What is YOUR "horrible moment turned wonderful"?

[Rose DiVerona]

I love reading these stories. Disney will always be my favorite vacation destination, because they really do care!

 

[Vickilynn42]

These stories have me crying- such beautiful, uplifting stories. Thanks so much everyone for sharing them.

 

[missmary]

Last summer our family (me, DH, DD (3), DS (2) and DD (8 months)) took our first Walt Disney World vacation. We were so excited. We were celebrating my oldest daughter's 4th birthday and the family's first trip. I had read about packing and being prepared and thought I had done a good job. I had even packed 2 cameras.

Well, wouldn't you know it. 2 days into the vacation, I pull our camera out of my purse and the screen has cracked. We were waiting for my daughter's birthday breakfast at Tusker House when I noticed. Sad, but no biggie, because I had our backup camera in the diaper bag. Crisis diverted.

The next day, we take a day for swimming and relaxing at the hotel. I take my waterproof to 50 feet camera to the pool for some fun pictures. It never gets submerged because my little guys are just splashing around the zero-entry end. I get darling pictures of them splashing.

The next morning, the "waterproof" camera is waterlogged. It takes pictures, but they are all cloudy. We are on the bus to DHS for Star Wars weekend when I notice. The other camera won't work because the screen is broken. I'm devastated.

I go to the camera store at DHS but they only sell disposable film cameras or digital camcorders, no digital cameras. I was crying at this point, but I bought a disposable film camera and tried to make the best of our day. Luckily we had pre-ordered a PhotoPass CD. We talked to all the photographers and they took many, many candids and extra photos for us.

When we got back to AKL that night around 11 p.m., I went to the front desk and asked which parks sold real digital cameras so we could make a point to go there the next day, which was my daughter's actual 4th birthday. The CM called around and discovered that MK's camera store sold a digital camera. But, when she hung up she told me, "Look, they do sell a camera, but they only sell one and it is overpriced."

She then proceded to get me a taxi and taxi vouchers so I could go to WalMart and buy my own choice of digital camera at a normal price, even though it was nearly midnight at this time. I couldn't believe it. I was so happy I started crying again. She was incredibly helpful and I made sure her manager knew about it the next day. She truly saved me from having a nervous breakdown with no camera at Disney World. The best customer service I have ever received, hands down.

 

[jenny-d]

We were at MK in Feb during a crazy rain storm (actually a tornado warning!) so we rushed back to WL where we were staying. Before going up to our room, DS7 needed to take a pit stop at the restroom right by roaring forks. DH waited for him and we all met back up in the room. No one realized for about 2 hours (till we were getting ready for dinner!) that DS's pin necklace was missing. There were 23 pins on it and a lot of pin trading history from years past! He was devastated. So we frantically called the front desk--no one had turned it in. Went down to fill out a form at the front desk meanwhile DH went to Raoring Forks on the off chance that someone turned it in there--I actually told him that was stupid--no one would have turned it in there! Long story short--some honest soul had found it in the bathroom and turned it into RF. The look on my son's face when my husband handed it to him was priceless! We surely had a dose of pixie dust that day

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

One of the many reasons I have a serious soft spot for the CM's at CBR;

we stayed for 14 days in december 2008. Sure enough, I managed to get myself a UTI on the flight. Kicked in pretty quickly but unfortunately the first couple of meds prescribed didn't help and I got sicker and sicker and developed a beginning kidney infection. I pretty much spend about 80% of my time at WDW in the room.

I made sure my mom and friend didn't let me being sick get in the way of their first time at WDW too much and urged them to go and have fun. During our stay we had the same mousekeeper for all but a day or 2. She soon learned of me being sick (sjeez, what a surprise with me in the room ). Soon enough she would start to 'feel' what my mood would be. She could be quiet as a mouse if needed. Many days, she would come back to our rooms after her shift was over and see how I was doing. Spend some time chitchatting, teaching us a bit about making towel animals etc. Loved her for doing that. Eventhough I wasn't feeling too great, it was great to have a chance from the boring daily room routine and have the daily chitchat.

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

What a great thread! Reading all of your touching experiences reminds me why I love WDW so much.

In April 2008 my bf and I decided to turn my 30th bday trip to WDW into an impromptu wedding trip. His job was sending him to Iraq for 13 months straight. Finances were very, very tight. For awhile it seemed like every little thing went wrong. We lost the resort I had wanted because we did not have the funds in time. We almost missed our flight, had issues with the rental car ect nothing major just enough little stuff to be annoying. I had booked a room at CSR- I had requested a king but you know how that goes. My husband is 6'5 and they gave us a room with 2 very small beds (this was a pre-renovation room). With nothing else in our budget available anywhere we made do and had a magical honeymoon anyway. Now we joke about being in a room with double beds on our honeymoon

I told you that story to explain the irony in this one.

One year later with my husband in Iraq, the thought of spending my birthday and our first wedding anniversary alone did not sound appealing to me. I was sad, worse than sad I was stay in bed all week depressed. I needed to bust up the pitty party before it took over my life so i started planing a trip to WDW. With the buy 4 get 3 free special I was able to book 9 days at AKL with dining and a parking lot view. I arrived at the airport late and almost missed my flight.I had been feeling guilty about going on vacation while my husband was away at work- I was missing him and crying. I pulled myself together and got to the gate just in time to be ushered on and seated in business class (which I had not payed for) I thanked the stewardess for the upgrade. (its not to often that tardiness is rewarded). I get to MCO, and for the first time in my life they are unloading the bags almost instantly! I get to the rental car counter and there is NO LINE (this to has never happened to me). I arrive at AKL high on my good fortune, I was not paying close enough attention. I pull up to the guard post, then drive through to the valet parking on accident. Whoops, no biggie i will just pull around and park myself. As I am pulling through I hear a cast member shouting my name- I think "yeah I know i went the wrong way sorry" wave and park my car. I walk up to the front to check in a little ashamed of my goof and the cast member rushes up to me calls me by name and says they have been waiting for me, I actually thought i may be in trouble
He introduces me to another gentlemen who begins to escort me to the concierge level for check in. By this time I am very confused, I had never stayed at AKL before was this normal? He keeps chattering away about how much I am going to love my Savannah view room . By now I am pretty sure there has been a HUGE mistake. It was almost painful for me to let him know that there had been a mistake, everything he was saying sounded wonderful! I was sure he would check something and then ship me back downstairs to the real world. But he laughed and said there was no mistake, I had been upgraded. My next thought was boy is my husband good! But hey! Where did he get the money to do this??!! The concierge manager laughed and informed me that Disney had upgraded me! I was speechless and of course I started to cry. I can't believe they did something so wonderful for me! I was in shock for most of that wonderful trip. Because of the concierge level upgrade I was able to do something I had figured I would never get to do the sunrise safari! Later that week while sitting on the porch, watching the giraffes outside- I was able to SKYPE with my husband, he was so touched by what they had done- he had been worried about me getting into a funk. (he is kind of a Disney cynic and this but a big crack in his Armour). I told him it was amazing and I wished he could be there- he said "aw honey if i was there we would be at CSR in that tiny little bed"
Now the running joke between us is that I only travel in style without him
My one regret is that I never got to thank the cast member who set it all up, I just hope they know how much it meant to me, and to my husband.

 

[DaughterOfTriton]

When I was in WDW in May '09, I was wandering around one of the stores in The World Showcase. I was looking around at the various items when a CM started chatting me up, asking about my vacation and what I was celebrating. I told her I was with my mom, celebrating my college graduation. The CM was super happy for me and asked me what degree I graduated with and what my job prospects looked like. I told her I graduated with dual certifications to teach, but that it wasn't looking too positive for jobs at the moment. I live in NJ and teaching jobs have been hard to come by for a little while now. She told me to keep positive and went back to her station.

About 3 minutes later, the same CM came up to me with a special edition Tinkerbell pin. She told me it was some magic pixie dust to help me find a job. Not quite a 'horrible' moment, but I was feeling a bit down about finding a job. The CM made my day...the entire vacation actually She was so sweet to me!

 

[Symans3honeybees]

Being forced to go on the RockNRoll Coaster....Horrifying to me at first...then when the ride was over...it was wonderful.

 

[TrustedTraveler]

In January we went as a group of 6 to Disney Hollywood Studios, arriving mid morning, and sent 2 runners ahead to pick up fast passes for Toy Story Mania. What we didn't realize is that these passes, which were for 4:25 PM would keep us from getting other Fast Passes for several hours. We had a dinner reservation at Epcot for 4:45, but hoping for the best we went to TSM early with the thought that the CM might feel a bit of compassion and let us in early.

No such luck, so the family went on other attractions while I stayed in the area and spoke with another CM who pointed out the young lady who was in charge at the time and suggested I tell her my story because she could, and he implied should, let us in. Instead, she was a bit nasty.

So I went to the fast pass machines, which were closed, and gave away our FP's to a couple of families who had none and could use them. On the way out of the area I was asked by the helpful CM how it went and I explained what happened and what I did. He told me to wait there and he went away and came back shortly with a handful of FP's that were for anytime through the end of the month.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My oldest son has Asperger's and loves, loves, loves trains. He was 11 at the time of our trip in 2006 and all he wanted to do was go on the Steam Train Tour at MK. We got reservations for DH to take him on the tour one morning while I hung out with DS8. We met up with them after the tour and my son was thrilled. He went on and on about all the trains and the procedures they learned about. He was especially proud of the badges they were wearing because you can only get them if you go on the train tour.

Later in the day, we were standing by the railing looking into the moat around the castle. When my DS leaned on the railing, his train badge came unfastened and fell right into the moat! Poor guy started to cry! I told him I was sure I could get him another one. We went straight to City Hall which was crowded so I had my DH wait outside with the boys. I explained what happened to a CM and he quickly disappeared into the back room. He came out with a brand new, shiny train tour badge!

I went outside with the badge behind my back and my DS said he was sure I couldn't get a new one. My DH said, "That's OK Buddy, you can have mine." Then I produced the new badge from behind my back! His little face lit up and he proclaimed me to be his hero! It could have been a real disaster for a guy like him to lose a train badge! But Disney came through for him!

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Ours happened to us on our second trip. We always take the autotrain down so the kids had their blankets from Christmas. Santa brought them each a blanket with a picture of them with a their favorite character from their first trip to Disney. Well, everynight they would sleep with them. One morning we were in a rush and we didn't get them off of the bed. Mousekeeping came in and changed ALL of our bedding. We were getting ready for bed that night, my son got his blanket and hopped in bed. My daughter (at the time 5 years old) couldn't find hers. We searched high and low. She cried herself to sleep.

The next day we figured out that it must have been messed up with the other bedding. So we called Mousekeeping. They said that it will take them 3-4 days to get it back to us. Luckily we still had 7 days left. Every night at bedtime she would cry and say she missed her blanket. I felt soo bad for her!

Well I called everyday asking to see if they got it back yet. Nope. Finally our day to depart, I called them again and told them that my daughter was really missing her blanket and that we were leaving THAT day. She asked me what time and where would I be. I told her and I gave her my cell phone number. We sat at the resort in the lobby for almost 3hrs. They had found it and they were on their way. The lady called us, said she was outside. We were walking to meet her and my daughter ran to get her blanket and started crying saying I can't believe I got my blanket back. I had tears in my eyes. I kept telling the lady, THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!

She said it wasn't a problem. My daughter would not let go of that blanket. We had to call DH to let him know what happened.

But as others said before, Disney has EXCELLENT customer service. I can't wait to be back there in September!

 

[JerseyJanice]

My story is no where near as awesome as many others on this thread, but I'll tell it because it can be helpful for others to read.

We went to the Studios near opening time with the intention of grabbing Toy Story Mania Fastpasses first thing. On the bus ride from Pop, I realized that I left my nephew's room card (with his ticket on it) on the bed in our room when I went back to grab something. He and my son were pretty upset, thinking we'd have to take a bus back to Pop and then another bus to DHS after that.

I asked the driver of our bus if he was headed back to Pop. I told him the reason, and he told me to go to Guest Relations at the entrance.

"Do you really think they can help me?" I asked the driver, and he said certainly.

Sure enough, at Guest Relations, they were able to deactivate the card in the room and issue us a new one. So that spared us from having to ride the bus to Pop and DHS again. We lost out on getting the TSM Fastpasses, but we got on the stand-by line as soon as we got inside the park and rode without too long of a wait.

 

[ScrapperBelle]

I have loved reading everyone's stories. They keep reminding why we love WDW!

My story didn't exactly start out as a horrible experience, but it ended well. We were about 6 days into a 12 day trip and DH had been battling a nasty cold for the last couple of days (he had actually spent the entire day before in the hotel room). Needless to say, he was not feeling well, the weather was hot, and it didn't take much that morning to get him irritated.

He had been fussing at our boys for everything that morning and we had all fussed back with him and finally decided to just ignore him. We get on the bus at POFQ headed for the MK. Of course there are lots of people and we get separated. DH and I get seats toward the front and our boys went toward the back (they were 16 and 13). More people get on at Riverside and off we go.

We keep a hearing a lady talking in the back, but we can't really make out what she's saying. Well, when we get off the bus, she comes up to DH and I and tells us what wonderful sons we have. When they got on the bus, our boys got up and gave her and her mom their seats. Well, of course she had found out everything about them, where we were from and all of that. This was about 6 months after Katrina and they had discussed some of what we had been through and how our trip had been our family's "reward to ourselves" for getting through it and getting our home repaired.

DH and I thanked her for her nice comments and then I looked at DH and said, "and what exactly were they doing that was so bad this morning?"

Later on that day, we saw this lady at Cosmic Ray's and she paid for our boys lunches!!! We tried to tell her that they were expected to do things like that and it wasn't about being rewarded. She said that our boys had really touched her because once she started talking to them she realized they had been through a lot in the past year and were still smiling and had such a good outlook on things.

Since then we always try to notice a child in the parks, on the bus, at the hotel doing something nice and we try to reward them in some way (balloon, ice cream, etc.), so that lady's nice gesture lives on.

 

[alwaysmom]

Back in 2005 we had our trip from H....! After arriving in Florida much earlier than we anticipated instead of staying the night off site I called and asked room available at Pop. We had booked at a discount rate and they informed me this would be rack (I couldn't add to existing).

We got to our room and.........it was filthy, never cleaned from previous guest. We called housekeeping but no one was available, we asked to be moved, they told us no other rooms. I asked for bedding and they brought 1 set and said that was all they had. I was livid and DH was exhausted from driving from NY straight thru. I threw the sheets over the top of the bed and we slept in our clothes. Early the next morning I was at the desk and asked for a manager. Long story short. We were moved poolside and the fee for that night removed. We check out and in, but the room isn't available till 3. No prob we relax, swim, etc. After a long day, we get ready for dinner in the locker room since our room still isn't ready (we do get it just before we leave. At dinner, we notice that the kids are getting redder and redder. Sunburned from head to toe and blisters are starting to appear. When we get back to Pop DH runs to the store for some motrin for kids. They are all out and he has to go to another resort to get some.

In the morning we pack all our extra creams, lotions, medicines, etc in our backpack. At AK DH opens bag for inspection and drops everything out. People in the rush to go in are kicking everything and I'm running around trying to pick everything up with child in tow. We get a stroller. I pay and move along the line and wait and wait and wait. Where's our stroller? Gone, taken by someone else. As we are heading towards the Tree of Life. I'm feeling sorry for myself. We take some pictures (they are horrible, I look miserable). We stop at the restrooms. DH comes out of the restroom with a look of distraught. His cell phone fell in the toilet and got flushed (remember the automatic flusher). Now I really just want to go home. I am not feeling ANY magic. I call verizon and tell them the phone is lost. They insist that we have to change his number. I'm trying to explain that no one is going to find it. The lady on the phone was being snarky "If you know that than how is it lost? I tell her what happened and she burst out laughing. No problem, they will send a new one to the resort. Give me the address, I say PoP Century at Disney World in Orlando, FL. She says sorry I need a street address ????????? After asking ALOT of people, who I think thought I was a nut, a kind CM, see's me bugging people and asks what I need. I explain and he was able to give me the address.

A new phone arrived at our resort the next day and after telling our tale more than once we had a good laugh. The rest of the trip was great. Dh tells the story much better especially with the sound effects.

 

[mlittig]

So many upbeat, positive, amazing storied Thanks for everyone's great, heart warming stories

 

[Cindylieu]

I have simply LOVED hearing your stories!! So far the one that choked me up the most was Snow White wiping the tears from the eyes of he tiny one's face. My DD is 7 and I can picture that same scene in my mind. What a magical place..... Don't stop! I would love to read more!

 

[vIGAMEIv]

Last year on our first visit my 5 year old daughter was in the kiddie pool at WL about 5 min later a little boy and his dad come over the little boy starts playing with my daughter no big deal to me kid was about same age.I'm sitting down laying back and hear the boy tell me daughter "your pretty I like your Bathing suit" I'm like WHAT!!! .After my wife stops teasing me about the little boy hitting on my daughter the little boy's dad says that they have to leave the little boy gets out in his towel turns to my daughter and says "So what room are you staying in?" It was my worst horrible moment because I knew it was a sign of things to come. I guess the wonderful part was my daughter didnt tell him what room we were in.


GOT EMM!!!

 

[sullins5]

My horrible turned Wonderful:

After 10 years of marriage in 1994, we had come to Disney as a family of four in May. So for our 10th Anniversary in Sept of that year, I had asked to go back to Disney...just the two of us. We had saved a 1 day ticket so that we could come back and ride the Tower of Terror since it hadn't opened yet when we were there as a family. Our inlaws had given us the airfare and were keeping our kiddos. We had never left them before but decided we could chance a 3night trip. Hence, we were quite uncomfortable about leaving them anyway. But this mom really needed a break and wanted a little romance. Flying out it began to rain and rained all the way until we hit CBR that Thursday night. So for Friday, we were going to hit MGM Studios. As we were walking in the 'midst of a light rain' I saw a faint sign up at the front of the Studios entrance. It was already sprinkling a little bit, we were both frustrated with our first 'getaway', and when we got closer, we noticed the sign. Hollywood Tower of Terror closed today. We had one ticket, no park hopper, and it just couldn't rain anymore on our parade. As I was talking to my dh, trying not to cry and trying to figure out where we would spend the day for that one ticket, a sweet cm came up. She said she had noticed us talking and asked if we needed any help. We told her that we had had one ticket, wanted to ride the Tower of Terror, and that it was our 10th Anniv, our first trip away from the kids, and had rained so far the whole time. With that, she turned around, said "Be right back", and left. When she came back, we had no idea what she had gone to do, but what she did left us both amazed. She told us to go to any park for that day that we wanted too, and the next day would be on Disney! And that she knew the Tower of Terror would be open the next day and they wanted us to be their guest! We were so amazed and had never heard of such a thing. Not only that, but when we returned to our room, on the desk was a pic of Mickey and Minnie wishing us a Happy 10th Anniversary. I still have it to this day!
And for the record? We just celebrated our 25th at Disney (with our 10year old) last Oct '09!!

CBR for dd's college grad May 22-27th!

 

[DisneyWisher]

It was my worst horrible moment because I knew it was a sign of things to come. I guess the wonderful part was my daughter didnt tell him what room we were

Yours made me think of mine.

It was 2003 and I got WL on the first floor for $119 a night. Our sliding glass door faced the quiet pool. We were offered concierge for an extra $70 a night but I said no thanks. It was myself(mom), DD17 & DD10. After a day in the parks DD10 and I had fallen asleep around 10 and DD17 was watching tv thinking about going to take a relaxing bath. I wake up around 1 and see that she is not in bed but think she is probably in the bath. So after about 15 mins I decide to check on her. I get up and see the bathroom door open and she is not there. I go to the sliding glass door and it's unlocked. Saying I am mad at this point is an understatement. I go out and quietly call her name. I walk to the quiet pool to see if she is there and she's not. Now I start to panic. Here we are at WL surrounded by woods, what if someone grabbed her and drag her into the woods. I go back into the room, get dressed, lock all the doors and hurry to the front desk and lobby area. As I take the elevator up to the 2nd floor/ lobby I start thinking about the lake and really am on the verge of crying. A security seese rushing down the hall and asked what's wrong? I tell her and she immediately calls it in over her radio. They have 5 security guards looking. She then says let's check the lobby and the pool. Lots of teens but none of them my daughter. She starts walking back to the room with me, thinking maybe my daughter is there. Just as we reach the door a guard calls over the radio that they found her. She was at the quiet pool on a lounge chair talking on her cell. I thank the guard so much. When the other guard knocks on the door, DD17 in tow, I thank him too. Didn't know whether to beat DD or hug her. Didn't want to wake other guests. So I quietly screamed at her. Needless to say next morning I was at the front desk asking to be upgraded to concierge. 7th floor with a balcony so she could talk on her cell out there. When we got home she lost the cell for a month plus house phone and computer. I think I aged 10 years that night. She is now 24 and I joke that she owes me Botox. Lol. So glad I can laugh about it now, though she is still not allowed to joke about it. She doesnt because I can still cry thinking about it.

 

[MelanieRI]

This isn't too bad, but it made all the difference to DD. DD is a very picky eater, but I wanted to do the Liberty Tree Tavern character meal so she could meet some characters. We went during MVMCP. I knew ahead of time she might only nibble on the bread and mashed potatoes, and I'd have to get her something else to eat later. Well, she didn't like anything they had and was very upset (well, overtired) and started crying! Our waitress asked her what was wrong and found out she didn't like any of the food. She said that was no problem, asked her which kids meal she liked, and said she'd get that for her.

So, the night was saved and DD was able to enjoy herself and meet the characters.