Simple Thing a Cast Member Did...

[jacksonsmom]

I have many over the years, but 2 stand out from our last trip a week ago.

#1, we were in AK, we were sitting in Pizzafari, having a drink and trying to cool off. We were the only ones in the room, it was around 3pm so way after the lunch crowd. My son and I were just chatting and I said to him "do you want a snack as long as we are here?" He said "what do they have?" Then a CM who was changing the trash near us, said "you want to know what is on the dessert menu, I can tell you" and he started to name the desserts. Then my son said to me "chocolate mousse sounds good" The CM started talking and asked my son if this was his first trip, he said "no" I laughed and said "No, not our first we just love coming here to the Happiest Place on Earth" At this time I was digging out some money to get my son the chocolate mousse. The CM said "stay right here, I will be right back"
He then comes back and hands my son a chocolate mousse and said "enjoy" Then he hands me a cupcake and said "this is for being mom and bringing your son to the happiest place on Earth"

Very simple, but he really made my son and I feel very special.

#2 we were trying to get FPs for Splash Mountain, well our cards were not working (APs and got demagnetized) anyway I went to the CM at the FPs and said I think our cards got demagnetized.
So the CM hands out FPs, which I said Thank you and was going to use them for later. The FP time was for about 3 hours later so I thought that was the FPs he gave us.
He then said "you can use those now!" I got really excited because it was hot and my son and I both really wanted to ride Splash now, but didn't want to wait 50 minutes in line.
I told the CM you just made our day -- Thank you!
And we ran into Splash

#3 (I know I said 2, but this is a goodie) same trip a week ago.
First this trip was suppose to be myself, DH and DS, but because of a situation beyond our control DH had to postpone coming with us. Instead of all of us cancelling our trip DH told DS and I to go. I know he was bummed, he enjoys Disney just as much. Anyway, we were at DHS waiting for a parade and my son wanted to call his dad to tell me the T-shirt he made for him at the T-shirt place at DTD. So DS was talking to his dad on the cell phone. Then a DHS street performer came up to DS and wanted to know who he was talking too, etc. I said he was talking to his dad. She wanted to talk to him. So DS hands the phone over to the street performer. It was SO FUNNY! She was asking if he was married and she wants to marry him because his son is adorable. Everyone around us was laughing.

This lady has no idea that she really made DH's day. Even though he couldn't be with us at Disney this time, he got a little taste of Disney magic 2,000+ miles back home!

I have many, many more little simple things that happened to us, but it would take a book.
99% of the CMs we encounter are wonderful!!!
They have even left an impression on my son (going to be 12) he wants to someday get in the college program at Disney so he can spread some magic to people on vacation.

Sometimes it really is just the simple things that can make your day and why we keep coming back to the Happiest Place on Earth

 

[MapleGirl]

I just finished reading all 13 pages. It is so nice to read stories that remind me of my favorite place! I have a few to share from over the years.

We once had a bus driver (DTD Resort hotels, not a WDW bus driver) who made our drive to the park lots of fun. He would have everyone say "Ooh - Aah" when we went over speed bumps and entertained us with his "Fun Armadillo Facts."

During our honeymoon DH and I stayed at the Poly. We ended up getting sick while there and the CM's were so nice. The servers at Kona Cafe brought us chicken soup and made us special desserts for our honeymoon every night. The hotel staff also sent us a gift basket to our room when we checked in to congratulate us. When we decided that we were too sick and had to go home the CM's were very concerned and helpful. They refunded our unused hotel nights and helped us reschedule our return flights.

On another trip we stayed at the ASM. When we checked in they upgraded us to a suite!

A photopass photographer in HS once gave us a private photoshoot. She spent over an hour with us and took us all around the park taking pictures of us in silly poses. She was wonderful and we really enjoyed hanging out with her. We made sure to fill our a compliment card at Guest Relations on our way out and we bought her an ice cream.

DH has a pair of PotC Crocs that he loves. I got them from crocs.com. While we were in Epcot the strap broke off. I went into Mouse Gears to see if they had an extra toggle so I could fix them. The wonderful CM apologized for not having a toggle or for being able to replace the PotC crocs as they were not sold in the park. Then she told me to pick out a new pair of Mickey Head crocs for DH free of charge! She also told me to email Crocs when I got home to get some toggles. I did and now DH has two pairs of Disney Crocs that he loves.

We had another photopass photographer spend about 15 minutes with us in Japan taking all sorts of wonderful picture of us in the gardens.

A CM in the Twining's shop once spent about 30 minutes with me telling me about all the candy bars they sold and about the differences between British and American chocolate. I got some great candy based upon her recommendation and really enjoyed that conversation.

DH and I once spent a long time talking to a CM at the meerkat enclosure in AK. She told us all about the meerkats, the habitats, AK and what it's like to work in the CP. She was a wealth of knowledge and really made our visit to AK much more special.

We once visited Epcot on Mother's Day. The CM's at the turnstyles were handing out roses to all the women as they entered the park. I thought that was just lovely.

These are just some of the wonderful things that have happened to us in WDW. Truly, the CM's are what make it such a special place.

 

[Lowell317]

On our first disney trip together, DW (then fiance) and I were walking into MK to start our vacation. Neither of us had been to DW in at least a decade. She was wearing a tiara and walked up to get her bag checked. The man, who was in his 60s or so, said "Come this way princess". Well that did it. the rest of the day, trip, and our life I'm regularly reminded of how she's a legit princess.

My friends who have never gone have no idea how much fun it can be as an adult. The magic isn't just for kids!

 

[jhyman]

One of our first stops on our trip last month was to meet Buzz Lightyear at MK. I’m sure lots of 3-year-old boys idolize Buzz, but I’m not sure anyone loves Buzz as much as my son does.

I mentioned to the PhotoPass photographer to take as many pictures as he could, explaining that my son had spent 3 weeks in the hospital earlier in the year, how much Buzz means to him, and how much him meeting Buzz meant to us. A CM overheard my story, pulled me aside, and gave me a voucher for a free 8x10 picture.

That voucher probably cost Disney 50 cents, yet it proved invaluable to my family that someone thought to do something nice for us.

 

[live4christp1]

1. The last few months of school (as DS 13 was thinking about what plan of action to take as he prepares to enter high school this fall - they have to do a course of study) he and I were spending a lot of time looking up info on schools that had strong zoology programs. He has said since he was 3 that he was going to be a zoo keeper/have his own zoo someday. So we have been busy looking at what classes he really needed to take (above those required by the state) and community service (he will be volunteering at our local zoo), etc.

While at the Animal Kingdom this year he had a chance to talk to several of the CMs, some of them there on a college intern, and they all encouraged him so much and just repeated what I had already talked to him about, etc. Didn't cost Disney anything but meant the world to him to hear what they were saying and encouraging him and commending him for his knowledge of animals.

2. DD is a red - head. She doesn't love her hair color and often comments that she wishes it were different. So many CMs always compliment her on it. When she is in costume several of them would address her like, "Good morning Cinderella, I really love what you have done with your hair, I think that color looks so wonderful on you." etc.

3. DH used his military back pack to carry around the parks. One of the custodial CMs noticed it and thanked him for his service several times and chatted for a few minutes while we rested on a bench at the Animal Kingdom.


Yes - little things - that's what makes Disney different than any other park I've ever been to. We don't go with the expectation that this better happen and that better happen. We don't try to force magical moments to happen. We find them in the everyday little things.

 

[Goofyluver]

We were there for our honeymoon a few weeks ago. We were both wearing matching "Just Married" shirts.

When we were in the Emporium, we were approached by a CM named Nicole. She congratulated us on our marriage and asked if we wanted some pixie dust.

She insisted that she needed to give us a confetti of every color so that we had a "rainbow of pixie dust".

She also insisted on giving us "Happily Ever After" pins as well as "Happy Anniversary" pins, which she says means we need to come back to Disney on our first anniversary.

She fawned over us and spent tons of time with us, including showing us to all of the different rainbow merchandise that they had in their store. We, of course, thanks to her, bought everything she recommended, from pins to rainbow Mickey head antenna toppers.

We loved Nicole and she really made our visit to the Emporium special.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

On our first disney trip together, DW (then fiance) and I were walking into MK to start our vacation. Neither of us had been to DW in at least a decade. She was wearing a tiara and walked up to get her bag checked. The man, who was in his 60s or so, said "Come this way princess". Well that did it. the rest of the day, trip, and our life I'm regularly reminded of how she's a legit princess.

My friends who have never gone have no idea how much fun it can be as an adult. The magic isn't just for kids!

HAHAHA this is great.

 

[ccudmore]

A couple years ago my daughter (who was 8 at the time) realized that somewhere during the day she'd lost a charm from her necklace that her best friend had given her when they were there together 2 years earlier.

She broke down in tears. A wonderful CM came over to see what was wrong, and gave her a "special pin" that she said no one else in the park would have. She also wrote a note on a piece of paper and told my daughter to take it to the store where we'd gotten the charm 2 years earlier and that she said it was okay for us to get a replacement for free.

We went to the store at the MK the next day and handed them the note and no questions asked they gave us a replacement charm.

My daughter is now 11 and still wears that charm whenever she can.

 

[ppb1701]

Mines not exactly an extremely upbeat one, last year when I went down to a work conference and stayed a few days later for vacation at coronda some cm's at the maya grill helped me on what turned out to be a horrible morning. The trip had gone great, lots of fun and we were heading out to dhs for our last day when my bb buzzed. One of my best friends had passed away in the night. The CM's worked out getting us a quiet spot in the back even though we hadn't made an adr for there so I could try to pull myself back together.

If anyone working/worked there is reading...thank you

 

[awoogala]

So many nice stories!
We have a couple:
1. We won a trip to disney. Amazing all by itself, it just got better and better.. we were to open the park- such an amazing experience.. opened mickey's house, etc (see my pic). Anyway, we screwed up, and our camera was not charged fully! The cm said no way can we let you miss this! They ran and grabbed free disposable cameras from the nearest shop and continued to snap away for us!
2. We had the best fairy interaction! We got up there, saw Iridessa. she asked who the kids fave fairy was... tink was up next... my kids yelled "Fawn!!" well, Fawn was supposed to be third... but all the fairies joined in to rib tink about them liking fawn best, and fawn- well, fawned over them! (and their crocs, which had fawn jibbitz!)
3. back to the free trip- the cm at the front desk at boardwalk went above and beyond to fix everything- even transferred some tickets and gave us a gift card with the difference after going to his manager...!

can't wait to see what happens in November!

 

[awoogala]

1.
2. DD is a red - head. She doesn't love her hair color and often comments that she wishes it were different. So many CMs always compliment her on it. When she is in costume several of them would address her like, "Good morning Cinderella, I really love what you have done with your hair, I think that color looks so wonderful on you." etc.

.

Don't know if you've seen, yet- but Disney/Pixar has a NEW Princess movie coming out: "Brave" Features a flame-haired Irish Princess!

 

[Tinkerbell Teen]

I already posted somewhere in this thread, but another moment just came to me today that I wanted to share.

We were meeting the princesses on our first night in Disney this past April. I have pretty bad anxiety when it comes to flying, my stomach is in knots and I always get really stressed out. For some reason, I managed to go the whole flight to Orlando without feeling too badly and I was really proud of myself.

When we met Belle I mentioned we just arrived that day and she asked how we got there, and I said that we flew. She smiled and said "Oh, that sounds scary. You must have been very brave." Considering the emotional turmoil that flying usually sends me through, it felt pretty cool that a princess thought I was brave.

That CM didn't even know it, but she made the prospect of getting back on that airplane a week later a lot less scary for me.

 

[jjas]

So on one of our trips to the World we went with our close friends - there were a total of 7 of us - 4 adults, their DD3, our youngest DD7 and our oldest DD13 (a bit of an awkward age and time for her). So anyway, we are having a great time, meeting tons of characters who naturally tend to fawn over the younger girls, but still include the older.

So one day we are at MGM (that's what it was at the time) and we come across a ton of characters in the backlot area. There are like 4 or 5 of the toy soldiers from Toy Story and they just go crazy making over the 13-year old. Trust me - the smile on her face in those pictures was PRICELESS!!

Now the girls are 18 and 25 and we are going back for more magic - May 2012!!

 

[revdon64]

Best. Thread. Ever.

Ours was pretty simple yet so profound for us. On our trip in May this year it was quite a bit warmer than we had anticipated. We have a small son (almost 18 months now, more like 15 months then) and we were concerned with keeping him cool in the heat. Several time my DW tried to purchase a cup of ice to put in his juice bottle and every time the CM said "Pixie Dust - No Charge." Like I said, simple yet profound.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

Last year, my kids woke up the morning of our trip expecting to go to school. Instead, we surprised them with a 10-day Disney trip leaving... (drum roll)... RIGHT NOW! The kids were SOOOO excited! We rushed around packing carry on and my DH went to get me a Starbucks (I'd been up until 3 a.m. hiding clues to the scavenger hunt that announced to them that we were going) and we were up at 7.

My DH rushed back into the house and announced our luggage, which we had packed into our car at 1:30 a.m. so it wouldn't give away the surprise in the morning, had been stolen out of the car, parked in our driveway. We live in a very nice community and couldn't have been more surprised. The kids started crying "now we're not going to Disney!" but all I could think about was we had packed ALL of our summer stuff, our comfy shoes, and Disney souvenirs from previous trips... and had to leave for the airport in less than an hour!

Long story short, we found the luggage in the woods behind our house and nothing had been stolen, but we were all shaken up and stressed out! We encountered 6 police vehicles on the highway on the way to the airport so had to keep our speed down though we were now running late and got lost on the way to the airport (let's just say we went the LOOOONG way around!).

Good news was we made it there on time, but what an ominous start to the vacation. While waiting for the CBR shuttle to take us to our area of the resort after checking in, we shared this story with a lovely CM. She asked what were doing and we told her just going back to the room, as we had planned on using our first day of tickets the next day, but boy oh boy could we use a Dole Whip Float, just to settle our nerves and get us in the spirit! She walked inside and came out with four park passes to MK, asking if we would use them that day to go to MK and get Dole Whip Floats - OF COURSE we would!

I cannot tell you how her kindness made what started out as a very emotional day a wonderful one for us, and truly started our vacation off on the right foot! God bless all the CMs out there for going above and beyond and making Disney vacations some of the fondest memories we have with our kids! You guys are AWESOME!

 

[singastory]

Mine isn't super amazing, but it's the little things that matter to each person, right??

We were in Disney last August, my first trip to Disney in the summertime. I hadn't done any research or planning because I hadn't on any of my previous trips, but boy was I surprised. To make things worse, my DBf was with me (his first time to Disney) and he is NOT a crowd person or a heat person. PLUS to top it all off, I had spent the previous few months with a strange illness that had kept me on the couch pretty much all day, so I was really out of shape. Not my most enjoyable trip to Disney.

It was our Epcot day and we were in the Mexico pavillion in the late afternoon. I was really hot so I had gotten a smoothie or something similar from a stand outside. We got in line for the Three Caballeros ride but the CM said I couldn't bring my drink in with me. I said okay, and asked instead to trade pins with her. I had been getting not so great responses from CMs when trying to trade pins, I'm not sure why, but she let me do my thing. Well, we walk away for a while so I can finish my drink and then eventually get back in line. The same CM saw us, took us out of line, and brought us around in a special aisle and placed us right in the front of the line and had us sit in the front of the boat. It was only the Gran Fiesta Tour, not very exciting, but it still made us feel really special. I also think it made a big impact on my DBf who doesn't have the brightest outlook about people sometimes. I love that story, it always puts a smile on my face.

 

[saysay]

I was waiting in line for a dole whip, friends went to get mickey ice cream bars...and the CM gave them their bars for free. No reason, just because. I missed out, but they were all smiles when they came over. Oh well, it was worth the wait and cost for my whip.

 

[KJMAX1]

Last time in WDW we were at DHS and a CM came up to my SIL first and asked if we had time for something "brief" that wouldnt take too much of our time. My SIL looked at me, and I said I wasnt sure as my sister wasnt with our group yet. He told me to hurry and make sure I get her. I immediately spotted her in a store and told her to follow us for something. I told her I was hoping it wasnt a DVC promo or anything. We were taken by the CM to some offices behind Guest Relations. When we got to a long hallway, he told all our little kids to knock on the door three times and then open it. When the door opened, there were 3 princess' and Aladdin! My kids got to spend about 15 minutes privately with them. It was a dream come true that night!

I should also add, we were "stuck" in Toon Town and it was VERY late. So we decided to go see Tink. While walking out a CM came running up and said dont leave. They brought out all the princess' for us in the hallway before going out into the store.

Another time my oldest DS was barely 1. He was toddling at this age, and wasnt able to sit through shows. My mom and my DH took my 4yr old into Abe Lincoln at DL. It was late at night and my DS and I were waiting outside the Mad Hatter. Well up comes Mickey Mouse and takes my DS into his arms, and plays with him, with what seems to feel like FOREVER!! It was my 1yr old and Mickey walking Main Street on their own. I have a few photos from it because photo pass wasnt going back then, and I think Mickey came out to say goodnight as the park was already emptying, and my camera ran out of batteries! Its a very dear memory for me though.

 

[coachb]

Blueberries.

On her first trip to Disney, our DD3 was enjoying breakfast at Cinderella's Castle. CM saw our daughter eating only the blueberries out of her fruit salad. The CM asked if she would like some more fruit salad. She declined because she "only liked the blueberries". Well, the CM returned with a LARGE bowl of "blueberries just for the Princess".

She is now 7 and has been to Disney 2x. After all the fireworks, rides, shows, character greetings etc this is, invariably, the memory she refers to the most about our Disney vacations.

Blueberries.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Here's another.. wasn't pixie dust for me, but for the guest in front of me.. DD and I were in line "first" to meet Snow White in Germany, following her short break. While she was on break, a woman with a special needs child came up and got in line behind us. We were all chatting with the cast member, and she pulled the mom aside for a min. When they returned, the cast member asked if I minded if they got in front of me. Of course it wasn't an issue..but man do I wish I would have just left the line and come back later. It turns out that the girl was very seriously ill, this was her make a wish trip, and all the little girl wanted to do was meet snow white. When Snow White returned from her break, the CM quickly approached her, whispered in her ear..and then the magic.. Snow White started twirling around in her skirt saying she had just heard about her friend coming to visit her, and called the girl by name. The little girls eyes lit up..Snow white took the wheel chair and started walking around the area with her, took her to the "wishing well" to make a wish, and the little girl was just smiling from ear to ear. I was now sobbing at this point. Not sniffling..full fledge sobbing.. I had to turn away to the back of the line, and there was not a dry eye to be found. DD kept asking why everyone was crying, and I couldn't even get the words out of my mouth.

When people ask me why I go back to Disney so often, I can't help but say "why wouldn't I".

What a heart wrenching story!

Your last sentence sums it all up for me.

This happens to be the best thread, ever!