Hi new to the forum.I am planning a solo visit to disneyland in paris november 2015.I am just wondering if anyone has any experiance interacting with charcers as a adult and how they thought the meet went.I am planning to meet the mad hatter and alice, jasmine and alladin, belle,chip and dale and most of the fur caracters.Any extra advice on meeting characters is also more than welcome.
Quote from: fallout on December 31, 2014, 12:24:24 PM
Hi new to the forum.I am planning a solo visit to disneyland in paris november 2015.I am just wondering if anyone has any experiance interacting with charcers as a adult and how they thought the meet went.I am planning to meet the mad hatter and alice, jasmine and alladin, belle,chip and dale and most of the fur caracters.Any extra advice on meeting characters is also more than welcome.
First: welcome to the forum :-)
Last time I was in DLP (2009) I didn't take pictures with the characters, but both times I visited WDW (2010 and 2013) I did meet the characters, and I'm now 28 years. I had no problems with them. Their behavior was fun, and I did get some funny/nice pictures. If your nice to them, and you "play along" you'll have no problem :-)
If I remember right, you could easily see adults meet the characters alone, and no one question it.
To be honest, I can't see any reason that it should not be the same at DLP :-)
And enjoy your trip :-)
There is no problem at all meeting characters at DLRP as a single adult, if you react funny along with them, you'll have a great them with them.
hi, I have done solo trips to DLP and to Disneyland California. There are always just as many adults meeting the characters as children and there is never any problem. I don't usually do character meets but last year in Disneyland California my friend persuaded me to meet Tinkerbell. We joined the queue with families with little girls and no one made any comment or took any notice of two women queuing to meet Tinkerbell. The CM / Tinkerbells helper talked to us in character just the same as she did to the little girls We then first meet one of the other fairies and then Tinkerbell. Both Tinkerbell and her fairy friend talked to us in character and we took some photos.
Depending on the characters and how busy it is, the only thing to watch out for is the parents, who may push their kids in-front of you. As for the CMs and the characters, they will meet and take photos with everyone from little babies to grandparents and anyone in between.
If you want to take photos just ask, and yes its perfectly fine to ask the CM helper to take a photo of you with their character friend
I'm 25 and mostly go with just my mum, but I've done a solo trip in the past.
Either way, I never have little kids with me.
And I absolutely adore meeting characters, that's pretty much the main reason I even go.
Characters respond so well. They've never treated me weirdly because I'm not a kid.
Yes, some parents give me weird looks "since Disney is for kids".
Obviously that statement isn't true, but there are always people who don't get the meaning behind Disney.
However characters never treat me weird for it. If anything they go a little extra during the meet.
But to give you a little tip:
Don't expect on planning to meet any character besides the ones mentioned on the programme.
Mad Hatted and Alice for example: yes they are quite common, but there are plenty of days that they won't come out. Please don't get yourself to excited, you might get disappointed.
Just plan on meeting the characters mentioned on the programme, then everyone else will be a bonus.
I'm 34 and a fellow solo traveller, and like the others here, it's perfectly fine for adults to meet characters. :D
They won't mind at all, and neither will their CM escorts, they're probably used to it. ;)
Have fun and meet as many as you can find.
I always travel with my son, but I wouldn't think it's weird if an adult wanted a photo with any character. Disney is for the young and old! My dad has his photo with chip and dale and nobody reacted oddly.
I'd highly recommend the character dining and you'll meet many but you may need to ask someone sitting near to get a shot of you as your on your own. Cafe mickey/inventions are fab for character meets. Have fun!
I personally wouldn't do character dining on my own.
I would feel extremely akward asking someone else to take pictures of me, disturbing them while they are basically eating.
Quote from: nathalie on January 01, 2015, 01:07:13 PM
I personally wouldn't do character dining on my own.
I would feel extremely akward asking someone else to take pictures of me, disturbing them while they are basically eating.
Sometimes there are CMs on hand (at Inventions and L'Auberge at least), and those are happy to take pictures. :)
Had a lovely time at L'Auberge de Cendrillon, and a photo of me with Cinderella and Prince Charming. :D
Quote from: nathalie on January 01, 2015, 01:07:13 PM
I personally wouldn't do character dining on my own.
I would feel extremely akward asking someone else to take pictures of me, disturbing them while they are basically eating.
If that's all that's putting you off character dining, then you are worrying over nothing. The characters always have a CM helper with them, even at character dining places. That's one of their jobs , to take photos of you with the characters. You don't have to ask another guest to take a photo of you.
I did a character dining buffet last Christmas with my mum. There were times when I was at the table on my own when the characters came around. If I had wanted a photo the CM helper was with the Character at all times.
I've done the character brunch twice already last year, so yeah, I know how it works, but my friend was always with me :)
I'm just saying what I'd do if I were alone.
I was simply just replying to what someone said about asking "a person next to you" ;)
I personally enjoy meeting characters as an adult more than i did when i went when i was younger! i think because i've come out of my shyness a little and i interact better with them! last year i did the pavilion with my friend and we met snow white. i thought she would tone down her voice and character a little with us but she was absolutely perfect and so friendly, telling us all about her prince and the dwarfs etc. no matter how old you are, the characters will interact as much as they can, either you take the lead and they follow or they will ask you plenty of questions to get you talking whether about your day, or if you too comb your hair with a fork =)
fur characters are the same, i've had my best character interactions as an adult! Disney is for children and adults alike, no age is discriminated against and everyone is treated like a prince and princess.
The funniest character I've ever met was Gaston - we were just walking past Small World when I glimpsed him out the corner of my eye and was going to ask him for a picture with us. Next thing I knew, he had grabbed our 14 yr old by his hood saying "You want picture with me? You have no choice, you have picture taken with me now!" Such a great picture as Gaston looks so pleased with himself! ;D
Taken last week...
(http://s21.postimg.org/r6wu9utdf/Pluto1.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/r6wu9utdf/) (http://s21.postimg.org/6bajylx6b/Pluto2.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/6bajylx6b/)
(http://s21.postimg.org/9ktkitann/Pluto3.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/9ktkitann/) (http://s21.postimg.org/ryzi91xkj/Pluto4.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/ryzi91xkj/)
...you'll be fine
To further the point these pics are of me after having split with the rest of my group for 10mins and the pics are taken on my phone by Pluto's CM buddy. If you ask politely, play along and enjoy yourself theres no issues at all.
Now that the Christmas season has ended it seems like there are way more meet and greets. So I went with my 15 year old brother to Adventureland, where Captain Hook and Smee were meeting guests. I don't know why, the CM said she didn't want us to queue, we had to stand in front of them pushing around and she would tell us if we could go and meet them. She even said "There's no queue, because... because no".
She told us that she would only let the smallest children meet the characters, and since as soon as a family left 2 more came, it meant nobody over 8 got to meet them. Even small children who had been there being pushed around for 30 minutes couldn't meet Captain Hook because these CMs decided they weren't worthy.
I find it pretty disgusting that DLP is telling kids they're too old to meet characters.
Quote from: Esti on January 18, 2015, 10:16:43 PM
I find it pretty disgusting that DLP is telling kids they're too old to meet characters.
That's odd indeed, must have been that particular pair of actors and escort CMs I imagine, from my experience in September they certainly weren't all like that. :(
I know, I've been going weekly since September and except for the villain's M&G, which was an embarrasment, they've always been very nice and tried to mantain some control.
But last week, at all "new" M&Gs I've been to, CMs have been very clear about us not making queues. In fact, in one M&G we tried to form some kind of line to mantain some order and the CM came back to tell us that we couldn't form a line. I've seen this in almost all of the M&Gs after Christmas (different days, different locations, different characters, different CMs).
It seems really weird, because they seemed to be doing some progress with queues, not letting people jump them, etc. And now suddenly most CMs forbid us from queueing?
I hope this isn't the way forward as it sounds awful :'(
Yeah, doesn't sound good at all. My kids are young so I can get away with it, but I think everyone should have an opportunity
It seems like if this is correct (which i completely hope it isn't) that they're undoing their "Couples come to Disney" campaign!
Quote from: Mathierson24 on January 19, 2015, 12:19:20 AM
It seems like if this is correct (which i completely hope it isn't) that they're undoing their "Couples come to Disney" campaign!
Exactly. And isn't making people form a line easier for them, anyway? They're just making their life more difficult. Except for those CMs that leave the character alone and go talk to another CM ;)
When I was there in Dec it was all good though.
Why the sudden change?
Quote from: nathalie on January 01, 2015, 03:10:09 PM
I've done the character brunch twice already last year, so yeah, I know how it works, but my friend was always with me :)
I'm just saying what I'd do if I were alone.
I was simply just replying to what someone said about asking "a person next to you" ;)
I didnt even think of it like that. Last time I was in inventions I was asked to take numerous phots by a French family I didn't mind! And I was the "person next to them" afterall it's Disney! I wasn't going to say no :) they were polite and friendly but as above comments there's always a CM around.
I did a solo trip years ago before I had my son, I went to cafe mickey and I asked my waiter to take a few pics on that occasion the CM wasn't with the characters then. Ur I am going back many,many years ago! Anyway wouldn't let it put people of I think character dining is fantastic and I love the interaction.
that's horrible! everyone should have the chance to meet characters. why some people decide to be a CM at Disney when they then spend the whole of it miserable is beyond me. I hate to get people into trouble but I think I would have reported them for having such a bad attitude. whether a 3yo, a 12yo or an adult, if you want to meet a character then you go for it!
The only characters we were "allowed" to make a queue for in December was Snow White at the wishing well (brilliant CM - she was a fellow Geordie!) and Jack at his spot near Phantom Manor. For all the others, you had to just huddle around and the character would make his/her selection at random. We would not be doing this if there was a big crowd as the CMs did not accept EACs and our lad wouldnt be able to stand it.The CM said it was completely up to the character who would be chosen next.
I went in december too and had no issue meeting the characters, most were queued but Captain Hook and Smee was a group, i was in front waiting and a child about 12 came pushing through the crowd out of nowhere, Captain Hook actually pushed him away and beckoned me to him, so it is nice that characters recognise who's waiting there turn from the one's just pushing in
I'm very disappointed that particular cast member said only small children would meet the characters. That's very disappointing and a complete backwards step to Walt's Belief that Disney is for everyone including adults who are young at heart.
I hope they aren't going back to their pushing and shoving groups again after the success of the crews which make for a much better more enjoyable character experience.
Firstly I believe that things have changed slightly since I was there last and they now actually attempt to make queues at characters but in 2012 when I was there trying to meet a character as an adult was nearly impossible. Character meets were nothing short of a rugby scrum with pushing and shoving and CM's shouting the character will choose who they want to meet next and the character always always going for the people under 3 ft regardless of the adults being there longer than the kids! It was an absolute joke and I ended up giving up trying in the parks and going to Cafe Mickey on the last day where I had great character meets!
Having been to DLR a few times this year and DLP in Sept/Oct, I must say that meeting characters as an adult is perfectly fine. Act along and it can get really fun. You do notice in the CMs and Character's voice often that they are "happy" an adult is there and they can have a real conversation instead of a kid that is just nodding yes or no.
What is different from DLR and DLP is that in DLP some CMs don't really help guests or interact with them. Far too often we see them wander of and go talk to other CMs. But also here you have CMs that really interact with you and make sure that the wait is pleasant. Talk about your day, ask questions etc.
And to add to it; meeting characters is the highlight of my wife's and my trip to any of the Disney parks. My wife even keeps all the autographs and has books that date back 10-15 years. During our engagement and honeymoon, characters even added something extra to the whole experience which made it magical ;D
I can safely say there were a lot of queues for the Villains last week. Not so much in the Studios, but I have to say that characters were aware of those waiting and those pushing in and we got to have photos really quickly because of this.
FYI we were two adults and saw LOADS of adults having pictures, probably due to the timing but more adults than children were there.
Quote from: rebecca20 on October 21, 2015, 01:36:42 PM
I can safely say there were a lot of queues for the Villains last week. Not so much in the Studios,
They had villians in the Studios? Totally missed them when we walked in. Programme wasn't really helpful either in finding it all.
No sorry I meant the Villains in Magic Kingdom! There were lots of rare characters out though - Sulley, Mulan and Mushu to name a few, well hidden though I must say!!!
Quote from: rebecca20 on October 21, 2015, 02:25:20 PM
No sorry I meant the Villains in Magic Kingdom! There were lots of rare characters out though - Sulley, Mulan and Mushu to name a few, well hidden though I must say!!!
Last week? Omg
Yeah - really weird locations, like hidden behind the green fences near Disney Junior and Rock n Rollercoaster!
Quote from: rebecca20 on October 21, 2015, 02:25:20 PM
No sorry I meant the Villains in Magic Kingdom! There were lots of rare characters out though - Sulley, Mulan and Mushu to name a few, well hidden though I must say!!!
Ohmy do you remember where you found Sulley? I've always wanted to get a picture with him ;D
Sulley was just walking out of where stars and cars used to enter / exit but he moved later and was near the monsters bit.
Quote from: rebecca20 on October 21, 2015, 09:02:32 PM
Yeah - really weird locations, like hidden behind the green fences near Disney Junior and Rock n Rollercoaster!
Please tell me this was Monday :p How gutting :(
Monday evening for Sulley
What's all this talk about sulley!?
It's been a character I'd literally have to get my son to meet and have a photo with we go 3 times a year and never seen him in the last few years my son loves monsters inc! I'm gutted :(
The last time we got to meet sulley was Christmas 2011, before that it was 2007.
I've only met Sulley once during Halloween 2012 at the scream machines! Have always held out hope we would see him again he was soooo cuddly ;D
I had no idea he was so rare!!! I've seen him a few times over the last couple of years lurking around.
Is there actually a photo of Sulley on Monday?
On the internet - no. I don't upload personal photos on public forums, sorry.
Quote from: rebecca20 on October 22, 2015, 09:08:07 PM
Sulley was just walking out of where stars and cars used to enter / exit but he moved later and was near the monsters bit.
Thanks!! Will look out for him