Terrible Mickey Interaction at Animal Kingdom

[YankeePrincess]

First World problems.

[meowmarie]

Originally Posted by Srbright

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.

That's what I'm saying. I would stand in line for each character once, and if I saw them again at a character meal great. But would you do what you described above every day? Cause that's what it sounds like the OP is talking about. They waited in line for Mickey 3 days in a row. And I'm assuming it probably wasn't just Mickey. Like I said just curious, maybe people do this. No wonder the lines are always so long lol.

[smitch425]

Originally Posted by my3boys511

Hahahaha!!!! You're funny!!! There is nothing "polite" about your post. Trust me I don't need a degree in early childhood education to be a good parent. Here's a tip for you...you can't learn common sense from a book. You think people should need a license to raise a child? Well I think ignorant people shouldn't be entitled to an opionion!!! Thanks for laugh though!!!! Lol. :-D

I see that you are new here, so there are some things you may not know about this site. First, EVERYONE is entitled to share their opinion here. Second, it is against board policy to call someone names. It can get you points which can prohibit you from posting.

to the boards.

[vcgirl925]

Originally Posted by Stitch407

Can't both parties be wrong? Why do we live in a world where only one side is wrong? Mickey should have been more flexible and accomodating towards the child, but the family could have reacted to the change better.

Sometimes dessert before dinner is awesome! I just had cookies before I ate my subway sandwhich, but it was also my choice to do so...

This. 100%.

IRL, I teach my kids to go with the flow and that sometimes stuff happens. However, If I feel that service was not as I expected i would voice my concerns.

[meowmarie]

Originally Posted by my3boys511

....you can't learn common sense from a book....

Sure you can!



Sorry couldn't resist lol

[Stitch407]

Originally Posted by meowmarie

Sure you can!



Sorry couldn't resist lol

The post just made me laugh actually. You know the more exclamation points you use the more accurate your statement is.

[meowmarie]

Originally Posted by Stitch407

The post just made me laugh actually. You know the more exclamation points you use the more accurate your statement is.

I know right?!!!!!!!

[Mom2six]

Originally Posted by kirsangel

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.

Sort of a silly question...nobody "needs" even one autograph. But if the 2 year old wants one autograph a day, good for him, enjoy.

The characters were met always signed first and then took pictures. It would seem they do the autographs first, then the pictures for a reason - who wants everyone holding those books in a picture, or a character just holding his hands behind his back!

I don't see why Mickey wouldn't just sign the book - he did hide it behind his back, so he was aware there was an issue with the 2 year old wanting him to sign it. I don't see how it would have affected Mickey either way, really.

[rlilly79]

Originally Posted by meuseman

I'm sorry. Maybe I'm a bad parent as all of you are making me out to be.

My two year old son took his autograph book to Mickey, just like he has done dozens of times, including at Epcot the previous day and at Magic Kingdom the day before. The handler asked everyone to have their books out for signatures. Mickey took the book, and when my son asked for his autograph, Mickey shook his head no and put the book behind his back.

That will make a 2 year old cry. I intervened within 10 seconds, but the damage was done.

All that needed to happen was a signature, just like every other character interaction. However, at that point, after I asked Mickey to sign his book, the handler said, Mickey only signs after pictures. By that time, my son is sobbing, asking for a signature. A picture is worthless.

I didn't set these expectations. They were set by the hundreds of character interactions that my kids experienced before this one. My kids don't cry when King Louie can't sign their book. They don't cry when the characters stop at a table next to us at Chef Mickey's then leave for the dancing. They get that. This was different. Maybe I did a bad job of explaining. Maybe it was something you had to experience. But it was jarring enough for me to post because it was so out of the ordinary and affected my trip.

I get that you and your son were disappointed with the order of signature vs. Picture but really I would have to tell my kids to calm down or you get nothing based on YOUR (my childs) behavior, not Mickeys. I teach my kids that things dont always go as planned plus I don't allow them to feel that everything will have order. My youngest child is 2 and oldest is 13. We actually had an issue with Mickey at Epcot last month...he signed their books and took a picture, no interaction with my kids at all...I personally wish Mickey was "nicer" but my kids didn't even care, they were just happy to be at Disney. By the way your not a bad parent, which by the way just sounds even more like you wearing you feelings on your sleeve....who cares what people think and who cares what comes first... signature or picture, just be happy your at Disney and teach your children the same...some kids will NEVER go to Disney, much less have a chance for a picture with Mickey!

[smitch425]

Originally Posted by rlilly79

I get that yoy and your son were disappointed with the order of signature vs. Picture but really I would have to tell my kids to calm down or you get nothing based on YOUR (my childs) behavior, not Mickeys. I teach my kids that things dont always go as planned plus I don't allow them to feel that everything will have order. My youngest child is 2 and oldest is 13. We actually had an issue with Mickey at Epcot last month...he signed their books and toom a picture, no interaction with my kids at all...I personally wish Mickey was "nicer" but my kids didn't even care, they were just happy to be at Disney. By the way your not a bad parent, which by the way just sounds even more like you wearing you feelings on your sleeve....who cares what people rhink and who carw qhat comes first... signature or picture, just be happy your at Disney and teach your children the same...aomw kids will NEVER go to Disney, much less have a chance for a picture qirh Mickey!

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you were typing this on some type of mobile device with an itty bitty keyboard.

[ILUVALASKA]

Thread will be locked in 5..4..3..2..1

[rlilly79]

Originally Posted by bumbershoot

A picture, just because he's crying, would be worthless?

At California Adventure, when DS was 4, he wanted to meet Santa. We waited in line, we were the last allowed in the line, got nice pix taken, but the photographer said that he actually hadn't gotten them. He said we would be first after the break for a re-do, he needed to get a new camera and Santa would be back. We played around in the little area they had there, and in the excitement, DS fell and bonked his head, and was crying pretty hard. He was calming down and still wanted to see Santa, so when he and the photographer came back, he got up there for pictures. He had tears on his face, he still looked a little bit in pain, and he was more interested in telling Santa how he fell down than doing much of anything else.

Those pictures tell the story of that moment. I love them.

I think you should have had the pictures taken. It could have been good for all of you.

I think that Mickey simply couldn't hear or understand the kidlet.

Exactly. It's hard enough to understand your OWN 2 year old, let alone someone else's 2 year old. It's like trying to understand Crush's son.

I'm not an autograph or meeting person, and I don't understand it. DH and DS however, love doing the whole thing (I knew we were doomed when DS was 3 and met his FIRST character, Buzz Lightyear*, and saw the autograph books and wanted to get one), and they will meet the same character over and over and over. For me I would just want to compare signatures and see who did it better, but that's not their reasoning.

*Buzz Lightyear at Disneyland/DCA SIGNS! Be aware of that if you go to Anaheim, OP. It's different there. And you can imagine that we talked about that with DS ahead of time when we were heading to Orlando the first time, that Buzz does NOT sign out there. He didn't care; he's never gotten into a "this is the way it happens" thing with meeting characters.

I actually like the idea of photos then autographs. It would make it flow much better, IMO.

And my guy just keeps the autograph book with him; he doesn't hand it back. That just adds more nonsense time to the interaction.

Also OP, please never meet Jack Sparrow, OK? At least not until they are much older.

Lol, my 2 year old son was fast asleep in his stroller during many of the pictures... so I agree, you capture a moment in time and laugh about it later

[rlilly79]

Originally Posted by smitch425

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you were typing this on some type of mobile device with an itty bitty keyboard.

Lol lol lol why yes how did guess?? Lol i actually just noticed i spelled like a goof and went back for an edit...gotta love tiny phone keys!!!

[Disney_Princess83]

I've never had them take photos and then sign, it's always been the other way around for us. I would absolutely complain about your experience.

Originally Posted by meuseman

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.

[Luvchefmic]

sorry a 2 y/o was crying sorry Mickey may not have noticed but honestly is the child even goin going to remember this ? Writing to WDW seems overboard to me, if this had not hsppened were you going to write to compliment the other interactions

I think what is disturbing the most is how rigid the child is and this behavior is being taught by example There's no joy when everything has to be regimented no room for flexibility and surprises in life Sorry I just don't see the trauma in this
drama yes