Gathering autographs....

[hull327]

I know many adults will/can enjoy a character meet and greet, but, I can't help but feel that it's a little creepy. But, to each his own, if that's your thing there isn't a single solitary reason that I should care. Maybe I'm just too old.

It's not just you as I feel the same way. When my daughter's were in line to meet Aladdin and Jasmine there was a guy there in his late-30's alone in front of them. I assumed his kids went to the bathroom or something and he was just holding their place. It comes to his turn and he steps up between Aladdin and Jasmine for his photo op! Then he puts his arm around Jasmine and says, "It's great to finally meet you!" as if Jasmine was a real-life person. Creep factor on a scale of 1 through 10 was a 12.

 

[ToyStorygirl]

I know many adults will/can enjoy a character meet and greet, but, I can't help but feel that it's a little creepy. But, to each his own, if that's your thing there isn't a single solitary reason that I should care. Maybe I'm just too old.

I'm so with you there. It is creepy. I admit I've done a couple if it's someone from a film I really like (like Monsters Inc) and the line isn't too long but it's a quick stand next to them, grin for the camera, say thanks and go. No different to posing in front of a sign or a statue (except I don't usually thank inanimate objects)

Adults that take huge amounts of time away from waiting kids by chatting away to a person in a costume or even worse get autographs for themselves are beyond me.

(Not referring to the lovely OP. I get she's trying to do something nice for her babies)

 

[Matt_Black]

Adults that take huge amounts of time away from waiting kids by chatting away to a person in a costume or even worse get autographs for themselves are beyond me.

Hey, they paid for their admission, they waited in line like every other guest, what's the problem? It's live entertainment, just like other sorts found around the park. As long as the guests are respectful, well-mannered, and don't take up too much time, adult guests have just as much right to a brief moment of fun with the characters as the children.

 

[hull327]

Hey, they paid for their admission, they waited in line like every other guest, what's the problem? It's live entertainment, just like other sorts found around the park. As long as the guests are respectful, well-mannered, and don't take up too much time, adult guests have just as much right to a brief moment of fun with the characters as the children.

We're not saying you don't have the right to stand in line with characters and get autographs. Only that adults that do it alone is weird.

 

[Matt_Black]

We're not saying you don't have the right to stand in line with characters and get autographs. Only that adults that do it alone is weird.

Well, maybe the other adults in the party don't want to meet characters. Maybe the person in question is doing it at a time so as not to take time away from the rest of the group.

You don't want to meet characters? Fine. But don't be so judgmental at those who do.

 

[hull327]

You don't want to meet characters? Fine. But don't be so judgmental at those who do.

That's where you're wrong. I'm not advocating throwing rotten fruit at a lone adult who's standing in a character meet-and-greet line. However, I've got every right in the world to think it's weird just like you have the right to stand in that line. The decision to be judgmental is mine as I'm free to form my own opinions. I'm not going to argue about this anymore. You want to stand in line as an adult? Go ahead. I'm still going to walk by, see it and think to myself that it's weird.

 

[Matt_Black]

That's where you're wrong. I'm not advocating throwing rotten fruit at a lone adult who's standing in a character meet-and-greet line. However, I've got every right in the world to think it's weird just like you have the right to stand in that line. The decision to be judgmental is mine as I'm free to form my own opinions. I'm not going to argue about this anymore. You want to stand in line as an adult? Go ahead. I'm still going to walk by, see it and think to myself that it's weird.

Thinking, yes. But you're doing more than that aren't you? You're basically telling everyone who's met a character as an adult (and there are several on this board, I'd wager, myself included), that you think they're weird. And just how you're free to comment on how "weird" everybody is, I'm just as free to comment how sad I think it is that you feel the need to determine what's "normal" and "weird" in regards to people wanting to have a good time on their vacation.

 

[asianway]

That's where you're wrong. I'm not advocating throwing rotten fruit at a lone adult who's standing in a character meet-and-greet line. However, I've got every right in the world to think it's weird just like you have the right to stand in that line. The decision to be judgmental is mine as I'm free to form my own opinions. I'm not going to argue about this anymore. You want to stand in line as an adult? Go ahead. I'm still going to walk by, see it and think to myself that it's weird.

Yet youre wading into a thread about character autographs? Weird.

 

[EOD K9]

It's not just you as I feel the same way. When my daughter's were in line to meet Aladdin and Jasmine there was a guy there in his late-30's alone in front of them. I assumed his kids went to the bathroom or something and he was just holding their place. It comes to his turn and he steps up between Aladdin and Jasmine for his photo op! Then he puts his arm around Jasmine and says, "It's great to finally meet you!" as if Jasmine was a real-life person. Creep factor on a scale of 1 through 10 was a 12.

My wife and I are sans children and we love going to the Character Buffet at Cape May Café and Chef Mickey's. The selection is great. Does that make us creepy? Last trip to Castaway Cay we had a chat with Captain Jack Sparrow. It was more to see if he could think on his feet, but we treated him as if CJS is a real person. Does that make us creepy? Just havin' fun, that's all.

 

[BrittanyRose428]

Agreed ^ My roommate and I met plenty of characters on my last trip, and spent a good amount of time with them by ourselves. I don't feel creepy, or like I was taking time away from children or something.

 

[luv]

I don't think forging the signatures is a good idea. Even if the signatures are fake anyways it is still meaningful that you took the time to go and get the signatures.

There is no forging, lol. The characters don't actually exist and therefore cannot sign anything.

Waiting in line for some college kid to do it for you isn't more meaningful than doing it yourself. It is just less efficient.

If you're going to pretend the characters are real with your child, you might as well pretend you stood in the line, too. Nothing wrong with it, certainly. We leave cookies and milk for a fat man who gets into every house in the world in one night, thanks to his flying reindeer. Why not hand over autographs from characters? I see no difference.

 

[EOD K9]

There is no forging, lol. The characters don't actually exist and therefore cannot sign anything.

Waiting in line for some college kid to do it for you isn't more meaningful than doing it yourself. It is just less efficient.

If you're going to pretend the characters are real with your child, you might as well pretend you stood in the line, too. Nothing wrong with it, certainly. We leave cookies and milk for a fat man who gets into every house in the world in one night, thanks to his flying reindeer. Why not hand over autographs from characters? I see no difference.

Maybe the difference is the person went through the effort to get it from the character. I dunno.

 

[luv]

Maybe the difference is the person went through the effort to get it from the character. I dunno.

They aren't getting it from the character. They're getting it from whatever employee is wearing the costume that shift. It's no more or less "authentic" if mom does it and saves herself from standing in line.

It's a lot like when we tell children that we mailed their letter to Santa, but never put it in a mailbox.

As long as the child is happy, that is all that matters. IMO, anyway.

 

[Chernaboggles]

Getting 4 copies of each signature sounds like kind of a pain no matter how you do it. How about postcards? Get a bunch of different character postcards (or just general Disney ones) and as you happen across characters in the park or at a character meal, get them to sign one. Get 1 or 2 signatures per postcard, and you can either make a collage or staple them into the autograph books when you get back. If you get into a pinch, I'm sure a non-character CM would stand in for Cinderella or whoever for a signature. If you drop them off in the mail whenever you get back to your hotel each night, your kids will have several days of fun when they start turning up at home.

 

[psukardi]

My wife and I are sans children and we love going to the Character Buffet at Cape May Café and Chef Mickey's. The selection is great. Does that make us creepy? Last trip to Castaway Cay we had a chat with Captain Jack Sparrow. It was more to see if he could think on his feet, but we treated him as if CJS is a real person. Does that make us creepy? Just havin' fun, that's all.

I guess I'll join the weirdo club. We are and love going to the character breakfasts. I guess I'll go back to my van down by the river.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I'll join the Weirdos AnonyMouse club. I'm the wrong side of forty (only just, mind!), I get my pic taken with Disney characters, and I've also visited Disney parks solo. All three of these combined, even.

I'm pretty normal otherwise. Disney's just my hobby.

Okay so I'm not normal but at least I'm not dangerous.

Okay so I am dangerous but that's only when @George provokes me.


Hey, it beats torturing fish all day long by nearly suffocationg them as you pull them up by a hook through their lips.

 

[ToyStorygirl]

Hey, they paid for their admission, they waited in line like every other guest, what's the problem? It's live entertainment, just like other sorts found around the park. As long as the guests are respectful, well-mannered, and don't take up too much time, adult guests have just as much right to a brief moment of fun with the characters as the children.

It's still weird

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Hey at 18 on a graduation trip to Disneyland I got my picture taken with Dug from Up. How was that weird? Or when Alice in February right after the Ravens won the Superbowl came up to me and asked if the Mad Hatter made me my Ravens hat (I told her yes)?

Also, I would love to meet Flynn Rider and Aladdin. I usually don't wait in line though. Not worth it to me. The characters I meet usually just happen to be there.

Also, I think the "creep" factor would depend on who is meeting them. Creeps will come off as creeps no matter what they are doing.

 

[Matt_Black]

Hey at 18 on a graduation trip to Disneyland I got my picture taken with Dug from Up. How was that weird? Or when Alice in February right after the Ravens won the Superbowl came up to me and asked if the Mad Hatter made me my Ravens hat (I told her yes)? .

Did she ask if the Ravens were like a writing desk?

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Did she ask if the Ravens were like a writing desk?

No, we couldn't get beyond "Yes the Hatter made it". I was on my way out of the park and she was on her way in, so...