What tips do you have for adults going to character meals without kids? I've heard stories about the characters often skipping tables without children, which doesn't make sense to me. Why would grownups book a character meal if they don't want to meet characters?
i used make sure i interact with them so they know we want them to stop at our table, now we have a kid so they just stop
"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."
--Walt Disney--
[url='http://www.mickeypath.com/']
[/url]
What did you do before you had the kid...jump up and grab them? 
I'm going to the Crystal Palace for the first time. I'm a little nervous because it seems chaotic, but I do want pictures with the characters.
I do not think you will have a problem with the characters not stopping at your table. When we travel we are either two or four adults and we have never had them skip our table.
We have never had a problem with the characters failing to stop at our table. Just a friendly wave aimed at them usually brings them to your table. Most of the time you do not even have to do that.
Hi Sarabi we went with four adults @ Crystal Palace Last December and we got lots of Pictures with them ....just offer big hugs and have camera ready !! 
We've got our first character meal coming up this fall, just hubby and me. I'll be sure to make eye contact and look excited when the characters approach.
I had it happen once at Cape May. We had to chase the characters down. Not a good experience.
Cape May is actually where I advise adults to head for a Character meal. I'm sorry that you had a bad experience, I don't think that skipping tables is the norm. I've never had an issue there and make a point to eat there for just about every visit. If you feel like you're going to get skipped just be sure to make eye contact and give them a wave.
Our adult only table also got a lot of character interaction at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian.
How do you make eye contact with a giant furry head? (Kidding, of course!) 
What did you do before you had the kid...jump up and grab them?I'm going to the Crystal Palace for the first time. I'm a little nervous because it seems chaotic, but I do want pictures with the characters.
lol no, just wave and smile they will come right over
"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."
--Walt Disney--
[url='http://www.mickeypath.com/']
[/url]
How do you make eye contact with a giant furry head? (Kidding, of course!)
Probably not as hard as you think, the cast members do have to see out some place. 1900 Park Fare has a lot of face characters so it's easier there. If there's a handler with the character, make eye contact with them. 
I've only done character dinners sans kids and never had any issues with characters skipping my table. Don't forget your autograph book.
My wife, Rachel, and I went to character meals for years before we had our son. We've never had any problems with the characters coming over. In fact, you'll find that the characters have some different antics with guest who don't have children present. Once at Garden Grill, Chip stole Rachel's plate while she was in the restroom. While at 'Ohana, Mickey Mouse made a fuss that we were eating Mickey Head Waffles and then went on to "tell on us" to the manager. At Tony's (who remembers when Tony's had Pooh and friends and why?), Tigger led me away from the table and made me stand in the middle of the room while he went and sat next to Rachel with his arm around her.
Nonetheless, it will be fine.
Share the Magic,
Jym
________________________________________________
Staceyism #3 "And it's a lot like going to the real Africa... but without all the malaria shots and stuff."
I had a great experience at 1900 Park Fare. Characters were really playful with us.
We ate at Crystal Palace our very first morning there didn't have any problem. I made sure that our waitress knew that I really wanted to see the characters and I had my camera and autograph book out. I almost missed Tigger cause I was getting food but she told me she would make sure he came back. Just let them know it is important to you, they will make sure it happens.
We ate at Crystal Palace our very first morning there didn't have any problem. I made sure that our waitress knew that I really wanted to see the characters and I had my camera and autograph book out. I almost missed Tigger cause I was getting food but she told me she would make sure he came back. Just let them know it is important to you, they will make sure it happens.
Great advice! So you're a grownup with an autograph book or is it for kids?
My wife, Rachel, and I went to character meals for years before we had our son. We've never had any problems with the characters coming over. In fact, you'll find that the characters have some different antics with guest who don't have children present. Once at Garden Grill, Chip stole Rachel's plate while she was in the restroom. While at 'Ohana, Mickey Mouse made a fuss that we were eating Mickey Head Waffles and then went on to "tell on us" to the manager. At Tony's (who remembers when Tony's had Pooh and friends and why?), Tigger led me away from the table and made me stand in the middle of the room while he went and sat next to Rachel with his arm around her.Nonetheless, it will be fine.
Many years ago, my 17-year-old sister, 9-year-old brother, and I were at King's Dominion in Virginia. At the time, they had costumed critters of some kind. I posed my sister and brother between two of them for a photo. My sister cracked the silliest grin and my brother looked up at her with a puzzled expression on his face.
After the photo was taken and the critters had dispersed, sis revealed that the critters had been rather explicitly propositioning her!
My wife and I have been to 3 character meals without children and the characters never skipped us or a photo op with her.... I have to to give big kudos to the characters because I really have noticed that they have a pretty good, acccurate sense of when to 'hug and pose' and when to 'skip'...and I say this from experience because I usually give off a vibe of "skip me" (I know... boo me), but my wife loves the characters and getting pictures with them...and they always hug and pose with her if they aren't too busy...and we have quite a few good shots 
So my tip is give them a look, a big smile, and a 'hug and pose with me' vibe! 
I've never experienced that at any of the character meals. We had extra attention at the Crustal Palace and at Chef Mickey's. Perhaps the people who were skipped weren't there for the initial visit..like at the buffet and then left before the next round of visits. I've camped out at the Crystal Palace just to get two visits from my favorite silly old bear.
Dee
Ps if you camp out tip your server extra. They make their money by turning tables. 
Member of the 6 castle club and working to pay for my next Disney vacations: 1/5-10/18, September 2018 for my 50th and 2018 the year of Disney cruising.
WyckedPhoenix wrote:We ate at Crystal Palace our very first morning there didn't have any problem. I made sure that our waitress knew that I really wanted to see the characters and I had my camera and autograph book out. I almost missed Tigger cause I was getting food but she told me she would make sure he came back. Just let them know it is important to you, they will make sure it happens.Great advice! So you're a grownup with an autograph book or is it for kids?
Yup, a grownup with an autograph book, I have no kids, LoL! It is the same one I have had since I was 10 (so for 20 years.) I decided a long time ago that meeting characters was a big part of the magic for me and anytime spent at Disney I feel like a kid anyway, I wasn't going to worry about what other people though, haha.
I will chase Eeyore down if he doesn't stop at my table! I plan on letting them know when we check in for our reservations that we want the characters and then waving at them when they are close.
Sarabi wrote:WyckedPhoenix wrote:We ate at Crystal Palace our very first morning there didn't have any problem. I made sure that our waitress knew that I really wanted to see the characters and I had my camera and autograph book out. I almost missed Tigger cause I was getting food but she told me she would make sure he came back. Just let them know it is important to you, they will make sure it happens.Great advice! So you're a grownup with an autograph book or is it for kids?
Yup, a grownup with an autograph book, I have no kids, LoL! It is the same one I have had since I was 10 (so for 20 years.) I decided a long time ago that meeting characters was a big part of the magic for me and anytime spent at Disney I feel like a kid anyway, I wasn't going to worry about what other people though, haha.
I've actually thought about doing that. So it's not so weird after all. Okay, maybe a little, but I have no problem being weird! 
I've also thought about doing the passport stamp thing in the World Showcase.
WyckedPhoenix wrote:Sarabi wrote:WyckedPhoenix wrote:We ate at Crystal Palace our very first morning there didn't have any problem. I made sure that our waitress knew that I really wanted to see the characters and I had my camera and autograph book out. I almost missed Tigger cause I was getting food but she told me she would make sure he came back. Just let them know it is important to you, they will make sure it happens.Great advice! So you're a grownup with an autograph book or is it for kids?
Yup, a grownup with an autograph book, I have no kids, LoL! It is the same one I have had since I was 10 (so for 20 years.) I decided a long time ago that meeting characters was a big part of the magic for me and anytime spent at Disney I feel like a kid anyway, I wasn't going to worry about what other people though, haha.
I've actually thought about doing that. So it's not so weird after all. Okay, maybe a little, but I have no problem being weird!
I bought an autograph book and pen last year. It was so much fun getting the autographs. I have no kids either. I'm just a big kid at heart. Not weird at all.
I'm convinced! Autograph book is on my must-buy list on my next WDW trip.
WyckedPhoenix wrote:Sarabi wrote:WyckedPhoenix wrote:We ate at Crystal Palace our very first morning there didn't have any problem. I made sure that our waitress knew that I really wanted to see the characters and I had my camera and autograph book out. I almost missed Tigger cause I was getting food but she told me she would make sure he came back. Just let them know it is important to you, they will make sure it happens.Great advice! So you're a grownup with an autograph book or is it for kids?
Yup, a grownup with an autograph book, I have no kids, LoL! It is the same one I have had since I was 10 (so for 20 years.) I decided a long time ago that meeting characters was a big part of the magic for me and anytime spent at Disney I feel like a kid anyway, I wasn't going to worry about what other people though, haha.
I've actually thought about doing that. So it's not so weird after all. Okay, maybe a little, but I have no problem being weird!
I took my autograph book to each of the KidCot stations and everyone was so awesome. They each stamped it and wrote something in the language of each country. It was really cool. My plan is to take those pages out of my book and scrapbook them with the photos from each country. I had a lot of fun doing all that.
