months of paperwork, physicals, homestudy, fingerprints, waiting and waiting and waiting and then travel to China and back, but my baby was sitting there watching fireworks at Disney with me. I'll never forget it.

[Normangirls]

I have so many, from riding IASW over and over with my (usually grumpy) grandfather as a child, to every time we see the castle and watching my daughters faces light up.

But one of my favorites is a "character" meet of a different sort.

DH and I took DD13 when she was three. We were walking through the castle, and someone called her name. She looked up and there was her Uncle Chris! He was attending college in Florida, and we had arranged to meet up with him. She was so excited!

The two of them were like peas and carrots -- they were each other's "most favorite."

We have tons of video and pictures of the two of them riding rides and playing at the MK all day -- him being there just made everything even more exciting for her.

We lost Chris a few years later in an accident, but she still remembers her special day with him at Disney, and tells the story to her younger sisters like it is a fairytale.

[thefigueroas]

I have two. This first one is one I wrote years ago on the "Thanks to CM's Board". I have cut and pasted it from there:

"I didn't realize that we had this here so the one I want to thank is from last year. My six year old is very "mature" for his age (or thinks he is) and during our last trip for MNSSHP had become somewhat cynical and jaded. Well, on the way out of MNSSHP I wanted to buy one of the souvenir plush Mickeys they sell to commemorate the event (I collect them). Anyhow, we stopped in one of the shops on Main Street and my then "too cool for WDW" son chose a plush Fantasia Mickey to purchase as well, "for a friend". Well, when we checked out the CM asked my son if he believed in magic. My son being my son said "Not really". The CM said "Too bad, because I could have shown you something really cool." Well, that was all it took. The CM explained to him that he needed him to REALLY believe and that something cool would happen to that Mickey. Do you know that he made it "talk". I swear to you, his mouth did not move and there was no way that you could tell that he had done it. My son was dumbfounded and amazed. He left out of there with his mouth open and stars in his eyes.

To that CM,
The reason that I wanted to write this is because of that one small gift of kindness and attention, my son has become a kid again. He now believes in magic and is not in such a hurry to grow up. I want to thank you for all you did. I am sorry I can not thank you by name but you really changed a little boy's life and he still talks about it even now over a year later. People like you are the reason that my family considers Walt Disney World as our vacation of choice. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."


To this day wherever the Navy sends us, home is not home to my 11 year old son until that Fantasia Mickey is on his dresser.

The second is from our last trip. Due to "problems" beyond our control it was very difficult for us to have any additional children beyond our first one. It took ten years and a lot of hard work but I finally became pregnant and on top of that it was a girl! We decided to go to Disney last May as a "last only child hurrah" for our son. While we were there we wanted to get a new outfit for the baby to wear on her first trip to Disney. It dawned on me in the World of Disney that I was at Walt Disney World shopping for an outfit for MY very own princess to wear when I bring her for her first time. I broke down right then and there. We are planning our first trip for her and her brother now and I still get teary knowing after all these years of watching everyone else's princesses that I am FINALLY BRINGING MY OWN!

[Tomh]

Thanks OP, what a great thread!

We had two very special moments last summer on our first family trip to WDW, which is part of the reason we are hooked, and are returning this summer.

The second day of our trip last year was our first day in Epcot. Since we had pre-purchased the photo pass CD, we wanted to make as much use of it as possible, and so pretty much every time we saw a photographer without a long line, we got our pictures taken. We were near the fountains in front of the imagination pavilion, when we spotted a photo pass photographer, and asked to have pictures taken. He posed my son a daughter on the wall, pretty well lined up for the next spurt from the jumping fountain. They had NO idea it was coming, and the resulting pictures were priceless. Unfortunately, just as he finished taking the pictures, a superior came along, and had some words for him, which I am sure had a lot to do with the liability should either of the kids have fallen off the wall. It is too bad that he got in trouble for it though, the pictures came out so good.

http://tomherringjr.com/images/Disney/image037.jpg

The second moment came the following day, at MK. DS4 really wasn't having much of anything to do with any of the characters. He wasn't running scared from them, but he wasn't interested in greeting them, or collecting autographs with DD13, and DD19. We had a breakfast at CRT. During the breakfast, the first two princesses to come along he wanted nothing to do with. The third one to visit our table was princess Jasmine. DD19 told Jasmine that she was DS4's favorite princess, so Jasmine spent a bit of extra time trying to talk to DS4, he still didn't want anything to do with it, but she kept working on him. After a few minutes, he was out of his chair, and standing, and she was kneeling down next to him. I had the camera out and ready to go just in case he actually got anywhere near her so I could get a picture, then she told him she wanted to tell him a secret, and I knew what was about to happen. The result is the following picture.

http://tomherringjr.com/images/Disney/IMG_7234.JPG

Two truly magical moments for our family, and all the reason we could ever need to return to Disney World.

[Hollymom1229]

We have had so many moments over the years it's hard to put it all together and just name one, so I'll give two.

I grew up a Disney lover and the year before DH and I got married I took him to WDW for the second time. This was our first solo trip as a couple. On the third day of the trip, right after Wishes, he asks me to dance in front of the castle. We danced to "Once Upon a Dream" from Sleeping Beauty. It was quite possibly the most romantic moment of my life.

The second was at CA Adventure in 2006. We were at the park to watch the Electric Light Parade. A little boy, about 8, was seated next to us, he was the only boy with a group of six women. He started chatting with my DH, in an obvious attempt for guy time, who asked him about what he'd done that day. During the course of the conversation my DH found out that he thought Snow White was pretty. As the parade came around Snow White was on our side of the road, so DH called over to her. "Snow White, your this young man's favorite princess." She came right over and gave the boy a kiss on the cheek. The look on his face was one of pure wonder. I couldn't help myself, the tears started falling.

This is what it's all about, the moments that you'll never forget for your entire life.

[DIS-OH]

On our last trip---just 10 days ago--the most magical moment I witnesses was in the Festival of the Lion King at AK. Near the end, when the performers go into the audience and select someone to dance with them, the "zebra" character selected a young girl in a wheelchair. The zebra pushed, twirled and "danced" the young girl around the floor.

My DH and I both teared up...for WDW is the place where ALL children can participate and be treated as equals!

[matthew_hull]

Was it this lady?

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/2/medium/ak_fotlk_zebra_girl.jpg

[RichmondTiggerFan]

My moment, that I will never forget, happened during the last day of our May trip. My family & I were on Splash Mountain & it was to be our last ride before heading home. My 2 sons sat together in the front of the log ride and my husband & I sat directly behind them. As we passed by Brer Rabbit my youngest son began crying. When I asked him what was wrong he said "This is my last ride. I'm going to miss Splash Mountain. I'm going to miss Disney World. When our we going to come back." I of course cried with him. We had a terrific time with many memories but I knew that I would always remember that moment. It was at that moment that I knew that he was hooked & that I would always have someone to share Disney trips and memories with. :cloud9:

Almost sounds like me when I ride Splash Mountain for the last time before I come home. It really hits when my log comes back to the unloading area & I have to get out.

[Disney Daddy et al]

Great thread !!! :thumbsup2
On our second annual WDW family vacation in August 2004 we were in transit to Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. This was to be the kids first character breakfast so we kept it from them as a surprise until we arrived. Upon leaving Epcot via the monorail the tram came to a stop and we were delayed 25 minutes. When we arrived at the Contemporary the characters were finishing up and the host apologized but could do nothing as it was the last scheduled breakfast. DS:wizard: 8 DDprincess: 6 were very disappointed.
So we went back to the resort to eat at Olivia's. The kids were unusually quiet until Maggie arrived. Maggie introduced herself as our server and asked why the long faces? We explained what had happened with the monorail and character breakfast and Maggie said she was very sorry and asked if we were going back to the parks that evening. I told her that we were and she said to hang on before leaving. When Maggie returned she was hiding something behind her back approached my DD and held out a small plastic bag for her. Inside was a gold glitter with multi color- stars inside. Pixie Dust no less. The look on my kid's faces was priceless. My DD immediately wanted to fly but Maggie told her that this was wishing Pixie Dust and to sprinkle some in front of the castle and "who knows"... Well needless to say we had a great time and were so happy to see the kids having fun again. When we returned to our room you could see bursts of color from the walkway and I figured I made a wrong turn as it looked like a New Years eve party where our door was supposed to be. Balloons had been placed all around the entry way and gift bags were hanging from the door. Inside the gift bags were autograghed 5x10 color pictures of Mickey and Minnie as well as a group photo signed with Pluto,Donald,Daisy,Goofy. They were personalized to both of them and are framed proudly in my DS and DD's rooms to this day. It's not uncommon to hear Walt's quote as it is so profound but for us "It all started with a Maggie" We can not express our gratitude enough.
Best "Wishes" :love:

[momto2greatkids]

These are great stories! I'm sitting here tearing up reading them. Here's mine -

On our first trip to Disney last year, our first ADR was at 1900 Park Fare. We had met Cinderella and the sisters. Then the Prince came out. DD5 just smiled. The Prince and Cinderella shared a dance and then he came and got DD and danced with her. The look on her face was absolutely priceless. She was so happy - I was tearing up just watching her. She still talks about her dance with the Prince.

[bjcaed]

There are so many wonderful stories here!!
My most memorable moment was 15 minutes into our first trip. We arrived this past October 08 and were staying at the Wilderness Lodge. As we checked in the lovely young woman at the front desk told our 2 girls age 4 and 5 that we were in luck, Snow White and her friends had just finished cleaning our room and getting it ready for us. We made our way to our room and began to settle in. My husband and I could hear the girls making a ruckus on the 4th story balcony. Down below just happened to be a little brown rabbit. They were sure that it was Snow White's rabbit and were calling to him and thanking him for cleaning our room. It was so sweet and innocent. They continued to gush about what a lovely job Snow White had done on the room and how nice it was of her. It took my breath away and the tears started. I was hooked from that moment on! We saw that same bunny several times during our trip and they thanked him each time they saw him!

As luck would have it, we just returned from another trip in June and saw a rabbit on the first day there and the girls were thrilled to see Snow White's rabbit and thanked him for cleaning our room for us! Only at WDW!!!

[brandydan]

:love:
It's taken me two days to read through all of these posts, since it's kind of hard to hide the fact that you're crying while sitting at work, doing...notwork:surfweb:.

I'm 47 and I grew up, along with my 3 sisters and little brother, listening to records (remember those?) of Disney movies and songs, spending our Sunday evenings watching the Wonderful World of Disney, and all of us wishing upon a star. DH, at 39, did not. I grew up - and STILL believe - in miracles, magic, and definitely Santa. Now DH is one of those crazy Christmas people on the roof in October setting up lights, a regular customer at the Disney store at the mall for anything that a grown up can use at the store, and the two of us just know that we will not be at all self-conscious in the fact that we plan to bring out our inner children the second we get there. DH, despite being built like a linebacker, is an unabashed Sobbing Sally, and we know he will be blubbering his way through the park, and I will be too busy emulating Tigger by bouncing everywhere to see everything, and plan to bring along my Magic Wand my sister gave me for my 40th birthday (7 years ago!) Just Because.

We are still in the planning/getting EXCITED!!!:banana: stage of our trip that will take place this late September. My DH and I decided, pretty much at a whim, to go to WDW for our first vacation in 11 years (the last one was our first year anniversary). He is a US Merchant Marine (the 'hidden' military, the ones that used to sail the Liberty ships, and now crew the pre-position ships for the rest of the US military all around the world), and will be in south FL for training, and I will meet him there his last week and together we will fly to WDW. The past few days have kept me busy with admittedly grown-up things like plane tickets, ADRs and arranging for our pets to be kenneled, but I am SO glad I found this thread to remind me of what REALLY MATTERS in Disney; that it is a magical place.

I can't wait to post my own magical moments...:hug:

[dizprincess717]

This has got to be one of my favorite threads ever on the boards!

I was actually directly involved with my moment. When I did my internship I went through a 6 hour class and the one CM told us all a story. The Family of the Day at MK was picked and lo and behold their daughter was deaf. She communicated using sign language. The CM wanted to do a little something special for the family and asked the little girl's favorite princess to which she responed Snow White. Backstage while the family was playing the CM called the various "friends of Snow White" and one in particular absolutely said she wanted to meet the family. It was that evening that the family was treated to a special dinner and Snow White appeared. She took the little girl in her arms, sat her on her lap and immediately began signing to her. The CM didn't know that this character knew sign language. The parents were crying, the little daughter was amazed and it was then that I knew I was a Disney lifer!! It was the perfect story to tell new CMs and whenever I was feeling a bit down, too hot at work, or just stressed I would think of the little girl and it would put a big smile on my face!!

[dopeysgirl01]

When my dd was 2 we drove up to MK for the day. It was a perfect November day, the weather was beautiful. We'd been having a great time. We were taking a slow walk over the bridge from the main circle into the Liberty Square area. In a little grove area off to the left was Dopey. He was all alone with his cm. Dopey is my dd's favorite character. She went crazy. We went right over to see him and she climbed out of the stroller and ran to give him a big hug! We explained that he was her favorite. There was no one else waiting to see Dopey so she got to spend alot of time with him. Watching them it was like they were the only two in the park. It was wonderful. :lovestruc

[my2boysrtwicethefun]

Almost sounds like me when I ride Splash Mountain for the last time before I come home. It really hits when my log comes back to the unloading area & I have to get out.

:wave2: We began our May vacation waiting 1 hour & 15 minutes in line to ride Splash Mountain. It was our 1st ride this past vacation and our last. We can't wait to go back.

Funny.....My 2 sons are playing pool as I'm typing and out of the blue they both began singing the Splash Mountain theme song. :rotfl: We are definately hooked.

[PopArtGal]

All of mine come from a trip I took the week before Thanksgiving last year with my Dad and S-Mom. I am an APH and only live an hour away, as they do. I fretted and fussed, thinking perhaps they wouldn't enjoy it all. That I had made a horrible mistake, but they happily booked their Safari view room at the AKL. So our first day I had made ressies at Chef Mickey's for that evening. I went into it thinking I had made a TERRIBLE mistake, the atmosphere would be all wrong, they would wind up getting annoyed. On top of it I had talked them into shelling out the extra money for MVMCP that night.


So we got to Chef Mickey's. My parents are divorced and my Dad has overcome alot in his life, a bout with alcoholism, cancer and so on. We have had lots of lapses but I just wanted those little girl moments I didn't get much of. My Step-Mom was a great sport, she kept the ressies secret and I consider her my "Other Mom". I was so worried about everything.


Well we get thereand I am STILL a basket case. We settle down, and whaddya know? Here comes Donald. My Dad's favorite.

These pics are priceless.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06199.jpg


I love the look he's giving Donald here.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06200.jpg


Uh-Oh! He's almost cracking a smile!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06202.jpg


Now you have to understand my Dad is a tough guy. A work-a-holic, doesn't have alot of fun time, and rarely lets loose. When I looked up and saw this I both laughed and cried.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06205.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06206.jpg


Then I look up to see THIS! I exploded into fits of giggles.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06208.jpg


Then another moment. As Minnie is singing my book, and playing with my scarf and taking pics Goofy comes an un-ties her apron. My Dad chastises him, and jumps up and does the gentlemanly thing. I couldn't believe it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06214.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06215.jpg


Cue me trying to figure out what he's doing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06216.jpg


And his reward!


Seriously this picture makes me grin like a idiot everytime I see it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06217.jpg


We joked with my Dad about his "New Girlfriend" the entire trip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06218.jpg


This is adorable. Pluto just launched himself at my Dad, who was suddenly very into it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06220.jpg


Then off to the Magic Kingdom for MVMCP

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06228.jpg


Here's the tear-jerker. My Dad is not a physically affectionate guy. While were watching the fireworks I cautiously place my hand on his shoulder. He then wrapped his arm around me, called me his "little girl" and held me throughout the fireworks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06232.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06232_2.jpg


Then he said he wanted a "Cinderella Castle picture with his two favorite girls"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/LiberalNinja/Disney%20Shiz/DSC06306.jpg


I cried alot that trip as you can see.

That last picture is beautiful!

[cmurray234]

I'm not one to get choked up, but last September, we were headed to the MNNSHP with my daughter dressed as Jasmine. On our way into MK, one of the security guards asked for her autograph. She was so delighted, it was all she could talk about for the rest of the trip.

Castmembers truly make the magic at the World.

[DIS-OH]

Was it this lady?

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/2/medium/ak_fotlk_zebra_girl.jpg

Yes, I believe it was!

[PopArtGal]

One of mine is silly.

But an older CM (very gentlemanly), opened the door for me at "World of Disney" and called me princess.

And I'm in my 20s. It meant a lot. I still think about it.

[TinkOhio]

I posted this story years ago, but I think that it's worth repeating.:)

Fifteen years ago, our DS was diagnosed with autism. The "experts" said that he would never be able to remember or accomplish much. He was very quiet and pretty disengaged with anyone that he didn't know well, and he had very limited social intrests or skills. My DSIL and I took him to WDW for the first time when he was 5. At that point, he was obsessed with every type of vehicle that he saw. Well, the first time that he saw a monorail, he was in heaven! :love: We were standing halfway up the ramp, waiting our turn to board among hundreds of other guests. He couldn't help but flap his little hands, like he did every time that he saw something that really excited him. He was very tiny, as the top of his head didn't even come close to reaching my waist. Somehow, though, the monorail pilot spotted him through the crowd. She left the cabin, waded through the crowd and asked my little guy if he would like to drive the monorail. (Okay...I'm crying now. I'll NEVER forget this act of kindness.) My DS nodded yes and she led him by the hand through the crowd to the front. She let him sit up front, press some buttons, gave him a certificate when the ride was over, and posed for a picture with him.

This single act of kindness triggered something magical within him. It was as though his bubble of isolation popped. He became instantly more aware of his surroundings. He became much more aware of others and started talking to other people. He literally came home a changed boy. Our family and friends were shocked!

Fast forward to today -- DS is an 18 year old honor student who will begin studing engineering on scholarship. I believe with all of my heart that God sent that lady to DS, and now I am paying it forward. This May, I will finally graduate as an intervention specialist and work with other children with autism.:goodvibes

[BBG-BLT]

Ours was a few years ago. Our #1 DD was 4 years old and we went to see crush. We went 4 times in a row (leaving and getting right back in line) because she wanted him to talk to her and she just couldn't get "picked." After the fourth time we went up to the castmember there and told him that we had been there 4 times and is there anyway Crush could talk to her next time.

he said he could do better. He waited for everyone to leave and then asked him to come out and speak to Calla alone. It was wonderful - she still remembers him calling her Calla-bungo-dudette. I will never forget that moment - and she still remembers.

This year we go for her and her brothers 8th birthday ... and she'll tell us all about that story again....

[DeblovesPoohbear]

I posted this story years ago, but I think that it's worth repeating.:)

Fifteen years ago, our DS was diagnosed with autism. The "experts" said that he would never be able to remember or accomplish much. He was very quiet and pretty disengaged with anyone that he didn't know well, and he had very limited social intrests or skills. My DSIL and I took him to WDW for the first time when he was 5. At that point, he was obsessed with every type of vehicle that he saw. Well, the first time that he saw a monorail, he was in heaven! :love: We were standing halfway up the ramp, waiting our turn to board among hundreds of other guests. He couldn't help but flap his little hands, like he did every time that he saw something that really excited him. He was very tiny, as the top of his head didn't even come close to reaching my waist. Somehow, though, the monorail pilot spotted him through the crowd. She left the cabin, waded through the crowd and asked my little guy if he would like to drive the monorail. (Okay...I'm crying now. I'll NEVER forget this act of kindness.) My DS nodded yes and she led him by the hand through the crowd to the front. She let him sit up front, press some buttons, gave him a certificate when the ride was over, and posed for a picture with him.

This single act of kindness triggered something magical within him. It was as though his bubble of isolation popped. He became instantly more aware of his surroundings. He became much more aware of others and started talking to other people. He literally came home a changed boy. Our family and friends were shocked!

Fast forward to today -- DS is an 18 year old honor student who will begin studing engineering on scholarship. I believe with all of my heart that God sent that lady to DS, and now I am paying it forward. This May, I will finally graduate as an intervention specialist and work with other children with autism.:goodvibes

Great story. My DS6 dosen't have autism but was having some difficulties
speaking when he was really young. We had him tested and they just said he didn't have much to say. Our town has an Early Intervention Program and he was enrolled, for preschool and they have wonderful speach programs.
He was doing well in school, but was very shy and wasn;t working with all of the teachers the way they wanted him to. He was still in "his shell"
Well, that Nov we took a family trip to WDW, and when we returned
I had a meeting with his teachers to discuss his progress. His Main teacher
told me "Kevin came back from Disney World a different little boy"
He was more open to everything, and he just blossomed.
Disney Magic :wizard:

[Momto8]

Ours was last September at the MK. We had 3 fast passes for Peter Pan that we decided we weren't going to use for some reason I can't even remember. I do remember that it was late at night with about an hour's wait for PP, and I was looking for 3 people to give them to. I spotted this mother and father bent down talking to their young DD who was about 3 or 4. I asked them if they wanted 3 fast passes and they were so surprised and happy, I think they started to cry right then!!! Unknown to us, it seems it was their last night there and they were trying to explain to their DD that the wait was too long and they weren't going to be able to ride PP, which they had not had a chance to ride yet. You could see how upset and disappointed their little girl was, so it was so heartwarming to be able to bring a little "magic" to this family. I truly believe that I was somehow led to them. To see the happiness on those parent's faces was priceless. I still get all teary eyed when I think of it!

However, my own personal experience with the magic started back in 1964 when my dear departed parents took me to DL when I was 11. I remember standing at the train station and thinking what a wonderful place DL was. I just fell in love with the Disney magic back then and have been hopelessly addicted ever since!

[gingerfeathers]

I've stayed up way too late reading all these.

I've laughed out loud
I've teared up
I've flat out cried
I've discovered that some of you have raised some incredible kids
I've discovered that there are some amazing CMs out there

[weHEARTmickey]

DD was 4 & DS was 2 and it was their very first trip to WDW. We were standing in the middle of Main St. watching Wishes & DD looked up at us & said "Momma, is this a dream?" I told her "No, it's all real!" She grinned as big as you can imagine, gave me a big bear hug & said, "This is the best day of my life!" Wishes has been our 1st night tradition every since...and I bawl like a baby EVERYtime! :goodvibes

[palavra]

Love these magic moments! We've only taken my daughter to MK once in 2007. She was4 and all into the princesses, especially Cinderella. I really wasn't sure if she was old enough to appreciate the Disney magic yet, but she more than proved that she was. On the ferry over to MK early in the morning before rope drop, she was entranced with the castle. Finally, she looked at me and said "Mommy, Cinderella really does live here!" Oh yeah, she's my Disney girl!

[Amanda_the_awesome]

Bump

[garywitt29]

I've spent the last two nights after work reading through this thread and have been truly moved... here are my moments:

1) Last night of our first trip ever to DW in June of 2007, 5 nights, culminating in our day at MK. After 4 straight theme park days in 90+ degree heat we were tired and had decided not to stay in the park through Spectromagic and closing time. We had headed out through Main Street and were commenting on how crowded the streets were and how we were glad we hadn't waited for 2 hours to get a prime time spot... we had just walked through the exit gates and towards the buses back to AKL when our son, 5 at the time, said "I need to go pee, now!" We quickly doubled back, into the park and into the bathroom near the entrance. As we were leaving the bathroom all of a sudden CMs descended around us lowering ropes and closing things off for the parade - low and behold we were stuck with no where to go, with an absolutely beautiful front-row seat for Spectromagic right at the beginning of the parade! Because of the way we had been trapped in with the ropes closing, we were the only family in our area and every character coming by acknowledged our children and waved - they were floored and so was I, tearing up the entire time....

2) During our day at Epcot both my children got Mickey crocs which they treasured and wore each day of our trip. The last evening my youngest (13 months at time), dropped one of his crocs off the balcony at AKL! By the time we realized what had happened it had been picked up and we thought for sure it was gone... we headed back home after the trip and low and behold, 2 weeks later... a package in the mail arrives, complete with missing croc and signed picture from the mouse himself! Unbelievable!

We are now planning our second trip and just can't wait!

[Atchley]

I haven't had a good cry in a while. Thanks everybody.
Hopefully I'll have a magic story to write in a few weeks.
pixiedust:pixiedust:pixiedust:pixiedust:pixiedust: pixiedust:pixiedust:pixiedust:

[flipflopmom]

I am just bawling, and I will be posting mine, I am sure, in about 2 weeks! Last night we went to fireworks locally, and my 2 year old little one, that has lived, breathed, ate, and slept DIsney World since we told them at 90 days out, reached up as the fireworks were falling and said "I caught some pixie dust" An hour later, sound asleep, when I put her in bed, she still had her fist clenched around the pixie dust. If rural VA fireworks in preparation for Disney do this, can't wait to have, make, and find the magic that awaits us there!

[Microcell]

Wow! All the Magical moments!

I say we stop trying to convince non believers and continue to enjoy that which we open our hearts to!

My very favorite memories are the little things the funny moments, like when DS "talked" to Crush and did not want to in any way.. and Crush commented on it and wound up talking to DH instead!

We make up songs all the time at home, our favorite being about our Jack Russell, Daisy.. sung to the Chicken Dance "Daisy doesn't have a butt, Daisy doesn't have a butt". At Disney the song we made up that we still sing at home makes me happy to the theme of "Good night Lady" and it was the way our then two year old said that he wanted water, basically repeating in two year old "do you want water?".. and that was "Doh wa wa was, doh wa wa was, doh wa wa was, wa wa wa wa was" What made that magical was we were singing something else and our boy chimed in, making up that song! He really became a member of our goofy clan that night!

But as for most touching moment, I think it was our first trip, we got autographs of assorted characters, and I felt like my kids were having fun and that was what Disney was about, fun for the kids...

Then I saw Kermit! I had an unhappy childhood and Sesame Street was my favorite show, something I could count on. Kermit was my favorite, and I overcome with the magic, told him just that! There I was, 31 years old and divulging to Kermit that he got me through my rough childhood and that "I have loved you for so long"! Kermit gave me a big hug!

I might get made fun of for going on so many trips to Disney, but that is why, that is the magic!

[fayt19]

One of mine is silly.

But an older CM (very gentlemanly), opened the door for me at "World of Disney" and called me princess.

And I'm in my 20s. It meant a lot. I still think about it.

Aw, that's wonderful! If yours is silly, then mine is, too.

We went to Disneyland Resort Paris last May, and were enjoying the special 15th anniversary parade. My favorite part of Disney is the parades and shows, and I was just grinning from ear to ear. One of the characters from the Lion King portion bounced on over and stood right in front of me, paying me special attention. I hadn't expected to be noticed, being a teen and all, but he shook his hair right in my face and my instant reaction was to take a picture:
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/calmdownlove/IMG_8997.jpg

It was very exciting. Proves that Disney isn't just for children. My mom got special attention at parades, too. I think we were both embarrassed, but thrilled! :lovestruc

[PopArtGal]

In 2004, Prince Charming waved at me.

I think my mom was more excited than I was lol

[GraceLuvsWDW]

One of my favorite moments was in June when we were eating a CP. An older boy was seated at a table near us and he was mentally handicappped. You could tell he was so excited about the characters, clapping, and shouting as he saw them come around. When Pooh finally got to his table he hugged Pooh and laughed out loud and Pooh just hugged back as long as the boy wanted. The boy was so excited and happy and I just really felt the Disney magic at that moment. In that boy's world, how often does he get the chance to express that kind of happiness without being "socially inappropriate"? I love that everyone can be a kid again at Disney and not only is it not inappropriate, it's almost as if something's wrong with you if you don't!
:goodvibes

[Keeperoftheruleof9s]

On our oldest son's first visit, we were chatting with a CM as we board the train. As our journey prepared to get underway he asked our son if he would call out, "All aboard!" Bryan, normally very bashful, yelled into the handset, "All 'board!" with the thickest hillbilly twang. The CM laughed while telling everyone on the train that the announcer was Bryan from Kentucky.

On a later trip, our youngest son, who in his early teenage years was too cool for silliness, began to cry during Wishes when Jiminy Cricket said "Just let your conscious be your guide". He leaned over to me and kissed me and thanked me for allowing him to be "all emotional".

[Targsmom]

Mine is very simple.

It was taking the ferry to the Magic Kingdom .. seeing the Castle for the very first time..

now, everytime I watch a Disney movie, I see the logo and choke up.

[Piglets Mommy]

What an awesome thread!
I'm still on page 1, but am posting my moment now, while I can still see throught the tears to type!

My most magical moment was in 2005, when we took my DD (2 at the time) for the first time. We were in line to see Mickey and Minnie, and DD wasn't so sure what she thought of them. When it was our turn, DS(5 then) takes her hand, and starts walking towards Mickey, Saying "Martina, This is Mickey. He is very nice. This is his house." All DH and I could do was stand there and cry at their bond. She still wasn't ready to go give Mickey a hug yet, but this was our first day...she warmed up to the characters later.

[dmil]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.



Wow what a story!!!!!!

[Paxton's Mom]

I've only made it through the first few pages but thought I'd better post so I can find this thread again when I have time to read more.

I'm at work with tears streaming down my face. I don't think I can even post my special memory right now without losing it all together, maybe later.

Thanks for sharing all of the great moments!

[dmil]

I thought I would post two of many special moments that happened last August.

1. My DD(6) loves fireworks. We went to see Wishes the first night that we were in Disney. To watch her face and see the emotions that were running through her made my wife and myself cry like babies. After the fireworks were over we turned around and this younger couple came over to us and said that they couldn’t watch the fireworks because they couldn’t keep their eyes off of my daughter. They said that she made their day and thanked us. As they walked away we started to cry again.

2. The other story is when we went to see Belle Story Time we went to get her autograph with my daughters. My youngest DD(3) loves Belle soooo much. She got in line and all of a sudden Belle kneels down and starts whispering in her ear. She kisses her hand and talks some more to her. ( She didn’t want to wash that hand that night) My wife and I are crying again. When she comes off of the stage we start asking her what she said. She wouldn’t tell us. She said that it is her secret from Belle. To this day she still won’t tell us what she said. Our older DD(6) said the only thing she heard was “You are a special girl and a special princess”.

[Disneydancer315]

I have 2 special Disney moments:

1. My family tradition started when we took my son to WDW at age 3. I am a big Disney Fan so on a whim when we entered the Magic Kingdom for the first time with him I grabbed hold of his hand. I started walking down Main Street and singing "I'm walking right down the Middle of Main Street USA!!". Ever since that day when ever we visit, what ever children are with me...all of them have to hold hands and sing the first couple of line of the song while walking down Main Street.

The best trip was when I had my dream trip of my whole family (all 13 of us!!) visited Walt Disney World right after 9/11. Everyone was so excited and both my children were telling there cousins about our tradition!! I explained to both of my brothers and their wives my tradition and to just ignore me if I start crying!! So the big day arrives and we arrive at the Magic Kingdom!! I grab my son and daughters hands and they each grab their cousin's hands. So picture one adult with 5 children!! My brother Shaun is walking backwards down Main Street filiming on the camcorder and my husband is taking pictures. We all start walking, singing and swinging our arms. I am singing and laughing when my brother looks over his shoulder and there is my mother balling her eyes out. He said "What is the matter with you?!?" and she just looks at him and says "This is so special and this is all your sister wanted was all of us to enjoy our special family trip!!"

My son is now 16 and my daugher is 12 and they still will grab my hand at the top of Main Street and sing the song just because they know how much it means to me.

2. My second is about my dad. I am a child of a Air Force dad. Everytime we moved my father would feel bad and take us to either DL or WDW which ever was closer. Since I was a small child I was always afraid of the Haunted Mansion. It didn't help that whenever I got the courage to walk up the long walk to the Mansion my father would jokingly make an evil laugh and I would run all the way back out of the line.

The trip above with all my family I told everyone I was riding the Haunted Mansion with just my daddy. I have a wonderful picture of us standing in the front of it. And as we walked up to the Mansion my father once again did his evil laugh....to which I bravely told him "Come on, I am not scared!!"

Fast Forward this past December I unexpectacally lost my father to a heart attack. The afternoon after he passed I was sitting in my living room all alone when one of my snowglobes went off. Yup you guessed it...it was my haunted mansion snowglobe. I honestly feel it was my daddy telling me he was ok and for me to be happy.