“Most of my life I have done what I wanted to do. I have had fun on the job.” –Walt Disney
I am so grateful to have a job that I am always happy to go
to. Sure, I may get tired sometimes and long for a day off. Working every
day is definitely exhausting (I have the highest amount of respect for those
that work to support a family), but it makes the biggest difference having a
job in which I actually want to be there when I go to work.
This post is dedicated to the things that keep me going to
work every day. The little things that make me smile, boost my energy, give me
confidence, or that show me again and again just how lucky I am. Sometimes I
have so much fun that I am actually sad when my shift is over! I can’t
guarantee that this article will have any sort of real structure, since it will
probably just end up being a collection of random memories.
A darling little latino boy came to visit Anna and Elsa with
his family in the Princess Fairytale Hall. He was carrying a pirate sword, and
after he met Elsa, I wandered over to him and attempted to “sword fight” him
with my invisible sword. The little boy, thinking that I was reaching my hand
out to him, reached his own little hand up and held mine. I kneeled down,
laughing, as I attempted to tell him of my sword fighting intentions. To my
surprise, he leaned in and gave me the most tender kiss on the cheek! It meant
the world to me! Maybe he was still so starstruck from having just met Elsa?
With Tinker Bell one day, an older child picked up one of
Tink’s crayons, which was almost as big as she was (we had, after all, shrunk
down to Pixie size). She boldly proclaimed:
“Hey, big crayon! What’s the big idea??”
THAT was funny.
One day, at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, I was standing as the
hall monitor and showing people to the exit. I made eye contact with a little
girl in line for Daisy and Minnie, so I started making funny faces. At first,
she laughed and kind of turned away, but after awhile, perhaps because of the
encouragement of her mother, she started making funny faces back at me. It was
just a little moment of connection that brightened my day.
While working with Minnie at the EPCOT Character Spot, a
little boy fell in love with Minnie Mouse. After his family had already walked
away and the next family was visiting with Minnie, the little boy ran back to
Minnie and gave her a hug. It was adorable, but what made it unforgettable is
that the little boy then gave the dad that was currently meeting with Minnie a
hug as well!! It was hilarious.
With the Easter Bunnies one day, a girl in a purple dress
absolutely loved visiting them. She came back through the line three or four
times, and on her final visit, she turned to Mrs. Easter Bunny and asked,
pointing to Mr. Easter Bunny, “Is he your boyfriend?” When Mrs. Bunny nodded,
the little girl started squealing, almost bursting with excitement. She could
not stop giggling.
That same day, there was another little girl who said that
Mr. Easter Bunny was grounded because he was supposed to marry her, not Mrs.
Bunny!!
When I worked with Hiro and Baymax, there was a little girl
that I had made funny faces to in the line, and she smiled and laughed at me.
She came with her big sister and mom, but as soon as Hiro came over to her, she
started screaming and crying. While Hiro and Baymax met with her older sister,
I gave her a Snow White sticker to feel better. I had just gotten her to smile
at me again when Hiro crouched down next to me. She started crying again.
Trying anything I could to transfer her trust from me to Hiro, I said “This is
my friend, Hiro. He’s really nice!” Although it didn’t help, it felt so good to
be able to say
“My friend, Hiro.”
My favorite character, my friend?? Best
feeling EVER.
With Mickey in Town Square Theater, I get to witness a lot
of unforgettable moments. I have seen many children run up to Mickey, hug him,
and simply not let go. I have seen many overly excited children who will not
stop talking to Mickey, asking him every question in the book. I have seen kids
with the cutest “cheese” smiles, and a little girl with the most adorable,
prolonged “cheese” voice I have ever heard. I have seen a woman that barely
speaks English in tears to get a photo with her hero, while holding a figurine
of him.
Recently, there was a family that came to visit Mickey, but
one of the little girls, Bailey, was too scared to go up to him. I offered to
pass her hug to Mickey, and with that, Bailey wrapped her arms around me. It is
such a comfort to me seeing that even though children may sometimes be afraid
of characters, a lot of the time I can at least win their trust for myself.
Speaking of hugs, just the other day, I was loading Mickey’s
room and asked for ten Guests. An Asian family passed through, and their little
girl ran up to me, hugged me, and went on her merry way. I was in awe at this
random, thoughtful gesture! Have I mentioned that I love children?
I LOVE CHILDREN.
I am looking forward to making even more memories in my time
here. I’m trying to be better about writing down the ones that I want to
remember. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be here. I feel like I’ve been
here for only a few weeks, but it’s been a few months now!! It’s going by so
quickly!! To my friends that have left or are leaving already, thank you for
making this experience what it has been thus far. You will be greatly missed. I’m
so glad that I will be here until August, because otherwise I would not be
ready to leave AT ALL.
