My letter to Lee ****erell, WDW VP
Here's a letter I've been meaning to write since our vacation regarding some great CMs. I thought some might enjoy reading it. If by any chance any of these CMs see this, please let me know. :mickey:
Lee ****erell
WDW Executive VP
WDW Guest Letters
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
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Dear Mr. ****erell,
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Greetings! I hope all is well with you. I am writing to you about my trip to Walt Disney World from April 21<SUP>st</SUP>, 2006 to April 26<SUP>th</SUP>, 2006. I’m sorry it took so long for me to write this. It was simply a matter of being very busy and not a matter of desire. This was a trip I took with my wife, her mother and her grandmother. Her grandmother has cancer and has several times passed the “date” on which doctors told her she’d still be around. She’s an amazing lady and the toughest woman I know, not only for this but also for coming to America from Poland after having been in a Nazi work camp, where my mother-in-law was born. We felt we needed her to experience Disney’s magic at least one more time, not matter what the doctors said. So we quickly planned the trip and I did my research to make sure I could make it as pleasant as possible. To see her face during It’s A Small World and the fact that she still looks at the photos everyday, have made it all worth while.
It was an amazing trip, with only one minor problem. I’ll mention that quickly as this letter is not about that. I really want to give some personal commendations. Please make sure all your bus drivers know that wheelchairs get priority over people sitting in those seats. A driver working the Disney Studios to the Wilderness Lodge route on the night of April 24<SUP>th</SUP> would not let my grandmother-in-law on the bus, because there was no room, though nobody was standing. My wife and I weren’t there and it frazzled my mother-in-law, so she didn’t protest. That’s enough on the negative.
I have never had such a great experience with the characters. Not only were they fun and animated in general, but also many showed such special attention to my grandmother-in-law. I know it’s hard to single out specific character “helpers,” but I will mention some dates and times as best I can. Lilo and Stitch at Animal Kingdom at the start of the day on April 23<SUP>rd</SUP> took special care of “Ma” and held her tight and helped her into her wheelchair. Likewise, Mickey in Toontown at about 5:00 on April 25<SUP>th</SUP>, was so sweet to Ma, surprising her, kissing her and helping her in and out of her wheelchair, I was amazed. About and hour and a half later in the town square, Geppetto, asked for a picture with just Ma after taking one with the family. Other great character interactions we had were Robin Hood and Prince John at the town square in the late afternoon of April 22<SUP>nd</SUP> and The Sheriff of Nottingham at about 4:00 in the Studios on the 24<SUP>th</SUP>.
As far as “human” experiences, I have to say that everyone was wonderful. I have two specific instances, though. The whole team working the Peter Pan ride at the start of the day on April 25<SUP>th</SUP> was extremely helpful to Ma and made sure we had a copy of the guide for people with disabilities. Also, I have to give a special thanks to Lisa who was working at the hostess station in Ohana at 8:00 pm on April 23<SUP>rd</SUP>. She made sure we had a window seat for the fireworks and she didn’t even know we had someone special with us. She was just trying to make another guest happy.
Please give all of these wonderful people a thank you and big pat on the back from me. They helped make our trip perfect. I look forward to coming back and here’s to being able to bring my grandmother-in-law when I do.
