Making somebody else's Disney Magic ...

[holden]

Not as great as some that have been mentioned here, but we always give our unopened/unused sunscreens, snacks, swim diapers/regular diapers to a family on our way out of the resort on our last day.

 

[Planogirl]

This thread is amazing and great to read but I would urge people to apply this thoughtfulness everywhere not just at WDW. Just think of how nicer life in general would be!

But to the subject at hand, we regularly grab fastpasses just before we plan to leave and then give them to someone on our way out of the park.

 

[irisesareblue]

Not extraordinary but I always offer to take people's photos when I see one person from a group taking the other's photos. I always think it's great when everyone in the group can be in the photo!

 

[bbluvsdis]

My DH and I went to the F&W at epcot in 2008 and had purchased the dining plan. We ended up not using many of our counter service meals because we were getting all of the sample foods at F&W. On our last night we went to Cosmic Rays and I found a young couple with a baby and we used our credits to buy them dinner. I know this is against the rules but we had paid all that money and hated to see it go to waste. At first they looked at me like I was crazy but they were happy to get a free meal. It made my day to spread a little Disney

 

[bringmethathorizon]

thats all it takes.
we were getting ready to leave epcot one evening and at the restroom making a pitstop we ran into a family.it was a large gathering trying to get 2 girls in 1 double stroler and it wasnt going very well.we were heading out ,they were heading in.......
we handed ours over and and wish them a magical night .the mom was very thankfull.

always hand out not needed fastpass.I tell my teenage ds this is a good way to meet girls.....

try to pass along unopened deserts for the mealplan.

it doesnt take much just alittle something to make someones day.

 

[Pig Pen]

We lucked out several times during the Dream Team season by getting free Mouse Ears and lanyards with pins. Unfortunately every time we received items, it was on our final day and our suitcases were already on the way via ME (we didn't think we could take the pins on the plane and really didn't have room for the ears and DH wouldn't allow me to wear mine). Anyway, both times we gave our goodies to other families in the park.

We often give away fastpasses. Our eyes are bigger than our stamina.

One time we were checking into WL and a couple who were checking out handed us their refillable mugs and said "Have a great stay." I thought that was pretty nice. (I washed them thoroughly).

 

[klmall]

Our DS is 23 now but I've never forgotten how it was to carry him around on the bus at night etc. when he was tired. Instead of becoming impatient as parents struggle to fold strollers and get all their packages and diaper bags etc. together I always try to remember to offer help and it's often accepted.

The other thing I like to do is talk in lines to people around me and distract kids who are having a hard time waiting in line. Sometimes it's a lot easier for a stranger to keep a kid busy with questions about a trip, the day so far, favorite rides etc. when things aren't going smoothly. (I always do this with parental awareness.) It helps time pass for everybody and I always end up enjoying it too!

 

[eastcarolinafan]

I know, I broke a Disney rule and "transferred" a dream pass....I told them just to tell anyone that asked that they won it on Nemo earlier in the morning! It made their night!

your secret's safe with me. I probably would have done the same thing. How can you hold on to something so precious when need surrounds you?

 

[eastcarolinafan]

We lucked out several times during the Dream Team season by getting free Mouse Ears and lanyards with pins. Unfortunately every time we received items, it was on our final day and our suitcases were already on the way via ME (we didn't think we could take the pins on the plane and really didn't have room for the ears and DH wouldn't allow me to wear mine). Anyway, both times we gave our goodies to other families in the park.

We often give away fastpasses. Our eyes are bigger than our stamina.

One time we were checking into WL and a couple who were checking out handed us their refillable mugs and said "Have a great stay." I thought that was pretty nice. (I washed them thoroughly).

wow, the mugs really ARE a nice gesture. I wish I would have thought to do that now. Nice suggestion.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

it doesnt take much just alittle something to make someones day.

You are exactly right. Just a little bit of effort and you can literally transform somebody's day.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

My DH and I went to the F&W at epcot in 2008 and had purchased the dining plan. We ended up not using many of our counter service meals because we were getting all of the sample foods at F&W. On our last night we went to Cosmic Rays and I found a young couple with a baby and we used our credits to buy them dinner. I know this is against the rules but we had paid all that money and hated to see it go to waste. At first they looked at me like I was crazy but they were happy to get a free meal. It made my day to spread a little Disney

I am laughing, thinking of the young couple being torn between hunger and your possible insanity. Crazy thing is that I wouldn't have batted an eye if you had made me the offer. I would have been grateful to the extreme, but I wouldn't have been shocked. I would just have assumed you were feeling the good vibes. and accepted your kindness.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

I have done some of these things and am thrilled to hear about people spreading the magic. What is sad though is that these stories might be the unusual instead of the normal way guests treat each other everyday

Perhaps, my friend, you are correct. I suspect we all know these things don't happen every second; however, don't get sad because it doesn't happen more, be ecstatic it happens at all! I always am.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

Not extraordinary but I always offer to take people's photos when I see one person from a group taking the other's photos. I always think it's great when everyone in the group can be in the photo!

Not extraordinary? How many people do it for you? That's really nice of you, if you ask me. well done.

 

[phnguyk]

I love stories where guests make magic for other guests!

If we leave a park early, we'll stop by an attraction with fastpasses and will get a set of fastpasses before we leave. On our way out of the park, we'll find a family coming in and we'll give them those fastpasses to use for that evening.

That is such a good idea! I'm gonna do this

 

[Cruz91]

We always do the FP thing on out way out, and almost always have extra glow sticks to share during the night shows.

Two other things I try to do at home is make up touring plans for our friends who go and have them over for dinner to explain where to save time. They think we're crazy as we go through it all, but are so thankful when they get back and realize how helpful the tips were.

Great thread!!!

 

[kimmylaj]

it was my ds 1st trip to disney (he was 15 months at the time and i was not yet a diser) but i was always a prepared kind of girl. it was august and about 1million degrees out and we were waiting for the afternoon parade to start . i had thrown my trusty towel on the ground because it was literally burning my behind and my ds was sitting in his stroller. a little girl about 5 and her mom came up next to us and sat down. the little girl started to cry that it was too hot and she was burning her legs on the concrete. the mom said that they would leave. i pulled yet another towel from my stroller basket and handed it to them. such a simple gesture yet it was so much appreciated. she shared her french fries with my son and entertained him while waiting for the parade. one of my favorite pictures of that trip is from the back my ds playing with little girls hair and watching the parade. i remember how happy the towel made them and how happy she made my ds as she shared her french fries. disney magic at its best
ps after spending too many hours reading the giving up your seat on the bus thread i am happy to be posting over here, where the happy parts of disney outweigh everything else

 

[catgirl]

We had several meal credits left on my niece's dining plan (she slept through a couple of meals). On our last day, we gave her credits to a family with young kids. She didn't have charging priviliges on her card, so we let them have it. As another poster said, we broke the rules, but we made another family very happy!!! I also saw a young father and his son at Epcot that were examing the child's foot. As I got closer, I saw that the poor boy had a broken blister on his toe. I always carry band aids, so I was able to offer them a couple to get them back to their hotel to treat the blister & change shoes. The father was very grateful, and I was sooo happy I could help. I always offer my seat on the bus to anyone who looks more tired than I am.

There is something about Disney Magic, you can't help but want to make another person's trip as enjoyable as possible!

 

[inkkognito]

My favorite magic making was when we had a Candlelight Processional dinner package to see Neal Patrick Harris. We were going on a cruise the next day and had finished dinner but were feeling stressed because there was still so much to do at home. We reluctantly decided to skip CP and leave right after dinner. I was waiting for DH near the restrooms at the Morocco restaurant when I saw an older lady whose husband went in the restrooms as well. I asked her if they were going to see the show and she said, "We'd like to but the lines are so long." I gave her our passes and she was so excited that she actually hugged me! Then she hugged DH who had just reappeared. It was so cool to turn our stress and need to get home into making someone else's day.

Second favorite time was giving away FPs for Toy Story Mania. I do the FP thing a lot but this one was unique. We had two sets of TSM FPs but only had time to use one so I asked a nearby couple, "Are you going to ride it?" The ears of the couple next to them perked up as the woman realized what I was about to do. She said, "I'll take them if they don't want them" but of course the first couple snapped up the FPs. The second couple was newlyweds and I could see how disappointed they were at being so close (at that point the TSM line was well over an hour). So I gave them our second set of FPs and we went over and rode ToT instead since it had a short line. I'm blessed to live by WDW and be able to ride TSM fairly often so it was well worth it to make their day.

 

[jgplimdesign]

Very nice thread. . . I've always thought that WDW does bring out 'good' in their guests. Somehow the kindness of the CMs and other guests makes it effortless to return the gesture. . .

I can't say I've done any grand gestures. . .though small ones similar to those I've read. . .

I've given away fastpasses, have offered families and couples to take a picture so everyone could be in the pic----I've gotten up a little early from a table if I see people desperately looking for a seat. . .

Last year we ordered sodas and water and a styrofoam cooler from Garden Grocer (didn't have a fridge at Pop). . .at the end of our visit we still had a case of soft drinks and bottled waters. . .it took a few 'askings', but I finally found someone down by the pool totally thrilled to have the extra drinks and cooler.

I'm heading to WDW in 4 days. . . I will keep this thread in mind. I will be subscribing. . .this thread does my heart good!

PS: Years ago (early 80s maybe?) . . .back in the day of the large all-entry passes you had to wear hanging on your shirt button (visible) or wherever (and the individual A thru E ride coupon booklets were still in use!) . . .my parents were in line to purchase tickets and a couple approached them and gave us their passes that had unused days on them. I remember thinking it was so cool having these new passes and not worrying about my parents buying the ticket booklets. We could repeat the attractions as much as we wanted. . . What the people didn't know who gave us the tickets. . . my father had just gotten laid off from his job. We were o.k. that of course we still got to go on our planned vacation----but for sure, that gesture was extra special back then. Added bonus? I wasn't a teenager yet. . .but I had a young adult ticket that indicated I was a little older than I was. . .for some reason when we are young we can't wait to be older. . .

 

[kkacar]

I will never forget the 1st time we took DD8 she was 3 at the time and was so excited. She is very leary of strangers so it took us quite a while to get her comfortable. She wanted to meet Snow White so bad and somehow we could just never find her. Finally we found her in Epcot and she was to shy to go over there. Snow white came right over to her and told her all about how she had been waiting for so long to meet her. To this day it is one of my DD8's favorite memories of that trip.

But the things we do are similar, hand out unused fast passes. Hubby will always give up his seat on the bus and as DD8 is still fairly small when busses are crowded I always put her in my lap. I also bring my ipod touch and when we are in a long line like say Dumbo, I have numerous short cartoons on it and DD8 will always find someone else that is waiting in the line and ask if they want to watch to and pass the time. We also bought the encyclopedia of Disney chararcters as an autograph book and it has Disney Trivia and she likes to ask other people in line various trivia questions.

kelli