“Thank you for flying with us today and welcome to Orlando, Florida.” I was there, I was only four years old and I knew exactly what the stewardess that was making the announcement should have really said,” Hannah welcome to Disney World.” I was so excited! My mother and grandmother had decided to take my older cousin Erin and I to Orlando for my great grandfathers birthday and for a two day adventure in Disney World and an adventure it would be.
     I had been counting down this trip for two months, I could not wait to see the one person who I idealized, who I wanted to grow and be. My goal while here was to meet Bell from the Beauty and the Beast.
     Bell was my all time favorite Disney character. I was her for Halloween, I had her doll, Bell make-up, and I even had the Beauty and the Beast sheets for my bed. I was crazy about her and my mom promised me I could meet her, take a picture with her and get her to sign my new autograph book. I couldn’t wait!
     It took me what seemed like forever to find where Bell was. We had already meet half of the other Disney Princesses and I asked all of them, “Do you know where I can find Bell?” It wasn’t until when I got to Snow White to get a straight answer. She told me that Bell was in a show that started in about thirty minutes. I gave Snow White a hug, told her “Thank You for the information” and then told my mom that we had to get to that show!
     My mom made sure all four of us were going to get there on time. See what Snow White didn’t tell me was Bell’s show was at the other Disney Park Hollywood Studios, we were in the Magic Kingdom. I saw my mom pull one of the character escorts over to the side and I saw him make a call on his walkie-talkie, I had no idea what was going. Once the gentleman was off his walkie, he said something to my mom and then my mom, grandmother, cousin and I were off to the front of the Magic Kingdom. As we were walking, my mom was explaining to my grandmother how Disney goes above and beyond for the kids here and how they are going to make a little wish come true.
     Once we got to the front there was another Disney employee holding up a sign with our last name on it in front of a small Disney shuttle. We boarded the shuttle and off we went to the back of Hollywood Studios. I asked my mom “why are we back here?” I was getting anxious and upset. I started to worry and think I’m never going to see Bell; I’m going to miss her whole show.
     The shuttle stopped and there was another Disney employee dressed in a suit this time, my mom introduced him as Mr. Rob. He came up to me, got down on one knee so he was at my level and asked me, “is it true you are Bell’s biggest fan?” I went blank, I didn’t know what to say, and I just looked back at my mom. She just smiled and said, “Go on, tell him, don’t be shy.”
I looked back at him and explained how I have tons of Bell stuff, how I have not been able to find her all day and she’s the only person I really want to see. After I finished my long, breathless explanation, Mr. Rob stood up, took my hand and we started walking towards a small building.
     Once we were in front of the door to the building, Mr. Rob knocked, took a peak in and then opened it wide so I could walk in first. I walked in and their sitting at her vanity putting some make up on, in her yellow dress was Bell. She turned around to face me and said, “I’ve heard you Hannah have been looking for me all day.” I was speechless, Bell knew my name, and she knew what I had been doing all day. I couldn’t say anything I just walked up to her and gave her a huge hug.
      Once all my jitter bugs went away, I got my picture taken with her, got her autograph and explained to her how I wanted to be just like her when I got older. It was a true Disney Magical experience.
      About a year ago when I got into Disney University my brought this story up again. She told me that she really does now Mr. Rob they went to college together at University of North Carolina and she had gotten in touch with him right before we went on the trip. I still have the picture of Bell and I hung up in my room with her autograph under it. Every time I look at the picture I always think “man Disney really does go above and beyond.” They try to make sure that every child that enters through the Magic Kingdoms gates dreams comes true.