How to invite extra attention from CMs and guests for a 1st Timer?

[Smugpugmug]

I agree with a little bit of everything said here, all good advice. If she isn't willing to wear ears or a Disney inspired outfit, then the first timer button will suffice. The Cast Members are very attentive to people wearing buttons in that they will comment on it. Make sure it's worn somewhere it can be seen like on a shirt or lanyard instead of a hand bag or backpack.

I also recommend the Mickey headbands but only if she's into it. She might feel silly initially but almost everyone at WDW wears them so she won't feel singled out. I wear headbands all the time at the parks and I have a few that cannot be bought at WDW (they are from the Disney parks in Asia) and I had SO many Cast Members (and guests) compliment them and ask where I got them from.

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

If she wants she could wear some kind of shirt/outfit to draw attention. I once wore a shirt with a picture of Minnie ears and "Mom" on it on Mother's Day, and many cast members wished me a happy mother's day. Another time I wore a shirt with a huge Pluto face on it, and a cast member complemented my shirt and asked where I got it.

 

[cobright]

Don’t expect any CM’s to greet her as Princess, as that would be gender specific; and the Disney brass doesn’t allow that anymore.

Empirically speaking, Prince and Princess are still ubiquitous firms if addresses throughout the resort. So you’ll be happy to know they are still supporting your ideals in that.

Personally, if she is going along to humor you I think trying to draw extra (perhaps unwanted?) attention to her may be a bad idea. She's 21 and you think she might like the little kid treatment, is she a Disney fan at all?

She’s not going to humor me. She’s humoring me by accepting the concept of Disney being a magical place for adults.

And I do want to keep a light touch on this but I really think she might like the little kid treatment. She’s 21 and never experienced it before. Never had a family vacation. Never had ice cream until she was 17 years old and was then grounded for it. (I’m pretty sure it was my 14 yr old daughter that talked her into that “transgression”)

So kind of a fragile little canary in some ways but she isn’t shy, likes dressing up for parties now, and it seems interested in making up for lost time. So I’m thinking some sort of disbounding and at least a set of ears.

 

[Ranger Liz]

And I do want to keep a light touch on this but I really think she might like the little kid treatment. She’s 21 and never experienced it before. Never had a family vacation. Never had ice cream until she was 17 years old and was then grounded for it. (I’m pretty sure it was my 14 yr old daughter that talked her into that “transgression”)

If she is only 21 and really trying to make up for lost time I think it will be great. And besides, if she doesn't like it after a few comments, she can take it off! I went to Dis for the first time at 22 and thought it was only for kids and was surprised how much I loved meeting princesses and enjoying a bit of fantasy. Also - you must be wonderful to take her on her first family vacation!

 

[RoseGold]

Go on Etsy and order her some custom ears with whatever she’s into. The Disney ones are too heavy anyway. The custom ones are SO creative and they can get an interaction with tons of people. Wearing silly ears is like a invitation for it. If you don’t think she’d like it, order them for you and you can both enjoy! Get some that move or light up or something.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I'm further into my 50s than I care to admit and I go to Disney every year for my birthday and I always wear the birthday button...for about an hour. After a while the acknowledgements get old and I take it off. She can take off the button if the attention is more than she likes.

And I was in Epcot today and was called Princess by a young man who looked barely out of adolescence, from whom I bought a Powerade. That was mildly disconcerting.

I think it's great what you're doing for your young friend, @cobright; every young lady deserves to be treated like a princess.

Be sure to buy her a Mickey bar!

 

[cyndiella]

My suggestion is for you to make eye contact with the CMs.. smile, engage in light conversation with them, then introduce your friend as a "First timer" to the CM.. give them a clue such as "We are so happy to have her with us today!!!" or something similar.
Ask if the CM would be in a picture with your friend as they have wonderful uniforms/costumes..

 

[gottalovepluto]

I would suggest bringing a little stick on bling or mini stickers for the 1st timer pin and dazzling it up at the hotel after she gets it. For my bday last month at Disneyland out waitress at Carthay way bedazzled my bday pin and I got compliments/chatting about it from CMs about it daily after that because of how unique it looked.

 

[cobright]

Also - you must be wonderful to take her on her first family vacation!

I wish I was. To a large extent it’s a matter of atonement or penance (?) Too many of us heard rumors for years that things were bad in that house and didn’t bother to do anything. Ten years ago my own life was complicated and it was easier to just be self absorbed and let whatever just be whatever.

No, I did nothing while a campfire grew until it took down a forest, I can’t pay myself on the back for helping to tidy up the ashes now.

But she’s a cool kid, we have a lot of shared interests. She was a STEM kid in high school and she freaked to learn about my shop. We’ve been talking AI, and machine learning and robotics for the last few weeks.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I wish I was. To a large extent it’s a matter of atonement or penance (?) Too many of us heard rumors for years that things were bad in that house and didn’t bother to do anything. Ten years ago my own life was complicated and it was easier to just be self absorbed and let whatever just be whatever.

No, I did nothing while a campfire grew until it took down a forest, I can’t pay myself on the back for helping to tidy up the ashes now.

But she’s a cool kid, we have a lot of shared interests. She was a STEM kid in high school and she freaked to learn about my shop. We’ve been talking AI, and machine learning and robotics for the last few weeks.

We can’t change the past. And it’s often hard to let it go.

But what’s that old expression? Today is a gift… that’s why they call it the present. We can create new, better memories moving forward and it sounds like you’ve already begun doing that. I hope you will both have a magical trip!

 

[ElsieTanner]

First timer question - where do you get a first timer badge/button from?? (For my 7 year old, not me!)

 

[DisneyOma]

First timer question - where do you get a first timer badge/button from?? (For my 7 year old, not me!)

Guest Services

 

[ElsieTanner]

Thanks DisneyOma - are Guest Services in the parks? (Heading to WDW from the UK for the 1st time later this month)

 

[BadPinkTink]

Thanks DisneyOma - are Guest Services in the parks? (Heading to WDW from the UK for the 1st time later this month)

Yes guest services are in the park. Disneyland City Hall is on the left side, so if you want to go there first, go under the left archway after you scan in.

But you can also ask at any shop, most of the time they have a drawer of buttons under the till.

I was there in January and at the Harbour Boulevard entrance around 7.30am there was some cm's with a small table just on the way with a selection of the buttons and a pin boards.

Also why only get one for your daughter, get one for yourself too, if its your first time.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks DisneyOma - are Guest Services in the parks? (Heading to WDW from the UK for the 1st time later this month)

At WDW, Guest Relations offices are both outside and inside the entrances of every park. If you don’t see one, the CMs near the entrances can direct you. There’s also a GR office at Disney Springs. And if you’re staying onsite, the front desk at your resort has “First Time” buttons too!

 

[loves to dive]

I wouldn't try to build it up before you go, just let the magic happen, then she won't be expecting too much. We (my adult son and I) have taken many adult first timers or adults who haven't been since they were kids and in every single case, they loved it wanted to immediately book another trip. We didn't tell them much in advance, they were aware we go often and have occasionally asked my son why and he always just says, it's magical (this is a 41 year old man who has been going since he was just shy of 3). Little magic moments just happen. I agree with the button, we put one on my 5 month old grand daughter (said son's little girl) and she got so much attention because of it (not like she wouldn't have anyway). Her mother hadn't been since she was a child and then was only there for 2 days and did 2 parks a day in those 2 days. She fell in love.

The different clothes also can make a difference. I have an old ball cap type hat I bought years ago that has a picture of a sorta angry tink on it and says "don't even tink about it". I tend to wear it to MK and always, without fail get comments from CMs about it. I sort of Disney bound for my AK day, I have a floral shirt I bought in Hawaii and wear that with a khaki skort and always get comments about it. A smile always goes a long way and a thank you to CM's, they don't get a lot of those so when they do the really return it.

Don't try to do too much, take the time to point out the little details that are so special there, most people don't take the time to see them.

 

[MinnieMSue]

at 54 I must have hit the age when they didn't call me princess - he called me "her majesty". I nearly died laughing when we were out of earshot. I guess I no longer look like a princess lol