Too sensitive over Eeyore

[PhotobearSam]

I got so much attention from Dale at Hollywood and Vine Breakfast that my fiance was almost jealous...BUT I love it. Dale has always been one of my favorites.

 

[danacara]

This thread makes me want to do that Funk Show Brother dance ...

Does anyone know an "Uptight WASP" handshake? If we are going to call Disney to complain about the "Soul Brother" handshake, we should at least suggest an acceptable alternative, yes no?

 

[Bumbles]

Danacara

I suppose we could just suggest to WDW that they eliminate all characters because some people are offended by their actions.

That would surely take care of the problem

Right about now....

Funk Soul Eeyore.........

 

[DisOrBust]

Someone posted what they felt was a legitimate concern and was trying to see if this handshake was the norm. They shouldn't get bar-b-qued over it. I am sure being in an interracial relationship in our society makes one a little hypersensitive. They OP poster should be commended for having the guts to even "ask" if this is a normal handshake without immediately going off the deep end and screaming racism. Until you walk in their shoes I wouldn't pass judgement.

I have to say that it has crossed my mind when I se they characters interact with kids how many get a accused of groping? Not a job I would want, I am sure the risk for accusations is high I am also sure that WDW does plenty to avoid such a situation, ie camera's, 2nd CM with the characters etc...

By the way Mickey gave me a really loud smack at the GG my girls screamed Mom got kissed by Mickey!!

 

[eeyore0062]

I do think this is an appropriate subject, and many good points have been made. Many people do tend to read way to much into things... I guess our society, as a whole have lost our innocense and are more than willing to, instead of seeing the good in someone or a situation, to look for the negative aspects.

Case in point... that poor man working in the store:

The bad news...this Gentle Man is no longer the happy-go-lucky person and now is on his guard and will never be the same person.

It is a shame that society has become so jaded!

 

[phillybeth]

I have had an 'elaborate handshake' from costumed CMs. I have had Goofy pull on my long hair, Chip put his elbows on my shoulder and his hands on my head for a picture. I have had my hand kissed by Donald, which is really freaky when you think about it because Donald is typically a small woman!
Costumed CMs are so limited in the interactions they can have with guests- no voice interactions etc.

To me it is all a part of the Disney fun. That being said, if an adult is uncomfortable interacting with the characters, either avoid those situations or let another CM know. We were at Cp last year with my inlaws, complete adult party. We were bypassed by the characters totally since my FIL is not big into the whole charater thing. We just told the CMS at the front, and the characters just waved as they walked by.

 

[jennymouse]

I'm more inclined to think the handshake was more of a "guy" thing than a "black" thing.

And about the Eeyore who give the shoulder/back rubs....there's been plenty of times I'd of welcomed one!

 

[Penny12]

Ok...it's one thing to be a little light-hearted about a subject, but it's not acceptable to mock someone simply because you don't happen to share their degree of concern. Please think before you post.

 

[Mish19]

Last year at Hollywood and Vine Pluto came over to our table
and during his stay my family heard him/her burp! Should we be insulted? LOL. The characters at H&V were really great, they spent a whole lot of time with us.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I work in a profession where false accusations of that kind happen often enough to make people very wary - and would not blithely bring up something like that. That's why I asked: if it's just me overreacting, fine - I indeed won't participate in any other photo ops, because it did make me uncomfortable. Again, I apologize for any ire my post caused.

Lori

 

[Peter Pirate]

No one's upset. It's fun to debate the real and sureal. Your post made it a little more fun around here...And thats a good thing!

 

[eeyorefreak25]

Well last year at Disney. I was kissed by Snow White while all the little dwarfs watched. I think that was some kind of fettish Snow White had about kissing a stranger while little old odd men watched. I heard this isn't the first time that this happened. The last time she ended up getting married over it

 

[FunkyLamb]

Well, I'd rather get a soul handshake then get groped by an anonymous CM. Wait, maybe I need to rethink that last statement.

You know...If you go over to Manequinns on Thursday nights, there are plenty of CMs that'll take you up on that.

 

[rugrat]

Thanks DisorBust (and others who actually read my OP). I never said that I was offended, nor did I cry racism or political incorrectness. I was simply asking whether there were others who felt mixed or curious reactions toward characters when interacting with them. In this case, it just happened to involve (what I thought could have been) an issue of race. As one post stated, it could have been a black male in the costume for all I know (not that that fact alone would have completed eliminated our reaction). We have never experienced a character in this way. Consequently, I was simply curious about other's experiences and posted what I thought was a worthwhile post. I appreciated hearing from people who got the "soul brother" handshake and did not think it had anything to do with their race.

I find it amusing to read responses from people who infer their own facts and intrepretations. This thread has been made into a joke. Please just drop it, because most of you just don't (or want to) get it.

 

[travelitis]

If we misunderstood, we're sorry. However, I feel this comment is why many posters thought you were offended. As you've clarified your OP, let me attempt to clarify for those posters whom seem to have offended you then drop it
.

I felt a little annoyed and/or confused

I wonder if this is Disney approved

That suggests the action is significant enough for Disney to make a ruling on policy. Generally that issue is only brought up if someone feels the action is inappropriate in some way.

Yes, I too have received the handshake in question. I consider it playful and don't equate it with race.

 

[Mickey1]

Is this for real?? I am not sure if people are kidding or not. How can such things get read into sooo much. OK, I have had Rifiki tickle my side when I sat on a wall next to him to take a picture.....for pete's sake.....it wasn't anything BAD....a handshake? A arm being rubbed? What will Disney do next!!!!! Sorry but sometimes I think things get "read into" too deep, just MY opinion.....

 

[Goofy Fan]

I'm guessing that much of the surprise from the replies stems from the fact that most of those posters (and me) have been to WDW at least once, and probably numerous times. We are used to the character interraction. If that was my first trip to WDW, I wouldn't have any experience the first time a character interracted with me or my family in a way other than just posing for a picture or waving.

Rugrat, was this your first trip to WDW?

 

[Pete's Mom]

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Oh well, I guess serves me right for trying to peek up Tarzan's loincloth during Tarzan Rocks!

 

[SmileyJoyz]

Not to beat this subject to death, but I think that while I personally wouldn't find the handshake offensive....it's a bit nearsighted to assume that all Disney CM's, by default of working for Disney, are the most angelic, honest, good-natured people in the world. Is a character going to grab your breasts? No, probably not. But that doesn't mean you couldn't have some less than holy person working inside the costume. I'm sure you've all seen a cashier at a store flirt with some pretty customer. What's to say that CM's aren't trying to do the same thing, in an albeit limited fashion due to the costume. I think most of the people Disney hires are probably very good people at heart who want to continue the Disney magic. But I do think it's unfair for others to assume that no CM would dare tarnish the image of a Disney character and especially unfair to judge a situation you were not present at. The characters themselves may be from a fantasy world, but the people underneath are only human...

 

[raidermatt]

Rugrat- In response to your original post, I understand why it may have caught you off-guard, but chances are it was not meant in any kind of offensive way.

I play softball on a team that is split about 50/50 among African American and other races. I'm one of the "other" races, but whenever one of my African American teamates shakes my hand, its with the "soul brother" handshake. I take it as a complement, that even though we may be of a different race, we are teamates and "brothers". Consequently, I could see myself using that same handshake (in an informal situation), with someone who is AA but not expecting it. My intent would not be to offend, and in fact would be the opposite.

Chances are, the character was either AA, or someone like me, who was just trying to be friendly.