Adults without kids - why do you visit characters?

[Danibelle]

Because some of us couldn't visit when we were children.....and if I want a photo with Mickey at 31 then why not? Disney is for kids of all ages

Disney for all!

I had my picture taken with Tigger in EPCOT and it was great!

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

Forgot to add that in a couple of places, characters encouraged us to take pictures and interact with them.

 

[Joanna71985]

Because it's fun! I love meeting the characters, and I've had some extremely memorable moments with them

 

[MommytoCaitlyn]

I never went as a kid. I went as an adult with my whole extended family for the first time when I was probably 28/29 years old. We were at Crystal Palace and when Tigger came out (he has been my favorite since I was 2 years old) I actually had genuine tears flowing! I mean, come on, it's Tigger!!! I instantly became 5 years old again! Something about being at Disney World turns me into a child who believes in the magic all over again, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

 

[Zeppelin]

Because it's fun.
Because I like it.
Because I want to.

and its what you're paying for....there's not one ticket price for meeting the characters and a lesser price for not meeting them....

 

[sharadoc]

Because that's what the Disney magic is all about! We have TONS of photos with characters from our trips before the kids were born. We went twice a year for 10 years before they came along so we have a TON of them.

We have a great time with the character interaction.

Nothing personal to the OP, but I am sorry that there is so much "Disney is for kids" attitude. It's for families of all types and overall there is more mature stuff than little kiddie stuff all though WDW.

 

[Planogirl]

I never went as a child either and feel no need to meet characters even though I enjoy watching them. I don't fault those adults who do though. I always think that they like to see the pictures later if nothing else.

 

[Mama Who]

I guess my feelings about the "worth" of meeting the characters is skewing my perspective over why an adult would want to "waste" time standing in line meeting them.

Personally I don't get why anyone would waste calories on a Dole Whip, but really, to each his own. One of the lovely things about Disney is that there are many choices and if someone chooses to do something you don't like, it simply means fewer people doing what you do like.

 

[JCH]

This is simple for me: Facebook pictures! . Although, I only do maybe 1 character picture per trip. I do know adults who consider it a challenge to get a picture with as many characters as possible. Just another Disney thing to do like pin trading or finding hidden mickeys.

I agree on autographs, though...never understood adults doing that one...

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

Once I pass under the WDW gate, I become a kid again. Oh heck, the excitement starts before we even leave PA. I don't normally stand in a long line to meet a character, but I do get a front parade spot at least an hour in advance. Now if Chicken Little, Evil Queen or Malificent had a M&G, I'd be in those lines. In fact, I was fortunate to meet EQ on our HM and I will never forget that conversation because of those pictures. Pictures are memories.

As for autographs, if you aren't breaking any laws, I say whatever floats your boat.

 

[Zeppelin]

Once I pass under the WDW gate, I become a kid again. Oh heck, the excitement starts before we even leave PA. I don't normally stand in a long line to meet a character, but I do get a front parade spot at least an hour in advance. Now if Chicken Little, Snow Queen or Malificent had a M&G, I'd be in those lines. In fact, I was fortunate to meet SQ on our HM and I will never forget that conversation because of those pictures. Pictures are memories.

As for autographs, if you aren't breaking any laws, I say whatever floats your boat.

1000%.....when we went last year we spent the first day at MGM & Epcot then the next morning at AK...finally got to MK the second night...its though it was hit in the face with a happy stick turning up Main Street- and my wife and daughter were twice as excited!!!

 

[kandb]

I personally don't get it either. I am an adult and have never had the urge to pose with a character. Maybe if one of my children were in the picture and wanted me to, I would. To each his own, but I have no desire to get a picture with a person who is dressed in a costume.

 

[Ariel on Land]

Because I'm a little kid in a 30 something year old body! My logical brain may know it's someone in a costume, but in my heart, I believe in the Disney magic that it truly is said character. You can tell me otherwise until you're blue in the face, but I won't believe you!!!

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

It's tradition within our family. Every time we go, it's a must to have my photo taken with Donald and Mickey, to chart how I've grown and how I've changed over the years. I do not collect autographs, as I feel that takes up time that belongs to someone else, such as a family. However, meeting two particular characters is tradition in my family.

I will gladly let children in front of me, imo, they deserve to be there. However, I have as much right to be there as well. And as crummy as this sounds, I paid to come to WDW, and meeting characters is a part of Disney World, is it not?

Walt said that the parks were for families, not just children. Without being rude, who are you to judge whether or not I meet characters?

 

[reiella]

It's fun.

At this point, I'm also old enough to realize that walk up Expedition Everest isn't actually in Nepal, but I still enjoy the queue and theming.

 

[gert]

When I was little, I was in the backseat of the car on a roadtrip and working on this coloring book. There was a page with a maze and you had to draw a line for Eeyore to find his tail.

As I started working on the maze, it got too dark outside for me to be able to see the page. And I wept because that image of Eeyore sad and tail-less was stuck in my mind as the boredom of the roadtrip set in.

So don't you see? I OWE IT TO HIM. I HAVE TO SEE HIM.

I've never even particularly cared for Winne the Pooh et al., but there's something about that sad little grey donkey that makes my eyes well up with tears. The rational part of my brain is shut down and all I can think is "How can I make him feel better???!?!"

 

[SanFranciscan]

I work as a photographer at a theme park and occasionally get to go take pictures of the characters. I have noticed that adults often want pictures of themselves with the characters. I am rather charmed by these people.

I used to watch the children getting their pictures taken with Santa Claus at the mall near my home while living in San Francisco and noticed that adults, particularly women, often had their pictures taken with Santa. Every once in a while one would be obviously mentally ******** but most just never lost their love of make-believe, and I find it rather sweet.

 

[CDNLADY]

I take tons of pictures with Mikey and the gang why because I want to . If i wanted fast rides I would go to an amusement park . My kids ( 21,20 and 17 go do the rides while I get in line with my autograph book and have my fun ! Oh and first time ever seeing the castle in 2007 I cried , we were poor and no way my mom could of took us when we were kids so at 39 I will stand in line and take my turn to see Mikey and the gang all day . That to me puts Disney separate then say universal of Canada's Wonderland

 

[vettegirl]

Being that my parents could not afford to take us when we were young, I didn't go to a Disney park until I was 20. I love taking pics with characters, makes me like a child again. I can't describe it, but I love it . Disney is for all ages not just little kids.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...2274278596_578463595_8748504_2100017635_n.jpg

my DGF and I being kids !