Custodial Cast Member Creates a Magical Moment

The following story was sent in by Katie from California.  This is her most memorable magical moment at Walt Disney World.

I was roommates with Buzz and Woody during their Disney College Program and spent many glorious days in the parks with friends, as well as on my own.  One of the “magical moments” that happened to me occurred while I was killing a few hours before my shift in Tomorrowland at “Stitch’s Great Escape.”

I was over in Fantasyland, hoping to ride the Carousel and “it’s a small world.” I absolutely love these attractions.  When I looked around, I saw a custodial cast member doing something a bit out of the ordinary.  Instead of sweeping up garbage with his broom and dust pan, he was painting with them on the pavement.

There was no one else around, watching him, at the time.  There was just me and I knew something was up.  I saw him draw a big circle and then a smaller one.  Then, he turned to me and asked if I wanted to help him draw Mickey!  I was surprised that I was being chosen to help with this “water art” (I learned later on that this was the proper term for what was happening).  It was a simple act that completely made my day.  This Mickey we painted was not perfect, but it was beautiful to me.  It also made me appreciate other Cast Members for the jobs that they do.  This particular custodian made my day just by letting me help create a temporary masterpiece on the pavement of Fantasyland.

I think magic is made in all sorts of ways.  It can be as small as helping make water art or as large as spending the night in the Cinderella Castle Suite.  Regardless, when at Disney, I think it’s important to realize just how much magic is surrounding you.  Especially in the smallest gestures.

-Katie

 

Do you have a story like Katie’s that you want to share?  We would love to hear all about it!  Email us (disneytoinfinityandbeyond13@gmail.com) your stories today. °o°

My Christmas in the Mouse’s House

Well all of the gorgeous Christmas decorations are adorning the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort at the moment! Christmastime is definitely my favorite time to visit WDW. It’s completely magical; there are gorgeous lights, fake snow, characters wearing their Christmas best, and of course Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! Last year I was lucky enough to enjoy my first MVMCP–that I actually remember– and it was wonderful!
The parade was completely wonderful and so much fun! The fireworks were mesmerizing and the music perfect. However, my favorite part was seeing the castle completely decorated with the most beautiful lights. It was such a magical moment for me walking toward the castle that has been so iconic throughout my life, and having it be decorated for the holiday. It made me feel as if I was in a dream or a fantasy of some sort.
I realized how lucky I would be when I would call WDW my home for the next several months during my CP, and made me love Disney even more!
Unfortunately, I am unable to visit WDW during this holiday season. But I will definitely be thinking about my home away from home, and that magical moment of seeing Cinderella Castle lit up for the first time in my life!
– Woody

The Year of a Million Dreams

Today I’ll share with you one of my favorite moments while at the world! So get comfortable because it’s story time!

I’m not sure if y’all remember the Year of a Million Dreams. It was a campaign Disney created, and began back in October 2006 and ran through December 2008—just a tad bit longer than a year! But anyways banners were everywhere proclaiming that this was the Year of a Million Dreams, Cinderella Castle Suite stays were possible for anyone to win, and they were giving away Dream Fastpasses!

My family was visiting WDW during this promotion and we loved the spectacle. I personally believed there was a bit more excitement and anticipation in the air during our visit; probably because you never knew what was around the corner. Well my family and I decided to go to Animal Kingdom one morning and we knew of the second entrance through Rainforest Café (for those of you who don’t know there are turnstiles between the exit from the gift shop of Rainforest Café and the actual Animal Kingdom Park). Once we got there we saw two cast member’s, each one had a Year of a Million Dreams book bag hanging off their shoulders and we were wondering what was going on. As it turns out they were passing out surprise Dream Fastpasses to each person passing through the turnstiles at the entrance!

Once it was our turn to pass through the turnstiles, the cast members congratulated us and gave everyone in our party the Dream Fastpass that could be used for the rest of the day within Animal Kingdom. My family and I’s entire day was made. We were ecstatic and couldn’t wait to use these fastpasses for all the rides.

Now it may sound silly that fastpasses are a magical moment for me. However, I think the idea that anything could happen, a surprise could be right around the corner; that was what made it magical. Disney wants families to have memories that will always be cherished, and just by receiving these Fastpasses I began to understand the magic and wish fulfillment that Disney prides its self on. Walt Disney World will always be a place for families to escape reality and enter a world of fantasy, adventure, and dreams that can come true.

-Woody

(Photo property/courtesy of disneytoinfinityandbeyond)

Do you have a magical moment you’d like to share and/or want posted on our blog? Then email us your story and who knows maybe you’ll see it on our next Magical Moment Monday!

A Magical Moment

Maybe it’s something you remember from your childhood that brings a smile to your face, or watching your children’s eyes light up because the most enchanting thing they could possibly imagine just happened to them.  I don’t know of any other company who prides themselves on creating these moments quite like Disney.

Magical Moments can be the smallest instances, such as a cast member wishing you a Happy Birthday by name and carrying on a conversation with you, or as grand as winning a night in the Cinderella Castle Suite in Cinderella Castle.  These moments, no matter how big or small, will stay with you.  Every time you think back to Disney—whether it is their movies, the parks, merchandise, etc. – you’ll remember that moment.

Walt Disney World is a place of happiness, joy, magic, and fantasy.  You can go Under the Sea with Ariel and friends in Magic Kingdom, take off on a Mission to Mars in Epcot, play some Midway games with Buzz, Woody, and the gang at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and try to escape the grasps of a mythical Yeti in Animal Kingdom.  This world allows us to escape reality for however long we are lucky enough to visit and reconnect with family, friends, and our imagination.

These aren’t just attractions.  They are magical moments, which bring to life the fantasies, and dreams we never thought were achievable.  Visiting your favorite Princess and having an actual conversation with her—that is a magical moment.  Even just walking down Main Street U.S.A. towards this iconic landmark and smelling cotton candy from the Confectionary and having Cast Members wave and smile at you as you embark to different lands of imagination, how could that not be magical?

Create those Magical Moments for yourself, even if you aren’t at Walt Disney World or can’t visit quite yet.  That’s what Disney is truly all about­­­, bringing that spark into your life that you will never forget.

-Woody

**We love hearing all about your magical moments so please share in the comments section below or email them to us.  You can also share photos of your magical moments with us on Instagram by adding the hashtag #disney_toinfinityandbeyond.  Your magical moments might even get featured in a future post.  We will share some of our personal magical moments with you all too!!  

Can’t wait to hear all about the magic that has been created! 🙂