jeudi 8 décembre 2016
A Man Who Played Goofy at Disney Shared a Tragic Story That Proves Disney Magic Exists
In the very beginning of an "ask me anything" on Reddit, a man who played Goofy at Disney World for over 20 years added a disclaimer that the thread was "not for those who wish to preserve the Disney Magic." However, a question asking Reddit user Ihaveanotheridentity if he had any good magical moments to share prompted him to tell a touching story about why he decided to leave his position as a VIP tour guide to join the character department - and it completely embodies the essence of Disney's magic.
"I was working City Hall one day when two guests came in with two little girls," his story begins. "One was in a wheelchair and the other one looked like she had just seen death. . . . The two women were actually nurses from a hospital and were asking for a refund on the girl's tickets, something we avoided doing at all costs. When I asked why they told me the story. The two girls were with their mom and dad at Epcot and on the way home they got into a horrible car accident. The mother was beheaded right in front of them. The father eventually died too but the two girls didn't know that yet. They were from overseas and had no money and no contact information for anyone they knew."
Feeling completely heartbroken for the girls, he refunded their money and offered to be their private tour guide for the day. He spent the entire morning cracking jokes, pulling out his best tricks to make the girls smile, but got nothing - they were traumatized and not feeling particularly cheerful. He went to change into his VIP tour guide costume feeling completely powerless and bawled his eyes out in the dressing room.
He composed himself, went back out, bought the girls ice creams, and took them on rides - nothing worked. Then he decided to take them over to where the parade was starting shortly, which is when he says he saw the real magic, "not bullsh*t."
I had called the parade department to let them know what was going on and set up a private meet and greet after the parade. As the parade was coming around Liberty Square I told the girls that I had called Mickey and told them all about them. I told them that Mickey asked to meet them after the parade. The little girl in the wheelchair smiled. "Really?" she asked. My heart skipped. "Yes, really! He told me to tell you to look out for him in the parade and to follow the float back to City Hall." The other girl smiled. "You mean right now?" she asked.
It had worked. They were talking. Not laughing, but talking. It was the first time I had heard them speak. Every single parade performer came up to them on the bridge and told them to look out for Mickey. . . . When Mickey's float came up, Mickey (who was attached to a pole at the top of the float) managed to turn her body sideways, look down at the girls and point towards Main Street. That was all it took. The girls were excited now. They had forgotten about death. They were lost in a magical world and I couldn't believe I was watching it unfold in front of my eyes.
We followed that float all the way back to City Hall, singing "Mickey Mania" the whole way. . . . The girl who was Mickey that day (K.T., I will always love you for this) got down off her float and without even taking her head off walked up to me backstage and said, "Let's go." I walked in with Mickey behind me so I got to see the exact moment the girls met their new friend. They got shy but Mickey was in control now. Those girls met the REAL Mickey Mouse that day.
Every single parade character stayed dressed to meet those girls. One by one they'd come in and play a bit, then leave. We were in that lounge for over an hour. Mickey stayed in costume the entire time (which is hard to do after a parade). When Mickey finally said goodbye I had two excited girls on my hands that couldn't stop smiling. They talked and talked and talked.
We had a wonderful day after that, but what I remember most is when we walked by the rose garden, the older one said, "Oh, my mommy loves roses! I mean . . . " and she stopped. I held out my hand and walked her to the gate, picked her up and put her on the other side and said, "Pick one!" She looked happy as she picked out her favorite rose. She didn't say anything more and she didn't need to. I said goodbye to the wonderful nurses and the wonderful girls then walked backstage behind the train station. This time I didn't cry.
It felt so good to be a part of that. I realized that as much as I liked helping guests at City Hall, the true magic of Disney was in the character department. I auditioned, transferred and never looked back.
After reading this touching story and no doubt ugly crying in front of his computer screen, one commenter summed it all up perfectly: "Sir, you are a scumbag. First you warn me in your opening statement that I will lose my faith in Disney magic and then you tell the most magical Disney story ever."
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