Adults without kids - why do you visit characters?

[aripantaloon]

I'm genuinely curious why adults without kids visit characters. Obviously by that point in your life, you know that it's not *really* Mickey or a princess standing in front of you and you don't actually have Cinderella's signature in your book, so what's the draw to the characters?

I'm asking because on our trip last week, we were in line to see Tiana and there was a couple who were most likely in their mid-20's a couple of families in front of us. They both had autograph books and the guy took an unusually long time talking to Tiana and doing different poses with her. So much so that that one mom in front of us started getting testy and said in a loud voice "Come on. There are KIDS waiting to see her. You had your time."

Now I do get that Disney is not just for kids, but I don't understand why an adult would stand in line to meet a character. Character meals are a little different since you get food there, but all you get in a character line is to meet the character. Can you tell that I really can't wait until my girls don't want to stand in character lines any more?

 

[Lizzim]

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

 

[vwaller72]

I'm genuinely curious why adults without kids visit characters. Obviously by that point in your life, you know that it's not *really* Mickey or a princess standing in front of you and you don't actually have Cinderella's signature in your book, so what's the draw to the characters?

I'm asking because on our trip last week, we were in line to see Tiana and there was a couple who were most likely in their mid-20's a couple of families in front of us. They both had autograph books and the guy took an unusually long time talking to Tiana and doing different poses with her. So much so that that one mom in front of us started getting testy and said in a loud voice "Come on. There are KIDS waiting to see her. You had your time."

Now I do get that Disney is not just for kids, but I don't understand why an adult would stand in line to meet a character. Character meals are a little different since you get food there, but all you get in a character line is to meet the character. Can you tell that I really can't wait until my girls don't want to stand in character lines any more?

I honestly can't explain it but it makes my wife and I happy. I wish I had a more logical answer but I when Chewbacca came walking out at SWW last year I got a genuine surge of excitement. When my wife saw the Fairy God-Mother there was no way to wipe that smile off her face. Of course we have 4 kids as well but my 16 year old get's excited too and she knows it's not real.

We don't worry about autographs (the little one does) but we love the interaction and taking the pictures. If anyone can explain why we do I'd love to hear it because I have no idea, I just know the joy it brings us.

 

[catne]

Don't see anything wrong with it, if the people are into getting autographs & photos. People collect movie-star photos and autographs, as well as political figures, too...and they're not "real" either, lol.

Personally, we never saw the point of collecting autographs, etc...and have never stood in line for characters when our kids were younger. They knew it was just people dressed up so it was fun to just spot them & wave as we walked by. We did some character meals (and actualy still do...even though my "kids" are ages 23-33 yrs. old) We do take pictures when the characters visit the table...but mostly we're there because we like the food and decor (Crystal Palace is the family favorite on character buffets.)

 

[t_catt11]

I wouldn't do multiple poses - that's rude - but then, we don't do multiple poses with the kids, either.

Disney is about magic, about make believe. Meeting a character is just that.

I remember meeting Friar Tuck at Animal Kingdom when I was 30. There I was, a father, a grown man, and my wife and kids were urging me to go meet somebody in a costume. Really?

Sure, I'm a big Robin Hood fan. Fine, whatever... I'll go get in line, just to make them be quiet.

Cue silly grin on my face. It's a picture that means a lot to me.

Do I make it a point to see characters myself? No. Do I have a problem with adults who do? Absolutely not.

Now I do get that Disney is not just for kids...

OP, if you have to ask this question, I venture to say that no, you don't quite "get" it. Again, it's inconsiderate for the people you mentioned to take picture after picture and hold up the line - but that action is distinct from wanting to meet a character.

 

[chartle]

I'm genuinely curious why adults without kids visit characters. Obviously by that point in your life, you know that it's not *really* Mickey or a princess standing in front of you and you don't actually have Cinderella's signature in your book, so what's the draw to the characters?

On my sons' first trip they were 7 and 8 and they knew they were people dressed up(actually knew most of their lives and we didn't have to tell them they figured it out).

Didn't stop them one bit.

 

[karrit2000]

Some people don't ever get to go to Disney as children. I personally was in my 30's the first time I went. There are some characters I enjoy waiting in line to have my picture taken with. Personally I find it very rude when people don't control their children and allow them to cut ahead of the Adults waiting in line. Obviously it never occurs to them that some adults want to enjoy the whole Disney experience with good reason. As for adults taking too long with the characters I could say the same about a lot of the families I've seen.

 

[Tara922c]

I will admit that I waited in lines to see characters in my early 20's (before dd). I didn't get autographs, I just wanted the pictures, and I didn't take all day. The first time I took dd to Disney, we took her to see the princesses in Toon Town. There was a man is his 40's a few people in front of us all by himself. He went up to Cinderella with a picture of himself and her and gave it to her as a present. A grown man waited in line, got a picture with Cinderella, went and had the photo printed from the photopass place, and waited in line again to give to her as a present. It was so weird! The character attendant kept trying to move the man along, but he wouldn't budge. Within 2 minutes, security showed up and escorted the man out of the tent. Crazy!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

What do you mean it isn't really Mickey or Cinderella? Of course, it is.

Adults can love the characters too. My first solo trip with my DD, she was 3.5yo and freaked out by the characters. The first couple characters I met, I waited for and went up to with the hopes that DD would see me approach the characters, interact with them, and when nothing bad happened to me, she'd realize she didn't need to be scared. Unfortunately, that didn't actually help, but I found that I really enjoyed meeting the characters and interacting with them. One of my favorite pictures from that trip is me with Sully.

My DD eventually got over her fear of characters on the last day of that trip. And it was her love of Tigger that helped her get over her fear. Now, she wants to meet the characters even more than I do. If I'm on a solo trip, I might get in a line if it isn't too long and get a picture. I don't ask for autographs. But it's still fun for me to interact with the characters.

 

[vicki_c]

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

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

For me it's because it's fun. I don't always get pictures with characters but I sure enjoy it when I do.

I never got to go to Disney as a child so it's my way of having a fun time.
If Disney was only about doing the attractions, it wouldn't be Disney.

 

[stimmons]

I will wait in line for a character and I'm 25 years old. For me, I think as adults we loose that sense of innocence. And WDW is a place that you can "pretend" that you are talking to that favorite character of your childhood and no one will judge you for it. I love that I can be silly and act like a kid again. It's a true feeling of letting go of all the adult responsibility and dipping back into childhood.

 

[Schmeck]

The character's friend (CM) will move people along when a certain length of time has been reached, so no one really spends 'too much time' posing, etc.

Adults without children pose with characters because they are people too - people who just don't happen to have children, for what ever reason, and they want to enjoy their lives just like anyone else.

Just because someone has kids doesn't mean they have more rights/benefits/needs, over someone without kids, does it?

We hear complaints about adults not giving up seats on buses, not letting other people's kids get in front of them at parades (even if the adults had staked out a spot an hour beforehand), and now people complain about how long some adult takes with a character?

When parents think that their kids are entitled to something just because they are kids it makes the kids grow up thinking they are entitled to everything, IMO.

 

[luvsJack]

I love to see certain characters because they are fun. Mickey and Minnie, Tigger, Chip and Dale, Goofy--are all fun to meet.

And sometimes its not the adult (or child) that is doing several poses, its the characters. Jasmine and Alladin spent a lot of time with dd one time, Alladin even sat down cross legged on the floor to keep talking to her. This last visit, dd and friends were getting a picture with Tigger and he kept moving for different pictures. (not adults but certainly old enough to know "the secret")

I have pictures of ds (young adult) and Stich where Stich kept posing for more pictures and a large number with ds and Minnie, she was kissing him on the cheek and dancing with him.

These pictures were all taken by the Photo Pass Photographer so I wasn't getting them to pose differently nor was I standing with my camera encouraging it.

 

[Lizzim]

I think i was more excited about meeting Capt Jack Sparrow at Disneyland Paris than I would've been had I met Johnny Depp

 

[librarymouse]

I love the photo ops! Plus, the people playing the characters arent' just standing there smiling, they are acting- they make you laugh, they are funny and get you to laugh. If they enjoy their job I think it is fun to enjoy their talent!

For example, we honeymooned in disney, and when we took a photo with Minnie & Goofy, Goofy pretended to be a preacher and "marry" us. It was hysterical and the pictures are fantastic!

 

[SwirlyGirly]

I will admit that I waited in lines to see characters in my early 20's (before dd). I didn't get autographs, I just wanted the pictures, and I didn't take all day. The first time I took dd to Disney, we took her to see the princesses in Toon Town. There was a man is his 40's a few people in front of us all by himself. He went up to Cinderella with a picture of himself and her and gave it to her as a present. A grown man waited in line, got a picture with Cinderella, went and had the photo printed from the photopass place, and waited in line again to give to her as a present. It was so weird! The character attendant kept trying to move the man along, but he wouldn't budge. Within 2 minutes, security showed up and escorted the man out of the tent. Crazy!!

Ewww! I got my girls Selena Gomez meet and greet passes this past summer. It was the best thing "EVER!!" As you can imagine, the entire line was filled with young girls and teenage girls, and their moms. Except one super-creepy guy right behind us who had a load of Selena pics in his shirt pocket. He was nearly bursting to meet Selena. He had to be about 45-50 and not exactly a charmer, and was talking to us non-stop about Selena the entire hour we waited for the meet and greet to begin. My mom was so upset by this guy that by the time it was our turn to meet Selena, she broke the rules (so against her moral code!) and refused to leave the meet and greet area after our photo session bc she didn't trust the guy. She insisted on watching him until he walked away from Selena, and she never even heard of the dear girl until I told her I needed a second chaperone to take the kids.

 

[jrtoastyman]

There are few things more iconic about a trip to WDW than a picture with Mickey Mouse. Adults without kids take pictures of themselves with the Castle, in front of attractions, at Photopass stops all over WDW, etc., so you can't really give them grief about taking their picture with Mickey and his pals, too.

There are some that go overboard, and I probably wouldn't stand in line just to "meet" a character when I wasn't taking a picture (except maybe for some of the Princesses ), but some of the interactions with the face characters in particular are really entertaining. Ever meet Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother? She's a riot!

 

[Becky925]

Long time lurker but this topic strikes a cord with me so I thought I’d come out of hiding to give my 2 cents for what it’s worth. I go to Disney every year with my mom, maybe twice a year, and we wait in line for characters every trip. In some ways we like it as much or more than the rides. It’s time to be silly, girly and forget our cares for a week or so. We have a common joke that whatever is wrong with our day it can be cured by the safety that is found under Eeyore’s ear. My mom is over 60 and I’m over 30. We enjoy the pictures and the interaction. The ability to live in a world where princesses and talking donkeys are real. You’re never too old for Disney Magic and we’ll be doing it again this October.

 

[disluhypno]

Even when I was 5, I still knew that there were people in the costumes of the characters. I knew they weren't the "real" Mickey or Minnie. Just the way I knew the mall Santa's weren't the "real" Santa. That being said, it was still fun, and is still fun, and helps bring the kid out in all of us. It helps me get out of my seriousness and box and allows me to feel all the things I felt when I was a kid.