Low cost ways to spread fairydust?

[TristiK]

I have mixed feelings about these threads. I admire those who want to spread additional joy and happiness and I truly believe that these efforts are all for the best of reasons. And spreading fairy dust makes one as happy as being the recipient of fairy dust does.

But, inevitably, there will be some mention of wanting to find a needy family to bestow joy upon. How on earth do you identify the needy...in Disney, of all places?

Is it the Mom who is wearing K-Mart shorts circa 1995? Well, that's me because my threadbare shorts are comfortable and the pockets are just the right size and I can never find anything in the stores that work so well for me. Yes, they are threadbare and yes, I am going to have to give them up soon.

Is it the family eating baloney sandwiches brought into the park along with our pringles and free cups of ice water? That's my family.

Is it the child who longingly fondles the souvenir that they know they won't be allowed to buy? Again, my family

We are AP holders and fly to Disney 3-4 times a year. We are financially stable but have decided that if we do Disney cheap, we can do it often. And, boy am I cheap. I make it a challenge to myself to see just how cheaply we can do Disney each trip.

I would be appalled to be the recipient of charitable Pixie Dust if I thought that it was being bestowed due to my being less fortunate than you.

I would be polite and kind to you because I know that your intentions are honorable but I would rather you donate a pair of mittens to a homeless shelter than a bauble to me in WDW.

I don't think people who want to spread Pixie Dust are necessarily looking for people they think are less fortunate. On our trip, my DDs were both having meltdowns waiting for the monorail at the Poly - a combo of being tired, hungry, and just wanting to get to the park. A very nice lady noticed and offered them leis - turned the situation around and I could have kissed her. That was major pixie dust for us. One night during the MSEP another mom handed out glow necklaces to all the kids in our area - we were literally juggling 5 stuffed shopping bags so I don't think she was looking at us as not being able to afford a glow stick - she was just being nice to the kids there and I wasn't at all offended.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

When you see the little girls dressed up as princesses make a big deal about how you thought they were the real Cinderella etc.

If you've ridden sdmt five times and u have a fast pass let your kids take a couple other kids thru with your magic bands that might have missed out because of a huge line. You can spread pixie dust without giving something tangible to someone.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I carry glow sticks in my pack. I offer them to parents with small children that are afraid on the dark bus or anywhere else that it is dark. (NOT a dark ride.) I buy them 12 for $1.00.

I don't do it so that I feel good. I do it so that the child feels good.

 

[Oswin]

On our trip over July 4 we stayed at Poly and wound up giving kids on the monorail our leis from the lobby and the ones you get at the luau. A lot of little girls really liked them and the parents were okay taking them when we told them that we had just gotten them from the Poly lobby. When we were waiting for parades or nighttime shows, me and my sister would draw pictures of Disney characters and give them to kids or other people (even adults) who watched us. I think those always get the best response. At the end of our trip, if we know we're going to have dining credits left over, we find a family at the restaurant our last dinner is at and ask if we can treat them to a meal on us. That one usually starts with people being creeped out until we explain the dining plan situation, and then they're on board. We trade SOTMK cards with kids, or just give them decks. On our summer trip, we did the pin quest at Magic Kingdom and I ended up giving one of my lanyards with all the pins to a little boy on his Wish Trip. He was so excited to get it, and his parents really appreciated the gesture. At Hollywood Studios, if the Jawas are out, I look for kids who don't have anything to trade and give them something to trade so they can try to get droid parts. If I'm in line for the bathroom and a woman comes in with small kids, I always ask if she wants to trade places with me in line so she can get the kids in sooner. There's a lot you can do that doesn't cost any money at all!

 

[scrapquitler]

How about just smiling and saying hello, holding a door and just being generally polite and friendly? That's what we do and what we would hope to receive as well.

I do offer to take pictures, give up my seat on the bus (well not always, because I get car sick standing on the bus, but some times), and things like that. I really do not want someone giving my child a sticker, a snack, etc.

 

[courtneybeth]

We always build our test track cars at the exit kiosk before jumping in line, then offer our design station to the family in front or behind us. We met a wonderful family from the UK last week that loved the gesture. We got to know them well in line and waved at them through the day as we passed them 3-4 more times through the day. Having all kids having access to the design station made the parents and grand parents super happy!!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I just say being kind and curtious is the best dust you can spread.

 

[goofy4tink]

Pixiedust is a wonderful thing, but I'm in the 'no stuff from strangers' camp. It's a nice idea, but here's my issue. If my child is melting down, I refuse to reward bad behaviour! My dd tried that once....didn't get the result she wanted, in fact the complete opposite. She didn't repeat that process again! Well, she did once, as a teen, but again, didn't achieve the end result she hoped for. I realize people are trying to be kind, but you have no idea what the situation is. Much better to give a quiet smile, and say 'it will be okay, been there, done that' and move along.

I prefer to take an unasked for photo for a family. As the family photographer, I'm in very few photos! So, I know how nice it is to have someone offer to take a family shot. I try to have good manners...smiling at people, thanking them for holding doors, etc. If someone has just one or two items in a checkout line, and I have many more, I tell them to go ahead. All things you would normally do at home. But, sometimes these things are forgotten at WDW! If I end up with anytime return FPs that I can't use, I will give them to someone else.

 

[Dis703]

I read about a family who picks up ponchos from Dollar Tree and get extras to give to others who get caught in the rain without them.

We hadn't done this on purpose but we had extras one trip and handed them out one day as it was raining on our way to the park. People were very appreciative.

 

[Dis703]

We always bring extra glow sticks to hand out. We used to bring those little character activity packs with us to use at restaurants and we'd bring extra of those to share as well. Occasionally, someone declined but most people were very appreciative. One year I found Disney puzzles at the dollar store and we brought them along. On day one I lost my purse in the lobby and when I returned looking for it a group of kids were turning it into the CM at the counter. I gave them the puzzles to say thank you and they were very surprised and excited.

 

[DisneyOma]

We always build our test track cars at the exit kiosk before jumping in line, then offer our design station to the family in front or behind us. We met a wonderful family from the UK last week that loved the gesture. We got to know them well in line and waved at them through the day as we passed them 3-4 more times through the day. Having all kids having access to the design station made the parents and grand parents super happy!!

Doesn't that split up the family though? We've just had the kids pick different elements (working together is a good skill, sharing, taking turns, etc) When we've done TT, each family gets a kiosk, so there's no need to not make a car, as each group gets to do it.

 

[courtneybeth]

Doesn't that split up the family though? We've just had the kids pick different elements (working together is a good skill, sharing, taking turns, etc) When we've done TT, each family gets a kiosk, so there's no need to not make a car, as each group gets to do it.

In our interactions with families, some times there's a couple of kids and only one child gets to build a car while the other pouts (or they argue which is worse!). This way two kids can build a car or another family member can build one too. We've had it once where the kids built together and the dad took our station

We've never had a problem with offering our station up and letting there be more than one car being built. But hey - to each their own!

 

[Keels]

I do this at home almost regularly, but have tried it a few times at Disney and have worked out a solution.

About once a week or so, at my drive-thru Starbucks by my house, when I drive up to pay and receive my coffee I'll tell my cashier to add in the cost of the car behind me to my bill. That's a lot harder to do at Disney, so I keep some gift cards on me (usually $20, since parties at Disney are usually larger than at home) - and when I pop-in to get my coffee or sandwich, I'll hand the gift card to the cashier and ask that they put it towards the party behind me's check - until it runs out.

During my last trip, I went back in to the Epcot Starbucks and the cashier remembered me and said the gift card (again, $20) lasted for five people - and that they were all thrilled by the surprise.

We'll also buy drinks/cocktails for people we've chatted with waiting for tables and at bars, things like that. Once, we were at Biergarten with a family that was just having A DAY. One of those days where nothing was going right, the kids weren't happy, the weather was too hot, all of it. The parents JUST needed a minute of "me time" - so, I took the two kiddos out to the dance floor, and then (with permission, of course) to get dessert - we had another family with a kiddo with us, so it wasn't out-of-place. While I was walking back to the table, I saw out server and told him to put the parents' beer/wine on my check.

That said - even if I HAD kids, I would NEVER hand something out to a family I don't know. I'll let them skip me in the restroom or in a long line for food, or pay for something they've already ordered. At least I know it helps more than some Dollar Store crap that will make them feel uncomfortable receiving.

I know people won't like that, but it's what I like to do to put some good juju back in this world and pay-it-forward. If it puts a smile on someone's face that may just need a spark to change their day, then I'm happy to do it.

 

[sweetpeama]

Two things that other guests did on our trip back in 10 that still stick out to me one magical the other well not so are.

We had gone to MK on our first full day and first park day ( having landed at 4 PM and traveling for 10 hours straight all we wanted was to eat and get some sleep that first night) we stayed till after midnight for evening extra magic hours. When the cast member driving the first bus we could have gotten on but would have had to stand learned we had a cake ( left overs from my just turned 5 year olds birthday dinner at CRT that night) in the basket we were indicated to wait in the wheel chair lane for the next bus and that it would be radioed ahead so we could keep our stroller folded out but for safety reasons we would have to hold our 2 year old. Because we were one of the first ones on we had a guaranteed seat. I was seated holding 2 year old with 5 year old beside me and DH across tha aisle. At the end there was a mom who needed a seat so DH moved over and was going to hold 5 year old, when another mom would have had to stand I had him help me adjust our kids so I could hold both and he stood while that mom sat and held her little one who was cranky and crabby. My 2 year old did not handle the buses well so I would sing the song Show Me a Sign softly to her on the bus. The little one who ended up sitting next to me stopped crying. Sitting behind us on the bus back to CBR was a lady who made a comment about how little kids should not be out that late. I informed her that one it was non of her business and 2 it was an earlier time for our time zone ( which my kids were not crying or fussing because I knew what my little one needed to deal with a crowded situation where we could not remove at the moment) to which I got told that even that was too late. I should have informed the telling everyone how to parent person that my DH works nights so our normal is start our day later ( most days we don't get moving before 9 AM at the earliest and it's not unusual for my kids to go to bed after the nightly news is over ( not that they watch it) and for DH and I to go to bed after 3 AM.

On our second to last park day DH had gone with my Dad and Brother on an air boat ride, my 5 year old had gone to Epcot earlier with my mom, sister, Aunt, SIL, and her cousins because I was waiting to see if a friend was going to be able to stop by for a visit which was going to depend on some last minute stuff on my friends end. Plan was for me and 2 year old to meet the rest of them at the park with the guys joining us even later. Because it was late morning in January the driver told me no need to close up the stroller as I was trying to hold my special needs child and fold the stroller. On the bus I was struggling to hold onto the stroller and my child. The other people on the bus were a Father and his teenage son. They helped hold the stroller and when we got to the park lifted it down off the bus for me and held it while I strapped my child in.

 

[cavepig]

If you pin trade & have duplicates/extras handing those out to kids who are wearing lanyards is neat I think, of course I would ask the parent first before giving to the kid & only if the kids was behaving and a pin trading conversation had already started up or make a trade with the kid even if what they are trading isn't that great but they really want a pin they see on my lanyard.
I'm in the no bubbles camp cause they can be so annoying to other people.
Dining credits to use up I think is cool since they would just go waste if not used, but I think if a stranger is offering to pay for stuff it is awkward & judging.
I have offered to help people having stroller problems, especially when boarding the bus if they need help.
I love complimenting the kids dressed up like princesses & pirates or have other fun outfits on or if the group has neat shirts I'll say something.
Being aware of other parties trying to stay together after pre-shows, TT build area, stretching room, etc. & not cutting them off but saying 'no go ahead &keep with your family" Just courteous stuff like that that I see people forget can go a long way to making other's vacations less stressful.
And like other's I offer to take other's photos or say sure if they ask.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I agree with the bubbles, no way to know its actually bubbles. Bubbles are the only security concern i have at wdw.

I ran into someone once that if they know they cant use all their dining credits, they invite a family to join them and try to find that family that saved up and couldnt afford it. Theres still gratuity to cover, but its a nice treat for someone.

My daughter gives away lower cost trading pins to younger children when appropriate. Again looking for the family that struggled to be here. Usually its duplicates of the low cost mystery pins.

How do you pick people out like that in a park?

Personally I think being at Disney is pixiedust enough for my kids. If someone were to offer them a glow stick or a sticker I'm sure DD would love it but anything above that we would decline.

We spread pixiedust by being kind and having manners. I always say please and thank you multiple times to CM's and guests. I tell CM I appreciate their help often. Let them know that they did a good job helping me. Things like that.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

I too am in the Please Keep the Bubbles to a Minimum camp. While I love watching kids play and chase after bubbles I absolutely hate trying to get the soapy film off the lenses of my glasses. What a pain!

I think the best form of pixie dust is simply being kind as others have mentioned. Hold a door, help a family that doesn't seem to have enough hands, offer your table to a family struggling to eat on their laps, hand off any paper FPs you've acquired for whatever reason and just gernerally be nice to your fellow vacationers.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Add me into the "no baubles' camp. Acts of kindness, compassion and understanding are far more meaningful than trinkets. Glow sticks and ponchos are one thing...I wouldn't take an issue with that at all. But going to the dollar store to stock up on some things to give away to people who "saved up and couldn't afford it" or who "struggled to be here"? I'm sorry, but you can't tell that just by looking at someone.

 

[wilkeliza]

To me the biggest thing is who is giving it. If I'm with my niece and nephews and they are playing with a near by kid while we wait and that child gives them a glow stick or bubbles it is one thing. For some reason that usually gives off the super cute aww look they are sharing vibe. When and adult does it especially when said adult isn't with kids it isn't as welcome. Doesn't matter if it is Disney, the beach, at the hotel pool at a different vacation. It would be similar to if I'm out say at a ball game and after talking to the person next to me they offer to buy a round a drinks or something it isn't weird but if a kid did that to an adult it would be a little awkward.

With kids to adults it is more of the reinforcing that it is okay to talk to an adult you don't know but you really shouldn't take anything from them or go off with them thing (stranger danger if you will).

 

[pixarmom]

I do this at home almost regularly, but have tried it a few times at Disney and have worked out a solution.

About once a week or so, at my drive-thru Starbucks by my house, when I drive up to pay and receive my coffee I'll tell my cashier to add in the cost of the car behind me to my bill. That's a lot harder to do at Disney, so I keep some gift cards on me (usually $20, since parties at Disney are usually larger than at home) - and when I pop-in to get my coffee or sandwich, I'll hand the gift card to the cashier and ask that they put it towards the party behind me's check - until it runs out.

During my last trip, I went back in to the Epcot Starbucks and the cashier remembered me and said the gift card (again, $20) lasted for five people - and that they were all thrilled by the surprise.

We'll also buy drinks/cocktails for people we've chatted with waiting for tables and at bars, things like that. Once, we were at Biergarten with a family that was just having A DAY. One of those days where nothing was going right, the kids weren't happy, the weather was too hot, all of it. The parents JUST needed a minute of "me time" - so, I took the two kiddos out to the dance floor, and then (with permission, of course) to get dessert - we had another family with a kiddo with us, so it wasn't out-of-place. While I was walking back to the table, I saw out server and told him to put the parents' beer/wine on my check.

That said - even if I HAD kids, I would NEVER hand something out to a family I don't know. I'll let them skip me in the restroom or in a long line for food, or pay for something they've already ordered. At least I know it helps more than some Dollar Store crap that will make them feel uncomfortable receiving.

I know people won't like that, but it's what I like to do to put some good juju back in this world and pay-it-forward. If it puts a smile on someone's face that may just need a spark to change their day, then I'm happy to do it.

As a mom of three kids, I think this is AWESOME!!! Love the Starbucks idea, too. I do something similar on driving trips at toll booths - pay extra to cover for a car or two behind us. Keels' ideas are exactly the kinds of things that would be meaningful to my family.

Agree with not handing out stuff to kids for lots of reasons. One of them is that our youngest son is high functioning but on the autism spectrum, so he has atypical reactions to random handouts. For example, he hates stickers. I know, who hates stickers? He does. And when someone tries to give him a sticker, he will tell them that he hates stickers. I give him the "no, thank you" replacement language, the sticker-giver gives us the stink eye, he gets stressed, I apologize for us, etc. Repeat process if the item makes noise, is not the color he likes or whatever. A few minutes on the dance floor with Keels, however, would be very well-received!!