Electrical Parade Donkey?

[angierae]

Maybe they did act like that BECAUSE there were no kids around? I have observed the behaviour of the donkeys during a couple of parades and it always seemed like they were pretty "tame" when kids were present but pushed it to the limit if there were only adults around. I thought it was funny, it didn't really bother me when one stopped right in front of me and started screaming They were just really into their characters and I am pretty sure they act different wether kids are around or not.
As far as touching the camera goes like the OP reportet...that really is a no-go and they shouldn't have done that. But them touching people behind the rope is perfectly fine...why shouldn't characters be allowed to touch? When it's a princess of Winnie the Pooh everyone love getting hugs...so why should the donkeys not be allows to touch?

Consent.

That's why. If I ask a Princess or Winnie for a hug, I am consenting to be touched by a stranger. If they run up to me and grab me, I am not consenting to be touched by a stranger, and it is inappropriate.

 

[Gamegrl1]

Just encouraging the OP to please do report that kind of behavior to customer service re: the donkeys. I agree it's not appropriate at all to touch a guest without their "OK", or to touch their property, especially something that's so obviously costly and potentially easily broken.

The last time I saw the MSEP was when it was still in CA, at CA Adventure park (we went in 2004). I don't recall seeing any donkeys. They sound just horrible. I enjoy watching dancers in the other parades but would NOT like something that was getting in my face or other people's faces and heckling them. Personally I don't care about them being "in character". The MSEP is fantastic and why on earth Disney would interfere with people's enjoyment of it with costumed hecklers is beyond me. That would irritate me too. My camera is a digital SLR - not anywhere near as nice as the OP's - but it wasn't cheap and I'd be super-upset if my vacation tab went up a grand by having to replace it. I liked having it out to take photos of that beautiful, fun parade and I wouldn't want my pics interrupted by some costumed jerk standing in front of me and grabbing my belongings.

 

[Jennasis]

Just encouraging the OP to please do report that kind of behavior to customer service re: the donkeys. I agree it's not appropriate at all to touch a guest without their "OK", or to touch their property, especially something that's so obviously costly and potentially easily broken.

The last time I saw the MSEP was when it was still in CA, at CA Adventure park (we went in 2004). I don't recall seeing any donkeys. They sound just horrible. I enjoy watching dancers in the other parades but would NOT like something that was getting in my face or other people's faces and heckling them. Personally I don't care about them being "in character". The MSEP is fantastic and why on earth Disney would interfere with people's enjoyment of it with costumed hecklers is beyond me. That would irritate me too. My camera is a digital SLR - not anywhere near as nice as the OP's - but it wasn't cheap and I'd be super-upset if my vacation tab went up a grand by having to replace it. I liked having it out to take photos of that beautiful, fun parade and I wouldn't want my pics interrupted by some costumed jerk standing in front of me and grabbing my belongings.

Don't worry....You're more likely to have your picture taking interrupted by some jerk standing next to/in front of/behind you. In all my many many years of enjoying MSEP (front row), I've never been harassed by any of the characters.

 

[MrsDuck]

I still don't understand why anyone would bring $8k worth of their livelihood's equiment to a theme park... I'd be wayyyy too nervous!

BUT, I am sorry you were upset and were left disappointed as that is never a good feeling regardless the situation. Ditto the PP who suggested contacting the Big Cheese.

 

[eeyoresnr]

The Donkey's don't "scream in your face" for a full minute or more. I'm assuming you've never seen the parade? The Donkeys interact with people watching but it's brief 5-10 seconds tops before they move on.

Also my post wasn't about the parade, it was about the person not going to meet Gaston and the Wicked Step Mother if she doesn't want to interact with characters who aren't all happy and sweet like the Princesses. There is nothing wrong with that but the characters act like the characters. If her son is bothered by this, it's best to stay away from the Villains.

I'm assuming you didn't click on the link in post # 2...
and actually I have seen the parade about 100 times or more starting when it originated at Disneyland and at least 2 dozen times at WDW .... the music is my ringtone on my phone

 

[LockShockBarrel]

1 am and I figure "ok I'll just go on the boards one last time then head to bed". I scroll down and thought I misread something but no, I definitely see the words "parade donkey". Then I start reading "yeah those donkeys can be jerks" and "the donkey grabbed my camera". Maybe because I'm tired but without getting into the actual issue at hand this thread has been hysterical.

On a side note, I've run into bad characters before the most notably being Push. I was there with someone with a service dog and we were on our way to an ADR or something...I know where had some place to be. We're walking through Tomorrowland and I hear someone barking but it sounds a little odd. Then I realize it's Push going "arf arf...grrrrrrr....arf arf arf. Come here doggie...come here." We just kept walking but I got angry thinking you don't try to distract a service dog like that and when I told that story (and I can't remember if it was on this board or another I used to belong to) I had someone apologize profusely saying the cast members are told very seriously that they aren't to distract or even engage a service dog unless the owner says its ok. That being said during meet and greets or character meals where we were there to actually SEE the characters, they were fabulous with the dog. More than willing to pet or take pictures interact as a whole. Mickey pointed out the dog's own set of Mickey ears, Pluto wagged his tail...I have pictures somewhere of Tigger on all fours with the dog being a fellow animal. But really...that's just a totally different story than what happened with Push and it seems like OP had a similar issue. Someone that got too carried away.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I'm assuming you didn't click on the link in post # 2...
and actually I have seen the parade about 100 times or more starting when it originated at Disneyland and at least 2 dozen times at WDW .... the music is my ringtone on my phone

I'm sorry if I offended you. As I said, the post you quoted originally was not directed to at OP, it was directed at someone else - which I quoted in my post at the time. Not all characters are all sunshine and rainbows. To be honest, if I was at WDW and the Wicked Stepmother was acting all nice and sweet, I would put in a complaint to Guest Relations because she shouldn't be acting that way.

I had already advised the OP to put in a complaint if they are upset over the incident. I personally don't see the big issue here, no damage was done, they were acting in character. I assure you, if you were turning into a Donkey, you would be a little hysterical too.

Sorry, But I don't go to a amusement park to have a employee of that park harass me or make me feel uncomfortable in any way. Its one thing if they weren't touching me or my property, But when they touch me or my property. That is where they cross the line.....

The bottom line is this. Employees of the park should not be touching anyone or property that it doesn't belong to them. Plain and simple.

The only thing wrong they really did was touch the camera. The OP is free to report them as they see fit. I would just hate there to be a day when the Villains have to be nicer to everyone because people are complaining. The OP clearly doesn't just have an issue with the CM touching the camera, it was how they "acted" too - they were "acting" But if someone does something to make someone uncomfortable, they should report it. I don't have to agree with it and that's why this a discussion board

 

[mamabear0222]

I still don't understand why anyone would bring $8k worth of their livelihood's equiment to a theme park... I'd be wayyyy too nervous!

BUT, I am sorry you were upset and were left disappointed as that is never a good feeling regardless the situation. Ditto the PP who suggested contacting the Big Cheese.

I often thought about leaving our good DSLR behind while travelling but then what is the point of owning quality equipment if not to photograph the experience? Ours is insured as is probably most others but that doesn't mean others should be grabbing your equipment

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[DVCcurious]

That's a pretty horrible experience you had to go through. Personally I would hate, hate, hate it if I was harassed by the donkeys. I've seen them in the parade a bunch of times and never had to interact with them.

Should they be "in character"? Yes. But until they know a guest WANTS to be harassed they should only be in character with each other. Pull each other's tails, yell at each other, etc. But if a donkey came over to me and yelled at me I would be very upset.

There's a huge difference between waiting to meet Jafar or Gaston or the Tremaines then watching a parade. When you are waiting to meet a villain you are "asking" to be harassed. You are expecting that sort of thing. But at a parade you're just trying to have fun and relax.

And there's no excuse for a CM to touch a guest's property. Ever. I don't care if it's a $10 disposable camera, it doesn't make a difference to me. Private property is private property.

 

[MattRyan]

It's supposed to be part of their character, I had one get in my face really close and say "What! You don't like my ears?!?!?!"

 

[Disney_Princess83]

It's supposed to be part of their character, I had one get in my face really close and say "What! You don't like my ears?!?!?!"

We had them yelling at us, asking if we had done this to them.

 

[yulilin3]

I love the Donkey boys in the parade, have seen them a bunch of times, and they have come up to us and yell really loudly, and make funny faces and mess with my daughter's hair...I don't see that as a bad thing, I see them as being in character. There's not a lot of interaction during tha parade and the Donkey Boys are but a few that actually go up to guest and interact...So the point is: A character should be in character but not touch the guest or their property...Ok, during the same parade Snow White came up to a boy that was standing next to us and gave him a huge kiss in the forehead...of course, everyone was excited about that, guess what? she was in character...

 

[Punzie]

That's a pretty horrible experience you had to go through. Personally I would hate, hate, hate it if I was harassed by the donkeys. I've seen them in the parade a bunch of times and never had to interact with them.

Should they be "in character"? Yes. But until they know a guest WANTS to be harassed they should only be in character with each other. Pull each other's tails, yell at each other, etc. But if a donkey came over to me and yelled at me I would be very upset.

There's a huge difference between waiting to meet Jafar or Gaston or the Tremaines then watching a parade. When you are waiting to meet a villain you are "asking" to be harassed. You are expecting that sort of thing. But at a parade you're just trying to have fun and relax.

And there's no excuse for a CM to touch a guest's property. Ever. I don't care if it's a $10 disposable camera, it doesn't make a difference to me. Private property is private property.

Why would you be very upset? How are they harming you? I mean I get the guy in the shared link on the first page - he was straight up harassed it seemed from his retelling. But you're going to be very upset if a person dressed as a donkey boy brays at you?

What would do if disco Betty the yeti actually still moved on expedition Everest? She actually swats at you and tries to knock you off the track . Gasp

 

[Merida DunBroch]

Would NOT want a character of any sort touching my camera equipment - or, well, really, my mother's. There's a line between acceptable and not, and that Donkey Boy just Irish danced across that boundary, imho.

 

[Itinkso]

I found this on another social media site on August 14th, and the interaction is vastly different than the OP's experience. Some may probably say "out of character" but a lasting memory nonetheless...and much more positive than the OP's:

Donkey Boy is doing his thing along the parade route when a Young Girl grabs his sleeve:

Donkey Boy: High five?
Young Girl: No, I want to hug you!
Donkey Boy: We can hug!

The two hug and the exchange continues:

Young Girl: Now we are friends forever!
Donkey Boy: We can be friends forever but first we have to pinky promise.
The two "pinky promise" and Donkey Boy continues on his way.

All of the comments on the site were in regards to the "magic" the CM created (without braying or yelling).

 

[Disney_Princess83]

A nice memory but he was out of character (honestly that is a huge no-no for CM's) Also, this interaction might have been appropriate in this example but it wouldn't always be appropriate. The Donkey should be acting like a Donkey, not a Disney Princess

I found this on another social media site on August 14th, and the interaction is vastly different than the OP's experience. Some may probably say "out of character" but a lasting memory nonetheless...and much more positive than the OP's:

Donkey Boy is doing his thing along the parade route when a Young Girl grabs his sleeve:

Donkey Boy: High five?
Young Girl: No, I want to hug you!
Donkey Boy: We can hug!

The two hug and the exchange continues:

Young Girl: Now we are friends forever!
Donkey Boy: We can be friends forever but first we have to pinky promise.
The two "pinky promise" and Donkey Boy continues on his way.

All of the comments on the site were in regards to the "magic" the CM created (without braying or yelling).

 

[FLkid]

It seems like Disney needs to address the issue. Further more the donkey boys could act scared (as they were in the movie to be turning into donkeys) and still be in legitimate character. If its to the point that its obstructing guests view and enjoyment of the parade, it's an issue.


While visiting US for Halloween Horror Nights last year (where you EXPECT unruly street characters) one of the zombies grabbed this patrons hat and the manager who takes them around the park pulled the zombie immediately from the maze and scolded him for making contact.


I can't imagine a child being in the situation of a "character" at the happiest place on earth getting in their parents face or touching their property.

 

[Bullseye]

It seems like Disney needs to address the issue. Further more the donkey boys could act scared (as they were in the movie to be turning into donkeys) and still be in legitimate character. If its to the point that its obstructing guests view and enjoyment of the parade, it's an issue.


While visiting US for Halloween Horror Nights last year (where you EXPECT unruly street characters) one of the zombies grabbed this patrons hat and the manager who takes them around the park pulled the zombie immediately from the maze and scolded him for making contact.


I can't imagine a child being in the situation of a "character" at the happiest place on earth getting in their parents face or touching their property.

It's not an issue. It was an isolated incident involving an overzealous CM or an oversensitive guest or some combination of both. It's not like it happens all the time. Characters have very specific rules of what they can and cannot do and they generally follow them.