Adults without kids - why do you visit characters?

[Lanie]

How can you resist being hugged by a giant mouse!

Makes me happy and giggly, so I can't resist!

 

[UpstateMick]

I dont mind adults seeing characters, but when they spend SOOOO much time with them while families with two or three young kids are waiting to see them it becomes ridiculous. People just need to be more considerate and understand that kids should take priority over a 50 year old woman in Mickey ears carrying on and on and on and...well...you know what I mean. Just use common courtesy and we can all have a magical day!

 

[vicki_c]

I dont mind adults seeing characters, but when they spend SOOOO much time with them while families with two or three young kids are waiting to see them it becomes ridiculous. People just need to be more considerate and understand that kids should take priority over a 50 year old woman in Mickey ears carrying on and on and on and...well...you know what I mean. Just use common courtesy and we can all have a magical day!

Disagree that kids the priority, but I'm sure that's been stated 50 times in the thread already. No one of any age, including kids, should monopolize the character's time when others are waiting.

 

[mesaboy2]

Disagree that kids the priority, but I'm sure that's been stated 50 times in the thread already. No one of any age, including kids, should monopolize the character's time when others are waiting.

 

[CalicoSky]

I dont mind adults seeing characters, but when they spend SOOOO much time with them while families with two or three young kids are waiting to see them it becomes ridiculous. People just need to be more considerate and understand that kids should take priority over a 50 year old woman in Mickey ears carrying on and on and on and...well...you know what I mean. Just use common courtesy and we can all have a magical day!

Have to disagree on the philosophy that kids take priority simply due to their kidness. To me Disney is a place for kids at heart, not just people under a specific age. I would agree that common courtesy is welcome and that no one, regardless of age, should monopolize undue amounts of the characters' time.

I find, though, that when I just watch people doing the greetings rather than standing in line myself I enjoy seeing the longer interactions, and even those are quite short! So I think my impatience with chatty guests when in line is solely due to my own weariness of standing in line, and if I get cranky about it it's on me to take a break and find some way to rejuvenate.

 

[Butterbunkins]

I dont mind adults seeing characters, but when they spend SOOOO much time with them while families with two or three young kids are waiting to see them it becomes ridiculous. People just need to be more considerate and understand that kids should take priority over a 50 year old woman in Mickey ears carrying on and on and on and...well...you know what I mean. Just use common courtesy and we can all have a magical day!

What if that 50 year old is sick and this is their last trip to Disney? If we're placing priorities I put on the 50 year old. But adults or kids, everyone should have their share of time with the characters. No one has priority.

 

[stitchrulz]

I dont mind adults seeing characters, but when they spend SOOOO much time with them while families with two or three young kids are waiting to see them it becomes ridiculous. People just need to be more considerate and understand that kids should take priority over a 50 year old woman in Mickey ears carrying on and on and on and...well...you know what I mean. Just use common courtesy and we can all have a magical day!

I suppose it's all right for families with just one child to wait then? I'm quite sure the characters are trained on ways to wrap it up if someone is indeed spending far too much time with them. This is what they do, after all. As others have mentioned, everyone has paid to be in the parks and is free to take part in all entertainment available. Besides, for all you know that adult could have some terminal illness and will never be back to Disney. Or, they weren't able to visit as a child and are fulfilling a dream. That is important stuff, too. As adults with no children, we have let kids who were just so excited they couldn't stand it go ahead of us. But, I don't think it's correct to say they should take priority.

Agree that no one should be a character hog. Well, unless you're one of the Three Little Pigs.

Oh, and BTW, my guess is many of the kids getting their pics taken also know it's really folks in costumes (unless they're very young). Kids are pretty darn smart these days!

 

[gator girl]

This is how I look at it:

Your "turn" with a character begins the second after the person ahead of you in line finishes. Prior to that, it's none of your business what's going on up there.

This could be the first time in his life that the elderly gentleman has gotten a chance to meet his boyhood idol. This could be the last time the young adult with a terminal illness will ever get to hug Eeyore. This could be a spouse who's storing up memories to share with her loved one deployed to a war zone. Or it could be someone who just really, really likes Cinderella.

That kid in line with you? Doesn't care if he's being delayed by 10 seconds or 10 minutes. It's *all* agonizing by the time he's 2nd in line, which is why it's up to the adults to model patience.

Mind your own beeswax, as we used to say in school. Focus on getting your own camera ready & your own autograph book out, and stop worrying about everyone else "stealing" your park experience. Make your own.

You don't want to be the nutball in the Dwarves line last year who threw a screaming tantrum about the tween "skipping" his kid in line until his wife could shut him up long enough to get it through his skull that a Make A Wish thing was going on. If looks could kill, we'd have left his corpse right there in Frontierland.

 

[juliebug1997]

I dont mind adults seeing characters, but when they spend SOOOO much time with them while families with two or three young kids are waiting to see them it becomes ridiculous. People just need to be more considerate and understand that kids should take priority over a 50 year old woman in Mickey ears carrying on and on and on and...well...you know what I mean. Just use common courtesy and we can all have a magical day!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

This is how I look at it:

Your "turn" with a character begins the second after the person ahead of you in line finishes. Prior to that, it's none of your business what's going on up there.

This could be the first time in his life that the elderly gentleman has gotten a chance to meet his boyhood idol. This could be the last time the young adult with a terminal illness will ever get to hug Eeyore. This could be a spouse who's storing up memories to share with her loved one deployed to a war zone. Or it could be someone who just really, really likes Cinderella.

That kid in line with you? Doesn't care if he's being delayed by 10 seconds or 10 minutes. It's *all* agonizing by the time he's 2nd in line, which is why it's up to the adults to model patience.

Mind your own beeswax, as we used to say in school. Focus on getting your own camera ready & your own autograph book out, and stop worrying about everyone else "stealing" your park experience. Make your own.

You don't want to be the nutball in the Dwarves line last year who threw a screaming tantrum about the tween "skipping" his kid in line until his wife could shut him up long enough to get it through his skull that a Make A Wish thing was going on. If looks could kill, we'd have left his corpse right there in Frontierland.

Ditto!

I'm an adult and I love visiting the characters especially the face characters as they are so great at BEING the character but I take the same amount of time as any other party and as my husband is taking the pictures while I interact with the characters we take less time then many. But honestly OP what do you care why we like to meet the characters?

 

[angelbear425]

Disagree that kids the priority, but I'm sure that's been stated 50 times in the thread already. No one of any age, including kids, should monopolize the character's time when others are waiting.

Agreed..

 

[SteveandAli511]

My DW and I were there is May for honeymoon and we've always enjoyed meeting the characters (as long as the lines weren't too long.) We're still kids at heart (23 and 26 respectively) and we always get a kick out of interacting with them.

The only character we've ever waited in line for more than a few minutes for is Ariel, her favorite princess growing up. We only waited about 15-20 and were probably the only people that weren't with kids but we didn't care, we're their to enjoy our vacation!

I can honestly tell you that it was the best character experience either of us have had. Ariel and Eric noticed our pins and Ariel went into an entire conversation about if we had certain things at our wedding (boats, statues, fireworks) and where we got married (by the water, lots of people, etc.) We loved how tongue-in-cheek and it was completely different from what we expected. I've also thought that it must be nice for the actors to talk to adults once in a while to break up the string of kids and have a little more fun with their interactions.

We do it because we enjoy it, and if people have an issue with that than maybe Disney isn't the place for you.

 

[angelbear425]

This is how I look at it:

Your "turn" with a character begins the second after the person ahead of you in line finishes. Prior to that, it's none of your business what's going on up there.

This could be the first time in his life that the elderly gentleman has gotten a chance to meet his boyhood idol. This could be the last time the young adult with a terminal illness will ever get to hug Eeyore. This could be a spouse who's storing up memories to share with her loved one deployed to a war zone. Or it could be someone who just really, really likes Cinderella.

That kid in line with you? Doesn't care if he's being delayed by 10 seconds or 10 minutes. It's *all* agonizing by the time he's 2nd in line, which is why it's up to the adults to model patience.

Mind your own beeswax, as we used to say in school. Focus on getting your own camera ready & your own autograph book out, and stop worrying about everyone else "stealing" your park experience. Make your own.

You don't want to be the nutball in the Dwarves line last year who threw a screaming tantrum about the tween "skipping" his kid in line until his wife could shut him up long enough to get it through his skull that a Make A Wish thing was going on. If looks could kill, we'd have left his corpse right there in Frontierland.

Ditto!

 

[CurlyJo224]

I dont mind adults seeing characters, but when they spend SOOOO much time with them while families with two or three young kids are waiting to see them it becomes ridiculous. People just need to be more considerate and understand that kids should take priority over a 50 year old woman in Mickey ears carrying on and on and on and...well...you know what I mean. Just use common courtesy and we can all have a magical day!

But an adult ticket costs more than a child's ticket! I'm just getting my money's worth!

 

[aubriee]

What if that 50 year old is sick and this is their last trip to Disney? If we're placing priorities I put on the 50 year old. But adults or kids, everyone should have their share of time with the characters. No one has priority.

I agree! As I said in my previous post, my mom is turning 79 y/o Sept 9th and is in poor health. There is no way she'll ever be able to make another trip down there. When we are down there Sept 1st-8th, she will be taking pictures with the characters because she wants to. We want those memories and I want those pictures after she is gone. If she wants to ride Dumbo one more time, we'll do that too and we'll take up two Dumbos to do it, so I can get a picture. If she wants to get there an hour early to get a good view of the parade, we'll do that. She'll be in an ECV, so will need to be next to the curb to see. She didn't get to go to WDW until she was in her 70's. To me that frail 79 y/o mom that I love, will take priority over a 7 y/o that I don't know. Actually no one should take priority. Anyone who pays for admission and is willing to wait in line should be able to do whatever is offered in the parks. We don't do autograph books, just a quick picture. With Tinkerbell and Minnie we may take two quick snapshots (one by herself and one with the two of us), but with the other characters it will be just one quick photo. However, my mom does not want her ECV in a picture with the characters, so it may take her just a minute to get up and walk over to get her picture taken. Sorry if those few seconds it might take for her to stand up and walk a few feet bothers anyone. We'll still be spending less time with a character than a family who takes a half dozen pictures.

My mom knows I also have an AP to Universal and usually go over there a day or two during my WDW trips (I go to WDW 4-6 times a year). Even though I have told her I don't mind skipping Universal this trip and that there is nothing for her to do over there, besides a few shows, she has insisted that she wants to go over there at least one day, just so she can say she's been before she dies. We'll be using the Mears van to get over there, so there is no way to get her rented ECV over there, but she can't do without one. She says she will leave her rented ECV in the room and then rent one from Universal when she gets over there, so she'll be paying not only for transportation over to Universal and a park ticket like everyone else, but will also be paying for two ECV rentals for that day. The one thing she wants to do is get a picture with Lucy, Betty Boop, Woody Woodpecker, and Scooby Doo, so we'll be standing in those hot lines to get those pictures for her. If a 79 y/o waiting in line on an ECV bothers some parent, then tough noogies. Considering there are no rides over there she can enjoy and very few shows, plus she's having to pay for two ECVs that day, she's paying alot more for those pictures than those parents are and has every right to be there. Those parents better not say a word. They may be mama bears when their kids are threatened, but I can be a daughter bear right back. Anyone willing to wait in line has a right to get their picture taken with any character. In fact, if I can find Figment or Jiminy Cricket at WDW, I may even have one taken by myself, plus another with both me and my mom in it.

 

[Seeker615]

I like to visit the characters if the line isn't too long. At our last trip to Disney we pretty much skipped any meet and greets but got an impromptu visit with Clarabelle the Cow and Brer Rabbit. Other than that we didn't want to wait in line.

Over at Universal the character interactions were a lot easier and we have tons of photo ops with Scooby, Woody, Bullwinkle, Wolverine, shrek and Donkey.....etc...The lines seemed to move really fast and many times we were the first in line.

i agree with the others who said the character are there for everyone to enjoy if you are so inclined. It's your vacation and everyone has the right to meet and greet the characters!

 

[kimmer1850]

My DH and I (both mid 40s) visit at least once a year and while we don't always visit with the characters somwtimes we just get that urge. It's fun. Also, he proposed to me in front of Mickey Mouse! How many people can say that? Makes for an awesome memory!
The real story here though is this...
After my dad died in 1999 I wanted to do something nice for my mom and learning delayed brother. DB was 23 and had been to WDW once. I took him as a highschool graduation gift in 1997. DM had never been. Dad didn't like crowds too much and we really couldn't afford such an exravagant trip. But, I'm getting sidetracked. Anyway, I saved for two years and finally had enough to take my family to WDW in December 2001.
We didn't stay onsite but that didn't detract on bit from an incredibly magical time. At Mom's request we did Breakfast with Mickey. Oh My Goodness! You should have seen it! There we were 3 overgrown kids dancing with the Big Cheese! Even more special... Later on in Epcot we ran into Gepetto. Mom was tickled pink when he kissed her hand! Have you ever seen a 59 year old woman blush? Priceless! Ride up front on the Monorail? Of course! Dance in the Tapestry of Nations Parade? Why, if you insist! (Although she says that this was under protest. I'm not buying it!) Truly a beautiful trip.
This is why adults wait to see characters.
It is also why 8 years later I flew my family down again for a week in WDW before my wedding. Just as magical as the first trip (and not just because she got to see her only daughter marry the love of her life!)

 

[disneynewbee]

If I didn't have kids I would still wait in line and get pictures and possibly autographs. A lot of people scrap book and make a vacation photo album and how could you have a Disney photo album without pictures with characters?

 

[UpstateMick]

Have no problem with anyone seeing characters, young, old, 50, sick or not. I just have more tolerance for kids who may not know any better, than adults who DEFINITELY know better when it comes to common courtesy.

 

[shellie may]

Have no problem with anyone seeing characters, young, old, 50, sick or not. I just have more tolerance for kids who may not know any better, than adults who DEFINITELY know better when it comes to common courtesy.

You are telling me mickey is just in a costume and we shouldn't interact with him we should just stand there and take a pic and leave

if i was to tell my mom that she would be like "mickey's real and that i should have to wash my mouth out with soap for all that nonsense" good ole mom my mom and even my dad love to joke around with the characters and if people waiting think they are taking up too much time with the character tough luck adults have just as much as a right to be with characters as kids do.

maybe it was how i was raised but I love going to character meals and taking pics with the characters they are a lot of fun and when i take all my college age friends to disney we always take wait in line and take pics with characters and usually we are the only adults in line but we don't care and we have a good time