Could I have asked for something more?

[Megsmachine]

I'm not looking for sympathy. I said they had every right to be there and get their photos. They stood in line. I just said I didn't get it. I would never be in one of those lines if I didn't have kids wanting to see characters. I admittedly don't understand those who are willing to wait in those long lines for them. I'm not saying it is wrong, I am saying I don't understand the willingness to do so.

That's ok, I don't understand someone whining on a public board about their princess not getting a photo with Rapunzel.

We're even.

 

[Verstehen]

Okay, so it's not "wrong," but it's "absolutely horrific?" You do know they carry similar connotations, right?

 

[Keepee]

OP, this thread makes me realize I *should* get my SIL to bring her tiny little pocket camera even if we get PP+- I'd hate to miss out if the photographer isn't there.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

So sorry for your loss. Prayers to your loved ones.

Thank you. This trip is bittersweet because it took her death for us to finally realize that next time may just not be there. I'm looking forward to taking Tosha to see Alice.

 

[gator girl]

OP, this thread makes me realize I *should* get my SIL to bring her tiny little pocket camera even if we get PP+- I'd hate to miss out if the photographer isn't there.

Yes, always have your own camera. The Photopass photographers are not always there, there can be technical problems with the shots they take (focus, lighting, etc. as they are not professional photographers), and you will miss all of the non-posed candid moments unless you have your own camera. And, as we have seen, a backup battery.

 

[twinplets]

Personally, if I had the choice between being called "wrong" or "horrific", I'd pick "wrong".

Let me rephrase. The poster I quoted said if every person had their kids take an individual photo, the lines would be horrific. I was just saying that while she thinks me asking for an individual photo would make the lines horrific, I think adults doing characters makes the lines horrific too. I should have phrased it to mean horrific lines, not the people being horrific. I apologize for my phrasing.

I was pointing these situations out because no one thinks there should be an age cut-off, because everyone pays the same and to each their own and I agree, but for some reason a young girl wanting one photo of her own is too much to ask for.

 

[Keepee]

Yes, always have your own camera. The Photopass photographers are not always there, there can be technical problems with the shots they take (focus, lighting, etc. as they are not professional photographers), and you will miss all of the non-posed candid moments unless you have your own camera. And, as we have seen, a backup battery.

Definitely not something I had considered before, but then, this is going to be our FIRST ever Photopass (+) trip, so I was hoping to be totally lazy. Guess not LOL!

Oh- I'll be 28 before we go. I can't wait to get family pictures with Tigger & Pooh, or (hopefully) some of the villain characters. Last time we went (DH and I), I kept having to explain to parents that no, their children were not welcome to just scoot on in front of us. Just because we don't have kids, doesn't mean I don't want a picture of us together with my favorite character too. It's actually hanging on the wall as we speak, the top photo of our entire vacation- and nary a child in sight :lol:

 

[mesaboy2]

Let me rephrase. The poster I quoted said if every person had their kids take an individual photo, the lines would be horrific. I was just saying that while she thinks me asking for an individual photo would make the lines horrific, I think adults doing characters makes the lines horrific too. I should have phrased it to mean horrific lines, not the people being horrific. I apologize for my phrasing.

I was pointing these situations out because no one thinks there should be an age cut-off, because everyone pays the same and to each their own and I agree, but for some reason a young girl wanting one photo of her own is too much to ask for.

There was apparently a problem with the photog's camera. Kaka occurs. If it was that crucial that you get a photo, don't rely on anyone else to make it happen--make sure you have the ability to do it yourself.

 

[maxiesmom]

OP, each family does not get an unlimited amount of time with the characters. That is what it boils down to. A couple gets the same amount of time as a family of 5. You are not allowed time to get multiple shots each with a different child. It just doesn't work that way.

I have seen the character handlers check their watches as each family walks up to the character. It could be that amount of time changes with the weather too. It is not standard operating procedure to allow multiple poses with different kids in each shot. There is not enough time allowed for it.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

What may seem horrific to you, may be different to me. Personally, I think it is absolutely horrific for grown adults to clog up the character lines. Please, 30 year old couples are going to die if they don't have a photo with Snow White? I don't get it, but they were in front of us. Same as the lady with a baby about 2 months old and no other kids. Again, I don't get it. They had to get all these shots of Snow White cooing over this baby, who has no idea what is going on, but to each their own. They stood in line for their photos. However, if that is okay, then I think two little girls asking for one individual photo isn't too much either. I had two girls with me, not a whole preschool class.

Really you want to take that route. One of the best pictures I have of my son is when he was 9 months old and Snow White went flipping crazy over him. She asked if she could kiss him and we got a wonderful picture of that and then an even better picture of giant red lip prints on his forehead. Just so you know we were in line with his 6 year old sister and were not even planning on him having his picture taken with her but she initiated the meeting. I am sorry that you think your two daughters are way more special than anyone else and the park what a charmed life they must live.This is even more of an example of how some WDW guest take their desire to provide a special experience for their guest to a whole new level.

 

[minnie mum]

What may seem horrific to you, may be different to me. Personally, I think it is absolutely horrific for grown adults to clog up the character lines. Please, 30 year old couples are going to die if they don't have a photo with Snow White? I don't get it, but they were in front of us. Same as the lady with a baby about 2 months old and no other kids. Again, I don't get it. They had to get all these shots of Snow White cooing over this baby, who has no idea what is going on, but to each their own.

Sorry, I had very little sympathy for your original post. Simply a matter of poor planning and unrealistic expectations on your part. Next time bring your camera. Your daughters still met the character, which was the important thing. If the Photopass photographer had been there and snapped a blurry photo or the kids had not been posed as you liked, you still wouldn't have had a usable photo. Yes, the Photopass CD costs money. But Disney doesn't guarantee that you will like or even get every Photopass photo available. If you don't like your photos, or don't have enough, you get your money back. Life is like that.

But with that next post you lost me completely. Resenting adults and babies for creating long lines is no way to win friends and influence people. You'll really be fit to be tied when you see DH and me (a pair of 60 year olds ) snuggled next to Pooh and Tigger.

 

[d1gitman]

without reading 5 pages of response, my take on it is this. it's a shame that your camera phone ran out of juice, we know the feeling. it is not unreasonable to be frustrated that a photopass person wasn't available at a photo op meet n greet...a place you would think they have photopass available at all times. however, i don't see how the CM could have done anything that wouldn't have caused line problems.

in general, i think Disney needs to provide more photopass personel, it's a service we are glad to pay for but wish there were more photographers around the park in general. it seems to me that they might sell more photopass cd's and products if it were more widespread.

 

[Sparkly]

We found that not many of the characters had Photopass photographers.

Shame because I didn't get a picture of Stitch offering a bogey to mum as a birthday present

 

[twinplets]

That's ok, I don't understand someone whining on a public board about their princess not getting a photo with Rapunzel.

We're even.

Actually, we are the most practical people you would ever meet. Our kids aren't princesses. We have twins and triplets only 2 1/2 years apart. We don't mess around and I have lived my WHOLE life making darn sure we weren't an inconvenience for anyone else. Which is why I walked away at Rapunzel, but couldn't help but wonder if never push me could have asked to wait off to the side a minute or two and see if the PP person would return. For all I know he could have been right behind the door that was off to the side and returning any second or had sent another photographer over. I never so much as asked and thought perhaps I could have.

We are far from entitled. One of my oldest sons has Aspergers, but we didn't get an GAC even though he was counting people in line and we constantly had to pull him back to an acceptable distance from the people in front of us. We made this a learning experience, even though there were so many times I was worn down by his obsession with being first in line. We don't ask for help. That seems to be our family motto.

My kids know how to share and how to work. Their whole life has been about sharing. However, I can't count the number of times I have seen people with one or two kids act like the world revolves around them. So excuse me if I am a little bit annoyed that someone suggests I am asking for too much when my daughters later wanted to take one individual photo with Tinker Bell after seeing everyone else take much more time than we do at every character meeting. We usually walk up, the character signs the book and I made my girls only take one book so they wouldn't take as much time. We get one or two shots snapped and we leave. I have seen groups come with several cameras and take many more photos than we get and I have never sen them rushed off.

Bigger families do not get a discount. We pay the same amount per ticket as everyone else, so it isn't just too bad for large families or we would make the line horrific. If paying the price of admission and waiting in line is the criteria, then each of my our paid admissions and them waiting in line should mean that they could get an individual photo if they want it just as each individual adult or infant that goes through the line does. We would never do that, but it should be allowed. After all, we paid just like everyone else. we should get to take one photo each if we wanted to since everyone else can. I'm tired of rushing through everything so we aren't being thought of as inconsiderate by the other families. Rarely, do they give us any thought unless it is the wonderfully personal questions about how we came to have twins and triplets. Then every stranger seems comfortable asking us about our family history and our sex life.

Obviously, I am not a jerk or I would have made some big scene at Rapunzel instead of walking away. I was just nagged by the thought that I could have at least nicely asked if they knew if the Photopass person would be right back.

 

[atp]

If paying the price of admission and waiting in line is the criteria, then each of my our paid admissions and them waiting in line should mean that they could get an individual photo if they want it just as each individual adult or infant that goes through the line does.

I agree with you. I see nothing wrong with a child getting a picture alone. What if they were in line alone? What difference does it make?

I went on solo trips, if I were to go in line to take a picture with a character I shouldn't be allowed because I will make the lines longer? Surely it would be a waste to have only one person take a picture with a character, right? I really don't see what the big deal is. You don't know who is with who in the line, what if everyone who is waiting is on a solo trip? Should they have to share their picture with a stranger so the line moves faster? Of course not. Everyone should be able to get a picture on their own if they so desire.

Families already get multiple pictures and multiple autograph books anyway, what's one more?

I don't get why people are arguing about this, specially since this is generally allowed anyway. It's a shame they weren't nicer about it in your situation. Hopefully they were just having a bad day.

 

[vicki_c]

Even though others have said differently, we have never had a problem getting more than one photo (one with each kid, or one with a kid and another with all of us, etc.) when we have asked for that. I think your experience in having that refused was more the exception than the rule - maybe the CM decided that based on how long the line was, what time it was, or maybe they were just having a bad day and trying to get out of there themselves.

It's unfortunate that you had that experience, but there is no guarantee about the Photopass - who will have photographers with them, who won't, what your photos will come out like, etc. That's why they offer a refund for the pre-paid CD products.

There was never a reason to ask for anything "more" and I think that in your original post (combined with your opinion about older people getting photos with characters - one of my favorite activities even when our kids aren't with us) is what is generating the responses you are getting now. I feel like you set yourself up for the type of answers you're seeing.

 

[delmar411]

Actually, we are the most practical people you would ever meet. Our kids aren't princesses. We have twins and triplets only 2 1/2 years apart. We don't mess around and I have lived my WHOLE life making darn sure we weren't an inconvenience for anyone else. Which is why I walked away at Rapunzel, but couldn't help but wonder if never push me could have asked to wait off to the side a minute or two and see if the PP person would return. For all I know he could have been right behind the door that was off to the side and returning any second or had sent another photographer over. I never so much as asked and thought perhaps I could have.

We are far from entitled. One of my oldest sons has Aspergers, but we didn't get an GAC even though he was counting people in line and we constantly had to pull him back to an acceptable distance from the people in front of us. We made this a learning experience, even though there were so many times I was worn down by his obsession with being first in line. We don't ask for help. That seems to be our family motto.

My kids know how to share and how to work. Their whole life has been about sharing. However, I can't count the number of times I have seen people with one or two kids act like the world revolves around them. So excuse me if I am a little bit annoyed that someone suggests I am asking for too much when my daughters later wanted to take one individual photo with Tinker Bell after seeing everyone else take much more time than we do at every character meeting. We usually walk up, the character signs the book and I made my girls only take one book so they wouldn't take as much time. We get one or two shots snapped and we leave. I have seen groups come with several cameras and take many more photos than we get and I have never sen them rushed off.

Bigger families do not get a discount. We pay the same amount per ticket as everyone else, so it isn't just too bad for large families or we would make the line horrific. If paying the price of admission and waiting in line is the criteria, then each of my our paid admissions and them waiting in line should mean that they could get an individual photo if they want it just as each individual adult or infant that goes through the line does. We would never do that, but it should be allowed. After all, we paid just like everyone else. we should get to take one photo each if we wanted to since everyone else can. I'm tired of rushing through everything so we aren't being thought of as inconsiderate by the other families. Rarely, do they give us any thought unless it is the wonderfully personal questions about how we came to have twins and triplets. Then every stranger seems comfortable asking us about our family history and our sex life.

Obviously, I am not a jerk or I would have made some big scene at Rapunzel instead of walking away. I was just nagged by the thought that I could have at least nicely asked if they knew if the Photopass person would be right back.

This is all about you and not about Disney. No one is rushing you but you. And one instance of an annoyed employee someplace is not the end of of everything.

Learn to stand up for your kids and not being the person stomping all over them!

I have 4 kids. The 3 younger ones are 2.5yrs total apart (no twins, just a kiddo every year! ) and they often have their own autograph items or are carrying autograph items for someone back home. They get individual pics all the time and often get what I feel is a good chunk of time with the characters because we don't hustle them along and allow the natural interaction to play out.

Stop apologizing to the 'world' for something no one is mad about. No one thinks you need to move it just because you have 5 kids. Twins & triplets isn't who they ARE.

It seems you have gotten yourself quite regimented (by necessity) but have forgotten to cut loose and let the kids just be individual kids.

 

[Nancyg56]

What may seem horrific to you, may be different to me. Personally, I think it is absolutely horrific for grown adults to clog up the character lines. Please, 30 year old couples are going to die if they don't have a photo with Snow White? I don't get it, but they were in front of us. Same as the lady with a baby about 2 months old and no other kids. Again, I don't get it. They had to get all these shots of Snow White cooing over this baby, who has no idea what is going on, but to each their own. They stood in line for their photos. However, if that is okay, then I think two little girls asking for one individual photo isn't too much either. I had two girls with me, not a whole preschool class.

I guess you want to stay away from me while I wait in line with my DGD. I love the characters and there are a few I get in the photo. Disney is not about kids. Disney is about people who love Disney.I am sorry that you are annoyed with those of us who decide to lose all of our real world issues and just enjoy the nostalgia of being inside that park we all dreamed of when we were kids.

I have never seen anyone get upset when individual children had pics taken with the characters. I know that when my DGD is in one of those lines she will get her turn and until she does the people in front of her are entitled to enjoy their meeting with their favorite characters in any way they choose.

I'm not looking for sympathy. I said they had every right to be there and get their photos. They stood in line. I just said I didn't get it. I would never be in one of those lines if I didn't have kids wanting to see characters. I admittedly don't understand those who are willing to wait in those long lines for them. I'm not saying it is wrong, I am saying I don't understand the willingness to do so. If I had known those adults that wanted to stand in line, I would have dropped my girls off with them so they could wait together and I could have been anyplace else.

Now you are just being silly. You said something that was offensive and instead of just apologizing you reinforce your contempt.

Thank you. This trip is bittersweet because it took her death for us to finally realize that next time may just not be there. I'm looking forward to taking Tosha to see Alice.

I am so sorry for your loss.

For all I know he could have been right behind the door that was off to the side and returning any second or had sent another photographer over. I never so much as asked and thought perhaps I could have.


Bigger families do not get a discount. We pay the same amount per ticket as everyone else, so it isn't just too bad for large families or we would make the line horrific.

After all, we paid just like everyone else. we should get to take one photo each if we wanted to since everyone else can. I'm tired of rushing through everything so we aren't being thought of as inconsiderate by the other families. Rarely, do they give us any thought unless it is the wonderfully personal questions about how we came to have twins and triplets. Then every stranger seems comfortable asking us about our family history and our sex life.

It seems to me that you are your own worst enemy. Why would you not ask a simple question when you had the chance? The CM's are people and you can talk to them. They generally are very helpful. DGD got to have her photo taken with the Beast because Belle old her that he would be along soon, but this would not have happened had we not been talking to her. She said wait 15 minutes and they would both be back to take a picture with Kady.

You can give each one of your kids time to get a picture so if you choose not to do so don't be angry with the rest of us. Those lines are what they are. When you get in them you take your chances.

This is all about you and not about Disney. No one is rushing you but you. And one instance of an annoyed employee someplace is not the end of of everything.
Learn to stand up for your kids and not being the person stomping all over them!

Stop apologizing to the 'world' for something no one is mad about. No one thinks you need to move it just because you have 5 kids. Twins & triplets isn't who they ARE.

It seems you have gotten yourself quite regimented (by necessity) but have forgotten to cut loose and let the kids just be individual kids.

I was thinking the same thing! Shoot, every kid who is in line and wants their own moment with Mickey should get that. And it really is a shame if the one saying "no" is Mom.

 

[disnut8]

On our trip earlier this month we went to MK. It was suppose to be a day that was a 5.2, but I know it turned into a heavy day. ......

In the afternoon, my girls wanted to see Rapunzel. ..... The CM said she would be back around 5:15 and that would be the last time for the day, so my girls and I got in a line and was about the 15th group. My phone was dead from using the line app all day and we were doing Photopass, so I didn't bring my nice Nikon to the park to lug around. .... However, the Photopass person was gone when I had just sen him snapping photos. I asked the handler where they were and was told they had camera problems and had to leave. I explained why I had no phone camera and I was counting on that Photopass and was basically told tough luck. .... I was pretty ticked as my girls really wanted a photo with her and since they are twins they never get individual time and photos with the characters, so we never take nearly as much time as many other people in line.

I'm just quoting certain things from the OP's original post but I think it might be summed up by the very first line. The OP thought the park was going to be at a "5.2" level. But it wasn't. She had a different day than planned (I don't follow crowd levels but do they really go to 5.2 or . anything?). She was frustrated by the Magic Kingdom on this particular day.

That being said, OP - if you don't want to "lug" around your camera, well, then sorry. I have to make choices each and every trip. Do I take my still camera, my video camera or both? And I have to "lug" them around too. I'm 5 foot nothing, my husband is not a photographer at all so it's left to me. I pick and choose. Sure, you didn't expect to have this encounter but you know, when I was there in January with my grandkids (for my grandson's first time), I took both cameras because if something happened, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. They DID have unexpected encounters and now my family and I have the result. Did we do PhotoPass? Sure. My son did it. He decided not to waste the cost because we had everything already on my cameras.

Your choice. Your loss.

 

[stargazertechie]

I don't see why it was a big deal when I see adults with no kids taking forever snapping their shots with characters and I saw moms with itty,bitty babies that will no memory being very picky about their photo, but two 8 year old girls want an individual photo with a character instead of always having to share with their identical twin and we are holding up the line.

I have had two miscarriages. My husband and I definitely live each day like it's our last. Who knows if we will EVER have kids. That doesn't stop me from waiting in lines.

And how bout this one for you- a 61 year old, a 63 year old, and a 23 year old who waited in line for 45 minutes for the 7 Dwarves

That was my dad's last vacation. He knew he was dying. We made memories because we could.