DCL character autograph "Mickey Mail" being discontinued in August

[wcw57]

and there are those who complain about the value of the gifts received in their FEs....GIFTS fr cryin' out loud....

People

 

[Saamh]

I never do share mine and I've had plenty, but then some people might expect it to happen and be upset if not. This doesn't just go for Disney thing everything in life. I'll tell people I know don't expect things

Exactly! There were posts about "why didn't my daughter get princess sheets from our room steward?" If everyone knows about everything, then they think they deserve it too. It then takes away the magic when someone is surprised with something magical.

 

[AcuraTL]

Seriously? People were bringing anchors and lamps to get signed?

 

[undertheradar]

Waiting for DCL to end Fish Extenders. These appear to be getting out of hand also.

 

[Minniemiss]

Waiting for DCL to end Fish Extenders. These appear to be getting out of hand also.

I was thinking the same thing. It still amazes me that people put little bottles of liquor in the FE's. Some kid is going to catch on to this on a cruise. Raid the FE's and get drunk. Or there will be a rash of thefts and people going to guest services to complain. I'm sure the staff and security have better things to do than handle something like this. We were even a cruise were a woman wanted guest services to deliver her FE gifts. She had a headache. They did.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Here's an idea, if you really need to have that character's signature on your pillowcase, photo mat, plate, etc, do it yourself. It would be no different than some random cast member in guest services doing it.

I've always thought this, but appreciate that you posted it.

It's one thing for your child to meet the character, give them a hug, and then get an autograph (which is a wonderful experience for kids and creates great memories), but I have trouble wrapping my head around why people are so interested in having an autograph from a (fictional) character that your child has no interaction with. If it's all about saying "Look, my darling child, Cinderella signed your pillowcase", then does it 'really' matter if it's signed by Sally from Guest Services in a back office, or if you just sign it yourself?

 

[Dave2425]

We were even a cruise were a woman wanted guest services to deliver her FE gifts. She had a headache. They did.

How entitled must one feel to even consider asking? A big middle finger would have been the appropriate answer.

 

[Disneyholic]

I was thinking the same thing. It still amazes me that people put little bottles of liquor in the FE's. Some kid is going to catch on to this on a cruise. Raid the FE's and get drunk. Or there will be a rash of thefts and people going to guest services to complain. I'm sure the staff and security have better things to do than handle something like this. We were even a cruise were a woman wanted guest services to deliver her FE gifts. She had a headache. They did.

I pointed out about the little bottles of alcohol people were putting in FEs on another thread and was told that parents should be watching their kids better so they don't get into it. I should mind my own business. We all know how well supervised a lot of kids are on the cruises. It's like the parents are on vacation from parenting, too. I have never participated in FE because I don't need a lot of stuff to take home with me and try to find room for. We did participate in a Boy Scout Council Patch exchange one year. That was fun and small enough to take home easily.

 

[TestingH2O]

Here's an idea, if you really need to have that character's signature on your pillowcase, photo mat, plate, etc, do it yourself. It would be no different than some random cast member in guest services doing it.

It's funny, this never even occurred to me. I just Googled and, look at that!, there they all are. I have something to be signed because I wanted to engineer some pixie dust for DD. It wouldn't occur to me that we should get special treatment above Disney's everyday awesome service, so I prepared with this experience in mind. Next time we cruise, I will either make time to do the signing myself or she can carry around an autograph book. Thanks for pointing out that I could mimic the experience with just a little planning and forethought though. That is a good idea to have in my back pocket.

 

[kel585]

Here's an idea, if you really need to have that character's signature on your pillowcase, photo mat, plate, etc, do it yourself. It would be no different than some random cast member in guest services doing it.

I'd just like to throw it out there. I can 100% guarantee, that it is not a "random cast member in guest services" that signs the Mickey Mail. It is only the characters that sign the Mickey Mail. FACT!

I know people will be disappointed that this service is no longer available, but unfortunately, people did take advantage, and it was getting completely out of hand. Going back to the good old fashioned way, of getting your autograph at your meet and greet should be all part of the Magic. I totally think DCL have made the right call here.

 

[gotomu212]

To echo others things just got way too out of control. People are ordering $60 custom pill cases, anchors, breakable plates. There were bags and bags of sharpies with some people asking for each character to sign with a different color. People wiere including bags of candy (which is super nice but now we've got 20 bags of candy here). GS passing things to entertainment staff, passing it to stateroom hosts and having to organize by room location. Seriously this sounds nuts and no longer magical but a big production line for something that Disney never really offered. Plus the complaints from people on broken and lost items.

I agree with EvieBug that the expectations have gotten way too outsized for what Disney can possibly deliver especially for things which were created by the public. On our last cruise at the Gold/Platnimum reception someone complained to the CAPTAIN about things being taken from their FE. He said umm I don't really know anything about that and turned the family over to the CD. I think it's just part of the trend where small fun pixie dust things have turned to giant expectations for hundreds of cruisers and have become a huge hassle for crew.

 

[declansdad]

I'd just like to throw it out there. I can 100% guarantee, that it is not a "random cast member in guest services" that signs the Mickey Mail. It is only the characters that sign the Mickey Mail. FACT!

Sorry I find that hard to believe. Didn't you say a friend of a friend told you that? Pretty hard to make a 100% guarantee on that basis.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

It's just a quick observation that the line at Guest Services was getting bogged down as well with people dropping off the items to have signed. It wasn't a huge deal but I did happen to notice this on my recent sailings. As you all might know, when an item is given to Guest Services they have to take the time to write down on a piece of paper what it is, what autographs you want, colors, etc and then attach anything you might have brought so this takes a little time and others might have other more "pressing" questions or concerns and standing in line 20 minutes isn't exactly fun. I promise I didn't let out a sigh when I noticed or feel like it was taking away from my time, but I did notice it so I'm sure others have as well. I had already heard the "rumor" this was going away soon, before my last cruise a few weeks ago so perhaps I was on "alert" at Guest Services

I only noticed it the last few sailings so clearly that shows it indeed has exploded and agreed, way out of hand.

Heather

 

[stlouismickey]

On our Baltic cruise we rode to the port with a Guest Services cast member and he said it was crazy the amount and type of stuff that they got to sign.

 

[wcw57]

I pointed out about the little bottles of alcohol people were putting in FEs on another thread and was told that parents should be watching their kids better so they don't get into it. I should mind my own business. We all know how well supervised a lot of kids are on the cruises. It's like the parents are on vacation from parenting, too. I have never participated in FE because I don't need a lot of stuff to take home with me and try to find room for. We did participate in a Boy Scout Council Patch exchange one year. That was fun and small enough to take home easily.

uh oh! you shot 2 sacred cows in 1 topic: fish extenders and alcohol! People do not like it (I have found out) if you object to some FE "standard" of performance or participation and, to advise against alcohol is, well, unpopular. Further, I have asked many times what the adults do with all the key chains, bottle openers, beads, etc they receive. Never got an answer.

More on topic: remember, as Oscar Wilde once wrote, "no good deed goes unpunished." Eventually the special Disney touches will be beaten out of the system.....

 

[kel585]

Sorry I find that hard to believe. Didn't you say a friend of a friend told you that? Pretty hard to make a 100% guarantee on that basis.

Nope, didn't say it was a friend of a friend who said it. I'm a previous DCL cast member, therefore, I know it's a fact.

 

[declansdad]

Nope, didn't say it was a friend of a friend who said it. I'm a previous DCL cast member, therefore, I know it's a fact.

Sorry I thought there was someone on here that said they were told by a friend of a friend. Were you a character on-board?

 

[PryncessLace]

Nope, didn't say it was a friend of a friend who said it. I'm a previous DCL cast member, therefore, I know it's a fact.

Isn't it also something that the cast members did on their time off, therefore, not getting paid for the time spent signing hundreds of items per cruise?

 

[Disneyholic]

Isn't it also something that the cast members did on their time off, therefore, not getting paid for the time spent signing hundreds of items per cruise?

But, but, but........the people left candy for them. What the heck were they supposed to do with all that candy?

 

[kel585]

Sorry I thought there was someone on here that said they were told by a friend of a friend. Were you a character on-board?

Isn't it also something that the cast members did on their time off, therefore, not getting paid for the time spent signing hundreds of items per cruise?

But, but, but........the people left candy for them. What the heck were they supposed to do with all that candy?

Without ruining any Disney magic here, and keeping with Disney integrity. I was very good friends with some characters. At times, because of the volume of Mickey Mail, it can be scheduled, but sometimes not. And yes, there is a lot of candy