Characters as an Adult - Should I feel bad?

[Hannahinwonderland]

That woman was beyond rude. Sometimes people just are having a bad day or have a chip on their shoulder, so they need to find someone to blame. I'm 21, and I love meeting characters.

 

[peabody58]

Heck no!! Check out our Avatar! WDW is our happy place and the DW and I love our character interactions!

 

[SaraJR]

im going at 24 for the first time heck yea im meetings characters hell ill probably be more excited than 85% of the children lol and as far as im concerned everything and everyone is real while im there ! I always wanted to be in the story to meet the characters and live the fantasy and I plan to do just that

 

[CupcakeLisa]

I am 30 this year and have no kids - I love meeting the characters! Its one of my fav things to do at WDW! Although i do get a bit nervous with face characters

Disney is for everyone!

 

[Jon84]

What does it matter to anyone behind you in a queue if you are a kid or an adult.

 

[dmc6469]

By all means NO you shouldn’t feel bad. That’s her problem; she needs to get over it! You paid $100+ for just 1 day of fun (a lot more than what she paid for her kids) and guess what? You’re gonna remember the day. In 10 years her kids won’t even recall meeting the characters except for the photos. Adults have as much right as children for EVERYTHING at the parks!! I don’t care if its M&G, riding a “kid ride” (Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc), ordering a kids meal. Walt didn’t create the parks for children; they were created for every single living soul! Heck even cats if you know about the Disneyland cats. So don’t worry about it. I’m having my 1st trip in December (and I have no children) and I have a list of the characters I plan on meeting and hunting for during the MVMCP. Go again next year and do the same thing!

 

[Jon84]

By all means NO you shouldn’t feel bad. That’s her problem; she needs to get over it! You paid $100+ for just 1 day of fun (a lot more than what she paid for her kids) and guess what? You’re gonna remember the day. In 10 years her kids won’t even recall meeting the characters except for the photos. Adults have as much right as children for EVERYTHING at the parks!! I don’t care if its M&G, riding a “kid ride” (Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc), ordering a kids meal. Walt didn’t create the parks for children; they were created for every single living soul! Heck even cats if you know about the Disneyland cats. So don’t worry about it. I’m having my 1st trip in December (and I have no children) and I have a list of the characters I plan on meeting and hunting for during the MVMCP. Go again next year and do the same thing!

Last December was our first trip where we met Characters. It was a great time of year to go! You'll have a blast!

 

[Lumiere Lover]

They were wrong and you should never feel bad. Age isn't a number, it's a state of mind. Enjoy your life the way you want to-you were doing nothing wrong!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

Please don't allow her or anyone else to detract you from enjoying all aspects of your vacation. These are same kind of people who expect their children to be in the front of the parade when someone else (ummm yeah, me) has been sitting there for well over an hour. The entitlement is just ridiculous! After all, we are all children in Disney, but it seems in her case, she's hitting the terrible twos.

 

[Pmlocke]

Were you given reduced pricing to enter the parks? Of course you didn't therefore you should not feel guilty for experiencing everything that Disney has to offer. I am 62 and my wife is 61. We travel down to WDW every February and we always dine at the character restaurants, we interact with the cast members as well as the animated characters. My favorites are Cinderella's evil stepsisters. We gather autographs, pose for pictures-face it, I'm there to have fun and I never feel guilty about it and you shouldn't either. If you ever again get a snide comment from someone regarding your having the time of your life, don't get rude and make a scene. Just feel sorry for that person. They are obviously not "Disney" people and they always get my sympathy. I also feel sorry for that person's children. That's what they have to live with. I have, in the past, just made a sign of the cross. When the offending person asked what I was doing I stated I was saying a prayer for her to help her find the Christian love that she seemed to have misplaced. Enjoy yourself and have fun. 119 more days and I am a kid again.

 

[Vivianne]

We're here. This time I reserved dining at 2 character meals. Finally after years of visiting the parks. If that woman approached me...I would laugh. Is her money better than mine? Once I enter the park, I feel I experience anything Disney offers. She has no right to dictate restrictions to adult guests. I would just tell her to mind her own business. I'm recovering from a serious illness & the hug from Tigger meant more to me than I thought it would. Enjoy your trips to the max.

 

[Dormouse.]

There've been a lot of comments since I was last here, so I just wanted to say thank you to everyone again! I'm definitely looking forward to my next trip now!

 

[Pmlocke]

This question is asked at least once a week and I try to offer justification for those of you questioning the RIGHT to interact with and have the same amount of fun with the characters as children do. My wife and I are in our 60's. We travel down to WDW every February and yes-we stand in line for character meet and greets. We eat at the character dining locations. Why? In the first case, we paid exactly what everyone else has paid to experience the full Disney Experience. Why should we feel strange or out of place doing what we want to do in a place we paid as much as anyone else has the right to do? Second, my wife and I regard this time at Disney as a way to "Get our child on". We love to revert back to the 50's and 60's when we were young and re-experience those feelings. It is what keeps us young and I fully encourage everyone to hold onto their "Youth" for as long as they can. My favorite experience was celebrating my 60th Birthday at the Crystal Palace. I was away from the table getting more food and my wife mentioned to the waiter it was my birthday. When I returned to the table an announcement was suddenly made. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are proud to announce the birthday of a special young man who is celebrating his 60th Birthday today. Help us to wish Peter a Happy Birthday." Suddenly I was surrounded by all of the characters, whisked out of my seat and we went on a parade around the restaurant. I also got a signed birthday card from the characters. It was the greatest thrill of my life. Drop your fears, hesitations and inhibitions and just go and have a great time.

 

[dvcmom14]

Heck no you shouldn't! Disney is a place where everyone gets to be a kid and forget about adulting for a while. Enjoy it all and don't think for a second about what anyone else might think. Just put away your adult brain, whip out the 6-year-old brain and have fun like you would have back then!

 

[MagentaMulan]

My mom and I went on our first Disney trip when I was 22 and she in her mid-50's. (We couldn't afford to visit when I was a kid either.) We both met most of the characters together and never had sassy and mean comments from other guests or CMs.

I'm really sorry you two had to deal with that mean woman. I hate when people assume everyone has the money and opportunities to visit WDW when the kids are young. I personally love adults who genuinely love meeting characters. I sometimes feel like the characters talk to me more because I am older. lol

 

[Kathryn777]

Thanks so much, everyone! I feel so much better knowing that I didn't do anything wrong, and she was probably just being grumpy.

The boyfriend suggested visiting again next year so we can do MNSSHP,and I think I might actually take him up on it now!

There were so many adults without kids at the mnsshp. It was awesome

 

[Baklava]

Apparently that lady got pixie dust in her panties and it was chafing.

You paid to be there, the same as anyone else. "Fair" is you getting your turn like anyone else. We have done (and will do again) adults only trips. We do fewer characters because that's our preference, but when I wait in line to see Aurora it's no different from when I wait in line to ride Tower of Terror. My turn is my turn and I get to do stuff too. When Disney wants to make something "kids only" they aren't shy about that- just look at BBB.

 

[brb1006]

And often times Adults take less time than kids for their interactions.

That might also explain why the lines where people can talk with Mickey Mouse takes a while even when the line aren't that long.

 

[brb1006]

As a parent of two small ones, DO NOT FEEL bad! First, Disney is for everyone. Second, kids need to learn that they have to wait their turn.

Before I had little ones I did Character M&Gs because it is awesome, and so much fun to feel the magic. Where else do you get to stand next to such as a playful and gracious celebrity such as Mickey Mouse (among others). Also, snowflakes and all children (who are physically & mentally able - there are cases that need assistance or different considerations) should learn to stand in line and wait. I feel that instant gratification should not be the norm.

I have brought my boys starting at 1 & 2.5 and then again at 3 & 4.5 and have worked so that they know there will be lines but we keep them entertained and anticipating the fun of getting to meet the character. If they have to wait longer because an adult also wants to experience the fun that is OK and our fun shouldn't exclude someone else's fun. There will be lines, there will be families, there will be disappointment, but there will be fun.

I am glad you did all the characters you wanted, don't let one bad apple....

I remember coming across this video of Pluto and Marie from The Aristocats meeting and spending time with a female visitor who appears to be paralyzed. While I don't know much about people who have a paralyzed body, I do know that she really loves seeing the two spending time with her. They even had to leave the flag pole area where they normally meet at just to see her. Her expression during the video is very sweet to look at and I bet this will become one of her favorite Disney memories.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Wow! I am so sorry that happened to you. You absolutely did nothing wrong. I go solo or with just my DH (we are 22 and 25 no kids)/adult friends all the time and love meeting characters! The magic of Disney has no age limit. Keep on enjoying your character meets! It isn't your fault the woman was ill-prepared and didn't show up early enough. Don't let that ruin your trips, you deserve the opportunity every bit as much as the kids do.

Also, if you do end up going to MNSSHP, dress up! DH and I went as Cinderella and Prince Charming on our Disneymoon and it was so much fun.