Yellowstonetim
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 22, 2013
- Messages
- 1,658
At Disney we are programmed to receive. That is, we are on vacation and the mouse is second to none at helping us have a wonderful time, even to the point of CMs doing those little things that give us an encouraging lift; that little bit of extra pixie dust. It is what we all love about the mouse. So why not join the festivities and pay it forward? My children are grown now and I dont have to be totally focused on them, so I have a little time to look around at Disney. Join me and have some fun by spreading some magic yourself! While we all must be careful not to take on any role that belongs to a CM, and to behave properly around strangers children, there is plenty we can do to share the magic. I think I heard some where the idea that we should love your neighbor as yourself.
Here are a few of my ideas. What are some of yours?
Plan ahead to be positive! Even when tired or faced with others improper behavior keep your cool. If they are unhappy or behaving badly, dont let it ruin your day. More grumpy people wont help produce pixie dust. A group of people responding poorly make a situation worse. A group of people responding with grace and patience often turn a bad situation good.
Assume the best not the worst! Maybe the child is grumpy or those people are having issues because of a special need you dont know about. Maybe the grumpy child is at Disney while struggling with cancer or that adult is struggling with some unseen issue in their life. Cut them some slack and assume there is a good reason. Wouldnt you feel terrible if you gave someone terrible looks only to discover later that this was a special needs situation? Its DISNEY WORLD, we should all be a little more tolerant! Youll need to be careful, though, because kindness and tolerance are contagious!
If you see someone in any kind of distress and no CMs are aware, find a CM quickly and point them to the distressed person or situation. Especially if it is a child alone! Help when you need to, but finding a CM is often the best solution.
Look for buttons and special shirts and congratulate or wish them a happy birthday, anniversary, or whatever. A number of people have noted on these forums that when wearing birthday buttons they got extra pixie dust because so many said happy birthday! What an easy way to make a child feel special!
We have all seen some parent having a difficult time with a child/children and the parent seems upset by the commotion and disapproving looks of those nearby. Say something nice or even just smile. Let them know it is OK. We who are parents have all been there. AND THIS IS DISNEY FOR GOODNESS SAKE! ITS SUPPOSED TO BE FULL OF CHILDREN! Give them a break.
Compliment parents of well-behaved children! This is my favorite and gets the most bang-for-the-buck. It is downright fun! We all notice and are irritated by misbehaving, stressed, tired children. But everyone seems oblivious to the well behaved ones. Take note of those kids near you in line or at the table next to you in the restaurant. When you see good behavior, tell the parents. This one always gets a fantastic response. The last time I did this was in a restaurant at Disney cant remember which one and a family with 2 children sat right across the aisle from us. I watched them through dinner and the kids were so well behaved! When we got up to leave, I walked right over and said, Excuse, me but you have very well behaved children. It was a pleasure to sit next to them at dinner. The response from the young parents was priceless: Confused, then surprised, then pleased, then filled with pride as they looked at their children. When you do this Ill almost guarantee the parents will say thank you and address the kids with smiles, pats, hugs. Sometimes they will have to explain to the confused children just what happened. (The kids will be confused because when someone comments about their behavior to a parent it is almost always bad.) What a positive teaching moment youve just provided! And Mom and Dad will tell everyone when they get home.
Oh, and be extra nice to Cast Members, they can use it!
What are your ideas for being a part of the magic? (In an appropriate way, of course,) Dont assume the simple ones are obvious to everyone, go ahead and list them.
Here are a few of my ideas. What are some of yours?
Plan ahead to be positive! Even when tired or faced with others improper behavior keep your cool. If they are unhappy or behaving badly, dont let it ruin your day. More grumpy people wont help produce pixie dust. A group of people responding poorly make a situation worse. A group of people responding with grace and patience often turn a bad situation good.
Assume the best not the worst! Maybe the child is grumpy or those people are having issues because of a special need you dont know about. Maybe the grumpy child is at Disney while struggling with cancer or that adult is struggling with some unseen issue in their life. Cut them some slack and assume there is a good reason. Wouldnt you feel terrible if you gave someone terrible looks only to discover later that this was a special needs situation? Its DISNEY WORLD, we should all be a little more tolerant! Youll need to be careful, though, because kindness and tolerance are contagious!
If you see someone in any kind of distress and no CMs are aware, find a CM quickly and point them to the distressed person or situation. Especially if it is a child alone! Help when you need to, but finding a CM is often the best solution.
Look for buttons and special shirts and congratulate or wish them a happy birthday, anniversary, or whatever. A number of people have noted on these forums that when wearing birthday buttons they got extra pixie dust because so many said happy birthday! What an easy way to make a child feel special!
We have all seen some parent having a difficult time with a child/children and the parent seems upset by the commotion and disapproving looks of those nearby. Say something nice or even just smile. Let them know it is OK. We who are parents have all been there. AND THIS IS DISNEY FOR GOODNESS SAKE! ITS SUPPOSED TO BE FULL OF CHILDREN! Give them a break.
Compliment parents of well-behaved children! This is my favorite and gets the most bang-for-the-buck. It is downright fun! We all notice and are irritated by misbehaving, stressed, tired children. But everyone seems oblivious to the well behaved ones. Take note of those kids near you in line or at the table next to you in the restaurant. When you see good behavior, tell the parents. This one always gets a fantastic response. The last time I did this was in a restaurant at Disney cant remember which one and a family with 2 children sat right across the aisle from us. I watched them through dinner and the kids were so well behaved! When we got up to leave, I walked right over and said, Excuse, me but you have very well behaved children. It was a pleasure to sit next to them at dinner. The response from the young parents was priceless: Confused, then surprised, then pleased, then filled with pride as they looked at their children. When you do this Ill almost guarantee the parents will say thank you and address the kids with smiles, pats, hugs. Sometimes they will have to explain to the confused children just what happened. (The kids will be confused because when someone comments about their behavior to a parent it is almost always bad.) What a positive teaching moment youve just provided! And Mom and Dad will tell everyone when they get home.
Oh, and be extra nice to Cast Members, they can use it!
What are your ideas for being a part of the magic? (In an appropriate way, of course,) Dont assume the simple ones are obvious to everyone, go ahead and list them.
