As you know, we here at Cast Place love a good story — and we have some
doozys today. Don’t forget, if you saw a cast member make magic — or
one who could use some help in the pixie dust department — drop us a
line. We also want to acknowledge the CMs on the Disney Cruise Line, so
if you had a chance to voyage on the Magic or Wonder and had a super steward,
magical masseuse or wonderful waiter — we want to know. Also, if you
have a photo taken with your favorite CM, please send it in!
Andrew’s Story
Last summer, my mom and I took a trip to Walt Disney World and I recall
two
pleasant cast member stories.
1) It was in the evening and we were walking through Frontierland. I
am a pin collector, so I’ll stop for any CM who has pins. Well, we came
across this one CM (I believe his name was Jose), and we got to talking
about how I wanted to become a CM at Disneyland (I live in Arizona). He
really touched me because he said I had the perfect personality to be
a CM.
2) While at Disney-MGM Studios, we were browsing through items at the
shop under the big hat. It was then that I realized that I had lost one
of my pins. I asked the CM to see if she had a similar one that I could
trade for. I saw the same pin that I had lost and started getting a pin
to trade. She told me not to worry about it and she just gave me the pin.
Maureen and Mark’s Story
Last week my family truly experienced Disney magic! Our 7-year-old daughter,
Meg, has ADHD and this disability has caused her much difficulty in her
life. When we arrived at the gates of the Magic Kingdom I noticed the
Guest Relations Office and something told me to stop and ask if there
was anything that could accommodate her difficulties with long lines and
waiting. The kind cast member explained the Disney policy concerning children
with disabilities and he issued us a Òred cardÓ — thanks Disney! Meg
was able to enjoy the magic without the stress of lines and waiting —
our daughter was relaxed and her behavior was the best we had ever experienced
with her — she came home a different child due to the unbelievable kindness
that everyone we met at MK showered on her. ADHD is a difficult disability
for most people to see and recognize because how ÒnormalÓ a child looks
— but the cast member was able to see her special needs and he made our
experience something right out of a Disney movie! We will forever be grateful
to everyone at Disney for the Magic they shared with us and our Disney
princess.
Nutsy’s Story
OK, I couldn’t help but send this. I usually just mind my own business,
but seeing the column provoked something I felt I had to share. I enjoy
seeing how children open up to and embrace Disneyland.
One day I was walking down Main Street, looking around at the scenery
as usual (since people aren’t exactly my favorite things to look at in
the park) and I happened to sight something that I thought was really
cool. This little girl ran towards the Magic Shop with her parents following
her, she had an autograph book in her hand. I’d seen kids collecting in
lines and crowds around the characters all day, so I wondered who she
was running to since this corner of the street was sparse of the usual
groups.
She ran up to the Main Street constable (or whatever they call the guys
dressed up like turn-of-the-century cops) and thrust her autograph book
out for him to sign. I thought that was hilarious. I’d seen this guy at
the rope drop on numerous occasions, an older cast member who fit the
roll pretty good, and he had the happiest smile on his face when he knelt
down to sign the little girl’s autograph book.
It took me by surprise, but it was a heart-warming sight. Not the most
exciting of e-mails you’ve gotten, I’m sure. But it came to my mind and
there ya have it.
[Editor’s Note: Nutsy, even though you might not think your e-mail was
exciting, seeing a child run to get the autograph of a CM is a great story.]
Robert’s Story
Hi Shoshana, since reading your articles on MousePlanet I have read all
the articles by CMs and guests, along with those written by Kevin Yee.
I enjoyed them all. Thank you for the efforts that you and all the other
editors and contributors put forth in making MousePlanet such a great
Web site. I promised you my Guest Experience story so here it is. I hope
you enjoy it.
When I take my family to Disneyland my favorite event is the lowering
of the U.S. flag ceremony that takes place at dusk on Main Street. Every
morning that we go to the park I check in at City Hall to find out when
the flag ceremony is scheduled for, as it varies from day to day. Oftentimes,
the CMs do not know and have to hunt down the information for me. Then
we plan our afternoon activities so that we’re close to the front of Main
Street at the appropriate time.
The ceremony itself is muted, by Disney standards, as it involves only
a small detail of color guard and, at times, musicians. Patriotic music
is played during the lowering and subsequent folding of the flag. The
impressive part is that all of Main Street comes to a stop during the
ceremony and not because there are CMs telling the guests to do so. It
is a spontaneous respectful act that most, but unfortunately not all,
guests naturally do or are prompted to do when they see other, more patriotic
and mindful guests standing at attention (by civilian standards) facing
toward the flagpole. It’s a heart-warming group dynamic that is played
out on an international scale since, at any given time, citizens from
many nations are strolling up and down Main Street. Standing on the steps
leading up to the Main Street train station affords an excellent vantage
point to take this all in.
We discovered this event quite by accident during our first visit to
Disneyland with our two sons, Ryan and Cooper. My wife and I had a goal
of taking them on all the attractions at Disneyland over the course
of five days (yes this even included all the old “A” ticket
rides on Main Street). We had just boarded and walked up to the upper
deck of the Main Street Omnibus as it was parked across the street from
the flagpole. Before the bus could leave for its trip up Main Street the
color guard came out. Ryan and Cooper were only 8 and 6 years of age at
that time. However, both of them being Cub Scouts, immediately stood up
out of their bench seat and at attention when the music started. I believe
that it was the national anthem being played, but I could not be sure
as for what happened next will forever stay in my heart.
We got on the bus with a large group from India, or some other neighboring
country. At first the whole upper deck of the bus was perplexed by the
flag ceremony. Then they saw my sons stand up at attention and gave the
Cub Scout salute (just like a military salute except using only two fingers
extended). Now granted, they should not have saluted since they were not
in their Cub Scout uniforms, but, being quite young and new to scouting,
they did not know better. What followed next was the touching part. The
whole upper deck of the bus followed my sons’ lead and stood at attention
and many gave the Cub Scout salute. I would have laughed heartily if I
wasn’t trying so hard to hold back tears of pride and joy. My two boys
had set an example of patriotism for half a busload of foreign guests.
Ryan and Coop, being in the front bench seat had no idea of the example
that they were setting. When the song was over, my boys snapped off their
Cub Scout salute and sat down and started goofing around like young boys
will do. The impact of their actions and the innocence of that event have
probably made me the only Disney guest for whom the Omnibus is their favorite
attraction. Every year we go back to Disneyland and every time I make
an effort to find the Omnibus and touch it as if it were a talisman and
remember fondly my best memory at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Carl’s Story
On May 17, 2000, while waiting at the exit of Splash Mountain, our little
granddaughter (two weeks short of being 3 years old) asked a Cast Member
sanitation worker, “What’s your name?”
The very friendly, gracious lady, “Rosa,” talked with the child
and then a few minutes later came back with a Pooh and Tigger stuffed
animal she apparently purchased at the gift shop adjacent to Splash Mountain
exit.
We were very impressed that Rosa was so kind and friendly to a little
child on her first trip to Disneyland.
Margie’s Story
Thank you for having this wonderful Web site, I was just surfing the
Web and happened to find it.
My son, Guy, played the role of Peter Pan at Disneyland, TokyoDisneyland
, Walt Disney World and did part of the promos for Euro Disneyland. I
was also very proud to have been in the crowd to watch him and a large
group of former Disney Cast Members when they stopped their lives and
headed to New York City for the final Electrical Parade. New York City
was literally taken over by Disney that week — the street were patched
up so that the electrical lights would not short out, the police force
was staffed by hundreds of out-of-town police officers hired from the
surrounding area. In short, it was outstanding.
As my husband and I stood together waiting for the start of the parade,
we made friends with a family of five or six kids who had never had the
opportunity to go to any of the parks. The littlest girl was about 4 or
5 and she said, “Oh, I hope I can talk to Cinderella or Peter Pan,
they are my favorite.” My heart just swelled, because, of course,
Peter was my favorite, as well. I told her to stand right next to me and
that I was sure Peter Pan would talk to her. Since my son knew exactly
where we would be standing, I knew he would be sure to notice her with
me.
One of my son’s friend was playing the part of Prince Charming and as
he went by he waved to us, the little girl just beamed. When Captain Hook’s
ship went by and Peter called out to us, her little face lit up like a
neon light fixture. That was my son’s final performance as Peter Pan,
but I have replayed it in my mind as I am sure that little girl has ever
since. Things have changed at Disney and everywhere else in the world,
but we must remember the little children going to Disneyland Parks, some
for the very first time, want to believe the magic. All of you wonderful
Cast Members help make those magical moments come true. Now when I take
my grandkids to Disneyland, I watch them and hope that they will be happy
and always remember the magic of Disney.
