This isn't on any office dwellers, squarely an ops team kerfuffle
Most likely. But the office dwellers are in the business of protecting the brand as the brand is the business. This type of implementation is absolutely a front line brand representation issue.
Worst case: kill autographs @ dining > lessens the experience & value > reduces the sales > raise dining prices / eliminate / reduce entertainment
Best case: replace autographs with cards @ dining > reduces char time and increases photo ops > increases guest satisfaction & table throughput > add more character dining
One, in general, autographs are out and "selifes" are in, as much as I may detest that.
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Second, I have a feeling keeping them consistent isn't as easy as it once once (well, as easy as it ever was, I guess) - given how so few young people (the ones mostly cast as characters friends these days) can barely sign their own names*, learning the classic way of doing each character is probably a challenge, particularly fully costumed characters.
*it's well documented that the "art" of handwriting is going the way of the dodo because 99% of everything is typed in some fashion or another.
I see your points. At most schools in our area and it appears across the nation, the teaching of cursive writing is being dropped like a bad habit. I disagree with the change in education, but that's another thread. As far as characters learning to sign the names, my thought is if you want to *BE* Mickey, you need to learn to be Mickey. IMHO, there should be more to being the characters than simply fitting in the costume. It is a very prestigious role if you think about the value those characters represent.
While selfies are in, having costumed characters wandering about tables in an attempt to capture the perfect selfie is more of a time problem then an autograph. I've seen this be an issue countless times with characters attempting to move about and people trying to jump in for a selfie. I believe they simply need to realize that the interaction, both autographs and photo shoots, is part of the attraction and nature of the event. The reason people pay is to be close to the characters and feel that brief 1 on 1, even if only for a few moments.
Why would I ever spend an ungodly amout of money for scrambled eggs and NOT get the picture of my child getting her autograph with her favorite character but instead being handed a business card.
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I have lived through many years of Disney and their profit margins but this is a reflection of their culture changing away from the guest experience to profit above all else.
Completely agree! The whole purpose of a character dining experience is to feel that brief 1 on 1 with the character in a more intimate dining experience. I say intimate, because when those characters walk up to your kids at your table, everything else goes away in the kids mind. Mickey was at MY table, Pooh cam over to ME. Since they don't talk, a quick photo pose and an autograph is all you have to make that momentary connection. Sure waiting in lines for M&G is very similiar, but it simply does not create that intimate moment that you are paying for.
This change to me, would be the same as having the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party hand out coupons for candy you can pick up at the gate on the way out. You're still getting the Halloween candy that you paid for, but you've cheapened the party & trick-or-treating experience to the point of "why bother?".
Have character autographs been a "thing" for that long? I kinda feel like they're a relatively recent phenomena like in the past 15 years or so. From my youth, I just recall people taking photos with the characters.
