I Feel Like Giving Up Hope For Characters To Meet and Greet Again

[TsWade2]

Hi,
I don't want to be a downer, but after reading some of the people hearing saying that social distancing characters are better than meeting them, I'm feel like giving up hope for Disney Characters to meet and greet again. I'm beginning to feel like the characters will have to social distance forever, even when the pandemic ends. I haven't been to Disneyland yet and I am very impressed that they bring rare characters more often or seasonally, but it would've been nicer to give them a high five and hug them, but I guess hugging and high fiving is the end of the era of costume characters. I don't want to believe everything I said and I hope I'm wrong, but a lot've you people like the idea and want it to be like this forever. I know there are rough lines and selfish people in the past before the pandemic, but didn't just assed reservations to tone down crowds? Anyway, I hope I'm wrong, but that's how I feel right now.

 

[StormyCA]

IDK, they're (apparently) adding M&G to G+ at WDW. I find it hard to believe that a 'paid for' M&G would be standing 6 feet away from a character, 'pantomiming' or speaking for a few seconds, and then snapping a pic.

But who really knows these days. Disney will do what the crowds will tolerate and if they'd 'tolerate' that for the price of G+, then that's what will be offered.

 

[TsWade2]

IDK, they're (apparently) adding M&G to G+ at WDW. I find it hard to believe that a 'paid for' M&G would be standing 6 feet away from a character, 'pantomiming' or speaking for a few seconds, and then snapping a pic.

But who really knows these days. Disney will do what the crowds will tolerate and if they'd 'tolerate' that for the price of G+, then that's what will be offered.

That didn't cheer me up, but thanks for trying.

 

[Dug720]

IDK, they're (apparently) adding M&G to G+ at WDW. I find it hard to believe that a 'paid for' M&G would be standing 6 feet away from a character, 'pantomiming' or speaking for a few seconds, and then snapping a pic.

But who really knows these days. Disney will do what the crowds will tolerate and if they'd 'tolerate' that for the price of G+, then that's what will be offered.

You are still distanced by a rope. No hugging. Physical distancing (nothing social about it and Disney NEVER called it social distancing) still in place.

 

[StormyCA]

That didn't cheer me up, but thanks for trying.

Sorry.

 

[DharmaLou]

I mean, it is what it is. A lot of our old normal will never be "normal" again.

 

[TsWade2]

I mean, it is what it is. A lot of our old normal will never be "normal" again.

I guess they are social distancing forever. I hate the new normal! I feel like closing this thread.

 

[DharmaLou]

Most of us hate it and know it could have been prevented. But, it is what it is.

 

[TsWade2]

You guys make me feel more miserable! I'm sorry I made this thread. And I'm quitting this discussion forum.

 

[mom2rtk]

As much as some people like the distanced meets because they are quicker and lines aren't long, Disney NEEDS people waiting in line for meet and greets. Without those lines, people are in other attraction lines making those longer.

I have every faith the traditional meet and greet format will return. Hang in there.

 

[TsWade2]

As much as some people like the distanced meets because they are quicker and lines aren't long, Disney NEEDS people waiting in line for meet and greets. Without those lines, people are in other attraction lines making those longer.

I have every faith the traditional meet and greet format will return. Hang in there.

Okay. Sorry I overreact. By the way, I already found out that it's temporarily, not forever. Thank goodness for Disneyland.com said it's only temporarily until everything is back to normal.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Really hope regular ones are back this summer. My son is autistic and I'm not sure how he'll handle not being able to actually meet the characters like last time.

 

[TsWade2]

Really hope regular ones are back this summer. My son is autistic and I'm not sure how he'll handle not being able to actually meet the characters like last time.

Believe it or not, I too am autistic. I feel your son's pain.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Really hope regular ones are back this summer. My son is autistic and I'm not sure how he'll handle not being able to actually meet the characters like last time.

Will he remember? I’d try to ignore the subject and maybe he won’t react. My kids barely remember the park. I thought they were around his age.

 

[Epicnemesis]

I’m hoping it’s normal soon. My daughters autograph book already has a two year gap and counting (it has a space for a picture per autograph) she is going to look so different in half the pictures.

 

[Dug720]

Will he remember? I’d try to ignore the subject and maybe he won’t react. My kids barely remember the park. I thought they were around his age.

That, or if he does remember, make a social story NOW to start reading every day about how things may be different and we won't be able to hug the characters like before. And that's ok. It's just different. (I teack kiddos with autism and we have used social stories to help them with differences in things between how they were and how they are, wearing masks, and all kinds of things. It takes daily reading - sometimes multiple times a day - but social stories do help.)

 

[Karin1984]

Shall I bring some good news to this thread, OP?
Hugging (fur) characters returned yesterday at Disneyland Paris. That of course doesnt immediately say something for the US parks, but it is a promising sign.

 

[Pluto468]

I can't imagine them giving up Meet & Greets forever. They're SO popular. I bet they'll be back.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Shall I bring some good news to this thread, OP?
Hugging (fur) characters returned yesterday at Disneyland Paris. That of course doesnt immediately say something for the US parks, but it is a promising sign.

And let us all remember for a moment, that Disneyland Paris offered its version of Genie+ (i.e. Premier Access) prior to WDW/DL's announcement and implementation of Genie+. So, maybe Disneyland Paris is the leader and the domestic parks are the followers?

To the OP, there's a lotta' ballgame left, so I would would say look up and forward to a return to hugging or high-fiving or standing right next to your favorite character at a meet & greet! Never forget, there is so much money to be made by Disney to charge the guests, say $10 / person via ILL, for a character meet & greet. Monetizing meet and greets will get Disney motivated for its return.

 

[WonkaKid]

I don't want to be a downer, but after reading some of the people hearing saying that social distancing characters are better than meeting them, I'm feel like giving up hope for Disney Characters to meet and greet again.

If it helps at all, I read yesterday that DL Paris just dropped the social-distancing requirement for character meets. Given that, it seems likely that it’ll return here too. Probably after not too long.