Join me people, I'm starting something here...

[February]

Okay, here goes.

You may or may not know that I made a trip down to WDW last weekend that was not a pleasure trip. I went to try to support some of our wonderful CMs here who work in Monorails and also to show my support for the whole WDW cast at this time.

Simply put, not only have the CMs on this board (and the other posters of course) been so supportive to me throughout major upheavals in my life the past couple of years but CMs have given me so much overall in my lifetime (I was born the year WDW opened) that I just had to give back if I could.

While I'm still not planning to post about the vigil (I figure if any of the CMs who were there want to do so it's their story to tell not mine) but I want to tell you about what actually turned out to be I believe the single most meaningful day I've ever had at Walt Disney World.

In between meeting up with various people from here and making a few new CM acqaintences along the way, I debated on Friday night how to spend the day Saturday up until the time of the vigil. It didn't feel right to me, going to the parks that day (not that I say that others shouldn't have or whatever if anyone did) I was just on a mission and I decided just what I needed to do that day.

I made it my aim that day to seek out, and personally thank, every Cast Member I could.

You should have seen the reaction.

From bell services people at the front door to the ladies in gift shops, I made my rounds among the monorail hotels (with my limited ability to walk I couldn't venture too far on my own with no wheelchair) and I shook the hands of and thanked every CM I could "for the magic they create for their guests every day"

You should have seen, the hugs, the tearful eyes, the smiles. the response was simply overwhelming. The first thing that every one said to me without exception?

"We never hear that. Thank you."

It was remarkable, it seemed everywhere I went, there were crowds of people leaving and it left me the time to talk to these cast members, many of them, especially at front desk areas of the resorts for long enough to tell them about the sight restored to my left eye and how up until weeks ago when i finally got my lens and glasses I had to be led everywhere I went. I wanted to say something uplifting to them, to show them a hopeful story as they are all so sad right now.

The responses were varied and some were out of this world incredible- but every one was positive. Of course, my interaction with the monorail staff was far more reserved and I would simply say thank you and smile gently as I passed by them.

So I'm asking you all a favor.

If you're going to WDW anytime soon, do this. Just make it your aim to just say thank you to every CM that you can. They don't hear it nearly enough, and I think that with all that's going on knowing that they're truly appreciated is the best thing that any guest can do for them.

Tell the custodians. Tell the housekeepers even if you meet them in the hall and they're not even cleaning your room.

Tell the podium CMs when you check in for dinner. Tell them again when you leave.

Just say those words, "Thank you for the magic you make every day for your guests." and watch their eyes light up.

They need hope right now. They need love and they need it to be shown respectfully. Those two words, "Thank you," when spoken sincerely and from the heart have a magic all their own and can't ever be wrong.

I'd love to hear your 'thank you' stories when you come home from your trips.

Do it for the CMs. Do it in memory of Austin Wuennenberg and every other CM who puts on their costume, tries to check their own troubles at the door, and then works their tail off all day to make our trips magical ones.

I won't ever forget that day, or the people I met. It was a life changing day for me that I am only now beginning to realize the gravity of.

hugs to all
bru

[joanna71985]

That is such a good idea Bru. Even as a CM myself, I know I don't do that nearly enough. So that will be something I will do more often during my CP.

Thanks for reminding me to do something so simple, but still so significant. :)

[darph nader]

I/we tend to do this all the time. Be it the motel front desk clerk,housekeeping,waiter at the restaurant. Hell,today I was leaving the grocery store and thanked an Air Force Sgt. I just kept going.

[February]

I/we tend to do this all the time. Be it the motel front desk clerk,housekeeping,waiter at the restaurant. Hell,today I was leaving the grocery store and thanked an Air Force Sgt. I just kept going.

Rock on, Darph. Rock on.

It's so great to see their expressions when your kid thanks them too. My daughter is in the habit of especially thanking the CMs who clean the restrooms and when she used to do it when she was really little, they just completely melted.

[Main Streeter]

I/we tend to do this all the time. Be it the motel front desk clerk,housekeeping

Can attest You do Thank many, & you do it in such nice ways. You even thanked me today.

[Rosie]

Bru, I did that at Typhoon Lagoon last month. On the whole, the cast members didn't know how to respond, 99% of them seemed happy to have someone acknowledge their hard work. Only one young lady took offense to being thanked, she thought I was being sarcastic. It only takes a second to thank someone but the feeling lasts for hours.

Rosie

[turkeyham]

Bru,

My sister and I do that all the time. We are planning to go back to WDW next October. ;)

[February]

Bru,

My sister and I do that all the time. We are planning to go back to WDW next October. ;)

That is way cool.

Hey I meant to say too, folks who visit DLR, please do this too. Doesn't have to be WDW exclusive...

good to hear so many people are polite that way but it doesn't surprise me that it's common practice among our folks here cause we all love cms so much. Maybe some lurkers who come to visit here from other places will pick up on the idea too. I'd love nothing more than for CMs all over WDW to hear it so often that they think they've woken up in an alternate universe...

bru

[DisneyMom]

Maybe it is time to revive our Hero CM stickers :)

[darph nader]

Maybe it is time to revive our Hero CM stickers :)

Now that,is pretty cool.