Adult stuffed animals

[KristiMc]

I'm curious how they get their own seat at the table? Do they use an actual chair? How do you get a table to accommodate the stuffie?

I'm curious also. Do you tip the servers for serving and interacting with a stuffed animal?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I carried a doll around WDW with me back in January 2010. At that time I collected that specific type of doll. They're not cheap, each is hand-made. They're the soft-sculpted originals that the Cabbage Patch Kids toys you can buy in stores are based upon. I carried this doll that I altered and sewed a full wardrobe for with me. It was lots of fun. I got lots of interest and comments. Cast members enjoyed fawning over her as well. I've since stopped collecting these dolls. I had about 100 of them at one time. Now I have just 1 left. This one. The one I put so much of myself into.

 

[clten]

I'm curious how they get their own seat at the table? Do they use an actual chair? How do you get a table to accommodate the stuffie?

I had the "joy" of having tablemates that brought their stuffed animal to dinner. They are usually given a high chair that is placed at the table (along with their menu, drink, bread plate, food if ordered)

I would recommend that if you enjoy doing this, you request to be seated only with your own party. I'm sorry, I found it odd that I was expected to interact with this stuffed animal like it was another guest at our table.

 

[Quellman]

I had the "joy" of having tablemates that brought their stuffed animal to dinner. They are usually given a high chair that is placed at the table (along with their menu, drink, bread plate, food if ordered)

I would recommend that if you enjoy doing this, you request to be seated only with your own party. I'm sorry, I found it odd that I was expected to interact with this stuffed animal like it was another guest at our table.

Is there a trip report for this?
I think it would be difficult with this type of interaction if you aren't used to an imaginative world. It might be novel for 30 minutes, but after night 2 I would be dining in Palo or Remy the rest of the time.

 

[dcassetta]

Is there a trip report for this?
I think it would be difficult with this type of interaction if you aren't used to an imaginative world. It might be novel for 30 minutes, but after night 2 I would be dining in Palo or Remy the rest of the time.

This was linked in a previous discussion

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I had the "joy" of having tablemates that brought their stuffed animal to dinner. They are usually given a high chair that is placed at the table (along with their menu, drink, bread plate, food if ordered)

I would recommend that if you enjoy doing this, you request to be seated only with your own party. I'm sorry, I found it odd that I was expected to interact with this stuffed animal like it was another guest at our table.

I wouldn't think it would be that big a deal. Did the diners like try to prompt interaction with the stuffie? I can say that I didn't and wouldn't. I mostly sat mine in my bag on the floor or somewhere nearby that felt secure & out of the way. The times she was given a high chair and served stuff was entirely the cast members doing. I never asked. I wouldn't prompt anyone to do anything like that. If they're interested or want to, that's fine. Well, except little ones in restaurants...sticky fingers, food & drink nearby...ya know? I think overall it comes down to being conscientious. I'm always the type to not want to infringe on anyone else so I manage myself (& interests) accordingly.

 

[wilkeliza]

I wouldn't think it would be that big a deal. Did the diners like try to prompt interaction with the stuffie? I can say that I didn't and wouldn't. I mostly sat mine in my bag on the floor or somewhere nearby that felt secure & out of the way. The times she was given a high chair and served stuff was entirely the cast members doing. I never asked. I wouldn't prompt anyone to do anything like that. If they're interested or want to, that's fine. Well, except little ones in restaurants...sticky fingers, food & drink nearby...ya know? I think overall it comes down to being conscientious. I'm always the type to not want to infringe on anyone else so I manage myself (& interests) accordingly.

There have been reports of some cruisers that demand that their travel companion be given its own meal, juice in a glass, and be spoken to like it is a real child. I am not one to judge how anyone lives their own lives but if someone was to demand that at my table I would be asking to move before the next night. It is only because I can't bring myself to do that. Even when I jokingly play around with my dog and talk to it I don't expect or even think others will or demand they be treated like my child.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

There have been reports of some cruisers that demand that their travel companion be given its own meal, juice in a glass, and be spoken to like it is a real child. I am not one to judge how anyone lives their own lives but if someone was to demand that at my table I would be asking to move before the next night. It is only because I can't bring myself to do that. Even when I jokingly play around with my dog and talk to it I don't expect or even think others will or demand they be treated like my child.

Oh my. Yeah, that's a bit too far. I don't "demand" anything for myself much less my faux companion. If anyone (crew or guests) want to play along I am okay with indulging some light-hearted, return-to-childhood fun. Within reason. But, really, if my fun has to impose upon anyone (again, crew or guests) I don't feel it's acceptable and I wouldn't do it. I'd be just like you: requesting a change.

 

[Saamh]

Oh my. Yeah, that's a bit too far. I don't "demand" anything for myself much less my faux companion. If anyone (crew or guests) want to play along I am okay with indulging some light-hearted, return-to-childhood fun. Within reason. But, really, if my fun has to impose upon anyone (again, crew or guests) I don't feel it's acceptable and I wouldn't do it. I'd be just like you: requesting a change.

If the servers do it out of fun that's one thing but demanding an extra chair, plate, beverage for a stuffie is a bit much since the crew already works so hard taking care of the guests who are actual, alive, paying guests.

 

[Quellman]

So after doing additional reading around and investigating, the reborns or alternate stuffies/dolls/children can be pretty elaborate. People can spend thousands of dollars for a well done doll.

Some of the reasons I found that people do it are this:
1. Loss of own child or infant
2. Miscarriage
3. Never able to conceive
4. Unable to afford or unwilling to adopt
5. Loss of spouse
6. Empty nesters

Is it out of the norm for most of us? Sure. Any different than a companion service animal? Not really. Welcome on a Disney cruise? Absolutely!
I would also suspect that people who engage in this type of activity are aware that others may not be so welcome to the idea of interaction with a doll. As such, they probably are courteous about it. In the case of @clten, sorry you had a dud. I would have asked to be moved.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

So after doing additional reading around and investigating, the reborns or alternate stuffies/dolls/children can be pretty elaborate. People can spend thousands of dollars for a well done doll.

Some of the reasons I found that people do it are this:
1. Loss of own child or infant
2. Miscarriage
3. Never able to conceive
4. Unable to afford or unwilling to adopt
5. Loss of spouse
6. Empty nesters

Is it out of the norm for most of us? Sure. Any different than a companion service animal? Not really. Welcome on a Disney cruise? Absolutely!
I would also suspect that people who engage in this type of activity are aware that others may not be so welcome to the idea of interaction with a doll. As such, they probably are courteous about it. In the case of @clten, sorry you had a dud. I would have asked to be moved.

The doll I pictured with Daisy & me, I paid $400 for her then another $100 or so for her alterations. (changed her hair & had Mickeys painted as highlights in her eyes). The Build-a-Bear overalls I altered, the shoes, sweaters, bows, materials for dresses I made, etc. probably ran me another couple hundred. She's like a custom souvenir. My reasoning? It's what I enjoyed. My children are boys. I suppose some part of me never really grew up as I loooooove toys and dolls. That probably sounds a bit familiar to big Disney fans, huh? I've heard of people attaching to dolls of many types for a miriad of reasons including those you listed. Just like anything else, what a person does or indulges is fine so long as it doesn't impact or infringe upon others. That's true of anything, really.

But, yes, reborns are a very intricate art form. Study how they are made! Store shelf vinyl dolls are disassembled and recreated. The colors and things, they paint them on the inside. The bodies are reassembled using high-grade materials. Weighted carefully using various methods to make them accurate. Things like pacifiers, etc. are made possible using magnets. The hair is often actual hair that is rooted strand by strand. The eyelashes are done this way. It's really incredible the amount of skill and artistry that go into them. That's why they cost thousands of dollars. They take hundreds of hours by skilled artists to create.

 

[clten]

I was not saying that I think all people who bring dolls or stuffed animals on a cruise are strange or should isolate themselves. I see the fun in having one for pictures or to serve as an icebreaker with other people (and I know that I could never know all the reasons someone has one whether for comfort or not). I'm good with that.

The question was about the ones who have their dolls/stuffed animals participate in dinner (I know this is only a small percentage of those that bring stuffed animals/baby dolls on board). I have seen this happen before and have even thought "Isn't that cute for the family". It was very different when you have a front row seat and the participants are OBSESSIVE. (We didn't change tables for several reasons, among them enjoying the servers, the other tablemates and let's face it, it kinda like looking at a car accident even though you don't want to see it.) I'm just suggesting people should consider getting their own table (or even linking with others of similar obsession) if they are the type that wants the full dinner service experience: Stuffie orders from a menu, Stuffie wants a drink refill, if you want to know what Stuffie wants for dinner, you will have to ask Stuffie (yes, that was a line used on more than one night, "Stuffie"'s name changed to protect the innocent), etc.

 

[wilkeliza]

So after doing additional reading around and investigating, the reborns or alternate stuffies/dolls/children can be pretty elaborate. People can spend thousands of dollars for a well done doll.

Some of the reasons I found that people do it are this:
1. Loss of own child or infant
2. Miscarriage
3. Never able to conceive
4. Unable to afford or unwilling to adopt
5. Loss of spouse
6. Empty nesters

Is it out of the norm for most of us? Sure. Any different than a companion service animal? Not really. Welcome on a Disney cruise? Absolutely!
I would also suspect that people who engage in this type of activity are aware that others may not be so welcome to the idea of interaction with a doll. As such, they probably are courteous about it. In the case of @clten, sorry you had a dud. I would have asked to be moved.

I have a friend who has a bear that represents her stillborn son. He goes everywhere and is included in family photos. I see no harm in that. She knows that it is not really her Gideon but the Gideon Bear gives a way for them to have their oldest son in photos with his little brothers. He is weighted to be exactly what Gideon weighted so it also is a comfort to my friend. I understand there are reasons people have them but there is also a line that gets drawn on how they expect others to act with the bear.

 

[Patsydust]

Ha ha, flat Stanley! Yesss...traveling gnome....traveling goose! All my friends and I have a traveling creature etc! My friend has and M&M and they just call him M&M, lol. My troop and I have a penguin we call RT (road trip). I don't think its weird or unusual at all. It seems to be a new thing. Now...I actually know of adults who legit bring stuffed animals to their trip as a companion. Like a huge Disney stuffed animal they bring with multiple changing outfits and bring it to dinner etc and no they don't even have kids with them. The good thing about Disney is everyone is happy and a child inside, no judgement. It's all our love for a mouse!


Edit: Missed the posts on page 2! 'Stuffies'? Thanks for intel! Now I know! But as my mom always said "to each their own said the woman as she kissed the cow!"

 

[lucky1]

Wasn't there something called My Pal Mickey (maybe some other plus characters) that Disney sold to encourage adults to carry around the parks.. Is this what the OP refering to? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pal_Mickey

 

[KristiMc]

I think it is fine to bring these stuffed animals onboard to enjoy them in your pictures, but to have them sit at your table and serve them is a bit extreme. These are not paying customers and should not need to be treated as so. I could see where cast members would dote on them, they want your tips and will do what they think will make you happy. But once again, these are not paying customers and should not be served a drink or a bread plate. Just my opinion.

 

[shelbell77]

I'm curious how they get their own seat at the table? Do they use an actual chair? How do you get a table to accommodate the stuffie?

Often we have an odd number and there's an extra chair. But on our Panama Canal cruise our servers would rob an unused chair from other table and put it at the end of our table.

To those commenting about us "demanding" things for the bears - we absolutely do not do that and I don't really appreciate the insinuation that we do. You don't know me.

To those commenting about sitting at a table by yourselves. We've never expected table mates to interact with the bears. However we've found they do, and often enjoy them just as much if not more than we do.

To those asking about if servers are tipped extra - that is a personal question - but every Disney server we've had has been amazing and they are compensated accordingly.

 

[SeaSpray]

On the last evening of our recent Disney World trip I found a stuffed Rocket the Raccoon (from Guardians of the Galaxy) and my husband bought him for me since I love the character in the movie.

The next morning as we were packing our luggage, I kept Rocket with me in my backpack while we went to the parks. We had a very late flight so we had an entire day to enjoy as we wanted. A few people stopped me when they saw Rocket's head poking out of my backpack and commented, chuckled, said they loved the movie etc, and the CM at TTA freaked out when she saw it and asked where I was able to find it! I told her, and told her they only had a few left, and they were way down on a low shelf (Contemporary resort gift shop)

Here are a couple of pics of Rocket from that day! (LOL) If I had the guts, I'd bring him or my Duffy bear with me on our cruise next year! LOL

This pic was taken while waiting for our Plaza Restaurant ADR. Hey, I couldn't let him suffocate with his head in the backpack!!

He begged us to let him sit on his side of the TTA. Who were we to say "no", right??? LOL

 

[Orukal]

Wasn't there something called My Pal Mickey

Ok, that sounds kinda cool, but I still think I'd have a problem carrying it around Disneyland. Personal feelings, not judgement.