A very odd and random question

[Condiment Queen]

Maybe it's just me and my big kid heart but is it so wrong? I mean, I'm almost 20 and my favorite part about Disney is going down there to meet the characters! I guess I just like feeling like a kid again and it's always the highlight of my trip when I get to meet all my favorites! I just feel very weird standing in line with kids under half my age. Granted I have my Younger Brothers to keep me company but it still feels odd to know your the oldest one going up there to get a hug, pick, and an autograph from these characters. Sometimes it seems like the characters pay more attention to my brothers I get a little bit overlooked, I can understand this though I don't think it's entirely fair, I mean why do the little ones get to have all the fun? There are adults who still want to beleive in pixie dust, right?

The only case where this is a little different is in the Star Wars Weekends! There are people twice as old as me in Vader's Line! LOL!

One more gripe I have, I really wish they woudln't put age limits on their shows like the Jedi Training Academy! I have always dreamed about learning the ways of the Force and learning the propper way to weild a lightsaber in combat! I think that the one they do for the kids is wonderful but I aslo think how cool it would be to have one for the kids at heart who want to be Luke Skywalker for a day! After all, Luke was in his 20s all through the original Star Wars Trilogy! Yes I know Yoda said he's "Too old to beguin the training" but he did it anyway and rebuilt the whole Jedi order even better than the old one! (Sorry, I can go a little overboad when it comes to the SW saga!)

I mean, they even took out the adult Trivia Trials too! That made me madder than anything becasue I actually studied hard to compete with the die-hards but nooooo they canceled it! Why? I don't know because there was deffenatly enough intest and a lot of people want Disney to bring it back! But my original point remains...

I know it's all fantasy and maybe it's just that I'm a fantasy writer myself and I just really love to get caught up in the story. Am I just crazy for wanting to be a big kid?

 

[Rellagirl]

If you are a big kid at heart then so am I! I was not willing to leave WDW unless I got to meet a few princesses. My boyfriend and his DD14 have no use for princesses so they went off to a ride while I line up for a 70 min wait... The funny thing is that I became the head of the line at one point. It was quite obvious to the family behind me that I was by myself. I didn't care. The little girl behind me thought that it was pretty cool to still like princesses as a grown up. The amazing thing is that it was maybe 20 minutes from the end of the line to the front. I was back in the gift shop before they finished their ride. The line for meet Mickey and his pals took way longer then the 45 mins posted on the sign.

I would have postponed my trip had I known that the SW characters were going but the flight, hotel, vacation time were already booked. Too late for me this year but there is always next year! I agree that adults and teens should be allowed to learn how to handle lightsaber too...

 

[Hmbldr]

Never loose the spirit to be young and adventurous. And remember, at Disney we are all kids at heart. That's why it's so much fun. Stand in whatever line you want to. It's so neat to see a guest's twinkle in their eye when they meet with a character...whether they 2, 20 or 102!

Have a ball!

 

[mom2girlsn1boy]

The last time I went with out having kids I was 27 and I stood in line for tons of characters, got pics the whole deal, we even booked character dinners to make sure we got all the ones I wanted.
This time I will have my 3 beautiful children and I will get to enjoy it from their eyes,

 

[Chuck S]

While character meet & greets aren't my thing, I didn't even like them as a child, I have other adult friends that love them. We each find the magic in our own way.

 

[Devil_Dog99]

I am a 12 year old boy stuck in the body of a 41 year old man. You are not crazy and actually your idea would be great for a star wars weekend thing - adult jedi training - how cool would that be??

 

[Yetifan]

I think the real problem with an adult Jedi training is some of us would join the dark side.

 

[Shmily1]

Considering that my family "has" to go to WDW very often (we've been 4 times already this year) because of me and they now look at me like "please don't make our summer vacation there again", I guess I would definitely qualify for the big kid. DH, DS17, and DD16 tolerate me pretty well and they humor me most of the time. I think DS is looking forward to going to college so he can have an excuse to miss a few trips! Considering that they are only teenagers and have been well over 50 times and have stayed in most of the resorts on property, they've just about seen it all.

The best part, I haven't told them we are going back in July, August, and again in December.... unless I can squeeze in another one along the way!!! Yep, I've earned my big kid stripes!!!

 

[WDSearcher]

Maybe it's just me and my big kid heart but is it so wrong? I mean, I'm almost 20 and my favorite part about Disney is going down there to meet the characters! I guess I just like feeling like a kid again and it's always the highlight of my trip when I get to meet all my favorites! I just feel very weird standing in line with kids under half my age. Granted I have my Younger Brothers to keep me company but it still feels odd to know your the oldest one going up there to get a hug, pick, and an autograph from these characters. Sometimes it seems like the characters pay more attention to my brothers I get a little bit overlooked, I can understand this though I don't think it's entirely fair, I mean why do the little ones get to have all the fun? There are adults who still want to beleive in pixie dust, right?

I think maybe part of the reason you feel overlooked is that you're not sure you're supposed to be there. Your post says you feel "very weird" standing in line. And I'm thinking that when you DO get up to the characters, you tend to hang back a bit and let your younger brothers get the attention because that's what you think is supposed to happen.

Most characters are, obviously, going to go for the kids if there are kids in the party. But if you want more character attention, you need to feel less "weird" about it all and behave as though you WANT the attention! Step up ... smile, shake hands ... ask for a hug. Hand over your own autograph book. Talk to the characters ... tell them that you're pleased to meet them. Pose for a photo ... be proactive. You'll get plenty of pixie dust!

 

[disnut8]

Unfortunately in today's society, adults with no kids are being treated a bit more "harshly" than families. For example, my husband and I cannot go to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner and skee ball because we don't have kids. A lot more places are looking at solo adults as potential threats to the kids. Our next-door-neighbor's twelve was forbidden to even say hello to my husband because he stayed home all day (he was in between jobs). So yes, solo adults are being looked at differently.

And it does carry over to Disney World. On our last trip (in April), my husband and I made our first trip to Rifiki's Planet Watch. My husband was not sure we should go into the petting area since we didn't have kids. Same thing happened when we wanted to look at the Peter Pan Playground at the Flower and Garden Festival. Of course there were no problems but it was sad that my husband even had to think about things like that.

So yes, even though nothing is said to you, I can understand why you feel a bit "odd" standing in line for the characters without having kids with you. You have to knock that perception out of your head while you are at Disney World. Everyone is a kid.

 

[SuperTink]

Life is short.

Do what you want.

 

[HappyGramma]

When I went to the World a few years ago, my main objective was to see how many characters I could get my picture taken with along with their autographs. I almost filled up my entire autograph book. CMs were fine with my standing in line along with all the kids. I had sooo much fun and it made me feel like a kid again. The memories of that trip bring me loads of joy. By the way I was 49 at the time. I still stand in line to have my picture taken with my favorite characters. So I say go for it and enjoy being a kid again.

 

[Tomh]

I don't think you are crazy at all. I'm 38, will be 39 when we take our kids to Disney World this August, and I fully intend to get in line with my kids, and get my picture taken with Mickey Mouse.

My DD13 regularly tells me "Dad, you are just like the boys in school, you're such a little kid."

 

[bookbabe626]

If you're afraid people will get the wrong idea about why you're doing "kid stuff" as an adult, the easiest solution is to wear Disney ears...the sillier the better (no boring old mouse ear hats, or bride/groom ears). No one has any misconceptions about you if you're getting your picture taken in the petting zoo or tigger-bouncing along the walkway to Toontown while wearing Stitch or Eeyore ears, or a giant Goofy hat. Granted, you may get some odd looks, but they'll be the good kind of odd looks, if you get my drift...

Yes, it drives my rather-more-sedate DH bonkers, and he occasionally pretends he doesn't know me when Stitch and I are "having a moment" during the parade or I'm exchanging fashion tips with one of the princesses, but you know what...it's my vacation, and I'll be silly if I want to. I figure I have a perfect right to enjoy myself and do what I want, no matter what people think...I paid for my trip out of my own money, after all, unlike most of the kids there...

Big Kids Unite!

 

[PatriciaH]

Unfortunately in today's society, adults with no kids are being treated a bit more "harshly" than families. For example, my husband and I cannot go to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner and skee ball because we don't have kids.

What!? My friend had his 30th birthday party there and we all had a blast-about 20 adults

 

[Mickey_Man]

If you're afraid people will get the wrong idea about why you're doing "kid stuff" as an adult, the easiest solution is to wear Disney ears...the sillier the better (no boring old mouse ear hats, or bride/groom ears). No one has any misconceptions about you if you're getting your picture taken in the petting zoo or tigger-bouncing along the walkway to Toontown while wearing Stitch or Eeyore ears, or a giant Goofy hat. Granted, you may get some odd looks, but they'll be the good kind of odd looks, if you get my drift...

Yes, it drives my rather-more-sedate DH bonkers, and he occasionally pretends he doesn't know me when Stitch and I are "having a moment" during the parade or I'm exchanging fashion tips with one of the princesses, but you know what...it's my vacation, and I'll be silly if I want to. I figure I have a perfect right to enjoy myself and do what I want, no matter what people think...I paid for my trip out of my own money, after all, unlike most of the kids there...

Big Kids Unite!

AMEN! DW & I are early 30s, no kids, and we go to WDW twice a year! I love having photos with the characters, and we definitely do character dining! WDW is for everyone.

Oh, and if the ears idea doesn't work for you, try a Kungaloosh! Sure to get rid of inhibitions every time!!

 

[DisneyObsessive]

SWW i totally agree, i met a ton of Star Wars characters and it was awesome. And one of the most exciting moments? Meeting Jedi Mickey. I am 21 myself, and i don't care. I asked for a big hug and was all excited.

I'll meet with characters if there aren't long waits. I still haven't met Robin Hood (i know he can be rare) and im dying to. I don't care about my age or what people think, i think its wonderful to interact with the characters and still have love for them. I always will.

 

[disnut8]

What!? My friend had his 30th birthday party there and we all had a blast-about 20 adults

Unfortunately, that was a different thing. A group of adults with the employees watching the proceedings. Just two adults going in by themselves are politely asked to leave. We can go for a party - all adults or one with kids. Just not by ourselves.

Oh well - I guess we can now go to Chuck E. Cheese in South Carolina! They just outlawed skee ball in the entire state!

 

[Disneyholic]

DH & I aren't ready to grow up yet. He (64) & I (54) do the autographs & pictures & the hugs.

We have gone 3 trips, just the 2 of us & last year took DD (34) & her DH (42) and we all did character meets. DD couldn't believe how WDW changed her Dad. She even mentioned that he was "actually talking to people". He is usually very quiet & reserved at home. I was also worried what she was going to think when we got to MK and dear old Dad started skipping down main street, but when we got there and he started skipping her DH joined him. We just walked along behind them watching the men we love being transformed into little boys. It was great.

I just got a new motorcycle and I have "I'll Never Grow Up" & Tinkerbelle stickers on the helmet.

Have fun being a kid. Don't ever let someone tell you to grow up. To grow up is to grow old and I don't want to do that anytime soon.

 

[Condiment Queen]

Thanks everyone for making me feel less "weird"! Good idea with the Mouse Ears! I have the Pirate set and a Minnie Mouse set. This year it looks like I've got a lot of advice to put into practice! I've got my autograph book and I'm ready to go! Move over Shawn and Jason (my little Bros) Your not the only ones getting autographs this year!