Have you ever been pleasantly surprised...

[Flora Fan]

Well I can't say I have been shocked, However I have shocked people.

On My last trip(which was in feb.) I had a real rough trip.(My mother passed away while I was down there. ((she was 51. I'm 26))The First Night of my trip.) I stayed the rest of the trip as Disney was one of my Mother's favorites places and she I think sent me down knowing what was about to happen.

Anyway on with the rest of what I was saying. This made the trip rough. I had the dinning plan, but wasn't very hungrey most of the time. The last day I had some counterservice meals and snacks left. So that day before i boarded the bus to the airport I waited by the cafiteria for 2 children. When I saw 2 that looked like they we're about to pay with cash I steped up to the cashier and said put both of thier breakfasts on my dining plan. I mad the kids promise me one thing.....They would go and have fun in the park! I don't even know thier names, but I put a smile on their faces and that is what Disney is about!

I'm tearing up over here. I'm sure your mom was smiling down on you. Thanks for sharing that lovely experience.

 

[marconat]

I was in line to go get some autograph with the princesses and was talking to a woman with a little girl about the age of mine and she was mentionning that her mom was waiting outside in the heat (we were at toontown) and I told her she should have came inside and wait on the benches... well she just asked me if I could watch her daughter while she went to get her mom... I guess I must have a very trusting face, because I would had never done that... but all was fine ha! and she came back just before we entered to see Cinderella... I was very happy to accomodate her... and I do work with children ha! ha!

 

[MyGoofy26]

Given a few cents to a child who was just a little short.

Life's too short to miss the smile of a child.

No kidding! Last trip mom and I decided to go on IASW to videotape it for my lil cousin and this family was behind us in line that we got to chatting with. They had two young daughters and they had just got into town. It was just a couple hours before closing, but they decided to head to the MK anyway and IASW was going to be their girls' first ride at WDW ever. We ended up giving them some tips for what they can't miss, where to find characters, etc since they were newbies and seemed a little overwhelmed, LOL. They ended up right behind us in the boat and you can hear all through the video these girls oohing and aahing over everything. We were stopped for a few minutes before unloading and they noticed all the change people had tossed in so I fished around in my pocket and found a bunch of pennies that had collected throughout the day. You'd have thought I had just handed them a million dollars! LOL They were so excited - it felt good to pixie dust them that little bit for their first ride at Disney. Hopefully it was a good start to a great trip for them.

 

[RIDisneyFan]

Last year when we were leaving AK my DD8 fell and skinned her knee. The CM at the entrance told me first aid was all the way back in the park and over the bridge. We were near where they check your bags when you're entering the park. I said to the CM - All I need is a mom with a bandaid. This woman overheard me and said "I have one." It saved us a long walk back into the park. Then when I was sitting on a bench cleaning off her scrape and putting on the bandaid, a CM stopped to see if everything was okay. She noticed my DD's pin lanyard and asked her if she wanted to trade. My DD picked out one she liked and traded with her. The CM started walking away, then turned around and came back and gave my daughter back her pin and told her she could keep both pins.

 

[MyGoofy26]

December '03 we were in line for Buzz. That was our trip with my cousin and her family, in from Italy for Christmas. So her daughter was standing by me in line and the boy behind us, maybe 13 years old or so, politely got my attention and asked if it was alright if he gave my cousin's daughter one of his glow necklaces. She hadn't been asking, begging, or even notice the kids with them. . . he just shared of his own free will. Thought it was so sweet of him - kids his age often have a bad reputation for being selfish and thinking only of themselves. They seemed to be the dollar store type of glow necklaces - might've been a Dis'ers son! LOL!

 

[epcotized]

While in line, a man from the Bronx saw my Red Sox cap and said "You know, I don't REALLY hate the Red Sox." This was his way of being full of the Disney magic feeling to go out on a limb like that.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Great stories, everyone. Thanks for sharing!

We're going to have a great trip, no matter what. We're leaving in exactly 24 hours for the airport! I'm now inspired to try to spread a bit of pixie dust of my own while I'm there.

It is nice to hear stories like these-- keep them coming!

 

[Simba's Mom]

On my trip with my Mom last year, I was a little nervous because at 74, she's not too good about standing for a long time. Well, I was not only pleasantly surprised by the fact that every where we went-bus or boat-people would give up their seat; but what really pleasantly surprised me was the number of people who would also give up another seat for me, saying, "You should sit near her to keep her company". Now I thought that giving up a seat for her was a nice, chivalrous gesture, but when so many people would also give up a seat for the person with her, I thought that was especially nice and unexpected.

 

[isyt]

We have often been given fast passes and seats have been given to us on the buses.

I hope I created some magic for a family at Cape May Buffet a few weeks ago. We had a an extra dining credit left so we paid for a meal. It turned out to be the husbands birthday. I feel a personal responsibility to try to spread some magic (I know I am corny), if a family doesn't feel the magic it makes me sad !!

 

[annameg]

I love the way the CMs really go out of their way to make your vacation magical. Our DDs wore princess costumes to CRT and then again to MNSSHP. Every single CM would say something like, "Well, Hello Belle, don't you look beautiful today." DDs would have a huge grin plastered on their faces.

Before Spectro, a CM saw my daughter, who was dressed like Tinkerbell, sitting on my husbands shoulders in the back of the crowd. She said, "we can't start the parade with Tinkerbell way back there. She must be up front."

Also, one time my DH had gotten 2 FPs for RNR even though he knew that he would be the only one riding. While he was in line, a family came running up to the stand by line. The DW and DDs were going to wait while DH stood in the stand by line (50 minutes). I gave him my extra FP and he hugged me, then the wife hugged me. She said that she was dreading that wait with 2 tired girls.

 

[Nipsy88]

It wasn't by another guest but we were invited to open the Magic Kingdom on Saturday the 8th. What an amazing experience and I tried to pass on the dust whenever I could for the rest of the week. I handed off our stroller to someone in need as we left the park each day.

 

[deekaypee]

Disney makes me want to be a better person...

I have received a lot of magic and try to give a lot back:

I have received and given FPs.
I have received and given seats on a crowded bus.
I have had volunteers take pictures for me and have taken pictures of others. My DH and I also will "block" pedestrians routes for someone if they're trying to take a picture on a crowded street (often without the picture-takers noticing!).
I have been given and given up prime seats for parades, etc.
I have watched strollers, saved seats, and chatted up slightly anxious, small children waiting for dark rides (like PotC). Small children have chatted up my slightly-anxious self while waiting for intense rides (like RRC).

I have purchased extra ice-cream goodies/sodas for children who accidentally drop/spill theirs.

I have given an extra paintbrush found on Tom Sawyer's Island to a family who didn't find one. (DH and I are a bit competitive and had to see who would be the first to find one...not the most adult moment.)

During a recent GayDays celebration, DH and I wore our red shirts and received so many compliments that our heads grew two sizes that day.

When traveling solo, I have received many invites from strangers to share rides, tables, meals, and stories. (You're all the best!)

 

[marconat]

deekaypee, what a wonderful person you are... I also try to share some magic while at Disney... I'm in such a good mood that I beam

 

[Syrreal]

The really nice thing is that once you start "spreading the magic" at disney, you end up doing it everywhere. We were at Whistler Mtn last March and I was waiting for DH to finish his snowbike turn, there was this (I believe) Japanese family taking pictures by me. They didn't speak English and I don't speak Japanese but I offered to take their pic so the whole family could come out in a couple. They looked a little surprised that I had offered but were really happy that I did