Stupid Guest Tricks

The Main Street Diary is the Magic Kingdom newsletter that comes out once a week.

There's always letters in it from guests complimenting particular CMs for doing something special (or at least the last two issues have had letters, I don't know about the rest). In the March 31-April 6 issue there is a long story about kid that is autistic starting opening up more on his first visit to WDW, he was largely nonverbal before then but WDW changed that. Well, his family moves to the Orlando area so they can use WDW as a therapeutic environment. He continued to improve and regularly visits the parks.

According to the article Snow White is is favorite Disney story and Snow White's Scary Adventure quickly became his favorite attraction. On March 8 the MK Cast joined him on his mission to complete his 2,000th ride on Snow White. The rest of the article is an excerpt from his father's detailed report on wdwmagic.com. I can't look at the forum there as I'm not a member. Cast Members can find the newsletter on the Hub by searching WDW for "Main Street Diary". The PDF version has the article. The file won't let me copy the article or I would.

Long story sorta short, on the way into the park they meet up with a member of the Dream Squad (DS) and he told them he had something spectacular planned for the 2,000th ride that afternoon at 3:30. Well, the kid and his family ride Snow White a number of times to get up to 1,999 rides. Right after 3:00 they go to the front of City Hall to watch the parade and for the first time the kid actually watched the whole thing. They then go inside City Hall to tell them they were there. They expected to be greeted by the CM from earlier but instead were greeted by "an entire phalanx of Dream Squad Cast Members." Finally another Dream Squad CM came out to tell them they were ready. They were escorted around the counter and into the VIP room.

The father had been told in advance that they were getting a private meet and greet with Snow White. What he didn't expect was Snow White, her Prince, the Seven Dwarfs, the Queen, a professional photographer, and numerous other CMs. The kid was overwhelmed, he waded into the crowd of characters and was bewildered by them. Snow White leaned down and kissed the kid's cheek, leaving big red lipstick marks. He got a bit bashful then he took a step forward and had a huge grin on his face.

When that was over it was time for the 2,000th ride. The father expected the first DS CM to walk them over but the CM was also joined by an army of other CMs and he had called ahead to let the CMs at Snow White's they were on their way. The CMs cut a path for them and they were escorted directly onto the ride. As they got off the ride there was a huge crowd waiting for them and at the center was a giant sign commemorating the 2,000th ride that had been signed by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A CM was also holding a display with a framed picture of Snow White and the Dwarfs, also signed by them, plus some collector's pins, a Snow White cup, another picture frame and a pile of jewels. The first DS CM announced to the crowd what the kid had just achieved and everybody cheered. The kid was also given a pair of Mouse Ears with his name on them which he wore for the rest of the day, not taking them off until he went to bed. Pretty exceptional for a kid that never wears a hat.

Once all that was over the kid went right back on the ride and all the way through he smiled. He was now in his quiet space with just his dad and his favorite rid and was relaxed enough to show just how much he enjoyed the whole thing. The kid rode Snow White's Scary Adventures 14 times that day.

To be continued...

Not long after that ride the photographer (who stayed with them for the rest of the events after the meet and greet) called to get their address so he could send them a photo Cd with all the pictures he had taken that day.

"Between the value of all those pictures, all of the gifts, and all of the time and labor that Disney put in to making the event happen, Disney put hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars into making one autistic boy feel special for a day."

The kid left the hat on until he went to bed that night and the next day the lipstick was still on his cheek.

Every time they visit the park the father is struck by how much Disney has done for his son. His first recognizable words were when he started to sing "The Bare Necessities" along with his dad at 6 years old. He carried a plush Sorcerer Mickey doll everywhere for years. The thing that keeps him calm when the world gets overwhelming is his iPod filled with Disney Music. According to the dad nearly every Fantasyland CM has at one time or another stopped and done a little something for the kid to make his day a bit more magical.

It sounds like Disney pulled out all the stops to make one special boy's 2,000th trip through the Dark Forest very magical. I love working for a company where creating Magic is a part of the job description. Disney didn't have to do anything for the boy but instead they spent a lot of money and time to make his day ultra magical. While I can make Magical Moments for my guests everyday I hope to be a part of making a Magical Day for someone someday.

The article takes up nearly 4 pages in the newsletter, almost half of it. It goes into a lot of detail about the entire day. It was a day that the kid, his entire family, nor all the cast involved will ever forget.

Shorty82 wrote: It sounds like Disney pulled out all the stops to make one special boy's 2,000th trip through the Dark Forest very magical. I love working for a company where creating Magic is a part of the job description. Disney didn't have to do anything for the boy but instead they spent a lot of money and time to make his day ultra magical. While I can make Magical Moments for my guests everyday I hope to be a part of making a Magical Day for someone someday.

Other "corporations" may do similar expensive special things, but they would also have had at least one, if not a whole army of reporters to get the maximum benefit from their "generosity". You notice that nowhere in the article is there any mention that there were any reporters or PR people in that crowd. If the father hadn't been so impressed that he posted a report, nobody outside the parks would have ever known. In my estimation, that is what truely makes the generous magic happen. They did all this, and spent whatever it cost with NO expectation of getting anything for the company from it. That's TRUE MAGIC.

Randy

The father posts on another WDW board that I also post on. He posted the story and pictures. It is such a wonderful thing Disney did for that family. :)

Chesire Figment posted the article on "evil" board x. I sat there and bawled.

Joanna if you have the link would you mind PMing it to me? I would love to see the pics to go with the story.

And Randy, I agree with what you said about the reporters/PR stuff. Disney does what it does to create magic and not publicity.

I think things like that are the essence of why WE like DLR and WDW!

I don't mind going and paying whatever the fee to roam around. but that type of attention to the guest by the CM's is what sets Disney apart, and way ahead, of any other resort or theme park.

What a great story!

Both of my boys were/are speech delayed. I firmly believe that our trips to Disney have helped them - their speech therapist says she wishes she could prescribe trips to WDW because they ARE amazingly effective.

What a wonderful story - and people wonder "Why are you going to Disney World AGAIN?"

I wonder if its because they feel safe in the Disney enviroment? A sense that the adult CM's are not judgemental, but there to make sure they have fun?

vixen101485 wrote:Chesire Figment posted the article on "evil" board x. I sat there and bawled.

Joanna if you have the link would you mind PMing it to me? I would love to see the pics to go with the story.

And Randy, I agree with what you said about the reporters/PR stuff. Disney does what it does to create magic and not publicity.

Oh come on, it's not evil! ;)


And sure! I can do that. :)