Character Dining... please wait your turn

[irishtigger]

I understand that your kid wants to see the characters but please wait your turn. Nothing is more rude when an entire family comes up and rudely pushes at your table to get in with the characters while your taking pictures! Stop and think how much you would like it if someone did that to your family! I am not a person who keeps my mouth shut and I will tell you to back off as I did this morning at Chef Mickey`s its rude and ignorant people have some respect.

 

[eelkmj01]

I understand that your kid wants to see the characters but please wait your turn. Nothing is more rude when an entire family comes up and rudely pushes at your table to get in with the characters while your taking pictures! Stop and think how much you would like it if someone did that to your family! I am not a person who keeps my mouth shut and I will tell you to back off as I did this morning at Chef Mickey`s its rude and ignorant people have some respect.

I completely agree with you in how rude that is. But isn't it just as bad to respond in kind (to be rude also)? IMHO, there is a better way to get your point across.

 

[goofy4tink]

Can't tell you how many times that has happened to us. The worst was the time that we had been waiting for an hour for Mickey to get to us..we had arrived at our CM's table as Mickey was leaving the area...it took close to an hour before we got to see him. In any case, there we sat, waiting patiently. As Mickey approached our table, a family of 5 (3 little ones) were just being taken to their table. They stopped right by our table and proceeded to go up to Mickey to get autographs. I simply said, as nicely as I could, that it was my dd's turn with Mickey. "Oh, we won't be but a few moments. Our kids have been really looking forward to seeing Mickey." Ah, no...so had we. It was a really good thing that the handler saw this happening and came over to tell the family that Mickey would be at their table for their 'special time' with Mickey. They weren't too happy about it, but by that time, Mickey had turned to my dd.
I sometimes wonder if everyone realizes that they will get their own turn with each character.

 

[eelkmj01]

I almost understand when children do that b/c they are just so impulsive and "can't help themselves", but it's awful when adults do it. We had a single diner at the table next to us at Crystal Palace last year who after having her turn, had to interrupt our turn to get another picture. I feel the best thing to do is sort of take the high road. You can get you point across to someone and show them the proper way to act at the same time.

 

[Marine Mom]

I understand that your kid wants to see the characters but please wait your turn. Nothing is more rude when an entire family comes up and rudely pushes at your table to get in with the characters while your taking pictures! Stop and think how much you would like it if someone did that to your family! I am not a person who keeps my mouth shut and I will tell you to back off as I did this morning at Chef Mickey`s its rude and ignorant people have some respect.

Well said!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Awww, sometimes little kids can't help their excitement when a character passes close by. I wouldn't dream of telling them to go back to their own table, I'd just smile and wait for their parent to get them. I've seen lots of kids go crazy over a character when they were making their rounds in the restaurants. It's usually young kids too so they probably don't know that Pooh or Tigger will make it over to their table later. I wouldn't let it bother me. Maybe some people at those character meals don't know the rules of character greeting anyway. The 1st time we took our girls to Disney, we ate at Crystal Palace. On our way to our table, Eeyore was walking by and my youngest ran up to him and gave him a huge hug, telling him how much she loved him. I didn't know you weren't supposed to do that so I let her. Then the handler told me that the characters will all come around to each table for pictures and autographs. I said sorry we didn't know and she said there are lots of people who don't. I guess that's a bit different than crowding someone's table though but still, some people are oblivious and may not be intentionally rude.

 

[NMAmy]

Awww, sometimes little kids can't help their excitement when a character passes close by. I wouldn't dream of telling them to go back to their own table, I'd just smile and wait for their parent to get them. I've seen lots of kids go crazy over a character when they were making their rounds in the restaurants. It's usually young kids too so they probably don't know that Pooh or Tigger will make it over to their table later. I wouldn't let it bother me. Maybe some people at those character meals don't know the rules of character greeting anyway. The 1st time we took our girls to Disney, we ate at Crystal Palace. On our way to our table, Eeyore was walking by and my youngest ran up to him and gave him a huge hug, telling him how much she loved him. I didn't know you weren't supposed to do that so I let her. Then the handler told me that the characters will all come around to each table for pictures and autographs. I said sorry we didn't know and she said there are lots of people who don't. I guess that's a bit different than crowding someone's table though but still, some people are oblivious and may not be intentionally rude.

Your scenario is a bit different and I don't think anyone would do much besides smile at a little one who tackled a character walking by their table.

Actually, I've seen way more adults going up to others' table than children. At 1900 Park Faire in March, we were seated near a grandmother with her two granddaughters. Cinderella had already spent quite a bit of time at their table and had moved on and was several tables away. The grandmother realized that Cinderella had signed a different page of the autograph book than she wanted her to and butted right in between a little girl and Cinderella to ask her to come back and sign again.

Cinderella quite graciously told her she was busy with another family right now and she'd stop back by on her way through.

I couldn't believe this woman was so rude. In fact earlier, she said something kind of snarky to Drizella who exclaimed quite loudly, "Well, that was really RUDE!"

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Your scenario is a bit different and I don't think anyone would do much besides smile at a little one who tackled a character walking by their table.

Actually, I've seen way more adults going up to others' table than children. At 1900 Park Faire in March, we were seated near a grandmother with her two granddaughters. Cinderella had already spent quite a bit of time at their table and had moved on and was several tables away. The grandmother realized that Cinderella had signed a different page of the autograph book than she wanted her to and butted right in between a little girl and Cinderella to ask her to come back and sign again.

Cinderella quite graciously told her she was busy with another family right now and she'd stop back by on her way through.

I couldn't believe this woman was so rude. In fact earlier, she said something kind of snarky to Drizella who exclaimed quite loudly, "Well, that was really RUDE!"

I meant a child who comes over to your table because the character is over there. We've had that happen and just smiled at the little boy who came to our table because he was so excited.

However, what you described at 1900 Park Fare is quite rude. I agree, the grandmother wasn't exhibiting good manners by butting in. I guess you're right though, I was talking more about kids not the adults. In that case, yes the adults should wait their turn.

At our 1900 Park Fare dinner a little girl was trailing behind Anastazia for several tables. It was pretty cute though. Then Anastazia turned around and told the little girl to go back to her table but to remember to wake up her parents at 4:00am because parents love that! I nearly spit my food out I was laughing so hard. The step-sisters are truly hilarious at that meal!

 

[2Tiggies]

I think I am just a softie We generally haven't had problems with this, except for at Chef Mickey. It happens just as often at the character meet n greets as at the meals. I just look at those little faces and my heart melts! It is annoying, don't get me wrong - especially when the character starts signing an autograph book, you are poised for your picture and someone else's kid steps into the frame. Once that book is signed the moment is gone. However it is not the fault of the children. It is the parents who should be taking responsibility for their kids, as many of you have pointed out on here already.

It does seem that the characters are aware of this being a problem from time to time and they seem to know when to stall for you. I won't let them leave the table if my photo session has been interrupted so all it means is that everyone else in the restaurant is going to wait a little longer before they make their rounds to their tables and the characters do hover if they sense that you are not happy. I just make a polite remark to my DD like "Let's just wait until we can get a picture of just you with the characters".

 

[2Tiggies]

Then Anastazia turned around and told the little girl to go back to her table but to remember to wake up her parents at 4:00am because parents love that! I nearly spit my food out I was laughing so hard. The step-sisters are truly hilarious at that meal!

I only just saw that now!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I totally agree! The worst we ever had this was at CRT breakfast. DD was only about 3, so getting a good pic of her with the princesses was challenge enough but then every time we were trying to get a shot, these two 8 or 9 year old girls from a couple of tables over came up to the princess waving their autograph books. I did say something to them because I felt they were old enough to understand.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I agree that it is the parents' responsibility to teach their children right from wrong. If a small child was so mesmerized by a character that they walked over to our table, I would probably smile and think it was cute. If their parent came over to lead them away from the table then I would be fine with it. However if the parent did nothing or encouraged it, that would irk me. I have small children (ages 3 and 5) and I teach them right from wrong and explain they have to wait their turn, at WDW and outside WDW and I expect others to do the same because I simply feel it is the right thing to do.

I saw this last summer at Sesame Place, both on line in the middle of the park to see a character and also at the character dinner. At one point, my son wanted to leave the table to go up to Big Bird during the dinner but I explained to him that he had to wait his turn and that Big Bird would be coming to our table. Was it easy to convince him of that? No, of course not, no child wants to be told not to do something they want to do. But as a parent, you do what you have to do. I felt really bad for the character handler there...there were countless people (mostly adults encouraging their children!) just running up to the characters, and at one point they even made an announcement in the restaurant to please wait for the characters to come to your table and they assured everyone that they would make it around to everyone, but that if people kept interrupting them it would interfere with that. Most people refrained but there were still a few who ignored it. Unreal how some people think they are the only one in the world and that it revolves around them!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Same thing happened when I ate at Crystal Palace last month. And the characters try to be good, and send them back to their table, but it's just so rude of the guests to do that in the first place.

 

[ntsammy5]

The handlers should have cattle prods with them. That would take care of the problem.

 

[MrsLS]

That is rude! we didn't encounter this at any of the character breakfasts we went to from adults or kids, all the families were great & respectful.

 

[KELLY]

Sorry this happened to you. It has never happened to us.

 

[hannaconda]

The problem is there is a lack of home training in todays kids and some of yesterdays parents. Its all about them and nobody else. Unlike them other ppl have paid just like them and deserve their chance with the characters. Now do I have a problem with a little child who may not have gotten a chance to see Micky or Tigger no. I do have a problem when a family comes up to my table or around my table while I'm tring to eat. Now we have a problem and my tounge will speak before I have gotten a chance to think about it. But that is just me. Thank goodness for happy pills

 

[katybugsmom]

Sorry this happened to you. It has never happened to us.

We've been very fortunate as well-this has never happened to us either! Everyone has always been very courtous and respectful!

 

[katybugsmom]

I meant a child who comes over to your table because the character is over there. We've had that happen and just smiled at the little boy who came to our table because he was so excited.

However, what you described at 1900 Park Fare is quite rude. I agree, the grandmother wasn't exhibiting good manners by butting in. I guess you're right though, I was talking more about kids not the adults. In that case, yes the adults should wait their turn.

At our 1900 Park Fare dinner a little girl was trailing behind Anastazia for several tables. It was pretty cute though. Then Anastazia turned around and told the little girl to go back to her table but to remember to wake up her parents at 4:00am because parents love that! I nearly spit my food out I was laughing so hard. The step-sisters are truly hilarious at that meal!

LOL
We did the character dinner a couple of years ago when our DS was 3. When the wicked stepmother came to our table she looked at our son and said, "Who are you?" His eyes got wide and he almost wet his pants!!!! He jumped up and told his daddy he had to go to the bathroom-they both made a hasty retreat!!!! He's never reacted to any other character like that night! She scared the pants off of him! It was quite funny because he never cried or asked to leave-I think shock is a better term to describe his reaction!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

LOL
We did the character dinner a couple of years ago when our DS was 3. When the wicked stepmother came to our table she looked at our son and said, "Who are you?" His eyes got wide and he almost wet his pants!!!! He jumped up and told his daddy he had to go to the bathroom-they both made a hasty retreat!!!! He's never reacted to any other character like that night! She scared the pants off of him! It was quite funny because he never cried or asked to leave-I think shock is a better term to describe his reaction!

Oh my gosh! That is extremely funny! Your poor little guy. Yup, the stepmother is very intimidating and she kept telling my DD's to sit up straight, grace and poise ladies! Too funny!