Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>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.<<< I can take a big screen TV home with me. Disney frowns upon the same action with an imaginary Princess.
Originally Posted By Brad "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." You should see what it's like in Nipponland!!! On one of my trips I can still recall seeing the Mickey who was finished his time for the day actually elbowing past the throng of kids haranguing him so he could get past them and backstage. The Japanese are THAT obsessed with characters! Oh and Witchie Poos - AVARDA KADAVRA!!!!!!!!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "One thing I 'don't get' is why certain other Disney fans don't understand the appeal of the Disney characters." I think we all understand their appeal. What's unfathomable for some us is why anyone would waste 90 minutes of their day waiting for a hug from one.
Originally Posted By hopemax > 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. < This is me too. The M&G is just a little bit of whimsy. But I like looking at the pictures. I get pictures with Santa too. Not every year, and not usually at a mall. Last time, I was at Legoland Florida during Christmas, so I got one with Santa. He was setup in the Cypress Gardens Gazebo.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Disney characters have tons of appeal. I love many Disney characters. There just isn't much a equation for me between the character itself and the in park version. Other than fun photo ops and the little bit of added fun it is when you see a character walking around in their area. But I don't want to go up and meet them, especially if it's going to take a long time to do it.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>>When did the character meet and greets become so popular that people will wait ungodly amounts of times to do them?<<< Since the Union claimed the costumed CMs were being harassed and abused by guests in the old free-for-all system of roaming characters in the park, since they used to be pulled and shove by people trying to get their attention for photos and s personal moment. So the solution to protect the CMs was to organized it into an orderly line system. Add Photopass and now it has become a money shot. Win-win for Disney.
Originally Posted By Socrates Anyone ever read David Koenig's insider books? He documents some of the abuse the characters have endured. Socrates "The unexamined life is not worth living."
Originally Posted By tonyanton I recall characters onboard the Empress Lilly character breakfast in the very early '80s being punched, kicked and having their tails pulled by kids...my parents were shocked at the time. Me, I was more afraid of them at 5 years old. Also, no Mickey at the breakfast...he was "piloting" the ship apparently!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Not something I would do, but standing in line 45 minutes to get a photo with a character is no more insane than standing in line 45 minutes for a two-minute ride on Peter Pan. Face it, Disney parks are an asylum for Disney maniacs... we shouldn't make judgements about each other's illness... we are ALL sick.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Not something I would do, but standing in line 45 minutes to get a photo with a character is no more insane than standing in line 45 minutes for a two-minute ride on Peter Pan." That is insane, but at least you could say you rode something, which is basically the main point of going to a theme park.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<That is insane, but at least you could say you rode something, which is basically the main point of going to a theme park.>> You trying to get me BANNED?? Using every bit of resistance in my soul to keep from making a remark about riding a princess.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Oops... sorry. Forgot I wasn't in World Events. Admin, feel free to remove it if you want.
