The walrus and the carpenter. I mean... the elephant and the artist

One cute story and one strange but funny story...

First, the elephant. While dumping trash with a fellow Cast Member at the train station during the fireworks show I see a small girl with her hands clasped firmly over her ears and a very disgruntledlook on her face. During a lull in the show she removed her hands long enough to express her concern as far as to the volume control of the pyrotechnics for the evening. I shared my condolences with her with something to think about. I told her "I know its really loud huh princess? And if we think its loud, can you imagine how loud these things are to Dumbo back in FantasyLand!?" 

With this seed planted in her head I saw gears starting to turn and wires connecting and she quickly agreed that they weren't as bad as they could be. It was towards the end of the night so the parents were tired and were glad to see her being distracted by something while they took a moment to themselves while I was having the conversation with the child. That was short lived however for shortly after the fireworks ended the little girl came over and informed me she wished she could take a picture with Dumbo. So promptly I told her that Dumbo was in FantasyLand right next to his ride where she could take a picture riding him. 

She was so excited to hear this and quickly turned to her parents with that hopeful look in her eye. The mom (who looked like she was going to fall asleep standing up waiting for the train) said to me jokingly "What's your name? Im gonna go complain about you" So I informed her my name was my partners name with a laugh from everyone I headed off to complete my 12 hour shift for that day. 

It was a fun little experience all around. The parents got a laugh, I helped make the fireworks a little less stressful for the little girl and it lightened up my mood from the crazy day I was having. Nothing ground breaking but I thought it was fun enough to share

Second, the artist. This one, I still can't believe I saw. It was the last thing I had expected and something I shan't soon forget. While cleaning a restroom stall a small boy walked into the stall I had just finished cleaning and his mom took the stall directly across from him. I went about my business cleaning. I heard the flush, signaling the finishing of the boy's endeavors. Without thinking too much of it I don't pay him much mind. 

His mom walks out of her stall and I hear him say "Mommy! Look what I made!" I looked at the mother and she had this look of pure horror on her face at what ever was directly behind me in the stall the child had just been in. At her expression I half jokingly said "Do I want to look?" Still with the look of horror she just shook her head and mouthed the word 'no'. Far too intrigued and worried at this point I slowly turn around to look and to my amazement there sat a happy face made of the boys very own poo taking up about half of the inside of the stall door. 

I sat there gaping at it for a few seconds and then started to laugh. The mom apologized numerous times, but as gross as it was, it was the funniest circumstance I have had to deal with in awhile and strangely enough it made my night that night. 

This was my first Christmas with Disney and my first Christmas away from home. It was a lot harder emotionally than I was expecting. But I am way beyond thankful for my Cast Member family that were there for me when I was falling apart this last week or so. And as we go into this new year, I am trying to put everything back together. The 13th of next month will be my year anniversary with the company and I am planning a video and a blog for that occasion so I won't put too much insight on that subject just yet but know it is coming soon! Thanks for reading and thanks for your support! 

A few small moments

Have had a few small magical moments over the last few weeks. 

First, I went to the park with my mom and grandma recently and it was wonderful having the three generations together enjoying the park and the magic that Disney creates. I introduced my grandma to the wonders of pin trading, showed them both California Adventures and World of Color. Nothing overly special happened but that is one of the best trips to the park I have ever had and I will treasure it forever getting to spend a day with the two women I admire most in this world. 

A few days after my trip with my grandma and mom I was picking up trash along the parade route making jokes about the trash can that comes to the guests instead of them going to it, along with making conversation with a guest or two as I went a long. About 7 minutes before the parade started I was on the route just by Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln on Main Street and I stopped to gather trash from a family. While the parents were digging up all of their trash from the strollers I made conversation with what I assume was their daughter (about 7 years old) and a few of her friends. We talked about what they did that day and their favorite princesses, who they saw that day and what have you. When the parade music started I told them I had to take off that Mickey and Santa Clause would want to see me before they could come out. The litter girls were bummed that I couldn't stay to talk more princess talk but they didn't want the parade to not be able to happen. I passed them after the parade during clean up and they said bye to me and hugged me before they left, letting me know that they were going to look for me again next time they were at the parks. 

And finally this afternoon I was emptying trash in Critter Country and a little boy (about 2 years old) was watching me intently. So after I dumped that can I kneeled down and began to talk to him. He didn't know too many words but he understood just what I was saying and was so excited that I was talking just to him. After our short conversation about Winnie the Pooh I had an extra "Honorary Citizen of Disneyland" button and gave it to him for he had been a very good boy and deserved something very special. He was super excited and was jumping around with a smile a mile long. Warmed my heart seeing him so happy and excited over something as simple as a button. 

Little moments like this make me love my job. I have been making it more of a priority for my day to day work to help make little things like this possible. I know it isn't something that can be forced of created out of nothing but I always have my eyes peeled for as many opportunities as I can find. 

On a side note, today is Walt Disney's birthday and without him and his wonderful imagination and genius creation that is Disneyland I would not have been able to do any of these things. He would be 111 years old today. Pretty incredible huh? Have a great night everyone.