Sad Meeting with Buzz Lightyear

[crisi]

You all do realize while most posters have been here for quite a while and are debating back and forth and the OP has one post, and hasn't returned. I often wonder how much they are sitting back and reading us hashing it out and laughing to themselves. Just something else to ponder tonight!

Threads are for more than the OP. Hopefully, people who don't ask questions, have young kids, and are preparing for a trip are learning something about character interaction. If you've never been to Disney before, just on this thread you can learn...

1) There are lines for characters
2) At some point the character will leave, line or not
3) Disney tries to tell you not to get in line if a character is going to leave.
4) Disney characters are escorted and its the escorts job to manage the guest queue and protect the character.
5) Costumes are hard to see out of - be aware of where your kids are in relation to characters.
6) Guest relations can tell you where characters are going to be when, but don't expect them to make a phone call to get Goofy to show up just for your child. Disney isn't THAT magical.

So if the OP is a troll, thanks to her for starting a conversation that may have given valuable information to someone trying to figure out how character interaction works. Its a little easier to just post your "I'm going on a first trip, how does the character thing work?" question, but if you've been watching too many Disney marketing DVDs, you can get the impression that Snow White just dances with your child in front of the castle - no queue management needed!

 

[eyor44]

We were just at Disney last week. We were in line for Alice and the rabbit, it was DD's turn, when a little girl ran up to Alice and hugged her. Alice, untangled the child from her, said "How very nice to see you, but it is this little girl's turn. If you would like a turn you need to go the end of the line and wait your turn just as all these other children have done." The parents said no thanks and walked off with their child.

It was all handled very nicely. Granted Alice is a face character and could handle it on her own, but the CM was right there if needed.

Every line there was a CM who would determine when the line was cut off and made sure anyone walking up knew not to get in that line.

 

[2binak]

Every line there was a CM who would determine when the line was cut off and made sure anyone walking up knew not to get in that line.

This has been our experience too. Yes, DD has been disappointed a few times by a closed line, but it is what it is and we move on.

We've also been the family (3 times now) to get near the front of the line and be told that after the family in front of us goes up, the character(s) has to take a break. We understand why and we explain to DD that we'll get our turn as soon as they get back and she patiently waits until the character returns. We've actually had some wonderful moments being the first family to meet the characters when they return!

 

[tinkerpea]

we have actually on quite a few occasions been leaving a park in the afternoon to go have a rest when a charecter has come out of their rest place and is getting ready to walk to there line,my sons have waved at them an shouted out hello.....only to be told to come over and have a photo taken normally my boys run like the wind slight;y confused as to why they are allowed to do this when they arnt at a special area for charecters, they have been some of the best moments as its quite(most are still in the main bit of the park) and so my boys have managed a good 5 mins 1 on 1 time with the charecter which is great! even better since there is 3 of them and they all have a autograph book each familys tend to get frustrated at the amount of time they have with that charecter,and many many times we have had the whole other peoples children running up as they assume that we should be done after the 1st autograph book is finished and picture taken!

 

[pinktink83]

When we've been at DL they put up one of those ropes attached to two poles at the "end of the line". So anyone before that is guaranteed to see the character. And everyone else knows not to bother getting in line. We've never had an issue of them cutting off the line midway and walking off. That would be frustrating!

 

[RMulieri]

Actually I think the Cms are TOLD to do that.Characters can not always see a small child approaching,some of the costumes do NOT have a great line of visibility or peripheral vision, and it is VERY easy for a small child to get trampled on,knocked over or hurt.I have seen the handlers step in front of the character alot and block a small child.I have also seem small children knocked over by a character because the character couldn;t see them.I wouldn't take it personally , and I think you handled it well.

 

[myasma]

1. The CM does act like a body guard protecting both the character AND the children running up to the character. I imagine it is hard for the character to see and to have an unattended child run towards them when he or she is trying to leave does call for a body guard. The CM was doing his/her job. You as a parent were not.

2. Disney does train cast members. The cast member was doing his or her job in stepping between Buzz and your child. Your child could have caused an uncontrollable situation. Buzz could have been surrounded by more and more kids if your child had been allowed to interact even if for a second with Buzz. There were obviously numerous other kids who had been turned away from the line who also has Buzz as their favorite character. You as a parent were not trained at how to handle your child in this situation. Yes, you did a good job explaining Buzz had a mission to do. But to complain weeks later is petty.

To the person who said to go to guest services. That is so stupid! This happens all the time and people just have to let it go. Kids these days need to learn to handle disappointment- not meeting their favorite character, not making the travel team, losing a game of soccer, baseball, football AND NOT GETTING A TROPHY! To suggest a parent go whine and complain that a character walked away from their child is stupid. Think of the terminally ill kids or special need kids who don't get to meet their favorite character. Think of the just plain ordinary child who didn't get to meet Buzz because it was time for him to go and the line cutoff was right after he/she walked up. Cast member says...sorry Buzz can't see anymore people now. Is this rude, is person acting like body guard...nope. This cast member is doing their job. The parents have no right to go whine and complain to guest services.

Be happy your kids get to go to Disney. Be happy you are able to afford to go. Be happy your child is healthy and can enjoy the trip. Be happy your child got to see Buzz up close even if without interaction. Grow up and put it behind you. Don't whine on the boards later or tell someone to go to guest services to see if they could make it right!

My DD was terminally ill both times we went to Disney and she saw every single character she wanted to see. I don't see how the points on special need and terminally ill kids were relevant or correct. My family enjoyed both our trips with my terminally ill daughter before she passed and Disney was her special place. Plus I think the OP was saying that the problem was not in the CM stepping in but the way he/she spoke to her child. No one likes their child demeaned in any way. It is important to know that above all things, making the guest happy is the most important part of Disney. A CM's job is to treat all guest with respect and dignity especially children. Believe me, I know.

 

[progroupie]

Since we're all into making assumptions around here, for a minute let's assume that the character attendent was indeed rude in this situation.

There is never an excuse for a CM to be rude. Buzz is not kept any safer by his attendent being rude to guests. Yes the attendent has to tell the child he can't see Buzz right now and has to do so quickly and effeciently but there is still no cause for them to be rude. Yes it's difficult but it's also entirely possible. In fact CM's are generally so good at it that none of you are even prepared to believe that the CM in question was even rude in the first place.

If a CM is rude, a guest is justified in going to guest relations. If you want Disney to continue to uphold the standards that keep you coming back they need to hear that kind of feedback.