Enriching our vacation through spreading Pixie Dust...ideas?

[revdon64]

Who cares what their motivation is? It's still a kind thing to think of others and not just yourself and what you can get out of your trip... especially at the expense of others like we see more and more often all the time. Are people really that jaded that they have to mistrust the motivations of someone offering them something nice IN DISNEY WORLD?

 

[Hrhpd]

Who cares what their motivation is? It's still a kind thing to think of others and not just yourself and what you can get out of your trip... especially at the expense of others like we see more and more often all the time. Are people really that jaded that they have to mistrust the motivations of someone offering them something nice IN DISNEY WORLD?

But that is exactly what the OP is doing. She even said she waits to give out the used stuff until they have had a bad moment so they can get the benefit of giving. She is making her trip better for herself, making herself feel good at the expense of others.

It also comes down to what one's definition of kindness is. Some stranger intruding on my vacation, putting me on the spot in front of my children, is not kindness to me. I would not appreciate it at all. I would not be embarrassed, but I would be annoyed. I don't even carry around a backpack, why in the world would I want to carry somebody else's castoffs? I pay big bucks for my vacation, not to "enhance" your vacation.

Kindness to me is something actually kind. Kind words, courtesy, children sharing something in line. Planned for "events" are not, to me, in any way, shape or form, kindness.

 

[spacemountainmom]

It has been said before and needs saying again. Let your vacation be your vacation.

Please save your life lessons on compassion and charity for home. I am sure there are many places in her community that would appreciate having the OP and her family come and volunteer. Please donate your things to a local charity or consider starting your own operation. A good friend of my mom realized that there are many places that provide toys to kids at Christmas and thought that many of those same kids are going without on their birthdays too. She started a Community toy shelf that parents can come and pick out a couple gifts for their child's birthday. It's been a very welcome addition to the area.

 

[fbb]

This is outstanding work, OP.

1. A really good troll topic
2. An even better troll title.
3. A haymaker of a troll opening statement.
4. Even after a couple readings, I'm not quite sure you're trolling.

However it was intended, it's greatness.

 

[Missy1961]

Who cares what their motivation is? It's still a kind thing to think of others and not just yourself and what you can get out of your trip... especially at the expense of others like we see more and more often all the time. Are people really that jaded that they have to mistrust the motivations of someone offering them something nice IN DISNEY WORLD?

Honestly, I have no problem if someone wants to make themselves feel better at WDW. And I think the OP's heart is in the right place. However, I do question her methods. For instance, handing out used clothing. I have plenty of clothing - in fact, I recently donated about 3 or 4 bags to a local charity. So if the OP came to me and tried to give some of her used clothing? I'd be turning her down. My guess is, a lot of people who go to WDW don't really need someone else's used stuff.

Now if the OP wanted to feel better and held a door open for me? That I would appreciate. Or smiled at me when we walked past each other? Again, good. Maybe she could step aside and let a kid get in front at a parade? Or any one of many different ways to be kind to someone. That would make me feel great and I bet the OP would feel great too.

 

[mamattorney]

Wow - I'm surprised by some of these responses. About 3 years ago, we were at Universal Islands of Adventure and someone came up to my youngest and gave him an orange fish stuffed animal. It was clearly a prize won from a carnival game that the girl didn't really care about or didn't want to carry around anymore. I assumed it was new, but really have no idea if she won it 15 min before or 15 years before. My son was thrilled and we still have "Orange Fish" (very creative name, I know).

 

[GPC0321]

OP, if you've got any cute adult medium tees or hoodies and happen to be at WDW around Easter, I'll be more than happy to accept your Pixie Dust and enhance your vacation.

 

[revdon64]

I don't know, I might think it was a kindness... because the OP said it was a kindness! If you don't want it, don't take it! If you want to be polite, take it and throw it away. Who are you hurting and who are they hurting? As far as I can tell, no one!

 

[Hrhpd]

I don't know, I might think it was a kindness... because the OP said it was a kindness! If you don't want it, don't take it! If you want to be polite, take it and throw it away. Who are you hurting and who are they hurting? As far as I can tell, no one!

Many people have given very good, solid reasons why a stranger should not interfere. A child looking like they need to be cheered up may be pouting because they did not get their way. The last thing a parent needs is some nosy stranger picking their child as the "perfect" child to treat. That can completely undermine the parent's wishes.

It is better to just keep their planned activities to themselves. Something completely random, like you have extras on a arcade card when you are leaving, you win a stuffed animal at the arcade that you don't need and turn around and give it to the person behind you, you buy a sleeve of glowsticks and there are extras for the people around you at a parade, those are random acts of kindness

To actually make a plan, buy stuff, haul it to Disney and then go in search of the "perfect" child to make yourself feel better is not kindness, it is creepy.

 

[revdon64]

Many people have given very good, solid reasons why a stranger should not interfere. A child looking like they need to be cheered up may be pouting because they did not get their way. The last thing a parent needs is some nosy stranger picking their child as the "perfect" child to treat. That can completely undermine the parent's wishes.

It is better to just keep their planned activities to themselves. Something completely random, like you have extras on a arcade card when you are leaving, you win a stuffed animal at the arcade that you don't need and turn around and give it to the person behind you, you buy a sleeve of glowsticks and there are extras for the people around you at a parade, those are random acts of kindness

To actually make a plan, buy stuff, haul it to Disney and then go in search of the "perfect" child to make yourself feel better is not kindness, it is creepy.

My guess is that you're assuming that the OP doesn't check with the parent before gifting something to the child. Problem is, we all know what happens when we assume. I just don't get why people have a problem with others trying to do something nice, regardless of their own reasons for doing it. The corresponding nice thing to do is say "Thank You." Return a kindness with a kindness; it's what my parents and grandparents taught me. It shouldn't really shock me that that kind of courtesy is gone from society, but somehow it always does.

 

[GPC0321]

We tend to see what we look for in people. Some would see the OP as a "nosy stranger" doing something "creepy." Others would see her as a "kind stranger" doing something "nice."

What's the saying? No good deed goes unpunished.
I can understand those who would not feel comfortable accepting such things from a random person at WDW, and I understand the point that there are probably folks in greater need that could benefit more from the OP's kindness. But there is no reason to be "offended" that someone tries to do something nice for you or your child, IMO. And there is no reason to judge and condemn the OP so harshly either.

 

[LifeWithLouie]

How absolutely neat!
Actually we are packing to leave Disney today, as our trip is ending. Last night we attended MNSSHP and went in group costume as the characters from UP! I was Carl Fredrickson. As a final costume touch, I bought 3 Mickey-head-in-the-clear-outside balloons. (BTW... anyone wondering about these balloons. .. they are the thickest, best-quality balloons I have EVER seen). But we can't or won't be taking them on the flight home. .. so we are going to find a guest room whose window decorations (at All-star Sports) indicates a family is staying there with a child, and leave the balloons and a note ("Enjoy the rest of your stay!") on their doorknob.
Seeing the quality of these balloons. .. they will probably last one or two guests' stays.

 

[quandrea]

How absolutely neat!
Actually we are packing to leave Disney today, as our trip is ending. Last night we attended MNSSHP and went in group costume as the characters from UP! I was Carl Fredrickson. As a final costume touch, I bought 3 Mickey-head-in-the-clear-outside balloons. (BTW... anyone wondering about these balloons. .. they are the thickest, best-quality balloons I have EVER seen). But we can't or won't be taking them on the flight home. .. so we are going to find a guest room whose window decorations (at All-star Sports) indicates a family is staying there with a child, and leave the balloons and a note ("Enjoy the rest of your stay!") on their doorknob.
Seeing the quality of these balloons. .. they will probably last one or two guests' stays.

I would love that. We always stay at animal kingdom so we can't have them. I'm forty three and would be thrilled by that.

 

[Hrhpd]

Naturally, the Op cando what she wants to do.

However, since she does this solely for self-satisfaction and to enrich her own vacation as she very openly states in her OP, these threads are a good warning to her that things may not give her the self-satisfaction she is needing to help her cope with her stressful day.

The poll on the community board states that only 11% of people would allow their children to take an item from her. That leaves 89% of vacationers that would not accept her used items, with a whopping 56% not only not willing to accept her stuff, but also thinking it is downright gross.

So, she only has an 11% chance of getting that self-satisfaction she needs to enhance her vacation and runs the 56% risk of having people look at her like she is a loon, which would not be very self-satisfying and might actually add to her stress.

With those low odds of people appreciating her self-indulgent acts, I would send the gently used stuff to a charity where it would be appreciated and actually needed and stick to the more traditional acts of kindness like being polite or doing something spur of the moment. Her original suggestion of walking around paying compliments to people is wonderful. Stick to that.

 

[leebee]

I just think that there's a huge difference between sharing "extras" (stickers/glow sticks at parades/shows, arcade cards/balloons as you are leaving for home, etc.) and being handed an old Disney souvenir/shirt by a stranger who wants to make themselves feel better. When WE need a pick-me-up, we try an attitude adjustment and maybe a Mickey bar. I don't know what the OP's kids are like, but the kids in my family have always responded to "suck it up, you're in Disney World, would you rather be home in math class?" when we get overtired or irritable (ESPECIALLY when it's due to the 'unkind' actions of other guests).

On the other hand, maybe the OP really IS a troll! If so, we've fed her well!

 

[Hrhpd]

How absolutely neat!
Actually we are packing to leave Disney today, as our trip is ending. Last night we attended MNSSHP and went in group costume as the characters from UP! I was Carl Fredrickson. As a final costume touch, I bought 3 Mickey-head-in-the-clear-outside balloons. (BTW... anyone wondering about these balloons. .. they are the thickest, best-quality balloons I have EVER seen). But we can't or won't be taking them on the flight home. .. so we are going to find a guest room whose window decorations (at All-star Sports) indicates a family is staying there with a child, and leave the balloons and a note ("Enjoy the rest of your stay!") on their doorknob.
Seeing the quality of these balloons. .. they will probably last one or two guests' stays.

That is very sweet!! And truly a random act of kindness. You have something left over from a vacation and are going to gift it to somebody. And the sweetest thing is that you are absolutely doing it as a selfless act since you won't even be there to see the reaction.

 

[tjmw2727]

The OP asked a questions/ started a discussion on a message board started for the purpose of discussion.

Those of us who disagree with her are not hurtful, selfish, rude or mean. Many of us (myself included) have elaborated on other ways we like to be kind at Disney and some of us also offered ways we are charitable at home. I never said I would be rude, mean or disrespectful to the OP if she offered my kids used clothing or used stuffed animals but I would decline. And no that experience would not add magic or enhance my vacation, nor would it ruin my vacation lol - I probably wouldn't have given it much of a second thought.

Offering my option on the discussion is what I presumed the OP wanted. I have started out reading threads here with one opinion many times only to change my mind after reading other points of view. Maybe the op read the responses and decided to scale it back after all and donate those items at home, maybe not?. Either way I hope they have a truly magical vacation!

 

[Magpie]

This reminds me of the debate over whether "altruism" ever truly exists.

If being kind or generous makes you feel good, does that negate the value of your kind or generous act?

If you choose to be kind or generous *because* it makes you feel good, does that mean you're actually being a terrible, awful, selfish person?

Must you always be acting from pure self abnegation, benefiting yourself in no possible way (not even emotionally), for an act to be truly kind or generous? (This takes "give until it hurts" to a whole new level!)

If one person is freaked out by your kind or generous act, does that mean your act was actually unkind?

But conversely if another person's day is brightened by your kind or generous act, does that mean your act was actually kind?

In the past I have discombobulated people by trying to give away extra Fastpasses or reserved seating passes. The pleasure I get from the people who actually appreciate my gesture MORE than outweighs the negative reactions. I figure if someone's reaction to me offering them a FP is "Ew, no!" or "What's the catch?" then that's their problem, and more pity to them for being the kind of suspicious, unfriendly people who miss out on nice things. We once shared a ride on Soarin' with a lovely Israeli family, and it's one of our favourite memories of Disney (it was a pass for five, and there was only two of us, so we went looking for three more).

I have also, in the past, given away buttons I made up for our trip. I gave them away to cast members and the occasional guest (but more rarely - in one case, it was a little girl who was unhappy to be trapped with us under a shelter in a rainstorm, and we'd been chatting with her mum). The reactions to these were also mixed, and interesting, but generally positive. I may, or may not, do that again. I haven't made up my mind on that count yet.

I don't want to live in a world where everyone pointedly minds their own business, ignoring each other (and, actually, that's not the world I live in, so it's all good!).

 

[pfalcioni]

Magpie, I think that for many people, the definition of a selfless act of charity would include the giver not telling anyone else what they've done. In my mind, charity becomes a pat on the back when the giver tells others because everyone then feels obligated to respond with an "atta boy!" for their actions.

I think the best option is to do good things anonymously, then shut up about it. The recipient will feel good without having to feel indebted, you'll feel good, and that's all that matters.

 

[triplejen]

*****
I would feel differently about someone spontaneously offering an item for my child something if it came naturally up in conversation (like if we were at neighboring restaurant tables and they overheard us talking about having lost a strip of mickey stickers and they happened to have one, or something along those lines), or if it was a balloon and they were on their way out and offered it to the ADULTS in the party, than I would about someone who appeared to have a stack of giveaways they had brought along with them for the purpose of distributing to other people's children.

The former I would be more comfortable with. The latter, not so much.

I don't love the idea of an adult bring along goodies to distribute to children they deem worthy. It makes me uncomfortable, as though my child has somehow become part of the attractions for that adult. (As in, "first we'll go meet Mickey, then we'll ride Peter Pan, then we'll pass out trinkets to all the worthy little boys and girls.")

Like for that adult, part of the fun is getting to be the manners fairy or the judge of "good" children, distributing rewards as they see fit. I don't want my kids participating in that storyline, even as the recipient of a trinket.

I also think it undermines the lesson most people have taught their kids about not accepting gifts from strangers, blurring the lines for those kids about what should be a hard and fast rule.
*****

I posted the above a long time ago on another, similar thread. I was feeling too lazy to write out a similar reply on this one, so I went back and found the old one to post instead.

Please don't approach my children with any packed items brought along to distribute to the "perfect" looking recipients. My children are at Disney to enjoy their own vacations- not there as supporting characters in yours, with the task of "brightening" your day.

<<shudder>>

Just don't.