Random acts of kindness - Have you encountered any?

[disneypharm]

Ready to finally be flamed! A very positive post inspired me to start a thread! Reading some NOT so positive threads (not naming which that have lasted many days) has made me think about starting up this thread.
My family never expects everything to be perfect in our WDW trips, we always think that we are very lucky to be able to afford to go to WDW. Small annoying things don't bother us! Taking a vacation is usually a luxury. That means that we have food, clothes, education, and most necessities for our familys. Lets face it we are all very lucky that we can go to WDW, watch the parades, use the buses, eat Disney food, and enjoy ourselves.
I got the followings from Robo's post (Thanks Robo). I have read these statements over and over again in the last few days:
You know those young kids...,
Parents should never...
I had been standing all day...
Some of those DRIVERS will just...
I have never...
Why can't Disney provide enough...
There are never enough buses when we stayed at...
When will people just learn to...
If the buses had more...
If folks would not stay until their children were...

Well. Now I want to hear good things about people; their random acts of kindess. I have great memories of Disney; now tell me some of yours.

 

[Jackie H.]

We've had several occasions where complete strangers walked up and gave us Fast Passes! It is always so nice when it happens!

Once, my daughter was sick and we were trying to get back to POR (then DL). She had already lost everything she had eaten that day, but on the bus she was feeling really rotten and I kept holding a sack 'just in case'. My daughter was 6 years old and this sweet little girl of about 5 came over and gave me some wipes. She said, "you can wipe her face with this, it makes me feel better sometimes". That was so sweet!!!!

 

[Harambe]

Oh, we have many wonderful memories of Disney. But, I'll be truthful, disneypharm, both DH and I noticed a decline in commradery this trip. We both like to smile and say Good Morning to people we encounter in the hallways at our hotel, strike up conversations with other families on the buses, or chat with folks while standing in line for a ride. And more than once, we got empty stares from people. Kinda sad.

But as far as positive things go, I am a total ride widow who knows that the best place to wait for your family is to walk past the gift shop and get as close to the ride exit as you can. You'll usually find benches. I sit here and watch family after family get off rides like Tower of Terror, or Test Track, and they're laughing and hugging each other, and just filled with - sorry, this is going to "hoaky" you out - glee! Yes, they are filled with glee!

And when it's my family tumbling out of the exit, howling with laughter, well, that's the whole enchillada!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I'll lift up one smal act of kindness that happened to us. It was when DS was about 3yo. We were on a bus from MK to (I think) ASMu. A mousekeeping CM was the only other passenger on the bus. DW starts talking to her about how hard she must be working yada yada yada. She notices DS has a Pooh shirt on, reaches into her purse and produces a small Pooh board book. DS was delighted. I have always remembered this random act of kindness.

 

[disneypharm]

Oh, we have many wonderful memories of Disney. But, I'll be truthful, disneypharm, both DH and I noticed a decline in commradery this trip. We both like to smile and say Good Morning to people we encounter in the hallways at our hotel, strike up conversations with other families on the buses, or chat with folks while standing in line for a ride. And more than once, we got empty stares from people. Kinda sad.

But as far as positive things go, I am a total ride widow who knows that the best place to wait for your family is to walk past the gift shop and get as close to the ride exit as you can. You'll usually find benches. I sit here and watch family after family get off rides like Tower of Terror, or Test Track, and they're laughing and hugging each other, and just filled with - sorry, this is going to "hoaky" you out - glee! Yes, they are filled with glee!

And when it's my family tumbling out of the exit, howling with laughter, well, that's the whole enchillada!

Thanks Harambe. I like these quotes.
"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."
Author:Aesop
"To give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own."
Author:Anne Morrow Lindbergh
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world."
Author:Anne Frank

 

[2nd childhood]

On our last trip we were at Epcot late and my DS5 was hot, tired and starting to get a bit whiny so we were about to leave when a family came up to my son and asked if he would like a glow necklace. Well, that perked him up and made our bus ride back very enjoyable. This year I’ve purchased some extra glow necklaces to take with us so I can return the favor for another family with small kids. I can’t wait.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

does it have to do with Disney? mine doesn't, but i'll post anyway....

a few years ago i went shopping on Black Friday and i was at KB Toy Store at like 5am. i was looking for some things for my neice and nephew for Christmas. i'm a HUGE care bear fan/collector and they had this huge sale for certain things that you'd buy, you'd get a free Care Bear. unfortunatly none of the things i bought my neice and nephew counted towards it. a woman who was standing infront of me in line over heard and once we got to the check out she picked up the blue sleepy one(my FAVORITE) and after she pays for everything she goes "here! Merry Christmas!" it was the sweetest thing ever! i've never seen her since!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Thanks for your thoughtful post, Dispharm. DH and I humbly believe that our attitudes are at least 50% of making WDW (and life) magical and fun. Since we live just a couple of hours away and have APs, we go to WDW 6-8 weekends per year.

We honestly have not noted any of the awful things that some posters seem to experience. We have not been bumped excessively with stroller or ECVs , have not noticed massive amounts of people cutting in front of lines, we think the bus transportation to/from the resorts is great, and haven't met a single rude CM!

We have had many magical moments and experienced numerous random acts of kindness, including unasked-for room upgrades and even (hope this counts, it was outside of WDW) had the car in front of us pay our toll on the way back from Disney once!

Our favorite random act of kindness, though, was last Christmas Day when we had ADRs at San Angel Inn--we politely asked to be seated waterfront, telling the CM how much we had enjoyed our last waterfront meal at San Angel Inn and assuring him we would understand if he couldn't accomodate us, and he was able to accomodate us! We had a wonderful Christmas.

 

[Tinkerbell_Tiffany]

we have only been to disney one time in february but while we were there in epcot I was sitting on the bench with my 2 kids while DH went and got a couple funnel cakes and this family walked in front of us and I had no clue what they were saying(they were from a different country) but they had a young boy about 14 who sat right next to me and you can tell his feet was hurting soo bad he removed his shoes and you could see his feet soo red. he just didn't wanna walk anymore. so I pulled out my moleskin and went to his parents and even though I did not know what to say , because I did not speak their language I just signed to them as to what they do with the moleskin. well they put it on their sons feet and they were soooo happy that I gave them some to use for their son, the mother came and hugged me. anyways it made me feel really good....

 

[disneypharm]

WOW!! Thank you all. I am going to try some of these in our next trip.
Princesskitty1 I loved this one " (hope this counts, it was outside of WDW) had the car in front of us pay our toll on the way back from Disney once!"

 

[disneypharm]

Any more?

 

[GrumpeyMom]

On our last trip a really sweet young couple gave us fastpasses for Mission Space. They were the kind that were good for several days (I think there was a breakdown or something). It was their last day and our first day and they were glad to pass them along. We ended up not using them so we passed them along in Epcot to another family.

 

[JenC025]

Oh, we have many wonderful memories of Disney. But, I'll be truthful, disneypharm, both DH and I noticed a decline in commradery this trip. We both like to smile and say Good Morning to people we encounter in the hallways at our hotel, strike up conversations with other families on the buses, or chat with folks while standing in line for a ride. And more than once, we got empty stares from people. Kinda sad.

But as far as positive things go, I am a total ride widow who knows that the best place to wait for your family is to walk past the gift shop and get as close to the ride exit as you can. You'll usually find benches. I sit here and watch family after family get off rides like Tower of Terror, or Test Track, and they're laughing and hugging each other, and just filled with - sorry, this is going to "hoaky" you out - glee! Yes, they are filled with glee!

And when it's my family tumbling out of the exit, howling with laughter, well, that's the whole enchillada!

Will you be there the first week of October? We could be bench buddies? This time I keep telling myself if you can get on the plane you can get on the rides.. but I know I'm gonna chicken out

By the way thanks to the original poster for starting this. This is our second trip ever to WDW and I was starting to get nervous reading some recent posts.

 

[Figment's friends]

OOOOHHHHHH! I am so happy! A positive thread! I leave in 3 days!

We have made several "Pixie packs" for other kids that will be at POP. We have 1000 glow bracelets to share. We will give up our seats for people who need them or are more tired then we are. We will lead by example. I think that with this frame of mind we can return with some great stories. It's funny how when you focus on the positive- it seems to follow you....

 

[Bay in TN]

I'm so afraid this is going to sound so terribly selfish -- I can't think of any "random acts of kindness" that we received. Rather, I remember the RAK's that we gave --

We always stake out a spot for the fireworks early. Furthermore, at the last minute, we *love* to say, "OK! Short people to the front, tall people to the back." Once, while waiting for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, I spent half an hour fighting off people from our staked-off "spot," and at the last minute, DH and I stood up and said, "OK! Short people to the front!" This family behind us practically cried because we put their four kids in front of us, at a prime viewing spot, to see Illuminations, and we stood there, chatting with these lovely strangers for the whole fireworks show. (While I cried. I *love* the fireworks.)

And if we have Fastpasses that we're not going to use, we *always* go to the queue for that ride and give them to someone else. It's so much *fun* to do this! I highly recommend it! Seeing the look of happiness on someone else's face -- it's almost as great as seeing the look of wonder on your toddler's face the first time he sees Cinderella's Castle!

I know I'm supposed to remember what someone else gave us as a RAK... but I honestly can't remember if anyone has. I hope this is OK, anyway.

OH! Obviously, we've had many interactions with CM's that were absolutely spectacular and totally random -- do you want those stories, too?

--Bay

 

[riopooh]

This one happened a while ago when my DD was 3. I was leaving MGM with just her sound asleep in her stroller - my DH & son had stayed to watch Fantasmic and I decided to go back to the Wilderness Lodge. I hadn't anticipated having to get her out of the stroller and then getting all my babygear, purchases, stroller and sleeping child onto the bus. I was trying to figure out how I was going to do it when a man and his son (about 10) offered their help. I held my daughter and they grabbed all my gear and we all climbed aboard together - along with their DW/mom who had all their purchases. I thanked them but didn't get to chat much as my DD was somewhat restlessly and whimpering. The bus stopped at the Poly and then finally the Lodge where they disembarked, got me all resettled and then got back on the bus. It ended up that they were staying at the Poly!!! I couldn't have managed it all without them!! What impressed me the most is that the son was as nice as the father and didn't question him or complain - I didn't hear any discussion at their stop about staying on for my stop - they just did. What a great example that man was setting for his son.

 

[AStamm]

I remember once we were given fast passes. Can't remember for what ride, but still remember the act.

On our last trip a few weeks ago my DS wouldn't ride EE, so DH and I took turns. I had played Yeti Vision months ahead of time and earned that free photo. Since neither DH nor I wanted a picture of just us with three other strangers, I gave my voucher to a really friendly family I was seated with. They were so pleased with the gift.

 

[KimWDW]

We have made several "Pixie packs" for other kids that will be at POP. We have 1000 glow bracelets to share.

I'd love to do this. Where can I buy glow bracelets or necklaces?

 

[cobbler]

In 2001 my 10 month old was flirting with 2 ladies behind us on the bus back to Coronado Springs, they thought he was cute.

They asked us if we already had tickets, I said yes we have left over from last year but still needed to get a day for everyone in the family. Well we all know tickets aren't supposed to be transferrable but they were from TORO and leaving that night and had one day left on their tickets and gave them to us since they couldn't use them anymore.

I thought it was nice and it saved us a bit of $$ because we ended up only having to purchase a one day for my oldest son.

 

[DisneyDreamingAubrey]

YES, when I went in March I had really wanted to go on Soarin for the first time. one of my DS2 sons was sick, so we decided to let him sleep in. By the time we got to Epcot Fast pass was gone for the day and there was over a two hour line, as my husband and I were leaving the building saying we would have to wait until the next Disney trip, when this nice couple walked up to us and said they decided to leave for the day and asked if we wanted their Fast Passes for the following hour!!! I was so excited and so happy!! By the way, I loved it!!!