A Wish Granted - One Magical Morning Photopass PICS! 10/12

[wkualum]

In what seems like a horrible world sometimes, this type of wish goes to show how truly great this place is.

Can't wait to read more!!

 

[Corrine 1973]

What a great start. I can't wait to hear more!!!

 

[StefaniLyn]

How wonderful of you to volunteer to photograph the event for the family Maroo. I know what it's like to be watching the event unfold from behind a camera lens and I'm sure it was an extra special treat for mom (or is the regular photogrphaer dad?) to be able to emerge and enjoy the moment knowing every second would be recorded for her. Bless you!

I can't wait to read more!!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I'm in and can't wait for more!

 

[jenb1023]

I can't believe I missed the start of this!

Love it so far! What special people your mystery helper and you are to get this all arranged for him! I wish I could have been there to see everything but I am sure you will tell us about every moment and will show us lots of photos so it feels like we were there.

 

[cajunfan]

I really am waiting...uhmmm...working on this patience stuff...






Lynn

 

[All7OfUs]

Wonderful start so far. Yeah, I agree 6:30 is way early, but with what's in store for you, 6:30 is nothing!!

 

[maroo]

One of the first questions I asked the Disney manager was, “How do we handle transportation to get to the MK that early? Are the monorails even running?” His answer was…Sure!

We were afraid the monorails would not be running quite that early, so we opted to beg the Contemporary Resort guard to allow the family to park there for the morning and walk to the Magic Kingdom. I was at Disney with my friend who had a car, so she just dropped me off at the MK gates (yes, we used the bus lane! )

The CM at the Contemporary was more than happy to allow Lucas and his family to park there! In fact, I think Lucas’ Mom will have to provide the details of that encounter, because I believe it was a magical moment of its own!

We all met for the first time outside the gates of the Magic Kingdom. It was dark. And no one was around! Pretty cool!

I love meeting our Make a Wish families! It is so fulfilling to see the families in person! The DIS has been so instrumental in bringing people together. I have met life long friends on this board.

And now a wish granted – simply because some people, who have never met in real life, care enough to interrupt their daily “real” life to help the “virtual” lives on the DIS. These certainly are real people. Virtual or not. This is not just “some internet forum” – this is a place where life-long friendships are formed and now wishes are granted.

But back to the wish!

It was not 5 minutes before Kent from Main Street Operations and Ed (THE Disney Steam Train Engineer) came out to greet all of us.

It was so surreal. A real engineer. In full “costume” – although in this case it is much more of an identity for him – his uniform. Walking in the dark through the turnstiles at the Magic Kingdom. Everything was quiet. No monorails running. Just a few employees walking around getting the park ready for the day.

Our first stop was a bench right outside of the tunnel where you enter the Magic Kingdom. Some of you may recognize it. We sat down while Kent and Ed explained what the schedule would be for the day – although they gave no details. He said, “There are over 30 people in there working to make this morning happen. We have several things in store for you guys.”

Then Ed came over with a special gift for Lucas. This was the first gift of the morning.

It was a very, very special gift.


Ed gave Lucas a railroad spike! Cool, eh?




And some of you guys are thinking….uh, what’s the big deal?


Well…this is REALLY, REALLY cool. This was a REAL railroad spike! And THIS spike came from the DISNEY Railroad. In fact, Ed said that it is the only one of its kind to EVER be given to a guest. Some very special guests have received silver spikes, which are replicas of the real thing – but no guest has ever been given a real spike.

This spike – is the first one given to a guest. Ever.

Now, if they had ended the day right there, we all would have gone home happy! What a special gift! And we met a real Steam Train Engineer! We can go home now!

Then Ed came over with two hats for the boys. They were engineer hats and I believe they make some sort of sound when you push a certain button? I am not sure.

But the primary purpose of the hats was to give the boys something to collect every steam train engineer’s autograph as they met them during the tour. Certainly something the boys will cherish for years to come!

We then had a few minutes to collect our thoughts. And for the ladies to dry their tears. And take a few pics. Lucas’ Mom has not been real happy with the pictures of her. She was in tears (good tears!) for most of this day, so please excuse her red eyes.

We also got some more gifts. We all got buttons. It was a rectangular button given to each person that goes on the official Steam Train Tour.

The other was a collector’s pin that would go on a lanyard – it is also given to each person that attends the tour, but are not sold to the public in any other way. (And let me interject here...Disney never intended to allow me to “just be the photographer” – they planned from the beginning for me as part of the group. I got pins, too.)


They also gave Lucas several golden tickets that look like this:

The golden ticket allows the ticket holder to ride the steam train as a VIP guest. The VIP guest normally gets to blow the whistle and say, “ALL ABOARD!” for the guests! He got several tickets so he can give them to some of his friends at school!

Honestly…the day could have ended here.

But we have yet to even enter the Magic Kingdom.

Up next: An EMPTY Magic Kingdom!
But FIRST: She is No Longer Anonymous!

 

[Sarilas]

Maroo, I am BAWLING! This is just phenomenal... what a story!

 

[All7OfUs]

These pictures are just so wonderful! What an amazing day this family has had already, and it's, what? 7:30?? What a truly wonderful group of folks at Disney RR to have put so much love and thought into this!

 

[that's nice]

What an amazing start! I can't wait to hear what other surprises they had for you!!!

 

[maroo]

Maroo, I am BAWLING! This is just phenomenal... what a story!

Hang on, though! Much more is coming!

These pictures are just so wonderful! What an amazing day this family has had already, and it's, what? 7:30?? What a truly wonderful group of folks at Disney RR to have put so much love and thought into this!

They said at the end that they actually had a real meeting to decide what cool things they could do for Lucas. I love Disney!!!

What an amazing start! I can't wait to hear what other surprises they had for you!!!

I am working on uploading more pictures right now!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Oh Mary... I'm in tears! I can't wait to hear what else they did for Lucas! So far they have gone beyond my expectations! Simply amazing!!!

 

[AnneR]

OKAY

My mascara is running into my eyes and you are not yet into MK. What a special trip.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Oh my goodness! What a story!! I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes! I can't wait to hear about the rest of the day!

 

[Corrine 1973]

I am loving this story. You have me glued to my seat wanting more.

 

[maroo]

Oh Mary... I'm in tears! I can't wait to hear what else they did for Lucas! So far they have gone beyond my expectations! Simply amazing!!!

I had very high expectations...I have seen what Disney can do for these wish families...and they way exceeded mine!

OKAY

My mascara is running into my eyes and you are not yet into MK. What a special trip.

I cried the whole morning.

Oh my goodness! What a story!! I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes! I can't wait to hear about the rest of the day!

It is truly amazing! Just wait, the morning is not over yet!

I am loving this story. You have me glued to my seat wanting more.

Ok...you know I love you. You gotta go pack!!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Maroo, you're my super hero!!

Kathy

 

[Tink rules]

You know... I usually don't let things "get to me"... but I've got tears in my eyes!!!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

A very, very kind DISer saw my post and PM’d me. She was intimately familiar with the tour and had contacts in high places in the steam train world at Disney. She wrote some emails. Maybe made some phone calls? But SHE is the star of this story. She may come by later and introduce herself…or she may not. But she is the reason Lucas was able to see his wish fulfilled and I am forever grateful. And to say that his family will be forever grateful is an understatement!
[/URL]

Walt Disney once said: "You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality."

Without you, Maroo, this would not have been possible! You took the time to find answers when they were told no! This whole Magical Day was thanks to so many people taking the time to care about a very special child and his AWESOME family! I am just grateful that everyone stepped up for this one. My emails were sent to everyone I could think of, ONE person wrote me back, one very dear friend that took the time to pass the request along. You wrote the Disboard message, I sent the email, he passed it along to the fabulously wonderful people of Main Street and the day was created! Wonderful people taking the time to care! Everyone played their part to creat the Magic!!! I am just honored that I was able to help! Much love to everyone involved! I can't wait to hear the rest of the story!