Character observations at DLP. Pros and Cons.

[sunshine1]

Done 3 meets today for whole of trip.

Christmas Mickey and Minnie
Christmas Pluto and Goofy
Santa Jack Skellington

PROS:

Couldnt believe how much time and effort each character puts into meeting each group of people, regardless of age. The characters put more effort than America (maybe as it gets so hot over there in summer) though I think American interaction is good but in DLP: Wow.
The furries that we met hugged everybody in the group especially Goofy and Pluto gave tight firm hugs.
Interaction was first class.
Had lines. No one pushed in. Good to see.

CONS:

I got no patience. Especially when it 8.15 in the morning and 5 degrees. Yesterday we got into park at 8am. There were 2 people waiting for Mickey and Minnie. I said lets meet the characters the following day and hit peter pan now.
Big mistake.
Got in park 15 minutes later today and the line for Mickey and Minnie was 45 minutes.
I am not used to queuing for long periods in the parks. Cant do it. Wont do it. If a line for a ride more than 15-20 minutes then I walk on by. But I got in line today as they were in christmas outfits.
Why the heck do they take sooooo long with each group of people. My meets in america last of all 30 seconds. Fine by me. Hug and pic then i am gone.

Goofy and Pluto were even longer. Goofy was taking so long with people that even Pluto gestered to the handler and even tapped Goofy on the arm as if to say hurry up. Was so cold i could have had a main part in that Frozen film. Lord have mercy it was that cold.
Ended up waiting 55 mins. 55 minutes! It wasnt the amount of people. It was the time they took. They could have banged that out in 20 mins. Max.
No lie Goofy would mess around for pictures with people for a few minutes then they would get their autograph books to be signed. AHHHH. SO LONNGGGG!
Had i of known i would have only done Mickey and Minnie. BUT when it came to out turn they were magic with us.
The lines were longer for characters than the rides in the main Disneyland Park.

Wanted to meet Thumper and Miss Bunny as they rare but saw the line and couldnt face another 45 minute plus wait.

I should have remembered that in 2007 when I waited to meet Christmas Mickey it was an hour wait.

So i will remember for next time.
Unless there a few people prepare for an hour wait or dont bother.

Also Mickey and Minnie were wearing the same Christmas outfits for meet and greets at both parks so wouldnt kids be confused and question how the mice get from one park to another so quickly?

Observation about the guests. They didnt really say anything to the characters. I always make the effort and talk to them. Tell them i love their outfits, wish them a great christmas, etc but the guests today just had photos, autographs and hugs. Nothing wrong with that. In America guests seem to talk to the fur characters more.

Observation about Jack Skellington. Is he not as popular in France as he is in America? 15 people were in front when we joined the line. 20 minute wait as he talked to people. Quickest wait ever compared to the previous two we did first thing this morning. First time i met him. Was magic.

 

[Holstar]

I hear you on the no patience!

We've never had an really awful time with character waiting times at DLP, some were incredibly long, but none left me wishing I could just leave the queue. However, last year at WDW we waited almost two hours in a queue for Woody... that was advertised as a 20 minute wait. Why? Because they spent like 10+ minutes with each group. I kid you not. There were like 10 people ahead of us. Raaaaage!

 

[Anemone]

You get what you wait for I guess. While Mickey and Minnie's outfits at the 2 parks are both red and green they are actually different. I've been looking at people's facebook photos from this year and they are identical outfits to last year when we were there.

Studios


Main park

 

[Jonjo]

We meet Santa Jack Skellington last week and he spent ages with us, he is such a crazy guy!

I think it's nice that the characters spend so long with the Guests. I was chatting to a family in front of us while waiting to meet Mickey Mouse last week and it was going to be their last chance as a family to share that magical moment due to their sons terminal illness.

So that 10 mins the characters spend with the family in front of you - might be the last chance they ever get.

 

[Vala]

We had Thumper really taking his time with us. It should have been blatantly obvious to everyone that he was keeping the interaction up. I had a Thumper hat on, my friend had a Thumper book, I had drawn Thumper, we both were close to tears cause Miss Bunny didn't make it this morning... yeah, Thumper was pretty much in love with us.

He took his sweet time so much, we actually reached the point where we were really trying to get away cause we felt bad about keeping the line up. That was until someone yelled at us "get out!" from the line.

That was probably the one comment it needed to stop me from trying to get away.

 

[DLPdaft]

there are secret tunnels all over DLP, thats how the characters can get from one place to another so quickly .

I do agree with the long lines for the characters in the parks though - in EMH especially, you really need to be there first thing for Mickey and Minnie, or forget it. The lines are much longer for characters in the parks, compared to when they were routinely in each onsite hotel (as I understand they are right now for main xmas season).

 

[sunshine1]

You get what you wait for I guess. While Mickey and Minnie's outfits at the 2 parks are both red and green they are actually different. I've been looking at people's facebook photos from this year and they are identical outfits to last year when we were there.

Studios


Main park

Yes. I got confused with all the red and greens! My bad.

 

[beachta1]

We didn't wait in line at DLP for any characters, and agree I don't like to wait either. Its nice when you're the person getting all of the attention and time with the character, I'm sure many people after their experience say "that was worth the wait!"

 

[SWofDisorder]

On our first trip to DLP goofy goosed my behind! I screamed, jumped and dropped my camera and broke it. DH was yelling at me as I was trying to explain he grabbed my behind. That never happens in the USA. I do like the character interaction better at DLP.

 

[Jonjo]

On our first trip to DLP goofy goosed my behind! I screamed, jumped and dropped my camera and broke it. DH was yelling at me as I was trying to explain he grabbed my behind. That never happens in the USA. I do like the character interaction better at DLP.

If that had happened in the USA Goofy would be arrested for sexual assault and the Guest would be taking legal action against Disney.

 

[SWofDisorder]

And that is why we don't live in the USA anymore. I miss the magic of WDW but have learned to appreciate the subtleties of DLP.

 

[mclaura87]

I love meeting characters in DLP but unfortunately my friend was only interested in shopping and didn't want to meet any *rolls eyes* We had a lot of good interaction at Cafe Mickey and we had Cinderella, Aurora and Prince Philip too as the parks were closed on the day we went.

I waited about 45 minutes for Mickey and Minnie during EMH which I didn't mind at all. I got talking to a lovely family from England which made the time fly in. I love the interaction from characters. Minnie and Mickey both fussed over my Minnie ears and my Mickey Mouse backpack. Chip N Dale were probably the funniest. There was no queue for them at all during EMH so they danced with me then linked arms and walked off with me, leaving my friends Dad wondering where the heck they were taking me. We also waited a good 40 minutes for Merida but she chatted to us which I really liked. Ariel was like this too at Princess Pavilion as was Rapunzel and Flynn in our hotel. Personally I'd be more pissed off if I met a face character and they didn't bother their backsides to speak at all, or make any effort.

 

[petals]

I don't mind waiting in line for characters when they are doing longer meets than just signing a book and taking a photo and moving to the next person. I did it in California when I went to meet Merida there was 8 people in front of me and she spent so long talking to each person that it took 45 minutes to get to her but it was fun to watch the interactions while I waited. The ones that interact are the ones you'll remember more.