A Name Tag and a Smile

Welcome back to Taylor Talks!

​Have you ever been to Disney and taken a look at the Cast Members' name tags? The moment I received my name tag was literally one of the happiest moments of my life... I couldn't believe that I was finally a Cast Member!

I've always loved Disney name tags, even before I knew that I could become a Cast Member. They're that extra touch of magic that separates a Disney employee from any other employee in the world. They're also a great equalizer at work. It doesn't matter if you're in management, work in merchandise, or work attractions, because everyone has the same name tag.

In addition to each person's name, the name tags also give the Cast Member's hometown or college that they attend, and there are even tags that denote a language besides English that the Cast Member speaks (I need to get mine for Sign Language... that will be amazing). They are great conversation starters; I can remember my dad always being interested in where Cast Members were from when we would go on Disney vacations, and now it's fun to tell people about where I'm from or find out if they know my hometown. It's the easiest way to connect with people as you're meeting hundreds (or probably thousands) of Guests each day.

My favorite part of wearing a Disney name tag so far has definitely been the way people connect with me using my name. "Hi there, Taylor!" or "Thank you, Taylor!" from a Guest makes me feel special in a way. I'm sure I'm just one of many Cast Members that these Guests are coming in contact with throughout their Disney vacation, but for the few moments during which they're interacting with me, they make me feel like I'm an important person in their day. People are always talking about the Magic that Cast Members make for Guests, but I don't think that Guests always realize the Magic that they make for us.

As someone who has struggled with social anxiety and feeling like no one remembers me or knows who I am, hearing my name come from a Guest gives me a boost of confidence. Even like today, when I did a little something special for a child, and her mom said, "Thank you so much, Taylor!" and reminded her daughter to "Say thank you to Taylor," I got a smile hearing my name. It may not seem like much, but using someone's name can really brighten their day.

So if you're ever heading to Disney, be sure to check out the name tags on the Cast Members with whom you come in contact. Use their name and make them feel special for being part of the team that makes Magic every day! I promise you that those small gestures really do make us feel good!

Your continued support means the world to me. From foster care to novels, and family to work experiences, I look forward to sharing more of my life with you each day. Don't hesitate to share your own stories with me or ask me questions about my life. Please don't forget to like and share my Facebook author page as well!

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Thanks!
Taylor

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