What was your best magical moment a cast member did for you?

[iamgroot61]

All of the memories shared so far have been CMs going above and beyond to make magic for guests. While I have never been disappointed by any CMs, my story is more about a "normal" interaction with a character CM.

Years ago, in DCA, the Lamplight Lounge was known as Ariel's Grotto. It was a character dining venue and sat (sits) on the edge of Paradise Lagoon. The character experience evolved from a mix of characters to a princess experience. Back when it was mixed (Donald, Goofy, Max, etc.), we were sitting outside having dinner in the evening. We were sitting near the exterior wall of the building and the patio extended quite some distance away out into the lagoon. My son (then age 10) looks up and sees Goofy practically running towards the entrance and yells "HEY GOOFY! SLOW DOWN!" Goofy immediately breaks into slow-mo and continues doing that all the way to the door. It was hilarious.

Additionally, my daughter has had many wonderful interactions with princesses. When she was very young, I loved how the princess characters came down to her level and really talked with her. For me, that is where the real magic is.

 

[John park hopper]

I was waiting in line at one of the vendor carts to get a soda. the line was long so the family had ample time to decide what they wanted but oh no. It was Florida hot and all I wanted was a drink I must have waited 10 minutes for these people to make up their minds. The CM saw I was getting frustrated (had my Vietnam vet hat on) final got to order one coke please CM said no charge ---that made my day

 

[Calmdownnow]

First Disney trip from the UK back in 2000. Was meant to be my family and my sister's family travelling together. Her middle son, who had learning disabilities after being struck by a car, was "making up the numbers", ie the 2nd adult in the room with me (widow) and 2 kids under 9. Sister's eldest had a cancer diagnosed a few months before we were scheduled to travel (he survived and has taken his own kid to WDW since). The travel insurance refunded her costs but said our party couldn't cancel and get a refund. So, as a single parent, I travelled from the UK to the Caribbean Beach Resort with my disabled nephew, a toddler in a stroller and a 6 year old. I was (to use a UK expression) "bricking it". Panic-stricken, worried about being so far from home in a strange environment, and much more. The car service we had booked dropped us off at the resort entrance, a cast member appeared and helped us collect our luggage. He read the situation. He spoke to the 3 kids in Donald Duck's voice as he helped us to check-in and they responded with glee despite the long transatlantic flight. I physically felt my shoulders drop and my whole body relax as I realized that if the staff were so nice, I might actually make this holiday work.

It was probably "all in a day's work" for him, but it set the tone for the whole holiday. Every cast member we met was as welcoming, helpful and supportive as that first guy. None of them probably realized the difference that they made to our family.

We returned regularly for 20 years, and brought others with us or sold the experience to friends and extended family. Great cast members can really make a difference to company fortunes.