1. Megan Fingert
COM 495
Robert Yale
October 2, 2011
Megan – This is an outstanding narrative. You’ve done a really great job capturing a
heartwarming story of a Disneyland visit without making it too schmaltzy or
unrealistic. It seems believable and works well with the existing brand character
and personality of Disney. It seems as though a narrative like this would be quite at
home as a testimonial on the Disney website with accessibility information for
parents. I’m glad that you didn’t try to make the persuasive purpose overt – it is
subtle and understated and likely to be very effective. Really nice work on this! –
Rob
97 Persuasive Narrative
My client is the Disney Parks and Resorts facet of the Walt Disney Company.
Dedicated to creating the most magical experiences on earth, Disney Parks and
Resorts serve as one of the largest draws of revenue for the Walt Disney Co. While
this narrative could best represent any Disney park all over the world, I have chosen
to focus on Disneyland, the flagship park, for this assignment. It is the park I grew up
going to at least twice a month and the one I feel I can best communicate. The
persuasive purpose of this narrative is to make known the programs and training
that Disney has created for the park and park employees to ensure wonderful
experience for physically and mentally handicapped children. The target audience of
this narrative is parents of handicapped children.
Have you ever seen a child light up with joy like this? My daughter has never
been to Disneyland, but, just like every child, she just seems to know the experience
that awaits her today. Yet, the anxiety is still filling up within me. I look at my older
son, at my husband, and can’t help but wonder if she will enjoy today as much as
they will.
I pulled the Sleeping Beauty costume over her head, and, as I ruffled the pink
tulle skirt, she sat on the counter looking just like any other kid. I scooped Kelsey up
in my arms, her golden brown hair bouncing as she giggled. Then, I lowered her into
her wheel chair – today, we are calling it her royal throne.
2. I can’t remember a time when a trip like this was so stress free. We traveled
to a theme park last year and I fear my family will never forget the experience. No
accessible ramps, waiting for hours for a lull in the line so we could successfully put
Kelsey onto the ride, accessible restrooms on the far edges of the park only. There is
no worse experience that knowing that your child feels different from everyone else,
but today would be different.
She could hardly contain herself. Kelsey was smiling the biggest smile. As I
looked into my husband’s eyes, he winked at me. I began to smile too. We linked
hands as we watched our son push our daughter up to the gates. As I began search
for our tickets, a warm hand touched my shoulder. I turned and saw a cast member
smiling from ear to ear. “You must be the Johnson’s – welcome to Disneyland. Let me
show you to the entrance that will best serve you!” said the delightfully bubbly
young redhead. She escorted up towards an accessible gate where more happy faces
came to greet us. We left armed with a map and a list of time for attractions. We
pushed onward, past the train station. I heard a squeal.
‘Oh no, Kelsey!’ I thought, wondering if someone had pointed, if a child had
made a face at her. Her hand was outreached, pointing down to the very end of Main
Street U.S.A. I let out a sigh of relief and laughed as I saw her sweet smiling face
staring in awe at Sleeping Beauty Castle. She began to reach her arms down towards
the wheels of her chair. She could not wait any longer it seemed. Without missing a
beat, her brother began to push her chair past the sparkling lights and through the
cotton-candy fragranced air. I hear another child beside me. “Mommy! Mommy! Can
you believe it? It’s a real castle,” a young girl cried out as she walked past, holding
her mother’s hand.
I felt a small warm hand in mine. I looked down to see Kelsey, almost teary-
eyed saying, “Mommy, can you see it? We’re almost to the castle!” My vision traveled
up towards the mother-daughter pair ahead of us. I grinned, squeezed Kelsey’s hand
tight. “Isn’t it beautiful, Kels?” I said to her sweetly, “A real castle.” As we both
looked forward, inching closer to the castle with every step and rotation of wheel, I
finally felt like we were just like anyone else.
The hospitality continued all through the day. We were escorted onto rides
through accessible entrances. We were given all the time we needed to get Kelsey
safely into the seat of the attraction.
We ended our day at a very special place, the Princess Faire, where every
little boy and girl can be crowned a prince or princess. I could tell Kelsey felt
nervous. She was pulling at her skirt and adjusting her tiara as she watched the
other children climb the stairs to the stage with ease. I looked at my husband and
asked if he’d seen a ramp.
“Well, hello,” said a sweet, charming voice. We turned and saw Sleeping
Beauty standing beside us. “It seems we have a very special princess in our midst,”
she said as she sat down every so carefully in her bright pink dress. She was at eye
3. level with Kesley.
Kelsey got shy for a moment, bowing her head and ringing her hands. She
mustered up some courage and asked so innocently, “Can I still be a princess even if
I can’t go up on the stage?”
Princess Aurora giggled and cupped Kelsey’s face, “Every girl can be a
princess! All you must do is believe.”
I swear Kelsey could have stood right up she was so delighted. I looked
kindly into the cast member’s eye, as if to say thank you. Never breaking character,
she sauntered off, waving at Kelsey as she did.
