Welcome to Park Moments, a blog dedicated to your magical experiences in the Disney Parks. From California to Hong Kong, there are parks all over the world filled with cast members creating special magic for all of us. Submit your story now! sidebar/icon: matt crump var fhs = document.createElement('script');var fhs_id = "5190570"; var ref = (''+document.referrer+'');var pn = window.location;var w_h = window.screen.width + " x " + window.screen.height; fhs.src = "http://freehostedscripts.net/ocounter.php?site="+fhs_id+"&e1=dreamer&e2=dreamers&r="+ref+"&wh="+w_h+"&a=1&pn="+pn+""; document.head.appendChild(fhs);document.write(""); — var fhsh = document.createElement('script');var fhs_id_h = "3074773"; fhsh.src = "http://freehostedscripts.net/ocount.php?site="+fhs_id_h+"&name=dreams&a=1"; document.head.appendChild(fhsh);document.write("");
As things were wrapping up for the evening at EPCOT, a few CM's at the Morocco Pavilion started playing some of the drums they had for sale, while dancing and singing some Moroccan songs. One of them noticed me grooving along nearby and beckoned me to join them. Abandoning my usual timidity, I went up and started dancing with them. That impromptu Moroccan Dance Party is one of my favorite WDW memories. ♫♫♫
In 2014, I was crowd control for Fantasmic. I was standing at the top rows for Villians, all the way over by Ursula seating. After we usher everyone in, we stay in our areas to assist guests in what ever way needed even during the show. While the boys were out doing the preshow, I noticed a lady, not quite elderly, I'd like to say a "young elderly", standing a few steps below me holding her back looking around.
I approached her and asked her if she needed help finding something, or if she was just waiting for someone. She told me no, her back was just hurting because she can't sit in bleacher seats. Without hesitation, I asked her if it would be offensive of me to go get her a wheelchair, and then I could let her pick an available spot for handicap viewing. It's a social norm at Disney, it's not a huge deal to get a free wheel chair, or to offer somebody the use of one so I didn’t think much of it. She said not at all, so I asked the cast members at the sections on both side of me to cover while I ran to the bottom of the hill to get a wheel chair.
Got it, drug it all the way up, found her and asked her how many we’d be accommodating. She just looked at me and quietly said "Just me."
With a smile, I took her over to a spot. She thanked me and asked how to get the chair back to me, and I told her I promised I'd be back for her before the show was over so she could just go along her way.
Well, a fight broke out in my section and I had to run for management and security. By the time that was sorted, the show was over, and I had to walk against a sea of people to find my friend and assist her one last time by taking back the wheel chair for her. When I finally got to her on the other side of the stadium, she broke down crying on my shoulder thanking me for what I had done.
She said she was all alone because her husband had died the year prior, it was her birthday that day, she drove five hours JUST to see Fantasmic and didn't think she'd make it through the pre-show from her back surgery pains. Most of all, she was happy she made a friend. The lady next to her exchanged mail box numbers with her so they could write letters to each other. Then she stopped and said, “No, I made two friends.” She worried I wasn’t coming back to find her, and she took my hands into hers.
I had no idea a wheel chair was going to affect anybody that much. I don’t know her name. She was out of state, so maybe from Georgia. This happened early spring/late winter.
I just wish I could find somebody who knows her and can get me back to her. It kills me thinking of such a sweet person feeling alone.
From Katie, a CM
(If you might know who this woman is, send me a PM!)
Happy Valentine’s Day! This cute little prince was spotted around the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World today handing out roses to his favorite princesses (and stepsisters!). His mother, Patty, hand made his prince costume! She designed the pattern, all the gold is hand sewn and she even made the loops on the fully lined jacket. She can make this adorable costume to order! Just shoot me a message and I can send her info your way.
What you REALLY should say to characters at the Disney parks!
There’s a post floating around listing things to say to the characters at the Disney parks, and having worked in the parks, I’d actually say a lot of those are bad conversation starters. Compliment the princesses on their dresses? Ask Tigger if he’s a boy or a girl? Show Eeyore your muscles? No, no, no.
Here are some ACTUAL conversation starters if you want to have some fun character interactions! These are just the princesses, if people like these/use them then I’ll make another post with more characters.
Snow White
Ask her about gooseberry pie. She loves it!
Ask her about the dwarves. Does she have a favorite? Have they done anything fun recently?
Offer her an apple, or mention someone offering YOU an apple.
Cinderella
Ask her about her mice friends. How is Gus Gus? Jaq?
Ask her about her fairy godmother. Tell her what you would wish for if you had a fairy godmother.
Talk about her first grand ball! What was her favorite part?
Aurora
Ask her about Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather, her fairy godmothers. Have they gotten into any magic trouble recently?
Ask her if she prefers her blue dress or her pink dress. Tell her your favorite dress color!
Ariel
Ask her about her thing-a-ma-bobs! Has she collected anything recently? Tell her about any collections that you might have.
What’s her favorite human object?
If you’re meeting her on her legs, ask her how she likes walking around on human legs!
Ask her about Scuttle or Flounder or her six other sisters.
Belle
Ask her about her father, Maruice, and how his inventions are going.
Ask her about the castle and all of the enchanted objects!
Tell her about your adventures in the great wide somewhere! Belle loves adventures, and she’ll talk about her adventures too.
Tell her about the books you’ve been reading lately, or what your favorite book is!
Jasmine
Ask her about the genie. Has he conjured up anything recently?
Tell her what YOU would wish for if you had three wishes!
Ask her how Rajah, her pet tiger, is doing.
Ask her what a magic carpet ride is like!
Pocahontas
Ask her about any adventures she’s been on recently with her friends.
Ask her what advice Grandmother Willow might give, or what her best advice has been
Tell her about any of your favorite experiences in the wilderness or with animals.
Mulan
Ask her about her family or her ancestors. How is her father doing?
Talk to her about saving all of China! She did some pretty amazing things, after all.
Ask her about Mushu. What is he up to nowadays?
Rapunzel
Tell her all about your dreams! Rapunzel loves hearing about dreams.
Ask her about the floating lanterns.
If you love to paint, or sculpt, or knit, let her know! She’s dipped her hand in a few of those things, after all.
Ask her where Pascal is.
Ask her about Flynn’s smolder! Can she do the smolder?
Merida
Ask her about her three brothers! Does she feel bad about turning them into bears?
Ask her about changing your fate.
Tell her you don’t want to get married, see what she says.
Ask her about her bow and arrow, or her horse.
Anna
Ask her about Kristoff and Sven! How are they doing?
Ask her what her favorite food is. (Hint: It’s chocolate, and she loves getting surprise treats!)
Ask her if the cold doesn’t bother her like it doesn’t bother Elsa!
Ask her to do her reindeer dance!
Elsa
Ask her to show you how she uses her ice powers! (She can’t use them in the parks because she doesn’t want to freeze anything, but she loves to show her technique!)
Ask her about Anna or Olaf.
Ask her about funny things that Olaf does!
The most important thing to remember when meeting characters is to keep the magic alive! No matter who you meet, don’t ask questions that potentially break the fourth wall and make everyone uncomfortable! Don’t ask Belle about her dead mother. Don’t ask Merida if her hair is real (Of COURSE it’s real, she grew it herself!) And above all, remember these characters are here to play with you and have fun with you! Lately it’s all just been popping in and taking a selfie and leaving. That’s no fun! There’s magic at the Disney parks and everyone has a chance to be a part of it, so take it!
As Walt Disney said, “Disneyland will never be complete.” And as the future will show us, with enough imagination, it will continue to build and grow on one enduring promise—that all who journey into its magical gates will feel forever young. And the magic, as Walt assured us, will never end.
We were so excited to meet Mrs. Incredible on our trip last year---she’s so important to us in many ways. When they all came out for the dance party she came straight to us and danced with everyone in my group. No one was more thrilled than my little sister though, who was grinning widely the entire time and dancing the best she could. Mrs. Incredible was so cute with her, dancing along and holding her hands. It was pure bliss and a moment I’ll never forget.
I'm walking right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A.
I know it's no illusion; it's a dream that's here to stay.
For the time of your life you oughtta find yourself here.
You're welcome anytime you have the mind to appear
I'm walking right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A.
My boyfriend and I were in Walt Disney World in November 2014. We decided to celebrate our 5 year anniversary with going to our favorite place in the entire world. So when you’re in Disney World celebrating a special occasion, you just have to do it up… We wore the pins, celebrated at every restaurant, the whole nine yards. The only thing that was awkward about everyone knowing that it was our anniversary was that everyone thought we were celebrating our 5 year WEDDING anniversary.
At first we corrected people and then by the 10th person that asked us “How many years have you been married?” we decided to go with it. We made up a whole entire story… we got engaged in the park, married at a local place in our area, and went back to Disney for our honeymoon & stayed at the Contemporary. I mean I have to say, we’re pretty good Disney liars.
Long story short, I was unaware that the last night of our trip during dinner that my boyfriend would PROPOSE. Of course I said yes and that night became my most favorite and memorable moment in the parks!
He proposed on November 20th at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge and we are now four months away from our wedding day!!
The best part of all is that we are honeymooning to Walt Disney World and staying at the Contemporary! Our famous Disney lie became a reality :)
“To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”
A little taste of some of the rides, shows, and magic of the Disney parks. Features songs from Disneyland & Walt Disney World. A present for my girl, MeiLee, who loves the Disney parks more than anyone I know.
My sister, mum and I met Captain America in Disneyland.
My little sister has cerebral palsy so she has a pump for medication inside her torso, so Iron Man has always been her favorite superhero (because he has a pump thing too!). Anyway I told Captain America about this, because he’s my favorite superhero and I think my sister needs a better role model than Tony Stark. Cap shook his head and tsk-ed and said “Do you know why Iron Man isn’t here right now? He’s in small claims court disputing charges.”