This list is based primarily on the technical aspects of a Meet-and-Greet, as the quality of the character interaction is always a wild card. Also, there may be some magic-free terminology used, so... you've been warned.
And, while only two of the five spots go to Disney M&Gs, there are a couple nods to other Disney experiences that didn't make the list. Hopefully that will be enough to keep it on a "WDW" page and out of the graveyard...
5) Universal's Superstar Parade mini-shows
This is my only "non-talking" pick for this list, but, with the parade floats and music as your background, the plethora of performers, and the fact that these guys are doing a M&G right after a show? A very worthy candidate for my list. Add in the fact that this is the only place you can meet the Despicable Me characters and it's a shoe-in.
4) Enchanted Tales with Belle
Not gonna lie: I actually have a lot of beef with the actual M&G part of this M&G. It's too selective, and the girls are rushed to make their numbers, so there's no time for actual one-on-one interaction. However, the nature of the experience, the immersion of the location, and, of course, the mirror and Lumiere, kick it up a notch above your standard princess M&G.
3) Talking Mickey
An obvious choice. The queue is impressive, for a M&G, and the room where you meet Mickey is delightfully detailed. The biggest drawback is the oft-cited critique that... it's awkward. The delay between responses. The fact that the physical performer has to guess what Mickey is gonna say next. The fact that you just can't preload enough audio to make it really connect. However, if you're young enough at heart, you'll lose yourself in the fact that Mickey Mouse himself is talking to you, and that's just friggin' cool.
At this point, I'd be remiss in not giving a nod to Turtle Talk with Crush and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. The nature of both attractions are M&G-esque, but they offer less one-on-one time than ETWB, so I don't feel they can be considered meet-and-greets.
2) Talking Transformers
This experience is only testing right now, but it is a doozy. The M&G they've had for a while now already draws a crowd. The costumes are amazingly impressive and detailed, the stilted performers animate very naturally, and the prerecorded voices add a layer of realism to the interaction. Once you add LIVE voice performers, you add a GIANT element to an already impressive experience. Like talking Mickey, though, there's an even greater element of guesswork for the physical performer to animate what they're hearing from the vocal performer, but it should improve greatly as the pairings learn each others bits and styles.
1) Donkey's Photo Finish
You have Shrek, he's kinda' awkward. You have Fiona, she's hit-or-miss. But then you have Donkey. WOW. An animatronic puppet hybrid with a LIVE voice performer? Yes please. He can talk, blink, move his eyes, move his eyebrows, heck, he can even move his ears. This is EASILY the most impressive M&G I've ever heard of. If you haven't seen this in person, even if you're not a big M&G person, check this out. You won't be disappointed.
And, while only two of the five spots go to Disney M&Gs, there are a couple nods to other Disney experiences that didn't make the list. Hopefully that will be enough to keep it on a "WDW" page and out of the graveyard...
5) Universal's Superstar Parade mini-shows
This is my only "non-talking" pick for this list, but, with the parade floats and music as your background, the plethora of performers, and the fact that these guys are doing a M&G right after a show? A very worthy candidate for my list. Add in the fact that this is the only place you can meet the Despicable Me characters and it's a shoe-in.
4) Enchanted Tales with Belle
Not gonna lie: I actually have a lot of beef with the actual M&G part of this M&G. It's too selective, and the girls are rushed to make their numbers, so there's no time for actual one-on-one interaction. However, the nature of the experience, the immersion of the location, and, of course, the mirror and Lumiere, kick it up a notch above your standard princess M&G.
3) Talking Mickey
An obvious choice. The queue is impressive, for a M&G, and the room where you meet Mickey is delightfully detailed. The biggest drawback is the oft-cited critique that... it's awkward. The delay between responses. The fact that the physical performer has to guess what Mickey is gonna say next. The fact that you just can't preload enough audio to make it really connect. However, if you're young enough at heart, you'll lose yourself in the fact that Mickey Mouse himself is talking to you, and that's just friggin' cool.
At this point, I'd be remiss in not giving a nod to Turtle Talk with Crush and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. The nature of both attractions are M&G-esque, but they offer less one-on-one time than ETWB, so I don't feel they can be considered meet-and-greets.
2) Talking Transformers
This experience is only testing right now, but it is a doozy. The M&G they've had for a while now already draws a crowd. The costumes are amazingly impressive and detailed, the stilted performers animate very naturally, and the prerecorded voices add a layer of realism to the interaction. Once you add LIVE voice performers, you add a GIANT element to an already impressive experience. Like talking Mickey, though, there's an even greater element of guesswork for the physical performer to animate what they're hearing from the vocal performer, but it should improve greatly as the pairings learn each others bits and styles.
1) Donkey's Photo Finish
You have Shrek, he's kinda' awkward. You have Fiona, she's hit-or-miss. But then you have Donkey. WOW. An animatronic puppet hybrid with a LIVE voice performer? Yes please. He can talk, blink, move his eyes, move his eyebrows, heck, he can even move his ears. This is EASILY the most impressive M&G I've ever heard of. If you haven't seen this in person, even if you're not a big M&G person, check this out. You won't be disappointed.
