I spent a little over three years as a Walt Disney World Cast Member and one of those years within the entertainment role working directly with the characters, and let me tell you, I have seen it all! One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is that most guests don’t really understand how our character meet and greets work. So here is a small, but definitive, list of ways to make every character interaction better for everyone.
1. Have your autograph books OPEN and READY.
Ready doesn’t mean in your bag, shoved all the way to the bottom beneath all of your other belongings. Ready doesn’t mean somewhere in the bottom bin of your stroller. Ready also doesn’t mean piled up in your hands.
I mean OPEN and READY.
When the attendant says “Make sure you have your autograph books open and ready,” they aren’t just saying it to hear themselves talk. Even though it starts to feel that way after an eight-hour shift.
Have your book open to a clean page. If you have those fancy storybook style autograph books, make sure it is on that character’s designated page. Most of the princesses are very aware of where their pages are, but just for the sake of time, have it preset.
Make it a point to hand those books over first. The characters will sign them as they interact with their guests. We all know you want to get pictures, that’s why you just waited in that ungodly line. We also know that you’re excited. But there is a particular flow to character interactions that helps us produce a much more efficient meet and greet for everyone involved.
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2. LISTEN to the attendants and the photographers.
I honestly can’t stress this enough. We are here to help and to facilitate an amazing meet and greet. That is the attendant's job. So when the attendant gives their spiel about book and photopass cards… Listen!
When the PhotoPass photographer asks you to stand on a certain side of them… listen! They aren’t trying to push you out of the way. They are trying to make it so that they can capture the magical memories you most likely paid them to take pictures of. They are also trying to position you so that you have the best view of your child.
If an attendant asks you to set your bags to one side (typically to exit side)…listen! It is to maintain organization and the flow. Our lines never stop. So it is our job to keep it moving as efficiently as possible. Also, I’m technically not allowed to touch your things so don’t think us rude for not moving them for you (although, some of us will anyway).
So basically, please for the love of Walt Disney, LISTEN TO US!
3. Be KIND and RESPECTFUL of the characters.
I can’t count the number of incidents I have witnessed that have put a character’s safety and well-being at risk. It was something new every day.
If you are coming in to meet a face character like Ariel or Tinkerbell, hopefully, you can recognize that they are, in fact, people that have thoughts and feelings. Guests seem to forget this and tend to view these girls as merely props. They are not here to be ogled, poked, and prodded.
Being a Dad doesn’t grant you the right to be creepy with the performers. Being a guest doesn’t grant you the right to touch other people inappropriately. Those girls are real people and most of them are royalty. Would you touch Princess Kate or the Queen of England the way you try and get handsy with Princess Anna and Queen Elsa? Didn’t think so.
If you are meeting with our furry friends like Tigger or Stitch, please be aware that they also have thoughts and feelings. Just because they can’t articulate during their interactions doesn’t give anyone the right to batter and abuse them.
It’s pretty basic rules we all, hopefully, learned as a child: keep your hands to yourselves. It’s understandable when small children see these giant life-size versions of their beloved toys to start touching and poking and squeezing them. But for some reason, adults seem to think it’s hilarious to pull on Tigger’s tail. I can assure you, it is the farthest thing from funny. Tigger CAN feel that. And you better watch it, or else he’ll say "Ta Ta For Now" real quick!
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4. DO NOT knowingly break Character Integrity.
YES that is the Cinderella you saw at dinner last night.
NO it’s not hot “in there”. That’s Pooh Bear’s skin. Are you hot under your skin?
YES Tinkerbell really can fly, but she’s obviously saving her strength for the fireworks. She only gets one scoop of Pixie Dust a day!
NO the Princesses aren’t going to marry you. Most of them are happily married. Get up off the floor and go find a Step Sister.
It really isn’t that hard to preserve the magic. You came to Disney for just that. So why make audible remarks to your family, while you’re waiting in a very crowd line, that could possibly ruin the magic for those around you?
Keep your remarks to yourself. And if you feel so compelled to ask a Cast Member how many Mickey Mouse’s there are just know you will forever receive the same answer.
There is ONE Mickey Mouse.
That is all there has ever been and that as many as there will ever be. Now shut up and eat your churro.
It’s not hard to be a knowledgeable Disney guest. It’s also not hard to be a ridiculously uninformed Disney guest. If seen both ends of the spectrum and everything in between. Do some research before plunging into your next Disney vacation. The resources are one Google search away, I promise you.
