911. What is your emergency?

One of many firsts I had here at Disney.

A woman comes up to me and tells me that her daughter has sprained her ankle and would like first aid. In my first few weeks of training, I understood that there was a number I could call to have first aid come to me if necessary. I searched, but I could not find this number. I called my manager and he said that he would be over with a wheelchair so that the guests could make their way over to First Aid themselves. When I went up to the family to tell them of this news, I saw that the daughter was 6 or 7 and was sitting in a stroller. Obviously, a wheelchair was not needed in this situation.

I stopped my manager and told him that they need first aid to come to them. He answered with, "Call 911." Stunned I said, "Really? That's the number??" I don't know what my brain was telling me, but when I called 911 I thought I was calling Disney's independent first aid service. 

"911. What is your emergency?"
"We have a guest with a sprained ankle."
"Where is the emergency?"
"Space Mountain."
"Where is Space Mountain?"
"Tomorrowland ... " *I mean really?! You work for Disney and you don't know where Space Mountain is??*

Question after question, I did not know the answer. "How old? When did this happen? Where is she now?" It was just a sprained ankle and I was terribly confused why he needed to know how much blood there was! Like the dumb teenager I am sure he thinks I am, I said "Is this legit 911?!"

When he told me that it was, my hands started to sweat.  My heart started to race.  I became so hot.  I didn't mean to call 911.  I just need first aid!!!  Nervously, I apologized and explained that I thought this was a Disney service.  He understood and said that he calls the Disney team to come to me.

With that done, I returned to the family and waited for the medics.  Once they arrived, they begin to check her ankle and we created a barrier so that their work was not disturbed.  As soon as the medic starts to touch the girls ankle, she becomes livid.  She is absolutely terrified and does not want anyone near her.  My manager looks and me and tells me to go back inside and get her a stuffed animal to take home.

Best job ever!  I run inside and grab the one stuffed animal we have in Space Mountain.  Disney has an online game called Club Penguin and their sidekicks (I guess) are Puffles - blobs of fur in assorted colors and emotions.  I could tell from her wardrobe that her favorite color was pink, so I grabbed the pink Puffle with a smile on its face.  I ran back outside excited to give her a new playmate.

I got down on my knees and said, "Mickey told me to give you this!  He says, 'Whenever you feel sad, give him a big hug and know that I love you!'"  She was stunned and said, "I get to keep it?"  She look genuinely grateful.

I don't know where she is now, or if her ankle is better.  But I do know that Mickey and that Puffle are making her smile.


Flying with Pixie Dust,
Snow White

I know... I know

I know I have not been as faithful to this blog as I said I would, but ...

Doc applied for his Masters ... again
Happy won the lottery
Bashful has a new crush
Sneezy has the flu
Sleepy wont get out of bed
Dopey swallowed too many bubbles
and Grumpy is just ... grumpy

So basically: a lot of new things are going on around the cottage.  Luckily for you, I do have some stories that I've been saving up.


Hall of Fame:
One of the best things about working with Photo Pass Pictures is to see the creativity some guests have when that camera flashes.  If you don't already know, Photo Pass is a digital download card that you can buy to take the photo taken during the ride home.  The two rides we have in Tomorrowland that involve Photo Pass are Space Mountain and Buzz Space Ranger.  The best Space Mountain picture I've heard about was a school marching band doing Thriller when the pictures are all aligned.  While I've been at Disney, I've seen people shaving with shaving cream on their legs, face, and underarms (think of how messy that trip to space was!), someone brushing their teeth, and enough shirtless men to make me gag.  In Buzz, my favorites have been Zombie Man and The Bear.  Zombie Man is pretty self-explanatory, but The Bear was this large teenager whose mouth looks like he is about to eat the camera!  I don't know why we don't have a Hall of Fame/Shame wall backstage full of these priceless memories!!


Maddie and Macy:
Everyday you get the cute kids that are so excited to buy the picture of their very first roller coaster ride. *In my opinion, Space Mountain is NOT the best place to start for a trial run*  These two girls, were so cute and they could not stop talking about how much fun they had!  While I printed their photos I asked them their names and got to know them.  I looked at their parents and Maddie said, "They're too old to know their names!"  I thought that was the funniest thing!  I gave them their pictures On the Mouse and told them to "have a magical day!"  Before they walked out the door, Maddie ran back and gave me a hug!  I'll never forget her!


How to Raise a Child:
I was helping print a guest's photo out at Buzz.  While I was doing so, his daughter came up to him and asked him a question.  After he answered, he handed her something and said, "Go give this to your brother."  Without pause, she answered, "Yes, sir," and calmly walked away.  In awe of the respect she had for her father, I said to him, "Your daughter is very polite!"  I died after he said, "If I was your father, you would be polite too!"


It's the small stories that make up the Fairy Tales,
Snow White