Paying it Forward

[LISmama810]

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?

It's unfortunate that that would happen, but I do get it. I think at Disney it's a little different, though, and as long as you ask the parents first, it should be okay. Actually, whether you're a young guy, old guy, young woman, etc., it's always best to ask the parents. Some gifts I'd gladly accept for my kids. Others I'd politely turn down, depending. (Glow sticks at a parade would always be appreciated by me.)

It's nice to see such a happy thread with helpful ideas

 

[IrishNYC]

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.

Receiving help as a frazzled mom was always so welcome to me. Now that my DD is a little older, I never hesitate to ask a parent or family if they need a hand with a stroller, or with anything else, no matter where I am.

 

[P&L@WDW]

I usually take glow sticks (I buy them from the 1$ store back home) - I'll wear them in the evenings, and then on the bus ride back to the resort I give them to kids on the bus. I can't tell you how many parents have expressed their appreciation. They are usually enough to keep very tired kidlets from having major meltdowns, too!

I have used QS and TS credits to buy meals for people - with the TS credits, I -always- stress to the waiter that I want it to remain anonymous. I love watching the receiver sneakily as they are told their meal is covered. But on my last trip, I was able to have a very VERY special moment by doing this.

On the morning of my 9th day of a 14 day solo trip, I got the news that my great grandmother had passed away; I also received very stern instructions from my grandma that I was NOT to cut my trip short and come home early (the memorial wasn't happening until after I got home anyways)! So I found another way to celebrate and remember while I was on my trip.

I had reservations at the Grand Floridian Cafe for lunch that day - when I arrived for lunch, I let the two hostesses know what had happened and that I would like their help to honour my great grandma - could they keep an eye out for an older lady or two who were having lunch, and let me know so I could buy their meal? They were shocked, and thrilled, to be part of it. They spoke with my waitress, and the hunt was on!

They came up to me a short time later and told me they had just the person - an older lady (in her 80's) dining alone. I happily covered her meal...and I watched the lady as she left, giving my waitress a hug on the way out. My waitress told me afterwards that it was only after they had told the lady her bill was covered that she let them know why she was dining alone: She and her husband had booked this trip months ago - he had passed away shortly before the trip, but she decided to go since he'd been so looking forward to it. She was dining alone because he wasn't there to share it with her. Apparently, she cried. I did too.