Adults without kids - why do you visit characters?

[Finally08]

As an adult, I'm glad I have my dd with me so I don't look like one of those "crazy" adults meeting characters...because it's one of my FAVORITE parts about WDW. I often notice that face characters spend more time talking and being silly with the adult guests than they do with kids...but then, who knows, half the reason might be because they know them because it seems WDW is full of CMs and CPs who spend all their off hours in the parks (making the lines longer for all your 5 year olds, I'm afraid).

But anyway...I look at it like meeting an actor or actress while they are still in the role of whatever character it is you love. How cool is that? I'd rather meet Jack Dawson from Titanic than Leo any day. Plus some face characters actually have big fan followings - people who specifically want to meet THEM while they portray a character, not just the character itself.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with adults posing and visiting with the characters. They spend money on tickets for the full park experience and have just as much of a right to participate.

And that's why my 5 year old has to wait just a bit longer...Thanks!

On the flip, should I have this mentality when I see children on line for more adult attractions like Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, etc.? Walt Disney created the idea of Disneyland and, subsequently, Walt Disney World so that it was a place for everyone to enjoy themselves, not just children.

 

[sweeteypie1118]

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.

That happens to me every time I go to Disney. I get there early to parades and fireworks shows to stake out a great spot, then 10 minutes before the thing starts, someone sticks their kid right in front of me.

I always wonder why people with babies are there tripping everyone with their baby carriages. The baby isnt really enjoying it and is not going to remember anything. The trip is more for the parents. But, I never say they have no right or reason to be there. Disney is for everyone. Children couldnt possibly appreciate all the detail and imagination that goes into everything in Disney.

I never took pics with characters in the past, but I took lots of character pics this past summer trip. Many times I was the only adult in line. My 13 year old didnt even want to get in many of the pics. It was FUN and they make for the best photos of the trip! How fun is it to look at a picture you took of a character with nobody else in the pic? Being there with the characters in the pictures makes it all the more special and memorable. I am sorry I waited so long, but will be getting in lines and taking more character pics on my next trip for Thanksgiving.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

And that's why my 5 year old has to wait just a bit longer...Thanks!

You're welcome?

 

[pugcrazy]

I intend to get lots of photos with characters on my Adults Only Disney trip! I have been losing weight for this trip (LOTS of WEIGHT) and I want skinny pictures with Mickey!

At Disney everyone is a kid! My 92 year old grandfather said the other day that he wished he were healthy enough to go back to Disney. If he was well enough I'd take him & guess what HE WOULD WANT A PHOTO IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE & ONE WITH MICKEY.


If I wasn't interested in the Disney experience, why would I go to Disney in the first place. I could find bigger faster coasters closer to home, but I want DISNEY MAGIC!

 

[caroli]

You're welcome?

I was about to write the same thing!

 

[dansyr2514]

Maybe we should go back to why Walt created the parks....for everyone to have a wholesome family experience.

My family consists of myself and dbf and I paid about $3000 to be here and escape reality. I call it my Happy Place. So ..why would I not be entitled to get a pic with a character or eat at a character meal or ride Dumbo if I want?

I'm not directing this at the original poster...since they were only asking a question. However, I'm curious how anyone can think they are more entitled to an experience than someone else.


Those parents that comment about adults at Disney.. Here's a deal I'd like to make. If you keep all the young children out of the hot tubs and from hanging on my chair while I'm eating at Coral Reef. I'll stop getting my pics taken with the characters.

Yes ..that's me and dbf with Gaston!

 

[saintfan]

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

Thank you Thank you

 

[TDC Nala]

And that's why my 5 year old has to wait just a bit longer...Thanks!

Is the 5 year old incapable of waiting just a bit longer?

(Actually in the past I have seen posters state that adults without kids should not be waiting in line to ride anything in Fantasyland. I've also seen posters state that people unaccompanied by children should not be able to book reservations at character meals. So some really do believe adults have no place there, although the adults do have as much right to be wherever in the park they wish to be as anyone else does.)

 

[kswm30b]

The first time I went to Disney I was 5. I was too scared to meet the characters, so I don't have a picture of 5 year old me with Mickey. I didn't get to go back until I was in my early 20s. We did a few day trips while we went to spring training in Florida. At that time, I didn't know adults were ALLOWED to meet characters! I saw these awesome characters (ones that are totally rare now), but didn't get in line since I thought it was just for kids.

Then we planned our "once in a lifetime" week long trip to Disney. I started doing research, including reading the DIS, and one of the first things I saw was a thread talking about adults meeting characters. I was thrilled that I wasn't the only adult that wanted to meet characters!

That first trip, I met a lot of characters. I LOVED it. That "once in a lifetime" trip has turned into 14 trips in the next few years and annual passes, lol. Yes, I love the rides, the shows, the parades, and just being there. But my FAVORITE thing to do at Disney is meet characters.

I won't wait long in line for rides, I won't camp out for over an hour for parades or fireworks I've already seen. But I will wait in a long line to meet characters, especially ones I haven't met before. I've made trips because I heard a rare character would be out at a party, for example, and I HAD to meet them (for example, I heard Gaston & Captain Jack would be at MNSSHP last year...and suddenly I was going to Disney with friends in September.) I wanted to go to Star Wars Weekend because I wanted to meet the characters (and I met 28 SWW characters a few weeks ago, it was a blast!!)

I get autographs most of the time (at this point, I don't always get them when I meet repeat characters), mostly because I'm a scrapbooker, and love to include that on my layouts. But it's also a little more time to interact with the character, rather than just smiling for a pic and leaving. I find that the characters LOVE to interact with guests, and they've been the ones spending more time with guests that play along, not the other way around. I don't just want the pic and leave, it's the fun interaction, like Pluto trying to steal one of my friends away, Peter Pan telling me my real age, Mickey being happy at my mom wearing a Minnie shirt, Donald being upset with me since I was wearing a Mickey shirt, Shaak Ti teaching me how to be a Jedi, etc, that make me want to go to Disney again and again.

I'm SO thankful I found that thread 5 years ago that talked about adults meeting characters (and the many threads, sites, and friends over the years that have helped character fans like me.) I can't imagine how different I would be if instead I found a thread making fun of adults meeting characters.

 

[bee86]

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

Thank you Thank you

As Im from Ireland, WDW was definitely not a summer time trip as a child, back in 2008 I did get my first trip of a lifetime and DIDN'T get any character pictures or go to character meals...why? Purely because I was so busy thinking what parents would think of me while getting in line to meet mickey mouse!

It was the worst decision I have ever made as now I have no extra special photos from that trip and its not like I can just pop over to orlando when ever I feel like it, im looking at my next trip being summer 2014 and I will not make the same mistake twice!
Myself and my DBF will be there with no children and I will be getting in line for pics and be at what ever character meals I want and it truly will be a magical trip
After all as well as everything else, its going to cost us the guts of at least €5000 for our trip so why shouldn't I be able to take part in everything that WDW has to offer.

Meeting the characters for me would be and will be such a happy time, I cannot explain it in words but as one poster has already said, its a happy place I just LOVE DISNEY. Im 25 Disney is not just for children.

 

[Chicago Mo]

That happens to me every time I go to Disney. I get there early to parades and fireworks shows to stake out a great spot, then 10 minutes before the thing starts, someone sticks their kid right in front of me.

I always wonder why people with babies are there tripping everyone with their baby carriages. The baby isnt really enjoying it and is not going to remember anything. The trip is more for the parents. But, I never say they have no right or reason to be there. Disney is for everyone. Children couldnt possibly appreciate all the detail and imagination that goes into everything in Disney.

I have a question here... I agree with you if you are there staked out your spot for over an hour that is YOUR SPOT. and i will respect you for that. Let me ask. you are there with your friends and a little child of about 3-5 cannot see around you wouldn't you let that child move ahead of you? you still can see of course, Yet on the other hand i wouldn't want the entire clan of the child's 56 family members thinking they could go in front either... Humm Depends on the situation!!! Like my thinking out loud?

2nd, I do Believe Children appreciate all the detail and imagination that goes into Disney: at certain ages children totally believe in all that is magic they believe they are stepping into a fairy tale in MK as the Disney family intended Disney World to be! We as Adult look at the infrastructure that went into it. Children see it as fact and magic.
I am a mother of 3. I believe all adults should see the character as much as anyone else.
Someone said it best when you want to meet the character not the actor!

 

[lustergirl]

And that's why my 5 year old has to wait just a bit longer...Thanks!

Let me go out on a whim here: perhaps your 5 year old would not know the difference or even care less.

 

[sweeteypie1118]

I have a question here... I agree with you if you are there staked out your spot for over an hour that is YOUR SPOT. and i will respect you for that. Let me ask. you are there with your friends and a little child of about 3-5 cannot see around you wouldn't you let that child move ahead of you? you still can see of course, Yet on the other hand i wouldn't want the entire clan of the child's 56 family members thinking they could go in front either... Humm Depends on the situation!!! Like my thinking out loud?

2nd, I do Believe Children appreciate all the detail and imagination that goes into Disney: at certain ages children totally believe in all that is magic they believe they are stepping into a fairy tale in MK as the Disney family intended Disney World to be! We as Adult look at the infrastructure that went into it. Children see it as fact and magic.
I am a mother of 3. I believe all adults should see the character as much as anyone else.
Someone said it best when you want to meet the character not the actor!

When this happens, the parent does not even ASK. They just take it upon themselves to stick their kid in front of everyone. Yes, they are short and you can still see over them, but there is no ROOM for them. By the time the show or parade is going to start, there are crowds behind you and the child is infringing on my personal space to where I am no longer sitting comfortably, but am being stepped on. If it is so imporatnt for the child to be up front, then stake out a spot early. Many parents dont do this because they dont want to deal with an impatient child, so they go off and enjoy themselves and wait until the last minute and feel they have the right to stick their kids in front of people who made sure to get there early. This makes me sound like a b***h I know, but to me it is so very rude. I have a problem with the rude parents, not children themselves.

I didnt mean children dont appreciate the magic, I mean they dont and cant appreciate all the work and imagination that went into the planning. The architecture, the landscaping etc. My point was that there is something for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.

 

[Chicago Mo]

When this happens, the parent does not even ASK. They just take it upon themselves to stick their kid in front of everyone. Yes, they are short and you can still see over them, but there is no ROOM for them. By the time the show or parade is going to start, there are crowds behind you and the child is infringing on my personal space to where I am no longer sitting comfortably, but am being stepped on. If it is so imporatnt for the child to be up front, then stake out a spot early. Many parents dont do this because they dont want to deal with an impatient child, so they go off and enjoy themselves and wait until the last minute and feel they have the right to stick their kids in front of people who made sure to get there early.

I didnt mean children dont appreciate the magic, I mean they dont and cant appreciate all the work and imagination that went into the planning. The architecture, the landscaping etc. My point was that there is something for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.

I agree with you on the first part!!! IMHO the parent shouldn't ask if their child can go in front of anyone. Your right they should stake out their own personal space... the one time we were there prime spot and there was a little one behind me. I asked if the wee one wanted to sit in front with my kids. The parents were appreciative and the kids got the see the parade and fireworks..

as for the second part. just like stated earlier the adults appreciate the thought process that went into Disney and the children appreciate the reality of the fantasy. we are on the same page just not the same paragraph!

 

[TDC Nala]

Let me ask. you are there with your friends and a little child of about 3-5 cannot see around you wouldn't you let that child move ahead of you? you still can see of course, Yet on the other hand i wouldn't want the entire clan of the child's 56 family members thinking they could go in front either

This is the problem that is usually encountered. The parents want to stand with the kid. They're either worried about getting separated from the kid, or more likely they want to see the kid's face or video the kid watching the parade. So if you let the kid go in front of you, the parents want to go too. Have encountered a few polite families that won't try to get ahead of you because you let their kid in, but just as many who will.

And yes, there's an epidemic of people who won't ask. They just assume. You can hear them behind you telling the child "just go up there. Just do it. Just push in." When it would be as easy to say "excuse me, can my child stand in front of you." Maybe they are anticipating being told "no" and think if the kid just goes ahead nobody will say anything because it's easier to say "no" to the parent than right to the kid's face. Of course, sometimes once the kid gets up there, it's the parent's cue to squeeze up too so they can get a picture or video.

In a perfect world parents who want their kids front and center for the parade will plan accordingly, but so many either don't think about it or think they shouldn't have to. I have seen the parades and don't mess with them anymore, except the Star Wars Weekend one and I see that once and get out.

 

[ttintagel]

When this happens, the parent does not even ASK. They just take it upon themselves to stick their kid in front of everyone. Yes, they are short and you can still see over them, but there is no ROOM for them. By the time the show or parade is going to start, there are crowds behind you and the child is infringing on my personal space to where I am no longer sitting comfortably, but am being stepped on. If it is so imporatnt for the child to be up front, then stake out a spot early. Many parents dont do this because they dont want to deal with an impatient child, so they go off and enjoy themselves and wait until the last minute and feel they have the right to stick their kids in front of people who made sure to get there early. This makes me sound like a b***h I know, but to me it is so very rude. I have a problem with the rude parents, not children themselves.

The being stepped on is the worst. Parents don't teach their children to look where they're going, and don't teach them any manners. I've been not only stepped on, but shoved and kicked by children trying to get in front of me. Even when I was on crutches, kids would get in front of me and then start fidgeting and dancing backewards onto my broken foot, and nearly tipping me over. Not a parent in sight to correct their behavior.

 

[Fantasmiss]

Suspension of belief, which is what the whole of WDW is about. The same reason why you might enjoy a play or movie. It REALLY annoys me that some people with kids seem to think they have priority over people travelling without kids and that gives them the right to behave like spoiled brats. And that doesn't just go for character greetings.

 

[sweeteypie1118]

This is the problem that is usually encountered. The parents want to stand with the kid. They're either worried about getting separated from the kid, or more likely they want to see the kid's face or video the kid watching the parade. So if you let the kid go in front of you, the parents want to go too. Have encountered a few polite families that won't try to get ahead of you because you let their kid in, but just as many who will.

And yes, there's an epidemic of people who won't ask. They just assume. You can hear them behind you telling the child "just go up there. Just do it. Just push in." When it would be as easy to say "excuse me, can my child stand in front of you." Maybe they are anticipating being told "no" and think if the kid just goes ahead nobody will say anything because it's easier to say "no" to the parent than right to the kid's face. Of course, sometimes once the kid gets up there, it's the parent's cue to squeeze up too so they can get a picture or video.

In a perfect world parents who want their kids front and center for the parade will plan accordingly, but so many either don't think about it or think they shouldn't have to. I have seen the parades and don't mess with them anymore, except the Star Wars Weekend one and I see that once and get out.

LOL, I was going to say this but was trying to keep it short. YES, the parents do squeeze there either in front of you too, or practically right on top of you! If there is room, I have no problem with a little one sitting in front of me at the Electrical Parade for example where everyone is sitting around the circle. They usually stand in front of me, or practically on me, then you have the whole family up you butt. I am then uncomfortable and in a not so great mood anymore which takes away from my enjoyment even more. Its rude, but I dont say anything, because I dont want to make the kid feel bad and I am sure that is what these parents count on.

 

[Fantasmiss]

When it would be as easy to say "excuse me, can my child stand in front of you."

I don't even think it's fair to ask anyone a question like that, even politely. If you want your kids at the front to watch the parade, GET THERE EARLY. Don't expect people who've sacrificed 30 min, an hour or whatever, of park time to make sure they can see the parade from the front, to just move out of the way. I certainly wouldn't ask anyone to do that.