The Worst and Best thing that happened to me at WDW! - The DIS Discussion Forums

jg121285 · 09-09-2009, 02:14 AM

Hello, my name is John and I'm new to these forums.

I am a 23 year old student from Austin, TX and I've been to Disney World 4 times with another trip hopefully coming up next May. All my previous trips have been with family and they usually planned it all.

This will be my first trip with just me and my girlfriend and I am pretty much doing all the planning. I've been looking through dozens of books and websites and finally stumbled across these forums. There's so much info it's mind-boggling, but it's all great and very helpful. I hope to make our first trip together as magical as possible thanks the DIS forums.

Now for the story behind the title. I was 11 the first time I went to Disney World with my aunt and uncle and 2 of my cousins. I remember it was the year that Cinderella's castle was made to look like a birthday cake. Anyway, my favorite thing to do was to meet some of my favorite characters. Our first day at Magic Kingdom I saw some kids getting autographs from Mickey at the Judge's tent and of course I wanted to do the same. So my aunt and uncle got us autograph books and I got Mickey, Minnie and Ariel's autograph. The next day we went to DHS(MGM studios back then) and I got autographs from the characters from Toy Story and Winnie the Pooh and my favorites when I was younger, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. My autograph book was my most treasured souvenier of the trip.

Well of course the worst thing that could've happened happened. I lost it

To this day, we think I had left it behind when we got something to eat at the Toy Story Pizza Planet. Well it wasn't for a while after we left the restaurant that I realized it was missing and when we went back to search for it it was nowhere to be found. I was very sad and I did cry a bit. There was still so many autographs I wanted to get. Well I still had a fantastic first trip to Disney world overall but it did put a damper on my trip.

Well about 3 months later, I came home from school one day and my mom told me that I had gotten a package in the mail from Disney World. I was very confused about what could they possibly be sending me. When I opened the package I went ballistic

It was my autograph book! Apparently I, being the responsible 11 year old that I was, put my name and home address on the inside cover of the book. And even better than getting my book back was there were even more autographs than I originally had. I got signatures from Goofy, Pluto, Donald and many more and all of them were personalized for me. It was the best thing that Disney could have done for me.

Those Disney trips have been some of the best memories in my life and I hope to make even more great memories.

jmpratt · 09-09-2009, 07:35 AM

Truly a "Magical Moment". How cool, thank's for sharing.

MousekaMaddi · 09-09-2009, 09:03 AM

awesome memory!!

indimom · 09-09-2009, 11:57 AM

Wow! That may just be the best story I've heard on here of magical moments! I'm just picturing who might have found your album and then went to the trouble of visiting a few more characters with it before wrapping it up and shipping it off to a child they didn't even know! Possibly a guest, but maybe even more likely a food service cast member??? Pretty awesome to think someone went to that much trouble for a stranger. What a great memory...maybe we'll be lucky enough to make a few like that on our next trip.

Disn3y · 09-09-2009, 01:24 PM

First off welcome to the DISboards!

I've been to Disney as well a handful of times with the folks, just went this summer with the GF. We had a blast, she's never been there and we are looking forward to go back (someday). We also share a similar story but I sadly never got my autograph book back.

Cherinva · 09-09-2009, 03:39 PM

What an awesome story. It just goes to show that the

is around. Enjoy your next trip.

PrincessKsMom · 09-09-2009, 04:33 PM

Those are the stories that renew my faith in mankind and that make Disney such a special place for me.

02AggieGirl · 09-09-2009, 05:47 PM

Hi and WELCOME! My first trip to Disney World was when i was 11 too. It really is a great age for a first trip. I love your story about the autograph book--what a special memory. I hope you have a great trip!

Metro West · 09-09-2009, 06:47 PM

jg121285 · 09-09-2009, 07:02 PM

Hi everyone, thanks for the welcomes.

And thanks for enjoying my story, it truly is one of the happiest memories of my childhood and of Disney.

@indimom: It could have been anyone who found it, but I'm so grateful they turned it in and really happy they got me more autographs and mailed it to me.
Every moment at WDW is a great memory.

@Disn3y: Sorry to hear you never got your autograph book back. I guess I was very fortunate that it was found and returned to me. Especially in a place as vast as Disney. Yeah my gf is so excited about the trip. She went once in high school for a band trip and she's been wanting to go back ever since.

And thanks everyone, it's been 6 years too long since I've last been. I'm taking in as much info on here as possible to make this the best trip ever.

dydo2424 · 09-09-2009, 07:52 PM

Welcome Fellow Texan!!

You really can't find a nicer bunch of people than what you will here on the boards. Enjoy planning!

disneyismyname · 09-15-2009, 09:50 PM

Love the Disney Moment! Very Cool!! Welcome to the boards! Hope you and your g/f have a great trip!

jg121285 · 09-15-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneyismyname

Love the Disney Moment! Very Cool!! Welcome to the boards! Hope you and your g/f have a great trip!

Thank you, it my favorite memory of Disney World.
Thank you again, my GF and I are sooo excited to be going next year. I constantly daydreaming in class about which rides I want to ride first and which restaurants I want to eat at during our trip.

RNtheRN · 09-16-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrincessKsMom

Those are the stories that renew my faith in mankind and that make Disney such a special place for me.

Ditto

neonurse · 09-16-2009, 06:52 PM

That's why Disney is my Happy Place!

Oh yes...WELCOME to DISBOARDS!!!

09-09-2009, 02:14 AM	#1
jg121285 Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 104	The Worst and Best thing that happened to me at WDW! Hello, my name is John and I'm new to these forums. I am a 23 year old student from Austin, TX and I've been to Disney World 4 times with another trip hopefully coming up next May. All my previous trips have been with family and they usually planned it all. This will be my first trip with just me and my girlfriend and I am pretty much doing all the planning. I've been looking through dozens of books and websites and finally stumbled across these forums. There's so much info it's mind-boggling, but it's all great and very helpful. I hope to make our first trip together as magical as possible thanks the DIS forums. Now for the story behind the title. I was 11 the first time I went to Disney World with my aunt and uncle and 2 of my cousins. I remember it was the year that Cinderella's castle was made to look like a birthday cake. Anyway, my favorite thing to do was to meet some of my favorite characters. Our first day at Magic Kingdom I saw some kids getting autographs from Mickey at the Judge's tent and of course I wanted to do the same. So my aunt and uncle got us autograph books and I got Mickey, Minnie and Ariel's autograph. The next day we went to DHS(MGM studios back then) and I got autographs from the characters from Toy Story and Winnie the Pooh and my favorites when I was younger, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. My autograph book was my most treasured souvenier of the trip. Well of course the worst thing that could've happened happened. I lost it To this day, we think I had left it behind when we got something to eat at the Toy Story Pizza Planet. Well it wasn't for a while after we left the restaurant that I realized it was missing and when we went back to search for it it was nowhere to be found. I was very sad and I did cry a bit. There was still so many autographs I wanted to get. Well I still had a fantastic first trip to Disney world overall but it did put a damper on my trip. Well about 3 months later, I came home from school one day and my mom told me that I had gotten a package in the mail from Disney World. I was very confused about what could they possibly be sending me. When I opened the package I went ballistic It was my autograph book! Apparently I, being the responsible 11 year old that I was, put my name and home address on the inside cover of the book. And even better than getting my book back was there were even more autographs than I originally had. I got signatures from Goofy, Pluto, Donald and many more and all of them were personalized for me. It was the best thing that Disney could have done for me. Those Disney trips have been some of the best memories in my life and I hope to make even more great memories. __________________ (Me) (DGF) Last edited by jg121285; 09-09-2009 at 11:58 PM.

09-09-2009, 09:03 AM	#3
MousekaMaddi DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,401	cool awesome memory!!

09-09-2009, 01:24 PM	#5
Disn3y DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 562	First off welcome to the DISboards! I've been to Disney as well a handful of times with the folks, just went this summer with the GF. We had a blast, she's never been there and we are looking forward to go back (someday). We also share a similar story but I sadly never got my autograph book back. __________________

09-09-2009, 03:39 PM	#6
Cherinva Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 459	What an awesome story. It just goes to show that the is around. Enjoy your next trip. __________________ Don't let yesterday use up too much of todayºoº

09-09-2009, 04:33 PM	#7
PrincessKsMom Sorry, it's not your day to eat, maybe tomorrow Puppy Cam Addict You never forget your first time Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,313	Those are the stories that renew my faith in mankind and that make Disney such a special place for me. __________________ 7/79 - Off site; 7/80 - Off site; 11/98 - Off site; 1/05 - CBR; 2/06 - ASMovies; 8/08 - ASMovies; 8/09 - CBR; 4/10 - CBR

09-09-2009, 07:35 AM	#2
jmpratt Earning My Ears Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 21	Truly a "Magical Moment". How cool, thank's for sharing.

Sponsored Links
DIS ad Register to remove Join Date: 1997 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,000,000+	<div align="center">This information cannot be displayed because your browser does not support inline frames.<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com">Click Here</a> </div>

09-09-2009, 11:57 AM	#4
indimom Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 346	Wow! That may just be the best story I've heard on here of magical moments! I'm just picturing who might have found your album and then went to the trouble of visiting a few more characters with it before wrapping it up and shipping it off to a child they didn't even know! Possibly a guest, but maybe even more likely a food service cast member??? Pretty awesome to think someone went to that much trouble for a stranger. What a great memory...maybe we'll be lucky enough to make a few like that on our next trip.

09-09-2009, 05:47 PM	#8
02AggieGirl Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aggieland Posts: 243	Hi and WELCOME! My first trip to Disney World was when i was 11 too. It really is a great age for a first trip. I love your story about the autograph book--what a special memory. I hope you have a great trip! __________________ DH & Me DD6 DD4 DD 1 June 1988 WDW offsite~June 1990 WDW offsite~ June 1991 WDW offsite~July 2002 WDW ASMu~ ~Sept 2005 WDW ASMo~Sept 2006 WDW Poly~ ~Dec 2007 WDW WL~Mar 2009 DLR GCR~ Feb 2010 WDW WL

09-09-2009, 06:47 PM	#9
Metro West Proud Redhead 11.47 Miles from Universal 23.56 Miles from Disney Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NW Orlando, FL Posts: 28,473	__________________ Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando annual passholder since 2004!

09-09-2009, 07:02 PM	#10
jg121285 Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 104	Hi everyone, thanks for the welcomes. And thanks for enjoying my story, it truly is one of the happiest memories of my childhood and of Disney. @indimom: It could have been anyone who found it, but I'm so grateful they turned it in and really happy they got me more autographs and mailed it to me. Every moment at WDW is a great memory. @Disn3y: Sorry to hear you never got your autograph book back. I guess I was very fortunate that it was found and returned to me. Especially in a place as vast as Disney. Yeah my gf is so excited about the trip. She went once in high school for a band trip and she's been wanting to go back ever since. And thanks everyone, it's been 6 years too long since I've last been. I'm taking in as much info on here as possible to make this the best trip ever. __________________ (Me) (DGF) Last edited by jg121285; 09-10-2009 at 12:02 AM.

09-09-2009, 07:52 PM	#11
dydo2424 Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 281	Welcome Fellow Texan!! You really can't find a nicer bunch of people than what you will here on the boards. Enjoy planning! __________________ Diane 2/23 - 3/2/2009 - Surprise Mother Daughter Trip to POP August 14 - 20, 2008 Pop Century August 15 - 21, 2007 Pop Century w/ P&PP Dec. 06 - POR 1990 - 1997 - 4 trips off - site 1986 - Sr. trip, 1st trip, off site - got there via school bus

09-15-2009, 09:50 PM	#12
disneyismyname Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 182	Love the Disney Moment! Very Cool!! Welcome to the boards! Hope you and your g/f have a great trip! __________________ "You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality." - Walt Disney

09-16-2009, 06:52 PM	#15
neonurse Hidden Mickeys Everywhere! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,116	That's why Disney is my Happy Place! Oh yes...WELCOME to DISBOARDS!!! __________________ Me Dh DS14 DS10 Sadie

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
List of things I wish Disney would do at WDW	Stevegriswold	Disney Rumors and News	113	09-25-2009 03:52 PM
The Whole "What Are You Celebrating" Thing	dhardawa	Disney for Families	18	09-22-2009 06:02 PM
Fun..."Quirky" things to do.....	JackJack08	Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies	70	09-11-2009 11:39 PM
Let's post some positive things about the values!	KELLY	Disney Resorts	25	09-09-2009 12:47 PM
Thing to do at the beach in the Fall	TupperMom7	Community Board	7	09-09-2009 12:39 PM