Character problems?

[Ware Bears]

I once sent an email to the Annual Passport office via their website ~ it wasn't a complaint, I just wanted to point out a grey area in their conditions. I eventually received a reply thanking me for my suggestion, it wasn't personal, it was just a standard reply but I noticed that the conditions were re-written so it may have had some effect.

Personally, if I were going to complain, I think I would write a letter rather than an email.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I'm sorry you have had a problem with this - I must say I have never noticed it.... not with the characters anyway, only being pushed and shoved by parents!

Chip and Dale were fantastic when we went last year - but I have to say WDW character interaction wins hands down! Chip and Dale, Smee, Jasmine, and Woody were all excellent!

 

[the_princess]

DLP could learn so much from WDW, I don't mind waiting in line if it means that i'll get some time with the character.
I don't even bother trying to meet characters who is out on their own. I get so angry when all the parents push their children in front off everyone, where are your manners people???

 

[Princess Jayne]

I cant fault the character interactions at meals - we did plaza gardens and cafe mickey's and they were both great! Pluto and Frollo seemed to spend more time with us than with the kids! lol!

I know a lot of people complain about constant queuing for characters at WDW but at least it guarentees that you'll see them and the CM's always tell you in plenty of time when a character is going for their break and how long they'll be so at least you know. and when you queue you get better pics with the characters because theres more room and no pushing etc! x

 

[Miqee]

The problem I found with the characters when I was there this week was the lack of CM involvement. This was cheifly at the Lucky nugget and chef mickeys. The characters seemed to roam freely and no CM was around to take control when needed. A lot of the time kids or parents would just run up to the character and get them over to their table, just when they were supposed to vist ours. We missed a few charcters because of this as they totally missed us out. Only one or two charcters would tell them to go back to their tables, the rest just went with them. There also seemed to be very little structure in how they moved about the restaraunt, compared to florida where you will usually be told by your server that the charcters will take this route.

Colin

 

[stal]

this all sounds opposit to my experience!

me (20) and my friends (20,22) went in december and we were able to get photos and autographs. At Chef Mickey's, they seemed to spend so much time with us!!

 

[tetley02]

Sounds like there are alot of grumpys in disguise in dlp lol.

 

[DizzyErin]

Oh no this was a worry of mine .. having been to WDW many times this is my first time to DLP and am taking 3 children who have never been to any disney park .. so am really really hoping that this doesn't happen!!!

 

[Cyrano]

this is my first time to DLP and am taking 3 children who have never been to any disney park .. so am really really hoping that this doesn't happen!!!

Have a read at the trip reports that myself and others have done. You'll see that most have plenty of character interaction Going with knowledge of how DLP works will help

 

[SandraVB79]

I have the same experience with characters that don't have a proper queueing (sp?) system. Young kids are always pushed in front of you, and you are always the evil adult that takes quality time away from the kids. Whatever, I paid a lot of money to be there and to have my picture taken with the characters.
Now, I only try to meet characters if there is a proper queue, and talking to them helps. Say hello, ask for an autograph (something I don't do), ask for a picture, etc. Ask how they are, how there SO is (if you meet Mickey, ask about Minnie, if you meet Belle, ask if she already brushed her beast, ...). Usually, they will than talk with you a little bit.
Character meals are of course also a good way to meet them. Let the "character supervisors" know that although you are a table of only adults, you like to meet the characters.

 

[julieannbabe]

i went november 2007 and i thought the character interaction was pretty much the best that i have ever seen.

i do wish that there were more queues for characters though.

the best way to insure that you get the characters was at a character meal - then when you see them in the parks - you haven't got to try and race to get a pic/siganture.

Cafe Mickey was amazing.

there are character lines for the characters in the studios.

xjx

 

[EeyoretheDonkey]

It's very interesting to hear everyone's experiences of this.

I think a large part of the problem was that I couldn't join the queues because I couldn't stand for long periods in the cold; I think they are a good idea, just not for a very small minority of people like me!

A character meal may well be the way to go if we go again and I'm unwell again

 

[SandraVB79]

It's very interesting to hear everyone's experiences of this.

I think a large part of the problem was that I couldn't join the queues because I couldn't stand for long periods in the cold; I think they are a good idea, just not for a very small minority of people like me!

A character meal may well be the way to go if we go again and I'm unwell again

I have the same problem in the summer: due to health issues I shouldn't stand up on my feet for a long time in the sun/ warmth (walking/ moving is less of a problem).
However, in those cases, I don't try to get near characters, I don't wait in long lines for rides, etc. I know, it's hard. First time I had this was when I was at DLP for my 25th birthday. Doctor actually didn't want me to go then, because there was a rather big chance I could fall down on the ground dead... I knew I ha dto be careful. Except for characters during the character breakfast, no characters for me. And virtually no rides for me. However, it was a good trip, and I was glad in the end that I survived those 3 days!

 

[arabesque]

I was there in November with my daughter ( she's 20) and we had no problem whatsoever, sure the parents tend to push the kids forward when they see only adults waiting but we just said that we were also in the queue for a photo. We actually had a good laugh with them and no one seemed surprised that we were there without kids. This said its true that its much easier to meet the characters at WDW and no-one there thinks you're an idiot waiting in a line to see Mickey!!

 

[cdvictorin]

My husband and I have just came back from Disneyland Paris Resort. We had the opposite problem. The characters kept coming up to us and "asking" by gesturing if we wanted a picture taken with them. We personally enjoyed the interaction with the characters.