Your Most “Magical Moment” In the Parks?

[DIS_MERI]

On our January trip, DD9 decided she wanted to try the sword in the stone while I was texting DD13 to see where she was. Of course, I'm not even looking to see DD9 pull the sword out! She did it again so I could get a picture. Then someone else tried it, and it didn't work for them. No one was waiting, so DD9 stepped up so I could get a video, and it worked again. So another person tried it, no luck. DD9 hopped up, it worked again! We walked away and 20 minutes later, we were walking past again with no one waiting, so she tried again, and it worked again! Someone saw, tried it, no luck for them. She would probably have done it all day long given the opportunity, lol.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Last December we went on a big cruise/WDW trip with our 3 year old DD and my parents. I scheduled Epcot for the first day, with dinner at Rose and Crown. I had originally thought to reserve dinner during the fireworks on the off chance we could get patio seats, but I wasn't sure what the weather would be like in December, so I scheduled dinner to end just before Illuminations so that we'd be able to find a good place to watch right after the food. Well, during dinner our waiter came up and explained that the servers had decided that DD was the cutest kid in the restaurant that evening, and they wanted to know if she'd like to start the fireworks. Heck yes! So, we got moved to a table right by the water. DD got a crown and a sash of Mickey stickers. Just before it all started a waitress brought over a glowing wand and showed her how to magically set off the fireworks. Top all that off with it being the special holiday version of Illuminations, and the wind being just right, such that the spectacular climax was literally going off directly over our heads.

 

[maranara]

Not really at the park, but I took my DDs for their first WDW trip when they were 4 and 2, and of course took loads of pictures. When I was going through them after the trip was over I noticed something very familiar about one of them, and I went through my old albums and found that my dad took one of me in almost the same spot when I was 4 as one that I had of my 4 year old near the entrance by city hall. That was my first trip too and our faces looked almost exactly the same. Looking at the pics side by side was kinda magical to me, like looking through a time machine.

Ohh! My parents took us to Disney twice - once in the mid 80s when we were young (maybe 9 & 5?) and once in the late 90s when we were both in college. Same thing happened - we got home developed our film (oh yes, FILM) and my mom pulled out the box of pictures from when we were little. We had TONS of pictures of us in the exact same spots - enough that I made an entire photo album with the side by side pictures. It's my mom's favorite album - it's still on her coffee table!

 

[KaSe]

I've only had one really magical moment at WDW and it actually happened this past October.

My mother had went with me and my sons on our last trip and I took her to MNSSHP (Halloween was her favorite holiday). Sadly, she passed away from cancer and didn't get to go with us in October. I was nervous, because it was my first trip without her. My party and I were able to get a reservation for one of the MNSSHP dessert partys (my first dessert party ever). The rest of my party sat at the table while I went to stand at the railing to watch the fireworks. A cast member approached me and whispered in my ear "the people at the table beside you didn't show up so you can have their candy mugs". I turned to look at her and it was an elderly woman about the same age as my mom. I told her that was very kind and that I appreciated it. She informed me her husband had died of cancer and she came to work at WDW to make other peoples lives have special moments. We chatted for about 20 minutes and I told her about my mom passing away from cancer as well.

As she turned to walk away, I looked at her name tag. She was from the same state as me (Tennessee) and her name.....Gail. The same as my mothers. I literally stood there and cried. It was like my mom was letting me know, through someone else, that she was still there with me to celebrate Halloween in spirit.

Aww! This gave me goosebumps!! So, so special!!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Great thread! These are making me weepy...

This was the first one that sprung to mind, but it's more of an evening than a moment...

My DD8 had a early evening BBB appointment, but the boys (DH and DS10) didn't want to get out of the pool. We decided that we'd just meet up in MK later. So, the girls went on their merry way - ponchos in hand as it was a drizzly evening. We did BBB and the rides that the boys don't like (tea cups, Space Mountain), and snacked our way across the kingdom. We kept texting each other, but we never met up with the boys, who were busy doing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.

Just by coincidence, we ended up riding BTMRR during Wishes, and it was just so beautiful! We had these young teenage boys behind us, that were acting like they were too cool for school, so to speak, and we thought it was hilarious! We still joke about being "too cool for Thunder Mountain during Wishes?"

Finally, we were "racing" the boys back to the hotel - we were taking the bus, them the ferry. When we got on the bus, we were the only passengers, so naturally we struck up a conversation with the bus driver. He noticed her princess makeover, and as we were getting ready to get off the bus, he put on a message on the PA system. I can't remember the exact words but something along these lines...

"Citizens of Disney World, please be on your *best* behavior, there is a Disney PRINCESS on board!"

My daughter's face was priceless! And given my weird affinity for Disney buses, it was the perfect cap-off to our wonderful mother-daughter evening.

We had never split up like that on vacation, but it's one of my favorite memories of any of our trips!

 

[Barnabas T Bullion]

Going to be honest the most magic for me was taking my son there for the first time. Boy did we have fun... but that first morning, we watched the opening at MK and then as we started heading underneath the station to get to Main St. I was really emotional.

 

[Bubbenstein]

This wasn't at the parks but rather on our recent cruise on the Magic. Our three year old LOVES all of the characters and we had spent much of our time on our three night cruise on meet & greets. When we got back from Castaway Cay, we had an invitation on our stateroom door for a "very special meet & greet" that night. After dinner, we were seated in the lounge by ourselves and soon after, Goofy came out followed by Mickey, Minnie, Cinderella, Belle, Rapunzel, Daisy, Donald, Pluto and Captain Hook. I have never seen our daughter's face light up like that before. We had about 20 minutes with all of the characters before they had to leave for the farewell show.

Such a magical moment we will never forget!

 

[beesly]

Going to be honest the most magic for me was taking my son there for the first time. Boy did we have fun... but that first morning, we watched the opening at MK and then as we started heading underneath the station to get to Main St. I was really emotional.

That was an emotional moment for me, too! When we stepped out onto Main Street on our first visit, I got misty-eyed! It was such a happy moment to see my daughter so excited to be there, and to finally get to go to WDW myself!

 

[PollyannaMom]

One time when DS was little, we had an early reservation at Crystal Palace, before the park actually opened. We had a few minutes to wander in the little garden by the restaurant and take pictures, and I remember the most most magical feeling of just being there with the park so empty, like it was all ours.

A few years later, we had a trip when we decided we must have stepped in pixie dust. Lines just kept disappearing in front of us. We'd be in a long queue, when all of a sudden a CM would drop a rope and lead us and the people behind us a different way. I guess it was simply lucky timing - being in right spot when they were about to open the second pre-show area, that sort of thing. But it got to be a running joke, and we really did feel special.

 

[mindeola]

You all have shared so many great stories. Some have even made me cry. This is a nice way to pass the last hour at work on a Friday.

Last June, I went on a girls only trip with my sister and nieces. Late in the afternoon of our last day, we left AK and headed back to HS on the off chance we could snag a TSMM fast pass. It is one of our favorites and we wanted another ride so badly! A CM was helping us at the kiosk. I was kind of aggravated because I feel like they are there for people that are slow and do not know what they are doing. She was super nice a though and kept trying over and over. After about five minutes I told her it was fine and I appreciated her help. She told me to give her five more minutes, that she is super lucky at this game and it is a fun challenge for her. About five minutes later, she told me this was it. If she did not get it on the next try, it was not going to happen. Sure enough, she did her magic and we got FP! She was happy, we were thrilled and we were all hugging her! It was such a nice moment and much appreciated. I am so aggravated that I forgot her name before I could write a nice note about her.

On our first trip to Disneyland it was magic! As a military family, all of our vacations until that point had been going back home or on family trips ( which is great!), so this was our first trip as just our family of four. We had been to WDW many times but with a large group. It was just the perfect trip. The kids were not cranky, the parents were not aggravated and we had the best time.

 

[snowwhite84]

Love these stories!

Two years ago, I planned a nine-day trip for myself and my boyfriend to celebrate my 30th birthday. Well, the day before we left he proposed, so it became an engagement trip! For as long as I live, I will never forget the treatment we received at the World. Of course, we wore our Just Engaged buttons, and the cast members just treated us like gold. We had dinner at Jiko one night and a CM in the AKL lobby chatted with us. A day later, we received a bottle of champagne delivered to our room at Contemporary from that CM, who had looked up our room! The piano lady at the pub in the UK pavilion at Epcot created an entire song for us, one CM had a whole section of people waiting for a parade do a cheer for us, everywhere we ate champagne was sent to us. I could go on and on. I am getting a little misty eyed remembering it.

Our wedding anniversary is in 3 weeks and we decided last minute to head down. Truly a special place to celebrate!

 

[Minnesota!]

That was pretty cool but the real "magical" part of the night: At midnight, with all the fireworks going off and the celebration in full gear, my wife and I looked over at her grandparents - both of whom were in wheelchairs. They gave each other a little kiss and said, "we made it!". They way they looked at each other was very magical that evening.

I sobbed...

I've only had one really magical moment at WDW and it actually happened this past October.

My mother had went with me and my sons on our last trip and I took her to MNSSHP (Halloween was her favorite holiday). Sadly, she passed away from cancer and didn't get to go with us in October. I was nervous, because it was my first trip without her. My party and I were able to get a reservation for one of the MNSSHP dessert partys (my first dessert party ever). The rest of my party sat at the table while I went to stand at the railing to watch the fireworks. A cast member approached me and whispered in my ear "the people at the table beside you didn't show up so you can have their candy mugs". I turned to look at her and it was an elderly woman about the same age as my mom. I told her that was very kind and that I appreciated it. She informed me her husband had died of cancer and she came to work at WDW to make other peoples lives have special moments. We chatted for about 20 minutes and I told her about my mom passing away from cancer as well.

As she turned to walk away, I looked at her name tag. She was from the same state as me (Tennessee) and her name.....Gail. The same as my mothers. I literally stood there and cried. It was like my mom was letting me know, through someone else, that she was still there with me to celebrate Halloween in spirit.

What a great story. I sobbed, again...

 

[bjscheel]

Lots of little things but our best day ever was in June 2011. DDs were 12 and 9. First we were picked to be family of the day and open MK, which was of course magical!

We had been there early to try to get to Rapunzel and Flynn's M&G first. They kept taking pictures of us as FOTD as everyone was streaming in, but we finally got over there and in line for the 2nd set. While we were waiting for Rapunzel and Flynn, older DD drew a Wanted poster of Flynn in her autograph book- with a big nose of course! DD9 was there primarily for Rapunzel and DD12 for Flynn. When it was our turn, Rapunzel took DD9's hand and Flynn put his arm around DD12's shoulders and said "How you doin'..." It was perfect Then he saw the drawing, exclaimed "They just can't get my nose right!" and spent quite a bit of time doodling in her book while Rapunzel looked on and laughed. Amazing M&G.

I don't remember the middle of the day, but we did have 2 family fastpasses to use from being FOTD. We capped off the night riding BTMRR during Wishes. The whole day was fantastic.

 

[Minnesota!]

Mine? Hmm. Checking out of Pop ( sad news bears) and they front desk said I was owed a refund. No clue for what, but it was a lot…like $300 or something?. I mean, who gives you an awesome vacation and then gives you your money back? Never did figure that one out.

Twice we have been “the family of the day” at Pizzafari and we get a catered breakfast, on real plates, with servers, etc. It was fun!

MSEP – first time seeing it, first time bringing my first child. He was 2 and was SO enthralled with the lights and sounds…

 

[scrhsa]

At Disneyland in 2002. My youngest dd(4 at the time) was into Cinderella. I didn't think I would ever be able to take my girls again so I splurged and bought them each something they REALLY wanted. Youngest got a Cinderella dress. During the parade Cinderella saw her decked out and waved at her. The look on my dds face was beautiful. Priceless!

 

[SnipsNSnails]

On our last trip we went to Lights, Motors, Action. We had my parents and grandma with us so they really couldn't climb up very high, so we sat right behind the handicap section. We had FP so we were in early and the whole time the CM is directing everyone up saying the best seats are higher and center. My oldest DS kept asking to go up and was afraid he wouldn't be able to see. I told him no, the grandmas couldn't, and we would see just fine. My mom was concerned and asked the CM if we would be able to see OK or should I take DS up higher as they couldn't walk up. She smiled and said not to worry, all the seats had an excellent view and being down lower had it's advantages too. We could see just fine and then they asked for a volunteer and DS was chosen! He got to trick the audience by making them think he was running a big car with a remote control, then he got a special pin and certificate.

Later in the trip we had a PPO ADR at BOG. All week the boys kept trying to pull the sword. We even saw a little show one day where a girl did it. As we came through the castle, my oldest DS ran ahead. We weren't even really paying to much attention to it, saying come on, let's keep going and then he starts yelling "I did it!" Sure enough, it shocked us all! He was so excited about that, the rest of the day!