“Faith Restored in the Disney Magic” Guest Shares Tear-Jerking Story of a Stranger’s Good Deed

Negative experiences tend to stick with us. While rare at the customer-centric hubs of Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Guests had reported more unsavory encounters since the Parks reopened after months of closure when COVID-19 struck.

With new policies to curtail crowds like Genie+, Lightning Lanes, Individual Lightning Lanes, and Virtual Queues, Disney has been a bit more complicated to navigate for some Guests. Whether recent issues at Disney are a symptom of the world’s recent changes or the new policies in the Parks is up for discussion, but one thing is sure: we could use more positive stories.

One of the reasons Disney captures multi-generational Disney fans is its commitment to Guests via the hard work of the Cast Members. Freebies and strings pulled elevate the Disney experience for Guests and cement magical foundations for future Disney vacations. But sometimes the magic doesn’t only come from the Cast Members or a favorite Disney character—it comes from the Guests.

An Unexpected Message from a Heartbroken Mother

Disney Guests juggle personal items at the Parks regularly. Park bags, sunscreen, rain ponchos, magic bands, keys, and wallets are held tightly during a Disney ride, but no one is immune to misplacing stuff occasionally on a Disney trip.

In a popular post on the most magical subreddit, u/SeaPersonality5402 ignited a conversation about their “faith restored” in Disney’s magic when their already-canceled debit card was returned to Disneyland’s lost and found. While the story was a testament to the Guests who returned the debit card, another account brought Disney fans to tears.

Inspired to share a similar story, u/Puzzled_Market_2978 offered a tear-jerking example of Disneyland’s lost and found conduct:

I lost my wallet about 6 years ago. I was signed in by a friend cast member. At the time I was broke and only had $300 in cash in my wallet, which was supposed to last me for a month. So the friend invited me and I ended up losing my wallet with the $300 in it. I went to lost and found immediately and they didn’t have it. I was so bummed. Towards the evening time I decided to try once more and sure enough someone had turned it in. My money was still in there. My mom gave me the $300 to get me through til my open check, she left a receipt from food 4 less around it with the words, “I love you son, make this last!” Eventually, when I retrieved my wallet, there was more writing on the receipt this time, “I miss my son, please take this extra $300 and make it last.” I cried like a baby. Anyways. Whoever you are, I always think about you and the kindness you graced me with.

Disney fans like u/froglover215 said what every reader was thinking:

Well I didn’t expect to be crying at 8 in the morning reading this sub, but here we are.

Other Redditors flooded the comments with stories of Cast Members recovering lost earrings, keys, wallets, and other valuables, and the entire thread was glittering with Disney magic. These stories remind us that even when the Disney magic is interrupted by cell phone flashes, rude encounters, or clumsy queues, it’s always present in the Parks.

Cast Members and Guests who love Disney always look out for each other, and this thread proves the Disney magic is alive and well in them.