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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 red card -- 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 normal 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.
 
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