10 Ways To Pass On Some Kindness at Disney Theme Parks All Year Round
Happy National Random Acts of Kindness Day Disney Friends!
As a reminder to be a bit kinder and gentler to those around you we thought what better way to mark the date then by revealing some of our favorite ways to share kindness all year round at Walt Disney World with these 10 awesome suggestions. Try one or two next time you’re at the parks and you’ll see that it feels good to spread the magic as well as receive it!
Thank a Cast Member
Cast Members work hard to make your Disney visit magical all-year-round. However, often-times the many ways they make our visits magical often go unnoticed. Couple this with the fact that more people complain rather than a compliment and being a Cast Member can be a tough gig! That’s why when we visit Disney we always go out of our way to thank someone who made our visit extra special. Write a quick thank you on a postcard to a cast member that really impressed. Write a letter to them once you are home or take to twitter. You can visit @WDWGuestServices and leave your positive feedback with the #castcompliment!
Pass On Those Mickey Balloons
A few years ago as we were arriving at the Magic Kingdom, a family that was exiting the park handed my daughter their Mickey Balloon saying that they were leaving early in the morning and couldn’t take it with them. It was such a simple gesture but the smile on my daughter’s face was massive! Balloons are one of those Disney impulse buys that you spend a fortune on but that don’t travel well. Make a little prince or princess happy by passing on your balloon to a family just starting their Disney adventure! Being a part of making someone else’s trip feel magical feels great!
Look After Your Mousekeeper
Coming back to your Disney Resort and seeing that everything is clean and sparkling just makes for a relaxing experience and this is in thanks to your wonderful Mousekeeper. If they are providing you with top-notch customer service then write them a note with a little tip to thank them for all the hard work! You can find printable mousekeeping envelopes online in cute Disney themes and bring them with you on your trip. When my daughter was younger she used to love to prepare these ahead of time. It was one of the things that got her excited for her trip! As a general rule, I’ve heard people recommend $2 per person per night for Mousekeeping. I usually leave $5 per night.
Help Someone Else Glow During the Show
I, like most Disney families, have dished out for the glowing nighttime souvenirs during fireworks shows only to have them lose their lustre when we got home. Save yourself the expense. Instead, head to the dollar store and pick up some cheap glow sticks, bracelets, crowns, necklaces and more! These often come in multi-packs and cost next to nothing. So bring extra and hand them out to the kids around you! The look on their faces makes it worth it!
Say ‘Hello’ To Disney Royalty
This is one of my favorite things to do and doesn’t cost a thing. If you see a little princess, prince or Star Wars character- address them by the names of the characters they’re dressed as. When you see a little girl walking with their parents dress head to toe in Belle accessories say something simple like “Hello Princess Belle Your Dress is So Pretty Today!” The swing in their step afterword and the mischevious smile they get from “fooling you” is amazing! The same goes for celebration buttons. If its someone’s first visit, birthday or wedding give them a quick and friendly congratulations! You know how you feel when people have done that for you!
Give Up Your Bus Seat If Someone Else Could Really Use It
If you’ve ever ridden a Disney Resort bus before then you know they can get really busy! In many instances (especially at the end of a long park day) many people are left standing including exhausted moms holding babies and tired kids ready to fall over. Maybe its the New York City subway etiquette I learned when living in Manhattan but its always customary to give up your seat if someone could really use it! For those that can, it wouldn’t hurt to stand and give your seat up to a crying child or exhausted mom holding a little one in her arms.
Give Someone a Hand
I’ve made most of my trips to Disney World as a single parent. Though I am an expert at multitasking, sometimes especially at Disney, things can get a bit tricky. Try pushing a buggy, dealing with a crying toddler and navigating crowds all while balancing a food tray. It tough! I remember all of those moments where a guest or a cast member saw I was struggling and offered me a hand. Now that my daughter is older, I’m always mindful of others who may need some quick help! It only takes 30 seconds to help out but can really have a positive impact on someone’s day.
Pay It Forward
If you’ve got a few extra Disney dollars to spare really make someones day by surprising them with a treat. Whether you’re in line at Starbucks or Joffrey’s or at a snack cart ready to get a Mickey Ice Cream Bar, tell the cast members that you’d like to Pay It Forward and buy a treat for the person behind you! I had someone do this for me before at Starbucks early one Disney morning and it nearly made me cry! You never know when someone needs a pick-me-up!
Photo Credit: Vivacious Vires
Complimentary Pressed Pennies
Though Disney is moving more toward a cashless system these days, if you have spare quarters or pennies, sneak a few into the pressed penny machines you’ll find scattered throughout the parks. Let me tell you from experience that most kids are begging for these and love fiddling with and spinning the machines and most parents don’t actually have the money to get them one of these fun Disney trinkets! Imagine their surprise when they start spinning the wheel only to find that they get one for FREE!
Pass On Some of Those Leftover Dining Credits
If you are checking out of your resort, are having one last meal at the food court and have tons of meal credits to spare consider using one to make another family’s morning! I once saw a couple use their credits for a weary dad paying for food out of pocket and it was delightful! You can also cash in Quick Service credits for Snack Credits that can then be used on non-perishable food items at your resort gift shop! These make great treats for school teachers, dog-sitters, co-workers etc and you can take pride in the fact that your meal credits haven’t gone to waste!
We hope you enjoyed this quick look at some of the awesome way you can pas one some random acts of kindness during your next Disney visit!
Thinking about a trip to Walt Disney World? Getting started is easy! Simply fill out our form below to get your FREE, no-obligation quote from MickeyTravels!
Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to assist you with everything from finding your perfect package to helping you plan lots of special touches to make your visit truly magical. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook
