Why is it that Disney doesn't promote character meet and greets outside of the theme parks and cruise ships?

[DodgerGirl]

I often wondered why Disney doesn't have the characters do meet and greets outside of the cruise ships and theme parks? Is it due to money or Disney isn't allowed to have the characters outside the theme parks and cruise ships due to exclusive contracts? Because it used to be that when The Disney Stores would celebrate grand openings of stores they used to have meet and greets with Mickey And Minnie Mouse and now it seems the only time Disney promotes the characters outside the theme parks and cruise ships is at charity events like for children's hospitals and movie premieres. And Disney does the same thing with the Disney Princesses by not having them do outside events outside of the theme parks and cruise lines. And what I think Disney should do is launch a Disney Character Meet And Greet service that would enable stores like Target Walmart and JCPenney and others to promote the characters at celebrations like grand openings at stores and also people could use this service for their children's birthday parties and events like weddings and school graduations and high school proms and even funerals and other types of events and it would be a smart idea for Disney to market and it would go well and they could even have Marvel and Star Wars characters added to the list as well. Because I find it odd that the only places to meet and greet with characters is at the Disney theme parks and cruise ships and this idea would be very smart for Disney to do

 

[dizneegirl]

I think it makes it more special to only have the characters in Disney locations.

Business-wise, it also makes sense for them... you have to buy expensive tickets or a cruise to meet the characters, and then you're likely to spend more money on food and souvenirs while you're there.

 

[mom2rtk]

What monetary gain would they get from basically giving that experience away for free?

 

[Narcoossee11]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$
It take money to have a characters appears. Disney is not going to 'just' mail a costume to another city /state.
It has to be a CM due to union rules.
Airfare to location, cm pay, security... No one is going to want to pay that high amount.

 

[PaladinButters]

Wouldn't it be fun if some small child who just got back from a trip was telling everyone they met Mickey and then some other kid was just like 'nu-uh, Mickey was at my Aunt (stupid) Judy's wedding Saturday, he couldn't have been with you in Florida'.

 

[Nayan]

This has been explained to her, numerous times in other posts where she asks the same question. The answer is the same: they do not want the liability. Remember the uproar about Tigger that happened ON property? Could you imagine if that happened off property? Talk about lawsuits, damage to the brand, etc. It is NOT a smart idea and Disney will NEVER do this. If you want to see characters then either go to the parks or go on a cruise.

 

[dvczerfs]

Character integrity (which is closely guarded) along with many things mentioned above.

 

[VGCgroupie]

You can meet characters at Disney hotels, which is technically not a theme park. You can also meet them at Aulani, Hilton Head and Vero Beach. You can go see them at Disney on Ice, but possibly not meet them. There is zero need and probably a huge lack of interest from the public to meet them outside of a Disney experience.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Ive heard you can meet busted Mickey (pronounced Mike-e) down on his luck in Vegas

 

[bsmcneil]

I have to say I absolutely HATE that people dress up as characters and get hired for parties, etc. Really, really bothers me.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I have to say I absolutely HATE that people dress up as characters and get hired for parties, etc. Really, really bothers me.

1000% agree

 

[DodgerGirl]

I think a Disney character meet and greet service would be smart for Disney to do. Because there are people who are Disney fans who long and wish to meet characters outside the theme parks and this service would be wonderful. You could have Disney characters be honored guests at birthday parties they would visit patients at hospitals and also be used for work office parties. And people would reserve and schedule these meet and greets in advance and these character meet and greets would be priced from $70 to $100 for an hour with children or people with an autograph signing and an optional photo and people would use this service a lot at children's birthday parties because that's where entertainers get paid a lot of money

 

[KPeterso]

I think a Disney character meet and greet service would be smart for Disney to do. Because there are people who are Disney fans who long and wish to meet characters outside the theme parks and this service would be wonderful. You could have Disney characters be honored guests at birthday parties they would visit patients at hospitals and also be used for work office parties. And people would reserve and schedule these meet and greets in advance and these character meet and greets would be priced from $70 to $100 for an hour with children or people with an autograph signing and an optional photo and people would use this service a lot at children's birthday parties because that's where entertainers get paid a lot of money

Try at least $1000-$1500 an hour. Maybe. Probably more. No way it would ever be that cheap.

And office parties? Really? A group of mostly adults. I am an adult who will meet characters but many would never consider it. You realize there are many adults who do not like Disney, right?

I do know that the characters will sometimes go to CHOC (Childrens Hospital of Orange County), but those are for special events or to promote CHOC Walk. But those are very few and very far between visits. And they are just down the road from Disneyland (couple exits on the 5 freeway), so they still have the integrity to the costumes and the character as it is the same people who play the characters in the parks.

One question, how many of these people would be needed to cover the country? That is the biggest reason - it would cost a lot of money to hire people all over the country to do these events, then more money to properly train them in the Disney way, then even more to create the many additional costumes for these people all over the country, and finally to insure these people in cases where the kids do something to the person or the costume. SO maybe more like $5000 per hour.

 

[Mle8308]

You posted an almost identical thread on this topic about a year ago. Nothing has changed since then. Disney characters are not going to be at Walmart or Target, it's about the uniqueness of the characters. As well as maintaining character integrity. It's one of the draws of WDW, DL, DCL - the unique opportunity to meet Disney characters. Meet and greets at the local Wally World or JC Penny shouldn't happen and won't.

 

[Mle8308]

NM

 

[Mle8308]

I think a Disney character meet and greet service would be smart for Disney to do. Because there are people who are Disney fans who long and wish to meet characters outside the theme parks and this service would be wonderful. You could have Disney characters be honored guests at birthday parties they would visit patients at hospitals and also be used for work office parties. And people would reserve and schedule these meet and greets in advance and these character meet and greets would be priced from $70 to $100 for an hour with children or people with an autograph signing and an optional photo and people would use this service a lot at children's birthday parties because that's where entertainers get paid a lot of money

Sure, until one is a p*do (not sure I can use that word here) and hurts a child or is caught on a "break" out back with it's head off smoking a cigarette butt. Nothing says Disney like Cinderella taking a drag on a cigarette!

 

[rdaky]

I think a Disney character meet and greet service would be smart for Disney to do. Because there are people who are Disney fans who long and wish to meet characters outside the theme parks and this service would be wonderful. You could have Disney characters be honored guests at birthday parties they would visit patients at hospitals and also be used for work office parties. And people would reserve and schedule these meet and greets in advance and these character meet and greets would be priced from $70 to $100 for an hour with children or people with an autograph signing and an optional photo and people would use this service a lot at children's birthday parties because that's where entertainers get paid a lot of money

I'm sure you can find a random person on the street for $70/hr.

Even the fake copycat ones in Orlando for princess parties cost a lot more than that.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Here is your chance. Not in theme park

https://mickeyblog.com/2025/03/26/exclusive-summer-fun-at-select-disney-disney-resorts/

https://www.disboards.com/threads/scheduled-character-experiences-at-disney-resorts.3962935/