Disney Diva's Favorite Things

#8: The Disney Diva's children spread magic with Giveaway Toys

- by Kristin T. Scroggin, January 9, 2011

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On my daughter's first trip to Walt Disney World, she and I were strolling through the World Showcase when a girl of about 12 approached us. "I'd like your daughter to have this Minnie Mouse stuffed animal," she said. "Is that OK?" I nodded and the girl bent down to hand my daughter the Minnie - much to her surprised delight!

"Each trip we buy a toy for our children to give away to another child", the girl's mother explained. "It creates some magic for another family." Then they walked away and we never saw them again.

I'm not going to lie. I cried. I bawled as I walked toward Test Track to find my son and husband. This... THIS is what Walt Disney had in mind. Moments. Magic. Memories.

We resolved on the spot that we'd carry on this tradition during each of our Disney vacations.

So now we buy a small Mickey for my son to give away and a small Minnie for my daughter to give away. During the trip, they look for families with children in melt-down mode. When they feel a child is JUST RIGHT for their toy, they approach the family and ask if they can give it away.

Sometimes it works and the child's meltdown ends. Sometimes the child is so deep in the throes of the fit that they ignore the toy and their parents just smile and say "once they stop crying they will love this". We have only had one person tell us that they didn't want their child to have the toy.

EVERY TIME, however, our children get the warm feeling of doing something nice for someone else and expecting nothing in return.

The magic that comes from teaching your child to do something good for someone else puts the Giveaway Toy at #8 on the list of my Favorite Things at Disney World.

Don't stop there! Check out more Disney Diva's Favorite Things...