Dear Parents ...

[Rosie]

My personal feeling is that the "characters" are a colossally stupid thing. I can understand kids becoming enamored by them, heck, my granddaughter (7) went all over the place getting autographs, but adults should be a little more realistic even if they are in a Disney park.

I have read posts where adults were upset because they didn't get a chance to meet and greet a character. How can that be? I even read once where a parent was all upset because they lost the autograph book with the Signatures and wondered how they could get one redone by Mickey or Goofy or whomever.

I just shook my head in disbelief that they were insisting that they get the authentic autograph. That's an autograph of a "fictional" character. There is no authentic autograph and yet they could not be made to understand.

It meant a lot to their kid, but in a few years that book will be realized for what it is and be abandoned.

I told her to get another book and "fill in the blanks". Her writing in the names is just as "authentic" as anyone else. You would have thought I suggested inviting Hitler over for dinner. I will never understand!

Disney is a world of make beleive for child and adult alike. When my daughters were young Disney became an escape from reality for us. Heck, even though we now live 30 minutes away, it is still an escape. The characters are no more fictional than you are. When at Disney what is real is make beleive and what is make beleive becomes real.

Rosie

[DisneyMom]

A visit from Eeyore was very much loved by my In-Laws, who are in their 70's :)
and Jack Sparrow told me that I broke his heart-Nobody can EVER take that away from me! :D:

The Characters Rock!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

My personal feeling is that the "characters" are a colossally stupid thing. .......... REDACTED FOR BREVITY...

I just shook my head in disbelief that they were insisting that they get the authentic autograph. That's an autograph of a "fictional" character. There is no authentic autograph and yet they could not be made to understand.

I think the whole idea of the autograph book, much like pictures, is that it is a memory of a vacation and encounter with that character.

because when we all return home, all we have (aside from the bill) are pictures, great memories, and a few souvinEARs.

granted some get a little crazy in wanting a picture and autograph of each and every one.

when DW and I go, for the last few years, we have one sign a park map for us, then DW has something to put in the scrapbook.

nothing wrong with it at all.

[darph nader]

My daughter is worse than my g-daughter. When we there in 05,my daughter saw Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty and screamed like a little girl.

[Mystic]

My personal feeling is that the "characters" are a colossally stupid thing. I can understand kids becoming enamored by them, heck, my granddaughter (7) went all over the place getting autographs, but adults should be a little more realistic even if they are in a Disney park.

I have read posts where adults were upset because they didn't get a chance to meet and greet a character. How can that be? I even read once where a parent was all upset because they lost the autograph book with the Signatures and wondered how they could get one redone by Mickey or Goofy or whomever.

I just shook my head in disbelief that they were insisting that they get the authentic autograph. That's an autograph of a "fictional" character. There is no authentic autograph and yet they could not be made to understand.

It meant a lot to their kid, but in a few years that book will be realized for what it is and be abandoned.

I told her to get another book and "fill in the blanks". Her writing in the names is just as "authentic" as anyone else. You would have thought I suggested inviting Hitler over for dinner. I will never understand!

I totally disagree with this. The Characters are part of what makes Disney Disney. Some of those adults that you see visiting the Characters grew up on Disney and so it's reaching back to a part of our childhood to see the Characters.

We used to visit WDW every summer when I was a kid and I grew up on the Disney animated movies. Now as an adult who has been going since 2001, I love to visit with the characters. Every trip I have to search out or make a dining reservation so I can see Cinderella, my favourite Princess since I was a kid. I also make sure that we find Tigger for my mom since Tigger is her favourite Character. I was at the Christmas party this year and I stood in line to meet with Belle, Mickey, Minnie and Donald so I could have pictures with them in their holiday attire. I love meeting the Characters and yes I'm fully aware that the Characters "friends" are CMs in a suit but you know what, I don't care. I thoroughly enjoy meeting the Characters and I love watching them with little kids (no I don't have any of my own). I love seeing when Mickey can get a frightened child to have their picture taken.

We actually witnessed an argument between 2 adults who were in line ahead of us to see Donald at AK. The mother kept going on about how they weren't real and how their kids knew that. The father kept trying to shut her up. It's a good thing my mom and I were behind them and not the family behind us since they had a little girl about 5 years old. Just because the family in front of us 'knows the secret', that is no reason to spoil it for other families. If Donald hadn't come out right then I would have said something.

To all you CMs that are friends of the characters. Keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing all your character friends next December.

[delsdad]

I totally disagree with this. The Characters are part of what makes Disney Disney. Some of those adults that you see visiting the Characters grew up on Disney and so it's reaching back to a part of our childhood to see the Characters.
\

Right you are Mystic !

When people ask my daughter what her favorite part of her trips to WDW is, she ALWAYS says "meeting characters". And that can mean meeting Princess Tiana, or Sarah Lynne and Nick, (CMs at Pirates League), or even a chance encounter with Big Wallaby on the Monorail line. They are all Characters in her mind. Because they all works at Disney World, even Mickey! Who are we to argue with that logic.

This was brought home to me in early December, we managed lots of rides at MK one morning. But we had not visited any characters yet. My daughter was quite sad that she had not seen any characters yet. The rides and shows were all secondary to her. Even if she did not get a photo with, or a signature in her autograph book, meeting a character was always the priority over rides and shows.

[Goofyernmost]

Well, to each his own. I will never understand the "adult" fascination with people dressed up in costume. I guess I am able to carry the willing suspension of disbelief only so far and then I have to return to reality.

I am glad that people can get drawn up into the moment like that. I wouldn't want to be that far out of reality, but I'm fine with it for others unless the insistence of an adult to have a meet and greet prevents a child from having one. Then I get a little concerned.

[Disneyguy85]

Disney is a world of make beleive for child and adult alike. When my daughters were young Disney became an escape from reality for us....When at Disney what is real is make beleive and what is make beleive becomes real.

Agreed.

I agree with what BRWombat and Grumpy Pirate (among others) said as well.

Being in a Disney park is about suspending your disbelief, its about getting to experience imaginative worlds and attractions that you can't experience in everyday life.

[joanna71985]

I am glad that people can get drawn up into the moment like that. I wouldn't want to be that far out of reality, but I'm fine with it for others unless the insistence of an adult to have a meet and greet prevents a child from having one. Then I get a little concerned.

I don't see what's so wrong about adults meeting the characters. After all, Disney is here for people of all ages. And I don't see how an adult can prevent a child from seeing the characters. The characters are out for everyone, and usually are out all day. So once the line is closed, it's closed for everyone.

[Mystic]

Well, to each his own. I will never understand the "adult" fascination with people dressed up in costume. I guess I am able to carry the willing suspension of disbelief only so far and then I have to return to reality.

I am glad that people can get drawn up into the moment like that. I wouldn't want to be that far out of reality, but I'm fine with it for others unless the insistence of an adult to have a meet and greet prevents a child from having one. Then I get a little concerned.

So does that mean that Disney should start selling different admissions based on whether or not an 'adult' wants to meet the characters?

I seem to think I paid my admission into the park and part of that admission price is the right and ability to meet with any and all characters I want to. Granted the admission my mom and I paid is less than that of the family of four in a character line behind us who consists of Mom, Dad and 2 kids but you can guarantee that we will spend more overall on meals and souvenirs.