Visiting the characters can be a big part of a Disney vacation. For some families, (maybe yours!) the characters are as important, if not more important than the rides. It only makes sense to learn a little about this contender for your vacation time.
There are two basic kinds of Disney characters. Face characters and Fur characters, although the word ‘fur’ is used loosely. Face characters, like Cinderella, Peter Pan, and The Stepmother don’t wear ‘heads’. They wear make up. Most of them look human.
Fur characters, like Mickey, Mr Incredible, and Captain Hook, (see, I told you we used the word fur loosely) are completely costumed. Don’t tell the kids-- but they wear heads.
If you feel your child might be frightened of the characters, it is probably best to start with the friendly face characters first.
We strongly suggest you have your Help Around the Mouse planner incorporate several character greets into your park tour plan and itinerary, and that’s what a lot of this Clue In is about. But, if you have free time, you can use the Times Guide and your Park Maps to help you locate characters. Park Maps will tell you where they are, and Times Guides will tell you when they will be there. Times Guides are available by almost every cash register in the theme parks. In addition, your Help Around the Mouse hints and tips packet has a Character Hotline phone number listed. Give it a call. Or, simply ask any Cast member. They would be happy to help you locate someone.
Where are they?
We are always surprised when guest say to us-- ‘oh, I’m sure we’ll run into Mickey as he walks thru the parks...’. The Disney commercials may make it look like the characters roam nonchalantly amongst the guests, waving and hugging. But, this is not the case. Can you imagine poor little Mickey up against all those adoring fans? Oh my!
There are three major ways that guests can meet the Disney characters. Two of them are within the theme parks, and one in select restaurants.
We are always surprised when guest say to us-- ‘oh, I’m sure we’ll run into Mickey as he walks thru the parks...’. The Disney commercials may make it look like the characters roam nonchalantly amongst the guests, waving and hugging. But, this is not the case. Can you imagine poor little Mickey up against all those adoring fans? Oh my!
There are three major ways that guests can meet the Disney characters. Two of them are within the theme parks, and one in select restaurants.
Most parks have areas where you can find a cluster of characters. This doesn’t mean you get a photo with more than one character at the same time. It means you can find more than one character in this area. Sometimes these are air conditioned venues, and sometimes they are outside in the sun. Sometimes, there is one line and you move from one character to the next. Sometimes, you line up only for whom you want to meet. A Fast Pass may or may not be offered. The point is, if you head to one of these areas, you are bound to see multiple characters around you.
Group meet areas include:
Pete’s Silly Side Show-- Magic Kingdom
Flagpole -- Magic Kingdom
Character Spot -- Epcot
Center Stage Courtyard - Disney's Hollywood Studios
2. Individual or Small group Meet and Greet locations
Often, you will see one or two characters in a specified spots around each park. Belle is found in France, Gaston by his Tavern, Buzz Lightyear's by, well, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, etc. These locations are marked by the Mickey Profile Icon on your park map, and listed in each parks’ Times Guide. A Fast Pass may or may not be offered.
Greeting spots are staffed by a Cast Member called Character Handlers. It is this person’s responsibility to assist the character and the guests. They keep the line moving, deal with guest issues, and guests who are issues, and insure that the character is safe and gets the break time they deserve. It is this individual’s thankless job to tell a dad -- ‘I’m sorry, this line is closed. Mr Incredible will be taking a break, and then be back at 5:30.’ You can imagine the comments this poor Cast Member hears! So, be nice, okay?
3) At Character meals
Disney has made it possible for many of the key characters to join you for meals though out the day. There are several character groupings that can meet with you at meals: Mickey and the Gang, Princesses, Winnie the Pooh, Snow White and Disney Jr. There are no meals with Pixar or Star Wars characters. Disney books tables 180 days in advance, and you are competing with the entire world for these reservations. As we say -- the early bird gets the Mouse! So, hopefully, your Help Around the Mouse planner has already included one or more of these opportunities in your vacation itinerary.
Scheduling Characters into your Help Around the Mouse Tour Plan
Should you schedule character greeting time into your theme park tours? We suggest you consider how badly you need an autograph and/or a photo that contains a member of your family and the character. If you don’t really care, and are fine with a photo taken from afar, or seeing them in a parade or a show, then you probably don’t need to schedule any time.
But, if you or yours REALLY want to meet Rapunzel, you MUST schedule time, or plan on very long waits. Many characters are harder to experience than many rides! Do NOT assume character greets are quick and easy.
Should you schedule character greeting time into your theme park tours? We suggest you consider how badly you need an autograph and/or a photo that contains a member of your family and the character. If you don’t really care, and are fine with a photo taken from afar, or seeing them in a parade or a show, then you probably don’t need to schedule any time.
But, if you or yours REALLY want to meet Rapunzel, you MUST schedule time, or plan on very long waits. Many characters are harder to experience than many rides! Do NOT assume character greets are quick and easy.
Choices, choices…
It would be wonderful is we could all ride everything we wanted to and meet everyone we wanted to, but often, choices must be made. Certain super popular characters must be done at the same time as certain rides to avoid long waits. This is a bit of a problem! As with any vacation, the more time you have, the fewer choices you will have to make. It’s best to consider that you will remember the over all vacation experience much more than you will multiple character meetings. Overdoing for the sake of Woody’s autograph is not worth it. The last thing anyone wants is for you to get home with a full autograph book and miserable children.
When face to face with a character....
No matter the greeting location, your experience will be very much the same. When it’s your turn, the character will sign your book. The photopass photographer, or the character handler, or your spouse, will take your photo. The character will interact a bit with you. Plan on all of this taking no more than a few minutes. So, let’s make those minutes count!
Be ready for the photo
K Have your autograph book open to a blank page, your big fat pen out, and your lens cap off.
K Keep your eyes open. Don’t go to the buffet if you see Mickey in your area. (and don’t close your eyes in the picture!)
K Know who will take the picture, and what pictures you would like.
K Consider the size of the character. Perhaps putting your child on a chair to meet Goofy might work?
K Volunteer to take a family pic for your neighbor-- they may reciprocate!
Communicate!
K Tell the character handler if your child has special needs.
K Tell a fur character if a small child is nearby. They have limited sight lines and may not see.
K Tell Cinderella that your family enjoyed meeting her last year... or last night at dinner.
K Tell the character at your table what photos you’d like, so they know not to leave after the first one. But remember, a few is fine. A scrapbook’s worth is not!
It would be wonderful is we could all ride everything we wanted to and meet everyone we wanted to, but often, choices must be made. Certain super popular characters must be done at the same time as certain rides to avoid long waits. This is a bit of a problem! As with any vacation, the more time you have, the fewer choices you will have to make. It’s best to consider that you will remember the over all vacation experience much more than you will multiple character meetings. Overdoing for the sake of Woody’s autograph is not worth it. The last thing anyone wants is for you to get home with a full autograph book and miserable children.
When face to face with a character....
No matter the greeting location, your experience will be very much the same. When it’s your turn, the character will sign your book. The photopass photographer, or the character handler, or your spouse, will take your photo. The character will interact a bit with you. Plan on all of this taking no more than a few minutes. So, let’s make those minutes count!
Be ready for the photo
K Have your autograph book open to a blank page, your big fat pen out, and your lens cap off.
K Keep your eyes open. Don’t go to the buffet if you see Mickey in your area. (and don’t close your eyes in the picture!)
K Know who will take the picture, and what pictures you would like.
K Consider the size of the character. Perhaps putting your child on a chair to meet Goofy might work?
K Volunteer to take a family pic for your neighbor-- they may reciprocate!
Communicate!
K Tell the character handler if your child has special needs.
K Tell a fur character if a small child is nearby. They have limited sight lines and may not see.
K Tell Cinderella that your family enjoyed meeting her last year... or last night at dinner.
K Tell the character at your table what photos you’d like, so they know not to leave after the first one. But remember, a few is fine. A scrapbook’s worth is not!
Use a fabric marker to sign:
- A canvas sling sack
- A plush toy of that character
- A t shirt -- not being worn at the time
- A pillow case
- A hat or visor
Use a Sharpie to sign:
- A picture frame mat
- Postcards to send home
- A Disney Story Book
- Scrapbook paper
Props!
As if you needed one more thing to remember to pack! But, props give the characters something to react to and with.
- A plush Mickey for Donald
- Acorns for Chip and Dale
- An apple for Snow White
- A plush Simba for Rafiki
- A dog treat for Pluto
- A picture you drew of them
* Ask Belle what she’s reading
* Bark at Cruella
* Tick Tock to Captain Hook
* Scratch Pluto behind the ears
* Ask Buzz what exactly is beyond infinity, or if he’s seen Zurg lately.
* Tell Woody there’s a snake in his boot and ask to see the bottom of it.
* Ask Aurora if Prince Phillip gives her roses.
* Ask Mary Poppins what Spit Spot means
* Call Chip or Dale a squirrel
* Ask Aladdin if he, Peter Pan and Harry Potter fly around together.
* Ask Piglet if he prefers bacon or sausage
* Say thank You! Characters are people too!
From everyone at HelpAroundtheMouse.com -- We hope this information, and all of our Help Around the Mouse Clue Ins, contributes to you having an even more magical Walt Disney World vacation! K
6/19
6/19