Character meets, is this rude?

[NJlauren]

Please be honest, no hard feelings.

We have a trip with 4 kids (7,5,5, and 13 months). When we meet characters I would like them each to have a signature (not positive what we are signing yet).

We are fine with one group picture for all the kids and maybe one with the adults and kids.

Is this asking to much? I do not plan on doing individual pictures or even small groups of siblings (2 kids and 2 kids), but it is important to me they each get their own autograph (book, pillow whatever we decide). I just don’t want to seem like I’m taking to much time.

My daughter is obsessed with all her autographs from prior trips so I really want her to be able to have her own and not need to share with her sister or cousins.

 

[mom2rtk]

They wait in line, they get an autograph. You should also take individual photos if that's what they want. Just prepare them ahead of time to move quickly, in what order and don't take endless shots. One quick shot? Sure. And yes, also a group photo if that's what you want.

But each person waiting in line has a right to ask for an autograph. The delays really come when you aren't ready with a plan and order ahead of time.

 

[Tink_83]

Please be honest, no hard feelings.

We have a trip with 4 kids (7,5,5, and 13 months). When we meet characters I would like them each to have a signature (not positive what we are signing yet).

We are fine with one group picture for all the kids and maybe one with the adults and kids.

Is this asking to much? I do not plan on doing individual pictures or even small groups of siblings (2 kids and 2 kids), but it is important to me they each get their own autograph (book, pillow whatever we decide). I just don’t want to seem like I’m taking to much time.

My daughter is obsessed with all her autographs from prior trips so I really want her to be able to have her own and not need to share with her sister or cousins.

You are all waiting together to I don’t see this as rude. I’m getting separate items to be autographed for both of my kids. People should realize that with a larger group it will take longer.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think it’s fine.

Everyone has their own reasons for meeting characters. Some people love the interaction. Some are into pictures while others just want an autograph. And some want it all! Lol. Which is fine too.

 

[Ds4angels]

My kids both had their own books to sign and it was never a problem.

 

[siren0119]

Not asking too much at all! That's part of the magic of meet and greets, and there is no rule/limit to how many people can get autographs within a group. A lot of times we got MANY more photos than we had planned to ask for, the PP photog just kept putting us in different arrangements. My favorite was a shot she got of Tigger hugging me with Pooh and my husband watching and looking annoyed LOL. We had only planned to do a full family shot and one with the kids.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

with all of you waiting in line each child should get one thing signed and a separate pic if wanted and we then do one group pic for me/grandma

 

[10CJ]

I think that is fine.

 

[princessebird]

I think the fact that you are cognizant of the issue means it won't be a problem. I don't know if they changed it, but what got me was when people would have a dozen things they want signed: a book, a picture frame, a pillow case, a t-shirt, Mickey ears, a backpack. For EACH person. I feel like one autograph per person is cool, but a basketful of items was decidedly NOT. Perhaps the handler CMs are better at handling this now. (To be fair, the most egregious examples I have seen of the multiple autographs was on DCL.)

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Not rude at all- I was really worried about this before my August trip as there were 7 of us in total. Hopefully my experience helps-

All 3 of my kids had autograph books, DH and I had a photo mat (so 4 autographs) and we typically did one group shot of all 5 of us, one where my dad and his husband stepped in, one of just the kids, and one with just the grandpas, so 4 photos plus whatever else the photopass photographer (or CM with the character if this wasn't a Photopass location) managed to snap. It honestly always went very quickly. The characters autograph very quickly- all 4 things took maybe a minute, total. Total interaction was maybe a little over 5 minutes for all of this, and we never once felt rushed and we had great interactions.

To expedite, I made sure each kid had their book out and ready (open to a blank page) and we handed the character one marker. Then, I'd collect the books while the kids had their group shot and tuck them away. Then DH and I stepped in, then grandpas stepped in, then we all stepped out and collected our belongings while the grandpas had their photo.

We also did not spend a ton of time on "Look at the camera! Look over here!" As a photographer, I know there's a limit and the kids don't always look where you want them to. We have great shots- some times my 2 yo is looking right at the camera and others he's looking at the character but in every case we have something to work with. The Photopass photographers/ CMs were great about arranging us if we needed it (after a few photo ops you figure out who should stand where) and telling us to pose a certain way. At the first few meets I felt bad, like we must be taking all day and holding up the line but then I'd look at the time and realize we'd been there for 5 minutes or so. We ended up getting a number of individual shots that we did not ask for because the photographers were quick and got a shot of DD14 hugging Mickey, or DS2 handing over his autograph book, as an example.

 

[garris3404]

You should not feel guilty for each child getting an autograph, nor their own pictures. It's your vacation and you're making memories. Just make sure your kids are ready when they approach character (autograph book and pen ready), and don't take too much time. Enjoy your character interaction.

 

[tbholc81]

A good strategy is to have the books open to the page your kids want signed and have the pen out and ready. If each child hands the character a book the photographer will take several photos of that interaction and hugs and other stuff.

 

[NJlauren]

Thanks everyone!

This is our first trip with multiple kids and a large group. I just don’t want to feel like we are causing a back up.

Have done a group of 8 before but 7 adults 1 child so we didn’t have this exact issue!

 

[Wild4Walt]

As one who travelers without kids, I think this is perfectly fine. I'd make it as organized as possible but, Imo, signatures don't take up all that much time.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Thanks everyone!

This is our first trip with multiple kids and a large group. I just don’t want to feel like we are causing a back up.

Have done a group of 8 before but 7 adults 1 child so we didn’t have this exact issue!

Anyone who thinks it's rude for each of your kids to get autographs is an idiot. Isn't that the whole purpose to a character greet? That and pictures. And if they don't understand that your group will take more time...too bad. They need to suck it up and get a clue.

You just do you!

 

[NJlauren]

Anyone who thinks it's rude for each of your kids to get autographs is an idiot. Isn't that the whole purpose to a character greet? That and pictures. And if they don't understand that your group will take more time...too bad. They need to suck it up and get a clue.

You just do you!

Thank you!

 

[KenHutch]

Its not rude at all now I have seen parents bring children to other peoples tables to get one more autograph or picture. Now that's rude.

 

[NJlauren]

Its not rude at all now I have seen parents bring children to other peoples tables to get one more autograph or picture. Now that's rude.

Oh my! That is so rude

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Thank you!

You are most welcome!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

They wait in line, they get an autograph. You should also take individual photos if that's what they want. Just prepare them ahead of time to move quickly, in what order and don't take endless shots. One quick shot? Sure. And yes, also a group photo if that's what you want.

But each person waiting in line has a right to ask for an autograph. The delays really come when you aren't ready with a plan and order ahead of time.

This isn’t pretty much THE answer