Here is the second beta episode of The Disney Driven Life’s new LIVE show, Inner Mouse. In this week’s show Scott, John, and JL work out the bugs of their new venture while sharing their heartfelt stories and explaining the reasons that they have chosen to lead Disney Driven Lives.
It’s always a thrill for me to visit Walt Disney World and my last trip was no exception. My entire family had a great time sharing new experiences and making new magical memories that will not only last until our next visit but will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, I also experienced guests behaving badly.
As perfect a place as Disney World is sometimes guests can make it not so perfect. I contemplated long and hard whether or not to write about this because I know I am preaching to the choir. However, this bothered me enough that I had to get it off my chest.
My last Disney trip was in the middle of July which is traditionally a very busy time of year to visit the parks. The day we went to the Magic Kingdom it was unbelievably crowded. I have been to the Magic Kingdom with high crowd levels before but this was Christmas day crowded! Nevertheless it was still manageable.
When day turned into night we got to thoroughly enjoy the Electric Light parade followed by the brilliant Nightastic fireworks. Then as the crowds dispersed I saw something I have never seen before in a Disney park and something I hope to never see again. It was something that gave me a sinking feeling in the bottom of my stomach. I didn’t say a word to anyone nor did I let on what I witnessed because as appalled as I was I didn’t want it to ruin anyone’s night or my own.
I couldn’t believe what I saw covering the ground of Main Street U.S.A. It looked like giant confetti had fallen from a ticker tape parade except this wasn’t confetti. The street was littered with garbage from paper plates, cups, dirty napkins, and leftover food. What boggled my mind was the lack of care these guests had for themselves, the park, other guests, and the cast members whose job is tough enough already.
The cast members work around the clock to keep Walt Disney World in pristine condition. It is a shame that a small percentage of guests in a matter of minutes can do something like this to detract from the beauty of the park. The cast members are on top of things and the garbage is quickly removed but the streets shouldn’t be littered in the first place for them to clean up.
Being on vacation doesn’t give anyone a license to litter. How would those littering in the parks feel if they found garbage strewn all over their front lawn? My guess is most wouldn’t be too happy. So, why is it okay for them to use Main Street as if it were a giant trash bin? If a child sees their parent leaving garbage in the street or conversely a parent doesn’t ask their child to pick up after themselves then what kind of example are they setting?
It also bothers me when I see people in the quick service restaurants finish their meal, get up from the table and leave their tray and garbage for the next guest to clean up. What happened to common courtesy?
One can only hope that the few inconsiderate guests remain just that, a few. I’m very grateful the majority of guests do care, do get it, and do their part to help keep the parks, our parks clean.
Contributed by: Stuart S. (NDD #47). Stuart is our resident Disney geek and creator of Disney Geek Dad.
Most of us are familiar with hidden Mickeys and whether or not you avidly search for them I’m sure you have spotted one or two every time you visit Disney property.
Started by Imagineers, a hidden Mickey is an image of Mickey Mouse found in many different forms that have been discreetly placed throughout Disney locations most notably their theme parks. The most frequently used hidden Mickey is three circles representing a head and two ears. Other variations of Mickey can be more difficult to spot and one must have a keen eye to find them. No one has a keener eye than renowned Dr. Steven M. Barrett celebrated author of “Hidden Mickeys A Field Guide To Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets” now in its 4th edition.
Professionally Dr. Steven M. Barrett is quite an accomplished individual with 30 plus years experience in the medical field specializing in emergency room medicine. Dr. Barrett attended Baylor College of Medicine and completed his residencies at Georgetown University Hospital and Georgetown University School of Medicine.
As an author Dr. Barrett takes us on an adventuress hunt for hidden Mickeys. There are clues, hints, and tips to help us search out and find the locations of the hidden Mickeys. It’s an enjoyable book that makes finding hidden Mickeys a fun game for the entire family and friends.
On my last vacation to Walt Disney World I had the pleasure of meeting the Hidden Mickey Guy known to many as Steve Barrett. What started as an occasional tweet here and there turned into a thrill of a lifetime and a day I’ll never forget.
I was in Epcot with my family waiting for the next showing of Turtle Talk With Crush at the Seas with Nemo and Friends in Epcot. I kept my cell phone in my pocket but I would periodically check it for any calls or messages. I pulled the phone out of my pocket and I see I have a message from someone I don’t recognize. So, I looked at the message and it was from Steve letting me know he was going to be in Epcot and would I like to meet him at a certain time and place there? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or an emergency room physician to figure out how I responded.
My family has always enjoyed searching for hidden Mickeys so when I told my wife and kids we were going to meet with the Hidden Mickey Guy they were very happy to say the least. When we met up with Steve we exchanged pleasantries, spoke about hidden Mickeys, and how his book got on the shelves in Disney parks but, what struck me the most was how genuine a person Steve is. He personifies what being a Disney fan is all about and someone that everyone should aspire to be like.
A list of books written by Dr. Steven M. Barrett:
The Hassle Free Walt Disney World Vacation
A Field Guide To Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets
Disneyland’s Hidden Mickeys A Field Guide To Disneyland Resorts Best Kept Secrets
Hidden Mickeys Go To Sea A Field Guide To Disney Cruise Line’s Best Kept Secrets
Hidden Mickeys of the Disney Cruise Ships and Castaway Cay
In addition to the books Steve Barrett also has an iPhone application called ‘Hidden Mickeys Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom.’
To find out more about Steve Barrett and hidden Mickeys go to http://www.hiddenmickeysguide.com/. Also, Steve Barrett’s blogs appear twice a month at AllEars.net http://allears.net/.
Contributed by: Stuart S. (NDD #47). Stuart is our resident Disney geek and creator of Disney Geek Dad.
Many consider the moment they step on Disney property the start of their vacation but it really starts months earlier when you begin your preparations for your trip and continues from the moment you leave your home to travel to the place where dreams come true. This is my family’s story from the day we left our home to the day we arrived at Walt Disney World.
What started out as a normal work day for both me and my wife Michele ended up as anything but. We were already packed for our long anticipated Disney World vacation. My son Bret (17) was out and about in his brand new used car and my daughter Haley (14) was at a friend’s house. I worked half a day and went home to wait for my wife to pick up our car rental for the trip.
In seeking out a car rental we were looking for a reasonable price preferably a van, and a rental through an agency whereby we could return the vehicle on Disney property. It took some doing but lucky for us we found everything we were looking for. The drawback was there is only one location for the car rental agency that shall remain nameless in the State of New Jersey. So, we had a bit of a distance to travel to get the vehicle.
Off we go to the car rental place. It takes us a little under 40 minutes to arrive there. It’s located inside a hotel in a tiny room off the lobby with just enough space for one agent and one customer. Someone was ahead of us so we had to wait and wait and wait. Our turn finally comes, we sign the paperwork and the agent takes us outside to the vehicle. It’s a Dodge Caravan! My wife had a Dodge Caravan when our kids were small and if you would stare at it long enough things will begin to fall apart. As we look over the van for any pre-existing damage I notice the vehicle is still made the same as in past years, very cheaply. Everything though seems to be okay and after all it is just a rental. We drive it back to our house and arrive just in time for dinner. By now our kids are home and hungry.
We eat dinner, take care of some last minute preparations, and make sure everything is ready for our neighbors who were most kind enough to take care of our cats while we were away. Its now early evening and we decide to get some sleep before starting our journey at 2 A.M.
Finally it’s go time! I make sure we have all the snacks for the car ride, water bottles for Disney, our GPS, and most importantly my iPod Touch loaded with my favorite Disney podcasts. We load up the van and we hit the road. My wife is driving the van and I’m following along in her car as our first stop is the Atlantic City Airport which is an hour plus south of our home. We decided to drive to Walt Disney World because we were first attending our friends son’s Bar Mitzvah in Charlotte, North Carolina. We arrive at the airport and put my wife’s car in long term parking. I get behind the wheel of the van and we’re on the road again.
I get on the Atlantic City Expressway and after about 10 minutes my wife starts to ask if I’m okay. Then, she starts asking me if I’m starting to get sleepy. Even if I wanted to go to sleep I couldn’t because we were stopping every few minutes to pay a toll. We finally get out of New Jersey into Deleware and my wife starts to see the signs that I’m tiring. I keep readjusting myself in the seat and start to play with the hair on the back of my head. She asks to drive and at first I resist her request but then I realize she just might be right, so we switch.
The next thing I remember is waking up and having the sun in my eyes. I look behind me and the kids are still sleeping. I turn my head to my wife and asked her where we were. She said we were in Washington D.C. and I slept through all the morning rush hour traffic. It was now my turn to ask her if she was okay driving. She said “yes” and we continued on. When we got to Virginia we pulled into the first rest stop and gas station that came along in order to fill the gas tank, switch drivers, and wake the kids to see if they need to use the bathroom or if they were hungry. They both said no and went right back to sleep. After driving a while I was starting to get hungry. All of a sudden in the rear view mirror I see both our kids heads popup with a look of bewilderment. They wanted to know where we were. Just as I was about to answer I saw this great big sign rise from the ground out of nowhere. It was the answer to my prayers. It was the sign for Waffle House! This would be the first time any of us ate there. As we waited for our food my kids commented about how the place looked like a dump but, I reminded them of an old saying “never judge a book by its cover.” The food came and it lived up to everything I’ve heard about the place. We all cleaned our plates, even my daughter who never finishes anything but candy.
Onward we go as I drive through Virginia into North Carolina where we stop for gas, lunch, and a change in drivers. Oh, and our kids fell asleep on and off again for the remainder of this leg of the drive. They were in great spirits and they were getting along great as we reached our first destination, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rather than bore you with all the details of our stay in Charlotte I will highlight the events:
With the van loaded up again I got behind the wheel for the 8-plus hour drive to Walt Disney World. To our amazement the kids continued to get along great. Things were so good between them I let them listen their favorite hip hop music through the van’s speakers. I drove the first 4 ½ hours making our way through South Carolina and then Georgia before succumbing to drowsiness and a near empty gas tank, as well as, hungry children.
After I filled the car with gas we stopped at a Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch and now my wife took over the driving for the remainder of the trip. As we made it into Florida and just past Jacksonville these vicious clouds came out of nowhere and started dumping buckets of rain down upon us. We couldn’t see 2 feet in front of us and although I urged my wife to pull off the road she insisted on moving forward. Nothing was going to stop her from getting us to Disney World. She got into the right lane and started slowly following the car’s lights in front of her keeping a safe distance from the vehicle. Within a half hour the skies cleared and it was smooth sailing from there.
The drive down I4 was both exciting and exasperating until we came upon the sign to enter the gates of heaven “Walt Disney World Where Dreams Come True” and we all knew then and there we were finally home in the place we belong.
The long drive my wife and I dreaded wasn’t so bad after all because the kids got along so much better than expected. Although it did help having the kids sleep most of the way down, as well as, breaking the drive up with a short stay in Charlotte.
The best advice I can give parents making a similar trip is that you leave in the early morning hours like we did when your children are accustomed to sleeping. If need be break up the trip and spend a night in a hotel along the way. Most of all stay alert, drive safely and have a magical Disney vacation!
Contributed by: Stuart S. (NDD #47). Stuart is our resident Disney geek and creator of Disney Geek Dad.
My husband and I are total foodies. We enjoy food and wine to an ultimate level. One of my favorite parts of visiting WDW is for the cuisine. We do try to go to our favorite restaurants as well as trying new places each visit. I am so happy that we get to experience the Food & Wine festival again this year. For those of you who don’t know what that is, allow me to take you on a gastronomic journey.
Disney has a festival in Epcot’s World Showcase that has kiosks throughout with different foods and wine from different countries. It ranges from $2-$7 for tapas sized portion, as well as a variety of wine selections. It is worth it to try new cuisine due to the fact that you can try diverse foods from other cultures. If you are on the Disney Dining plan, you can use your snack credits for some of the tastings. Last year I purchased a gift card at a kiosk that I wore on my wrist. Each time I visited one of the kiosks, I paid with the gift card. It was easy to use and I didn’t have to fumble for cash or my Key to the World card. You can also reload the card at the kiosk as needed. When you receive your receipt from the cast member at the bottom, it will show what your balance is left on your card. It’s a great way to keep track of your spending.
They also have wine events and wine dinner pairings. Most of the dinner pairings and tastings require reservations that must be made in advance by calling Disney’s festival line. It is a good idea to do some research ahead of time if something interests you, since these events tend to sell out quickly. We usually go to the Party for the Senses event while we are there. It’s a grand tasting with delicious food and fabulous wine. It is a three hour event with celebrity chefs, Cirque Du Soleil performances, and hand prepared fresh cuisine. Although it may be pricey, not many food and wine events give you the quality of food and caliber of wines that this event brings. We get dressed up and it’s always a great experience. They are held on Saturday nights during the festival.
As you enter Epcot be sure to pick up a Food and Wine Festival guide in the front of the park. This guide is chock full of information on schedules of wine demos, maps of the kiosks, and special events that are taking place throughout the week. There are also free food seminars and lectures taking place in the festival center. Most food and wine festivals held in random cities are usually one to two days at best, but Disney has found a way to create a less chaotic atmosphere and are able to sustain a complete month long event! Even if your only there for a day trip or a week’s vacation, you will not feel the need to rush to see and taste it all. Buon Appetito!
Contributed by: Ashley R. (NDW#43). Ashley is our resident Disney food expert.
Going to Walt Disney World isn’t just about riding the attractions. It’s also about seeing old friends and making new ones. It’s a place where friends meet everyday to share a magical journey.
On my most recent Disney family vacation we had the pleasure to spend our first day in the parks at the Magic Kingdom with JL Knopp, the creator and founder of the Neurotic Disney People, and her three amazing and beautiful children Margeaux, Miller, and Ellie. Although my son, Bret, and daughter, Haley, are much older than JL’s children, they all seemed to hit it off and had a great time touring the park. My wife, Michele, and JL also got along very well. It’s too bad JL’s husband, Joel, could not join us because he just started a new job and had to work.
In finally meeting JL, I was able to see first hand what drives her passion for Disney, and it is also clear her three children share the same fervor for the parks. They have an infectious zeal that spreads cheer to all those around them. Despite the intense heat and massive crowd levels they never uttered a single complaint. As a matter of fact, they maintained an incredible, energetic enthusiasm from the early morning hours until very late at night. The Knopp clan are an exceptional group, and you could just sense how proud JL is of her children, and deservedly so.
They say a mother will do anything for her children. Well, JL is a perfect example of that. As the day moved on and with the Florida sun getting stronger and stronger with Animal Kingdom like temperatures, JL made sure her children remained properly hydrated. So, she goes into a small back pack she’s been lugging around all day and pulls out a full gallon bottle of water. I have to tell you this back pack was so small it was like watching a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat. My wife and I were astonished to see this huge bottle of water come out of the tiny back pack, and we were further amazed that JL had been carrying it around all day. For those who don’t know, JL is a petite woman, but she must have bones of steel.
It is clear JL is devoted to her family, loyal to her friends, and dedicated to Disney.
The first rule is never let your kids pack for a Disney trip.
The second rule is never let them know you won’t let them pack for a Disney trip.
I’m sure there are some kids that won’t ever open a dresser drawer or their closet to help pack for a vacation, while others are so excited to go to Disney they would pack their bedroom furniture if it would fit in their suitcase!
If you have little ones to children approximately age 10, here’s my advice. Let them pack what ever they want any way they want. Don’t argue with them, don’t fight over anything they want to bring, and don’t say a word to them. Once the kids are asleep, go through the suitcase, pull out what they won’t need and pack the items they will need. Make sure you close the suitcase and keep it a safe distance from their room. Also, keep the items removed in a safe place where your child won’t find them. If your child comes to you with something they forgot but don’t need to bring tell them you’ll take care of it and then place it with the other items you removed from the suitcase. Depending on your children, you may want to keep their suitcase locked to avoid any unnecessary tantrums. My suggestion once you get to Disney and your children discover the missing items is to tell them Tinker Bell came at night and re-packed the suitcase. When that excuse doesn’t work, try bribing them with a Mickey bar or some other Disney snack. Usually kids are so excited to be at Disney they won’t remember (or care) what’s not in their suitcase.
When your children are a little older, tweens and teens, it can become more challenging, as you’ll likely notice differences in how a boy packs and how a girl packs. My 17 year old son tends to take the bare essentials, while my 14 year old daughter packs every scrap of clothing and all the toiletries she has. My son is also more likely to ask my wife and I what he needs to bring, while my daughter will take the initiative and empty her closet and dresser into her suitcase and then sneak what doesn’t fit in hers into mine and my wife’s.
If your tween or teen wants to pack too much, I say let them then repeat as above. The trick here, though, is to know what clothes and items your tween or teen can’t do without and then remove the excess. If your tween or teen only packs the basic necessities, thank them! If your child under packs, simply add the items you believe are necessary to get them through the vacation. Remember, you can always do a load or two of laundry, as all Disney resorts have the facilities to accommodate your needs.
Sometimes packing can be the toughest part when preparing to depart for your Disney World vacation, but it doesn’t have to be!
Contributed by: Stuart S. (NDD #47). Stuart is our resident Disney geek and creator of Disney Geek Dad.
Why do you go to Walt Disney World?
For most of us ND types, we could write volumes about why we choose to spend our money (or other peoples’ money) at the Walt Disney World Resort. But there is one reason I want to particularly focus on today.
Recently, I was able to spend five nights at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. I had heard so many people talk about it and blog about it that I thought I would give it a try. From the iron railings, brick inlayed streets, horse-drawn carriages and that ever present Dixieland jazz band music, you are transported directly to Bourbon Street . . . without the smell of urine and the sound of party goers until the wee hours of the morning.
A smaller resort than other moderates, POFQ has a great theme, ample sized rooms and comfortable accommodations for this family of four.
Immediately following our family time, I went to another resort for a work convention. I’m not going to name the other resort. Let’s just say it is close to the WDW Resort but it is not owned or operated by the Disney folks. The rooms were great, beds were comfortable, free internet access (wireless too!) and the price was about what you would pay for a moderate resort at WDW.
But, the main difference that struck me was . . . . can anyone guess? It was the level of customer service, the red-carpet treatment if you will, that was lacking. Before the check-in process was finished, the front desk representative was going over a list of “you can’t do this and that” before they got into the short list of resort benefits. This really didn’t impress me to start my stay in such a negative way. Maybe I was expecting too much. Or, maybe they weren’t too concerned with having my business.
As part of my Disney Institute experiences, we were taught from the beginning that there is no real pixie dust that is sprinkled around every day in order to create the magic. It is the people that make the magic happen.
For instance, a great friend and mentor, Jeff Noel, invited me to join him and his current Disney Institute class for a special viewing of IllumiNations one of the evenings we were around. They even had several desserts setup on tables in this area just in front of the China Pavilion. The group for this class represented several countries and they were appropriately dressed in casual business attire. My son and I showed up in our Disney t-shirts and shorts. We definitely stood out so we tried not to get in the way even though we were all fighting for wall space to get the best view. But we were still welcomed as special guests.
During the show, I had been standing behind my son so we didn’t take up much room. I decided to move off to the side so that others could see better. What I was able to see was the reaction on my 10-year-old son’s face to the spectacle before him. It was a mixture of awe and pure joy as the music filled the air along with the stunning display of pyrotechnics.
When it finally ended, we snuck out and headed for our ride back to the resort without saying goodbye. I noticed my son rubbing his eyes a bit and I asked him if he was okay. He told me that this was the best vacation ever and he was sad to see it end with the best fireworks show in the world. We stopped in front of France and had ourselves a good cry.
He also commented that he likes my Disney friends because they do special things to make vacations special. I told him that is what separates Disney from just about everyone else out there. We didn’t do anything to deserve the VIP treatment we received. Yet, Disney seemingly goes out of their way to make magic. And it’s the people behind the magic.
Another example of how they made our trip special goes back to the last Friday of this year’s Star Wars Weekends. Another Disney friend sent me an email saying he would like to be our special attraction pass to use any way we wanted. Not really understanding what he meant, I told him we were at DHS and he could meet us there. When we met up, he asked where we wanted to go. He would be our Fast Pass for the afternoon. WOW!!!!! It took a moment to decide what to do because I was so awestruck. So we got to go to the head of the line for Toy Story Midway Mania and my new favorite ride, Rock N Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith! We talked a little business as we walked along the way. But the joy of being able to enjoy these attractions without the long wait was almost overwhelming.
If you are in any kind of service capacity with your job, I ask you why people do business with you. Do you offer a level of service that makes your company stand out from everyone else? Or is it just business as usual? You are the one that can make a difference. Are you a magic maker?
Contributed by: David B. (NDD#93). David lives with his wife and two children in the Atlanta area. He is the writer and creator of the blog It’s All About The Customer .
Everyday Walt Disney World guests feel the magic being in the parks and on property. Whether it’s guests selected to lead a parade, a princess giving your child a great big hug, or a resort front desk person providing friendly and courteous information, there is no other place on earth that will make you feel more welcome and special than Disney.
One of the things I love about Disney is that no matter who you are, and no matter how young or old you are, everyone is treated like a V.I.P. It’s something that separates a Disney vacation from any other. At Disney, you’re not made to feel like you’re just part of a crowd, you’re made to feel like a very special individual amongst other very special people.
All of us have our own reasons as to why we believe Disney is the most incredible vacation destination in the world and why we keep going back, yet how many of us say the reason we go back is because of the cast members? As great a place as Disney is, it’s the cast members that make our stay there extraordinary. It’s their dedication to pleasing the needs of the guests that make our Disney vacations truly remarkable.
As a guest on Disney property we often take for granted the lengths a cast member will go to put a smile on our face. A couple of years ago I remember hearing a story about a couple celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary at Disney. The husband accidentally threw out their wedding and his wife’s engagement ring. The couple thought the rings were gone forever, yet cast members dared to do the impossible. They searched through the rotten, smelly garbage dumpsters in hot, humid weather until they located the couple’s lost rings. That is a monumental magical moment! Now ask yourselves, are there any other companies anywhere in the world whose employees would do what these selfless cast members did? I think we all know the answer to that!
That is just one example of a heroic act performed by cast members. A magical moment on a much smaller scale occurred on my last Disney vacation. At the time my daughter was 12 years old. She wanted to have her picture taken with Snow White but felt awkward because all the kids on the line were preschoolers. Despite her reluctance my daughter remained on the line. I think Snow White sensed my daughter was a little embarrassed. When my daughter’s turn came Snow White greeted her with a big hug and told her what a beautiful princess she was. That’s all it took to make my daughter’s day.
The cast members are always creating magical moments for guests, some so subtle we don’t even realize it at the time. As guests, a wonderful way we can show our appreciation of a particular cast member is to take a few minutes of our time and write Disney. Let them know what a terrific job the cast member has done. The correspondence stays in their file and Disney will recognize and promote cast members who guests acknowledge for their superb efforts.
If there is a cast member you would like to recognize you can go to guest relations and tell them you would like to fill out a guest compliment card. Once the form is handed in it will be sent on to the appropriate department for review and placed in the cast member’s file. Also, you can send an e-mail to wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com or you can write a letter to or you can write a letter to Walt Disney World Guest Communications, PO Box 10040, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040.
Contributed by: Stuart S. (NDD #47). Stuart is our resident Disney geek and creator of Disney Geek Dad.
Strolling down the path that leads to Tomorrowland, I see the very thing to beckon Elle to my side . . . a mobile trash can. Although this is the first time I have ever laid eyes on the traveling waste receptacle, I immediately recognize it as PUSH. Reports on the internet of PUSH have frequently intrigued me, and I feel a rush of excitement over finally spotting it.
“Elle,” I call out in wild enthusiasm, “Quickly come here!” Elle’s eyes widen at my antics. She knows that I have made a magical discovery and rushes to me. “Look,” I direct, “Do you see that trash can?” She nods. “It’s a walking trash can,” I explain. Elle giggles while she watches PUSH zig-zag across the path ahead of us. I continue, “Its name is PUSH. It is a real, functioning trash can. Do you know why it is called PUSH? You can push its door to throw trash inside,” I elaborate. “Can I try?” my eager waste manager inquires. I respond with a crisp, “Sure!”
Elle takes off after the rubbish-collecting bin. I wear a proud smile on my face as I anticipate a priceless moment. The eager anticipation is short-lived though. My smile rapidly deteriorates into a gaping hole of dread as I see my tyke bumrush PUSH in linebacker fashion.
PUSH is taken by surprise when Elle shoves the can so hard that its grounding is put at risk . As the can teeters back and forth, trying to regain its footing, PUSH’s “bouncer” sharply looks at Elle and glares as if she might pick her up and throw her in the trash receptacle. Oblivious to the Cast Member’s disapproving expression, Elle turns to me with pride. She believes she has made appropriate contact and participated in a Magic Kingdom ritual familiar to all Neurotic Disney Kids, but the horrified look on my face shatters her delusion.
I take her by the hand and slowly back away from PUSH’s angered escort. We walk ahead of the garbage disposing pair, and I quietly explain to Elle that there was a misunderstanding. PUSH isn’t supposed to be pushed in a literal sense. His swinging door is meant to be held open so that one can dispense of trash . . . just like every other trash can. Elle is eager to return to the waste container and engage it in proper fashion, but as I glance over my shoulder and meet the hostile gaze of PUSH’s accompanying escort I advise Elle against this plan of action. We have offended the sensibilities of the litter-fighting crew, and it seems best to walk away while we are ahead.
Elle is heart-broken. She can’t take another step because her sorrow overwhelms her. We come to a stand-still on the path between Main Street USA and Tomorrowland while she hangs her head and sobs. I am at a loss and do not know how to repair this mournful scene. All the while, PUSH and its refuse-protecting guide inch closer to our location.
I become slightly nervous. Will there be a confrontation? PUSH appears to be headed straight for Elle, and I am unsure of the scrapper’s intentions. Once the can reaches us, a small robotic voice asks, “Why are you so sad?” Thinking that I was the one who inquired about her condition, Elle never looks up and pitifully remarks, “I’m not sad, I’m very upset!” PUSH, being a compassionate waste manager, prods, “Well why are you so upset?” This time Elle raises her head and is slightly bewildered to find that the trashy friend she longed to engage is standing before her and actually SPEAKING. She tries to compose herself, but she is stunned by this phenomenon. The junk gatherer not only travels but it can obviously see and carry on a conversation! Looking to me for help, I prompt, “Elle, PUSH wants to know why you are upset. He sees you crying. Are you going to explain why?” Elle slightly stutters, “Well, I wanted to push your door to see the trash.” “Go ahead!” PUSH instructs, “You can see the trash.” I glance at PUSH’s overbearing handler. She seems to have softened at the sight of this interaction.
With some hesitation, Elle opens the trash can’s door and views the smelly waste of countless park guests. I can tell she is baffled because she was expecting to find a person inside the advanced trash accumulator. “Is that better?” PUSH wonders. Elle nods in agreement. The debris-filled bin says, “Now will you smile and give me a hug?” Elle looks to me for guidance. She is unsure if she is allowed to embrace filthy waste containers. Under most circumstances, I would adamantly forbid loving touches with trash cans, but I make an exception this time. She wraps her arms around the boxy bin, and it coos. Elle begins to giggle over the amorous murmurs and rests her head against her new buddy.
As I watch the beauty of litter love unfold before my eyes, I have an epiphany. The best of plans may go awry, but all hope is not lost. Magical moments can still happen with a gentle PUSH and a little pixie dust.
Contributed by: JL (NDM#1). JL is our Disney Driven Lifestyle Coach and creator of The Disney Driven Life as well as the Neurotic Disney People Community.
