At Disneyland, most kids lose it when they see Elsa or Goofy. But not Totty. His favorite part of the day wasn’t riding Dumbo or spotting a princess. It was watching a trash can get emptied. And the person behind that magical moment? A custodian named Maria.

Totty’s mom, Trish, caught the whole thing on camera. In the now-viral Instagram clip shared by @reallytrishh, the toddler follows Maria around like she is the star of the parade.

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A post shared by Trisha Anderson (@reallytrishh)

He watches her every move, completely mesmerized by how she handles the trash bags.

Maria didn’t rush him. She showed him how it all worked, from the bags to the bins to the careful way she kept everything tidy. And she smiled the whole time. For a moment, it was just the two of them, sharing a connection that didn’t need words or flashy costumes.

Trish / IG / For Trish, that moment meant everything. She later said Maria wasn’t just a trash worker; she was the magic of Disney.

When other guests gave side-eyes or whispered rude things about a kid following a janitor, Maria brushed it off. “It’s OK,” she said, calm and warm. “I hear it all the time.” That small line hit Trish hard. Maria understood. She got it.

Turns out, a lot of other people got it too. Once the video hit Instagram and Facebook, comments flooded in. People couldn’t stop talking about how pure and sweet the moment was. Some cried. Others shared stories of quiet kindness they’d seen or received from cast members at Disney parks. And just like that, Maria had a fan club.

Trish wanted to do something more. She launched a GoFundMe, hoping to give back to the woman who gave her son something better than any ride: acceptance. In just a few days, hundreds of strangers chipped in, raising over $4,200. Trish even coordinated with Disney and Maria’s union to make sure the funds go straight to Maria without risking her job.

Trish / IG / The best part is that Trish and Totty are planning a surprise. For Halloween, Totty will dress up as Maria, complete with a little wheelie trash can.

Inside, they will hide a printout showing the fundraiser. The plan is to find Maria during her shift, open the lid, and reveal the big surprise. It is wholesome overload.

The internet couldn’t get enough. One person wrote, “Totty made her feel like her job was the most important one. Which, in reality, it really is.” Another said, “She probably works all day with no one noticing her. Totty made her feel seen. And loved. And so important.”

The conversation evolved into something unexpectedly tender — almost a love letter to the everyday heroes most people never notice. One woman remembered a child mistaking her for a princess as she cleaned the floor; another parent talked about a waste worker who stopped mid-route to show their truck to an awestruck kid. Each story was small, but together they spoke volumes about how much the little things matter.

Sven Kramer

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