Sometimes it is about what you give...Stories anyone?

[acourtwdw]

Last fall, we ran the EE race in Sept. The swag includes a one day pass to either EP or AK. As AP holders, they don't have any value for us. One afternoon as we were leaving AK, I asked a man in line to purchase tickets what he was getting. He said a 1 day AK pass. I told him he had answered correctly and handed him ours. He wanted to pay me for them but I told him just to pay it forward

 

[dissybroad]

howdy! how do i give away a stroller i don't need, i mean, how do you find someone who needs it? what's the etiquette? i'm a die-hard freecycler so the idea appeals to me.

 

[The Hendies]

Don't forget CM's! When we went for my B'Day so many CM's wished me a Happy Birthday that I began glancing at their names so I could say "Thank You ______ ! The following year I collected a bunch of dollar coins (Sacajawea) and CM's who where particularly helpful, giving (YOAMD) or kind, I gave them a coin. It's true that is is more blessed to give than to receive!!

 

[mary0305]

We handed out cards to CM's who did something special or looked like they could use a smile. We also left one with each tip for our servers at meals. Every CM was really amazed and thankful for this small gesture from us and our children.

I printed 8 on a sheet of card stock (this made each card business size) and then cut apart and decorated with small Disney stickers that I got from the Dollar Tree.

Example of what I put on the card.

"Thanks for making our trip Magical" or
"Thanks for the Magical Moment"

Special Thanks from
The Smith Family
Franklin, TN
October, 2008

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

howdy! how do i give away a stroller i don't need, i mean, how do you find someone who needs it? what's the etiquette? i'm a die-hard freecycler so the idea appeals to me.

Well - there are several approaches. We just got back from WDW and my husband was trying to give away extra fastpasses and NO ONE wanted them! They gave him that 'what are you selling?' look So we went over to the fast pass machines and offered them to some folks who hadn't gotten them yet, they were skeptical then realized there were no strings attached!

For a stroller, I'd like to hear what the other person on this post did as well. I have left a stroller but I left all the gear in the room and let the hotel know that it could be passed on. I'm not sure that was the best thing to do but you never know! I figured at the very least, maybe someone working there needed some of these items or that the hotel would honor my wishes that the gear be passed on to a guest who called asking where they could find one.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

i surely enjoyed reading all these!

Would i look weird if i handed out stuff with no kids? I love the paying it forward idea, but i have no kids.

 

[JeMarie6]

howdy! how do i give away a stroller i don't need, i mean, how do you find someone who needs it? what's the etiquette? i'm a die-hard freecycler so the idea appeals to me.

You can donate the strollers and other items to Give Kids the World...1-800-995-KIDS....I understand that someone will come pick it up from your resort....www.gktw.org

 

[turkeymama]

Last year, we drove to WDW instead of flying. I forgot that I left a huge bag of Mardi Gras beads in the back of my truck. We never really thought about giving them away at first. We all just put several strands of beads on and headed out to the parks. It turned out to be a conversation starter with some people (I think from Wisconsin) and we handed them a few of our beads. It made them so happy. From that point on, we gave beads out to almost anyone and everyone we talked to, including a few CMs. This was during the Food and Wine Festival, so we also gave some to the people who were there in the Louisiana booth. It really was a lot of fun.

 

[P&L@WDW]

i surely enjoyed reading all these!

Would i look weird if i handed out stuff with no kids? I love the paying it forward idea, but i have no kids.

Nope, not weird at all! I don't have children, and have never had issues with giving things out. Just be sure to check with parents before giving something to their child(ren).

 

[CarolinaGirl453]

My husband loves pin trading. So every year he scours ebay to find small lots of pins to use as give-aways. He loads his lanyard up at the start of each day. When some child on a bus or monorail or in a restaurant asks to look at his pins, he lets them pick one they like and gives it to them.

One of our favorite give-aways was to a little girl (about 3 years old) on the monorail. She was dressed like tinkerbelle. He just happened to have a tink pin that day to offer her. Her mother cried.

 

[magicaldisney11]

I would just like to say to all of you and everyone like you, THANK YOU!! Your all a great group of people and coming from someone who has to scrimp and save to bring their kids to WDW and some of the extras once were there are a "no" it is really appreciated. You all ROCK!!

 

[magicaldisney11]

I would just like to say to all of you and everyone like you, THANK YOU!! Your all a great group of people and coming from someone who has to scrimp and save to bring their kids to WDW and some of the extras once were there are a "no" it is really appreciated. You all ROCK!!

 

[minniebeth]

We've given lots of things away throughout our stays, ie fast passes, pins, etc. but on our last trip the two things that made us feel nice to pass along were:
It was the end of our trip and we hadn't used our 30min arcade card that comes with the WDW package. My DS had just been to DisneyQuest, so he was arcade-ed out and found a family in the resort lobby with a young son and asked the parents if he would like to have it. DS was so happy when he saw how excited the boy was!

We were all situated in front of the castle one night waiting for Wishes and we were sitting next to a family with a little girl who was crying so hard because she had a headache. I took out my backpack a.k.a. 'everything and the kitchen sink backpack' (my kids call it that because I have tons of wipes and antibacterial soap in it) and took out a bottle of Children's Tylenol for her. I would be leary taking medication from another person I didn't know but the bottle wasn't opened yet and was still sealed. They were very much appreciative.

It's the little kindnesses that go a long way and make a difference and there are so many kind people out there at WDW!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

On our most recent trip to Disney, we had some friends come visit us at the hotel (Poly). We didn't necessarily give them things (ok, a couple light up sticks) but we did give them a fun time! They don't usually go to Disney (even though they live in St. Cloud, it is expensive for them and they certainly wouldn't stay at a resort since they live so close) so it was a treat for their kids! We went swimming then watched the fireworks and EWP from the beach. It was great to see our friends again and their kids had such a nice treat!

And we received a lot of stickers from cast members last time too. My kids LOVED the stickers so thank you to the CMs and to all the people who give these away! Such an inexpensive way to make the kids happy.

 

[rosiep]

I've given away FastPasses and Ponchos, offer to take family photos and occasionally paid for the meal or snack behind me but my favorite way to give magic is to simply engage people.

On one trip I noticed an older woman with her grown daughter and her daughter's family. This woman looked so pretty: well groomed with a matching necklace and earrings...so I tapped her shoulder and said I just had to comment on how nice she looked. Well.....her eyes got a little teary and she proceeded to tell me that her husband recently passed away and since he usually accompanied the family on their Disney trips she was hesitant about going alone...she gave me a big hug and said that every morning her husband would tell her just how nice she looked and that she "knew" my remark was his way of telling her that he was still with her.

I felt like a million bucks...so simple...just to reach out.

Thanks OP, for starting this thread!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I can't wait to read the whold thread, but I firmly believe that what goes around comes around. Random acts of kindness not only make you feel good, but the giver can get more out of the gift than the receiver.

We have also give out fast passes, my teen boys are great at holding doors, and we've walked all the way to cars (opposite direction of where we need to go) to help people who need assistance.

I love to take pictures for families so that they can all be in the picture. We all have those pictures where one member of the family is missing

I will randomly walk up to anyone taking a picture and offer. Most times if we want a picture the same place that I will offer to take there picture if they willl take one of my family. I don't think I've ever been turned down.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I've given away FastPasses and Ponchos, offer to take family photos and occasionally paid for the meal or snack behind me but my favorite way to give magic is to simply engage people.

On one trip I noticed an older woman with her grown daughter and her daughter's family. This woman looked so pretty: well groomed with a matching necklace and earrings...so I tapped her shoulder and said I just had to comment on how nice she looked. Well.....her eyes got a little teary and she proceeded to tell me that her husband recently passed away and since he usually accompanied the family on their Disney trips she was hesitant about going alone...she gave me a big hug and said that every morning her husband would tell her just how nice she looked and that she "knew" my remark was his way of telling her that he was still with her.

I felt like a million bucks...so simple...just to reach out.

Thanks OP, for starting this thread!

This just brought tears to my eyes! It never hurts to compliment people and this is just extra special.

 

[rosiep]

This just brought tears to my eyes! It never hurts to compliment people and this is just extra special.

It really was an amazing moment and I'm not sure which of us benefited more. It made me so happy that I could have that kind of impact....we all can in fact. I make sure that I try to do so everywhere, everyday...because sometimes it's as easy as offering a smile, or holding a door... such simple gestures can change a persons whole day from rotten to better.

 

[S. C.]

This just brought tears to my eyes! It never hurts to compliment people and this is just extra special.

Mine too!

 

[S. C.]

We always do the glow bracelets too. We always take people with us to the GM/Test Track lounge and then to the front of the line. Love it when we come across families who have never been on it before.