When did WDW start making meeting characters so organised?

[ToyStorygirl]

I see the logic but when did this come into play?

I remember characters walking around the parks and you just walked up to them (which I understand was chaotic at times). It was kinda nice though that you never knew who you may find round the next corner. Now you seem to have set places where set characters stand and you just queue (and queue and queue and queue!)

Doesn't particularly affect our family as we don't do character photos unless the line is mega low but how do you guys with kids feel about this? Is it better now or before?

 

[Britt]

I can imagine how hard it would have been for them to walk around anyway...constantly having to stop for pics, and Im sure it got really disorganized.

We dont do character pics anyway either, unless there isn't a line. lol

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

It has been this way for a long time. I don't know the for sure date, but I remember seeing it around 2000, could have been earlier though. I like the lines. Going as a kid in the 80's-90's, it was so chaotic to get good pictures with a character as some other kid was shoving in too. I don't think I have any pictures of me and a character alone from my childhood. Hubby and I don't have any kids, but occasionally we will get our picture with a character and the queue makes it so much better, it is clear who's turn it is and lets you get a picture with the character without some other weirdoes in it.

 

[Jim Chandler]

It happened when people started beating on the characters and in some case groping them. Then you had the characters were sued because they
allegedly groped guests. Then you had parents fighting in front of the kids. Disney is in court every day because people see deep pockets. If Disney can stop some before they happen then they will.
The meet and greets are done so as to make it safe for all

 

[Since1976]

I much prefer it the way it is now. My childhood picture with Goofy shows my dad next to me trying his best to gently swat other little kids out of the shot.

 

[Mukta]

Characters still walk around Disneyland randomly. I run into them in odd places pretty regularly.

 

[vonpluto]

I see the logic but when did this come into play?

I remember characters walking around the parks and you just walked up to them (which I understand was chaotic at times). It was kinda nice though that you never knew who you may find round the next corner. Now you seem to have set places where set characters stand and you just queue (and queue and queue and queue!)

Doesn't particularly affect our family as we don't do character photos unless the line is mega low but how do you guys with kids feel about this? Is it better now or before?

The earliest one I remember was Mickeys Dressing Room M&G that was part of Mickeys Birthday Land (6/88)

 

[DisJosh]

Characters still walk around Disneyland randomly. I run into them in odd places pretty regularly.

Especially in the early morning!

 

[Susan Savia]

I like the organization of the queue lines. All the pictures of my kids meeting the characters (circa 1990's) have other kids/adults hanging around or beside the character. So often now, we can be walking and come upon a character to which we'll stop for a photo. It's much nicer now days.

 

[Minnie1976]

I have pictures up until 1985 of the characters walking around. After that the boys had gotten older and we also skipped a some years.

 

[GenerationX]

Character queues probably started around the same time that character autograph books debuted.

 

[zero creativity]

We ran into Dopey in 1995, but I think he was with his handler and walking to or from somewhere. The first time I met Mickey he was walking around and he was in one of his other outfits in Epcot Center

 

[Matt_Black]

I like the new way better. My first trip I was too young to remember if I met any characters or not (my mom thinks yes, but she couldn't tell you who), and during my trips in the 90s, I neither had luck nor time on my side. Now, though, if I want to meet Pocahontas, I grab a times guide or whip out the app and find where and when she's meeting.

And for those who like the old way, they still have that to a degree. The "Characterpalooza", while having a set (though unadvertised schedule), does have that element of "Gee, I wonder who's coming out". Meanwhile, if you like the seeming spontaneity, you've got the International Gateway meets at Epcot, though, again, you've gotta be there at the right time, so keep those fingers crossed.

 

[Bairstow]

Especially in the early morning!

Same still goes for the Magic Kingdom.
Assuming you're not making a beeline for an E-ticket after rope drop, this is the most common time to see characters do a little free roaming.

Character queues probably started around the same time that character autograph books debuted.

That would have had to be a very, very long time ago, then. My parents bought me a little yellow Disney World autograph book when I was a little kid, around 1986.
I want to say the books were available for several years before then, too.

I can't remember much about character interactions back then. There might have been lines, but I think they formed organically, without queue ropes or anything like that.

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

I'll never forget a right-time-right-place moment for us. It was the 80's and I was pre-teen. We were wandering round America in WS and Mickey comes out. We were first to spot him, had some great interaction and so did the rest of the small crowd. I had an autograph book then too. I personally think that as guest numbers have grown, guest politeness has decreased. You only have to go to Disneyland Paris to confirm this, as most M&G is a free for all. When we first went to WDW, during the late 80's and early 90's, it was expensive to go to for overseas visitors. Now it's cheaper for everyone, and whereas we used to holiday with polite "Have a nice day, y'all" Americans, on our last trip we could have been anywhere in the world, in a melting pot of nations with different views on queuing (or lack of).
But to answer your question: As a parent I like the organised M&G and being able to plan when to see them, but we don't do it that often and prefer to get our character fix during meals.

 

[Marc Gil]

Characters still walk around Disneyland randomly. I run into them in odd places pretty regularly.

Characters still roam around MK as well believe it or not! I happened to bump into Peter Pan and Wendy around Advetureland one morning. It's cute seeing the characters roaming freely, but it could get hectic.

When I visited Disneyland in August I bumped into a lot of free roaming characters. It was sort of difficult to take pictures with them and interact with them because of all the hordes of people surrounding them.

 

[TubaGeek]

It's better now. If you miss the joy of the free-for-all, go see a Green Army Man at Pixar Place during peak season.
For a more organized roaming character experience, go see Goofy at Blizzard Beach.

 

[Uncle Remus]

It happened when people started beating on the characters and in some case groping them. Then you had the characters were sued because they
allegedly groped guests. Then you had parents fighting in front of the kids. Disney is in court every day because people see deep pockets. If Disney can stop some before they happen then they will.
The meet and greets are done so as to make it safe for all

Exactly. I prefer it the way it is now. My kids are able to meet more characters and get more pictures than I was able to as a young lad

 

[BrittanyRose428]

It's definitely better now. I was one of those shy kids that once your parents told you to do something it made it weird and you didn't want to anymore. You know, like when you see a show and they say they need a volunteer, and you're about to raise your hand but then your parents are like, "You should do it! Raise your hand higher!" or if they want you to dance or something and your parents are pushy about it. I guess I was just shy and awkward as a child but I didn't like being pushed to do things like that, and that's what used to happen with characters. Before the whole line system, some family member would continually tell me to go up to them, but I didn't want to half the time because there were already other little kids with them and it was weird.

 

[Minnie1976]

Funny story. When my oldest son was not yet 3 and we were on the skyway (back in 1977), Mickey walked out somewhere in Fantasyland. My son says throw me. He was so excited.