I love bussing tables. I love being outside. I love getting to serve guests. I love talking to children. I love my costume. I love listening to (and occasionally watching) Fantasmic. I love my coworkers. I love my location.
This is why I came here. For experiences I cannot have anywhere else in the world. Such as this:
This week was Thanksgiving. Lots of guests the days before and my first scheduled overtime shift. I wasn't sure how I'd hold out, but I did well enough.
At the end of the night, between the fireworks and the second Fantasmic show, I was sweeping. As I walked by a table with a family, I heard a loud whisper from an older boy:
"Hey, look! It's Cinderella!"
I wasn't sure what to think of it, so I glanced over but went back to work. Was he trying to be smart? Trying to poke a bit of fun at me because of my job? Or maybe just my costume's apron? Regardless, I ignored it.
Passing around the other side of the table, he was at it again. Saying to his sister, "It's Cinderella! You should ask her for an autograph!"
Clearly I wasn't anyone special, and definitely no one worth asking for an autograph from. This young man had to be putting either me or his sister down, and I decided to see what I could do to stop it.
I walked over to the table, knelt down and while the brothers insisted I was Cinderella, I told her "I'm not Cinderella, I'm just her student! She taught me how to sweep."
Man did her eyes go wide.
She hurriedly explained that Cinderella was her absolute favorite princess. She had tried to meet Cinderella earlier, but luckily ran into her while she was walking. Her brother stopped her, asking Cinderella to sign an autograph for her, but Cinderella asked instead, "May I hug her instead?" This had made her very happy.
(Well that explained a lot. I silently apologized to her brother for the things I had assumed...)
But! Even though I wasn't Cinderella myself, being her student also put me in a very sacred place in this girl's heart! She asked about what other sorts of things I was learning (haha, the things I thought of quickly were "singing with mice" and "how to timely lose a shoe") and I asked her what she thought of meeting the real deal. I did a quick demonstration of how to sweep, as "taught by Cinderella" and she wanted to try. I made sure she knew she was now a student as well.
Soon the rest of the family was pushing for her to ask for my autograph. I was floored. Humbled. A little embarrassed. But tried to be gracious. I certainly couldn't tell her no!
However, after a quick shuffle of things, they realized the autograph book was missing! The girl looked heartbroken, but the mother comforted her reminding her that their phone number was inside.
But she was still insistent on an autograph! Someone found a clean napkin and a pen, and she handed them to me.
And then I was on the spot. They certainly didn't include anything about this in foods training. I tried to write a nice note, mentioning how nice her brothers must be, and signed it Madeline/Cinderella's Student. Her brother looked at it and approved of what I wrote about him.
I handed it back to her and the way she handled it-gingerly and reverently on top her palms-made me want to cry. A slight breeze almost pushed it off her hands and she reacted quickly to hang onto it: she was not going to let it out of her sight. "I'm going to put this straight into my scrapbook!"
We talked more and her family had half walked out of the restaurant before she was satisfied.
I don't know how long she'll remember me. I don't remember specific cast members from when I was her age, even though I'm sure I must have had some magical encounters too. But even if that napkin ends up lost or thrown out someday, I hope I don't forget that night.
This is why I became a cast member. Coming in, I never, ever, ever expected anyone to ask for my autograph. I was only going to be a busser (and even then, I ended up being just a steward for most of my program). But I love getting to give people the best service I can everyday. Even if I'm only pointing out the bathrooms, or getting a to go box, I love helping people.
This was my first week scheduled to bus instead of steward since training. I'm still trying to work up courage to talk to most guests, even if it's only a little friendly small talk. My coworker, Tom, is amazing with children. Watching him has really helped me be a better cast member. But it's amazing to see kids in their element. They're at Disney, where their dreams come true.
And I get to be apart of it. We make magic.
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