Spreading the magic guest to guest

[Dreamport]

I think the key to any "magical" moment is to sit back and wait for the opportunity to present itself. Don't go looking for that kid to surprise but be surprised when your standing in line and start chatting with the family in front of you and find out that this is maybe their 1st trip or favorite ride and you happen to have a pin that goes along with that conversation - "oh, your 1st trip to WDW, have you heard of pin trading? I would love to give you your 1st pin, you can look at CM's an trade this one with one of theirs or keep it as a souvenier." I guess my point is don't be desperate to create magic but wait for it to just happen. It will feel right.

This is exactly how we 'pay it forward' at Disney. We wait for the "magic to guide us". Last trip, we figured out we had only remembered to use the large bottle of sunscreen we had bought once and wouldn't be able to get it home with us (carry-ons only). I discreetly asked the father of a large family on our same bus back to the resort if they would have any need of some extra sunscreen and explained how it had not really been used. He was very thankful since they had forgotten one of their bottles at home. Granted, germs and whatnot, but it worked out and felt right to ask in this case.

Aside from paper FP-es, a friend and I were waiting in line to meet Flynn & Rapunzel out at Disneyland in the hot sun with a few families with young girls standing around us. I bought a cup of grapes from the fruit cart across the path and, after having a couple, offered some to the parents and then their kids. Normally I would agree with "do not offer food", but this time the parents saw exactly where it came from and it was a nice, if brief, refreshment.

We hope to find some way to spread the magic in upcoming trips but will wait to see if anything strikes our fancy to make someone else smile.

 

[mrsbicewdw]

Last big trip we took, I had a newborn with me. I offered several moms a diaper/wipes/etc when I saw them looking at those items at the little "shops" in the care stations. That was very appreciated each time!

The trip before that we had my niece with us who was five. I had packed a busy bag for her for long waits. Several times over the week long trip we offered to share toys/stickers/etc with the children in line next to us. Helps the long lines pass faster for everyone involved!

When I worked at Y&B we would always have balloons floating around mousekeeping headquarters because guests leave them in the room when they check out. I would take some balloons with me during my turn-down rounds and leave them in rooms I knew had kids along with a cute tableau made up of their Disney toys or dolls. I LOVED spreading pixie dust!

 

[Monykalyn]

Thanks for the glow band idea-was just going to take a few each day for our kids but now I will bring a whole package each day to the parks (they don't weigh much and I usually stock heavily for summer nights at home!)

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We collect lots of pins (big pin traders) Sometimes when we are in stores and see families buying the start up trading packs for their kids, we approach the parents and ask if we can give each child 4-5 pins for them to trade with CM's. The parents and kids are always so nice and it's great for the kids to have some extra pins to trade with along with their starter pack.

We also ask CM's for stickers. When we see a child who has made a minor tumble, a mini melt down ect we ask the parents if we can give them some stickers. It's such a tiny thing but it has often distracted the child from the small problem and the parents are always happy. We never do this without discretely asking the parents first if it's alright.

During MNSSHP, we made her to acknowledge people is costume, adults and kids. Everyone loved being greeted with their character names and it made adults and kids light up! Whether they were a pirate, a princess, a minion, anyone. Absolutely free but so much fun.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

This is a very sweet sentiment but most parent teach their kids not to take gifts from strangers. You would be putting the child in a confusing position.

I always approach the parents first and ask. Usually, we just give pins out to kids. Either a few to trade or something specific. Last trip, this little girl was gushing over meeting Rapunzel. I had a Rapunzel pin that I didn't want so I asked the parent if I could give it to the little girl. No trade necessary, I just wanted to give it to her. The mother was absolutely fine with it and the girl was so excited. I would never do this without asking the parent first.

 

[mcphotography]

I'm trying to think of new ways to pay the magic forward. Here are a couple of ideas i'm thinking of using on our next trip in April. Let me know what you think

- Buying & Giving some Mickey Balloons and giving them away
- Buying & Giving some pins and giving them away
- Buying & Giving away Mickey shaped ricekrispy treats

Oh, and I usually have my 13 year old daughter or wife give the things away (so its not weird as my daughter says)

 

[disneyholic family]

I'm trying to think of new ways to pay the magic forward. Here are a couple of ideas i'm thinking of using on our next trip in April. Let me know what you think

- Buying & Giving some Mickey Balloons and giving them away
- Buying & Giving some pins and giving them away
- Buying & Giving away Mickey shaped ricekrispy treats

Oh, and I usually have my 13 year old daughter or wife give the things away (so its not weird as my daughter says)

food is a no no - they might have a food allergy

 

[pampam]

Mcphotography, your heart is in the right place. I'm sure you would ask the parents first if there is a food allergy, latex allergy (balloons) or can the child have something sharp (pins). Not all cases of paying the magic forward are using money, so something as simple as holding a door, letting someone go first, giving up a seat, are wonderful ideas, but your suggestions are great too. I remember once a teenager at a bus stop gave DD a small figurine she had purchased at the shop on main street. I thought it was a lovely gesture. Another time, someone gave DD a balloon, and when we were finished with it, she passed it on to another child. I've heard of those with extra snack credits from their dining plan who get rice krispie treats and share those. All of your ideas are very sweet. Generous too. I thank you for reviving a great thread.

 

[JimmyV]

food is a no no - they might have a food allergy

Not just that, but the giver has no idea what the dynamic might be between the parent and child. Suppose the child you try to give the treat to just asked her father 5 minutes ago if she could have a Mickey Rice Crispie treat and the father said: "No. You had a piece of carrot cake with your lunch and that is enough sweets for today." You then create an awkward situation of the parent telling your 13 year old who is trying to give away a treat that her gift is not welcome. And confusion by the child in wondering why she cannot accept a gift from the kind 13 year old who offered it to her. A child's food consumption is (or should be) within the complete control of the parent and should be free from outside interference. For allergy reasons. For health reasons. For dietary reasons. For reward reasons. For disciplinary reasons. Please....no food gifting. I know that this same reasoning could apply to pins and balloons. So proceed with caution. But food is really in a league of its own when it comes to parental control.

 

[disneyseniors]

First of all, I love these ideas. They're great! I bought some souveniers(sp?) from our state. We live in a beautiful vacation spot, so thought I'd just give some one these out to deserving CM's. I feel they do a terrific job for very little pay. Well, I forgot to take them with me to the parks! We had a big group and it was too confusing, and I just plain forgot! I also bought glow sticks for the grandkids to use, and yes, I forgot to give these out too. On our check out day, I left the glow sticks, souveniers, and 2 anytime, anywhere priority fast passes ( which we got when a ride broke down while we were on it. They had to manually get us out of the carts and through the entire ride area) We didn't get to use them and I didn't see letting then go to waste. I left these items for the cleaning staff!!! I know they work hard and for minimum wages, and never get the recognition others get, so I just left these items for them with a note to enjoy and thanks for their help while we were staying there. So, I guess this would be counted as a random act of kindness, not planned. My original plan of handing them out to the CM's just didn't happen, so this last minute plan really worked out. I also had 10 unused CS credits left on the day b efore we left. My daughter, soninlaw, and 3 kids had run out of theirs and had 3 days left! So, we included them on our dining credits and we were able to use up those left over credits. They really appreciated it because 2 teenage boys can eat a lot! I just didn't realize we hadn't used them before then. Anyway, I'm rambling but wanted to put a different slant on the "giving" thing. By the way, I used to clean cabins, so know how much we appreciated tips or being left nice items

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So, this occurred on our trip:

Sorceror's of the Magic Kingdom. Kids love trading cards and is parents didn't think it was creepy.

Even better, one of the other families ran into a benefactor who gave one of the girls a Frozen Sorceror's card.

If this is a game you play, please enjoy it.
If you have no desire to keep your cards--well, to my kids, that would be better than an unneeded paper fast pass.

I don't play the game, so I give all my cards to my 4 year old who plans the game very very slowly.

If you don't play the game, you can still pick up one pack of cards and then pass that pixie dust out as you see for when you come across players playing the game. Technically, you can get additional cards on each day you visit MK, but you must have started the game (experts will have to weigh in what these means--I think you have to open the first portal).

Anyway-not perfect...and only good in the MK. But a way to spread free pixie dust that shouldn't freak out most parents familiar with SOTMK.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

oh, and OP, one thing you might want to consider, is OTHER kids seeing what you are doing, and then being upset / wondering why it wasn't done for them as well. Just throwing this out there to you as something to be aware of, from the kind of thing I see on the playground with my own kids

As a mom of 4 and soon to be 5, this doesn't bother me. Acts of kindness aren't intended to be all or no one. I don't think OP needs to be too concerned with this.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I kind of agree with this.

Disney is already such overload for children, there isn't a shortage of "magic" there, which is why we all love it. People who go there have already managed to afford what is not an inexpensive vacation or even ticket. Maybe save the money and donate a few gifts to a women's shelter at the holidays or go volunteer at a nursing home or a food pantry. I think those are the places that could use a little more magic. WDW has enough.

I guess that depends on the guest. Some folks come back complaining of the laid of pixie dust.

While I agree about donating to places in need, we don't know of the OP doesn't already do something like that.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I guess that depends on the guest. Some folks come back complaining of the laid of pixie dust.

While I agree about donating to places in need, we don't know of the OP doesn't already do something like that.

I never said the OP didn't do something like that, please stop twisting my words.

 

[surferdave]

I made my position on this issue abundantly clear in that other thread. However, if you insist on buying trinkets to give to other guests, please don't target them based on whether you think they look poor, or face potentially stumbling upon one of your recipients on a message board 18 months later and totally offending them, thus undoing the pixie dust moment .

Yep. I remember two threads like this getting off the rails: the one where the proud good deed doer said she was actively seeking out people at WDW who looked poor (and someone she had given her little home made dolls to responded in surprise that they looked poor), and the person who was kindly & literally pixie dusting people, as in sprinkling very fine glitter on them.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I never said the OP didn't do something like that, please stop twisting my words.

I quoted your post verbatim and responded accordingly. I did not twist your words. You have a suggestion of where the money would be better spent. There may be other interpretations of this, but in context--my interpretation of your words as you wrote them was "not necessary, donate instead." And since we don't know (but now do since they felt compelled to post after what you said)--if they do donate, it comes across as an assumption that they don't and must be clueless that there are folks in need of charity and that is unfair to the person soliciting ideas for acts of kindness.

 

[GotLabradors]

It must be exhausting to live a life where people are constantly looking for ways to be offended at gestures from strangers that are intended to be nothing but a random act of kindness.

 

[SuperTink]

It must be exhausting to live a life where people are constantly looking for ways to be offended at gestures from strangers that are intended to be nothing but a random act of kindness.

Agreed.

 

[JimmyV]

It must be exhausting to live a life where people are constantly looking for ways to be offended at gestures from strangers that are intended to be nothing but a random act of kindness.

No more exhausting than it is to spend time conjuring up ways to make oneself feel special by trying to "spread magic" to people who are already immersed in it. The whole point of the original post is to pre-plan and calculate ways to weave their "magic" into other peoples' vacations. That is the very antithesis of a random act of kindness. I don't think too many people would quarrel with true random acts of kindness. But plotting ways to give trinkets to kids is anything but.

 

[disneyholic family]

Not just that, but the giver has no idea what the dynamic might be between the parent and child. Suppose the child you try to give the treat to just asked her father 5 minutes ago if she could have a Mickey Rice Crispie treat and the father said: "No. You had a piece of carrot cake with your lunch and that is enough sweets for today." You then create an awkward situation of the parent telling your 13 year old who is trying to give away a treat that her gift is not welcome. And confusion by the child in wondering why she cannot accept a gift from the kind 13 year old who offered it to her. A child's food consumption is (or should be) within the complete control of the parent and should be free from outside interference. For allergy reasons. For health reasons. For dietary reasons. For reward reasons. For disciplinary reasons. Please....no food gifting. I know that this same reasoning could apply to pins and balloons. So proceed with caution. But food is really in a league of its own when it comes to parental control.

totally agree!! i was in a rush when i wrote my quickie "food is a no no"
had to run out the door..
but i totally agree with your more thought out answer...