Question about meeting characters

[martinmont]

We are first timers, so I'm not sure how it works. How many photos do u get with a particular character? Do you have to take it yourself of will there be a photopass photographer there? Will he use our camera as well?

 

[handicap18]

At Meet & Greets around the parks you get 1-2 minutes. Sometimes it's less than a minute depending on how much the character interacts with you, how willing you are to interact with the character and how long the line is.

The photo pass photographer will take a number of pictures with their camera and it's usually the cast member who is assigned to the character that will take a picture with your camera. Sometimes the photo pass photographer will take a few with your camera too.

At the character meals it's pretty much 2 minutes that the character spends at your table. You can usually get someone at another table to take a picture for you. Sometimes there is another cast member with the character and he or she will take a picture with your camera.

 

[karly05]

A trick I learned from posters on the Dis if you need someone to take your picture at a character meal - ask the character if they know of someone who can take your picture. I did a solo breakfast at Hollywood & Vine this year and asked this of Doc McStuffins - she found a nearby CM to come take our picture. The lovely lady CM was working the entrance near where I was seated and came over on her own a couple of times later when she saw the characters heading for my table.

Maybe because I was solo, but at all the meets I did, the CM handlers often volunteered to take pics with my camera or phone while the Photopass photog did his/her shots. (The handler would always happily take photos if asked, just sometimes they offered before I asked.) The more photographers, the better, and sometimes your best pics will be candids.

 

[katt789]

You get as many photos as the photographer takes, which can range from 1or 2 posed photos, to over 30 of the interaction and a posed pic.

Photopass are at most big meet and greets, and all characters have an attendant with them who can help out with the pictures as well. Sometimes pp's wont take your camera AND their camera, so they will tell you to pass off to the attendant. You can also always ask the people in line behind you, they're usually more than happy to help1

 

[martinmont]

Thanks guys! And how do we get those pics that the photographers took? Maybe we should get MM if it's easier?

 

[bastos]

We always purchase the Memory Maker (then Photopass). But be certain to also pass along YOUR camera. We missed one encounter on our photopass at Cinderella's Castle.

 

[Berlioz70]

CHARACTER TIPS AND TRICKS

GREETING TIPS

• If you are looking to meet a specific character ask an attendant (blue shirt and khakis) the meeting times.
  
• Listen to the attendant. When they are making an announcement it usually means a character is about to leave for a short bit (but will return) or they are going to trade with another character.
  
• Do not get mad if the line is cut in front of you, it happens to everyone. Realize that by getting in line there is always a chance it might get cut in front of you. The attendant is following a specific timeline and if they let just one more family through they may be pushing that time and then a family behind you is more likely to complain. Be the big kid and wait patiently.
  
• Get prepared - have your photopass card and autograph tools ready.
  
• Put down any food and drinks even if they are in closed containers. Characters cannot appear in photos with food or drinks.
  
• TALK TO THE CHARACTER!!! TALK TO THE CHARACTER!!! TALK TO THE CHARACTER!!!
• Call the character by his or her name.
  
• Ask him or her a question based on the story-line, don't just imitate the character by saying one of their own lines or trying to sound like them. By asking a question they will usually try to animate an answer and will make the interaction much more fun.
  
• Pooh: Have you been staying out of Rabbit' house? I don't want you to get stuck again!
• Stitch: How's your badless level coming? Keeping it down?
  
• Keep in mind that there are people in line behind you. Just as you would get mad if someone took forever in front of you, try to think of those behind you.

PHOTOGRAPH TIPS

• Most characters prefer to sign an autograph and then take a picture. After the character is finished signing, have someone quickly grab the pen and book so they are not in the picture.
  
• While some characters may be able to take an individual picture with each child, some may not (especially dining). If you know you want multiple single pictures, make sure you tell the character so they are prepared and know what to do. "Hi Mickey! We have three little boys, may each one take an individual picture and then one big family picture?"
  
• Feel free to give your personal camera to the Attendant or the Photopass Photographer, they will take photos for you.
  
• If you are tired of the same old pictures with every character then think ahead and plan your pose. Ask the character if they will pose a certain way - but make sure the pose is in line with their story and characteristics.
• Alice - drinking tea
• Lilo and Stitch - doing a hula
• Tigger - jump on the count of three

AUTOGRAPH TIPS

• Before you meet the character make sure your book is open to the page you want and your marker/pen is ready.
  
• As a general rule characters will sign on the open page on the right, if you want them to sign on the left make sure you communicate that request otherwise they may turn the page.
  
• Most characters prefer to sign an autograph and then take a picture. After the character is finished signing, have someone quickly grab the pen and book so they are not in the picture.
  
• ASK the character to sign the book and indicate how many books you have. Do not let your child just hold the book out at the character, the character may not see the child.
  
• Pens and markers (especially sharpies) are the most preferred; take notice of the size. Anything that is traditionally sized is good, keep in mind that the pens sold with autograph books at Disney Stores are designed specifically for characters and are the preferred size. Small or odd shaped pens/markers can be difficult for a character to grasp (making the autograph harder to read).
  
• Characters can sign a lot of things, here are some things they can NOT sign: money, clothing on a person's body, skin, non-Disney logos or slogans, government documents.