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What is Pixie Dust?

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First Time Magic

 When I was Young…and so was Disney World

 My first visit to Disney World was in 1971. I was not excited to be going to Disney. Why? I did not know that Disney existed, much less that I was going there. 1971 was the year that Walt Disney World opened in Florida and I was 5 years old! Whether my Dad kept it a secret so that it would be the ultimate surprise is unclear to me. What I am sure of is that he took us to the most magical place on earth. Operations were very different than they are now, but the one thing that remains the same is that it is still the most magical place on earth. 

What is Pixie Dust and how can I Make it Happen on my Trip?

Pixie Dust is a magical, unexpected thing that can happen while you are at Disney, but you cannot make it happen. I have heard people recently complain that the magic is gone since the pandemic started. It’s not true. I am sad for these people because they are missing the point. There are two types of Pixie Dust: Unexpected things that surprise you and unexpected magic you can make for someone else. You cannot buy your own Pixie Dust. By definition, it wouldn’t be Pixie Dust! You can buy or make Pixie Dust for others if you plan things out and pay attention.

Pixie Dust for You 

Christmas Magic

One of the first mistakes people make when travelling to Disney is expecting too much. Perhaps they have heard about Cinderella’s Suite in the castle and have set their sights on staying there even though what they booked was a hotel room either at a Disney resort or near Disney Springs or some other location. They are so fixated on that idea or a similarly spectacular one that when it does not happen their trip is ruined. I have had my room reservation changed a few times for varying reasons. Never have I stayed in the castle, but I definitely felt Pixie Dusted, especially when I did not know it was happening until I was there! That was approximately 4-5 times out of more than 25 trips. At least half of those were directly related to the Pandemic and Disney booking rooms that they were not able to utilize for guests when the time came for us to arrive, which is not a normal thing. Booking a cheap room and hoping or expecting to be bumped up is not a good way to start your trip because when it does not happen you are disappointed from the start.  Pixie Dust Tip: Always book the room that fits your budget AND you find suitable for your vacation. Then, if you do receive a little magical upgrade, enjoy it and take lots of pictures! Room upgrades are rare. They are also not the only magic at Disney! Other magical experiences range from a Cast Member going out of their way to walk you all the way to the bathroom you asked directions for, to free ice cream, to surprise celebrations of your personal celebration. Pixie Dust is a surprise! The recipient cannot make it happen.

Character Magic

Pixie Dust for Others 

The only sure way to witness Pixie Dust is to make it for others. Some guests like to share Pixie Dust by giving away anything from pins to popcorn buckets. For them, I am sure the surprise and appreciation of the gift makes them excited to offer these things and in turn allows them to feel a little magic. If it is your first trip to Disney and you have your hands full with planning and taking care of details for you family, this might not be something you feel prepared to do. That’s ok. No one is expecting you to join in! Perhaps the best recipient for your Pixie Dust is your own personal family! My children grew up taking trips to Disney. By the time they were 10 and 13 I knew that I might have to try a little harder to bring them some magic. So, taking a page from my own father’s book of surprise, my husband and I did not tell them we were going. In fact, we did not tell them we were going anywhere. The first day of Christmas break, we woke them up early and told them we decided to celebrate Christmas early. Talk about some confused kiddos! We called them out of their bedrooms and instructed them to open their gifts. They thought mom and dad were nuts! They had some regular gifts, things they asked for. Then came the surprises. Each of them opened a package that contained Santa Mickey ears with their names embroidered on them. Still no response other than a sincere “thank you.” The last box contained their plane ticket for later in the day. I do not recall which kid put it all together first, but when they did, it was wonderful! So much excitement! So much magic!

The Bottom Line

Guests who take a Disney vacation expecting to be flourished with free things and experiences are likely to be disappointed if/when those things do not happen. Pixie Dust Tip: Researching everything Disney has to offer and how and when you should book everything from tickets to park reservations to hotel reservations to shows to Dining and more is where the possibility of magic begins! In future blogs, I will cover many of these things. Stay tuned! The more you know, the more Pixie Dust is coming your way!

Questions?

I am happy to answer questions about today’s blog topic as well as anything else Disney vacation related! Simply type your questions in the comment section below! Please remember, I am not a Cast Member nor do I receive any compensation from Disney, but I am more than willing to spread my knowledge of what I have learned over the years. Oh, and most importantly, it is your vacation and you should plan it your way!

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Location: Georgia, USA

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