Pixie Dust - What is it and why I love doing it!
Have you ever heard mention of Pixie Dust and wondered what it is and what it involves? Maybe you have googled it and that has brought you here! On this page I'll be talking about what Pixie Dust is, the different types of Pixie Dust and how you can get involved with sharing some Disney magic!
What is Pixie Dust?
Pixie Dust is a little bit of magic, that is unexpected, not asked for and is designed to spread a little bit of happiness. Pixie Dust can be shared by anyone and anyone could unexpectedly receive it. Broadly speaking there are 3 main types of Pixie Dust:
Disney/Cast Member to Guest
Sometimes Disney or a Disney Cast Member may offer some Pixie Dust to a guest. This can range from a room upgrade at a hotel (not overly common at Disneyland Paris, just to manage expectations), a little gift in your hotel room, a little gift in the parks such as a keyring, or a little extra kindness such as a queue skip or offer to ride again. As a guest you have no control over this type of Pixie Dust, it is random, and not something that can be requested or asked for, though it's always just the right thing to do to be kind and polite to all cast members.
Guest to Cast Member
This is where you can get involved and spread some Disney magic yourself, Offering small tokens of appreciation to cast members is usually warmly received and can really make their day, These offers do not have to be expensive or hard but just show appreciation for the work they do. Some examples of things I have either given to cast members or I have seen other offer include:
- Stickers - including stickers printed with a personal message
- Small bags of sweets like Haribo, Cadbury chocolate, maybe with stickers on
- Little bags with things like teabags, hot chocolate sachets, sweets, chocolate, stickers, badges
- Simple handmade cards or drawings
I have also on occasion planned ahead to give themed gifts to specific characters that I was hoping to meet.
Guest to Guest
Similar to guest to cast member sometimes guests will offer Pixie Dust to other guests, I have received chocolate lollies or little sweets with a sticker or card attached, I also give Pixie Dust to other guests, usually similar to what I would give to cast members.
When giving to other guests I usually give to other adults, solo visitors or maybe someone with a cute outfit or who has just been kind and considerate, like guests who remained seated so I could see a parade even though other guests were practically trampling them!
I do sometimes give Pixie Dust to children but only in certain circumstances, as discussed below!
I'd like to try giving out Pixie Dust, any ideas?
Anything you would like to give as Pixie Dust will always be appreciated but here are some ideas of things I have done as Pixie Dust.
Any Pixie Dust is appreciated, and if you are wondering if it is worth doing or why go to the effort then try it, honestly the reactions can give such a happy feeling it really is actually quite a selfish thing to do!
Planned Pixie Dust
I usually plan out my Pixie Dust and will often try to theme it to the season or to a focus of my trip, for example the 30th anniversary, Christmas or Marvel when I went for the opening of Avengers Campus.
Things like handmade cards or notes can be a nice activity for children to take part in before visiting.
Stickers with a personalised message such as Pixie Dust from xxx can be found on Amazon and eBay for reasonable prices, these can be added to cellophane bags or directly onto chocolate bars or packets of sweets.
Treat size sweets are easy to find and good value, and may be themed, particularly around Halloween, honestly I often find Aldi or the Pound Shop have good options.
Themed stickers can also often be found for good value on Amazon or eBay, for example princesses, marvel, pixar.
One item I like if I am hoping to give to children (more on the considerations for that below!) is the small bubble tubes as who doesn't want to blow bubbles at Disney!
I often use small self seal cellophane bags (you can even get biodegradable ones now) and use a combination of sweets and stickers/badges.
Spontaneous Pixie Dust
Sometimes I have had the opportunity to give out some unexpected or spontaneous Pixie Dust. On one trip my Nephew decided last minute not to use his autograph book so we gave it to someone looking at them in a shop, once I paid for a ticket to the Lion King show but didn't need it as I have a Priority Pass so passed it on to another solo traveller and on another occasion a cast member really liked some custom ears I had had made so I decided to just gift them to her.
These more spontaneous acts can be lovely and I try to just think in the moment of if I can help make someone else's day a little brighter! A relatively common spontaneous Pixie Dust between guests may be passing on a balloon if it can't be taken home or passing on something like an unused ride return ticket.
Pixie Dust I have made/given out
Here are some images of Pixie Dust I have prepared or given out on previous trips.
Some other considerations and practical tips
Once you have decided you would like to try giving out some Pixie Dust it's exciting, but you may be nervous to do so at first, so here are some tips and things I think about when preparing and giving out Pixie Dust.
- When packing Pixie Dust if you plan to put it into little bags consider making up the packs after you arrive to save space in your luggage and avoid the bags getting as creased or squashed.
- Remember to check what can be taken into France if travelling from outside the EU when considering the contents.
- If possible try to consider dietary restrictions, particularly common ones such as dairy and gluten, some sweets are naturally vegan and gluten free without being more expensive, like skittles or love hearts so even if these are not the only ones I have to give out I like to have some available and can ask for allergies when gifting them.
- I only provide items which are individually wrapped for food hygiene reasons and if the ingredients are not on the pack I have some printed copies of them to be able to give if someone has allergies.
- I try to have stickers or badges or other non food items included, having said this though don't let allergies put you off trying to Pixie Dust, even if you can't fully accommodate.
- Consider using French alongside English on any stickers or notes, even if not the whole message.
- I usually give the Pixie Dust at the end of an interaction with Cast Members, generally because I prefer to not appear like I am trying to get something or anything like that if I offer at the start.
- Characters love receiving Pixie Dust, but remember their friends and the other cast members that support them!
- I try to also look out for cast members in less obvious roles, like those cleaning and keeping the park clean for everyone.
- If you do have an Instagram or social media account and are happy to share it put it on the sticker or note, when I receive Pixie Dust I like to be able to then follow and thank the person.
Pixie Dusting Children
I want to address this because I can understand the reservations about whether or not to offer Pixie Dust to children you don't know. I have also seen discussions on social media where some people have suggested they would never do this as they would expect to be viewed in a certain way or potentially receive abuse. Others have suggested they would be furious if their child was randomly given something by a stranger.
So deciding if you want to try to offer to children or not is a personal decision so this is just how I do it and my experience doing it.
I never ever offer Pixie Dust direct to a child, aside from anything else if it includes edible items I have no idea about any allergies.
I do however take Pixie Dust intended for children, usually in smaller quantities than what I intend to give out to adults. As mentioned above, stickers and bubbles are my usual go to items. Packs intended for children never contain hard boiled sweets or lollies which could pose a choking risk,
When it comes to giving them out this is where the circumstances have to be right. I need to be able to ask the parents discreetly and without the child knowing so they would not be upset if the answer from the parents is no. I explain the contents, and ask about allergies and then if the parents are happy I give it to them, not directly to the child so they can look themselves first. As this can take a little while these are usually given out where we have already been chatting a little, such as being seated next to them waiting for something (parade, show, meet etc) or in a restaurant or bar. I also only offer if I have enough on me for the number of children!
In my experience, having done this on many trips this way, no one has refused as yet, though I always tell them it's fine to do so. I have only had gratitude and the Pixie Dust gratefully and enthusiastically received.
This page was written and last updated December 2023
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