Character Meet and Greet Ettiquette

Originally Posted By DisneyDanie

I understand that there's a certain way that we should handle meeting the characters at Disneyland and taking photos and autographs with them. What are your thoughts about the do's and don'ts? What's the most important things we need to do?

 

Originally Posted By kari12177

There should be a way to do it, but whenever we get in a line, a big group of people cut right in front of us, every time! I would like to do something, but I dont want to postal in front of Mickey

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Get into line nicely - when some rude group tries to but in front of you - simply turn to your child and say well they must be really important since they don't have to wait in line -
Usually I get a look from the adult who has pushed them up there and they quickly say OH there's a line?
Or the Handler points them to the back of the line -
Occasionally they just ignore you (or speak in another language about it - love when it's spanish and my kid or SIL responds back in spanish - they always retreat quickly with that!)
If they stay in line I tell my child well I am very proud of you and how patient you were with those rude people who can't seem to follow the rules!

 

Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP

Wait in line politely, and when meeting characters, and have any autograph books and pens ready to go. The characters are more than willing to spend a minute with you, but not ten. The official Disney photographer, if there is one, WILL take a picture, you can't stop them, but you are perfectly free to take one, two or three of your own. More than that begins to strech it. Also, once one of the photographers hands you your photopass card you are going to want to keep track of that too and have it ready like your book and pen. Basically, the longer the line, the quicker you want to be. Occaisionally you'll find a character with no line at all. Then you can joke and play all you want till someone else wants a picture.

Also, if you are going to get autographs from non-human characters you are going to need to bring a sharpie or some such similiar pen with a thick barrel. You will not be able to buy a sharpie on property.

 

Originally Posted By dlkozy

If someone "mistakenly" gets in line in front of my group, I say "the line starts back there".

If they pull the "I don't understand you look"-I will point.

>>>"You will not be able to buy a sharpie on property."<<<

I am sure that the LAST thing Disney wants is to have little kids running around the characters with PERMANENT markers. It doesn't come off clothes OR costumes.

 

Originally Posted By Mr F

Having some experience in the Character Department myself, here is a list of what to do when you meet a character.

-An Atmosphere Character is one who is NOT stuck in a location and is free to rome around the park. If you happen to encounter an Atmosphere Character, be aware that they sometimes WILL NOT stop for pictures with everyone in favour of roming around. Please do not grab them or pull them to get a picture or autograph. You proably wouldn't like it if someone grabed or pulled on you, so If you do this to a Character I guarantee they will not stop for you. You are more likely to get a picture if you ask them nicely, although if they still don't stop just remember that there are Always more characters in the park.

- A Location Character is one who is stuck in one spot and usually has a line of guest waiting to meet them. please be prepard by having all cameras ready, pens open, and autograph books open to a blank page. Characters usually have big paws or hands so it is hard for them to open an autograph book. if you are prepared this will help the line go faster so that more guest can meet the character before he or she has to leave. Even if you are in line that does not guarantee that you will get to meet the character. Again, if you don't get to see them, just remember that there are more characters in the park.

-The Best writting utencil for a character to write with is a large Sharpy Pen of Marker, and Autograph books with big pages are best. Gel Pens are the worst, and Small tiny pens make it hard for a character with big hands to write with. Disney sells a large sized blue autograph book which comes with a horrible blue gel pen that does not work. If you by this book, do not use the pen and get a pen that works!

-Characters are not allowed to write directly on skin or on clothing worn by a person. If you would like a character to sign a piece of clothing, please take it off before you meet them.

-Please do not hit, kick, grab, pat, jump-on or pull on a character at ALL! They are not punching bags, and they have feelings too. You would not want this done to you.

-Disney Characters are not allowed to pose with non-disney logos, or clothing with offensing slogans, or do offensive poses or gestures, so if you have some kind of slogan or logo on your clothing, the character might find a clever way to hide it.

-It's already hard enough for a character to sign hundreds of autographs a day so please don't expect a character to write your child's name with their autograph, however if a character does write something extra in your autograph book, that means they put some extra effort into their signature, so please don't hesitate to read it and acknowlege it.

-It is very hard for a character to see so please to not ever tell your child to run up and hug a character who is walking. If the Character doesn't see your small child, they could trip on them and that is a safety hazard.

-During a Parade, Characters are not allowed to stop for photos or autographs so please do not run into the street in the middle of a parade to get one. Since you are not part to the Parade Choreography, it is possible for a character to run into you, hit you, or trip you while doing their routine so NEVER go into the street during a parade. Also, it is hard for the floats drivers to see, so you Could risk being hit by a float as well.

-If you are at a Character Breakfast or Dinner, please remain at your table and do not get up to bother characters. They have LOTS of people to see, and will eventually get to your table if you remain seated.

-Please to do ruin the magic for everyone eles especially young children by asking characters questions like: "Is it hot in there?", "Are you a boy or a girl in there?", or 'Where do you see out of?", or make comments like: "It's just a guy in a suit", "He's not real", or "That must be a hot costume". Small Children believe the characters are really, so don't crush there dreams.

-If your child is affraid of Characters, DO NOT force them to meet one or take a picture with one, it will only traumatize them. Also, DO NOT take them to a character dining experience, the screaming will only ruin it for other guest.

-Character Dining is ONLY for guest who have paid to eat with the characters, so please do not sneak into a restaurant without paying in order to get a photo with a character. They will most likely ignore you, and tell someone to kick you out.

-Just remember, being a character is a hard, heavey, and HOT job, so please have some respect and be polite.

 

Originally Posted By dizkid

Some times while I'm looking over characters "little children" tend to get into things with the costumes. I think the key is when you hear "Look how hard I can pull Pluto's tail" get that kid off.

 

Originally Posted By DisneyDanie

Thanks for all the tips! I heard really fat pens are difficult for them to write with too! And the pens that come with the autograph books are the worst.

Don't you think it's funny we people act all crazy and desperate in line when they're waiting for the princesses. I mean they are people too. They must think some guests are ridiculous.

 

Originally Posted By Mr F

Fat pens are usually better because they let you have a better grip, especially if you have only 4, 3, or no fingers at all!

 

Originally Posted By liveforvacations

Mr F, I just wanted to say that I think that Post #6 is great and I wish that everyone would follow these guidelines!
It would make everyone's trip to the park better!
We once bought one of those books with those awful gel pens. After the first autograph, we ditched the pen and kept the book!

 

Originally Posted By X-san

***You are more likely to get a picture if you ask them nicely, although if they still don't stop just remember that there are Always more characters in the park.***

Asking in Spanish can be useful. ;p

Here's the "etiquette", if there is such a thing, in Tokyo where most of the characters still walk around (that whole line up thing really stinks, and thanks a ton to the aggressive and rude people that forced such a thing into existence in the first place, way to ruin the magic!)...

Be assertive but not aggressive, and try to stand somewhere in the characters line of sight...say "hello" to the character and ASK for a picture.

That simple politeness goes a long way and in general the character will even help you move people out of the way to take your picture if you are NICE about it.

Nobody likes being pushed and pulled and prodded, not even animated characters!

 

Originally Posted By X-san

Good points by the way, Butters. An excellent "how to" guide there in post 6. Thanks.

***Even if you are in line that does not guarantee that you will get to meet the character.***

Don't the handlers take care of cutting off the line before break-time?

If not, they should. It would stink to wait in a long line only to watch the character walk off when you are the next person waiting! In Tokyo, the handlers always cut off the lines appropriately in the rare areas where there is a line (Mickey, Minnie and Pooh in Tokyo, and none at DisneySea that I know of).

***Disney Characters are not allowed to pose with non-disney logos***

Interesting. I didn't know this.

So if someone is wearing a Universal Studios t-shirt the character is not allowed to pose for a picture? That must be a nightmare in Florida!

***or do offensive poses or gestures***

Interesting factoid...Mickey, Minnie and the rest in Japan will NOT join you in posing with the "peace" two-finger sign because it is regarded as "too Japanese" (ALL Japanese people, repeat ALL Japanese people...pose that way for a picture), but Japanese folks are invariably thrilled in Orlando when they can finally get Mickey to pose that way with them (maybe Anaheim too...Butters?).

***It is very hard for a character to see so please to not ever tell your child to run up and hug a character who is walking. If the Character doesn't see your small child, they could trip on them and that is a safety hazard.***

Probably the best advice of all! I saw Piglet trip over a stroller once (a stroller the parents pushed right into Piglets' path!)...not a pretty sight.

 

Originally Posted By Mr F

Usually, the Character Host will cut the line off before the character has to go in...IF there is a character host. At Disneyland, a host is a luxury for a character, so some characters do not get character host, unless you are super popular like Mickey & Minnie or Pooh.
Even if there is a host to cut the like and tell guest that the character has to go in, certain guest, especially spanish speaking ones, will ignore them, or pretend that they don't speak english, and wait or cut the line anyway.

However if you are fairly waiting in line and the character HAS to leave, they will usually walk the line and give hugs and say goodbye to the people who have been waiting before they leave. Even though you might not get a Photo or Autograph, at least you might get a mug or a small amount of interaction time with the character.

As for the "peace" sign, at DL, Characters are discouraged from makeing any kind of gesture with there hands, even something as seemingly harmless as the "peace " sign, for it can mean something offensive to another culture. With that being said, most Characters like to do the peace sign anyway when they are possing with Japanese Guests, and usually never get into hot water for it. It's just another one of those silly Disney policy rules which never gets enforced.

As for wearing other theme park logos, The Characters are supposed to cover up any non-disney advertisement or logo which is not Disney related on guests clothing, although it is not a big deal if they don't. Characters are also not allowed to pose for pictures with any type of banner, guest made sign, or flag. Characters are also not suppose to pose with alcohol or any reference to alcohol. In Fact, during the DCA food & Wine Festival, Characters were not allowed to appear in the Sunshine Plaza due to some of the signage which mentioned "Wine". What is a big deal is if a guest has any offensive of derogatory slurs or logos on there clothing. Character host are supposed to turn people away who are wearing clothing with offensive remarks on them, and characters are not supposed to pose with them at all. In Fact, the Main Gate CM's are not supposed to let people in the parks who are wearing something offensive, but some can still slip buy.

As for the kids, Although I have never tripped or fallen on a kid, I have tripped, stepped on, kicked, and knocked over kids who have run up to me while I was walking. Although I try to walk carefully, it is still very hard to see in those heads.

 

Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x

I have 3 of the big long, fat pens from Disneyland the girls use in their autograph books.

and, Mr. F ...what do you mean, "the children believe they're real"?

 

Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove

Misters F and X, thanks for taking all of the time to write all of the advice.

You're preaching to the Disney choir here on this site, I'm sure. Too bad you two couldn't make a mandatory film for the politeness-impaired.

 

Originally Posted By crazycroc

I don't want to sound the boy with no imagination here, but I don't ever remember thinking characters were real.
I always knew it was a costume.

 

Originally Posted By X-san

SoThisIsLove...lol.

Politeness-impairment is universal (unfortunately).

Butters, thanks for the follow up. Great points, kid.

See ya on MySpace.

(p.s. folks, Mr F stole my name...that's why I'm now "X=SAN" the mighty Japanese animated character beloved throughout the world! )

 

Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove

"X-san" is very kawaii! (The term, I meant, you're probably very cute yourself in real life, too.

You're basically saying the same thing, so it's all good.

Did you post a pic on the Flickr site yet? If not, you should! xoxo

 

Originally Posted By Mr F

I Hear "Supakawaii" A lot from Japanese Guest!

 

Originally Posted By X-san



Flickr site?