What’s the polite amount of time to spend with characters?

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

NVM who wouldn’t let a make a wish kiddo go. Yes, please go in front of me. Take your time kiddo.

Honestly I haven't encountered this situation yet but if I were next in line and expected to be the last for that session, I would offer a group with kids to go ahead of me.

 

[Victoria3]

My rule of thumb is that if there's a line, the adults do NOT need their own non-kid pictures. Don't wait in line by yourselves- do something else so the kids have a shorter wait. And if you're escorting your kids, by all means jump into a photo. But don't get one of just you and the character.

The characters aren't just for folks with children. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's not okay for others to partake.

There's lots of childless adults in the parks. Maybe Disney parks aren't for you.

 

[Dug720]

The characters aren't just for folks with children. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's not okay for others to partake.

There's lots of childless adults in the parks. Maybe Disney parks aren't for you.

Agreed!! That post reminds me of the whole “childless milennials making a kid cry by getting and eating pretzels” thing.

Families come in all shapes, sizes, and numbers. And anyone with a ticket has the same rights to meet characters regardless of age or status of procreation.

 

[kylenne]

Agreed!! That post reminds me of the whole “childless milennials making a kid cry by getting and eating pretzels” thing.

Families come in all shapes, sizes, and numbers. And anyone with a ticket has the same rights to meet characters regardless of age or status of procreation.

Round 9000 of that is going down on Twitter because of a really awful op ed on another theme park fan site about RoTR opening at DLR. We were inspired to go looking for childless millennial shirts on Etsy for our upcoming trips. I already have the you know what shorts.

 

[Dug720]

Round 9000 of that is going down on Twitter because of a really awful op ed on another theme park fan site about RoTR opening at DLR. We were inspired to go looking for childless millennial shirts on Etsy for our upcoming trips. I already have the you know what shorts.

I need to find a childless GenXer one!

 

[Melissa55]

Round 9000 of that is going down on Twitter because of a really awful op ed on another theme park fan site about RoTR opening at DLR. We were inspired to go looking for childless millennial shirts on Etsy for our upcoming trips. I already have the you know what shorts.

I don’t get why it’s such a big deal to people. My parents went to WDW way more before my sister and I were born than they did after. My parents went 5-6 times as a couple before having kids, and went twice in my entire childhood. They’re boomers! My husband and I are DVC so it will be different for our family, but we did go 6 times as childless [millenial - me and GenXer - DH].

 

[Dug720]

I need to find a childless GenXer one!

I found one and ordered it!! It says Child Free but same thing!

 

[Boopuff]

I like the character meet where you are ushered into the room privately, no one watches your photo op. Much better than waiting in a line and having everyone watch your interaction! Plus no one knows what you're doing

 

[TheMaxRebo]

They only time I can remember getting a little annoyed was one meet where the couple in front of us got a bunch of pictures done including selfies, etc. ... but that wasn't an issue

... It was that when they were done they didn't fully leave the area even when we started having out meet with the character. Instead they went off to the side and went through all the photos taken on their phone and then decided they weren't good enough and came back and asked us to stop our meet so they could retake photos - then rechecked the photos, finally deciding they had one that was good enough and then we could re-engage

Still wasn't the end of the world or anything but was a bit annoying to sort of break the immersion and have to start and stop and restart the interaction

 

[maranara]

On our last trip - my daughter's first - all she wanted to do was meet characters. So we stood in EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER LINE Disney has to offer. We counted on the way home - 53 different characters. So we saw a LOT of character interactions. Ours were probably in the 1-2 minute range. Some of them my daughter really loved - some we just got an autograph and a quick picture. We did encounter 2 groups that we felt crossed the line of acceptable behavior. Both were groups of adults. A group of 2 or 3 women in their 30s/40s were overly excited to meet Gaston. They took a TON of pictures, each got an autograph, then started asking all sorts of questions- to the point that my husband was concerned that they thought he was ACTUALLY Gaston. Finally they moved along. But even worse was a couple meeting Belle in Epcot. They took a bunch of pictures, then the guy opened his backpack and started pulling out props for more and more pictures. Belle finally thanked them for all the pictures and ushered them out.

 

[mimijudy1975]

My kid was looking at the backdrop in the Anna and Elsa M&G and not to the camera when we posed with Elsa. So Anna had to provide a distraction so she'd look at the camera....while I looked at the line stacking up, feeling the wrath.

What I found more annoying was my inlaws seemingly deciding at the last minute they wanted to be in the pictures. I'm sure we aggravated people then...

 

[SillySallySews]

I don’t really care how long someone in front of me takes and I’m sure the characters have a way of getting rid of people who have overstayed their welcome. I don’t know if the person in front of me is on their once in a lifetime trip, or maybe it’s just their favorite character, but if the person seems to really be enjoying themselves I don’t get annoyed with the time. But for the love of all things good and holy, when you are done, be done! On several occasions now we’ve had people come back and try to re-engage with the characters during our turn because their picture didn’t turn out right, or they just wanted one more picture, or whatever. Of course the poor CMs try to stop it, but it’s very intrusive and rude.

 

[AngiTN]

The CM should be dealing with returning guests. That’s nuts

 

[Melissa55]

It was that when they were done they didn't fully leave the area even when we started having out meet with the character. Instead they went off to the side and went through all the photos taken on their phone and then decided they weren't good enough and came back and asked us to stop our meet so they could retake photos - then rechecked the photos, finally deciding they had one that was good enough and then we could re-engage

On several occasions now we’ve had people come back and try to re-engage with the characters during our turn because their picture didn’t turn out right, or they just wanted one more picture, or whatever. Of course the poor CMs try to stop it, but it’s very intrusive and rude.

What in the actual world? I have NEVER, EVER done this OR seen someone do this! That is inexcusable to me. I don't even look at my photos from our sessions until the end of the day. It's kind of my husband's and my end of the day wind down thing, we go through our Memory Maker, laugh at the pictures that turned out horrible (seriously it took me 3 years to finally get a good picture with Daisy at Silly Sideshow). I would never interrupt someone else's session unless something was glaringly wrong, like... if I thought someone was having a stroke or something? But it would have to be that extreme for me to interfere. I am shocked!

 

[Afabena]

We probably spent about a minute with each character. My daughter was obsessed and willing to wait any amount of time to meet characters but once it was her turn she was a bit shy and was happy with just an autograph and picture. There were times I didn’t even think that the adults should be in the picture too until after the fact but I would never try to interrupt the next person’s meet.

The only time I was really shaking my head at the people in front of us was during a meet with Elsa (after we waited behind them to see Anna). It felt like we waited forever and the group in front of us had 3 kids and many adults with them. One of the kids was a baby who was only crawling and he did not want to be anywhere near Elsa (or Anna for that matter). He kept crawling away towards the adults as the other 2 kids stood by Elsa. This happened at least 5 times while they were trying to snap a picture of all 3 kids together.At one point he tried to put the train of Elsa’s dress in his mouth. The adults just thought the whole thing was hysterical while there was thing big line forming behind them (They closed off the people coming in to meet Anna because there wasn’t enough room) and I was screaming in my head please just pick him up and go in the picture already. While I do think everyone is entitled to their moment with the characters people should also be mindful that there are people behind them also waiting.

 

[Jonfw2]

To clairfy: it is my opinion that adults without children should not wait in line to meet characters. It makes the wait for kids longer. The characters are for kids.

I realize this is an unpopular opinion, but here we are.

 

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

To clairfy: it is my opinion that adults without children should not wait in line to meet characters. It makes the wait for kids longer. The characters are for kids.

I realize this is an unpopular opinion, but here we are.

Do you also hold this stance on attractions like Dumbo, the carousel, etc.? Because I can tell you plenty of adults go on these rides as well.

I feel this is where I need to remind one of the quote from DIsney himself regarding the opening of his park:

"To all that come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future."

When I first visited as an adult, I used to be of the same mind that characters are just for kids. But when I found myself solo in the parks as my dad rested from a cold and not much to do (our FP game was woefully underdeveloped at the time), I opted to do what I had deemed in my mind the "dumbest thing a 33 yr old man can do", which was visit the Disney Princesses

At the end of the trip, my dad and I thought we were a one & done group. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought about how much fun I had meeting the characters. I realized we hadn't really fully immersed ourselves in what the parks are really about. So we opted for another trip. I planned around doing a character focused experience (including meals). Our experience was much better by accepting that we could just be kids again.

On my last trip, it wasn't as character focused, but I disneybounded as Flynn Rider. I met Rapunzel and Flynn during an MVMCP. They were both so excited about the outfit. He signed my satchel. They asked how my smolder was and said I hadn't perfected it. They told me "practice makes perfect". And I now have a hilarious picture of all my awkwardness on full display because of my failed attempt to smolder.

So while you might be entitled to your opinion, please don't try to take these experiences away from adults. There is no age limit for guests when it comes to the memories created.

 

[Jonfw2]

Yes. I feel the same way about adults who want to ride Dumbo with no kids. To be clear: I am not including mentally disadvantaged people in this category. But able minded, able bodied adults have so many amazing options at the parks. Don't make kids wait longer for stuff that's geared towards them.

And also don't forget there's a ton of stuff (rides, VIP tours) they can't do that you can.

 

[AngiTN]

Wow. Glad you don’t make rules or otherwise have any input

 

[Jonfw2]

I don't think it should be a rule. I just find it courteous.