What the title says! This will be just a cozy thread for talking about our core memories from the parks, whether it be Universal, Disney or anywhere!
For me, still to this day the #1 core memory that comes to mind is meeting Judy and Nick at the Very Merry Christmas Party in 2018. Judy and Nick are my favorite Disney characters and frankly, my top two favorite fictional characters period, both of them are incredible, inspiring and relatable characters with a beautiful relationship, and until recently, you could only see them in either the now defunct Move It Shake It (where even then you couldn't do photos or properly meet them), or the Christmas Party, the only time they'd have an actual proper meet-n-greet. My mom took me just to meet them, and I brought my merch and made drawings for them!
I met them multiple times throughout the night and of course they recognized me each time, and to this day, still by and far the best character encounters I've ever had in any theme park. Don't get me wrong, I've had plenty of magical moments at Disney and a few at Universal, but this was seriously on a whole other level. I'm talking moving fully away from the photo op spot so the three of us could watch a few minutes of the fireworks show as it was going. Not only that, but Judy and Nick couldn't do autographs, instead handing out "pre-signed" trinkets, but after one of the encounters during the night, a CM pulled me off to the side and asked if I'd like my drawings of them to be signed, to which I happily said yes. Judy and Nick went backstage with the CM, and when they came back out for their next set, personally handed the drawings back to me now signed. And finally at the end of the night, an attendant asked if I wanted to be the last guest to see them for a prolonged interaction and goodbye, to which I very excitedly agreed. Many many hugs were shared including a long group hug that lasted a good 2-3 minutes, and after final photos, they took my hands and let me walk with them to the gate that took them backstage before saying goodbye.
I still have those signed drawings up on my wall, and to this day it is by far the most magical moment and memory I have in all my years of going to the parks. Thank you again Judy and Nick.
Let's hear yours!