A Disney Magic Moment

[WDWHound]

Mandy and I visited Disneyland last week. We had a great time as usual, but there was one moment that stood out.

We had just entered the turnstyles and were standing outside the park, in front of the train station, listening to the marching band play. Nearby stood a 4 or 5 year old little blond girl dessed in an Alice costume (light blue dress and white apron). She was standing patiently by her mother as she listened to the band. Suddenly her eyes grew as big as saucers, as out from behind the band came marching Alice, the rabbit and the Mad Hatter. She yelled "Look Mommy, its Alice!" and started to move towards her, but her mother gently restrained her (Alice was interacting with the band at that moment).

The little girl did her best to stay still, but her eyes remained locked on Alice and you could tell her excitment was building. Finally, she could bear it no longer. She bolted forward before her mother could grab her and ran for Alice faster that I have ever seen a kid run.

When she reached her, she grabbed Alice around the knees and gave her a long, heartfelt hug.

Alice (caught a little of guard) looked down to see this little girl hugging her legs. She smiled, gently picked up the little girl, gave her a hug and talked with her for a while. The little girl just beamed. She was actually getting to meet the real, true Alice whose adventures she had watched so many times. Her mother stood nearby and took a few pictures. Finally, she retrieve her daughter (who was still grinning ear to ear), thanked Alice for the wonderful moment she had given her daughter, and then began leading her daughter into the park to contiunue their day of magic.

As I watched them walk togther into the park, I saw the mother brush a little tear away.

We had not yet even crossed under the railroad tracks into the park, but the magic that Walt started there 50 years ago was already having its effect on us all.

 

[Pooh67_68]

 

[Missy1961]

Thanks for sharing that. It brought a tear to my eye as well.

My boss had a similar story. She and her family (husband, DD almost 4 & DD age 2) were going to WDW last month, but my boss's mom passed away. So they went two weeks ago. They went to the character breakfast at 1900 Park Faire. Her oldest girl insisted on dressing up as Sleeping Beauty. When they got to the breakfast, who was there but Aurora? And she told my boss's daughter, "How did you know I was going to be here? Cinderella just invited me this morning!" My boss told me her daughter was just thrilled.

 

[CinderellaIam]

My favorite WDW memory goes back to when my now 19 DD was 5. It was her first trip. Her all time favorite was Cinderella, she watched that VHS tape so often it went snowy. It was me DD and my mom. We made reservations for dinner at the castle (back then, this was fairly easy lol).

When we arrived Cinderella was holding court in the lobby, but apparently it was time for her break and as DD walked towards her the handler announced that Cinderella had some important castle business to take care of and would return later. DD was crushed. She turned to me burried her head against me and started to cry. I kneeled down to console her and she said "but mommy I LOVE Cinderella and she won't even say hello"! Cinderella heard this, turned around and came back and tapped DD on her shoulder. The look on DD's face when she saw it was Cindy was priceless! She threw her arms around Cindy and just kept saying I love you, I love you. Cinderella then began a conversation with DD, took her by the hand and walked with her pointing things out in the lobby and then peaked outside the window with her looking for her friends...precisely at the moment that Snow White and all 7 of the Dwarfs were passing by. Then Cinderella kneeled down gave her a great big hug and wispered in her ear "I love you too" and said good bye. Mom and I both had tears running down our cheeks. More than ten trips later, and tons of Disney Magic and Pixie Dust, NOTHING will ever top that.