character meal

[eileenjez]

I know this is off the wall but sometimes we like to go to restaurants that have the characters but would prefer they not stop at our table. Has anyone thought about putting a sign on the table to have them not stop or if they have been by once already not stop again? I know we don't have to go there but it's usually for the menu not the characters.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Visiting with characters is among my favorite things at Disney World, but if they have already been by and I don't want them to stop again, I smile and wave and they go on by. Don't expect them to remember whether they have already met you. I think such a sign on the table would be overkill and not so polite. They can usually tell by one's body language if you want them to stop or not.

 

[eastendlights]

I don't think a sign would be appropriate. I would mention it to the person that seats you as they could tell the character handlers.

 

[Dug720]

Visiting with characters is among my favorite things at Disney World, but if they have already been by and I don't want them to stop again, I smile and wave and they go on by. Don't expect them to remember whether they have already met you. I think such a sign on the table would be overkill and not so polite. They can usually tell by one's body language if you want them to stop or not.

The "not remembering" is really more due to a likely change of friends than anything else. Often one set makes the rounds and the next set of rounds is another set of friends.

ONE time, Goofy's friends at CMC obviously shared info about how Goofy was playing with my sister and me more because there was a young child who was laughing hysterically at the antics (Goofy basically decided my sister and I needed to pretty much sit on each other and would come flying over to squish us together if we moved.) We could tell it was a different friend because of other little things, but Goofy continued to squish us at every opportunity.

But most of the time if I experience a character twice the interaction is different so obviously a change of friends.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

The "not remembering" is really more due to a likely change of friends than anything else. Often one set makes the rounds and the next set of rounds is another set of friends.

I knew that but I didn't mention it, because I wanted to preserve the magic.

 

[eileenjez]

I agree to the idea that a "changing of the guard" and not remembering. We've tried to wave them off but sometimes it doesn't work and I put that off to not being able to see so well. I enjoy watching the interaction with the little ones, that's one reason we go to the character meals.

 

[Barbydoll8]

Once I had Pluto come by twice at Garden Grill and the second time he motioned as to why I wasn't taking pictures. It wasn't a change either, he was just at my table 10 min prior. LOL I would tell the handler that they can move to the next table. I've noticed that they do look to see if you are interested in having them stop so minimizing eye contact should help some too.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Often one set makes the rounds and the next set of rounds is another set of friends.

1) All characters are in a set of three.
. . . one character on break while the other is with guests
. . . one character On Stage table-hopping among the guests
. . . one Handler (who goes tends both characters)
. . . these are minimums set through the union contract
2) In most cases, the indoor characters are On-Stage for 20-minutes, then a 20-minute break before being relieved.
3) Outdoor characters during the hot Summer months can rotate as often as every 25-minutes.
.
4) To answer your question, just a simple wave-off to the Handler will cause them to skip you.
5) However, character meals do not have that great of a menu, so enjoy the characters.
6) You will find that joking around with them is a nice addition to your meal.