Character problems?

[EeyoretheDonkey]

Hi all.

I'm new here, having been a sometime lurker!

My Mum and I returned from DLRP yesterday, and we had a fabulous time overall

However, I have a question for anybody who has been to Disneyland without small children; did you have trouble getting characters to sign autographs and/or pose for photos for you?

I have been to DLRP twice before; once when I was 5, then again aged 10 (I am now 19). Admittedly it was a bit different then as more characters wandered freely around the park (we often came across 10 different characters each day, and there was no queuing system/meet and greet points etc back then) and it was also off peak season. On both the previous occasions I had no problem with characters signing/posing etc.

This year, however, was a different story! Due to having had mononucleosis last year and having suffered a relapse in November I am unable to stand in outdoor queues for the characters as I get very cold and very tired very quickly. This meant that in order to meet characters and get autographs and photos I was reliant on those who were wandering, and not in an organised queuing system.

Now, I fully appreciate that every small child is cuter and more endearing than me. However, when I have waited patiently and consequently got the front of a waiting group, I do not think that characters should turn their backs on me/push away the autograph book I am politely presenting/choose to pose with a child who has pushed to the front instead!

Perhaps I am prematurely entering a Victor Meldrew phase and being completely unreasonable, but this truely irked me! Donald Duck at Walt Disney Studios ignored me when I had gradually worked my way to the front of a waiting group 3 times, by employing the tactics I mentioned above. Mary Poppins, having signed my autograph book, promptly turned her back on me to have a photo taken with a younger child, not offering me the opportunity despite my Mum being poised with a camera. As an older teenager, am I now not supposed to want to meet the characters?

Has anybody had a similar experience, or am I out there on my own with this?

Sorry it's so long; feels better to get it off my chest though! Any replies appreciated!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Gosh how rude!
I think everyone should get the same treatment by characters no matter how old you are.
Im 24 and im going with my 2 year old daughter soon and i know she probably will be too scared to go near the characters so ill be the one queuing up to get a photo and autograph with them so i hope they dont ignore me or my mouth may need to be washed out lol

 

[DLPdaft]

I haven't had any problems with the characters themselves, but I do ask if we can have a photo, I don't just assume the character will pose after signing an autograph book (especially with the ones roaming around, as they often have lots of people around them, with autograph books thrust at them).

In the Studios last time we went, there was a group of teenage girls waiting near us to get their pictures taken/autographs with Chip,Dale and Clarice. They were constantly pushed in front of, by parents of little children, I felt quite sorry for them. They did all get their chance though eventually.

I do think its rude of the character to complete ignore you when you are standing right in front of them with an autograph book. I hope you have better luck next time.

Elaine

 

[Cyrano]

Hi EeyoretheDonkey and welcome to DLP DIS board
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Sorry to hear about your experience. Although we have small children we have seen plenty of older children and adults get a fair share of the attention of the characters. Sometimes probably more than little children as many of the characters do not seem to see the little ones

Studios is normally where we have seen characters spend a bit more time with guests

 

[Princess Jayne]

Belle was like that with me and my sister. we waited in the queue for her in Belles xmas Village, got to the front and she signed my sisters book (shes 13 btw), then turned as a little girl ran in the exit bit and asked my sister to wait whilst she spoke to this little girl! i was so annoyed at that! she virtually ignored me - didnt even get a hello, she just snached my book, signed it, posed for a pic then ignored us! i couldnt believe it! ok so we;re older but thats not the point - we paid our money just like everyone else! x (oops thats a bit of a rant! lol!) xx

 

[Lotto]

Belle was like that with me and my sister. we waited in the queue for her in Belles xmas Village, got to the front and she signed my sisters book (shes 13 btw), then turned as a little girl ran in the exit bit and asked my sister to wait whilst she spoke to this little girl! i was so annoyed at that! she virtually ignored me - didnt even get a hello, she just snached my book, signed it, posed for a pic then ignored us! i couldnt believe it! ok so we;re older but thats not the point - we paid our money just like everyone else! x (oops thats a bit of a rant! lol!) xx

Thats so frustrating when chracters do that! It hasn't happened to me. Jafar tried walking away from all of us when we were about to get our pic taken but the CM and all of us ran after him and he kindly stopped for the photo~! Characters must like me


And I hope that wasn't the Belle I met!! I'd be very disappointed if it was.

 

[Princess Jayne]

Thats so frustrating when chracters do that! It hasn't happened to me. Jafar tried walking away from all of us when we were about to get our pic taken but the CM and all of us ran after him and he kindly stopped for the photo~! Characters must like me


And I hope that wasn't the Belle I met!! I'd be very disappointed if it was.

it was this belle - i apologise if anyone knows her!

 

[SammieG]

thats awful... I hate the system they have in DLRP compared to the organised waits in WdW....

Personally.. I would write to Disney and complain. They need to know that the characters are doing this! its not JUST for kids... lots of young adults and adults want their pics taken too
and we all pay our money.. and should have the same rights.....

 

[poppyolivia]

what a shame...we haven't had this problem but then again I go with 2 kids..and we go when its really quiet...woody walked round the studios holding my nephews hand...he was only 4 and the smile stayed on his face for 6 months!!!!

I would complain about it though for sure...your money is just as good as anyone elses!

 

[EeyoretheDonkey]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

Although I'm sad others had the same experience, I am sort of pleased that it wasn't just me; I did almost wonder if it was something personal!!

Funnily enough the worst one was Donald Duck at the studios; I never did get him there in the end! He then came to the hotel the next day (we stayed at Newport Bay) and I suspect it was the same Donald, as I again was ignored, until a kind lady who was waiting with her little girl deliberately got behind me in a queue formation as I think she felt sorry for me; waiting patiently and being ignored. This meant I was the only person who Donald could possibly see next, and had no choice but to sign my autograph book, short of walking away and being very obviously out of order. I was almost childishly tempted to step on his webbed foot! I was very grateful to that lady though

 

[Ware Bears]

I think this has got to be top of the list of most people's peeves about DLRP.

If I were you, I would write to Disney ~ they listened enough to people to actually bring in the official character meet n greets and unless they receive feedback from guests they won't know.

At least you know it's nothing personal and I hope you feel fully recovered soon.

 

[MazdaUK]

When we were there in 2003 we had trouble with Donals at Studios - waited about 30 seconds and raced off in his little car thing. Hoping for better luck next time - I wish the'd have proper queues and handlers like in WDW. Not only is it then easier to get the autograph, but the handler lets you know if the queue is closing so the character doesn't just walk off without warning.

Still won't stop me going though

 

[DLPdaft]

Donald has his own character spot now though doesn't he?
In October and November, we met him at the limo in the front lot at the Studios. We were there at quiet times, so didn't have to wait any longer than 5 minutes to see him. There is an official photographer there too.

Elaine

 

[astrodrummergirl]

I seem to have had the same experiences as you. I am 17 and on my last visit I only attempted to get a photo with two characters (Im less into pictures with the characters, I just prefer to be going around the parks). I met stitch who was strangely standing with his handler with no crowd just before the parade started so I grabbed a fun pic with him quickly. The other character was Jack Sparrow, who naturally had a very large crowd around him, I got right at the front and then he went for his break, sadly, since I have no idea how to say "Can I have a photo please?" in french he just ignored me.

When I went to WDW, it was a completely different matter, queues that actually control people, and when it gets to your turn you have your own time to interact with the character, such as Stitch saw and pointed to my stitch t-shirt I was wearing and my sister was pushing the buttons on darth vaders chest (the storm troopers weren't very happy with her.

 

[wendybird7]

you are not alone! My friends and I (all 19 at the time) went in jan 05, and we had real problems getting pictures with the characters - i'm not denying children want to meet them, but so do the bigger kids! Most of the parents looked at us like we were insane for being as the same queue as their children - but as another diser said, we paid the same money and deserve the same treatment.

It is a good idea to write to Disney, as they need to know there is an issue with this, and I'll let you know how 6 of us get on this time round with the characters!

Do you think perhaps this is a deliberate ploy in order to get more people paying for character interaction?

 

[wendybird7]

you are not alone! My friends and I (all 19 at the time) went in jan 05, and we had real problems getting pictures with the characters - i'm not denying children want to meet them, but so do the bigger kids! Most of the parents looked at us like we were insane for being as the same queue as their children - but as another diser said, we paid the same money and deserve the same treatment.

It is a good idea to write to Disney, as they need to know there is an issue with this, and I'll let you know how 6 of us get on this time round with the characters!

Do you think perhaps this is a deliberate ploy in order to get more people paying for character interaction?

 

[ruthiebabie]

Jack Sparrow when we were last there had a CM at the bottom of the stairs to the turret he was standing on, a queue all the way up the stairs and no CM at the top and as we got to the top he said "I'm off for my break". The CM should have been managing that queue better and not let people join it knowing that he was heading off.

I think the whole situation of characters in the parks is crazy. Its elbows out heads down and hope for the best and it shouldn't be like that. As people keep saying its not like that in the USA (I've never been so can't compare) but it does make me wonder how they can get it so right in one place and so wrong in another.

 

[tennisfan]

I'm sorry you experienced this. I too think you should inform Disney of what is happening as they rely on feedback.

I personally have never had any problem having a photos taken with the characters on my own and I am in my 20's. I will admit it was even easier when I took my 2 year old niece.

I do think it is easier for character interaction in the Studios then the main park though.

 

[EeyoretheDonkey]

Thank you so much for the empathy and replies everyone.

Has anybody ever complained about anything similar to this before? If so, where/who did you complain to, and did you feel they actually considered what you were saying or that it was just another letter that they had to send a standard response letter to?

 

[astrodrummergirl]

I'd presume you just send a complaint to Guest Relations, the address is in the Booking and Contact Information thread of The Very Useful Information sticky. On my last trip we were approached by a CM when entering the park about coming an email questionnaire which I did complete when I returned home.

On the DLP website there is a email form which I presume gets sent to the guest relations email address and would presume into an unread inbox with standard mail merge emails. This is at this address. I'm only presuming it but if anyones had any experience of complaining that would be good.