[Goofette]

I was reading something, and it was talking about the abuse that happens to the Characters at WDW. Actually, I guess it happens all over, at different amusement parks, mascots at ballgames, and anywhere someone is in costume, but this focused on WDW.

I was Shocked! To see the kind of stuff that happens to these poor CM's. I always try to look at all sides of a situation, but there is no excuse for parents who allow their kids to hit, punch, kick these Characters. I can't believe some of the parents stood back and laughed, and thought it was funny! I haven't been able to go to wdw very much, and luckily I have never seen this happen. Also, it wasn't just small kids that did it, it sounded like teens and adults were actually worse than the children. I guess it's nothing for a CM to get slapped up against the back of the head by a smart alleck kid walking by with his/her friends. I also read where a baseball player abused a mascot (probably a lot of you heard about this). I was just sick to hear these things, and wished there was something that could be done to stop this. Can you all imagine someone going up and slapping/punching/kicking Cinderella, Peter Pan, Alladin, Ariel...some of the Characters not in Costume. It's absurd, just because the person is in costume, doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. I really think when someone does something like this, that Disney should press charges. Maybe in severe cases they do, but I hope Disney isn't trying to please all of us so much, that they let things like this slide. I think they should protect their CM's first and foremost. It breaks my heart to think also what it does to a child to see their Loveable characters being treated like that. I just felt sick reading about it and wondered if any of you had experienced or heard of anything like this happening?:madmad

[jmouse]

Yes, I have. It is disgusting that people would think hitting, kicking, jumping on the characters is funny. One of my daughter's friends was in Entertainment recently and she ended up terminating for her health. :(

[tinkerbell]

:( we have seen children do it .. and their parents smile or laugh. like last year saw one child go up behined Meeko and kick him. I believe the children learn this from their parents .. because thats the worst ..seeing a parent do something like that in front of their children allows the children to think its ok and when the parents laugh well then the child has the parents approvel dont they?
the worst I have seen was someone actually knock down one of the Mice from Cinderella. One year when we were first at the gate before the park open we spent several minutes talking to the CM there and she told us how one man attacked Mickey because it was time for Mickey to go and his child didnt get an autograph. I thought it was bad enough this man did this in front of his child ..but he did it in front of other small children also. There is are also people that will cuss and abuse CM's that disgust me. Once in Test Track when it first open a family got in the line for single riders, when they found out they couldnt all ride in the same car the man caused a really ugly scene, and it was really all thier own fault, not the fault of the CM's

[tiggerlover1971]

I too have heard of these incidents and think its worse with adults I heard a story recently a that an adult followed a character into the backstage area and started fighting because the character left before they saw his child needless to say the child saw his dad taken away in handcuffs

[Goofette]

Originally posted by tiggerlover1971
I too have heard of these incidents and think its worse with adults I heard a story recently a that an adult followed a character into the backstage area and started fighting because the character left before they saw his child needless to say the child saw his dad taken away in handcuffs

I'm glad he got taken away in handcuffs. I don't know if when people go on vacation, they check their brains and manners at the doors. It's disgusting that they seem to think that if they pay to get in, they can break any rules ever set. I wish there were something that could be done. I'm sure Disney tries to address this problem. Unfortunately they'll probably always have the verbal abuse, but when it goes as far as physical, I wish they had tougher penalties..like the dad in handcuffs. It's a terrible thing, but it teachers that there are laws, break them, and their are penalties.

That's awful jmouse. I hope she's ok.

Tink, did anyone do anything when the kid kicked Meeko? I wonder what the policy is for the Disney Characters and CM's escorting them when something like this happens. They are there for our enjoyment, but these people are just trying to earn a living here. I wonder if there is some way for Disney to start cracking down, without worrying about "losing the magic".

[mickaholic4077]

The one and only time I ate at Chef Mickey's,I saw one of the kids at the table next to me go behind Mickey and throw his arms around him rather hard. Now I don't know if the kid was just overly exuberant or vicious brat,but if I was the CM playing Mickey,I would have "accidentally on purpose" kicked him. Of course,the Mickey didn't have a handler with him,so that's half the problem there. Every character should have a handler with them so they can cut down,if not eliminate,the abuse.

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by Goofette

Tink, did anyone do anything when the kid kicked Meeko? I wonder what the policy is for the Disney Characters and CM's escorting them when something like this happens. They are there for our enjoyment, but these people are just trying to earn a living here. I wonder if there is some way for Disney to start cracking down, without worrying about "losing the magic".

no .. the kid ran off and he and his parents walked away Meeko left with the CM right away too :( like I said ..its the parents it really is, yes the kids are wrong but like I said before .. they learn from thier parents:(

[Goofette]

I'm bringing this thread back to life because of all the allegations against "Tigger". I think we all tend to forget there is a "REAL" person in those costumes. Please remember that each person in those costumes are individuals, some are wonderful indivuals, some may not be, but whatever the outcome of this ends up being, I hope we can all remember that the people who play those parts are "real and human". I remember when I posted this thread I was so upset at the abuse these poor people/characters had to endure, and very few people commented on it. If everyone is really concerned about how the characters are treated then please read some of the things that these characters have to face all the time. And the next time we're at the parks, hopefully we can show the same appreciation to them that they deserve. I know I was shocked at some of the horrible things that happened to them. I just hope since this episode with the "Tigger character"/Man has happened, that it doesn't make it harder and the working conditions even harder on all the other people who play these parts, whether it's Tigger, Goofy or even some of the Princesses. The guests need to feel safe when they visit, but I also believe the Characters/CM also need to feel they are safe from abuse from the guests, and Disney needs to do whatever they have to to make this happen.....even if it's kicking a guest out of the park who decides it's funny to punch Pooh in the gut.

[Screever]

Last year stories, by Screever: ;)

My friend Adrain put his arm around Jasmine for a picture and she got a rather big attitude so he removed his arm. Good for Jasmine! Feel bad for Adrain though...he really wasn't hitting on her.

Grad Nites last year (Lord, help us): It was rumored that some kids jumped the country bears. It was even rumored that someon pulled a knife on Mickey Mouse, but I don't buy that one.

It's all very sad, indeed. Kids kicking characters is awful, if I was a character aide I would definitely say something!! I know Disney is all about guests first, but the customer is not always right. :(

Gosh, this makes me wonder if I ever want to have kids or not...:whistle:

[downsouthtigger]

Hmm if it was grad night I wouldn't doubt a kid pulling a knife on Mickey! Boy I'm glad I was fall semester, I will gladly work x-mas and thanksgiving just to avoid grad night!

[mickaholic4077]

Thank you for bringing this up again,Goofette. Also,don't forget to say Thank you to the character when you are finished getting your picture taken.

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by mickaholic4077
Thank you for bringing this up again,Goofette. Also,don't forget to say Thank you to the character when you are finished getting your picture taken.

I could not agree more .. every character we come in contact with at a meal or at any of the greeting spots .. we all say thank you.

I have seen more parentd act awful towards the characters then kids.. but where do you think the kids get it??

[lawwin]

Screever,
I think it all depends on the kids you have and the respect you teach them. My DD respects the characters at WDW. She waited her turn politely, looked to the character or their handler to give her the go ahead to approach and spoke to them nicely, and she said thank you for every autograph and gave them a hug. She did interact with and told them a joke or laughed with them when they did something funny like when wendell mussed her hair, and complimented Daisy on her outfit and beautiful shoes. I even have a picture of her and Minnie inspecting the matching polka dots on their costumes and exclaiming that they look like twins.

She would never think of hurting a character at WDW or anywhere else and she would be horrified to think that someone would. Just ask her. I have taught her respect, not just for characters, but for other people. Those parents out there who haven't taught that to their children and have them kicking characters should look out because those kids don't respect anything and when they get older they won't respect their parents and the next person they may be kicking will be them. It may be funny to them now, but just how funny will it be then.