I know some of you won't like this, but

[staceylc]

there are quite a few organised meet n greets in the Studios now. Theres one (sometimes 2) in the front lot, sometimes they use the main stage near Cinemagique for queued meet n greets, theres the Sully one, and there are 2 separate stages for meet n greets in the Toon Studios area.

I'm not a fan of queued meet n greets, and I do think DLP have provided more and more of them as the years have gone on.

The only ones they have at the moment are Mickey in the front Lot, Minnie or Daisy in Toon Studio & Sully at Monsters Inc. There were characters around the stage in front of Cinemagique but no organised queues. We waited ages for dd to meet Donald and we gave up as she was getting barged around quite a lot (she's only 2). Also, looking at our pictures every one of them (except the Stitch one) have other guests in them as they were crowding around so much.

I think it was because (as mentioned in my highs & lows) there weren't many characters around at all this year so when they did appear it was a mad scrum to meet them before they disappeared again.

 

[thepreciouspea]

Why should adults not be allowed to meet Santa? I'm 30 but still want to see Santa and characters - I have paid for the whole experience not just the rides

You are entitled to your opinion and I mine. I never said that anyone shouldn't be allowed to meet Santa, just that it was annoying to me. I don't understand why adults would want to meet Santa or any of the Characters, since I don't want to myself....point being I just don't understand WHY?

For me it is all about my kids, seeing their faces light up and being excited and happy to meet the characters that they see on tv everyday. They don't understand that they (Santa and Characters) are people in costumes and adults do.

There are many things that my kids can't have access too because they aren't tall enough or they have adult themes. I think it would be nice if there were more things just for kids.

 

[DLPdaft]

I don't understand why adults would want to meet Santa or any of the Characters, since I don't want to myself....point being I just don't understand WHY?

as very much an adult, I can totally understand why adults might want to spend a fair bit of their DLP time meeting characters . On our very first trip 5 years ago, we were checking in at the Santa Fe and Goofy came over to me in the line and gave me a huge hug - I have been smitten every since! Earlier this month I just could not resist giving Rabbit a cuddle when we met him near Santas Grotto. I still put my hand out for high-5s from the characters in the parades too - its all part of The Magic .

 

[Ware Bears]

Ooh, so can I.

I know I said in my previous post that I'm glad we no longer have to stand in line for every character as we did on our first trips but if I see one sporting a new outfit or with a very small queue I'll be joining it! I can't imagine a Disney trip without at least a couple of character photos amd that goes for when it'll just be DH and me!!

Guess it all boils down to horses for courses - for example my colleague who has young children has never put out anything for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve whereas I, whose girls are all grown up, still put out a mince pie and a Guinness plus a carrot for Rudolph. She thinks I'm certifiable and should be locked up in the funny farm whereas I think she's one step away from child abuse luckily we just accept we're different and laugh about it.

 

[tinks_1989]

I enjoy spending bit longer with characters then just a photo with being so restricted with what we can do with Elsie meeting characters is a big part of our day!

 

[small2006]

I don't understand why adults would want to meet Santa or any of the Characters, since I don't want to myself....point being I just don't understand WHY?

For me it is all about my kids, seeing their faces light up and being excited and happy to meet the characters that they see on tv everyday. They don't understand that they (Santa and Characters) are people in costumes and adults do.

I completely understand that they're people in costumes, doesn't make me any less excited about seeing them! I never went to Disney as a child, my first visit to WDW I was 24 and it was so lovely seeing all the characters that I'd grown up and each visit is more magical than the last. The park is "for the young at heart" and I certainly hope having my own children doesn't take that feeling away from me! I took my Mum to DLRP a few years ago and she almost cried when she saw Winnie the Pooh! And she's almost 60!

 

[kamik86]

I am an adult that loves to get autographs and stuff... however there were only two things that make me unprepared right away:

1) If there was no line and I just stumbled on the character, thus not having time to get everything out. For example Donald in Fronteirland last trip... He was just standing there with his handler. So we joined the line.

2) I have the animated charaters book and sometimes when there are two characters on one page I don't manage to keep my finger in the book for the second character when the first one takes it... hmmm maybe I should back something to use as a bookmark next time. To make it faster to flip to the second character (Woody and Buzz was one example of this)

Oh and as for why I love the characters, another reason I love watching the kids... the Woody and Buzz one their was this little girl in front of us that was so adorable. Dressed as Belle and was playing with everything. She also really liked my book and looked at it with me in line for a little while (Mom said it was ok, even suggested characters she would really like to see in the book) ... I don't have kids so I like seeing how excited everyone elses kids get!

 

[kamik86]

I completely understand that they're people in costumes, doesn't make me any less excited about seeing them! I never went to Disney as a child, my first visit to WDW I was 24 and it was so lovely seeing all the characters that I'd grown up and each visit is more magical than the last. The park is "for the young at heart" and I certainly hope having my own children doesn't take that feeling away from me! I took my Mum to DLRP a few years ago and she almost cried when she saw Winnie the Pooh! And she's almost 60!

What is it with Mom's and Winnie the Pooh? My mom was very excited to meet him too... She was 61 when I first took her. Dad didn't understand the characters and have any fun with them until the last day (I think he was just being too cool for it) when we went to Ohana and Stitch stole his hat...

 

[tinks_1989]

Oh and as for why I love the characters, another reason I love watching the kids... the Woody and Buzz one their was this little girl in front of us that was so adorable. Dressed as Belle and was playing with everything. She also really liked my book and looked at it with me in line for a little while (Mom said it was ok, even suggested characters she would really like to see in the book) ... I don't have kids so I like seeing how excited everyone elses kids get!

aw that is very cute characters are meant for all ages! I have home videos of my aunty and dad spending more time with the characters then us lol!

 

[Lizzim]

You are entitled to your opinion and I mine. I never said that anyone shouldn't be allowed to meet Santa, just that it was annoying to me. I don't understand why adults would want to meet Santa or any of the Characters, since I don't want to myself....point being I just don't understand WHY?

For me it is all about my kids, seeing their faces light up and being excited and happy to meet the characters that they see on tv everyday. They don't understand that they (Santa and Characters) are people in costumes and adults do.

There are many things that my kids can't have access too because they aren't tall enough or they have adult themes. I think it would be nice if there were more things just for kids.

I don't understand why adults meeting characters is annoying, yes they aren't real but part of the magic of Disney is meeting characters that I watched in movies when I was younger.

There is very little at Disney that is restricted by size or theme so I think restricting things would be a very unpopular move!

Disney would be a very sad place if this were the case

 

[smallpig]

I was hoping to get a couple of pics with characters in our Oct trip but the scrums just put me off! I was happy to let polite kids go ahead (feeling bad for being an adult!) but some parents were so pushy that it just spoiled the whole thing! No pic with Jack the Pumpkin King for me!

 

[thepreciouspea]

Guess it all boils down to horses for courses - for example my colleague who has young children has never put out anything for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve whereas I, whose girls are all grown up, still put out a mince pie and a Guinness plus a carrot for Rudolph. She thinks I'm certifiable and should be locked up in the funny farm whereas I think she's one step away from child abuse luckily we just accept we're different and laugh about it.

I think you summed it up perfectly, I guess it is just how we are made. Either we like it or we don't. I personally feel uncomfortable when Pluto interacted with me and the kids weren't around. I guess it is partly the attention I feel on me because I know that everyone is watching. Plus I would rather any children get the experience rather than myself. I guess that is the best I can explain how I feel and those of you who like the meeting the characters won't fully understand how I feel.