Character Ripoff Co. near me to spoil my daughter's experience?

[neffernie]

BTW, Disney might have a copyright infringement case on their hands, but that also is not worth you worrying about.

Yes, and no. Disney does have companies/specific actors that it authorizes to portray it's characters around the country. I once knew an Official Jack Sparrow as in he was certified by Disney to play the character at events outside of Disney properties.

I would only worry if the characters were really bad. If they are good then tell your kids that they are visiting on vacation. If they are bad, tell them they are adults pretending to be the character.

 

[chartle]

Yes, and no. Disney does have companies/specific actors that it authorizes to portray it's characters around the country. I once knew an Official Jack Sparrow as in he was certified by Disney to play the character at events outside of Disney properties.

I would only worry if the characters were really bad. If they are good then tell your kids that they are visiting on vacation. If they are bad, tell them they are adults pretending to be the character.

But what if they are good and (most likely) not authorized? I think the OP was thinking that it was also just not right because in effect they are possibly stealing intellectual property from Disney (I know it can be a grey area) and their friends are promoting it.

What did your friend do? I'm sure it wasn't play dates and kids birthday parties since I doubt those people would want to pay what Disney would charge for an official Jack Sparrow.

 

[luvsJack]

There is a dance studio near here that uses either Mickey and Minnie or the princesses in every recital they have and when they are in local parades. They also offer them at birthday parties at their studio.

The costumes are AWFUL. And since it is so obviously different from Mickey and Minnie or any princess at Disney, I am assuming that is how there is not copyright infringement or whatever.

The studio owner is a huge Disney fan and realizes the costumes are awful but she wanted to incorporate Disney into their studio in some way and says this is the best they could do legally. Also, when the characters are out there is no mention of "Disney" at all.

99.9% of the kids say "it might be A Mickey but its not THE Mickey". Doesn't bother any of them in the least.

 

[JenSop]

Kids really react SO differently and individually to these kinds of things.

I actually do that as a PT job on weekends - I'm a princess at children's parties. Some kids are super excited, some are shy. It's always different. My secret weapon is my singing - I have two degrees in voice, so once I sing I usually have the kids totally believing that I'm the real princess. Most ask me why I'm not back at my castle in Disney World. And I just tell them that I got a special invitation to their party and didn't want to miss it! Honestly, usually the kids are more excited about face-painting, dancing, and the scavenger hunt than anything else. I'm just there to help lead them in some fun activities, they have a good time, then I leave. Everyone's happy. Win-win.

 

[chartle]

dup

 

[ShayBells]

I think having an adult Sofia is just weird. That company should of stuck with the originals. It's weird.

I agree though you can't change it so don't stress.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ghtx]

There is a dance studio near here that uses either Mickey and Minnie or the princesses in every recital they have and when they are in local parades. They also offer them at birthday parties at their studio.

The costumes are AWFUL. And since it is so obviously different from Mickey and Minnie or any princess at Disney, I am assuming that is how there is not copyright infringement or whatever.

The studio owner is a huge Disney fan and realizes the costumes are awful but she wanted to incorporate Disney into their studio in some way and says this is the best they could do legally. Also, when the characters are out there is no mention of "Disney" at all.

99.9% of the kids say "it might be A Mickey but its not THE Mickey". Doesn't bother any of them in the least.

I disagree. I would assume that it is a copyright infringement, but no one at DisneyCo is going to bother to sue a crummy little dance studio.

(FYI Disney has a track record of not suing for what seem like obvious copyright infringements: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_from_Tomorrow#Legal_issues)

 

[Disneyhayes]

I would just tell them that those Princesses are pretend and the real ones live in WDW...that's only the truth right

 

[chartle]

I disagree. I would assume that it is a copyright infringement, but no one at DisneyCo is going to bother to sue a crummy little dance studio.

(FYI Disney has a track record of not suing for what seem like obvious copyright infringements: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_from_Tomorrow#Legal_issues)

The above link references something a lot more complex than princesses cosplaying at birthday parties. (though I'm intrigued) .

But as to your claim that Disney has a track record of not suing don't forget this.

http://www.snopes.com/disney/wdco/daycare.asp

A company can lose its trademark if it doesn't aggressively enforce its rights.

Zipper, elevator, escalator, aspirin, heroin, etc were all trade names.

 

[luvsJack]

I disagree. I would assume that it is a copyright infringement, but no one at DisneyCo is going to bother to sue a crummy little dance studio.

(FYI Disney has a track record of not suing for what seem like obvious copyright infringements: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_from_Tomorrow#Legal_issues)

I wouldn't expect them to go after the dance studio for their recital but what gets me about it is the parades. They even took the Mickey and Minnie with them to a big parade in another state that they were invited to.

And the birthday parties are for a fee. That seems like something that would be an issue if the costumes were too close to the real thing. Of course Disney wouldn't exactly know about them.

She bought the costumes and expected something more but was told that they were as close as the costume company could get.

The princess ones are better than Mickey and Minnie but there are things that make them different than the "real" thing.


My niece had a Mardi Gras/Mermaid birthday party for her dd several years ago and she wanted an Ariel for the party. She went to rent a costume and it was really off the mark in looking like Ariel. They ended up making one and buying a red wig at a party/costume store. (her Ariel was part of a Mardi Gras float so the girl just sat on the float in her fish tail) the costume they made was so much better than anything that could be bought or rented.

 

[ElizabethG]

My kids went to a birthday party where they had a Princess come. The kids were laughing so hard saying that's not a Disney Princess--she's dirty!! (her dress was dirty at the bottom and she just looked a little off LOL). It didn't wreck anything for them. Just a little embarrassing for me .

Kids really react SO differently and individually to these kinds of things.

I actually do that as a PT job on weekends - I'm a princess at children's parties. Some kids are super excited, some are shy. It's always different. My secret weapon is my singing - I have two degrees in voice, so once I sing I usually have the kids totally believing that I'm the real princess. Most ask me why I'm not back at my castle in Disney World. And I just tell them that I got a special invitation to their party and didn't want to miss it! Honestly, usually the kids are more excited about face-painting, dancing, and the scavenger hunt than anything else. I'm just there to help lead them in some fun activities, they have a good time, then I leave. Everyone's happy. Win-win.

We had "Cinderella" come to my DD 4th Birthday. Her hair wasn't right and her dress was dirty and way too big. I joked to some other parents that 'It looks like Cinderella had a rough night'. But the kids didn't notice at all. I kept thinking 'How are they buying this?'. One girl even mentioned that they had already met - they had breakfast together in WDW a couple of months ago. Cinderella did have a lovely voice and played games with the kids. My DD is 9 now and she recently saw a photo from that party and asked 'Who's that lady?'

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Since this thread isn't really about theme parks attractions and strategies, and is more about visiting with children, I've moved it to the Disney for Families board.

 

[guppy1013]

Hi all, OP.

To clarify, I promise I don't sit at home and stress about this. The other princesses are fine, really, it's the face character Sofia that really irks me. I can't stop being so annoyed that it's an adult. It's irrational, but who else could I complain to that won't think I'm TOTALLY crazy? That's why we meet here right??!?

Some coworkers hired her just for a play date (I wasn't invited, saw pics on Facebook.) then Sofia and Cinderella came to a bday party that we were supposed to go to but didn't last minute. They have little girls but no one has taken the first family trip to Disney or have plans in near future. (We recently purchased DVC.) I asked the one if she thought it was weird Sofia was an adult. She didn't. That's when I came here in search of someone on my side LOL!!

On their FB website they list all characters by name except ones that are specifically Disney. "Rapunzel" and then "rapunzels prince" (not Flynn rider). There is "Scottish princess" who I assume to be Merida. But there is "Sophia the First". Does the "ph" instead of an "f" make it ok? Why am I wasting any energy at all on this? I don't know! It's so annoying! But I am so glad I have all of you to complain to! Thanks