Pixie Dusting Adults

[ShannonMB]

We just got back from WDW and we brought pixie dust gifts for the kids. It was so much fun to hand them out.

Something we were given and then passed along which we thought was really nice were dollar store ponchos. A family was leaving MK and gave them to us because it was about to rain. We didn't end up using most of them and had Disney ponchos back at the resort so when it was raining the next day I brought them along and gave them to a couple struggling to keep their scooter dry. (It poured that day). Just some silly ponchos but they were so surprised and greatful I think we may bring some extra next trip.

This is a great idea for the OP! One time outside Kali River Rapids I saw a couple ladies with their kids who wanted to ride and the moms were obviously concerned about getting too wet. DD and I took our Target $1 ponchos off and offered them, and you would have thought we just offered them a room in the Cinderella suite! They wanted to pay for them and kept saying, "Are you sure? Thank you soo much!!" Made a person feel good to offer something so little that was appreciated so much!!

I was wondering how this thread got to so many pages - I knew there must be some bickering going on! OP, go with your heart.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Apology accepted , thank you.

Yet even though you had this lovely experience you wouldn't allow your daughter to accept a doll and thought the giving of them was weird.

Kirsten

~I think grammimouse is a very sweet lady who has made a lot of little girls very happy at Disney. Obviously, I grew up in a different era and times have changed radically since then and I responded too hastily without thinking it through.

~I don't think that giving a child a gift is weird, per se -- it's just that I find the giving of that type of gift specifically within that kind of social setting, to be somewhat unorthodox. As, I have *never* owned a porcelain doll.

~My intial concern was more along the lines of accepting a fragile porcelain doll in a busy, bustling theme park -- where it can easily break on a ride. I would be very concerned about the doll breaking on vacation or on the plane ride home. Not to mention -- there are safety concerns, as to whether the doll is age appropriate and safe.

~More than likely, the child will always have to be supervised when playing with a porcelain doll. Then, where would I store the doll? How do I care for the doll? We can't throw it in the toy box and we certainly can't place it where the doll could potentially fall and break but it also has to be well out of reach.

~It's a lot of responsibility -- every year the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission releases report(s) of children injured while using toys that broke -- a couple of years ago, there was a four year old little girl who severely cut her wrist while playing with a porcelain doll that broke.

~When we rode on Star Tours, we had to put everything under the seat and after the ride the battery covers flew off and all the batteries fell out from our kids plastic Disney fan/spray bottles -- a fragile porcelain doll would not stand a chance.

~Of course, I'm over thinking and complicating what is otherwise considered to be a very simple & kind gesture -- but unfortunately, that's what I do.

~Again, I apologize if that comment came across in the wrong way -- that was not my intention, at all.

 

[grammimouse]

~I think grammimouse is a very sweet lady who has made a lot of little girls very happy at Disney. Obviously, I grew up in a different era and times have changed radically since then and I responded too hastily without thinking it through.

~I don't think that giving a child a gift is weird, per se -- it's just that I find the giving of that type of gift specifically within that kind of social setting, to be somewhat unorthodox. As, I have *never* owned a porcelain doll.

~My intial concern was more along the lines of accepting a fragile porcelain doll in a busy, bustling theme park -- where it can easily break on a ride. I would be very concerned about the doll breaking on vacation or on the plane ride home. Not to mention -- there are safety concerns, as to whether the doll is age appropriate and safe.

~More than likely, the child will always have to be supervised when playing with a porcelain doll. Then, where would I store the doll? How do I care for the doll? We can't throw it in the toy box and we certainly can't place it where the doll could potentially fall and break but it also has to be well out of reach.

~It's a lot of responsibility -- every year the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission releases report(s) of children injured while using toys that broke -- a couple of years ago, there was a four year old little girl who severely cut her wrist while playing with a porcelain doll that broke.

~When we rode on Star Tours, we had to put everything under the seat and after the ride the battery covers flew off and all the batteries fell out from our kids plastic Disney fan/spray bottles -- a fragile porcelain doll would not stand a chance.

~Of course, I'm over thinking and complicating what is otherwise considered to be a very simple & kind gesture -- but unfortunately, that's what I do.

~Again, I apologize if that comment came across in the wrong way -- that was not my intention, at all.

See how easy it is to have your statements misunderstood on these boards.

 

[MmmSuite]

I can't read all the posts right now! They are taking away from how happy the OP made me!

I have mixed children and I hate glitter in their hair. I'm still getting it to BBB. And yes, It'll take weeks to get out. I don't like having extra stuff to carrying. But I'll have extra stuff anyway!

What do I teach my kids if someone is nice to us and we are rude to them.

Yes, some people have ill intentions, but can't we assume the best in people. But be diligent in case of the worst.

If a random people asked to glitter my child I would think about how my child would feel and they would be overjoyed. If someone wanted to glitter me...I would accept because my kids would think it was the best thing EVER. They would talk about the "nice person" spreading pixie dust for months!

If I was absolutely against glitter directly in their heads I'd decline but ask that person to sprinkle our extra on themselves. My kids would love that too.

Yes, I can buy trinkets and bags and stickers and magnets! I can't buy the reaction of my kids and the fact that they learn there are KIND people out there.

There are ways to play along without inconveniencing yourself. You don't have to accept things you don't want. But how about spreading the pixie dust back and not making someone feel like crap for being kind.

The argument to donate to a "more worthy" cause is absurd. By that logic none of us should go to Disney but the money could always be better spent.

How are we to assume OP doesn't donate to other causes. Even if they don't if doesn't matter.

What matters is that they want to do something nice!

Keep spreading that pixie dust OP! You'll reach someone who REALLY needs it! You'll make wonderful memories!

I'm 30 and a woman gave me her coat when I was 8 years old and it was freezing cold! I STILL remember her!

Stick to your original plans OP!!! Please!!!

 

[Anastasi]

I can't read all the posts right now! They are taking away from how happy the OP made me! People saying they wouldn't appreciate receiving some trinket is taking away from your happiness? I thought this was supposed to be about spreading happiness to the receiver.

I have mixed children and I hate glitter in their hair. I'm still getting it to BBB. And yes, It'll take weeks to get out. I don't like having extra stuff to carrying. But I'll have extra stuff anyway!

What do I teach my kids if someone is nice to us and we are rude to them.

Yes, some people have ill intentions, but can't we assume the best in people. But be diligent in case of the worst.

If a random people asked to glitter my child I would think about how my child would feel and they would be overjoyed. If someone wanted to glitter me...I would accept because my kids would think it was the best thing EVER. They would talk about the "nice person" spreading pixie dust for months!

If I was absolutely against glitter directly in their heads I'd decline but ask that person to sprinkle our extra on themselves. My kids would love that too.

Yes, I can buy trinkets and bags and stickers and magnets! I can't buy the reaction of my kids and the fact that they learn there are KIND people out there. So, only people giving things are kind? In my family, we could consider it an intrusion on our vacation.

There are ways to play along without inconveniencing yourself. You don't have to accept things you don't want. But how about spreading the pixie dust back and not making someone feel like crap for being kind. A polite "no thank you" is rude? If the giver feels like crap if somebody says no, then it is all about them, not kindness to the recipient

The argument to donate to a "more worthy" cause is absurd. By that logic none of us should go to Disney but the money could always be better spent. This argument is absurd. Families going to Disney are not intruding on other families. Approaching strangers is considered an intrusion by many people.

How are we to assume OP doesn't donate to other causes. Even if they don't if doesn't matter.

What matters is that they want to do something nice!

Keep spreading that pixie dust OP! You'll reach someone who REALLY needs it! You'll make wonderful memories!

I'm 30 and a woman gave me her coat when I was 8 years old and it was freezing cold! I STILL remember her!

Stick to your original plans OP!!! Please!!!

So, a polite no thank you is rude? Sorry, but if that is the case, then it is absolutely evident that the person trying to spread the pixie dust is doing for their own gratification and not for other's pleasure.

If a person really doesn't want a trinket or glittered or doesn't want to be part of a "big Disney family," that is not rude. That is their prerogative. It is their family.

If somebody saying "no" makes the person trying to give something feel like crap, then it is not giving from the heart. If it is truly coming from the heart then the giver's feelings shouldn't matter.

It is very evident to me from this thread that for many, this is all about the attention the giver is seeking. If they don't get the happy reaction they want, then the receiver is called a troll, ungrateful, ruining their happiness, should have glitter thrown on them because they are not nice, and people politely saying they would not appreciate the "kindness of strangers" is labeled an argument. It is "me, me, me" all about the giver.

I would not appreciate some stranger approaching our family. I would be polite and say no thank you. If the giver is offended, then that is their problem and they are making it all about them and the attention they are seeking by giving out stuff.

I was always taught that kindness is not planned. It is random and spontaneous.

The OP has gotten many good ideas on spontaneous and random acts of kindness. The person giving the girl the cotton candy because he had a dessert credit he was not using, the person grabbing a bottle of water for somebody feeling ill, holding doors, giving up seats, these are all examples of true kindness and pixie dust.

Oh, and for the person that would glitter us without asking, I would be calling security and making a formal complaint about the person. That is NOT pixie dust.

 

[morethananyonex]

See how easy it is to have your statements misunderstood on these boards.

You keep saying that, so what's been misunderstood?

From what I see, you gave out the dolls to families you thought couldn't afford to buy anything, felt really good about it, shared it here, one of your doll receivers was embarrassed about your incorrect judgements about their family, and instead of apologizing for the (IMO out of line) assumptions you passive aggressively comment that at least they don't have the doll anymore to remind them.

So again, how is this about making the receiver feel good and not the giver? What has been misunderstood? This is exactly what some of us have been trying to say the whole time. Sometimes the best "pixie dust" is something fairly uncreative and ordinary, even if that isn't what's most enjoyable for the giver.

 

[Patience]

On our trip last September, we were on the bus from POR (to Magic Kingdom I think but I can't remember for sure). Anyway, our 6 year old daughter realized that she had lost a pin from her lanyard. She didn't have many pins as we had just purchased the lanyard and a starter set for her a few days prior. A very nice woman sitting across from us on the bus overheard our conversation and the next thing we knew, she held out her hand with three pins in it and told our daughter to pick one. That really made our daughter's day. So, if anyone on here was at WDW in mid-September, 2013 and gave a very cute Chinese girl with two Caucasian parents a pin to replace the one she lost- THANK YOU!!! Our daughter still talks about the nice lady on the bus.

 

[morethananyonex]

So, a polite no thank you is rude? Sorry, but if that is the case, then it is absolutely evident that the person trying to spread the pixie dust is doing for their own gratification and not for other's pleasure.

If a person really doesn't want a trinket or glittered or doesn't want to be part of a "big Disney family," that is not rude. That is their prerogative. It is their family.

If somebody saying "no" makes the person trying to give something feel like crap, then it is not giving from the heart. If it is truly coming from the heart then the giver's feelings shouldn't matter.

It is very evident to me from this thread that for many, this is all about the attention the giver is seeking. If they don't get the happy reaction they want, then the receiver is called a troll, ungrateful, ruining their happiness, should have glitter thrown on them because they are not nice, and people politely saying they would not appreciate the "kindness of strangers" is labeled an argument. It is "me, me, me" all about the giver.

I would not appreciate some stranger approaching our family. I would be polite and say no thank you. If the giver is offended, then that is their problem and they are making it all about them and the attention they are seeking by giving out stuff.

I was always taught that kindness is not planned. It is random and spontaneous.

The OP has gotten many good ideas on spontaneous and random acts of kindness. The person giving the girl the cotton candy because he had a dessert credit he was not using, the person grabbing a bottle of water for somebody feeling ill, holding doors, giving up seats, these are all examples of true kindness and pixie dust.

Oh, and for the person that would glitter us without asking, I would be calling security and making a formal complaint about the person. That is NOT pixie dust.

You were posting while I was, but great post, especially the part I bolded.

 

[momto3boysillbe]

Have you read other posts than yours? Some sound quite rude and hostile. Apparently nobody else's parents let them watch Bambi and taught Thumper's most important rule: IF YOU CANT SAY SOMETHING NICE, DONT SAY NOTHING AT ALL

you really can't expect to come on a public message board and only get nice opinions. There are vast differences between ideas and personalities here. Take the feedback you receive and do with it what you will but don't get mad because everyone doesn't agree with you.

 

[Peachkins]

You keep saying that, so what's been misunderstood?

From what I see, you gave out the dolls to families you thought couldn't afford to buy anything, felt really good about it, shared it here, one of your doll receivers was embarrassed about your incorrect judgements about their family, and instead of apologizing for the (IMO out of line) assumptions you passive aggressively comment that at least they don't have the doll anymore to remind them.

So again, how is this about making the receiver feel good and not the giver? What has been misunderstood? This is exactly what some of us have been trying to say the whole time. Sometimes the best "pixie dust" is something fairly uncreative and ordinary, even if that isn't what's most enjoyable for the giver.

I completely agree. The poster who was given that doll has literally been going through her vacation photos trying to figure out what made her family look like they were more destitute than others, but what was said is all a misunderstanding? I thought it was pretty clear and I'm not sure why people should apologize for thinking otherwise.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that grammimouse meant well and that's important. However it's easy to see how making assumptions about people can sometimes cause problems too.

I'm surprised that anyone would be offended by a simple "no thank you". I guess that people could take whatever is offered and then throw it away once out of sight. Except for the glitter - there's no way to deal with that if you don't like it!

Being kind is meant to be genuine and all about whoever you are being kind to. If that person doesn't want the gift or whatever, isn't it an act of kindness to understand and move on?

 

[Maddysdaddy]

On our trip last September, we were on the bus from POR (to Magic Kingdom I think but I can't remember for sure). Anyway, our 6 year old daughter realized that she had lost a pin from her lanyard. She didn't have many pins as we had just purchased the lanyard and a starter set for her a few days prior. A very nice woman sitting across from us on the bus overheard our conversation and the next thing we knew, she held out her hand with three pins in it and told our daughter to pick one. That really made our daughter's day. So, if anyone on here was at WDW in mid-September, 2013 and gave a very cute Chinese girl with two Caucasian parents a pin to replace the one she lost- THANK YOU!!! Our daughter still talks about the nice lady on the bus.

An unplanned, random act of kindness to help an upset child. To me, 'that's' what pixie dust is all about. Nice story.

 

[MmmSuite]

So, a polite no thank you is rude? Sorry, but if that is the case, then it is absolutely evident that the person trying to spread the pixie dust is doing for their own gratification and not for other's pleasure. If a person really doesn't want a trinket or glittered or doesn't want to be part of a "big Disney family," that is not rude. That is their prerogative. It is their family. If somebody saying "no" makes the person trying to give something feel like crap, then it is not giving from the heart. If it is truly coming from the heart then the giver's feelings shouldn't matter. It is very evident to me from this thread that for many, this is all about the attention the giver is seeking. If they don't get the happy reaction they want, then the receiver is called a troll, ungrateful, ruining their happiness, should have glitter thrown on them because they are not nice, and people politely saying they would not appreciate the "kindness of strangers" is labeled an argument. It is "me, me, me" all about the giver. I would not appreciate some stranger approaching our family. I would be polite and say no thank you. If the giver is offended, then that is their problem and they are making it all about them and the attention they are seeking by giving out stuff. I was always taught that kindness is not planned. It is random and spontaneous. The OP has gotten many good ideas on spontaneous and random acts of kindness. The person giving the girl the cotton candy because he had a dessert credit he was not using, the person grabbing a bottle of water for somebody feeling ill, holding doors, giving up seats, these are all examples of true kindness and pixie dust. Oh, and for the person that would glitter us without asking, I would be calling security and making a formal complaint about the person. That is NOT pixie dust.

No, obviously a POLITE no thank you is not rude. However, SOME of the other replies were.

NOT the ones saying they wouldn't accept. But the ones railing on her for trying to be nice or calling her selfish. Those were the one stealing the joy of the post. I was only on page like 3 or 4 at that point. Most of the comments weren't about polite no thank you by that page.

You can quote me out of context if you would like! Doesn't make me any difference. My comments stand.

You'll reach the person(people) you're meant to OP.

As for those who don't like it. As I said previously, there are ways to be kind or play along without taking things you don't want or being rude. There are even ways to handle it if you want no parts of it. Doesn't mean the OP shouldn't try, because you never know who needs it.

 

[MmmSuite]

And for reference, because I know it's coming, is people calling them selfish and weird does make people feel like crap. Polite no thank yous do not. That is where I was quoted out of context.

ETA...and no not all kindness comes from physical items. I point out all types of kindness to my kids and encourage them to act kindly. Picking things up for people who drop them. Holding doors. Saying good morning. Asking how someone is. Or sharing their glow sticks. Not talking about the end of the movie on our way out of theater.

Look I get it not everyone is "into" seeing the world as one big community. I just don't think we should discourage the OP from viewing the world that way. I hate being touched by anyone other than my kids. I don't touch doors and I loathe community food.

I don't think people should stop having doors or buffets or hugging because I don't like it. Because that door, buffets, or hug is different to other people.

 

[firecracker725]

I think that grammimouse meant well and that's important. However it's easy to see how making assumptions about people can sometimes cause problems too. I'm surprised that anyone would be offended by a simple "no thank you". I guess that people could take whatever is offered and then throw it away once out of sight. Except for the glitter - there's no way to deal with that if you don't like it! Being kind is meant to be genuine and all about whoever you are being kind to. If that person doesn't want the gift or whatever, isn't it an act of kindness to understand and move on?

Of course she meant well, and it IS important. No one is arguing that, but for her to claim that she was misunderstood after a recipient admitted embarrassment at her presumption of circumstance is just putting up needless defenses. No one misunderstood a thing. Grammimouse may have *misstated* her criteria, but she directly said that she chose families who she thought looked as if they had spent all their money on the trip.

 

[aaarcher86]

Judgment on my first post. Interesting. I see why the dis boards get such a bad rap. I say throw glitter on everyone, the ones who get mad need it the most.

If someone threw glitter on me without asking I would pixie dust them with Diet Coke.

Glitter is the herpes of craft products. You can not get rid of it. Ever.

 

[luvthemouse71]

If someone threw glitter on me without asking I would pixie dust them with Diet Coke.

Glitter is the herpes of craft products. You can not get rid of it. Ever.

Best post I've seen in a while! I "pixie dusted " my ipad screen with coffee when I read it.

Most people are going to think it's weird if you come up to them and give their kid( or them) a gift. Same goes for CMs. I'm pretty sure most of them don't want stale candy, little thank you notes, etc. I think a nice word put in for them at Guest Services is far more useful.

I also agree that all this "pixie dust" stuff can be more about the giver than anyone else.

 

[PinkaMickey]

The best thing anyone could ever give me at WDW is a seat on a crowded bus , especially when I'm trying to keep my young DD from losing her balance and falling over on the turns. Kind acts are the real pixie dust of WDW.

 

[JimmyV]

If someone threw glitter on me without asking I would pixie dust them with Diet Coke.

Glitter is the herpes of craft products. You can not get rid of it. Ever.

I have enjoyed many, many of your posts. But this one is the all time best.

 

[Anastasi]

No, obviously a POLITE no thank you is not rude. However, SOME of the other replies were.

NOT the ones saying they wouldn't accept. But the ones railing on her for trying to be nice or calling her selfish. Those were the one stealing the joy of the post. I was only on page like 3 or 4 at that point. Most of the comments weren't about polite no thank you by that page.

You can quote me out of context if you would like! Doesn't make me any difference. My comments stand.

You'll reach the person(people) you're meant to OP.

As for those who don't like it. As I said previously, there are ways to be kind or play along without taking things you don't want or being rude. There are even ways to handle it if you want no parts of it. Doesn't mean the OP shouldn't try, because you never know who needs it.

Why would I have to play along?

I didn't ask for the person to approach me. They inserted themselves into my space uninvited to seek attention for themselves. It is not up to me to sooth their egos when I did not engage the interaction. Some of the givers here seem to think that they have the right to impose themselves on others and others absolutely have to play along.

I would try to be polite, but probably wouldn't be able to completely hide the vibe that I thought the person was a few fries short of a Happy Meal. It would be a short and curt "no thank you," along with turning my back on the person. I certainly would not "play along" as that would encourage the behavior.

And I am just as entitled to that reaction as somebody who gets mad when people rebuff their attention seeking behavior. If it was truly about distributing kindness and not about attention seeking, the giver would just skip away to their next mark.