Adults without kids - why do you visit characters?

[P00H1010]

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

I completely agree! I was almost 26 years old when I went on my first trip to WDW. I was in awe meeting some of my favorite Disney characters for the first time . And even if it isn't your first time meeting the characters, it is still wonderful at any age. Meeting a Disney character brings out the kid in anyone, it is all part of the Disney magic .

 

[DeaverTex]

I think my strongest reaction to OP's question is -- Why not?

Put Mrs. Tex and I into the group of never going when we were kids. Considering our age for our upcoming first time ever trip, we've got a LOT of years to make up for!

Hey, Donald, how are the boys doing in school this year?

 

[Carriemel]

I'll chime in here. I hadn't seen Brer Fox since I was about 6. I met him the other day and I was like a little kid again.


Sooo, I meet the characters cause they take me back to my first few times at my happy place.

 

[Becky925]

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!!!

This!

 

[nooneshome]

My situation is close. Our kids are getting too old to get their picture taken with characters and I hate to pass up a chance to get my picture taken. If the line isn't long I'll jump into it and get DW to take my pic. It is my vacation too!!!

 

[Jenngoofys]

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.

Just the thought of you meeting Tigger and crying made me cry!!

Ok here's my take on it
1. some people have never been and this is their first time
2. When I was younger and use to read the books and it felt like they were real!! When I go to Disney it is ALL REAL!! Mickey, Baloo, King Louie, All of them!! Once I enter the park I " leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy"
3. I love seeing characters from my childhood Launchpad McQuack, Darkwing Duck, etc... You know those arent there for kids today, they are there for kids of Yesterdays!!!
4. And as far as what you are Paying for Let me just leave you with this thought "I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse" - Walt Disney Who wouldnt want to meet the Mouse who started it all?

I pray that when My Nephew goes this August for his first time at age 11 he Doesnt see a person in a costume, I pray he SEES THE ONE AND ONLY REAL MICKEY MOUSE!!!!

 

[Figmificent]

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.

Oh my photo with Maleficent is one of my favorites! I love certain characters and I agree with the meeting them is like meeting a celebrity. I was first in line for Maleficent that night and was super excited!

 

[PAcpl]

With all the years you have been going to Disney haven't you ever walked down Main Street and talked to the Mayor?

Disney sells an experience, and that's what you're paying for.

 

[karly05]

And BTW, I was way more excited to meet Phineus and Ferb over my DD. (the proof is in the photos!)

Chalk up another vote from me for "Disney is a magical place where you can feel like a kid again!" And I am a big P&F fan and was so excited to meet them. Getting the Photopass CD was totally worth it just for the pic of me hugging Ferb. I have a pic of me with P&F as my computer "wallpaper" and yes, the Crazy Lady with the Big Smile really was that happy!

If I ever get to meet Dug from "Up," I'm gonna flip!

 

[DucksHockeyGirl]

Hi, new here! The reason I adore taking pictures with characters is because it's fun! I'm not rude or take alot of time Just one snap is all it takes! (my boyfriend and I are both 30) We both enjoy it! Something about Disneyland takes us back to a simpler, innocent time. We have both been going since we were children, so we both have fond memories there being with our parents (at separate times of course). As soon as I go under the train bridge into main street, something magical happens, I become a kid with not a care in the world.

 

[disney1990]

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?

Mickey is my favorite and Alice in Wonderland is my DH's favorite. We paid to get into Disney and if we want to wait in line to see them (we are grandparents) we have that right. I am like a little kid, Mickey makes me smile and brightens my day. I live the Dream -- of course Mickey is REAL.

 

[KristiKat]

My sis doesn't like to see adults without kids in line either cause she thinks it's for kids. I on the other hand don't see a problem with it unless you are taking up a lot of time and hold up the line. It's fun and makes us feel like kids again. I love getting my pic taken with the characters. Of course right now I have my DD as an excuse to be in line.

 

[t_daniels]

It's a big part of the Disney experience - what sets it apart from other places/parks.

Walt himself said the parks were designed for families, not just for the kids, yes?

And as long as the CM's and characters enjoy the interactions with us, and don't act bored, or listless -- why not?

That's my favorite part of the trip. Meeting my favorite characters. I swear, my brain shut down when I met my first character, Mary Poppins. You'd have thought she was my favorite... or I was 6.... but seriously. I was in my little kid mode all week - those WERE the characters I met. Not actors.

Plus. I've heard several times, that since they ARE acting, they don't appreciate if you try to get them to break character, or talk to them like they aren't the character they are portraying. Little ones are all around, they could hear you, and it just in general brings the magic down a touch. :\

 

[DisneyMim]

IMHO if you have to ask why then you just don't "get it" and you are really not enjoying the magic.

 

[Random Ninja]

I've grown up fairly close to WDW and we would go a couple of times a year. However, my mother hated waiting in any kind of line to see characters so I never got to see them. She said it was just going to be a hug-n-shove to the next person in line. (She also doesn't like character meals because they are so chaotic.) I think me punching Mickey in the nose at 3yo didn't help either.

Now that I'm an adult, I love getting pictures taken with the characters, plus the interaction can be so much fun. I had Mickey "ice skating" around back in April when I was in Orlando for a competition. I may have won her over last weekend with the Disney Visa Meet&Greet that she only did because my grandmother wanted a family picture. She got hugs from Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy (who took my Sitch plush, ran off with it, brought it back and danced it on my head.) She hasn't stopped talking about her hug from Mickey.

 

[WillAustin]

IMHO if you have to ask why then you just don't "get it" and you are really not enjoying the magic.

Definitely. It's the same reason we will only stay on-site. For us, inside the bubble the magic is real. It's certainly quite a bit more than just a fun time at a theme park.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

This is question really any different than asking why a child who KNOWS it's someone in a costume would want to visit a character?

 

[Andona]

I love to see long queues of people waiting to meet characters, whether the queue is full of kids or adults doesn't matter to me.

I'm glad to see people doing something that makes them happy.

And I'm also really glad because all those people in the character queues are NOT in the ride queues!

I have a picture of my family with Mickey taken several years ago and I'm happy with that.

To each his own - I think we ALL "get" the magic - otherwise we wouldn't love Disney so much and we wouldn't be on these boards

Andona

 

[Butterbunkins]

Because my family consists of me and DH and we love everything about Disney.

Because DH was 29 the first time he visited Disney so he has no childhood pictures of himself with Mickey.

Because we were both adults on our first trip together and we deserve to have pictures of ourselves with characters.

Because we spent our honeymoon at Disney and that was an extra special trip that can't be duplicated.

Because my next trip will be the first trip with my brother in 18 years, my dad 10 years and my mom 8 years. It will be the first time any of them will be there with DH.

Because this might be my mom's last trip since she is sick.

Because it's the same reason I scream on Space Mountain, will dress like a pirate for Pirate's League and cry everytime I watch Illuminations.

 

[canopynut66]

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

we are 63/65 and 69 years old and we love the characters and anything about WDW and is why we will be taking out 64th trip in October for two weeks. we do have several breakfast with characters and one evening meal this next trip with characters. it is just part of it for us. we tried for several trips trying to get snow white and all the dwarfs in one picture with us and we finally got one...they used to be spread around all over and we just had to keep working at it to get them all in one spot...and we treasure that picture..