Simple Thing a Cast Member Did...

[disEAR]

in June 2009 we visited the world for the very first time. One of my first interactions with a CM was while checking in at Saratoga Springs, I wanted to print out confirmations for my Dining Reservation, the woman who helped me was super nice and definitely went the extra mile to track them down, although we only found about 4 of the 6 or 7 reservations I had made. I decided it would be fine without printing all of them out and thanked her for taking the time and helping me print out the ones we found.

DW and I went to eat some breakfast at the Artists Palate. After finishing up and making our way towards the busses we heard my name being called, and it was the Cast Member who was helping me earlier. She had taken the time to track down my reservations we couldn't find and printed out the confirmations for me. She definitely went the extra mile and blew me away.

This definitely set things up for our most magical trip ever, sprinkling that pixie dust from the very beginning which lasted all the way to check out.

 

[wdw_l0ver]

One of the best "simple" things that I remember happened at the barber shop in MK. My DH and I were on our honeymoon and he just HAD to have his hair cut. Well, after a wonderful time during the hair cut with lots of laughs and conversation, the hairdresser sprinkled DH's hair with Mickey confetti. Being the scrapbooker that I am, I knelt down to scoop a few off the floor to use in my layout, and next thing I know, she is sprinkling my hair with confetti! Then she handed me a tissue filled with even more for me to use! A simple unexpected gesture that left a mark! I like the simple gestures the best!

 

[JennyKS]

The first year I took my daughter she had just turned 4. We were watching a parade and she was tired and not interested. We happened to be by an ice cream parlor. We got ice cream and sat down at a table far enough you really couldn't see the parade. I had my daughters hair in pigtails and she kept turning her head fast to try and catch a glimpse of the parade but each time she did that she got one pigtail in the ice cream, which made her cry. I let her keep eating the ice cream, its not like hair was still in the ice cream but a CM saw what was happening and insisted she get new ice cream. I am still floored.

Last year we went (age 5 now) and her ear drum burst the 2nd day we were there. We were having lunch at Ariel Grotto and the guy taking my daughters picture went WAY over the top calling her Hannah and asking for her autograph to get her to smile and laugh. She had cotton in her ear and was afraid people would make fun, but thanks to that man, he changed her attitude for the WHOLE day.

I could never thank either of them enough for what they did.

 

[Magicbus]

I like this thread and it does add some balance to some of the posts on the "Disney going down hill" thread. I think the expectations are so high that Disney can't live up to them. I don't think WDW was ever as perfect as a lot of people say it was way back then. I've worked at WDW for about half of it's existence and was a guest long before that. I like to think that I look at the state of things at WDW with objectivity. CMs can be the harshest WDW critics. Things change, mistakes get made, business philosphies change. IMO WDW was never as good as people thought it was and it's not as bad as some people think it is now. Not all CMs are like the ones being written about here, but I know first hand that the vast majority are.

 

[1153rsmith]

Just remembered another one.

We were leaving Main street one afternoon and I realized they were getting ready to retire the flag for the evening. Being a boy scout leader, I wanted to watch. One of the gentlemen from the barbershop quartet came over and asked my children if they would help them lead the Pledge of Allegiance. My son, a boy scout, said sure... my 9 year old daughter declined. While we were waiting, the quartet found out it was my daughter's birthday, so from across the circle at the base of main street, they sang a personalized Happy Birthday to her. She loved it.

I really think, as long as you are courteous and reasonable, Disney employees will try to move heaven and earth to make sure your trip is memorable. My hats off to all the wonderful CMs on this board.

 

[Ellajoan]

We were at DHS YESTERDAY, and had a CM make our night. My DD6 and I had Fastpasses to ride RNR (DD10) told me she didn't want to ride. We had to hustle to ride to get in queue for Fantasmic. Anyways, DD10 is special needs and apparently changed her mind about riding and kind of started getting upset (she tends to just perseverate--say the same sentence/question again and again). We had no FPs left and if DH took her to line up in standby we'd all miss Fantasmic. We decided years ago that our daughter's special needs would not necessarily always dictate our whole familys' behavior--that's not fair to our other kids. Well, while waiting for us in the gift shop, the CM working the counter there saw DD10 and must have figured out that she was special needs (cognitively impaired w/ autistic behaviors). She basically took my DH and DD aside and said "I'll get you on the ride." She took them the back way and got them right to the front of the line. DD10 was SO proud of herself for riding it, and we could not thank that CM enough. She prevented a meltdown of large proportions, and we still got to enjoy Fantasmic.

 

[r1lissa]

We asked one of the "sweepers" for directions to the bathroom. He drew them out on the ground with a wet broom.

 

[brooklynnbaby]

Reading threads like this are what make me sooooooooooooooo darn excited to be there with my family!!! I don't care about the big extravagant happenings - we may remember them, but not in the same way, kwim? I hope we, too, can spread some magic while we're there!

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I keep thinking of more! (as I sit here reading these with a giant lump in my throat)
We were at Restaurant Marrakesh last year and my husband ordered some kind of meal that came with a soup appetizer. (Reading the PP's Brown Derby Soup Story made me think of that) My son wanted some of it, so my husband was sharing with him. My son was taking the bread that came to the table and dipping it into the soup. A few minutes later, the waitress came back with another bowl of soup (an even bigger one) and put it down in front of my son. We all kind of just looked at her and she said, "He eats the soup just like my father does, so I wanted him to have his own." Free of charge.

 

[Vickilynn42]

I don't know if it would be considered sprinkling fairy dust as the moment was sad, but I will forever be grateful for two CM's in DHS. On our second day in DW we discovered we needed to leave FL right away and fly home due to my father-in-law dying. They saw us all standing there crying and took us to a private place to grieve- gave us tissues and water, and the second CM worked it so we could come back in the future for six days (that's what we had left). They made such a horrible time bearable, and I will always be thankful for their hospitality.

 

[whitney37354]

---CM's saying "Hello Princess!" to DD every day
---Australian CM singing "Happy Birthday" to DD at CP
---Bus driver to AK getting off the bus with us, the only passengers on that early a.m. trip, giving us directions, giving DD bubbles for later
---CM at Pooh's ride. It was our first night at WDW. We were in line to ride and DD had to "go to the potty". The line was still pretty long, so we got out of line & went under the rope. The FP CM wanted to know if everything was okay. We told her DD had to go to the bathroom. She told us to come to her when we were finished and she'd let us back in line. We came back, told her she had told us to come back and she sent us through the FP line! She told us to tell the CM at the front of the FP line that she had sent us. I was skeptical that this would work out, but we got on with no problem! Saved us probably 30 minutes of standing in line and we were able to move on to other rides.

 

[dmccarty]

Another Custodian Interaction.

One day last trip we were in England at EPCOT. Our oldest was not feeling well so we had let her take a break in the garden. The DW and youngest child wanted to move on so I stayed with our oldest. After awhile we started slowly walking out of the garden. As we passed one of the English building a CM Custodian popped out a back door. We started talking as we slowly walked to the bridge.

My family is from Orlando well before the Mouse House was built and I grew up in the area as a kid. The CM and I just chatted about how Orlando has changed, areas he and my family used to live, and of course Disney.

We where having a nice chat when my cell phone rang and the DW asked where in the heck was I? We were supposed to meet DW and DD but the CM and I were having a great talk we had lost track of time.

A gazillion people had walked past as the CM, DD and I just chatted away in England.

Later,
Dan

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

There have been many simple kindnesses done for me and my family through the years by thoughtful CMs who apparently are passionate about their work. To mention a couple...

- One hot May afternoon at AK we were all enjoying bottles of Dasani water while sitting at a table on the shaded terrace near Flame Tree. As DD finished her bottle an older gentleman CM asks if she'd like a refill, saying the water in the CM break room is Dasani. Shortly he brings out a fresh sealed new bottle of Dasani for DD.

- DS was very young (maybe 4-5) and Turtle Talk with Crush was in testing mode, just about to open for the public. He did not understand why he didn't get called up on by Crush during the Q&A time, so had some silent tears welling in his eyes as we were leaving the empty theater. Suddenly a voice calls out to him from behind -Crush! He called DS over to "give him some fin" by tapping his hand on the screen/aquarium front. Crush chatted with him for a couple of minutes and DS felt like a very special little boy.

 

[Music City Mama]

This kids’ first trip to WDW was this past June. One of the first rides we rode was PoTC and you could bet that DS3 wanted one of those swords from the gift shop the moment he saw them (he’s big into villains). Afterward, we ate at El Pirata y el Perico and the CM who was taking food orders had a hook hand (from aforementioned gift shop) and started to duel my 3 year old w/ his hook hand against my ds’s sword. He continued to do this the rest of the time we were there when he had a spare moment. Great first memory of WDW CMs for the kids.

 

[maskw03]

We met a wonderful CM during one of our trips about 2yrs about when we were in line to meet Belle. DD finally wanted to meet the Beast and we had asked when he would be out and were told not for a while. So we went ahead and met with Belle and figured we would go see Jasmine and then come back in 10-15 to see the Beast when he was due out. We get back and the CM at the end of the line who we hadn't seen before told us the line was closed the last person just got in. That was 5 mins before we were told to be back even. DD was a little upset by that since she understood we were trying hard since she finally wanted to meet him and Aladdin told him he smelled like a camel, she didn't believe him though

The wonderful CM who had heard DD talk to Belle earlier recognized DD in her Belle gown and holding her doll wearing a belle gown as well. She pulled us and told us to wait at the end and when the last person was done we could meet them both for a min. Belle Even remembered DD's name which we were shocked with! And it truly made DD's whole trip. I'm very grateful not only to that wonderful CM, but to the one who played Belle that day and remembered DD's name. She actually did on a trip a few months after too.

 

[spacemountainmom]

The first year we stayed at POFQ, there was a lovely senior lady who worked in the food court early in the morning.

My dh and I would be up early, we sleep terribly in those darn double beds, and go down for coffee and beignets. She would come talk to us every morning, always asking what we'd done the day before and what was the agenda for the day. She would give me a hard time telling me that my dh was so handsome, she'd like to have him as her boyfriend!

I think we probably enjoyed her visits just as much if not more than the breakfast.

 

[Sweetpeamd]

This is such a great thread! What's amazing is how simple most of the magical things are. I have really enjoyed reading everyone's posts.

My favorite CM moments usually involve just a little more interaction with the characters than I would expect (a little longer hug or an unexpected encounter when the character is on his/her way to a meet and greet area). I always remember the really special character encounters. Also, one time we were in line for Cinderella's Carousel (or whatever it's now called) and I asked the CM which horse was Cinderella's. Instead of just telling me the number (37, I think) and the general location. She took my family to the front of the line and led us to the horse before anyone else was let through the entrance. Once we had chosen our horses, she let the rest of the line on the ride. Such a simple thing, but I will never forget it.

The fact that there is a thread like this is what keeps my family returning to WDW year after year after year!

 

[DNSYFRK]

The magical moments are too numerous and it is really nice to read these moments as opposes to the negativity, thanks for sharing.

One time my daughter had forgotten her disney gift card in the room and she found something that she wanted. we were going to buy it for her, but my son was so persistant that he wanted to buy it for his sister, which was very nice, we go up to pay and the CM looks at us and told us the total and my son shyly said he was buying it for his sister. The CM then turned around and said how nice of a brother he was to buy this for his sister and that he needed to have something for being so nice. he gave my son a lightup necklace that to this day sits in his room.

Another time my son patiently waited in line for over an hour so my daughter could see the fairies, but since he is a little boy and very shy he sould not get his picture taken, but one of the photopass photographers was so persistant that he have a picture taken she was chasing him around my wife and I just to get him to have his picture taken, he thought it was fun and was laughing so hard by the end, and of course she got the picture.

There are so many more magical moments that I cannot even tell them all, There are so many simple moments that just bring tears to my eyes each and every trip, and that is the reason that we return as often as financially possible.

 

[Suellen]

These are such great stories!! Such small things that CM's can do that make magical moments. I love reading them all and hope there are more.

 

[skater]

I like this thread and it does add some balance to some of the posts on the "Disney going down hill" thread. I think the expectations are so high that Disney can't live up to them. I don't think WDW was ever as perfect as a lot of people say it was way back then. I've worked at WDW for about half of it's existence and was a guest long before that. I like to think that I look at the state of things at WDW with objectivity. CMs can be the harshest WDW critics. Things change, mistakes get made, business philosphies change. IMO WDW was never as good as people thought it was and it's not as bad as some people think it is now. Not all CMs are like the ones being written about here, but I know first hand that the vast majority are.

What a wonderful perspective! This gave me a lot to think about. Its probably one of the more realistic views I've read. Thank you!