That one moment **TISSUE ALERT**

[JoMarie]

1st visit, 1972. I'm turning 3. I remember very clearly walking up to the TTC and seeing the castle. I wouldn't wait to get on the monorail or ferry, I just wanted to stand at the edge of the lake and look at the castle.

I'm sure my memories aren't exactly correct, but I can remember standing there with mama and daddy on either side of me holding my hands.

Later on, when I brought my son (he was 4) our moment was at AK. We had recently had a talk about heaven. We were in Dinoland (he was absolutely crazy for dinosaurs) and looked at me and said, "We're not in Disney any more, we're in heaven!

Last year, we had a trip planned for early Feb. Our oldest son (my stepson) passed away in Dec. 07. I called and cancelled our trip because we just didn't feel like we could go at the time. A couple of months later, DH tells me we need to book another trip because he is tired of feeling depressed and "needs some happy". We plan a trip for May. Myself, DH, DD (my step), DSIL, DGD, and DS.

When I called back to make our ressies, I guess the CM who cancelled our earlier trip had put the reason in the notes. I had a very nice conversation with the CM about how hubby wanted to go, I wasn't so sure, etc.

The 1st night we're at WDW, we go to 1900 PF for dinner. When we check in, the hostess notes that it's someone's bday (mine was later in the week). DH tells her that the dinner is actually more for DGD and the trip is a present for her bday (which was a couple of months ago). During the meal, our waiter brings her a "happy birthday" tiara, a cupcake, a princess purse, and a princess wand. He tells her that her uncle had her bday gift sent to her there and that he wished her the best bday ever.

We were all crying (even tough guy 15 y/o DS). A few days later we were in AK and my son just stops, looks at me and said, "You know when I was little I thought this place was heaven. Now I'm pretty sure it is." I didn't even think he remembered that.

Sorry this is so long, but it took one story to lead into the next and get to where I was eventually going.

What the CM did at the dinner made me cry like a baby.

 

[Disneymama09]

Looking at my Daughter's eyes the first time she sawll Mickey, It was Priceless!

 

[Barbossa'sWench]

All of mine come from a trip I took the week before Thanksgiving last year with my Dad and S-Mom. I am an APH and only live an hour away, as they do. I fretted and fussed, thinking perhaps they wouldn't enjoy it all. That I had made a horrible mistake, but they happily booked their Safari view room at the AKL. So our first day I had made ressies at Chef Mickey's for that evening. I went into it thinking I had made a TERRIBLE mistake, the atmosphere would be all wrong, they would wind up getting annoyed. On top of it I had talked them into shelling out the extra money for MVMCP that night.


So we got to Chef Mickey's. My parents are divorced and my Dad has overcome alot in his life, a bout with alcoholism, cancer and so on. We have had lots of lapses but I just wanted those little girl moments I didn't get much of. My Step-Mom was a great sport, she kept the ressies secret and I consider her my "Other Mom". I was so worried about everything.


Well we get thereand I am STILL a basket case. We settle down, and whaddya know? Here comes Donald. My Dad's favorite.

These pics are priceless.

I love the look he's giving Donald here.

Uh-Oh! He's almost cracking a smile!

Now you have to understand my Dad is a tough guy. A work-a-holic, doesn't have alot of fun time, and rarely lets loose. When I looked up and saw this I both laughed and cried.

Then I look up to see THIS! I exploded into fits of giggles.

Then another moment. As Minnie is singing my book, and playing with my scarf and taking pics Goofy comes an un-ties her apron. My Dad chastises him, and jumps up and does the gentlemanly thing. I couldn't believe it.

Cue me trying to figure out what he's doing.

And his reward!


Seriously this picture makes me grin like a idiot everytime I see it.

We joked with my Dad about his "New Girlfriend" the entire trip.

This is adorable. Pluto just launched himself at my Dad, who was suddenly very into it.

Then off to the Magic Kingdom for MVMCP

Here's the tear-jerker. My Dad is not a physically affectionate guy. While were watching the fireworks I cautiously place my hand on his shoulder. He then wrapped his arm around me, called me his "little girl" and held me throughout the fireworks.

Then he said he wanted a "Cinderella Castle picture with his two favorite girls"

I cried alot that trip as you can see.

 

[janiejake]

Thanks for sharing your special moments, everyone. I should be packing, but decided to sit down and see if I've missed anything on the DIS today...well, you know what I found...

 

[LittleFlounder]

Here's the tear-jerker. My Dad is not a physically affectionate guy. While were watching the fireworks I cautiously place my hand on his shoulder. He then wrapped his arm around me, called me his "little girl" and held me throughout the fireworks.

Awww! Barbossa'sWench, what a magical story! What a great memory that must me for you! Of all the "moments" in this thread, yours is the only one that made me break down into tears!

 

[alliesmommy]

Great stories everyone!

Ours happened on our last trip in Feb 08.

DH and I celebrated our honeymoon at WDW in '03. We made several childless trips after that and dreamed of the time when we could bring our own children. Having had two miscarriages back to back, it was a couple of very tough years.

We were finally blessed with a beautiful daughter in Feb '07 and decided to celebrate her 1st birthday at the World. It was so heartwarming to see everything through her eyes. We had to slow down quite a bit with a baby, but it also gave us an entirely new perspective on everything.

Our DD was terrified of the characters. She loved looking at them from a distance, but once they invaded her personal space, she'd start screaming. So we did a lot of standing and watching the characters from afar.

I'll never forget one morning at Epcot at the character meet and greet in Future World. Allie wore her birthday pin all week and this was the day before her actual birthday. We parked her stroller outside the building where Mickey, Minnie, and the like were and just watched them interact with the crowd. During one of their breaks, Minnie came over to the window and waved at Allie. She noticed her birthday pin, and starting waving her hands back and forth. She was "singing" Happy Birthday to our DD! Allie was having a blast. This went on for a good couple of minutes. I couldn't believe that Minnie spent her break bent down interacting with our DD through a wall of glass, no less. Sealed the deal for DH and me. We were Disney fans before, but now, we don't care if we ever take another family vacation outside of Disney.

 

[cpdwiz]

You guys are killing me....I hope my laptop keys can handle tears!!

Our moments....We both had bad relationships before we met each other. I believe in soulmates....We are each others. Our first trip was WDW...I proposed in front of the castle, she said yes...Photopass got pics....It was our magic moment, and WDW became "our" place...THEN...ABout 1 year later, we win DVC membership for 47years for FREE in the Year of a Million Dreams!!! Want to see tears? Yow....Then, our first trip as DVC members, we walk into SSR, and they say WELCOME HOME and Congratulations....Balled like a baby....Then we go to our room and there is a welcome home package from the front desk staff......

Disney is our dream, and she was my wish come true!!!

 

[Puccaw]

Mine is not a tear jerker but I thank all of you for sharing your special moments, it brings out the humanity in us all.

Last year we went to CRT breakfast before park opening, we were the first family there and therefore one of my daughters was about to be chosen as Honorary Princess of the day. When the CM asked which one of my daughters was younger I explained that they were twins, 11 at the time (they look nothing alike and there is a huge height difference). The CM, suprised said, " Oh well, that complicates things". By this time another family strolled up behind us with a little girl. Both of my daughters conferred and said that the little girl behind them should be the princess of the day. The CM put her hand on her chest and told my girls that because they truly had the Disney magic and were selfless that there would be two princesses of the day that day. I was so proud of my girls and so grateful that the family behind us was oblivious as I would have felt awful if the little girl had known.

 

[Nancyg56]

I cried alot that trip as you can see.

I loved this story! Now I am crying again

 

[lilybrooke14]

Ours was at Epcot. Actually, it was just a magical day. It was nearing the end of our week, and we were all pretty tired from all the activity. DD was 2 1/2, and we had an ADR for Akershus Princess Breakfast right as they opened. DD was the second little girl in the door. When she saw Belle, she just threw herself at her and buried her head into Belle's neck. Belle just knelt down on the floor holding DD. For quite a while. The Photopass photographer couldn't even get a photo of DD looking at the camera because she didn't want to stop snuggling Belle. (There wasn't anybody else in line at the time, so she wasn't hogging the Princess).

Fast forward later in the day. My FIL and MIL were joining us on the trip, and they met up with us at Epcot. They really wanted to buy DD a princess dress. We headed into MouseGears, and DD picked out the Belle dress. Then she spotted some hot pink glitter sneakers that she liked, so Gampa had to get those too. We changed her into her new outfit, and she and Gampa walked all over Epcot hand in hand. Mini princess Belle in her hot pink glitter kicks (cause that's what all the cool princesses wear). We got lots of great pictures. Later in the day, we were at Club Cool, and a member of the Dream Team came up and asked her for her autograph. She was declared "Princess for the Day" and she got a certificate.

When we got home at the end of the week, she just sobbed! "I want to go back to my hotel!" DH and I are trying to work it out so that we can take her again this year. It was just the most amazing week! And we just HAVE to go back to Akershus to see Belle.

 

[demonskrye]

Mine is not a tear jerker but I thank all of you for sharing your special moments, it brings out the humanity in us all.

Last year we went to CRT breakfast before park opening, we were the first family there and therefore one of my daughters was about to be chosen as Honorary Princess of the day. When the CM asked which one of my daughters was younger I explained that they were twins, 11 at the time (they look nothing alike and there is a huge height difference). The CM, suprised said, " Oh well, that complicates things". By this time another family strolled up behind us with a little girl. Both of my daughters conferred and said that the little girl behind them should be the princess of the day. The CM put her hand on her chest and told my girls that because they truly had the Disney magic and were selfless that there would be two princesses of the day that day. I was so proud of my girls and so grateful that the family behind us was oblivious as I would have felt awful if the little girl had known.

Tearjerker or not, it's a lovely story and your very lucky to have two wonderful princesses in your family.

 

[lawone]

This past January 20th while watching Wishes. On that day I celebrated my 41st birthday with DH Neil, Courtney (5) and Kendall (4). It really is no surprise that I cried as the colored lights burst overhead while ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ played from the speakers. I didn’t need a wish. I was living a dream.

 

[joy13]

Wow - I am an absolute wreck after reading all these stories! Thanks everyone for sharing!

 

[Puccaw]

Tearjerker or not, it's a lovely story and your very lucky to have two wonderful princesses in your family.

Thank you...I am very proud of my girls. We had our son pass away before they were born, so I know how special each moment is with your child. Hug em, love em and take them to Disney!!

 

[fey_spirit]

So I've always been a huge Barbosa fan, much bigger fan of his then of Cap Jack as a matter of fact...
And I have always heard of the characters in a parade paying special attention to the kiddies, but having none of my own - and being well out of my own official childhood, I never thought anything like that could happen to me.

Anyway we were waiting for the MNSSHP parade and I saw the Pirates' float come ambling down the lane, I got excited and pointed to the top of the float where sat the Captain Himself. I remember calling out as I pointed "Look it's Captain Ja..." and then I saw him making his way down the lane in front of the float on the ground and I couldn't stop myself - I cut off mid sentence before I could even finish Jack's name and screamed "Oh my god, that's Barbossa!"

He looked over at me and did a very Barbossa smile and said "Yeah!" seemed to think about it for a second and then crossed out of the parade to come over and kiss the back of my hand... I don't think I'll ever top that moment...

Though the so still wont let me forget the time I drove my EVC into a wall because I was too busy watching Cruella go by on the float... (What can I say? She's hot!)

 

[fey_spirit]

Thanks for the wibble.

While I was standing in front of the Partner's statue a year ago I asked to nobody in particular "Why is it called Walt Disney World?" and a cast member said to me....

"Because a big brother loved his little brother so much, that he would do anything it took to make sure his little brother's dreams came true."

Walt died before Disney World opened, and even though Roy finished off the plans he wanted to make sure everyone knew who made it all happen and whose dream this really was.

 

[fey_spirit]

Thank you for lighting that candle...
Sometimes it feels like there is far too little light in this world.
And then someone like you does something like this.

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

 

[esbrick]

My "moment" was the Sunday after 9/11. I was ticked that the UT/UF football game had been cancelled and was just sick of the endless loops of the two planes smashing into the towers being the only things every single television station was airing, so at like 10 pm Saturday night I just snapped and told my wife we were going to EPCOT the next day (she was ecstatic, she had never been). So, early the next morning, we jumped in the car and made the drive down from Gainesville. There couldn't have been more than a couple thousand people in the park that day. It felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves. My moment came at the American Adventure. We were standing in the rotunda, listening to the Voices of Liberty perform before the show started. As they started the Star Spangled Banner, an old man sitting in a wheelchair next to me attempted to stand. He was having a difficult time getting up and his wife was doing her best to keep him seating. He kept beating her protests away and finally I had enough and just grabbed him under his arm and lifted him. We stood there, two complete strangers, listening to our National Anthem at the end of one of the worst weeks in our history and we wept like little babes. At the end of the song, he looked at me and just said, "Thank you." I nodded and he was back in his chair and off into the theater. It was a moment I'll never forget.

OMG what a beautiful story. You just gave me chills and a snowflake in my eye. Thank you!

 

[FIVEFANS]

This is why we do it.

 

[scrappinmom]

Wow, what great stories. It's no wonder we all keep going back...Disney truly brings magic into our lives.

I have to warn you, mine is kinda sad, but really sealed the deal for me.

We had been to WDW once with oldest dd, and once with both the girls...then in 2005 the first of the free dining offers came out...it happened to be over fall break...dh didn't want to go, he doesn't really "get it" probably never will. So I decided I would take my then 9 yr old and 4 yr old dd's to disney by myself. Money was tight & this was a budget trip. We stayed at POP, had free dining, and my girls earned their spending money by doing little extra chores around the house and saving their bday money. We were shopping at the emporium on the first day of our trip, they're looking at everything with big giant eyes...they pick out a few things...a pirate hat & sword among them...I didnt know why they wanted that...but figured youngest dd must have. We pay & walk out...they ask if they could have the hat & sword...& just walked up to the very first boy they saw that looked about 5 and said "hi - we want you to have this".....I was shocked..so were the boys parents! I didn't understand, the parents tried to refuse, so I asked the girls why...Well, my son, their brother would have been turning 5 that week, he died a couple of days after he was born. They said they wanted to buy something for him on birthday and share it with another 5 yr old. Well at this point the boys parents, and I were crying....they accepted the gift, we hugged and went our seperate ways. That was my moment, I knew right then I would figure out a way to celebrate my son's life each and every time I went to disney. So even now 5 years later...when my teenager and IWANNAbeateenager are screaming at each other...I remember what great kids they are...