Most memorable CM encounter?

[tinkerbell6]

We have had lots of good experiences with CM's throughout DL (and I'm sure WDW will be the same), but one in particular stands out for me. In 2002, our then-3-year old DD was with DH and I for her first trip to a Disney park. We came through the gate for DL, and DD was soooo excited (she'd watched the planning video many times and was recognizing things already). DH and I were both all teary-eyed and I asked DH to stand with DD by the Mickey garden in front of the train station, right inside the gate, so I could take their picture.

Just then, a CM who was sweeping the area came up and asked if he could take the picture for us so we could all be in it. I quickly showed him the camera, then went and stood with DH and DD for the picture, still all teary. He took a lovely picture for us that is still one of my favorites. He gave DD some stickers and she was thrilled. It seems like such a *little* thing, but we had literally just walked through the gate for DD's first visit, and this wonderful CM just set the tone for our whole trip.

Here's to all the wonderful CM's who work so hard to make our trips memorable!!

 

[ChairborneRangr]

I've mentioned it in other threads but David Smith and Darlene Krubsack were wonderful last year. They were my group coordinators. My youngest was in the hospital with Pneumonia a couple of months before our trip and she was terrified that she couldn't go. I mentioned it to Darlene, and she sent a care package with a Minnie plush doll (Michaela's favorite character), A signed get well picture from Minnie Mouse, note pads, pens, pencils, magnets etc.

Michaela sleeps with her Minnie doll every night, and the picture has a permanent place on the wall. It meant a lot to me and to Michaela.

BTW, she went and had a wonderful time. She is the small one standing in the front middle of the picture with the striped top.

 

[MelessaG]

On the last day of our trip, my 2.5 year-old was tired of sitting in the stroller, waiting in lines, and the big, scary characters. I was making some final purchases in ToonTown before boarding the train for the park exit and heading to the airport, and he was letting my DH know he was ready to go. A wonderful CM walked over and started making 'small talk' with him, and by the time I had paid, they were having a great time together. I took their picture, but really wish I knew the CM's name. DH and I had another enthusiastic former CM deliver our pizza last night. I think he was more excited than us about our upcoming trip.

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

We were in Epcot this past 11/1 and preparing to watch Illuminations. We had bought a bucket of popcorn for the family to share and as it was being passed to DD4 it was accidentally dropped and all the popcorn ended up on the ground. DD was distraught. She was especially on edge after a full day at Epcot, and MNSSHP the night before!

A few minutes earlier we had been talking to a CM that was standing near us doing crowd control. Coincidentally, she had attended my alma mater, good ol' Mankato State University! She saw the popcorn fall and without saying anything to us, she snuck off and returned a couple minutes later with a cup of popcorn for DD. It made our last hour in the park much more "magical"!

 

[kiddoc]

We had a CM at MGM make a very magical moment for us on our last trip. My DD3 was looking at rings in a shop at MGM--all of which were way too big. Well, without my knowing, she turned around to a CM and asked if he had any rings small enough for her. He then proceeded to "the back" and returned with a small, adjustable ring. He adjusted it to the right size and placed it on my DD's finger. Then, as we headed to pay for the ring, he said, "That one's on me." What a magical moment for my DD!

 

[kilee]

On our last visit we took a large part of my extended family. Anyhow, my neice 17 months at the time wanted EVERY balloon we saw. She didn't understand why not either. She didn't have a tantrum. But she talks really well for her age and she would ask over and over and over and over!!!! Well, when we walked into the MK on our last day a CM came up to her stroller and told her he had been looking for her ALL morning and he had a special balloon for her. This came out of nowhere. He gave her the balloon and she of course was as happy as could be. It was so wonderful. Me and my sister both got teary eyed. It was a true magical moment for us!!

 

[Pixie glitter]

On our first trip to WDW, my son was almost 3 years old. He absolutely adored Woody from Toy Story and was thrilled when he saw him at Al's Toy Barn. He waited amazingly patiently in line for his turn to see Woody. I noticed while we waited that Woody was acting very manly and cowboyish with each child, hands on his hips, ruffling their hair, etc. When it was finally my little guy's turn to see Woody, that wonderful CM obviously observed the look of joy and wonder on his little face from a distance because he quietly dropped to his knees and held his arms out, and my son ran into his arms and laid his head on Woody's chest. I immediately teared up, and to this day, it remains one of my happiest Disney memories. God bless CMs and the extraordinary sensitivity they show in trying to make magic for each guest!

 

[Pixie glitter]

Just thought of another one, this time from DLR. . . .


My kids ran into Captain Hook just inside the entrance gates and wanted to have me take their picture with him and then have him sign their autograph book. He posed with the kids for the photo and then turned away to another child. I'm certain he didn't see their autograph book, and they hadn't said anything to him about it. They were very disappointed, but I didn't want to interrupt the other child's moment with Captain Hook, so I quietly said to them, "That's okay, kids, we've got a great picture of you with Captain Hook. I don't think he's signing autographs right now; I think he's just posing for pictures."

Captain Hook obviously overheard this because he immediately whipped around and motioned to my children to wait. As soon as he finished with the other child, he signed their autograph book, all the while engaging in a hilarious pantomime about how I talk too much and what do I know, of course he would sign an autograph for them. They were tickled to death and even more delighted that Hook was being so comically rude to their mom. Gotta love those villains!!

 

[tinkerbell6]

Oh, I just thought of another one! On our last trip (DL in 2003), DD (4 at the time) was waiting very patiently to see Goofy in Mickey'sToonTown. She had her autograph book all ready and was very excited, yet patient. DD was next in line when the assistant (what are they called technically, a handler?) announced that Goofy had to go for a while, but he'd be back sometime later. It was really hot in the area he'd been standing in.

DD started silently crying as Goofy left, she was quite crushed, and the other people and kids just wandered away. DH decided to buy us a drink from the nearest lemonade place, and DD and I sat at a small table nearby. All of a sudden, Goofy came back out, took DD by the hand and led her over to a nearby shaded area. Meanwhile, I'm following behind, frantically trying to get DH's attention since he was still in line for the drink (he had the camera!) saying "Goofy's back! Goofy's with DD!!" Other kids came running up after seeing Goofy, but he held tight to DD's hand as he walked to the shade and motioned for the other kids to follow. He then gave her a huge hug, signed her autograph book, and even waited for DH to run over with the camera for a picture! It was like he remembered that DD had been next in line and had maybe seen how disappointed she was, and made sure she was the first in line this time!!

It was wonderful, and DD spent the rest of the trip calling Goofy her best friend.

As a side note, I love how several of the characters casually peeked in the front of DD's autograph book and used her name in their inscription to her--she has a slightly unusual spelling, and they did it right every time!! Another small detail that kids notice!

I'm sure I'll think of more "moments"!

 

[AZKathy]

This was a few years ago. It was our last night there and we always do Illuminations as our Good-Bye Night to WDW. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_7.gif' border=0></a> We were sitting outside the American Pavillion near the funnel cake kiosk when a CM who was sweeping up the grounds came up to us. Her name was Michelle and she started talking to us, general chit chat where are we from, etc. Anyway, she pulled out of her pocket some WDW pins and gave each of our kids a pin and then told them to give this Goofy pin to their grandpa for a birthday present from her (we told her we had to get back home to celebrate Grandpa's birthday<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/301.gif' border=0></a> in a few days). That really made our evening and made a great vacation end very beautifully.<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_4_23v.gif' border=0></a>

 

[gopherit]

We had the most AWESOME bus driver on xmas eve coming back from MK. The bus was jam-packed, it was sooo late, we had two sleeping toddlers crammed on our laps, but the bus driver still made us wish the ride lasted a bit longer back to OKW! He played Disney trivia with us, joked around, sang, just really made us feel the "fun" instead of that "moo-cattle" bus drudgery one might feel at the end of a busy day!


At AK one time, our 2nd eldest son was feeling over-looked and overwhelmed (there was quite a throng of kids milling around the character area). Goofy waltzed in, grabbed ds #2 by the hand and off they went down the trail together, hand in hand! I was thrilled for him, and the smile my son threw my way over his shoulder said volumes about how it made him feel to be "chosen" from amongst so many, but I also remember thinking as they skipped away from me, hey, that tall furry guy has my SON! WAIT!

At Chef Mickey's it was busy per usual -- but I gotta give the Goofster credit again. My dd (age 2 at the time) was fascinated by him, and couldn't seem to last more than 3-5 minutes in her seat without hopping up to go visit Goofy. I finally said to Goofy, it's ok, I know you have other guests to attend to, and went to motion dd back to her seat. Goofy made it very clear, however, she didn't have to go unless SHE wanted to go! (What is it with Goofy and my kids?!?) So I have oodles and oodles of shots of dd, sitting content in Goofy's lap, like he's her personal chaise!

My kids have actually compared the signatures they have gotten... amazingly, Pooh is Pooh and Tigger is Tigger and Goofy is Goofy, etc etc, no matter what park or restaurant you met them in. Pretty cool! I had made autograph books last trip and several CMs and characters made a big "to-do" about them. Some CMs wanted to look through the whole thing, or show a particular character that they had their own "special" page (or worse -- that they DIDN'T...) The kids just loved those reactions!

 

[GrumpyC.Hook]

Ok i have two:


The first was when I was actually a Cast Member at Typhoon Lagoon I was working at the little food shack near the shark reef I had been there a few weeks and I finally after a while in the back got to go and work at the cash register. I had my name and where i was from on my name tag it was right before they had us put our favorite character on them or favorite memory on it. I was ringing out a family at the time and was about to take another's order when i heard the mom ask the dad if he thought i might be her??? I was totally confused as I did not know why they might recognize me. The mom finally gets close and says that she saw on my name tag that I was Amy from Colchester CT and did my Grandpa work at Walmart in East Windsor? I was in shock! I was very homesick at the time and indeed my grandpa did work as a greeter at that store. She said she had mentioned as he was putting a sticker on her daughter that they were going to disney and he mentioned me and how the family missed me and such. She had written down my name and my hometown and where i worked just in case the happened to find me...who would guess since i normally worked in the kitchen. I was nearing tears knowing that my grandpa missed me and that this lady remembered that while enjoying her vacation. That made my day and will always stick out in my mind. Some moments are made my cast memembers some are made by the guests and I try to make their days when im there. My grandpa passed away and that is something special i will always remember. To the family thank you very very much !!


The second includes Captain Hook:

My mom and I went down to WDW in April 2002 she was going to have spine surgery and this was a special trip. We decided we were going to do the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. We were in the MK in the grass hub right near the train station when all of a sudden Captain Hook and Smee come out to do autographs. I take notice since he is one of my favorites. The guide is talking but I am too fasicinated by Hook. He walks by me and I snicker at my mom to watch me. I start "TICK TOCK" at him and he stops fast turns to face me stomps his foot and snatches my hat. He starts pointing at me as i taunt him with "TICK TOCK" he throws my hat across main street and demands i go pick it up. I totally disrupted the tour but people started laughing as i teased hook and he teased me back. Well after getting my hat the tour continues. About 20 -30 min later we end up in Adventure land..again guide is talking and here comes hook and smee again. Hook sees me and points ...of course i have to tease him he started it this time "tick tock" well he runs up takes my hat again tosses it and puts his hook right up to my cheek of my face of course everyone is taking pictures and I have no been forbidden to tick tock at hook for the rest of the tour. It was hilarious and the laughs i got were priceless.


Sorry It is so long but i had to share them


Amy

 

[HookdonWDW]

The one that really stands out for me is from about 4 years ago. We took a trip to WDW while I was still recovering from tearing the tendons in my left ankle. Although I was doing well, I still couldn't bear weight on my ankle for long periods of time, so I had to wear my brace and ride around the park in a wheelchair.

We were in MK, and I decided to wait for the parade with ds (5 at the time) while dh and dd went to enjoy a couple of rides without us. When one of the CMs saw us, she helped us over to the roped off area for wheelchairs, and struck a conversation with ds. She was so sweet, and really drew him out of his shell. DS had a towel to sit on, and she asked him if he would save her a spot for the parade. He smiled and agreed.

When the parade started, she pointed him out to some of the other CMs who were working the parade route, and each time the characters stopped to bring kids into the parade, someone came over, and personally took ds out to dance with the characters and made sure he was returned to me afterwards. DS had a great time, and I was so amazed that someone would be so thoughtful towards my child for no reason other than to provide a magical experience.

When the parade was over, she came back as we were leaving, and asked him if he'd enjoyed it. His face was lit up as he talked about the parade.

On our way out of the park, I made a point of stopping by City Hall to fill out a comment card, and compliment this wonderful CM who had gone the extra mile for a little boy she didn't know.

 

[MARRAR]

it was at the GF quiet pool one evening Aug 2002. My then 31/2 daughter was paddling around in her life vest. The lifeguard CM was scrubbing the tile edge in the pool. She "swam" up to him and asked him what he was doing etc. Eventually he challenged her to a swim race, which of course she won. She's now 6 and still mentions about the time she "beat" the lifeguard swimming!!

 

[dizagain]

We were at MK on Memorial Day Sunday for a day-trip from Georgia . (Basically so my mom could say she was with my DD's - 18 mos and 3 when they FIRST went to DW!) Anyway, you can imagine that we didn't get much done! We happened to be going through the castle just as the stage show out front was about to begin. My DD - 3 - was trying to get to Minnie, but couldn't because of the mob of GROWN-UPS SHOVING HER OUT OF THE WAY. Ignoring her CM who was trying to get her on stage, she put her hands up to let the grown-ups know she wasn't interested and made her way to Hayley. She posed for pictures and held her and gave her a magic snowball from her pocket (a pom-pom we still have, 7 yrs later). Even Minnie's slightly annoyed CM had to grin as the show began without Minnie!!

 

[Micca]

DW and I and our twin DDs were at MK. The girls were about 3 years old and had become fatigued at all the sensory overload the park has to offer. We were in Fantasyland late in the afternoon and Ali just hit the wall and was having a tantrum. From out of nowhere, Cinderella appeared and Ali immediately calmed down, while her twin sister became excited at what was happening. Cinderella only stayed a minute or two, but it made a huge difference in the day of all four of us. In our dozens of visits to MK, this remains a highlight. Ali grew up to become a CM at MK.

 

[MyBoysMommy]

When my youngest ds was 9 months old we went to Chef Mickey's for dinner. When the characters were coming around to the tables, my son was totally in awe of Chip & Dale. He wanted to touch them and hug them and play with their noses and give them kisses. It was too cute! You could tell they were getting a kick out of it too because they kept coming back and spent ALOT of time with him. So later on as we were leaving, Chip tapped me on the shoulder and motioned for me to follow him. He lead us over to an area off to the side that wasn't part of the dining room, and no one was over there. He then motioned for me to put the baby down on the ground. He got down on the floor and let Kyler climb all over him and give him hugs and so on. They "played" for over 20 minutes!! I have attached photos of them.

That was truely a "Magical" moment for us!!

 

[tinkerbell6]

Goofy waltzed in, grabbed ds #2 by the hand and off they went down the trail together, hand in hand! I was thrilled for him, and the smile my son threw my way over his shoulder said volumes about how it made him feel to be "chosen" from amongst so many, but I also remember thinking as they skipped away from me, hey, that tall furry guy has my SON! WAIT!

This was exactly how I felt, but about DD! Happy she got to have her "moment", but also HEY, that's my kid! Wait for me!! What is it about Goofy??

 

[OhMickey]

We have a lot of precious memories of CMs going out of their way to make our vacations special. Here are a few...

It was the last day of our trip and we decided to visit the AP Lounge located in the Land at EPCOT (it is closed now). We were the only family up there however, after a while Chip n Dale came up to visit. They posed for pictures and played charades with my kids. We had a blast and the kids loved the antics of these two. I cannot say how cool this was and it will remain as one of our best Disney memories ever!

One year we went to Disney just 3 days after my 13 year old DD broke her leg. She was in a wheelchair and didn't like the fact that her mobility was determined by us. (She couldn't get to things fast enough or when she wanted to.) One night we were dining at the Garden Grill. Pluto proposed to her, lifted her up, and carried her around the restaurant. She was so embarrassed (in a good way).

On our last trip we were eating at Cinderella's castle. My youngest son is quite a collector and was collecting pins. He was trading like a mad man! Anyway our server traded with him and got quite a few laughs at my son's attempts to con him by offering 1 pin for 2. Then our server got all of the servers and manager into it. Whenever they traded a pin, they would come over to our table and see if my son wanted to trade for it. Sometimes my son traded and sometimes he didn't but they continued to give him the first option. We have pictures of this wonderful CM and plan on looking for him on our next trip. He was very kind and you could tell he loved kids as well as his job.

 

[donac]

Our favorite CM were fromtransportation. 9 years ago we were staying at FW with our 2 sons and a nephew. We were riding the boat back and the three boys went to the back of the boat. My younger son was wearing figment hat one that his older brother had gotten on his first trip to DW. They were no longer making that hat so it was a collectors item at the time. Another boy came along and some words came out and the next thing we knew the hat flew off my son's head and into the water between Discovery Island and FW. While on the boat we reported it to a CM and then radioed a few people. When we got off at FW they told us to stay at the dock. The very next boat had caught the hat. The next boat came in with the captain wearing a soggy figment hat. I only wish that I had a picture of that..

Another one took place in 2002. We had waited a long time for a bus to take us fromEpcot to MGM. When it finally came we were packed like sardines but Mark made the trip enjoyable. We body surfed Eyore and sang songs like The Wheels on the Bus and he asked us trivia questions. It was one of the funniest bus rides we have ever had.


Dona