Okay, so maybe I’ve cried at Disney more than once. 

There was the time my sister and dad tricked me into riding the Rock n’ Roller Coaster, reassuring me it was nothing I couldn’t handle. When I saw the stretched limos blast down the track, I panicked and cried. The only thing stronger than my fear of riding the coaster, was the fear of my sister calling me a baby. I reluctantly rode it, unaware of the three inversions. It was my first thrill ride and I absolutely loved it.

As an adult, I’ve cried after riding the Hollywood Tower of Terror. My sister’s favorite ride happens to be my nightmare. While she laughs with great joy, I get shaky and cry uncontrollably. Luckily my favorite treat is nearby and I can find my peace with a giant glazed Joffrey’s donut. It’s like a reward for my great bravery. 

Then there is Happily Ever After. I’ve had to wipe away tears every time I’ve seen Tinkerbell fly. It’s pure nostalgia and magic. 

Obviously, I also cried a few times the first time I took my kids to Walt Disney World.

So maybe I have a history of crying at Disney. 

One time, however, was the most memorable.

Fresh out of college, I accepted a job in the trade show industry. The job gave me the opportunity to travel the country and I was excited to leave home and explore. I drank my way down Bourbon street in New Orleans. In Chicago, I ate deep dish pizza. I saw the Vegas strip from the height of the Stratosphere. In my spare time, I visited the famous sites, strolled through the parks, and spent my per-diem in the best markets and restaurants. When I finally had an event in Orlando, you can imagine where I wanted to go. This girl was going to Disney.

That was the plan, anyway.

Every evening, my shift stretched longer than it was scheduled. After a few days of disappointment, I ditched my hopes of an afternoon at Disney and realized I would only have an evening. When my next shift was over, I ran to my hotel room, called for a taxi, changed out of my work clothes and waited impatiently until my taxi finally arrived. It took an hour. A few minutes into the drive, the cabby asked me if I had enough cash for the fare. I did not. I was expecting to pay with my credit card. The driver was obviously irritated. He said he’d take me to an ATM. I didn’t know where I was, it was dark, and I was at a gas station, getting cash for a man who was cursing me. 

It didn’t feel right or safe.

I decided it felt better to make my way to Disney than to bail. I didn’t want to spend a minute longer in the sketchy slot-machine gas station. Thankfully, the rest of the ride was uneventful. The taxi dropped me off at the Transportation and Ticket Center. This wouldn’t have been a problem, except that it was completely closed. I hopped on the monorail and was feeling hopeful when I reached the Magic Kingdom. 

I could finally see the magic!

Since I didn’t have a ticket I had to talk to someone in Guest Services. My interaction went something like this:

Me: Hi, I need a ticket!
Cast Member: You need a ticket for today?
Me: Yes.
Cast Member: The park is only open for another hour. Are you sure? It’s $95.
Me: I guess so. (I was obviously deflated and took a moment to do the math. I did not make enough money to spend $200 for an hour of fun, but I was already there and would have to pay the fare back to my hotel no matter what.)
Cast Member: You just want to go see the castle all lit up don’t you?
Me: (started crying and nodding)
Cast Member: oh, honey. It’s okay. Let me see what I can do.

The Cast Member came back a moment later and gave me my first ever pixie dust. She managed to get me into the park without charging me for a ticket. She was kind. I was still crying, but now with gratitude. Thanks to her generosity, I got to joyfully walk down Main Street and buy a new set of mouse ears to wear. I watched the Electrical Parade and saw Cinderella’s Castle sparkling. I enjoyed every minute of the pixie dusting I had received. This Cast Member didn’t simply provide excellent customer service, she lifted my spirits when I was feeling down.  

My luck didn’t end there. The next day, my supervisor let me off work early and I headed straight for the parks. I managed to visit Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot. I squeezed in all of my favorite classic Disney rides and even met Mickey Mouse. While those two days were my shortest visits to Walt Disney World, they were full of magic and memories. I was able to visit Walt Disney World and Disneyland a few more times thanks to that job. I quickly learned the importance of planning for a Disney visit. Above it all, I learned how the magic of Disney comes from the wonderful Cast Members.