bad experiances with the characters?

[Jelly]

Has anyone ever had any bad experiances with the characters.The only thing that happened to me was I saw Eeyore,and wanted to have my photo taken with him,but someone was in the way and wouldn,t move.

 

[scanne]

Actually, all the characters DH and I have met (and that's about 80 last time I counted our pictures), the experience has been great! It's the crowds, and unfortunately, the parents (please don't bash me!) that make it unpleasant at times. For example, I was patiently waiting to have just my picture taken with Jesse from Toy Story 2. There was no official line, just a cluster of kids and adults. I think waited about 15 minutes, and didn't say anything when parents pushed their little ones up to Jesse, even though I had been waiting and waiting. Well, the cast member with Jesse (who was doing NOTHING about the pushing) said "Ok, Jesse, time to go." I was a little annoyed, but I wouldn't want to hurt a little kids' feelings so I just said to my DH "There really should have been a line. This was VERY unorganized." As Iw as turning to leave, 'Jesse' herself tapped me on the shoulder, pointed to DH, gestured to him to take a picture and posed with me. I guess she had seen me waiting and waiting. This certainly was a magical moment for me! Even though this was while I was on my honeymoon and 25 years old, it still meant a lot!

Now, before all the moms get huffy, I'm about to become a mom, too. And I know there's going to be that one favorite character that my son will probably love. And I will wait with him in line, but I will NOT push him up to the character. I will tell him to wait his turn and be polite. And if I have to say it loudly enough so that other parents hear me, so be it. And if my son dosn't get his picture with that character, we'll try again later. I know you're all probably thinking "Oh you say that now. Just wait till you're in the moment." Well that may be true and I may be tempted to push my child in front of another person, but I strongly beleive kids learn by what we DO and not what we SAY. Besides, most of the character meet and greets now have organized lines with CM's assisting.

Just my two cents.

 

[vald1977]

scanne,
That is so sweet that the character went up to you like that ! It must have made a special "Disney memory" for you and your DH. I do agree that there is no excuse for pushing but luckily I have always seen nice, organized lines for the character meetings at wdw. Congratulations on becoming a mommy-to-be !

 

[BethC]

We generally have very good experiences with the characters. Our best experiences have been at character meals, where you can really get some great one-on-one interaction. We've also had really good luck at the Toontown Hall of Fame, where they only let so many people in at a time. If you ever go to an e-night this is a wonderful time to play with the characters!

Since my kids have most of the characters autographs now, we try to avoid the character meet and greets that happen spontaneously in the parks, unless there is some sort of organized line/queue. It's just too hard when you've got people coming at the character from every angle and there's no clear line. Plus, you never know when the character is going to turn around and leave. Usually my kids will take one look at the chaos and decide to move on (unless it's a really rare character that we haven't seen before).

 

[Jelly]

I notice that there is a character called gold dust Pete,is this the same one who used to be known as Peg leg Pete? ???

 

[snookhams]

Scanne, I am a Mum to two boys 10 & 6 and it really Peeees me off when other parents don't make there children wait there turn, may be it's being british and reserved but my boys both wait patiently for there turn never moaning. I have never had a really bad experience at WDW but at DLP for my youngest 5th Birthday he was physical pushed over (in the rain) twice by the rush of ignorant frenchies to see Pooh, they don't ever form an orderly queue, needless to say we won't be going there again, but saving all our pennies for WDW

 

[Jelly]

One thing I,m sure children are sad about is that most of the characters don,t speak.

 

[Baloo]

We've never had a bad time with a character but a character had a bad time with my son Erich at MGM a couple years ago!!! Erich was standing in front of Eyeore getting their picture taken.Erich must have been crouched down a bit to fit in front of Eyeore,he raised up and knocked poor Eyeore in the chin and rang his bell!!! Eyeore was stumbling around ,goofing a bit, but I think Erich REALLY did hurt him! oy!

 

[beattyfamily]

It's a matter of what kind of parent they are; Their personality. Not all parents do what you describe. We don't. It's also a matter of the CM in charge of the characters insisting on an official line. That's how it should be.

I would never do what you describe and it drives me crazy when my girls are waiting patiently and there's no official line and the pushy parents and kids are all around the characters and you can't get a picture of your own children with them.

Similiar instances with pushy people would be the rope drop at MK in the morning and getting a decent spot for the parades. I've seen situations where the people run to Dumbo (rope drop) or whatever and tramples other children or where the parent pushes their child in front of us during a parade so that my DD's who've been waiting a long time now can't see the parade.

It's not parents who are the only bad guys. It's people in general who have that pushy, selfish personality, IMHO.

 

[Hawkeye314]

Baloo --

We had a similar experience a few years ago. My oldest daughter was 4 at the time and we were at Mickey's House. She was so excited to see Mickey Mouse and hugging and kissing him that she knocked his (fake) eye in. Mickey quickly covered his face and the CMescorted us away without making a big deal about it.

Now here's the Disney Magic part:

We had thought my daughter hadn't noticed the incident so my wife and I just didn't mention it to her and pretended like nothing had happened. My DD didn't say anything to us about it. About an hour later we were getting soemthing to eat when all of a sudden DD falls on the floor like she's been shot and starts crying and howling. I thought something terrible had happeded to her (I thought, briefly, that she had indeed been shot by the suddeness and the degree of her despair). One of the Cosmic Rays CMs came over to us (my wife was standing in line for the food) and asked what was the matter. DD was in such a panic I couldn't figure out what was wrong. The CM asked my daughter and she choked out, amongst the tears and wailing, "I blinded Mickey Mouse!!!" Now, I'm trying desperatly (and mostly effectively) not to burst into gales of laughter. The CM picked my daughter up and told her that Mickey just called the restaurant and wanted her to know that he was fine. My daughter brightened and then the CM went back into the kitchen and brought out some crayons and coloring book for her.

My daughter stopped crying and announced to us all, "Mickey Mouse is not blind!"

The power of good customer relations!

 

[honeymom]

I went to WDW for the first time in 1972 and met Ape King Louis at the time. He was so fun - we said bananas while he was shaking my hand and then he started to jump up and down (with me, too).

Last year 2001, I was so excited because we met Ape King Louis in WDW. His hair had thinned (I'm not joking) and he looked his age. Plus, no word, not even bananas, got any sort of response out of him. He just signed his autograph and couldn't be bothered to act in character.

 

[honeymom]

I went to WDW for the first time in 1972 and met Ape King Louis at the time. He was so fun - we said bananas while he was shaking my hand and then he started to jump up and down (with me, too).

Last year 2001, I was so excited because we met Ape King Louis in WDW. His hair had thinned (I'm not joking) and he looked his age. Plus, no word, not even bananas, got any sort of response out of him. He just signed his autograph and couldn't be bothered to act in character.

 

[carriep1657]

Hawkeye, that story cracked me up. That is so sweet. Your poor DD. I'm glad the CM fixed everything.

 

[Pryncess'mom]

We too had a bad time waiting in line. While waiting patiently in line for Governor Radcliffe at MGM, many children were pushing in front on my DS (then 4). I just kept saying loud enough, We will wait our turn. Just as we were about to give him the autograph book, a girl ran up and thrust her book in his face. He calmly took the book, closed it, handed it back to her and pointed to the end of the line. Then he turned his attention to my DS. I thanked him. My DD had a scary experience with Goofy at Cape May Cafe CB. She had just turned 3 and was very excited, until he began to walk toward our table. She looked up at him, crawled under the table, pulled the chairs in to barricade herself, threw her blanket over her head and screamed. We calmed her down, but she wanted nothing to do with most characters on that trip. She is now almost 5, and we leave next week. High hopes for a good trip!!!

 

[Eeyore1954]

Hawkeye, I would like to nominate your character meet story for the Character Meet "Hall of Fame"! It cracked me up also and I don't even have kids!

It reminded me of our dinner at 1900 Park Fare in May. Tigger and Eeyore (my two favorite characters) were coming around. I got some pics with Tigger and "he" left. Then Eeyore came to our table. I started to hug him with my right hand smacked his "head" -- fairly hard. I didn't mean to do it... but I heard this "THUMP" and I thought -- oh my gosh, the poor person inside must have a headache from that.

I started to profusely apologize when Eeyone leaned down, gave me a huge hug and a fairly loud "SMACK" (kiss). People at several tables looked at us, I started turning beet red, my DW nearly fell off her chair laughing and Eeyore just stood there -- maybe snickering inside, but presenting the typical Eeyore stoic presence. It's a character meet I won't forget!