Ever had a Bad character experience?

[santadog]

I have had one experience that rubbed me the wrong way, and one experience that was just weird.....

The one that rubbed me the wrong way was last April -- it was my 5 year old daughters birthday, and we were doing the "Wishes Dessert Party". She was wearing a Belle dress, and wanted to go to the princesses in Toon Town to show Belle her dress. (Belle is her absolute favorite) So we went, and waited in line. As we got in the room, there was Aurora, Cinderella and Belle was last. Belle was with a group of special needs kids so we had Aurora and Cindy all to our selves for about 10 minutes, and they were great! the three of them had an impromptu tea party, and even played a little hide and seek! When Belle was free, and my daughter went up to her (we'd had breakfast at Askerhaus that morning) and said "I met you before" to which Belle replied "So have I" and that was the end of the meet and greet. She motioned for the next family in line. So I have about 20 pics on the Photopass of Cinderella and Aurora dancing and laughing with her, and ONE picture of her with Belle, and Belle isn't even smiling.



The weird experience was back in 1989, at Epcot. I was there on my honeymoon, and wearing a Winnie the Pooh shirt, kind of an Andy Warholish looking thing, with four identical pictures of Pooh, all colored differently.
I was getting a picture with Pooh, and he kept pointing at himself, and tapping the design on my shirt. I was saying "yes, that's you" he hooked his arm with mine, so I really couldn't get away without forcibly casting him off (which I didn't want to do, especially with kids watching). After a couple of minutes that seemed more like 10, someone who I can only refer to as a WDW Secret Service agent (black suit, Rayban's, earpiece) came up took me by my other arm, took out a note book and pencil, looks me in the eye and says "excuse me sir, but Pooh want's to know where you got your shirt".

 

[Melpuff]

The weird experience was back in 1989, at Epcot. I was there on my honeymoon, and wearing a Winnie the Pooh shirt, kind of an Andy Warholish looking thing, with four identical pictures of Pooh, all colored differently.
I was getting a picture with Pooh, and he kept pointing at himself, and tapping the design on my shirt. I was saying "yes, that's you" he hooked his arm with mine, so I really couldn't get away without forcibly casting him off (which I didn't want to do, especially with kids watching). After a couple of minutes that seemed more like 10, someone who I can only refer to as a WDW Secret Service agent (black suit, Rayban's, earpiece) came up took me by my other arm, took out a note book and pencil, looks me in the eye and says "excuse me sir, but Pooh want's to know where you got your shirt".

LOL for some reason I found this hilarious!

 

[YodaGirl]

Allow me to make a few points:

** Princess don't squat or bend over. In fact *I believe* kneeling is not suggested although many of them still do it for the sake of the pictures. To put it plainly that kind of poses are not very lady like behavior. Think of it this way, if you would not ask the Queen of England to do it, then you shouldn't be asking the princesses to do it. Regardless of what you think of the Queen of England she still has certain behavior to follow. I am *personally* a firm believer that princess should always have a place to sit and not be in the floor where a dress get dirty. Again just my humble opinion. I agree.

** I think Berlioz70 has clarified enough things about CP however let me add one more thing. If you are a fast eater then the wait for the characters may seem longer than it actually is. We weren't...especially with a young child.A large number of times what you think it's an hour and a half it maybe only 30 or 45 minutes. We have guest complain that they haven't seen a character and they've been sitting for 90 minutes. Yet when the time is check it's only been 30 minutes or sometimes less. I understand that sometimes that is the case. According to my watch, however, that was not the case in our situation. However, like Berlioz70 says CP is a huge place and it takes time. Add to that the fact that many people are unprepared no matter how many times you asked them to be. You have folks who are not at the table when the character or is missing a child and it all adds up. Fair enough.
Finally like Berlioz70 says characters take a cue from what they see or hear in the table. If a child is unresponsive, seems scared, or simply states to not want to see them. Many of them will take cue and leave. They are under huge pressure to get a rotation going and with all the caos they have less than half a second to make a judgment. Yes sometimes they make mistakes but it's hard to do with all the commotion going on. Just let the attendant know if you need anything. My recommendation is to sit your child at the outside of the table where the character has easier access. If you have a little one that is afraid then sit them away from that area. Also to have the autographs out, and in the page that they will sign. Put them in an area where they have easy access. One thing I wish people would do is not let their children run havoc in the restaurant. Not only is it dangerous with all the servers trying running with breakables but also for the characters. Every time that Tigger has to stop to unhook a child from his legs it's time gone that could have been spent at a table. That sort of thing happens very, very often in CP. Dinning is not the ideal place for your child to 'spend time' with the characters, it is consider primarily a dinning location.

** This last clarification is more of a personal general note. I see people say that the characters are too friendly with them and that disturbs me. After working at Disney I am convinced that our society has lost some sort of good sense in good manners and proper behavior. Let it be stated that I'm not implying that anyone lies when they feel the character is too friendly with them. I'm only worried about the perception that you take with you. I have had way too many times people accuse characters of getting 'fresh' with a lady when they give them a kiss on the hand or check, or offer their arm for a picture. I am appalled that my children are growing up in a society were grown woman have no idea that Mickey is not getting 'fresh' with you when he offers his arm. When a character 'flirts' with you, like when Chip tried to walk off with your girlfriend, or signs for you to call me it's all in good nature and never with any nasty intentions. We want to make you laugh and have a good time, indulge yourself a little. Besides if you are a pretty lady, which you are, why should Tigger not admire that? Be proud not angry. The best interactions are with folks that play along with the characters just for the sake of fun.I agree. Personally, I think interactions like that are really cute.

My comments are added in red.

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

I have never had a horrible experience with a character- on my last trip my friends and I had an AMAZING interaction with Chip at the Garden Grill in Epcot. You can see our interaction here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR8Xwp3Y_7o (Interaction starts at 2:00)


I did have one awkward moment with Pocahontas, though. I had a celebrate button on, on my spring break trip. I had I'm Celebrating "My 25th trip" (I'm a dork, I know.. but I wanted to celebrate it!) on my button, but because of riding water rides and such, it was kind of worn off. Pocahontas said to me, "So what are we celebrating?" I said, "It's my 25th visit!" And she just stared at me. For about 10-15 seconds, which may not seem like much, but it was a really long time standing there with a stranger holding my camera waiting to take the picture. My friends were laughing as she finally said "Oh. well. You must really like it here." - I don't know if she was shocked, or just thought that wasn't a real reason to celebrate. It didn't matter, though- it just made a funny story and we still refer to "awkward Pocahontas."

 

[mickaholic4077]

I have had one experience that rubbed me the wrong way, and one experience that was just weird.....





The weird experience was back in 1989, at Epcot. I was there on my honeymoon, and wearing a Winnie the Pooh shirt, kind of an Andy Warholish looking thing, with four identical pictures of Pooh, all colored differently.
I was getting a picture with Pooh, and he kept pointing at himself, and tapping the design on my shirt. I was saying "yes, that's you" he hooked his arm with mine, so I really couldn't get away without forcibly casting him off (which I didn't want to do, especially with kids watching). After a couple of minutes that seemed more like 10, someone who I can only refer to as a WDW Secret Service agent (black suit, Rayban's, earpiece) came up took me by my other arm, took out a note book and pencil, looks me in the eye and says "excuse me sir, but Pooh want's to know where you got your shirt".

I think maybe Disney hadn't designed the shirt you were wearing and wanted to know where you bought it/received it so they could investigate any issues of copyright infringement that might come up.

 

[santadog]

I think maybe Disney hadn't designed the shirt you were wearing and wanted to know where you bought it/received it so they could investigate any issues of copyright infringement that might come up.

Actually, I bought it at the Disney Store in Boston Massachusetts at Faneuil Hall, so I assumed he just wanted one for himself

 

[Princess_Belle]

At LTT in 2008 I got accused of punching Goofy in the face by a handler. Everyone at our table was adults. And the table beside us was full of preteens. I guess that Goofy just said that table in the corner and both tables were near the corner. I was like "seriously why would and adult punch a character in the face?" And the handler was like don't punch him again or we will ask you to leave. I just agreed to get the handler to go away and let me enjoy my meal.

 

[inkkognito]

This is kinda off topic because it happened at Universal and wasn't a bad character experience so much as a bad guest experience. We were just there today and I wanted a pic with Scooby Doo. The characters were getting ready to leave so he was standing inside the car they transport the characters in. The handler said, "Just walk up there and take a pic with him." No one else was waiting so I did. Just as hubby was getting the camera ready some woman walks up and stands on his other side, with her husband video taping. I said, "Excuse me but I'm trying to get a picture." She said, "I know, I am too." I said, "Could you please move out of my picture and wait your turn? We were here first and it's customary to wait," and she just shrugged. I said, "You know, it's really rude to force your way into a stranger's picture" and she just stood there like "Duh." Her hubby was recording this whole thing; I can't imagine it's a really neat vacation memory to have someone else calling your wife out and telling her she's rude. The handler had walked off so there was no one controlling things, but at that point the other characters came to board the car. Hubby managed to minimize her appearance in our picture pretty good but I know they'll hear me plenty well on the video. I kinda wish I had said something snarky like,"Wow, you must be really, really desperate for for friends if you have to pretend you're with strangers. Maybe you'd have some if you had some manners," but alas there wasn't time.

 

[BEANTOWNDR7]

Actually, after reading all these replies it made me think about the meet and great with Tinkerbell and the fairies last year. My DD7 is absolutely in love with Tinkerbell so after waiting in line for almost an hour we get in there and move through the fairies first, meeting Iridesa (sic) first and man was she annoyed with my DD's, especially my youngest so I just moved along quickly to the next fairy. The rest of characters were great.

On another note, a great experience; when we were at DL back in 06 my DD was fascinated with Pluto at the time and as we were walking through California Adventure, sure enough Pluto is walking near the waterfall and my DD screams out "my pal." He came running right at her leaving his handler behind and gave her a huge hug. It made her trip.

 

[nytimez]

Allow me to make a few points:

** Princess don't squat or bend over. In fact *I believe* kneeling is not suggested although many of them still do it for the sake of the pictures. To put it plainly that kind of poses are not very lady like behavior. Think of it this way, if you would not ask the Queen of England to do it, then you shouldn't be asking the princesses to do it. Regardless of what you think of the Queen of England she still has certain behavior to follow. I am *personally* a firm believer that princess should always have a place to sit and not be in the floor where a dress get dirty. Again just my humble opinion.

Sorry, I'm not buying this comparison. The Queen of England doesn't host high-price character meals.

The Disney princesses are visited by human beings who are quite often much smaller than them, and they need to be able to relate to the kids on that level, and pose for pics with them.

Just about all of the princesses I've brought my daughter to have found a way to get down to her level without being unladylike. Not doing so would lead to some terrible photos. This isn't about observing the protocol of the Queen of England, it's about the child having an enchanting time there.

 

[onnawufei]

I'm confused as to why the bending over/bending down/squatting/whatever is even an issue considering it's been proven that they do. So either it's in the rules that they don't and some do anyway, it's in the rules that they do and some just don't want to, or it's up to their discretion. If they aren't supposed to there are a lot of rule breakers out there, so I'm pretty sure that one isn't the case. And comparing Disney Princesses to the Queen of England does come off as a little silly to me. I'm pretty sure the Queen gets paid better than they do.

Unrelated to princess posture, the face characters actually make me a little nervous. I think it's because in the suits if they're aggravated they can roll their eyes, make faces and all that, but if they're still acting happy then you get the illusion. But a face character can only put on a fake smile and hope it looks genuine if they're having a bad day. Even though I know they're just playing the characters, I think it would traumatize me a little to know I was bothering one of my favorites.

 

[Aethyr]

I'm confused as to why the bending over/bending down/squatting/whatever is even an issue considering it's been proven that they do. So either it's in the rules that they don't and some do anyway, it's in the rules that they do and some just don't want to, or it's up to their discretion. If they aren't supposed to there are a lot of rule breakers out there, so I'm pretty sure that one isn't the case.

Perhaps her back or legs were hurt that day? Face performers (as well as attendants for fur performers) are encouraged to stay in character:

"Mickey's going to grab a bite of cheese and be right back!" instead of "Mickey's going to take a break."

"Princesses don't kneel" rather than "I can't squat, my back is hurt."

Maybe she thought she was delivering a clever in-character line and didn't realize how she was rubbing several guests the wrong way.

 

[clc053103]

I took a pic with Goofy when I was 8- I held goofy's tongue. In return, he gave me an "indian burn". My mother actually has a picture of it.

 

[santadog]

Unrelated to princess posture, the face characters actually make me a little nervous. I think it's because in the suits if they're aggravated they can roll their eyes, make faces and all that, but if they're still acting happy then you get the illusion. But a face character can only put on a fake smile and hope it looks genuine if they're having a bad day.

While I completely see your point: some of my (as well as DD's) best character experiences have been with face characters.
In Morocco @ Epcot Sophie was being quite the smitten kitten around Aladdin: she wouldn't even look at him.... so he sang "Whole New World" to her in it's entirety.

And at Akerhause, the Ariel totally nailed it, you could see the character in her eyes. She was talking about her favorite human dress, and knew right away all the water rides, since they were her favorites.

At Disney California Adventure (Mickey's Trick Or Treat party) we ran into Lady Tremain and the step sisters. Bear in mind I have both arms about 3/4 sleeved: when they saw me, Anastasia quickly gathered DD up in her skirt, while Drusella fend me off, calling for the royal guards, because a pirate was trying to make off with a little girl!

 

[Nebula]

I never had any really bad experiences with characters, just some akward ones. At LTT, apparently Minnie was a little impatient, because while Mom was taking my picture with her, Minnie was tapping her foot VERY loudly! I'm not sure why she was so impatient - the restaurant was not busy at all and she spent maybe 20 seconds with us, tops. The picture took 10 seconds, seriously. Goofy was great though!

Same trip, a friend of ours witnessed a bad experience at CRT. This was before it had a character meal, I believe, but Cinderella was seated downstairs to meet people. She was lovely to us, but my friend witnessed her being very rude to two little girls who wanted to meet her. I guess it was her break time, and when the kids asked for her autograph, she rudely replied,"I am TRYING to get upstairs!!" Poor kids were crushed.

This past trip, I met Donald twice - at Epcot and AK. At Epcot, it was one of the most memorable experiences - Donald and I got along famously. He was actually flirty But at AK when I went to give him a hug, he backed off really quick - so quick I nearly fell. A little embarrassing, but he made up for it... after I put my hands on my hips and said,"Hey, Duck!" Apparently I amused the Photopass photog, because HE was in stitches

I've been lucky to have several wonderful experiences. Captain Hook was the only character who made an effort to look for my name in the front of my autograph book and made sure to personalize his autograph to me. Snow White wasn't afraid to get down on the ground with kids - I saw her actually sitting on the pavement with a little girl. And Marie was wonderful... in the pic I have of her, her knees are all gray from where she was down on the ground with kids - I'm sure whomever has to clean that costume was thrilled She went out of her way to be cat-like - rubbing her head against people and even batting at a little girl's pen that had an ornament hanging from it. So for every unenthusiastic character (there have been a few), I've seen double the amount who truly seem to love their jobs.

 

[onnawufei]

While I completely see your point: some of my (as well as DD's) best character experiences have been with face characters.
In Morocco @ Epcot Sophie was being quite the smitten kitten around Aladdin: she wouldn't even look at him.... so he sang "Whole New World" to her in it's entirety.

That seriously made me "aww" out loud.

I have this horrible fear that I'm going to be bothering someone. I know it's silly since they're there to meet people and get their pictures taken so obviously they want you to interact but I'm so afraid I'm going to come right when they were about to leave or [insert a million other really silly situations here]. I know, I know, it makes no sense.

I was 27 the first time I had any character interactions and it was with Chip and Dale, who I've been a huge fan of since I was a little girl. You would swear I was still a little girl with how shy I felt! I was only a little better the next year.

 

[santadog]

That seriously made me "aww" out loud.

Even as they wound down their visit, she still wouldn't look at him

 

[fenrir58]

I've never had a bad experience with characters, I did notice a CM growing quickly impatient with a rude family and had a bad experience with a photopass photographer... but I think we all need to remember that we all have bad days at work, even in Disney. It's just harder to accept because it's some place that references "magic" and "dreams"....
Now with other Disney patrons, I've had my fair share...

 

[onnawufei]

Even as they wound down their visit, she still wouldn't look at him [picture]

Aaaaand I did it again. That is a fantastic picture, and definitely a great memory! She's so adorable.

 

[IwovMickey]

Im sorry but you cannot be serious...hurt her back or something???? Enough of the hero worship and lets get real here, yes there is a real person in front of her that I might remind you should be doing her job...if she dosnt like it she should go work in wallmart stacking shelves at night. There are a million kids that audition every day just waiting to step into her shoes for that job all be it low payed or not. Its her job to be NICE at all costs even if there is a snotty nosed spoiled brat wanting a photo with her ( no offence ment to anyones kids here). What she did was out of order and wrong, I completely agree with the lady when she commented about if she wanted to keep her job etc...some people save up a lifetime for vacations and only get that one shot to make their kids dreams come true. It certainly should not be spoiled by a "princess" just because she is having a bad day. And yes mabey she didnt want to bend down for fear of exposing herself...she could have hunched down or something like it. I run a wedding business and even on the days where I am not feeling myself or a bit crabby, I still make the effort to be considerate and nice to all my brides, why?? because its my job.

I could not agree more! Well said!