Disney Magic: Serendipity with a CM

One of the most magical moments we've had at Walt Disney World was an unexpected and touching moment of serendipity with a Cast Member.

During our last family visit, I wanted to get a silhouette done of my daughter. I had seen pictures of these amazing artists using small scissors to create likenesses of people in the Magic Kingdom, and it was on my must-do list. We had planned on doing this at the end of our trip, so we wouldn't have to store it and keep it safe throughout our stay. For some reason, on our first day in the Magic Kingdom, something told me to head right to the silhouette artist.

I approached the CM, whose name was Jan, and asked if we could have a silhouette done. She looked up from the pad she was sketching on. She set down her sketches, then noticed my daughter's birthday button. "Is that her name?", she asked me. "Her real name?" 

I get this question pretty often, because my daughter has an unusual name. I assured her that it was indeed her name. Jan smiled, paused for a moment, and then told my daughter to take a seat. 

She worked her magic with scissors and black paper, and in no time at all, we had a beautiful silhouette.

Before we left the silhouette stand, Jan said she needed to share something with me. She explained that she had a beloved cat who had lived with her for many, many years. The cat had recently passed away, and on this particular day, Jan was really missing her. She said the cat had been on her mind all morning, so she was drawing pictures of her. This is what she had been doing when we walked up to her stand. As she picked up the sketchpad and showed it to me, she told me that we had made her day. I wasn't sure what she meant at first- but as I looked down, I saw that across the page were various drawings of a beautiful cat, along with scrolling letters, spelling out her cat's name...Pepper. The same name as my daughter...

This keepsake silhouette not only represents a moment in time from my daughter's life, but also serves as a reminder of the magical connections we often find in unexpected places.

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Have you ever had a special or unexpected encounter with a Cast Member? Tell us about it in the comments...

A few great things about Writer's Stop...

There's a special out-of-the way place in Disney's Hollywood Studios: Writer's Stop. Part food service, part souvenir shop, part relaxation location, Writer's Stop is a hidden gem. It's not technically out-of-the-way, as it's at a busy crossroads. It's tucked away between the SciFi Dine-In Theater and the place where the Streets of America meld into Endor. But it's set back a bit, and the outside is somewhat unassuming. I often hear people say they had no idea it was there.

                                                           
This is a special little oasis, for a few simple reasons:

1) When it's hot out (and let's face it, that's most of the time), this place has some superior air conditioning. There's a spot near the front of the shop, about halfway between the front doors and the first service counter, where a big duct of cold air just pours right down, full blast. Do not underestimate the power this can have when you're overheated, dragging, worn out, sweating, or otherwise in need of a boost.

If you stood next to this shelf of mugs, across from the service desk, you'd be bathed in cold air...

2) They serve good coffee, and a variety of tasty treats to go along with it. The left side of the shop is a food and beverage service area, filled with tasty delights.

 (This photo does not do the food and beverage selection justice- trust me, or google some images...)

3) This really is a place to stop. It offers comfortable seating, arranged in clusters, with lots of reading material available for perusal and/or purchase.  Music and DVDs are also for sale, as well as a selection of small housewares. A stop here, for a fifteen minute break to refuel and recharge, can do wonders for the rest of your day.

But as is often the case with Disney, the story doesn't stop there. There's another reason why I'll always love Writer's Stop- and that's because of a kind Cast Member.

During one of our trips, my daughter and I had split from my husband so we could each go off to do a few different attractions. We had a rendezvous time and a meetup spot, and we needed to be prompt because we had to make it to a reservation at one of the resorts. We couldn't be late! As things often go, we were having a blast when we suddenly realized we were very late. My husband had no doubt been waiting already, and we needed to fly. But there was a problem: my daughter had her heart set on getting a bag of Chip 'n Dale pretzels that day. This was a major souvenir in her eyes, and she had been talking about them and looking forward to it the whole time we toured the park. I foolishly waited until the end of the day to get them. (Yay, go Mom!). I knew they sold them in the Writer's Stop, but I didn't think we'd have time to go and still make it back within a reasonable window after our scheduled meetup time. We reluctantly decided to go for it, but I warned my daughter that we had to be quick- in & out!  We raced into Writer's Stop, and she went to the pretzel rack (as I stood bathing in the cold air from point #1 above). Bag in hand, she walked to the counter, only to hear the CM say, "Sorry, my register's down- you'll have to bring them to the register at the coffee counter". We turned toward the coffee counter....and saw a line about 12 people deep. My daughter and I locked eyes for a few seconds, she bowed her head, then slowly turned to walk toward the rack to put the pretzels back. The CM watched her, and asked what was wrong. "We're late- we're supposed to be over at Indy, so I don't have time for the line", she said, swallowing back a  tear. The CM shook her head, leaned over, and said, "Take them- they're a present from me".

A simple, kind gesture- but one that I will always remember.

I believe stories like this happen all over the parks and resorts, all the time. The company empowers its employees to make this sort of thing happen, and Cast Members can- and do- spread little bits of magic with guests.

Have you ever had a CM interaction that left a big impression?

Have you visited the Writer's Stop?

Please share your story with us in the comments!