Adults without kids - why do you visit characters?

[Sam81]

I have no issues with an adult standing in line to take a picture with a character. Would I do it without the kids – no, but that’s me. What I don’t understand are the adults that try to carry on a conversation with the character. Our last trip this lady kept asking where Minnie was? Would it have been ok if Mickey was like “she ran to drop off her prescription and grab some Subway, should be back in 10-15.”

 

[W.E.D.]

Because Goofy is my favorite character of all time!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I have no issues with an adult standing in line to take a picture with a character. Would I do it without the kids – no, but that’s me. What I don’t understand are the adults that try to carry on a conversation with the character. Our last trip this lady kept asking where Minnie was? Would it have been ok if Mickey was like “she ran to drop off her prescription and grab some Subway, should be back in 10-15.”

Often, the characters initiate the interaction. It's been my experience that they really enjoy when adults get into it. This was my experience at CRT, and with Stitch and Chip and Dale.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

My DH and I went to WDW on our honeymoon last September. I had pre-ordered the Photopass and we got photos with pretty much every single Photopass photographer in the parks--including ones with characters.

We also ate breakfast on our first day at the Crystal Palace, visited Minnie and Mickey in the Town Hall, and went to the Character Spot at Epcot.

We wore our Just Married pins and wow, did we ever have fun taking pictures with the characters. Until I read this thread, it never even occured to us that we were "weird" or "odd" for wanting our pictures taken with the characters. They were so funny when they saw we were just married--I wouldn't have traded that experience for anything.

One of my most special memories from the trip was kicking off the trip at the Crystal Palace--the Pooh characters totally made that breakfast--a simple breakfast buffet with no characters would not have been that memorable to me.

Some people have asked in this thread, "don't you know that isn't the real character?!? it's just a person in a costume!"

I know it's a person in a costume actually...but I really do honestly believe I am meeting with that character. After all, what is a character? Winnie the Pooh is from a book....and later a cartoon. Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character. Etc. The cast members, in my opinion, are actors who embody the essence of that character that only exists in movies or books and brings that character to life.

I am going back to Disney this September with my husband to celebrate our 1st anniversary and we are bringing my 23 year old sister and our moms--no kids. We will be getting pictures at the Crystal Palace and standing in line to meet the characters--can't wait!

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't usually stand in line to meet characters, but if there was a particular character that I REALLY wanted a photo with, I would.

Why would I do that? Because I want to, because I paid park admission and therefore have every right to avail myself of whatever entertainment is happening.

Sorry to all you parents who think your kids' needs are more important than anything else.

 

[Sam81]

Often, the characters initiate the interaction. It's been my experience that they really enjoy when adults get into it. This was my experience at CRT, and with Stitch and Chip and Dale.

Yea, Mickey doesn't talk. He definetly did not ask her if she knew where Minnie was. Yet this lady must have asked at least 5 times.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I am 22 and don't have kids. I only went to WDW once as a little kid and I have only been once since then (last year for my 21st birthday). I was so excited to meet the Fab 5 and get their autographs and meet Daisy and Alice and the princesses! I am still a kid. I love being a kid. I only got to experience Disney as a little kid once. I wasn't as fortunate as many kids who get to visit once a year or multiple times a year. It's apart of the magic! My DBF is almost 28 and he has never been and may not be going 'til he is about 30 or so and I think he would pose with characters too. It's just fun!

 

[ellie05]

We don't have any children and we do have pictures with certain characters. We do not make lines to meet characters but we will get a picture if there is no one waiting. It is kind of annoying certain attitude of people that have kids have at WDW. We had people told us to move to let their kids sit to see the parade (while we were sitting and waited over 30 min). Sorry you should have come and waited like the rest of us.

 

[Cms674]

THIS is fantastic. I suspect my 35 yr old DH would describe some characters exactly the same way, though he's not quite admitted it verbally yet.

I do like the "when Pooh hugs, you hug back" excuse though! He got far too much grief from his friends about photos back in 2009, and I think this is a great reason!

The best part is I would have never initiated a hug with a character, but when Pooh opened up his arms as if to say, " Come here and give me a hug." it was as if he "knew" I would love it.

Silly, I know, but who cares ? Life's too short and NY is a long way from The Hundred Acre Woods.

 

[LilyWDW]

Yea, Mickey doesn't talk. He definetly did not ask her if she knew where Minnie was. Yet this lady must have asked at least 5 times.

They can still hold a "conversation" though. I had quite a long one with Eeyore once. He asked me questions and I answered them. It was a jolly time!

 

[North of Mouse]

Because we turn into "kids" again when we are there Eeyore is my favorite character and I take every opportunity to have pictures made with him (yep, Crystal Palace too). My whole family gets a great kick out of my photos (and I'll never see 60 again) My dh and now grown children, grandchildren, all love Disney from "way" back. It's all in good fun!

 

[*Fantasia*]

What?! Go to Disney World and not say "Hello" to Mickey and his friends?! That's part of the highlights for me! If the lines are way too long to meet my favorite characters, I will skip and will try to get them on my next trip. We usually eat at Garden Grill and I know Mickey with Chip and Dale will be there waiting for us.

To me, it's collectors' items.. The photographs with the characters and their signatures. We haven't been to Disney since 2005, so I know there are new characters that I don't have their photos with nor signatures. I hope next year I will be able to meet them.

 

[Dani C]

Tradition

 

[juliebug1997]

I have no issues with an adult standing in line to take a picture with a character. Would I do it without the kids – no, but that’s me. What I don’t understand are the adults that try to carry on a conversation with the character. Our last trip this lady kept asking where Minnie was? Would it have been ok if Mickey was like “she ran to drop off her prescription and grab some Subway, should be back in 10-15.”

So I can stand in line but I'm not allowed to tell Mickey how glad I am to see him? Just as another poster said: we all paid park admission, the parks are meant for kids of any age. We all have the right to visit with the characters.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Yea, Mickey doesn't talk. He definetly did not ask her if she knew where Minnie was. Yet this lady must have asked at least 5 times.

True, but notice I said that the characters normally initiate the interaction, not necessarily the conversation.

For example, when my sister and I had our picture taken with Chip and Dale, I didn't say anything at first. Chip then pointed to my lanyard which had several Chip and Dale pins and mimed that he was happy to see them. I then said that they were my favorites growing up, and he kissed me on the cheek.

If you don't like character interaction, that's fine. But, I must admit I feel badly for those who can't be a kid again, even for just a few minutes.

 

[juliebug1997]

True, but notice I said that the characters normally initiate the interaction, not necessarily the conversation.

For example, when my sister and I had our picture taken with Chip and Dale, I didn't say anything at first. Chip then pointed to my lanyard which had several Chip and Dale pins and mimed that he was happy to see them. I then said that they were my favorites growing up, and he kissed me on the cheek.

If you don't like character interaction, that's fine. But, I must admit I feel badly for those who can't be a kid again, even for just a few minutes.

BTW, we love Chip and Dale, too. In fact, they accused us of stalking them on our cruise last year when we made every one of their meet and greets.

 

[Hmaries4]

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 can't help but wonder if you're talking about a friend of mine lol he just moved to the area about a year ago and made it his "mission" to take a picture of himself with each character in WDW. He has a ton of pics on his fb and it gives me my Disney fix whenever he posts new ones!

 

[angelbear425]

I only went to Disney twice when I was young (when I was 8 to WDW and 12 to DL for a day). I like Disney a lot more now than I did when I was younger. When I go I wear ears/crown and go to the character meet-n-greets and get pics taken. I don't think there is anything wrong with it. It's fun for me and I wasn't able to do so when I was a kid. So now I go and I like it.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I had my picture taken with characters before I became a parent. If I am vacationing in WDW, you better believe I will get my picture taken with Mickey. I liken it to my trips to Las Vegas. We stop and take pictures with people in Elvis or showgirl costumes. Why? Because it's a good souvenir and memory of the vacation. If I ever go to London, I will want my picture taken with the Royal Guard outside Buckingham Palace. I take pictures to remember my vacation by. Characters are a great way to do that at Disney...for people of all ages.

 

[Disneyholic]

True, but notice I said that the characters normally initiate the interaction, not necessarily the conversation.

For example, when my sister and I had our picture taken with Chip and Dale, I didn't say anything at first. Chip then pointed to my lanyard which had several Chip and Dale pins and mimed that he was happy to see them. I then said that they were my favorites growing up, and he kissed me on the cheek.

If you don't like character interaction, that's fine. But, I must admit I feel badly for those who can't be a kid again, even for just a few minutes.

I usually try to wear T-shirt that correspond to the park we are going to. I was wearing a T-shirt with the Lion King characters on it when we went to Rafiki's Planet Watch at AK. When I went up to Rafiki, he pointed at my shirt where he was on it and then hugged himself and then hugged me. He was so pleased to see that.

I wore a Tinkerbell shirt to MK and ran into Peter Pan & Wendy. He asked why I didn't have a shirt on with him on it and I told him it was almost impossible to find a shirt with him on it especially in adult size. ( I now have a Peter Pan shirt that I did by myself with computer print iron-on ) I also ran into Hook that day & he pointed at my shirt & held his nose. In other words, "Tink Stinks".

By the way, I am an ADULT/child of the biological age of 58 & the mental age of about 10 when I am at WDW or on a DCL cruise.