Originally Posted By sjhym333 Been going to WDW since it opened in 1971, worked there over 15 years, worked every park and then some. So someone explain to me: When did the character meet and greets become so popular that people will wait ungodly amounts of times to do them? My kids grew up on Disney and especially Disney animated features and the parks and I just don't remember them ever going that crazy for characters. For them it was about the attractions.
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips LOL....had to laugh when I read your post....I always wanted my kids to wait in line to get the autograph and hug....I even thought maybe my kids were alittle weird...(after passing long lines of children waiting)...... My kids have always been about the rides.... Maybe it was me that really wanted to wait in those lines
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I understand wanting to get your picture taken with a favorite character and years ago I applauded Disney for formalizing places that someone could meet a certain character. But 45 - 90 minutes? Glad I don't have little kids anymore. I just don't get it I guess.
Originally Posted By mapleservo One of our favourite memories of our first trip to Disneyland in '98 was seeing Belle walk by, completely unnoticed, with her head in a book. You don't see that any more. It does make sense to have dedicated spots, but I really love the surprises too. We've been noticing the prevalence of the princesses everywhere online. Buzzfeed seems to have some kind of list or mashup at least once a week. My wife keeps saying it's probably a result of kids who grew up with Belle and Ariel at their immediate disposal on VHS/DVD having kids of their own. A 45 minute wait does seem crazy to me. We took my nephew and niece to Disneyland a month back and we filled up both their autograph books without having to wait more than 10 minutes for a character. I think Belle was the only Princess they met though. They did meet Tink. And we timed the Thor meet and greet perfectly. That was fun.
Originally Posted By hopemax It the late 90's, my Mom and I used to like to get pictures and autographs. Even through our early trips in the early 2000's, you were looking at maybe 5 minute or 10 minute lines. And most places didn't have a formal queue. I think what changed was 1. the Internet, blogs and podcasts abound that give off the "if you are going to be the bestest parent ever, you need to dress your little girls up like princesses, and then go meet them!" vibe 2. Photopass, or really the "if you want to get the best value for those Photopass CD's, you need to take as many pictures as possible." So Moms set on ordering the CD get a picture from every Photopass person they can find, and that means characters. 3. I think it's a sign of how "young" Disney has gotten. Characters are probably a lot more popular with pre-schoolers and kindergarten age childen than tweens and certainly teenagers.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I can't speak for why, but the "when" is certainly within the last 5 years or so. It's also interesting that it's still not as big of a deal at DL as WDW, which I think speaks to point #3 above that the guest base has skewed much much younger in recent years Also at play is the expansion of digital photography and social media, making it a lot easier to share these moments with the world. It seems like the new equivalent of the obligatory family photo in front of the castle is a photo with a character. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in future years
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I know I would have been considered a mean old daddy, but, I would have just said no. We don't have that much time to waste. They would have been angry at the time, but, as they grew up they would have understood the many reasons other then just being mean that might have prompted my response. Don't blame the kids... parents should be able to control unreasonable situations. I was never trying to be my kids best friend, I was trying to train them to reason and make good decisions that would affect them when they grew up. I am proud to say that I am now best friends with my grown up daughters. That, to me, is how the sequence is supposed to go.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: You're not supposed to always understand the obsessions of others, ducklings. ORWEN: There's a lot of people out there who don't even understand a Disney fan's obsession with Disney theme parks, in general. ORDDU: Nor do they understand a Disney fan's obsession with Disney movies or Disney collecting. We say just live and let live. ORWEN: After all, we've never understood why so many people like sports. I mean, what's supposed to be so much fun about men fighting over and chasing their balls all over the place? ORDDU: Just be glad others are enjoying their obsessions instead of bothering you!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA sjhym333, I'm totally with you. Waiting to meet a character is an 'I don't get' for me. I first noticed it in about 1988, when a queue was set up next to City Hall, and guests were able to wait in line to see Mickey or another character. Those of us in Guest Relations, were like 'huh? -- really?' And it's really from guest comments "Where do we go to see Mickey?" or "We've been here for three days and never saw Mickey" that Mickey's Birthdayland and then Toon Town came to be.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: One thing I 'don't get' is why certain other Disney fans don't understand the appeal of the Disney characters. After all, it all started with a Mouse. Sometimes it seems as though some of you are trying to start a campaign against characters and those who appreciate them. Again, I just don't get that. Can't you just be happy for those who have something in life that makes them happy while you go off and find something that makes you happy, too?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <--(hangs his head in shame, knowing the Witches of Morva are right) ...sorry
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost My decisions would be based on common sense. One or two, OK, but, this is an obsession that should be reserved for humans at an age that aligns itself with an inability to reason. (children) I have to wonder about how an adult, knowing that those are CM's in a costume, still need to meet and greet. I know they do, but, I will never understand it. Riding an attraction, fine. That is a real entity, but, foam head characters are a mystery to me. Must be getting to old to tap into my suspension of disbelief deep enough for me to get excited about that. So shoot me! Just to be clear, I don't care if others do it or not, I just don't think I can ever understand it. But, different strokes for different folks.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Can't you just be happy for those who have something in life that makes them happy while you go off and find something that makes you happy, too?<< For the most part, that's my strategy. I enjoy TSMM and Soarin', but have no interest in waiting in the crazy long queues for either of them. If other people want to wait for those attractions, it means that there will be fewer people in front of me in my queue. Similarly, if you want to queue up all the way around Town Square to meet Pluto, I'm not going to stop you; I just don't get it What does bother me is when they build character meet & greets at the expense of other attractions, like the new Princess Fairy Tale Hall that eviced the Snow White ride. I'm glad that they were able to change the Fantasyland Expansion plans to include the new Mine coaster rather than the additional movie-specific meet & greets, but it makes me sad to see such a high-profile location get converted into something that seems like it sould be an ancillary part of the experience. I'm not saying that it shouldn't be part of the overall theme park experience, I just don't agree that it should be the main focus. It seems like Disney is doing a pretty good job responding to what a large number of guests want, but that's just not what I would pick
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 My kids have never been willing to spend more than about 20 minutes wiring to meet a character, and that time get less each year. They are all about the rides. They will wait in really long lines, but there better be a great ride at the end of the wait...either that or really good food. I personally don't understand waiting hours to see a character, but at least all of those people waiting to meet & greet aren't in line for the rides I want to ride
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance If I wait in line for characters, its not about the meet and greet, I have no interest in that. Its often awkward actually. I'm all about the pictures though. I love pictures, and its fun to get pics with different characters. But, I'd never wait in lots of long lines to get them though if it were up to me.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip People will wait in line 8-12 hours in freezing weather to get $50 of a big screen TV at WalMart. What's so strange about waiting in line 90 minutes to get a picture with a Disney Princess? Not my thing, but if others do it that is fine with me.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I know I would have been considered a mean old daddy, but, I would have just said no. We don't have that much time to waste.*** Um, you *are* refering to visiting WDW, right? As in "on vacation"? How exactly is that "wasting time" any more than waiting in any other long tedious line (which you do like, all day long pretty much). ***They would have been angry at the time, but, as they grew up they would have understood the many reasons other then just being mean that might have prompted my response.*** Sure. Like "it's not so much that Dad is mean, really, he's just selfish and his own likes are more important than those of the rest of us".
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I have to wonder about how an adult, knowing that those are CM's in a costume, still need to meet and greet. I know they do, but, I will never understand it. Riding an attraction, fine. That is a real entity, but, foam head characters are a mystery to me.*** So, you are more interested in one form of cheezy fake fantasy over another. Plenty of people would consider you an idiot for wasting your time riding around little animated scenes in little pretend vehicles - never mind being dumb enough to actually waste your time waiting in a long line for such a thing.
Originally Posted By crazycroc I love everyone and everything. Please be nice to each other. You are all going to make a croc cry.
Originally Posted By dagobert Europe is crazy about the characters. DLP has so many Disney figures around the park and people enjoy them a lot. At WDW meeting Mickey & Co wasn't that big of a deal than it is in Paris. And I have to admit, I honestly enjoyed getting a picture with Donald and Mickey. I wouldn't line up anymore, but I think the characters a re part of the overall Disney experience.
