Terrible Mickey Interaction at Animal Kingdom

[lililoo12]

What a stubborn Mickey. Why was it such a big deal for him to sign autographs before taking pictures? That just seems unreasonable. And hiding the books behind his back was rather un-Mickey-like too.

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I agree not a magical experience.

 

[sammons70]

This whole thread seems to have gotten out of hand. The OP simply asked if anyone else had experienced this, she did not ask to have her parenting skills critiqued.
Sure, it is just a picture followed by an autograph. I can see how it seems like a trivial thing to get worked up over. But remember, there was a 2 year old. A 2 year old that was seeing Mickey for the 3rd day in a row. The 2 year old probably thinks it is the same Mickey, as well as the real Mickey. Mickey signs books first for 2 days, then hides them on the 3rd day. In the 2 year old's mind, Mickey is suddenly being mean.
Yes, we can make excuses for Mickey, but the bottom line is that those people in those suits are getting paid to make visitors happy. Also, visitors are paying hard earned money, and plenty of it to be happy in those parks. If you're in that Mouse suit, and a child starts to fuss because you took something of his, you give it back promptly.
For the OP, next time, you could suggest to Mickey that he sign first, since he did that yesterday at Epcot but ultimately, Mickey needs to do his job to make the customer happy!

 

[Planogirl]

This seems like a minor thing to me but I think that the OP should contact Disney about such things. There might be a reason for this but of course you have no idea.

 

[kpm76]

My kid would get a swat on the butt if he/she acted like a little brat!

 

[Peter Fan]

This whole thread seems to have gotten out of hand. The OP simply asked if anyone else had experienced this, she did not ask to have her parenting skills critiqued.
Sure, it is just a picture followed by an autograph. I can see how it seems like a trivial thing to get worked up over. But remember, there was a 2 year old. A 2 year old that was seeing Mickey for the 3rd day in a row. The 2 year old probably thinks it is the same Mickey, as well as the real Mickey. Mickey signs books first for 2 days, then hides them on the 3rd day. In the 2 year old's mind, Mickey is suddenly being mean.
Yes, we can make excuses for Mickey, but the bottom line is that those people in those suits are getting paid to make visitors happy. Also, visitors are paying hard earned money, and plenty of it to be happy in those parks. If you're in that Mouse suit, and a child starts to fuss because you took something of his, you give it back promptly.
For the OP, next time, you could suggest to Mickey that he sign first, since he did that yesterday at Epcot but ultimately, Mickey needs to do his job to make the customer happy!

If op simply asked if anyone else experienced this then why are you giving advice?

 

[Nancyg56]

This whole thread seems to have gotten out of hand. The OP simply asked if anyone else had experienced this, she did not ask to have her parenting skills critiqued.
Sure, it is just a picture followed by an autograph. I can see how it seems like a trivial thing to get worked up over. But remember, there was a 2 year old. A 2 year old that was seeing Mickey for the 3rd day in a row. The 2 year old probably thinks it is the same Mickey, as well as the real Mickey. Mickey signs books first for 2 days, then hides them on the 3rd day. In the 2 year old's mind, Mickey is suddenly being mean.
Yes, we can make excuses for Mickey, but the bottom line is that those people in those suits are getting paid to make visitors happy. Also, visitors are paying hard earned money, and plenty of it to be happy in those parks. If you're in that Mouse suit, and a child starts to fuss because you took something of his, you give it back promptly.
For the OP, next time, you could suggest to Mickey that he sign first, since he did that yesterday at Epcot but ultimately, Mickey needs to do his job to make the customer happy!

The OP chose to share his complaint on a public message board so I see no reason why people cannot voice their opinions on the situation. I am a little confused why you feel that if a child begins to cry "within the first ten seconds" of his interaction with a character who is totally encompassed in a huge suit that blocks sight and hearing, the character should be able to react in a way that corrects that reaction. Promptly.

I understand why the OP is upset, my DGD was pretty darn OCD at that age too. Her Mom made darn sure that she was the one to correct any issues. She did not rely on anyone else to know her DD well enough to manage her behavior.

I do not pretend to know the "show flow" of character interactions. I do know that in all the times we took my DGD to Disney it was never ever teh characters responsibility to be able to read DGDs mind.

 

[minnie mum]

This is when the parents need to step in, and let their child know what is going on. Nothing is perfect, or works the same exact way every single time. This is when flexability comes in. And to stomp away because you didn't get your way isn't teaching your child anything. JMHO

My thought exactly.

 

[Poohforyou]

If you've already gotten character autographs why do you need to bother to get them again? I get wanting updated pictures. Also, why couldn't you have explained to your kids that the process changed? Seems like a case of making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Do yourself and your kids a favor and teach them to put things into perspective.

 

[Itinkso]

I'm in the camp that sees it both ways. It's a little strange that Mickey changed things up, certainly they don't put the new CM's in Mickey?

I have a family member who is a Character Performer and in her first week she was indeed "friends with Mickey" as that's the "official" phrase to describe her job. And, I can also guarantee she was not at Camp Minnie/Mickey as she performs in shows. Guests' comfort and enjoyable experiences are of the utmost priority to Character Performers. That is why I previously suggested the OP complete a Guest Comment card. The Character Performer and the Attendant (handler) are supposed to work as a team, which doesn't always happen, and Disney needs to know about these incidences.

 

[Srbright]

On a side note and a question for others, do most people meet the same character more than once on a trip? Unless we see a character at a dinner or something we usually call it good if we see Mickey, or whomever, once. I didn't realize people sought him out once a day. That line gets so long and there are so many other characters lol. Not judging, just wondering!

DH loves the characters more than the rest of us combined. On our trip we did every available M&G along with character meals. We saw the princesses at Akershus, then had dinner at CRT for Cinderella , went to France for Aurora and Belle. We saw Tinkerbell in the garden by POC then in by Tonys. This time he gets one or two says, then the rest is sans characters. We spent more time in line for Tinkerbell in MK than we did for any of the rides that day combined.

Then...........the SD card for the camera got left in the room when we checked out and wasnt found by mouse keeping.

Stacy

 

[SAT]

This should have simply been a teaching moment for the children that sometimes things change and that change is best handled with patience and flexibility.

 

[kirsangel]

If you've already gotten character autographs why do you need to bother to get them again? I get wanting updated pictures. Also, why couldn't you have explained to your kids that the process changed? Seems like a case of making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Do yourself and your kids a favor and teach them to put things into perspective.

I agree! Why does a 2 year old need a dozen "Mickey Mouse" autographs? Just get one, or one per autograph book, or one per trip. We are not character autograph people though so maybe I don't get it.

 

[Disney Doll]

I was thinking based on the title that Mickey was going to have given the kid a nasty hand gesture or something.

I'm kind of relieved to hear that Mickey just went out of the expected order.

Flexibilty will serve us all well in life

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

This should have simply been a teaching moment for the children that sometimes things change and that change is best handled with patience and flexibility.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Think back to getting autographs and photos with the characters. How many times have you waited in line to get Mickey to sign the book and someone in front of you in line had their book signed, then posed for photos, then added Gramma into the photo, then a photo with each kid separately, then Gramma alone, then Mom alone, ad nauseum.....

Maybe this process is a way to speed it up. Get the photo done, sign the book, move to the next family. It doesn't give the guests time to get five or six photos with one character.

Sorry, your kids were disappointed. Maybe next time you explain to the kids that the protocol has been changed this time.

 

[Baliezer]

This is when the parents need to step in, and let their child know what is going on. Nothing is perfect, or works the same exact way every single time. This is when flexability comes in. And to stomp away because you didn't get your way isn't teaching your child anything. JMHO

I agree with this. I would never let my children act like that and I have a two year old.

 

[kandb]

Mickey was 100 percent wrong, when he saw the 2 year old get upset, he should of signed the book. A 2 year old doesn't understand why he won't sign the book. Mickey AND the handler were wrong, what's the difference if he signs it before or after the picture is taken.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

Sorry I just don't see this as a major complaint worth the time to write here or to Disney. I have a 3 and 4 year old. My son has developmental delays and speech delays. Routine is very important to him but when something happens outside of our control, we use it as teachable moment that he needs to adapt to situations instead of forcing others to adapt to him and his disabilities.
I also didn't realize that there was a specific routine. We don't do autographs yet but I watched Woody and Jessie at MK and Woody signed the book and then put it in his holster, posed for the pictures and then gave the book back to the kid.

One of our DS is autistic and yes it's important that he learns to adapt. We have seen it different ways so I don't think it's the same with all the "friends".
I do understand 2 YO meltdowns but I find it usually has nothing to do with what sets them off that is usually just the tipping point. I don't think Mickey's to blame on this one.

 

[North of Mouse]

Mickey was 100 percent wrong, when he saw the 2 year old get upset, he should of signed the book. A 2 year old doesn't understand why he won't sign the book. Mickey AND the handler were wrong, what's the difference if he signs it before or after the picture is taken.

According to the OP, this all happened in 10 seconds - not much time for the handler or Mickey (which probably couldn't see/hear well) to react to prevent a meltdown. It was the parent's responsibility to handle that situation.

Plus, I've had 3 - 2yr olds, and not many of them can remember in all the excitement just what the order of things are - sounds like a little exaggeration of the situation to me. Also, maybe the emotion of the moment seeing their kid upset because he didn't get his way.

But the parents handling of the situation would have been the worse thing in this situation - even if the youngest did not grasp what had happened, it showed the oldest that if you don't get your way - just throw a tantrum (by actions, if not words) and leave without anything.

Would also like to ask what is an *experienced* Disney fan of *2* years of age?

 

[EnchantedTales]

I just wanted to share this experience with you all. I'll send an e-mail to guest satisfaction, but I was pretty shocked when it happened.

I have a DD(5) and a DS(2) who are both experienced Disney Fans. Both have grown up, knowing from before they could talk, how Disney character interactions work. They ask the character for an autograph, wait patiently while the character signs, the character will hand the book back to the kid, who hands it back to the parent and when the books are in parent's hands you turn and smile for picture. With the exception of those characters that cannot sign, this is always the routine. Sometime there is banter, and kisses and hugs, but without fail, it's autographs then picture.

On Friday, we went to AK for rope drop and were second in line for Mickey when Camp Minnie Mickey opened. Mickey took the books, then refused to sign them until pictures were taken. My son started crying, saying "Please sign book, please sign book" but Mickey would not sign. My kids wouldn't turn around, because they know they need to give their books back to us. At one point, Mickey put the books behind his back, causing my son to cry more.

The cast member handler kept saying "Mickey takes pictures and then signs!" but that has never been my experience.

Finally, I picked up my son, took my daughters hand, DW asked Mickey for the books which were without signatures and we got no pictures.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? The event left a very sour taste for the rest of the day.

My question is: why is it necessary to do it a certain way and there is no room for variation?

I say this as an attendant situations like this happen and it leaves us thinking 'what just happen?' We are left more confused than you are. Characters sometimes feel like playing or doing something special for a child. Some characters like to do signatures in the beginning, some prefer to leave it to the end. some like to give hugs firsts, some face characters want to start by talking. There is no evil plan to bug your child or make them cry or piss you off. They vary the interaction from child to child, personalized if you like to call it that. Make it memorable.

Sadly, many parents don't seem to want to go with the flow. They can't relax, and by extension the kids can't either. I've had parents snap their fingers and tell a princess to shut up so they can take a picture. I've had kids who were excited to meet Mickey but by the time they got there had been lectured or talked so much about how and what they need to do, that they become overwhelmed and then don't want to meet him; or they start crying. Then the parents get angry because Mickey doesn't want to get near a hysteric child. The worst is kids who do not give a character a hug because they haven't yet sign a book. That last one personally, and as a parent, always weird me out, only because I think a hug from your favorite character is far more memorable than a signature.

You can write to GR if this situation left this much of a sour note. However, I can assure you characters intentions are not to upset your child. Mickey had a different way of doing things that day that sadly didn't work out with the way your children were trained.