Terrible Mickey Interaction at Animal Kingdom

[lililoo12]

Originally Posted by meggiebeth

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.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

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]

Originally Posted by Peter Fan

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

[Peter Fan]

Originally Posted by 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!

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

[Nancyg56]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by DisneyLvr55

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]

Originally Posted by meowmarie

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]

Originally Posted by meowmarie

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

[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.