meeting characters ! can we all lobby disney?

[stargatebarbie]

Hi ive been on this forum a while now and love that I can talk to others who are all so passionate about DLRP like me . Now the my biggest gripe and it seems to be manys others as well is that the character meets are just so badly organised it seems to be a main issue in many trip reports. my child is well mannered and not pushy and always seems to loose out and ends up disapointed . I did visit WDW many years ago myself B.C ( which stands for before children) and fromwhat I remember and what ive heard from others this is so well organised there . Does anyone know where we can Email disney and put our thoughts across ,if we all sent comments they may notice. Or if if any one else has any thoughts or ideas on this

[sjaakie]

You could mail Disney but I don’t think they can help you . Disney employees know off the problem but just can’t do anything about the manners of the guests.
There just impolite, rude and all focused on there own ,ore there kids.

I read off characters being beaten by kids !!! just for the fun. This is a sign of modern times and we just have to learn to live with it.

[DLPdaft]

Sorry, I can't agree that there is nothing the CM's can do at the "rugby scrum" sessions with the characters in the park.

There are usually one or 2 CM's with each character. They usually actively stand back and allow the melee to happen. I lost it around Chicken Little and walked over to the CM with him (who was standing right back at least 10 paces from him and behind the scrum) and insisted she do something, as it was little children who were being pushed out of the way. She didn't seem keen at first, but when she did do something, it worked. She went right over to Chicken Little, and pointed out the children who were next to get autographs/photos (like, this one first, then this, then this) etc.

To be honest, I think the only way forward is queue lines - at least everyone knows where they stand then, including the little ones.

Elaine

[maleficent_man]

CM form a queue. Simple, easy and would work.

[stargatebarbie]

I agree I think the cm should say no autographs unless in a queue ,im also sure it would be better for the !!!! charactors as well

[lojo]

I wholeheartedly agree with the OP, a group of like-minded people such as this getting together and lobbying Disney would have more effect than individuals just having a moan.

Couldn't we have a thread that is dedicated to gathering signatures (electronic, of course) that could be sent to the management with a statement of how much this detracts from the general enjoyment everyone (including the characters) should be having. A short sentence somewhere that indicates the possibility of the press being approached (in multiple countries) could also be persuasive.

Imagine how good everyone would feel if even a little improvement was achieved.

Just my tuppence worth
Lucy

[maleficent_man]

Hope I ain't breaking any forum rules here....but I'd also suggest getting some other DLRP sites involved as well.

I'm heading off on Wednesday - I'll pop my head into Guest Relations and just find out the formal way to go about doing it.......it needs to be done.

[miffy7]

this is truly a great idea.

[giuly09]

CM form a queue. Simple, easy and would work.

I agree. Just because we were a party of four adults we missed the chance with Uncle Scrooge, Donald and Daisy. We kept let the little ones go first and it ended that we couldnt get close enough for a picture :sad2:

[dlpSteve]

I don't think standard queues would work simply because of the space and manpower needed. You'd have to have roped off and monitored areas which at various places in the park would detract from the look of the parks and impede traffic through the parks. It's ok to have a few areas like that, for example near Casey's Corner but if you had 10-20 characters in areas like that the park would look awful, especially near the Castle where the Princesses gather. Maybe they should use the areas they do have better and have a higher rotation of characters. They could change every hour and get through 9 characters a day on off peak days.

[sjaakie]

I’m on a board were there are several CM and Characters who actual work in Disney are also members of that board

The CM who are accompanying a character are only there for the safety of the characters.
They have to see that there not ran over by children and not get beaten by the mob.

To be honest if you were a CM and would threatened by angry parents would you just not let them beat the waiting queue?

The most people who are so rude have just one idea: ” it costs so much so I have every right to be first everywhere, and others ?? poeh they just have bad luck”. End of discussion for them.


There always will be such people and you would need a police officer at every Charaktermeet to make an end of all this.

[maleficent_man]

I've had many encounters with characters in WDW with no formal queue but one gets started by the CM. It's a question of wanting to do it.

[tennisfan]

I'm not disagreeing with the idea I think its a good one, but it is probably easier for the CM's to form queues in WDW then in DLRP due to the main language being English. In DLRP there tends to be more different nationalities which creates a problem and the fact that some people are just generally rude and would ignore requests.

[sjaakie]

I've had many encounters with characters in WDW with no formal queue but one gets started by the CM. It's a question of wanting to do it.


You can’t compare the guests of WDW with European people in DLRP.

Its a different world of view and politeness


I saw also the same problems in WDW and I will not point out from witch country they came but they came somewhere from Europe.

[Cyrano]

Please remember to stay on topic regarding DLRP, otherwise :offtopic: posts will be moved
Thank you :)

[jillrobinson]

I understand totally what you're saying but I agree with Sjaakie on this, there are people who basically don't give a monkey's about anyone else, they've paid for their holiday and are intent on getting as much as possible for it.

I've seen questions posted on this forum:
"Will my daughter get more attention in the park if she's wearing a princess dress ?"
Translation: How do I make sure Cinderella comes and talks to my kid and not yours ?
"Will we get special attention at the restaurant if we say we're celebrating a birthday ?"
Translation: Yeah we know you can pay for a birthday cake, but if we just mention it when we're there, we thought they might just give us one.
"What's the chance of us getting a free hotel upgrade"
Translation: We fancied the DLH but we're not paying that money.
These are the same people who might as well be asking:
"If I push my child through to the front, is anybody going to stop me ?"

I'm sorry if these comments offend anyone, but that is very often how I read it. I don't believe it's the CM's role to police people and I think they do an extremely good job under difficult circumstances and within the boundaries of their role, they cannot be expected to control guests, they can ask them to step back and that's it, whether anyone chooses to listen or not is a different matter.

During quieter times we've had some fantastic moments with characters inside the parks, I remember one time when DS2 was chased by a penguin around Fantasyland and when DS1 slipped and landed at Maleficent's feet, she was utterly charming and had us in stitches, we met Chip & Dale having a sword fight with Brer Fox (using long leaves, not swords) and the boys got to join in, Jafar swapping his staff for DS's claw, I though that was a good deal, DS wasn't quite so convinced, these moments may be few and far between but they're priceless and unexpected. If we start having to queue for all the character meets, that spontaneity and a lot of the fun will be lost.

To guarantee some quality time with the characters we always book a couple of character meals, if we see a character in the park, then I'm the one who's legging it across the park to see if I can get a photo, my boys got fed up of being pushed to the side on autograph hunts a long time ago which is sad I suppose but we still have a fab time.:)

[BRobson]

I would like to see more official meet and greets. I think DLP does need order more for the safety aspect-it can be very scary!!

It would be great if DLP would take some ideas from WDW. They have many designated rooms and areas where you are taken into the character area in groups of no more than 10 and you all have time to interact with the characters, get autographs and photos.

The Woody round up section may help in DLP but I agree they need to do something!

[DLPdaft]

Jill I do agree with you that there isn't the need, and would detract from the spontaneity and fun with the characters, to have roped off lines for all the characters in quiet times where there are no queues or scrums.

However, you also touched on another very relevant point. When there are scrums going on, its invariably the younger children who are jostled or jumped in front of, and it does put them off going anywhere near a character for a photo or autograph. Thats a real shame, and really does take the shine off the magic at DLRP. I've experienced it myself with DD, who was 5 when we first went there, and even just this month, when the park was practically empty most of the time.

I just think the CM's could be a bit more proactive with it all, and just try, when they can see that the characters are getting crowded and people are jostling, to make a line.

Elaine

[ynwa19]

I dont think that there is any real way that DLP can deal with this problem. There are alot of controlled Character meet and greets and this does help. The other thing that I was very impressed with was on October 6th and 7th, me and my wife counted 18 and 24 characters respectivley out at once by Its a small world. That amount of characters means that lots of people are spread over a larger area and it meant that everyone was having some fantastic photo's and fun with the characters

[Cyrano]

To guarantee some quality time with the characters we always book a couple of character meals, if we see a character in the park, then I'm the one who's legging it across the park to see if I can get a photo,

:thumbsup2 :goodvibes

[BRobson]

We are lucky and have been many times so as Jill said we get our character interaction at the Character Meals where the kids get a lot of attention. So I would recommend the Character Meals.

You sometimes get that Disney magic when you turn a corner and get a character all to yourself :wizard:

[sjaakie]

To guarantee some quality time with the characters we always book a couple of character meals, if we see a character in the park, then I'm the one who's legging it across the park to see if I can get a photo, my boys got fed up of being pushed to the side on autograph hunts a long time ago which is sad I suppose but we still have a fab time.:)

That’s the reason we stay at the Disney Hotel. The characters take every time you need several times a day.

I know its quit expensive but worth every penny. We have to save a whole year but its so comfy and peaceful.

[julieannbabe]

i would LOVE it if they had lines for characters - it would stop 80% of the scrum.

of course you would still get people pushing in - a woman pushed in front of us at a line for buzz lightyear - her instant karma was when it was her turn her camera didn't work.

i just try to avoid characters where there are no lines.

the studios have a few more lines plus do a character meal where the characters come to you.

xjx

[sjaakie]

Just wondering by myself if a number-taking machine could not work wonders.We use them in our shops. When its busy you take a number at the bakery,go to another shop and by the time your number is valid be there.

Then the CM just had to check te numbers. Not there? Sorry you have to get a new number.

[thelittlemermaid83]

I think they should the CM should at least do something to control the scrums that ive been told bout, weather its saying to them "please wait your turn" or something along them lines.

I agree when i went WDW things were alot more organised, i remember queing up to meet characters inside and outside.

Im going DLP Jan and i swear if any ill mannered and rude person tries to push me or my small 2year daughter out the way and she gets trampled on then they will have more then a dirty looks to deal with. Im willing to queue politly so i cant see why others find it so difficult.

[DLPdaft]

littlemermaid,

You better get practising on your "more than dirty looks" then.
Seriously, some guests at Disneyland Paris wouldn't know the concept of an orderly line if it came up and shouted "Boo"!

Elaine

[thelittlemermaid83]

littlemermaid,

You better get practising on your "more than dirty looks" then.
Seriously, some guests at Disneyland Paris wouldn't know the concept of an orderly line if it came up and shouted "Boo"!

Elaine

:rotfl2:
if only looks could kill LOL

[giuly09]

:rotfl2:
if only looks could kill LOL

better not, i would be in jail then lol:cool2:

[mumof30_3]

Whenever anyone tries to go in front of my kids, they get a polite, but very stern "NO". I hold my arm down in front of them and tell them "my children 1st, you wait". Works most times. I will do it with kids and adults. My kids wait their turn, so why shouldn't they.

I also agree with Jill about the interaction. Our 1st trip to DLP we walked into the park and straight into the Queen of Hearts, who took my buggy from me and pushed my then 3 year old around. She nearly died when she turned round and saw who was pushing her. :rotfl2:

Then our 2nd trip, we were in the studios and the same thing happened to my then 2 year old son. Only this time it was Mickey Mouse. My son loved the attention and Mickey bent down and gave him a kiss. We all got great photos as they spent some time with us.:)
Also 1 of the green men had me chasing around the studios to get the autograph book and pen back. He pulled my hat down over my face, then ran off. The kids were in fits of laughter.

Moments like this would be lost if the characters were always a queue.

maureen

[Bexx]

Moments like this would be lost if the characters were always a queue.

I'm sure that these make better memories for you, than when you've queued for the photo/autograth combo!! I hope that with the introduction of Woody's village - and so maybe similar places will follow - that DLP might be finding a good line between orderly character meetings and the more spontaneous interactions. I do remember feeling sorry for my DD (then aged 5 ) as she hoped to get her picture taken with Woody and Jessie in the Studios. But maybe if she hadn't expected to have a "private" photo with them, she might have been happy just have seen them and maybe gone up to meet them along with other children. Now people want to have their picture taken with a character and get their autograph - all of which takes up time. But great fun can be had just from meeting the characters - even if it's at the same time as a number of others, or from the teasing that they do when you least expect it! Maybe I'm being overly simplistic about the situation at DLP, but I do know that I find that the large character meeting places they have at WDW are rather like cattle markets - and not in the least bit magical.

[rottie155]

Sorry I've come in a bit late on this topic - but I'm gonna have to say I agree with Jill on this one that the Cast Members do a fantastic job.

Bearing in mind the varied cultures, languages, and individuals as a whole - a CM cannot be expected to get through to everybody about pushing and shoving. Last week, I saw the usual scrum for the Characters - but I did see a lot of people (teenagers including myself, and adults) making sure that all of the children got in front of them to see the characters before we all got our photos taken. Also, the characters themselves do a FANTASTIC job. For example, last week the amount of people crowded around Scrooge in WDS was ridiculous - but Scrooge was basically going through the people and pointing at the children to indicate its their turn and he also motioned for people to move out of the way when people were taking photos. I noticed this with most, if not all, of the characters last week in fact.
Stitch, when turning around to greet a child, accidentally knocked his arm against a little girls face - she wasn't hurt but Stitch immediately made the biggest fuss about her. Making sure that she got a photo/autograph and big cuddle.

As for the debate over queuing for characters. Fair enough. But there are queues for the main characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy etc. There's Woody's Roundup. The new Ratatouille...Monsters Inc etc.
But again, I'm going to have to say I agree with Jill - I LOVE the fact that Disneyland Paris is so spontaneous. Me and my friend were quite happily wandering along Main Street U.S.A when out of the blue she was grabbed by Big Al and he ran off with her signalling he wants to marry her. We also were sitting in Frontierland on a bench waiting for our reservation at Lucky Nugget when Stitch came from behind us and cuddled us. The amount of Characters that actually approached US (mostly to ruin my hair...but thats another story lol) was amazing.
If Disneyland Paris was to introduce queuing systems - I really do believe that the whole MAGIC would be lost. You cannot take a ticket and stand in line just waiting for your time-slot of a magical moment. The whole idea is that the magic is everywhere in DLP - and it comes to you. Queuing for a memory of a lifetime is (sorry) ridiculous!

Anyways, sorry - I've started a rant lol.

For those who want to avoid the (what I personally find the fun part) scrum in the park - there are set locations to meet the main characters and queue...there are character appearances in the Disney Hotels....and best of them all - there's the Character Meals.


AdaM

[DLPdaft]

I guess this is one subject that we are all going to have to agree to disagree on - Adam it was my DD's previous experience with meeting Stich (in a scrum in the Studios) that put her off approaching any of the characters for a smile and a wave from a distance, never mind getting close enough for an autograph or a hug!

The character meals are great, I agree, but they aren't rotated much (ie its often the same characters who come out in each of the restaurants).

Going back to the original post, I would add my name to an email to DLRP suggesting other possibilities for character meets.

Elaine

[rottie155]

It's a shame when children's experiences are ruined...because there really can be some truely magical moments in the resort with the Characters.

I think that this is definately a Marmite topic. But, as is the world, you can never please one person without upsetting the next. Which is the only reason I think that DLRP has the perfect balance. It has the spontaneous meet and greets in the parks, it has the orderly queues, it has the hotel appearances (both for random meets AND for queued meets), and it has the character meals. In all, I think DLRP has balanced everything marvelously all things considered.

I'm just throwing my two-pence in anyway lol


AdaM

[lojo]

The topic seems to have changed into pro or anti queueing. Surely crowd control can be managed without having to introduce queues for all character meets. If the job of the accompanying CM is to ensure the safety of the character, wouldn't it be sensible early intervention to set the tone of a meet, by observing and diffusing problem behaviour before it becomes dangerous behaviour. This would have a beneficial effect for characters and children.

My only direct experience with character meets was in Japan which is a completely different cultural setting, but when characters were on walkabouts, the CMs acted like a buffer between characters and enthusiastic fans, threatening removal of the characters if enthusiasm became too full-on and carried out their threats if people didn't scale it down.

There are always going to be selfish troublesome people around, but it's amazing how much people will fall into line if they see that they are in the minority and that the majority will not tolerate their behaviour. One or two people standing up for themselves or their children can find themselves labelled as aggressive instead of assertive. It really takes people in general to change their mindset - treating the wrongdoers as pathetic pitiful saps worthy of public derision might be more successful than 'elbowing back'. A few years ago if someone told you that all public buildings would become smoke-free zones I bet you wouldn't have taken them seriously for a second.

Disney (the corporation) have amazing ingenuity, I want to believe they can come up with a way to reduce the stressfulness, while retaining spontaneity. Don't burst my magic bubble!

Lucy

[Everything Eeyore]

I have to say that when I visited DLRP recently, what few characters I did see in the parks, none of them had a CM with them. I actually thought that this may be the reason why they get so swamped.

The only orderly meets n' greets I saw were ones where there was an official photographer present.

For me, part of what I love about the parks is the character interaction. I have to say that I found this very difficult at DLRP and pretty much gave up hope of a photograph after the first couple of days :sad2: Being part of a scrum takes away the magic for me.

[jillrobinson]

What bothers me is that what is coming across in this thread is this idea that the CM's stand back and allow a free for all and I've never actually witnessed this. I have seen CM's signal to adults and children to back away, the point is if they choose not to, there is nothing whatsoever that CM or character can do.
Let's not forget all that nonsense early this year when Tigger was accused of assaulting a teenager, that cast member was suspended, when the whole world was crying out that that kid was upto no good and whatever Tigger had done was in self defense.
I've seen, as another poster has mentioned, characters indicate children to come forward and I've witnessed CM's put out an arm to stop others coming forward, whilst a photo is taken for instance.
If I was planning a trip and hadn't been before I'd be feeling more than a little anxious reading this thread.:sad2:
Just a thought, do tell your children, that the characters aren't ignoring them, but when they stand to the side of them, with no peripheral vision, they simply can't see them.
Elaine I really hope that your daughter will have one of the magical character experiences that some of us have mentioned, it does happen and it's just fabulous when it does:cloud9: and I agree with you totally on the rotation of characters, it would be nice to see a change of face at the Eat and Greets, maybe throw in 1 or 2 characters from new films, I want to meet Remi from Ratatouille:love:, but there's Chicken Little, the Robinsons, the Incredibles.

Lucy I've heard that Japanese people are extremely courteous and polite, unfortunately Europeans do not have the same reputation which makes me think that although the CM's in both parks are theoretically doing the same job, practically it could be a whole different ballgame. :rolleyes1

[Everything Eeyore]

Yes, every park has its faults and I feel that character meets n' greets should certainly be organised better at DLRP.

I'm sure the CMs do the best they can with what they have to work with but that doesn't take away the fact that it could be improved. Like I said before, I personally didn't see any CMs with characters on my last visit.
I don't agree with having to go through a mad scrum to meet and have a piccy taken is the best way of character interaction. And if Europeans have a different way of behaving (as people seem to be implying), then surely that's more reason for organised meets n' greets. I too have had spontaneous interaction from characters within a more orderly environment.

I'd like to add that this wouldn't put me off returning to DLRP. Heck, it's Disney! :thumbsup2

[Princess_Melanie]

My opinion, having been to both DLRP and WDW is that I much prefer WDW for characters.....we had plenty of fun character interaction with organised meets as well as the spontaneous ones that would happen too. I guess that's all about being in the right place at the right time...and the interaction you have with a character will often depend on you too....if you treat them with respect and fun you may get a good interaction back!! (there are other threads about what to ask characters for good responses)

Just my opinion but I think organisation works better :)

[milomummy]

I have to say that the 'scrums' put a real dark could over our trip back in September, especially the one off the Character Express. We just wanted to see Buzz, we waited so patiently but so many people were pushing that I , as an almost 30 year old adult who is a solid UK size 20, was afraid! We decided to quit and went to walk away but Buzz pushed all of the others away and wrote in my son's book and posed for a photo. It was just plain crazy though. We walked over to where Smee was after and this lady was poking at him and trying to get him to write on her paper, but he was getting really fed up as she was poking poking poking, so he waved his hands in a 'no' gesture at her and came up to us and posed with our son and wrote in his book, she was chattering away but he point blank refused to be with her, so I guess the characters do try their best. But all the time these things were going on no CM was stepping in to help or contain the crowds.
I think the absolute worst moment for us came when we were in the Studios waiting to meet Donald and this guy was physically leaning on us trying to worm his way between myself and hubby to push his child to the front. He was leaning so hard that we were jostling the kids, this guy had already sent one little kid flying and we'd encouraged her to come back in and stand with us (protecting her as we stood). In the end, my hubby (rugby playing soldier, very stocky) turned round and pushed this guy back. It was so mortifying, but there's only so much 'space invading' you can stand.
I personally would be much happier and more inclined to return if I knew that my little boy could safely meet his 'heroes'. I think it would be fab to be able to send the kids forward to meet their idols without feeling that you have to be their bodyguard, it would ease a lot of the crowd too, as in our experience, the majority of the crowds were parents trying to ensure their kid's were safe (or push in, grrrr)
Just my ten pence worth.

[stargatebarbie]

WOW what a lot of comments ,(i wasnt trying to stir trouble) I love dlrp and nothing would ever stop me going and the cms and charactors do a brill job just i wouldn,t survive 2mins in a costume and in july august well how hot are they!!!!!! im just a bit sad that next year when we go that we have decided that if you cant beat them join them which is sort of against our nature and makes me as bad as other folk but as with the shuttle buses and other stuff its every man woman or child for them selves .

[julieannbabe]

my favourite one is when you are standing there waiting to meet a character and the parents push the kids up by your legs in front. :mad: :mad:

[obscure]

I was actually quite impressed with several of the CM whilst there, they were pointing out to the characters which child should be next and keeping people back so that photos could actually be taken properly!

So a big thanks to those CM!

I found that as my 2 waited really patiently the CM often pointed them out to the characters whereas the ones that were pushing were left to sort themselves.

:)

[jillrobinson]

WOW what a lot of comments ,(i wasnt trying to stir trouble) .

You didn't:hug:
We're all entitled to our own opinions but I think at the end of the day we're all still agreed on one thing "We Love DLRP", and it would be a little better if they only allowed DISers in, or people who agreed to abide by DISer's code of conduct.

I've always said the first thing I will do if I win the lottery is to book the Sleeping Beauty Suite, I promise if I ever do win I'll hire the park and you're all invited.:grouphug:

[rottie155]

You didn't:hug:
We're all entitled to our own opinions but I think at the end of the day we're all still agreed on one thing "We Love DLRP", and it would be a little better if they only allowed DISers in, or people who agreed to abide by DISer's code of conduct.

I've always said the first thing I will do if I win the lottery is to book the Sleeping Beauty Suite, I promise if I ever do win I'll hire the park and you're all invited.:grouphug:

I feel a group hug coming on!!! :grouphug:

[Cyrano]

I promise if I ever do win I'll hire the park and you're all invited.:grouphug:
Don't worry we'll hold you to it :goodvibes ;)