The Most Awesome Snow White I’ve Ever Met
If I learned anything from Scott Stratten’s presentation in Ottawa the other day, it was that awesome customer service can make you forget about anything bad that has previously happened and puts your focus solely on the awesomeness at hand.
This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to have been a participant in something awesome and it would be a crime for me not to share it with you all. We took our family to a local fair that we visit each year. The day actually started off on a less than stellar note as we spent way too much money on ride tickets, and then I found myself faced with a frustration that I tweeted about in a fit of monetary anger.
Hey @carpfair, charging parents tickets to go on rides with their toddlers is BS and will definitely affect our decision to come again.
— Canadian Dad (@CanadianDadBlog) September 23, 2012
It was probably not one of my finer moments, but being asked to pay an extra $4 so my 2 year old daughter can ride on Dumbo for 45 seconds didn’t sit right with me. I’ve been to a lot of fairs and hadn’t had this problem before. It is what it is, I paid the fees and we had a great time on the rides despite the hit to the wallet. In what can only be described as perfect timing, right after I sent that tweet we ran into one of my daughter’s favourite Disney characters in Snow White.
Now, you may remember that I once posted about how my son was afraid of people dressed in costumes. My daughter is no different and just this July we had an incident with a princess at a carnival in our hometown, where my daughter got spooked while we went in for a photo op.
For some miraculous reason, this particular Snow White character had no negative effects on my little girl and as we approached her, I could feel my daughter shaking with excitement. We stood and talked with her for a minute as she asked my little girl’s name and gave her a high five. My daughter then surprised all of us by asking to have a picture with her, as you will see above.
That could have been then end of the experience and I would have been a happy Dad with just the fact that the interaction went surprisingly well. As it turns out however, Snow White wasn’t finished just yet. We moved on and went to the petting zoo and saw a magic act before making the trek back to the lunch area about 45 minutes later.
As we were just about to reach “Food Alley”, as I like to call it, we heard someone say, “Hi Julia”, and then I noticed my little girl stop and smile. I looked over to see Snow White waving to her and calling her name. Do you have any idea how many people she talked to that day? I’m guessing a lot, so to remember my daughter’s name and then to go out of her way to say hi to her amidst the sea of people at the fair was truly Awesome!
It really changed my whole view of the fair that day and ensured that it will remain a yearly tradition for our family. From now on, when I see the signs for this particular fair, all I will think about is that one interaction with the coolest Snow White I’ve ever met. I hope the people from the Carp Fair Board and the company that employs this Snow White, Official Princess Parties, will read this and share with their staff because this is the exact way that you create repeat business. When you impress people with Awesome, especially parents, you will be rewarded in the long run.
I realize that the people involved here will probably never see this but in case they do, I want to say a very big Thank You to our mystery Snow White! Not only did you give my daughter a memory to last a lifetime but you have also showed her that she doesn’t need to be afraid of people dressed in costumes anymore, which believe it or not, is a pretty big deal to a family who is afraid to plan a Disney trip.
It may seem like a small thing to some of you but that one small interaction has helped me understand the importance of each and every detail that goes into a job or project. Can you imagine not being able to plan a family trip for fear of your children’s anxiety? Then, in just a split second moment having those fears lifted and instilling some hope for a young family.
Totally Awesome!
Cheers!
It’s so true, just one second of our time can give someone such great service it negates any bad experiences. She’s so darned cute!
Thanks Julie, it really changed the way I looked at the whole event. I love cool people!
It’s those little things that make those types of events not only memorable, but special. [shameless plug] Sort of like when Jesus Montero came up to say hello to the kids during batting practice. http://www.postpostmoderndad.com/2012/05/07/meanwhile-at-safeco-field/ [end shameless plug] Frankly, I look forward to those small moments more than the big ones now. They mean more.
The small moments make it all worthwhile and it’s super cool what Montero did for your kids. Class Act!
Awww! I LOVE this post! It truly goes to show how even the tiniest extra details and gestures can make a world of difference in a person’s experience. That IS the coolest Snow White ever! I love the expression on your little girl’s face! She looks SO incredibly happy! Very heart-warming! 🙂
Awww. what a sweet post! And what a lovely Snow White! Your daughter is a super cutie! <3
Glad that the good could out-do the bad!
The good almost always outdoes the bad!
I did not go to the Western Fair this year because of the prices (mind you, the kids did go to Six Flags while we were in New York…so I don’t feel that bad). I just don’t know how some families do it. Then you read a story like yours and you realize it is all worth it. That smile & joy on their faces…priceless!
It was worth every second of it! Plus, now we’ve got a great idea for her birthday party!
This is such a lovely lovely post. I know that you’ll request Snow White for your party. Snow White just left her home in Waterloo to go to school in Ottawa. This will make her day, and it most certainly made mine!
I’m so glad I was able to find the Snow White responsible for that experience. I’m even happier now that I’ve made her Mother even more proud 😀
I’m so glad that the day turned out to be awesome! And I also think that you did the right thing expressing your thoughts via the tweet. Having a good time with your family should not include overcharging. Fair price insures loyalty and keeps the customer happier.
Great photo!
I think it’s borderline criminal to charge parents to have fun with their kids like that. I understand if I was taking up a paying spot but in most cases, without a parent, a seat always remains empty. I’m so glad the awesome princess saved the day!
Chris: that happens at a lot of fairs. It used to cheese me off be side really do they expect tots to ride the rides without help – and babies? Actually it still irks me be ause really you know you h parents can afford to throw money away, right?
Anyways the princess is priceless and all princesses should be that perfect. They really should.
I have a whole new view on princesses now! If the others at Official Princess are even half this great, it’s a place I want to associate with!
Oh heavens!!! Thank-you so much for the wonderful article :)))
Thank YOU so much for the wonderful moment!
Aww, a small act of kindness does go a long way! I sure hope the fair organizers see this and give the Princess a pat on the bak. What an awesome story!
Thanks Brandy! To make a good story even better, I have managed to contact the Snow White mentioned and have been able to personally thank her!
Canadian Dad…Thank you for taking the time to write such a beautiful letter and for posting your experience with Snow White. My daughter is the owner of Official Princess Parties and I could not be more proud of her and her wonderful staff. They do read every post and are very thankful for them all. 🙂
Thanks, you should be incredibly proud! It’s great when people take their jobs so seriously, especially when the job is supposed to be fun in the first place! Kudos to your daughter and her amazing staff!
HI Canadian Dad,
We used Official Princess for 2 of our parties and I have to tell you they were amazing every time. The kiddos loved the princesses and the princesses were awesome.
I was so impressed with the staff and the company!
Awesome to see that they made your little one smile!
oh yeah, that is just darn right sucky to make parents pay to assist their children on rides! but what a nice snow white! glad she made your daughters day!
Hi Chris,
What a beautiful story. Though I’m not surprised. Snow White is my daughter, Kate. I asked
how she remembered your daughter’s name. Her reply: ” How could I not, she’s adorable. ”
Chris, I am going to do a commentary on you and your daughter’s encounter with Snow White on my One Minute Moore. Will probably air this week sometimes.
Oh, and thanks for doing what you do. Well done.
Randall Moore CHEZ 106
Randall, will you please share the link so that all of us can hear your ‘One Minute Moore’ please? thanks, as I know we will keep on sharing the love….
Wow Randall, thanks! I am a big fan of you and your station and have been trying to get into that Toys 4 Boys party for years! One of these days, haha! As for your daughter’s exceptional treatment of my daughter, I like to try to shed light on people that do great things and she is a shining example. I’d be honoured to be a part of your One Minute Moore segment and look forward to hearing it!
I love stories like this! Kudos to Kate.
And I too agree about charging the parents! 😉
that’s amazing! such a special memory for Julia (and you too)
That is so awesome and it truly is wonderful to see people go out of their way like that, especially to remember your daughters name and say hi to her again later on. Those rare people make a difference and deserve recognition. I’m so happy to hear how well your daughter reacted to her….kids have good intuition and she must have sensed how incredible that Snow White was 😉
that is such a cute picture glad to see that the little one enjoyed 🙂
Aww, that’s so sweet! It’s true, sometimes one person can make a whole day. And how cool that you got to learn more about her from her father! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear the segment!
It was pretty great that one person’s actions saved the day. But, it is pretty awesome that you are able to share how much simple things can mean to others:)
Aww – that IS awesome. Though I still don’t think you should have had to pay to get on the ride with your kids. 😛
That look is priceless, and says it all. Awesome.
What a sweet post! The expression on your daughter’s face … So heartwarming. It’s true about these little details that companies or people do that parents remember and start spreading the word.
I may just have to bring Snow White here next year for a birthday party – my daughter is one of her biggest fans 😉
Thanks for visiting! My daughter still says “Snow White know my name” with a huge grin everytime she sees that picture.
Wow. What a great moment (and that picture with your daughter’s huge smile captures the moment perfectly).
You are right, I have never agreed with parents having to pay for rides, etc. with young children, especially when you’re not even sure if they are going to enjoy it or break into tears (nothing like paying $4 to go on a ride in which you end up consoling your child for what seems a lot longer than 45 seconds).
I love the Official Princess Parties – this is why!
Thanks Tracy! It was a great moment and we have since become very big fans of the Official Princess Party crew!