Paying it Forward

[Sevey13]

I'm a guy who likes to do nice things. I work in the non-profit world...it's in my blood!

I've heard of doing things like handing out glow sticks to people around you in the evening.

I'm staying at POR for the last two days. I'm considering bringing some Mardi Gras beads (my Rotary club's auction this year was Mardi Gras, so we've got some left over).

How else can I pay it forward?

 

[Oswin]

Some things that I do are treating people in line behind me to their candy at places like Goofy's Candy shop or other candy stores. I buy paint brushes and attach little trinkets or gift cards for a treat to them and go to hide them on Tom Sawyer's Island for people to find. Last time I stayed at Poly I had a ton of leis one of the CM put on me in the lobby and I gave them out on the monorail and throughout MK and people loved those. I carry some extra trading pins with me so I can offer them to kids who want to trade but don't have any pins of their own. I also find people who look like they're having a rough Disney day and offer them a compliment. I think this one gets the most positive response out of anything I do, to be honest.

 

[Deborah Lewins]

I am planning on buying my first ever Disney balloon in my next trip, as we are in site for only 2 nights and are then travelling to Universal it will be impractical to keep it and I understand they last well. I plan on donating to the most harassed looking Mum at breakfast.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

What a neat idea. This kind man at the MVMCP was giving out glow sticks but what was salient was that he was enlisting the help of his DD. What lovely morals he was teaching her.

I use to give out FP paper passes if I had them. I offer my resort mug if we are leaving before it has expired. Give a person in the line the correct change if they are struggling. We are from the UK and brings lots of Cadbury chocolate! The chocolate that is made here tastes much nicer. We give this to helpful CM.

I buy little gifts like lego mini figs when on sale through the year and bring those. Little Disney toys etc. I am in a wheelchair and the Disney/Star wars toys I have hanging off my chair catch the eye of children and they want them! I like ( with parents permission ) to give them a gift.

Also any spare cans, beer etc we have at the end of the vacation we offer to another room.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

If on the meal plan, we usually buy someone's QS lunch or snack towards the end of the visit, if we have (and we usually do) extra credits.

 

[JBeaty0507]

One nice thing that is very easy to do is to bring a portable phone charger and help out people with charging their phones up a bit. People don't realize how much their phones will die while they're in the parks if they're using the Disney apps. You can usually tell who needs one by the desperate look on their face when you pull yours out! . Outlets are hard to find at the parks!! We also used to hand out our unused fastpasses when they were paper....but no more of that!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Last trip I had an extra fp for 7DMT we weren't going to use (little one) and a very nice CM let my DS go through the fp line with a man who wanted to ride it but didn't want to make his family wait the hour the sign was showing. Before, with the paper fps, I'd do the same thing. Often you would see a young parent, or someone with older grandparents, etc, who didn't want to make their party wait while they rode SM or ToT, and I would give them my fast pass. I have motion sickness, and the body gods have to align for the day before I can ride something like that. If I feel the least little bit "off", I pass.

 

[Asc341]

We gave out a few Disney stickers to kids on our last trip (we got SO many from the DVC rep in the park - the kids didn't mind that they were promotional!) It touched us to see how excited the kids were over something as small as stickers...

 

[vicb]

I use to give out FP paper passes if I had them.

I miss this. I have been on both ends of the old paper fast passes, giving and receiving. Once three young kids (middle school, perhaps early HS) offered DH and I FP to Splash Mt. and asked us to get in line with them! We did, we rode with them, it was very sweet, such nice kids.

Something I try to do which costs nothing is just be friendly and supportive to parents of young kids. Especially waiting in a line, we might chat with a young child and their parents to help make the time go faster. Asking what have been their favorite rides, what characters have you met etc... many people appreciate the help in diverting their child's attention during a wait. You'd be surprised how much young children like to talk about their vacation experiences and you get a little bit of magic from hearing about something through a child's eyes.

Of course there is always the offering to take a whole family photo for someone too.

When my kids were little I shared glow sticks and healthy snacks (after asking parents) while waiting for parades or fireworks.

 

[allysetraskos]

Something simple like when we were waiting in line at MVMCP to see the 7 dwarfs there was a woman who got a qs dinner that came with a yogurt she didn't want & she asked if it was okay for my son to have.

I last time we went made my own Mickey Ears to match my outfit every day, At the end of the day I would ask parents of a little girl if she could have them.

 

[Sevey13]

What a neat idea. This kind man at the MVMCP was giving out glow sticks but what was salient was that he was enlisting the help of his DD. What lovely morals he was teaching her.

I use to give out FP paper passes if I had them. I offer my resort mug if we are leaving before it has expired. Give a person in the line the correct change if they are struggling. We are from the UK and brings lots of Cadbury chocolate! The chocolate that is made here tastes much nicer. We give this to helpful CM.

I buy little gifts like lego mini figs when on sale through the year and bring those. Little Disney toys etc. I am in a wheelchair and the Disney/Star wars toys I have hanging off my chair catch the eye of children and they want them! I like ( with parents permission ) to give them a gift.

Also any spare cans, beer etc we have at the end of the vacation we offer to another room.

Yeah, the one thing holding me back is that for the first part of the trip I'll be traveling solo and while I seriously have no agenda beyond helping spread some magic, I'm not sure that all the parents seeing a single younger guy handing out glow sticks to kids will believe it so innocent (just seeing some reactions to situations on this board alone!). Am I letting the youth protection-centric focus of my day job bleed in too much? Or is it a valid concern?

 

[GillianP1301]

Yeah, the one thing holding me back is that for the first part of the trip I'll be traveling solo and while I seriously have no agenda beyond helping spread some magic, I'm not sure that all the parents seeing a single younger guy handing out glow sticks to kids will believe it so innocent (just seeing some reactions to situations on this board alone!). Am I letting the youth protection-centric focus of my day job bleed in too much? Or is it a valid concern?

Sadly, I think this is a valid concern. Honestly, I would be a bit leary if I were on the receiving end. For that reason, I would never ever accept food from anyone. A glow stick or a pin? Not as much of an issue.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Yes, I'm often the group picture taker for people I see trying to get everyone in the shot. I just returned from the Masters golf tournament (practice rounds) and when I would see people trying to get a shot is offer to get them all in the picture.

 

[aaarcher86]

Yeah, the one thing holding me back is that for the first part of the trip I'll be traveling solo and while I seriously have no agenda beyond helping spread some magic, I'm not sure that all the parents seeing a single younger guy handing out glow sticks to kids will believe it so innocent (just seeing some reactions to situations on this board alone!). Am I letting the youth protection-centric focus of my day job bleed in too much? Or is it a valid concern?

I don't think I'd be suspicious, but honestly, I'd be thinking "great, another thing I have to keep track of or replace when it breaks."

Something I've seen done and had happen to my kids was having someone come up to them and ask for an autograph when they were dressed as princesses. It made them feel pretty special, although they were also kind of shy and stand offish. A little later they were pretty tickled that someone thought they were real princesses.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I miss this. I have been on both ends of the old paper fast passes, giving and receiving. Once three young kids (middle school, perhaps early HS) offered DH and I FP to Splash Mt. and asked us to get in line with them! We did, we rode with them, it was very sweet, such nice kids.

Something I try to do which costs nothing is just be friendly and supportive to parents of young kids. Especially waiting in a line, we might chat with a young child and their parents to help make the time go faster. Asking what have been their favorite rides, what characters have you met etc... many people appreciate the help in diverting their child's attention during a wait. You'd be surprised how much young children like to talk about their vacation experiences and you get a little bit of magic from hearing about something through a child's eyes.

Of course there is always the offering to take a whole family photo for someone too.

When my kids were little I shared glow sticks and healthy snacks (after asking parents) while waiting for parades or fireworks.

How nice! Being supportive is really good point. How many people sigh and roll their eyes at poor parents dealing with a melt down! We aren't blessed with children but people need to learn patience it can't be easy for the poor tired little ones. I get tired as an adult!

Taking a photo is nice. Also I can't eat popcorn due to my inflammatory digestive issues but I like the buckets so I buy the bucket and gift the popcorn!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Yeah, the one thing holding me back is that for the first part of the trip I'll be traveling solo and while I seriously have no agenda beyond helping spread some magic, I'm not sure that all the parents seeing a single younger guy handing out glow sticks to kids will believe it so innocent (just seeing some reactions to situations on this board alone!). Am I letting the youth protection-centric focus of my day job bleed in too much? Or is it a valid concern?

I can see that being an issue! Maybe hand the gifts to the parent instead!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

With regard to patience people often show displeasure at when I load onto the bus but I can't help the time it takes the driver to unload the ramp for my wheelchair. But sometimes folks offer to help my wife push me or lift me from my chair. This is really nice because she gets exhausted. I do have a powered chair but I can't always operate it. So you could be patient to those with disabilites we don't mean to take extra time on rides and transport!

 

[Bluegrrl]

The nicest thing people have done for me is to help load and unload my stroller on the buses. I was on a semi-solo trip last year (I was with my mom, but she was at a conference during the day - so my 3yr old and I were alone in parks). Folks - especially guys - would just grab the stroller and help me on buses. While wonderful, I did wonder if they had a little alternive motivation. The sooner I got settled, the quicker the bus could take off!

Another thing that was amazing was having folks help in quick service places. Some families offered to keep a quick eye on my son while I was getting forks, drinks,etc or they would help me bus table or even carry my tray.
Hopeful those are some good ideas for you. All that extra help made my day and visit great for Ds and I.

 

[VillainFavs]

Honestly, the things that will make someone's day are the things you do and how you act, much more so than "things".

The extra assistance people have mentioned--whether someone in a wheelchair or a mom with a stroller. Holding the door for someone. Letting someone ahead of you in line. Giving up a seat on the bus. Carrying a tray for someone who needs an extra hand. Letting the little ones in front of you at the parade. Giving a harried mom or dad an, "It's okay, we've all been there" look instead of an exasperated, "Can't you control your child" stare. Smile at people.

SAY THANK YOU to the CMs!!! They have long, tiring days dealing with lots of crabby people.

Strike up a conversation with someone in line. Once you've spoken to the parents with small talk and made it seem okay, complement the little girl on her special princess doll or ask the boy his favorite Star Wars character. You're sure to get a conversation rolling to pass the time in line. The parents will be grateful!

If you're getting on a ride the little one behind you really, really wants the front seat, let them have it.

Those are the "paying it forward" things that really count.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm a guy who likes to do nice things. I work in the non-profit world...it's in my blood!

I've heard of doing things like handing out glow sticks to people around you in the evening.

I'm staying at POR for the last two days. I'm considering bringing some Mardi Gras beads (my Rotary club's auction this year was Mardi Gras, so we've got some left over).

How else can I pay it forward?

We're from New Orleans and sailed on a Royal Caribbean Cruise this February over Mardi Gras week. Our daughter brought alot of trinkets she caught from the parades with her to give out in the kids club areas. One parent stopped us to tell us our daughter was giving out all her toys. We tried for like 5 minutes to explain it, but they never understood. Living so close to Mardi Gras supply stores around the city I always make a stop for things that glow or blink/light up and the kids we give them to usually love them.