Please, parents...show some consideration for others during character photos/meets!

[opus_00]

I took my 2 yo son to the character meet area in that circus section of Fantasyland this week while DH and the older kids rode some big kid rides. This was our 2 yo's first Disney trip. Mickey, Minnie, and Pooh are the only characters my DS is not afraid of and is willing to take photos with. When it came his turn to meet Minnie, I thought I would still have to do some coaxing to get him to go to her, but he ran right up to her and gave her a big hug! The look on his face when she started interacting with him was priceless...pure childhood awe and joy.

It was a perfect photo opportunity, except that the family who had just met Minnie before us continued to stand right next to me and allow their little girl (about the same age as my son) to run right back to Minnie and get more hugs just as my son was running to her. They could see that I was trying to capture that special moment of my son with Minnie, but they stood there marveling at how cute their daughter was and how she loved Minnie so much she didn't want to leave, and how cute the two kids looked together with Minnie! In those first photos I snapped, you can't even tell which child I was trying to photograph because she is right there next to him, even partially concealing him in some of the photos. The parents were standing so close to us that I wonder if the photographer thought we were together, and hence didn't asked them to move aside.

Minnie and the photographer did allow my son a little extra time with Minnie after the family finally moved along, but that precious, spontaneous first moment was already gone I didn't say anything since the moment passed so fast, and they were already doing a posed photo by the time I realized that I was not getting that photo of my son running up to Minnie.

I am probably dwelling on this a lot more than I should, but missing those photos just made me so sad. We took very few photos on this trip because of all the rain and fear of damaging my phone, so we relied a lot on the Photopass photographers to help us capture those memories. Why don't people know that this is rude? Do they really need to be told specifically not to interfere with another family's photo op?

 

[Shaden]

I think when you spend the kind of money you do on a Disney vacation, everything seems a little more intense. And when you love Disney as much as many of us do, things seem a little more intense.

I don't blame you for feeling the way you do... that seems to be just a matter of manners. There are some things that are once in a lifetime ... and sure, they might seem like unimportant to some people, or later in life ... but at the time, they are absolutely important, and I don't think you should feel bad for feeling that, or feeling angry or sad that someone else's lack of consideration interfered with your 'moment'.


I wish more people were aware of things like this ... they aren't , they only see the world from their little bubble.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I think when you spend the kind of money you do on a Disney vacation, everything seems a little more intense. And when you love Disney as much as many of us do, things seem a little more intense.

I don't blame you for feeling the way you do... that seems to be just a matter of manners. There are some things that are once in a lifetime ... and sure, they might seem like unimportant to some people, or later in life ... but at the time, they are absolutely important, and I don't think you should feel bad for feeling that, or feeling angry or sad that someone else's lack of consideration interfered with your 'moment'.


I wish more people were aware of things like this ... they aren't , they only see the world from their little bubble.

I think your response in dead-on and very well put!

 

[delilah]

When my son was of the age to have pictures taken with characters, I would always make sure the family ahead of us was done with their picture before my allowing my son to move forward. Evidently, the family ahead of you wasn't out of the area yet. If your son is only two, and the the other girl that age or not much older, give the other family some of the compassion you wish for yourself from others. Don't attribute "bad manners" or intentional "rudeness" for the behavior of very young children and their parents when they see a favorite character. The rudest woman I have ever encountered at Disney was in situation like this, and she may have thought my 4 year old son rude We were waiting in line at Epcot at the American Adventure to have my son's mask stamped. If you are not familiar, there are usually tables and chairs, and kids sitting at the table coloring with markers. The cast member beckoned my son to her to sign his mask. and this woman evidently wanted to take pictures of her daughter by herself coloring, because she told my son to move. Thinking that she was talking to me, I stepped back, and she said in a very nasty tone "not you, him". Really. I had to suppress a very strong urge to throw her Nikon camera with the $6000 telephoto lens into the lagoon.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That stinks. I have a FP+ for my 4yo to meet Ariel this week.

I think I will do what I usually have done (though it has been a while) which is to hold my child back until the prior party clears the area. Because no--what that family did is NOT cute.

I have seen this Happen while we wait and then it can be cute, but such rudeness that you experienced is not.

We have 4 kids and while my kids have been excited at times with their own bits of cuteness we have always tried to depart properly or apologize profusely if a little one lingered too long.

As far as the coloring at a mask station, that is totally different and that woman was rude. But in character meet and greets, when your turn is over--lingering into someone else's moment is always rude and guests have every expectation to not have another family's child pose in the photos.

 

[CandleontheWater]

This reminds me of the photos I have from meeting Mickey in my childhood. Back in the 80's there were no character handlers, and every character picture we have has at least 2 other random kids in it. Maybe in 30 years or so you'll be laughing at those "extra kids" in your photo just like we do.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Honestly, I usually wait for the group in front of me to clear out. And, I hold my son back until they do. Even if the CM is shooing me to move up to the character, to move the line faster, I just point at the group in front of me and refuse to advance.

I understand your frustration though, and it happens so fast, but it is hard to control these things. I have had similar feelings at character meals, were kids leave their own table to run up to the character talking to my kids, at my table.

All in all, it should not ruin your day, so let it go...... as my daughter would remind me, "First World Problems, Mom".

 

[opus_00]

When my son was of the age to have pictures taken with characters, I would always make sure the family ahead of us was done with their picture before my allowing my son to move forward. Evidently, the family ahead of you wasn't out of the area yet. If your son is only two, and the the other girl that age or not much older, give the other family some of the compassion you wish for yourself from others. Don't attribute "bad manners" or intentional "rudeness" for the behavior of very young children and their parents when they see a favorite character. The rudest woman I have ever encountered at Disney was in situation like this, and she may have thought my 4 year old son rude We were waiting in line at Epcot at the American Adventure to have my son's mask stamped. If you are not familiar, there are usually tables and chairs, and kids sitting at the table coloring with markers. The cast member beckoned my son to her to sign his mask. and this woman evidently wanted to take pictures of her daughter by herself coloring, because she told my son to move. Thinking that she was talking to me, I stepped back, and she said in a very nasty tone "not you, him". Really. I had to suppress a very strong urge to throw her Nikon camera with the $6000 telephoto lens into the lagoon.

Hi, Delilah. I didn't really make this clear, but the family in front of us had definitely finished meeting Minnie, and had picked up all of their bags and turned to walk off when the little girl went back to to her. Our family had already been called to walk up to Minnie. I didn't say anything to them because I know it was just a spontaneous moment for the little girl, just as it was for my son (and I know all too well how unpredictable toddlers are, and that sometimes it is too late before you are able to stop them). I was just surprised and upset that the parents did not make any attempt at all to call the child back so that my son could have his own time with Minnie. They just stood there and watched and smiled. I guess if it were my child, I would have taken his hand and said, "it is now this little girl's turn...let's go do something else," and apologized to the other family. I think that is just common courtesy.

Yes, this is definitely a "first world problem," and not something that ruined the trip in any way. Just a disappointment that I am still thinking about since a photo op like that doesn't come along very often, and I think as parents we should practice courtesy toward other families in these situations. Life will go on!

 

[conandrob240]

A small child, just like yours, was overwhelmed with excitement to see Minnie. She was so joyous, she had to run back to Minnie for an extra hug. Yes, it "ruined" a photo but meant way more to her.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Might want to keep that picture. Somewhere here on the Dis someone posted, wish I could remember how long ago, that they had their picture taken at the MK. In the background was a little boy. Both families had similar pictures. I don't recall the details but they ended up meeting as adults and ended up married you never know

 

[DVCcurious]

I think the original poster is justified if feeling upset/frustrated. If it looked like the previous group had moved on and then their kid came back that could be a little upsetting to me.

I have seen this before and when we do M&Gs we always hold our kids back until the other family has totally left the area, just to prevent this type of thing.

This sort of thing is similar to all those parade threads going on right now: people cutting in front of you, people acting selfishly and ruining your experience. You can't control other people, you have to anticipate their bad behavior and take steps so that your experience can be the best possible. Unfortunately we live in a very selfish society.

 

[princessmocha]

So sorry this happened . . . We have always waited until others have exited too, but it can be hard for a little kiddo to control themselves to not run back. The other family was definitely in the wrong to not call their daughter back or do anything about it. I hope the rest of the trip is more magical.

 

[larryz]

I didn't say anything to them because I know it was just a spontaneous moment for the little girl, just as it was for my son (and I know all too well how unpredictable toddlers are, and that sometimes it is too late before you are able to stop them).

Is it time for another "toddlers on tethers" thread?