Magical Memories from the Guests

 

Walt Disney truly had a genius for creating Disney magic but, based on the countless stories the Insider receives each week, our fans keep it alive. Your memories are heartfelt, poignant, and filled with fun. The only problem is, there's not enough space to publish them all. This week it's all about you, our readers ... your vacation highlights, milestone celebrations, and tales of pixie-dust-filled moments. Grab your Mickey ears and enjoy!

Nelia, 58, Corvallis, OR – Disney Volunteers
As the Art Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, Oregon, thank you for your volunteer incentive programs. Each spring, my art center is responsible for the annual fund-raiser decorations – it's a big job and the projects are pretty complex. A large number of people volunteered their time this year in order to earn a free Disney Theme Park ticket. It was great because we were able to handle lots of details without a hitch, making everything much easier for me. Because of all the wonderful volunteers and interns who helped, we achieved everything I envisioned (26 12-inch embellished houses, 50 detailed paper dolls, and 160 blocks that featured the kids' pictures) AND an enormous level of stress was avoided. Kudos for such a great program ... and a very big thank you to all the people who took time out of their busy schedules to volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club!

Anne Marie, 43, Burnsville, MN – When Pirates Took Over the Jungle Cruise!
Our all-time favorite memory is from our Walt Disney World vacation four years ago. Our daughters were six and three at the time and loved "Pirates of the Caribbean." We bought them Mickey Mouse ears with pink pirate bandanas and plastic swords before riding the Jungle Cruise. The cruise guide pretended to be scared of "pirates" and asked if they planned on stealing his boat. He then let Emily steer if she promised not to hijack it. Imagine her delight when she was at the helm of the Jungle Cruise boat. It was the highlight of her trip – and ours!

Deborah, 55, Los Angeles, CA – Little Pocahontas
In 1996, we planned a summer vacation at Disneyland with our seven-year-old daughter, Camille, and had an unforgettable week! Pocahontas was Camille's heroine at the time, and she only wanted to wear a one-shoulder dress, moccasins, necklace, and arm bracelet just like her favorite Disney Princess. On day three, Camille was decked out in her Pocahontas costume when we saw the actual Indian Princess in Adventureland. We waited for her autograph but, as luck would have it, Pocahontas' break time arrived just as Camille was next in line. Camille began to tear up, but Daddy came to the rescue. He quietly approached Pocahontas and Meeko before they left and asked if they could stay a minute longer for our daughter. They took one look at Camille (who shyly gave them the "Wingapo" hand sign) and embraced her. Pocahontas asked her name, and then both she and Meeko spent a full five minutes letting us take photos, clowning with Camille, and signing her autograph book. Pocahontas hugged Camille and waved "Annah" ... our little Indian princess looked absolutely awestruck. This was the highlight of our entire vacation! Camille's now a student at musical theater college and pledges to become a Disney Princess someday so she can help others have their "best day ever" at Disneyland.

Robert, 60, Lake Worth, FL – A Magical 82nd Birthday!
We've visited Walt Disney World since it opened in 1971, so it came as no surprise that my mother wanted to celebrate her 82nd birthday at Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival as well as the Magic Kingdom. Each visit to Epcot has always surpassed our last, but this time the Magic Kingdom was the highlight of the trip. From the Dapper Dans' Barber Shop Serenade to Mom dancing with her walker in the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! parade, she was treated like a queen. Mom cried in Pixie Hollow when Tink and the Fairies celebrated her special day. We've always known that dreams come true here, but this weekend was our most magical yet!

Jordan, 23, Langhorne, PA – Engaged in Disneyland!
I've been to Walt Disney World too often to count, but never Disneyland. My boyfriend and I travelled to California for our first Disneyland visit over Valentine's Day. We had an amazing experience – he surprised me with dinner at the Blue Bayou, a Cast Member sent us on a trivia hunt and then gave us VIP parade-viewing passes and a Fastpass for Storybookland's Canal Boats. Later that evening, we rode in a boat all by ourselves. When it stopped for the fireworks, my boyfriend got down on one knee, pulled a ring out of his pocket, and proposed. Immediately after I said yes, the fireworks started! As the boat docked, the crowd welcomed us with ringing bells and cheers. I was flabbergasted. I hadn't suspected a thing the entire day ... it just seemed like the usual Disney magic. Disneyland made my engagement the most special and perfect day – one I'll never forget!

David, 46, Valencia, CA – Disney Dreams
When our three kids were young, we'd plan special trips to Walt Disney World Resort each year to escape the cold Chicago weather and experience some famous Disney magic. We currently live in Los Angeles and our kids are now in high school/college. Even though we have annual passes to Disneyland, we still make the trip to Disney World every other year and the entire family always agrees on what we should see while we're there. Though pineapple ice cream at the Tiki Room and laughing at the Jungle Cruise jokes are two Disneyland favorites, nothing tops the coconut broom races at Disney World's Polynesian Resort. My wife and I hope to retire and work at Disney World one day ... our grandkids will love visiting, and we'll share the same happiness we love so much with others.

Thankful at Walt Disney World

Lucinda, 35, Spring, TX

My family and I went to Disney World during Thanksgiving. It was the most beautiful place! Every corner of the Parks, every worker, and every exhibit we encountered helped us forget the world outside and love the world we were in. We needed to be thankful for something and to run away from the world of sickness. My husband had just finished six rounds of chemotherapy, and my son who had a major stroke at birth was experiencing seizures, which could only be fixed with surgery. Disney gave us a reason to laugh and smile during a time in our lives when we could not feel joy.

My son has just had his eleventh birthday, and my husband is still fighting the good fight. My little girl and I still remember that we have so much to be thankful for. Thanks Disney for the magic! We hope to see you again soon.

From Guest to Entertainer

Michelle, 42, Yorba Linda, CA

As a child, I made my first trip to Disneyland when I was just four years old. I can't even count the number of times I've visited since then. Even as an adult, I get goosebumps from all the shows and parades at the Park. More so, I always think about the performers and how lucky they are to be doing what they love in a place everyone loves. I took my own daughter to the Park for the first time when she was two and, again, she's been there more times than I can count.

When she was in 7th grade and first on her colorguard squad, you can imagine how thrilled I was when she told me that her band (and guard) had been invited to march down Main Street. The kids practiced hard and I even took the day off so I could be there to watch my child perform. It was opening night for the 2009 Holiday Season and I lined up with thousands of other Guests who grabbed spots along Main Street to see the Christmas Parade.

Suddenly the Park announcer introduced Bernardo Yorba Middle School and they began marching. Everyone clapped and cheered for the kids as they performed their hearts out. I'll never forget the beaming smile on my daughter's face as she walked the route with her team ... it was evident she knew everyone was excited and cheering for them. She later told me she couldn't wait for the following season, as she hoped that Disneyland would invite them back. Thank you Disneyland for giving the kids an opportunity to showcase their talent and letting them be "stars for a day" in the happiest place on Earth.

Guess Where We're Going, Kids?

Jill, 36, Philadelphia, PA

 

Our family is fortunate enough to have visited Disney several times, mostly right before Christmas. This year we weren't sure that any trip was in the cards. However, in early September we started looking into things and found great airfare and accommodation prices during Halloween. We booked the trip and were going to leave on my son's ninth birthday.

We didn't tell the kids, letting family know and working with their teachers to get their assignments done in advance. We told my son we had to have his birthday party a few days early because I had a business trip to go on. We had our family over and got a cake that simply said "You're Going to Disney." When we sang to him and showed him his cake, he read it several times and didn't quite get it Then all of sudden it dawned on him and my daughter – they went crazy! They got to leave bright and early Wednesday morning and had the best time on Halloween, trick or treating at Mickey's party.

Dassi, aka Minnie Mouse

Missy, 30, Baltimore, MD

 

My daughter is only two and we are planning her first visit to Disney World. She is already a huge fan. She wears her Minnie Mouse headband ears every day, no matter where we are going. She wears them to the grocery store, the cleaners, and Target. Kids walk past her and point and say, "Look, it's Minnie Mouse" and she smiles. She wears the ears to the playground, restaurants, and even when we go to temple to pray.

The only time we insist that she takes them off is for bath time and bed time. The first thing she does when she wakes up in the morning is put them on and the last thing she does before she goes to bed is take them off. She refuses to leave the house without them, they are as essential as wearing shoes on her feet. We have so many pictures of her in her "ears."

Dassi is definitely the youngest Disney fan we know!!

A New Recruit to Disney Magic

Bill, 29, Syracuse, NY

 

My wife Laura and I were only dating when we took our first trip to Disney World in March 2006 – it was her first visit and my 12th. I was worried my Disney nuttiness wouldn't rub off, and that she'd start questioning our relationship. Boy was I wrong! She fell under the magic of the Theme Parks, rides, fireworks, and even the Mickey ice-cream bars.

Within a couple of days, we were waking early and beating the crowds. Laura even enjoyed multiple rides on the Carousel of Progress, which is a particular favorite of mine. We had so much fun we felt the need to return the next year during the Year of a Million Dreams. Now, four years later, we're in the planning stages of our third trip this coming summer!

Best Bridesmaids Ever

Crissy, 32, Waterford, CT

 

About three months before getting married, my bridesmaids surprised me with a long weekend at Walt Disney World Resort. Before I knew what was going on, they sent me on a "Pirates of the Caribbean" scavenger hunt around town. The local stores, fire department, and even my family and friends were all involved. I scoured the town for clues, and then found out I'd be leaving that morning for my girls weekend! We ate at Cinderella's Castle, went to every Park, and had the most fabulous long "bachelorette weekend" a girl could ask for – I have the best friends ever!