Dear Parents ...

[joanna71985]

I always knew Jojo was such a good kid, I'd never expect anything less from her! Too bad Goliath is so well behaved, he coulda bit the heads off the whining parents.

PS If I am correct, the louder the other families bitch - the longer the Characters will spend with the MAW family. Hee hee!

I think he gets his good ways from JoJo.

And of course. That hopefully can help make up for the rude behavior from the other families.

[Syndrome]

PS If I am correct, the louder the other families bitch - the longer the Characters will spend with the MAW family. Hee hee!

Love it! :twisted: :D: :twisted:

[TdcOgre]

I always knew Jojo was such a good kid, I'd never expect anything less from her! Too bad Goliath is so well behaved, he coulda bit the heads off the whining parents.

PS If I am correct, the louder the other families bitch - the longer the Characters will spend with the MAW family. Hee hee!

This is as it should be. In an ideal world the Characters would delay until security showed up to escort the bozo families out of the park. :)

[joanna71985]

This is as it should be. In an ideal world the Characters would delay until security showed up to escort the bozo families out of the park. :)

Unfortunately whining about MAW/GKTW isn't crime enough to get tossed from the parks.

[TdcOgre]

Unfortunately whining about MAW/GKTW isn't crime enough to get tossed from the parks.

I once again announce my candidacy for the post of Benevolent Dictator. Once I'm in office, taking care of this oversight will be one of my first acts. ;)

[AmazingGrace]

My son was a MAW kid and youu should have seen the glartes we got when we were at the front of the lines. We were going on the teacups when this lady got all snotty and with us. I told her that my son was a cancer survivor and if she'd like i would gladly trade places with her. That shut her up quick. On a positive note, a GKTW volunteer arranged for us to have a meet and great under the castle. Benji'll forget that and neither will we. Of course, i took one look at Mickey and burst into tears. It was unforgettable!!

[lovethemouse]

Dear Parents,
When you are in Disney World, please don't shove your kids into a Make A Wish family's meet and greet with the characters. And don't yell at us and say "We didn't know!" when asked to leave.

Thanks,
The Characters
----


Situation 2
Mickey is happily singing autographs and taking photos at Animal Kingdom when a Make a Wish family waits patiently at the exit to be back door-ed into the big cheese's kiosk. As he steps up to greet the guests of honor, this monstrosity came out of a mother's mouth:

Mom to MAW family: "I DON'T CARE IF YOUR KID DIES TOMORROW! IT'S PURE B.S. THAT YOU GET TO GO IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!"

Needless to say, Mickey got pissed and had the bitch and her family expelled form the park.

Word to the wise: DON'T tick off the Boss.

I have been following this thread for quite some time and feel that some things need to be said. First, there are many children who deserve, not all of them qualify for a MAW vacation. Many, many children face serious medical issues. I have a cousin who has had multiple open heart surgeries, he would like nothing more then a trip to Disney but his family could never afford it with the cost of his medical care. He doesn't qualify for MAW, and that is fine with the family. Some day when I win the lottery I will send him to Disney.

I am a big supporter of MAW, I give each and every year faithfully. I am not condoning the ignorant behavior of the guests you mention but I think we should be fair. No child deserves to be stricken with a terminal illness, and they absolutely deserve as much magic as they can have. Not all families who travel to WDW have a clue what a MAW family is and you do not know the circumstances under which those families traveled. For example, I have a child who has struggled with numerous medical issues, endured endless hospital stays and pain, fortunately she is healthy. I thank my stars for that every day, but my kid has been through a lot and suffered more then most people will in an entire lifetime. She deserves the magic too.

I think that some people are just ignorant, they do not take the time to really take in their surroundings or understand things. On my last trip I got to talk to a dad who was on a MAW trip with his daughter. This family had chosen not to wear their buttons that particular day. They had come across some real rude people, but you know he was just so grateful to be there and have the opportunity the rude people just could not ruin anything for him. I admired his whole perspective on the situation. I still pray for his daughter every day.

I agree that in situation number 2 the woman was absolutely, horribly, inexcusably wrong.

But, in terms of people seeing characters in the parks, most don't know they are there for a special MAW family and quite frankly their kids want to see the characters too. I remember once over at Pooh's Playful spot in Fantasyland a woman was at the end of a very long line to see Pooh, right before they got to her a family (I am thinking a MAW family) came in through the exit. Right after that family, with just the woman and her daughter left in line Pooh left. The woman ran after Pooh and the handler with her young child in tow. The handler explained Pooh was late getting in and had no more time for photos or autographs. The woman was pretty mad (and I don't blame her, she had waited a long time, would another few minutes been too much for the last family in line?) and gave the cm a piece of her mind while her daughter stood there crying because all she wanted was Pooh's autograph. I think that type of thing does create some ill feelings, whether that is right or wrong, no one can control how a situation beyond their control will make them feel.

Personally I have always discouraged my children from the characters in the parks. I book character meals so they can interact with them there. But there are lots of ways to view this situation, it doesn't make all guests bad. Keep in mind that many guests will never return to Disney for whatever reason, so the trip is a once in a lifetime event for them too.

I just want to make sure that the cm's understand the perspective of the guest. I think it is wonderful that everyone wants the most magic for the MAW families (I do too that is why I give them money), but there are lots of families there and you do not know the individual situations those familes traveled under. Most people understand when MAW is explained to them, I don't think they need to be thrown out of the parks!

[Goofyernmost]

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!

[BRWombat]

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!

Sorry, I disagree. I'm perfectly okay with adults treating the characters as "real." I've done it myself -- I still treasure an unexpected encounter I had, one on one, with Mickey aboard the Disney Wonder. Yes, intellectually I know I'm dealing with a CM in a mouse suit, but who goes to Disney to be purely intellectual? After all, Walt created the parks for children "of all ages," right?

I can certainly understand if that's not your way of viewing the characters. That's a perfectly acceptable way of thinking, as long as you don't mess up the magic for others -- which sounds like what happened with what you suggested about the lost autograph book.

Agreed, though, that loving the characters never, ever excuses rude or discourteous behavior.

[joanna71985]

I agree that in situation number 2 the woman was absolutely, horribly, inexcusably wrong.

But, in terms of people seeing characters in the parks, most don't know they are there for a special MAW family and quite frankly their kids want to see the characters too. I remember once over at Pooh's Playful spot in Fantasyland a woman was at the end of a very long line to see Pooh, right before they got to her a family (I am thinking a MAW family) came in through the exit. Right after that family, with just the woman and her daughter left in line Pooh left. The woman ran after Pooh and the handler with her young child in tow. The handler explained Pooh was late getting in and had no more time for photos or autographs. The woman was pretty mad (and I don't blame her, she had waited a long time, would another few minutes been too much for the last family in line?) and gave the cm a piece of her mind while her daughter stood there crying because all she wanted was Pooh's autograph. I think that type of thing does create some ill feelings, whether that is right or wrong, no one can control how a situation beyond their control will make them feel.

I just want to make sure that the cm's understand the perspective of the guest. I think it is wonderful that everyone wants the most magic for the MAW families (I do too that is why I give them money), but there are lots of families there and you do not know the individual situations those familes traveled under. Most people understand when MAW is explained to them, I don't think they need to be thrown out of the parks!

I do understand how the other guests feel. I know it must be hard to have other parties be brought to the front of the lines for the characters. But there is a right way and a wrong way to act.

Also, in your example, the CM was wrong. Pooh's line should have been closed off if he wasn't coming back out, or the attendant should have been announcing that Pooh would be right back out if he was just going in for a snack. They shouldn't have just walked away.

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'm sorry, but I have to disagree here. I am an adult, and I love meeting the characters myself. Heck, I even work with them, and I still enjoy meeting them. I see nothing wrong with adults enjoying meeting the characters.