Random Acts Of Kindness in the Parks

[T-Belle]

Several years ago my DD and I were checking in CBR as a very nice newly wed couple were checking out. They gave us their Typhoon Lagoon passes. How nice!

[Laughin' place]

OP -- What a GREAT idea. I just have a new "tradition" thanks to you. Mind you, my "kids" are 18 and 14 year old giants, but they will gladly carry Mickey balloons (as will dad), and will even more gladly hand them off on our way out! Now, if only we had a trip planned....

On our last trip, I had a large package of glow necklaces in the backpack (they are inexpensive, esp online). My original plan was to give them to kids, like PP Tink (great idea, btw).

Anyhow,on our last night (EMH at MK, my favorite), younger son and I were just having our way with Fantasyland at about 1am. Then, inspiration struck. We spent the rest of the night literally running around as best we could, passing out glow necklaces to Cast Members. We thanked each one for helping give us such a great trip, and for their contribution to the Magic. Almost every Cast Member was really happy with the gesture, and most were very happy to wear the bracelets the rest of the night. It was great to run from attraction to attraction and see the "glow" of the magic in us on the wrists and necks of tired but happy CMs.

[Ramblingman]

We have done the Fastpass thing before, but I love the glowstick idea. I plan to be doing that in two weeks.

[tdk316]

We've both received and given balloons. I think we've only purchased one so far and were happy to give it away on our last morning.

I am forever grateful to the young teenager who gave me his seat on the bus going back to the resort from AK when my youngest was five months old. Just when I thought I was going to lose it and the trip was a disaster, he gave up his seat and that made things manageable again.

We've given away countless fastpasses over the years but I now try to go out of my way to find teenage males to give them to just in case it's that kid who gave up that seat for me. DH always looks for a dad with a young kid(s).

[TikiGoddess]

We always try our best to help people out in the parks. Last year we found a seat before Illuminations and while we were waiting my girls handed out glow bracelets to all the kids in our area. We also gave away our Give-A-Day Fastpasses when we were leaving the park.

On a few trips I've printed out CM 'thank you' cards for the girls to hand out.

I was blessed enough to find a nice family on my last solo trip -- they let me sit with them right at the front of the parade route, just before the parade started. It was my first time seeing the Xmas parade live, and it was fantastic!

Kathy

[luvdiznee]

We give out candy canes to the cast members, when we go at Holiday time.

[PlutoToo]

I'm another one who tries to take photos for other people. It's hard to be the family photographer...you never get in any of the pictures.

[Cinderella7299]

Great thread! So many fun ways to spread Pixie Dust!

I was a Cast Member for about a year in 1998. My husband (then my fiancee) had an annual pass, as did the rest of my family. I never had the need to use my Maingate Pass for my friends or family. (If you're not familiar with a Maingate Pass, it's a pass given to CMs that allow you to bring up to three people into the park with you up to 12 times a year).

When we would arrive at a park, we would wait in front of the ticket windows for a family of three. I would introduce myself (and of course show them my CM ID card) and offer to bring them in with us using my Maingate Pass. We did this on several occasions, and I was always happy to spread a little magic.

I love reading about the wonderful things guests do for each other while in The World!

Ginny Lynne

[MongoMil]

My daughter and I got fastpasses given to us by some guy. He got in on early entry day and got passes so when we he gave them to us they were already to use 30 min into park opening. Last time down we brought a bunch of glow sticks and passed them out. Most people took them with pleasure but of course a few looked at me like I had three heads and said no thanks.

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

About 4 years ago we were leaving to go home and were talking to a family who'd just arrived with their little one for his first trip. I asked them if they had brought a little flash light for the dark rides and they said no. So I have them the little key chain one that I had. They were so appreciative.

And last August we had driven down so we were able to go off property to buy supplies. We ended up with a LOT of left over water and sodas so I walked around the floor of our resort until I found someone with an open door and offered it to them.

And of course my sisters and I always offer to take pictures for people. Such a simple thing but it makes people so happy.

[micky95]

we also give away FP.one time my dw was trying to purchase a sunglass strap to hold her glasses around her neck. the CM tried ringing it up several times but it never worked . he looked at me and said you know what that means. then he said it was free.it was only a 5.00 dollar item but i felt like i'd won the lottery (LOL).we also like to share our experiences with others like where to watch a parade, where to sit on a ride for best view.we were just there & were waiting in line for soarin (our favorite) & the lady in front of us was trying to convince her mother (70 or so )that the ride was easy .she was having some difficulty convincing her so i explained to her how basically it was like sitting in a rocking chair.we saw her after the ride & she said they were going on it again.my dw & i really enjoy sharing our expertise with others

[brdavis]

OK, note to self, get a bunch of glow-bracelets when we go down this summer...

We've spread the magic with FP's for a while (heck, just informing new parents of parent-swap has made more than a few magical moments). We never thought to buy someone lunch with leftover DDP credits (but we rarely have any), but have given away a lot of uneaten food to others. And giving seats on the bus is a natural for me... and, as a result, for my children as well. I've wrestled others strollers onto/off the bus (esp. when somebody has a sleeping kid and no hands left). And taking pictures of people so they both appear in the photograph.

Try taking a deliberate picture of a CM sometime. We usually pick one of the thankless CMs who have to take pictures of others all day at the park entrance etc. They will ham it up and smile, happy for the change.

--
Brian Davis

[Mickey91]

We were given Cirque Du Soleil tickets once by a group that could not use them.

[kemps@wdw]

There are several ways we "share the magc". Giving unused FP to other families, or giving a child a better viewing spot at the parades. We even had a couple who were flying out the day we arrived at our resort (when our DD was young) who gave us an umbrella stroller that they did not want to take on the plane with them, under the condition we also pass it on when we left. As we were flying also, it worked out perfectly. On the day we were leaving, we saw a couple w/a young child checking in at our resort and offered them the "magic stroller". They were, to say the least, VERY glad that they would not have to rent a stroller daily! I would like to think that that stroller was passed along until it just...fell apart!

[Jim&AngieMarriner]

We are avid pin traders, so we often buy large lots from online before we go down. As you imagine we get a bunch of pins we already have and use them as traders. We love using the traders as little gifts for kids who are just starting trading. Its great to see their little eyes light up at a free pin. And we think its a great way to pass the hobby on to the younger ones.

[Ramblingman]

So many good ideas to use when we go down in 9 days. As I said earlier in the post, we've always given away FP's and good viewing seats, and giving up my seat on a bus is my nature - I was raised a Southern gentleman, after all (how many of you men still walk closest to the street when you are with a lady?).

This weekend, we are buying lots of glowsticks. We already bought a bunch of goodies for my DD19 to make up bags for CM's.

I just bought a ton of pins to trade with, and since there is a trading night the night we get there, I think I'll give away a few to some deserving children.

Thank you all for helping to share and spread the Magic. Y'all are why the Magic will never die.

[dizneydeb22]

There are so many great ideas here! I can't wait to use some on our next trip in 94 days!! We have also done the FP thing. I do a lot of research for our trips, so I try to help inform people when I find out they are going to Disney. It great to see the look of appreciation or even relief when I offer a time or money saving tip.

[kemps@wdw]

I also believe the random acts of kindness should also be given to CMs for all the wonderful things they do. So, last year, I got a bunch of gold coins with the engraving..."outstanding" on one side and "over and above" w/shooting stars on the other, and gave them out to the CMs that I felt deserved it! Their response was one of surprise and pride!

[BandMan]

I was reading these thinking "I wish I'd done something nice for someone", then remembered this:

Because I'm a high school band director, we always watch the 3:00 parade at some point during our trip, and I take pictures of the visiting bands for the day. Once we're back home, I look up the schools on the internet and email the best pictures to the band directors AND their administrators. (Never hurts to get a little positive PR.)

Last trip I got a lovely message back from a superintendent who was a former band director, telling us how much he appreciated the pictures.

[LisaP]

I was reading another post about buying people snacks with leftover DDP credits and I was wondering what random acts of kindness anyone has done or witnessed (not from CMs but from other guests) to help make someone else's trip more magical.
I will start it off. Each year my kids always buy the Mickey balloons on Main St. On our last day, as we are leaving down Main St., we always find another family on the way in and we have our kids give their balloons to the the kids coming in. It always puts a smile on everyone's face.

We've done the same thing ... it's a wonderful feeling