Getting the most out of character interactions

Mcgold76

Mcgold76

New Member
Original Poster
Leaving for Disney next week with my extended family. Want to get the most out of character interactions for my younger niece and nephews. Two 4yos and a 2 yo. We have character meals scheduled in tusker house and Akershus. Also have a a&e fp scheduled. Have bbb scheduled for my niece right before the fp and she wants to be Elsa.
What else can I do to make these greets more special for them? Have different Disney t shirts that they packed. Would the character accept pictures the kids color? We are going down on the Autotrain so coloring will be a nice activity.
Also I am an adult male. What is the etiquette for getting pictures with character. Always been a big goofy and Donald Duck fan. Also is it creepy for an adult guy to get his pic with a princess?
 
Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
Well I can tell you that on our last trip in June that there were two occasions that we had to wait for extra-ordinarily long interactions at character meets.

The first was at the MK with the stepmother and stepsisters. Some mom with too much time on her hands had her threeish yo son dressed up like Prince Charming and brought roses. I think they took every combination of pictures you could then the mom decided she wanted to e in the photo in each possible variation.

The second was with Hiro and Baymax. Omg. Some teenager made a hand made Baymax doll and it was practically a fifteen minute production of photos and silly carp.

Both instances was just total inconsideration for both the others waiting in line and for the characters.
 
mousehockey37

mousehockey37

Well-Known Member
Mcgold76 said:
Leaving for Disney next week with my extended family. Want to get the most out of character interactions for my younger niece and nephews. Two 4yos and a 2 yo. We have character meals scheduled in tusker house and Akershus. Also have a a&e fp scheduled. Have bbb scheduled for my niece right before the fp and she wants to be Elsa.
What else can I do to make these greets more special for them? Have different Disney t shirts that they packed. Would the character accept pictures the kids color? We are going down on the Autotrain so coloring will be a nice activity.
Also I am an adult male. What is the etiquette for getting pictures with character. Always been a big goofy and Donald Duck fan. Also is it creepy for an adult guy to get his pic with a princess?
Click to expand...

Can't speak much about the kid part, but as far as their coloring, if the characters are signing autographs, the kids can get those drawings signed! Take it home, frame it!

As far as an adult male and characters... You're in Disney. Be a kid. I'm 33 and I have a ton of fun getting my picture with the princesses. As long as you aren't creepy about it and stick to the movies, you'll have a fun interaction. Celebrating buttons (like birthday ones) are an ice breaker for adults. Relate to things with the movies and you're good. Use the sidekicks and ask "how is _____?"
 
NonnaT

NonnaT

Well-Known Member
Mcgold76 said:
Leaving for Disney next week with my extended family. Want to get the most out of character interactions for my younger niece and nephews. Two 4yos and a 2 yo. We have character meals scheduled in tusker house and Akershus. Also have a a&e fp scheduled. Have bbb scheduled for my niece right before the fp and she wants to be Elsa.
What else can I do to make these greets more special for them? Have different Disney t shirts that they packed. Would the character accept pictures the kids color? We are going down on the Autotrain so coloring will be a nice activity.
Also I am an adult male. What is the etiquette for getting pictures with character. Always been a big goofy and Donald Duck fan. Also is it creepy for an adult guy to get his pic with a princess?
Click to expand...
I think the coloring is a lovely idea! Also, as long as you aren't "creepy" with the princesses, it would be a really fun souvenir! The characters are really quite good at what they do and by and large, they enjoy the interactions with the little ones. I think it's really nice to have the BBB scheduled as well. The princesses will definitely comement her on her hair and attire! You have fun - you're a great uncle! Also, love PP's idea about the framed autographed coloring page, what a great idea! Cheap and personal souvenir!
 
Mcgold76

Mcgold76

New Member
Original Poster
Would they accept a colored pic from the kids or do they just have no where to put it?

Don't want to dominate any characters time just want my little niece and nephew to have a special time they will remember
 
mousehockey37

mousehockey37

Well-Known Member
Mcgold76 said:
Would they accept a colored pic from the kids or do they just have no where to put it?

Don't want to dominate any characters time just want my little niece and nephew to have a special time they will remember
Click to expand...

Face characters such as Anna and Elsa will be able to obviously hold the picture and sign it.
Animal characters, such as goofy and pluto, they'll have some ability to hold things (they hold autograph books), so something sturdy for the picture to be on. Also, let the pictures be the ice breaker. You can say about "on our way here (insert kids name*s*) drew pictures and wanted you to see them and sign them if you could... that will get you interaction and then they'll go to the kids and talk with them about how well done the pictures are and hopefully they have time to sign them and such...
 
mousehockey37

mousehockey37

Well-Known Member
Also, on a side... as much as the characters love to interact with the kids, if you strike up a decent "movie" conversation or something about their attire, you can honestly see in their eyes that they (the character) are enjoying talking to an adult too.

Example... DGF and I met Aladdin and Jasmine. DGF asked about Abu and Aladdin said he was up in the Adventureland trees making banana cream pies. We then got talking about their shoes, and this went on for a few minutes. They were laughing, we were laughing and you could just tell it was one of those interactions that they enjoyed as much as we did because it wasn't anything forced and they could actually "talk" to us unlike having to talk to kids.
 
Disney4family

Disney4family

Well-Known Member
If you do get an autograph book (just in case the characters have difficulty holding a colored picture), we used to get different colored permanent markers for autographs. My daughter was nervous meeting some of the characters. She would excitedly choose red for Pooh, blue for Eeyore, etc. She would even have fun doing the same for face characters - light blue for Cindy, red for Snow, etc. I think I got that idea from the "Tips"section on www.allearsnet.com.
 
F

friendofafriend

Active Member
hakunamatata said:
Well I can tell you that on our last trip in June that there were two occasions that we had to wait for extra-ordinarily long interactions at character meets.

The first was at the MK with the stepmother and stepsisters. Some mom with too much time on her hands had her threeish yo son dressed up like Prince Charming and brought roses. I think they took every combination of pictures you could then the mom decided she wanted to e in the photo in each possible variation.

The second was with Hiro and Baymax. Omg. Some teenager made a hand made Baymax doll and it was practically a fifteen minute production of photos and silly carp.

Both instances was just total inconsideration for both the others waiting in line and for the characters.
Click to expand...
That little boy sounds like Maddox. His family are Instagram/lifestylers. They are at MK meeting characters at least 2-3 times per week. His grandmother makes his costumes. He's crazy about the step sisters. They seem like nice enough people but the whole situation leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
 
F

friendofafriend

Active Member
Mcgold76 said:
Leaving for Disney next week with my extended family. Want to get the most out of character interactions for my younger niece and nephews. Two 4yos and a 2 yo. We have character meals scheduled in tusker house and Akershus. Also have a a&e fp scheduled. Have bbb scheduled for my niece right before the fp and she wants to be Elsa.
What else can I do to make these greets more special for them? Have different Disney t shirts that they packed. Would the character accept pictures the kids color? We are going down on the Autotrain so coloring will be a nice activity.
Also I am an adult male. What is the etiquette for getting pictures with character. Always been a big goofy and Donald Duck fan. Also is it creepy for an adult guy to get his pic with a princess?
Click to expand...
The best thing you can do in any character situation is to be enthusiastic. So many people clam up and don't say or do anything. Just have fun and don't worry about looking silly! If you have fun the characters will play along and you should have great interactions. Also don't be so worried about posed photos. Concentrate on getting candid photos of the kids interacting. I've seen so many great moments ruined by a mom or dad interrupting to get their kids to pose and smile for the camera.
The characters love getting drawings and pictures! Some of them won't be able to hold on to them so you'll see them hand them off to their attendants but they will get them back.
As a grown male meeting princesses make sure you offer your arm to them for pictures, like a gentleman. DO NOT put your arm around their waist or shoulders.
 
K

KCKAS

Member
As for a man getting their pic with a princess, my husband has done this on several occasions. He has a collection going. He just stands next to them and they are very nice about it. I think Princess Aurora even took his arm for a photo. I, on the other hand, have had my picture with Prince Charming and Aladdin, not together, of course. I asked each of them if I could hug them for photo and they both said yes. YES!!! Anyway, I think they are used to adults posing with them. Hope you have a great time.
 
mousehockey37

mousehockey37

Well-Known Member
friendofafriend said:
As a grown male meeting princesses make sure you offer your arm to them for pictures, like a gentleman. DO NOT put your arm around their waist or shoulders.
Click to expand...

I normally let the character dictate how to pose in the photo. That way I know what's good for them. I'll let the princess interlock MY arm or whatever she is going to do. For non-talking characters, I'll let them show me "the pose" and go from there.
 
Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
friendofafriend said:
That little boy sounds like Maddox. His family are Instagram/lifestylers. They are at MK meeting characters at least 2-3 times per week. His grandmother makes his costumes. He's crazy about the step sisters. They seem like nice enough people but the whole situation leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
Click to expand...
I'm all for having fun and interacting a bit with the characters but when it seems like someone is doing it for attention then, yes I agree, it leaves a sour taste.
 
Mcgold76

Mcgold76

New Member
Original Poster
So characters will take and at least pretend to keep the pictures? Training my 4 yo nephew on what to say to characters. He can't wait to tell Captain Hook there is a crocodile behind him and to ask him if it hurts to scratch his nose.
 
mousehockey37

mousehockey37

Well-Known Member
Mcgold76 said:
So characters will take and at least pretend to keep the pictures? Training my 4 yo nephew on what to say to characters. He can't wait to tell Captain Hook there is a crocodile behind him and to ask him if it hurts to scratch his nose.
Click to expand...

When are you going? Captain Hook is not out unless it's the Halloween Party and even then he's hard to get to.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom