Can anybody tell me. . .

[February]

What the best snail mail address would be for WDW to write to the Dapper Dans?

They were a huge part of a very significant moment for me in WDW last time we were there and I have finally composed myself to the point where I think I can write it down and explain to them why it was so emotional for me.

I wanted to write them before our next trip- hopefully some of them will be the same ones we had in September maybe cause I would love to see them again.

PM me please if you have any suggestions?

Thanks bunches
MCP

[KidAtHeart]

No suggestions, sorry, but your post begs the question: What happened?

[Big Wallaby]

My suggestion? Write to Guest Relations. It will get to them as well as anywhere else.

[February]

Thanks Wallaby! I'll try to dig that address up.

So a brave soul wants to hear the story eh? LOL I warn you, it's long!!!

Here it is.

Anyone who has read my posts here knows that I have had CM aspirations since I was a toddler. Also that I grew up at WDW and think of it as a second home.

We were there in September and thought we were going into the park for rope drop which amazingly I've never done.

Then we arrived and realized we missed it because of EMH for toddlers or something- it was some special thing for families with young kids. Oh well!

We found that the Mainstreet bakery hadn't opened yet and I desperately needed 2 things. Coffee and cinnamon roll.

We decided to wait the 10 minutes until it opened, and when it opened we were first in line! We got our goodies and grabbed a table.

We were almost done with our meal when the Dans came out of a backstage area and walked right past us! I was so taken with how shiny their shoes and smiles were, I had to tease the one wearing pink that he needed my shoes (I wear trademark pink converse tennis shoes almost everywhere I go) They responded by doing a little soft shoe for me to show off their shoes were special :)

I said to them, "I always wanted to work on singing a number with you guys someday." And one of them said, "Well how about today?"

I was scared to death LOL. But even though I was shaking, I decided to go for it. They asked for a song request, I said "A dream is a wish your heart makes."

Well we started out and I made mistake #1 which was trying to sing in the wheelchair (should've stood and used my crutch- more lung capacity that way!) I just couldn't believe I was singing with the quartet on Main Street.

Well, it was all such a dream for me and everyone in the room was silent and watching/listening. . . and their voices were so beautiful. . .that halfway through the verse I burst into tears! I couldn't keep singing. They kept going and kind of hugged my shoulders a little and at the end I couldn't tell them the real reason why.

Reason was that my grandmother, -mother of my heart who passed away ten days before our last trip to WDW, (which i only ended up going on because we were traveling with extended family and we'd already rescheduled due to the hurricanes that year- I was in no condition to travel mentally-) always wanted to stop on trips when I was a child to listen to the barbershop quartet.

We kids always wanted to run and hurry and go on rides but she loved the music and she loved Main Street. She also always encouraged my singing (I'm a lyric soprano with some training but my parents vetoed the scholarship I was offered when I was 18) and so in that moment- being on main street with my family (two of us whom are lucky to be alive at all) and the music and all, it just overwhelmed me to the bottom of my heart.

We talked a little while after they finished the song for me and I promised them that I actually really sounded a lot better than I had that morning.

They laughed and were so sweet and gave me an Honorary Dapper Dan card.

It was magical but I just couldn't tell them why I was crying, really.

From the moment they went off to do their show and left, I wished I could have a do over.

To Be Continued. . .

[Ms. Matterhorn]

Wow, MCP, that is an amazing story!

[KidAtHeart]

I'm not a brave soul at all. Just a curious one!

But that story was amazing, very sweet. I'm sure they would love to hear from you, and to know the kind of 'magical moment' they gave you.

[February]

Story was too long to post in one post- apologies!

. . .continued.

Two days later I got my chance! And all by accident.

We were on our way out of the MK- had gone in on the early side and it was H O T. My dad was faring badly in the heat and myself too so we headed for the exit. I needed ice cream (to cool down, yeah, that's why!) so we ducked into the parlor and grabbed a bowl. I asked my husband to walk me out thru the gift shops because I didn't want it to melt.

As we rounded a corner and headed into the store where they sell the custom watches (is it Uptown Jewelers?) THERE were the Dapper Dans They had just finished singing a couple numbers for the group inside the store.

Two were different gents than we'd had the other morning but the two who were the same smiled and waved to me. We wheeled over and one said to the group "Don't look at her when you sing, she'll cry!"

I laughed and said "Boy I'd love a do over."

He answered, "Well come on then!"

I got out of my chair, and he instructed the other singers not to look at me ROFL.

I got through the whole song that time with barely a waver in my voice, and it was so amazing! We got a rousing round of applause as shoppers had come in from other stores to listen.

We had so much fun we actually did another (one from My Fair Lady -they knew enough to fake it they said LOL) and some of Chim Chim Cheree. We talked and laughed and they made me an 'Honorary Ding-aling' as well LOL even though i didn't play the bells. I treasure that card and have framed it because it applies to me in soooooo many ways LOL

They all said they enjoyed my voice and I could sing with them anytime *blush*

We passed by them a third time on another day before our trip was over and they reacted to me like a celebrity! Smiles, waves, hugs. I thanked them again for the experience they'd given me fulfilling a dream.

It was so much fun I wanted to be the first Dapper Danielle on payroll LOL.

So I'd like to write and send them a copy of the pictures of us and also explain to them why I was such a wreck the first time, and how happy it made me to think of Grandma watching us all sing together.

I know she's looking down over Main Street. She just adored it there- and she gave me some of my best childhood memories in WDW- in a childhood that was entirely different at home. . .when we were not on Disney property.

So that's the long story! If anybody knows a Dapper Dan could you point them this way? LOL

I found an address online for "Guest Communications" I'm hoping that's the right one?

Thanks!
MCP

[February]

Wow, MCP, that is an amazing story!

Thanks guys you're too kind- but that was just the first installment! LOL The board cut me off at 5000 characters. Who knew I was so freaking wordy LOL

[hhsrat]

Yes, Guest Communications would be the place to direct this letter.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Now that is why many of us go to WDW and DLR!! Great 'back story" And they sang with you not once, but twice! You must be good, I hope someone caught that and put it on YouTube!!!!