Character meet and greets are the worst part of WDW now! My story..

[mikeyg1479]

Just got back not long ago during the week of 3/17/13 for probably my 10th visit over the last 20 years.
As always, 99.5% of the trip was a delight.

However, these PHOTOPASS ran character lines, HAVE TO GO!!

3rd Day into the trip, we go into Hollywood Studios, perfectly happy with the trip thus far. Right away I spot Goofy/Pluto photo opp in not too bad of a line, so myself, my five year old, and many people around us just arriving to the park hop in line with me and my son happening to be in the back.

Shortly after, I here this "EXCUUUUSSSEEE MEE!" At first I think nothing of it not expecting anybody to be talking to me. Again, EXCCCCUUUUSSSSE MEEEE! HELLLLOOOOOO??!!- in a real condescending tone No lie.

I turn around and heres this obnoxious photo pass guy. "You need to leave, these people in front of you are our last group (they literally got in line a half second before we did, and no one else was behind me). I'm like "really, your kicking my 5 year old out of this line you couldn't take one more and let us be the last one since we are the last ones here now?" The guy says "DON'T YOU HAVE OUR SCHEDULE? I gave him the dirtiest look I could muster while I slowly walked away with my poor kid, denied. This basically soured my entire day there.

The thing with this, I understand they have to cut off somewhere, but the whole mob of people in front of me literally just got there too, and they were let in and we were singled out to leave as the last people that got in that line. Not cool- and this guys tone was totally condescending and rude.

Two days later, I'm in MK at fantasyland, see Gaston standing in front of his tavern with a moderate line. I hop in line with my son. Photopass lady approaches- "Sorry, were not taking any more, Gaston needs to leave". I'm like ok, I understand. I was just a straggler who probably wandered in long after they closed the line.

I get out of line, walk to where Gaston is, keeping a good 10-15 ft distance to the side of the line and Gaston (& his photopass handlers), just wishing to observe his antics for like 30 seconds. I wasn't crowding Gaston, people in line, nor any of the pictures being taken. Within 5 seconds the photopass lady is back on me. "IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILY OF ANBODY IN LINE WAITING TO GET A PICTURE, YOU NEED TO MOVE ON".

Seriously. I ignored her and continued to watch, she can't tell me I cant be some public area in this park thats not in her line. And she kept repeating herself over and over, literally yelling in my ear at me to move on.

For me this is a sad affair. This isn't the president of the united states and the secret service protecting them- this is a costumed character at Disney for Pete's sake. I should be able to watch them for a minute if I choose. I was well removed from the line, other families, and the actual picture taking, not interfering with anything. I'd understand, if I was loitering there for several minutes, or generally getting in the way of people in line, or if it seemed like i was line jumping, but I was far back, standing behind other family members of those in line taking pictures.

I miss the days when you could just encounter Goofy randomly in the park, and they would mingle and play with you or your kid. Now everything is behind megahuge lines with these handlers barking orders. Not very magical Disney.

 

[rgf207]

Just got back not long ago during the week of 3/78/13 for probably my 10th visit over the last 20 years.
As always, 99.5% of the trip was a delight.

However, these PHOTOPASS ran character lines, HAVE TO GO!!

3rd Day into the trip, we go into Hollywood Studios, perfectly happy with the trip thus far. Right away I spot Goofy/Pluto photo opp in not too bad of a line, so myself, my five year old, and many people around us just arriving to the park hop in line with me and my son happening to be in the back.

Shortly after, I here this "EXCUUUUSSSEEE MEE!" At first I think nothing of it not expecting anybody to be talking to me. Again, EXCCCCUUUUSSSSE MEEEE! HELLLLOOOOOO??!!- in a real condescending tone No lie.

I turn around and heres this obnoxious photo pass guy. "You need to leave, this people in front of you are our last group (they literally got in line a half second before we did, and no one else was behind me). I'm like "really, your kicking my 5 year old out of this line you couldn't take one more and let us be the last one since we are the last ones here now?" The guy says "DON'T YOU HAVE OUR SCHEDULE? I gave him the dirtiest look I could muster while I slowly walked away with my poor kid, denied. This basically soured my entire day there.

The thing with this, I understand they have to cut off somewhere, but the whole mob of people in front of me literally just got there too, and they were let in and we were singled out to leave as the last people that got in that line. Not cool- and this guys tone was totally condescending and rude

Two days later, I'm in MK at fantasyland, see Gaston standing in front of his tavern with a moderate line. Hop in lin with my son. Photopass lady approaches- "Sorry, were not taking any more, Gaston needs to leave". I'm like ok, I understand. I was just a straggler who probably wandered in long after they closed the line.

I get out of line, walk to where Gaston is, keeping a good 10-15 ft distance to the side of the line, just wishing to observe his antics for like 30 seconds. I wasn't crowding Gaston, people in line, nor any of the pictures being taken. Within 5 seconds the photopass lady is back on me. "IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILY OF ANBODY IN LINE WAITING TO GET A PICTURE, YOU NEED TO MOVE ON".

Seriously. I ignored her and continued to watch, she can't tell me I cant be some public area in this park thats not in her line. And she kept repeating herself over and over, literally yelling in my ear at me to move on.

For me this is a sad affair. This isn't the president of the united states and the secret service protecting them- this is a costumed character at Disney for Pete's sake. I should be able to watch them for a minute if I choose. I was well removed from the line, other families, and the actual picture taking, not interfering with anything. I'd understand, if I was loitering there for several minutes, or generally getting in teh way of people in line, or if it seemed like i was line jumping, but I was far back, standing behind other family members of those in line taking pictures.

I miss the days when you could just encounter Goofy randomly in the park, and they would mingle and play with you or your kid. Now everything is behind megahuge lines with these handlers barking orders. Not very magical Disney.

Sorry for your experience but you said it yourself, they have to cut off somewhere.

 

[AngiTN]

Wow, you must have hit them in bad moods due to the crowds. We've never encountered things like you describe.

First, are you sure it was the Photopass folks who told you to leave? I've not seen them do anything to control lines. I've always encountered the character's handler keeping tack of the number of guests.

We have found 2 different types of M&G lines. In some they come out for a set time and allow only so many guests in line at a time. In these they will turn away the guests that come up after the cut off has been established.

In others we find that they allow the line to remain in place and the characters will leave for a brief time, I assume to swap out with a new set, so those that have been in the costume can have a break. In those lines I've not seen them cut off the line. They handler always announces that the character will be stepping away but will return in just a few minutes.

I've never been told to leave and not observe a M&G, nor have I seen them tell others to leave. I again wonder if it was due to crowds or if you were getting in the shot or in the way.

 

[TDC Nala]

Someone's got to be the last in line before break time. If it cuts off at you, it shouldn't matter how soon the person who got there ahead of you got there, and whether or not you have a 5 year old. Granted the CMs could be a little less obnoxious, if they were indeed as obnoxious as written. And as far as I know the photographers are just taking photos, not doing line control. The characters have handlers for that.

And yes, the way they do it now is partially for the safety of the performers, as if they were just walking around they'd be mobbed. Times have changed.

 

[mikeyg1479]

Yes, but you don't arbitrarily cut of the last person in line, but let the person who got in a half second before me. Like I said, no one else behind me. Why not accept us as the last one.

And theres NO reason to be at me to "MOVE ON" and not even let me obserse a character from a distance outside of the line for a short while.

No excuse for this. Also, they could at least be polite and not yell at their guests. I certainly didn't raise my voice at anybody.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, but you don't arbitrarily cut of the last person in line, but let the person who got in a half second before me. Like I said, no one else behind me. Why not accept us as the last one.

And theres NO reason to be at me to "MOVE ON" and not even let me obserse a character from a distance outside of the line for a short while.

No excuse for this. Also, they could at least be polite and not yell at their guests. I certainly didn't raise my voice at anybody.

Because they can only allow so many people in line. That's the policy and they stick to it.

No excuse for the other at all. Write and report it if it's bothering you so much. Maybe someone will speak to that photographer and train them on a better way to handle things.

 

[ars0525]

I am surprised a Photopass person would have taken that roll as I just see them snapping pictures. I would think the character's handler would be in charge of manning the crowds, but I have never seen any get remotely aggressive or loud.

Yeah, I don't get it either if Gaston was out in a public area why it wasn't ok for you to watch from the sidelines? That does seem strange.

I have been in the lines where the character takes a break, but we continue standing in line waiting for them to return.

 

[disneydentist]

I wish I had a watch that counted half seconds!

 

[tony609]

Wow, you must have hit them in bad moods due to the crowds. We've never encountered things like you describe.

First, are you sure it was the Photopass folks who told you to leave? I've not seen them do anything to control lines. I've always encountered the character's handler keeping tack of the number of guests.

We have found 2 different types of M&G lines. In some they come out for a set time and allow only so many guests in line at a time. In these they will turn away the guests that come up after the cut off has been established.

In others we find that they allow the line to remain in place and the characters will leave for a brief time, I assume to swap out with a new set, so those that have been in the costume can have a break. In those lines I've not seen them cut off the line. They handler always announces that the character will be stepping away but will return in just a few minutes.

I've never been told to leave and not observe a M&G, nor have I seen them tell others to leave. I again wonder if it was due to crowds or if you were getting in the shot or in the way.

This has been our experiences in the past. I have been told a line was cut off I say ok, maybe ask if there coming back later etc.. It's ok.

As for Gaston you should have told them get a manager to tell me I can't stand off to the side and watch , out of the way. That would have been my response.

 

[Joanna71985]

Huh, that's weird. The photographer should not be the one closing the line (that's the attendant's job)

 

[Tormania]

Kinda sad that several responses were of the variety that "Oh well, too bad, you got in line past the cutoff, deal with it" attitudes. Sorry, but that is unacceptable.

For all the Disney worship that is spread on these boards and how Disney always goes "above and beyond" in the customer service realm, spending a couple more minutes so a 5 yr old can get their picture taken with Goofy or Pluto seems well within the guidelines of providing proper customer service.

It wasn't like he walked up 5 or 10 minutes after they had decided to set a cutoff. I think we all understand that obviously they have to have a last guest so the character can take a break, but kinda shocked by some of "tough luck" responses from some of you when it wouldn't have taken more than a couple minutes to make a child at DISNEY happy.

 

[TDC Nala]

Sorry, but the breaks for the characters are pretty strict. And I'm not for "letting people in" past the cutoff because they have a child. That leads to "what about MY child?" and that kind of thing. They CAN come back when the character returns. When break time comes, the character goes. It's been done like that for some time now.

 

[tjmj9801]

If I was talked to in the manner you say by ANYone wearing a Disney name badge, they'd be reported so fast their head would spin. There's tact and there's rudeness. Wow.

 

[squirrel4569]

We had two very different experiences on our last trip, both at EPCOT.

First we were getting pictures taken with Goofy and a guy that was next in line was taking pictures while we were getting ours done with the Photopass photographer. The PP photog told him not to take pictures of another family. He wasn't rude about it and I'll admit that it is a little creepy, but it *is* a public-ish place so I'm assuming I got into more than one family's pictures during the trip. I understand both sides of that coin. The guy likely just wanted a picture of Goofy and was impatient. Some families, especially those with kids, probably don't want their picture purposely taken by a stranger though.

Second was when we went to see Belle in France. We got there and the line was close and the CM told us no more people. It was the last M&G of the day for Belle and DD2 was completely distraught because Belle is her favorite princess. We told her that we would have to see her the next day at MK and she just wouldn't stop crying. The CM took pity on her and said that she would have Belle wave to her when she left and we could take pictures as she walked away. The line ended and the CM whispered in Belle's ear and as Belle started to walk away she waved to my daughter and my daughter excitedly waved back and then Belle came over and gave her a huge hug and posed for a moment so we could take a picture with our camera. The CM was urging Belle to move on since it was time to go but again, wasn't rude about it to us or to Belle. That was a special moment that we won't soon forget.

 

[Magpie]

Kinda sad that several responses were of the variety that "Oh well, too bad, you got in line past the cutoff, deal with it" attitudes. Sorry, but that is unacceptable.

For all the Disney worship that is spread on these boards and how Disney always goes "above and beyond" in the customer service realm, spending a couple more minutes so a 5 yr old can get their picture taken with Goofy or Pluto seems well within the guidelines of providing proper customer service.

It wasn't like he walked up 5 or 10 minutes after they had decided to set a cutoff. I think we all understand that obviously they have to have a last guest so the character can take a break, but kinda shocked by some of "tough luck" responses from some of you when it wouldn't have taken more than a couple minutes to make a child at DISNEY happy.

Um... being a character is an incredibly tough job. There are strict limits, for the actor's own safety. When those guys get out of their suits, they're soaked in sweat and dehydrated and exhausted.

A few more minutes for YOUR child, becomes a few more minutes for the next child, and the next one after that. You're expecting them to sacrifice their limited recovery time for YOU. Even five minutes makes a difference, when you're working that hard.

The length of the line is determined before you even arrive. It's sad when you don't get to hop in, but there's a good chance that when a line looks short it's because the handler has already informed everyone else that they're cutting it off.

And no, there's no nice way to disappoint a five year old, but the fact is, it's got to happen. And there's nothing that makes your five year old any more special or deserving than the next five year old who might wander up. Or thirty-five year old.

Best way to ensure this never happens again? Go to Kenny the Pirate's site, look up the schedules, figure out where the characters you want to see are going to be, and show up a few minutes early so you can be at the front of the line.

http://kennythepirate.com/

Problem solved!

 

[mikeyg1479]

I wish I had a watch that counted half seconds!

OK smartie, what I'm saying is the party in front of me literally walked into the park in front of us and basically got in line at same time as me, they just happend to be justin front, hence they were basically there a split second before, and maybe because I'm not a rushie/pushie person who tries to squeeze in front of people.

Thing is, I doubt the handler is counting exact numbers of people here, not enough time passed for that to happen. I was one of maybe 10-15 that jumped in line at that quick moment of time and they chose to single me (and only me)out to kick out of line.

And with Gaston, I was well out of the line, not anywhere near any photo shots- the photo pass people nor the handler should have had any business with me at that point.

I guess I was wrong to expect sympathy on the internet. My bad, Disney does no wrong. There, better?

 

[mikeyg1479]

Kinda sad that several responses were of the variety that "Oh well, too bad, you got in line past the cutoff, deal with it" attitudes. Sorry, but that is unacceptable.

For all the Disney worship that is spread on these boards and how Disney always goes "above and beyond" in the customer service realm, spending a couple more minutes so a 5 yr old can get their picture taken with Goofy or Pluto seems well within the guidelines of providing proper customer service.

It wasn't like he walked up 5 or 10 minutes after they had decided to set a cutoff. I think we all understand that obviously they have to have a last guest so the character can take a break, but kinda shocked by some of "tough luck" responses from some of you when it wouldn't have taken more than a couple minutes to make a child at DISNEY happy.

Thank you!

 

[TDC Nala]

They were wrong to tell you that you could not stand to the side and watch the character. But as for being after the last in line...someone has to be.

 

[moret1sm]

Wow, that sounds horrible. Sounds like it put a pretty bad damper on your trip. I'll go prepared.

 

[squirrel4569]

And with Gaston, I was well out of the line, not anywhere near any photo shots- the photo pass people nor the handler should have had any business with me at that point.

I'm with you on the fact that you should be able to observe a character from a distance as long as you aren't impeding anyone's progress, getting in the way of photographers or trying to take pictures of another family/child.

The only possible explanation I can think of is that the area by where Gaston is at is somewhat narrow (or at least it was when we were there last) and to prevent a blockage of people standing in the middle of the walkway they could've said politely that they need to keep people moving so everyone can get through, but it doesn't sound like that was the case at all.