Originally Posted By ssWEDguy Structured Meet & Greets vs "Free-range" meets There's been a lot of discussion lately about structured character meet & greets, and whether they are a good thing. I personally think there are pluses and minuses about the whole thing. There are good parts to them, and some things that I don't like at all. Like the automatic formation of lines for instance. But overall I think it's a plus. Just yesterday I was approached by two different guests who said "This is one of the best things Disney has ever done. In years past we'd sometimes go a whole vacation without being able to meet with a character. Now we can see them and take pictures too." Yes it's not a "natural" meeting event. But then how many "spontaneous events" at Disney are truly spontaneous? Even though the event is structured, there is still opportunity for spontaneity. The characters WILL spend time with you and interact, even if it's busy. It all depends on how fast you want it to go. I've observed that for most people it's better to have a structure going that they can observe and relate to. Not everyone is as comfortable as being spontaneous as some.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom My experience is that it is necessary to have both in the parks. Mind you I do not have children so I have no need for a meet and greet. Disney has a history of some characters playing around the parks greeting and hugging people( the country bears come to mind). I'm not sure if this was ever the case for other characters like Mickey Mouse. I think there have always been structered meet and greets with Mickey Mouse.
Originally Posted By crazyformickey My very first trip I remember seeing characters everywhere. It was so exciting and we have lots of pictures. My first trip with my kids we had to wait in long lines to meet the characters, not so much fun when it's hot. My kids love to see the characters but if they are going to wait in a line...they want a ride at the end of it. Now we do character meals to meet them. They get more one on one time and I have some great pictures. I know it cost more but it's worth it for us.
Originally Posted By Marzy I'm wondering if it would be possible for them to do both. Then again, usually a character usually attracts so much attention that a line would form anyways.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I think that it is great that they have scheduled meets, but sometimes the lines are even longer then the attrations. Can we get a fast pass for a photo opp.? JK
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Can we get a fast pass for a photo opp.?<< They were already doing that for autogragh and photo sessions with ABC soap stars and Star wars guests over at MGM, so I don't see why not. Even though I'd prefer FP to be eradicated totally.
Originally Posted By BeccasMommy Especially for younger guests i think the "drive by" sightings, as my family calls them, are truly the most magical waiting in line loses its appeal to a hot tired 4 year old who just wants to meet Cinderella
Originally Posted By TDLFAN "drive by sightings"... I like that. Better than "drive by shootings" I guess. But I agree with you. A chance encounter is still the most magical surprise you could ever get at Disney.
Originally Posted By tonyanton When I was a kid there were no structured character greetings that I recall. We met Mickey in Town Square one night about 11pm. It was the highlight of my trip as a kid.
Originally Posted By BeccasMommy Our first trip, 11 years ago, we walk into MK @ noon (don't get me started) and standing there, all by herself(other kids and characters are yards and yards away), after the character breakfast let out is Cinderella, my then 5 year old is in complete AWE, she walks up and very politely says hello and tells her how much she loves her movie, then asks, almost sheepishly, if Cinderella would take a picture, so she could show her best friend back home who she was lucky enough to meet... being our first trip we were unschooled in the autograph book situation and didn't buy one until about 20 minutes after said picture, by then Cindy's wrangler was taking her back inside, to attent to royal duties no doubt, when a heart broken Becca is overheard saying how she wishes she knew so she could have had her booked signed, Cinderella stops her friend, who is now practically dragging her away and mentions remembering how polite my daughter was and how she was her new special friend and even if it would make her late she was going to sign her book as she was walking away to this day my daughter will tell that story to anyone who will listen making them all structured and waiting in line takes this type of experience away, and i think that would be unDisney...but that's just me
Originally Posted By jazzfan4 BAck in the day 1984 when we took my sons, 4 and 5 years old they had to have goofy hats and walking into DL frontier land with the lads in a rented stroller Chip and Dale slipped up and stole the Goofy hats. They were enchanted by the chipmunks acting like they do in the cartoons, don't get that much anymore.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> waiting in line loses its appeal to a hot tired 4 year old who just wants to meet Cinderella << Thus the reason for my query. It seems that what people really want is that magical one on one experience, but at the same time without the line. Disney seems to be trying to accomodate the meet & greet for everyone who wants it, but lines become part of that when so many want to participate. The only help I can suggest is that it IS possible to meet Cinderella without having to wait in a long line, if you are able to take advantage of the less busy times.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> A chance encounter is still the most magical surprise you could ever get at Disney << I would agree with you on this. To look over and see that Donald is riding Dumbo along with you and everyone else is really cool. But you're probably not going to be able to get your picture standing next to him if everyone else wants the same thing.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> to this day my daughter will tell that story to anyone who will listen making them all structured and waiting in line takes this type of experience away << Structure doesn't mean this stops. The characters are animated and quite often spontaneous with guests within the structured setting.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Disney seems to be trying to accomodate the meet & greet for everyone who wants it, but lines become part of that when so many want to participate.<< As I discussed in the thread that sparked this new one, by Disney's own honorable action of trying to mass-produce the magic (in this case, letting more guests each day experience the characters) they end up causing counter-productive results. This comes as no suprise, but is disappointing. There was a time when you had more people running the place who "got it", who understood what kind of consequences could come from short-term thinking and impulsive changes. Now, this is not a short-term, impulsive change; this is a deliberate trend, but it still comes from people who, I think, can't understand that intangible Disney difference or refuse to. By trying to manufacture the magic, they dilute it. It was too bad that in the past not everyone could have been guarenteed a chance for Chip & Dale to sneek up on them, but at least there were some daily park guests who were randomly lucky to get a very memorable experience. >>Structure doesn't mean this stops. The characters are animated and quite often spontaneous with guests within the structured setting.<< I disagree. Simply based on opinion. For the sake of extra "magical moments"TM I think the "structure" has diluted a lot of "magical moments"TM from taking place. I also think that the characters don't have nearly the amount of fun or creative freedom that they use to. To their credit, there are some characters still that really shine with what they have to work with.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> To their credit, there are some characters still that really shine with what they have to work with. << I have worked at high density character locations a lot at both MK and Epcot. While they have aspects which are quite structured, and while I am personally not happy with all of the event, I have observed Chip & Dale, Donald, Goofy, Minnie and others being quite entertaining within the structure. Not every single guest, no. And within limits. But it's still quite creative. And it is encouraged. (Except when things get really backed up.) Question -- Where is the sponteneity and variation within an attraction like the Haunted Mansion, or Small World? Isn't each guest's experience pretty much the same as the next guest's? Isn't is really an illusion of variation and spontaneity that isn't really there?
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Question -- Where is the spontaneity and variation within an attraction like the Haunted Mansion, or Small World? Isn't each guest's experience pretty much the same as the next guest's? Isn't is really an illusion of variation and spontaneity that isn't really there?<< The attractions, especially the AA shows, were - if anything - designed to give a consistent performance. Not to be confused with having qualities that would go unnoticed by the guest until the 14th visit. This consistent performance attribute is one that goes back to when JC was more of a serious attraction in the mid 50s. Why even today Disney tries to keep the skippers to stick with the SOP scripts. That's why there are SOPs to begin with, it's why Imagineering """used""" to be more strict with show readiness standards. The characters are expected to maintain the same consistency, only in appearance and, well, staying in character. Within reason, Improv'n for the guests was not an issue. It's not like they came up with new shtick for each and every guest they saw.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I have observed Chip & Dale, Donald, Goofy, Minnie and others being quite entertaining within the structure.<< I can be quite entertaining as well in my structure, and at WDW.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros As a child, I grew up in a time of free range characters and character dining, and I experienced both, several times. I really only remember the "free range" ones. I remember the character breakfasts, because we have pictures and a button from one, but I remember just stumbling upon them just because it impacted me more. There was a specific time in DL, with the three little pigs, Big Bad Wolf, and Pinnochio (I know, one of these things is not like the other...) meeting people in front of Tomorrowland, with the PeopleMover in the background. Every time I pass that area now, I remember that moment, and think about how FastPass, character greetings, and Tomorrowland '98 messed all that up.
