Characters

[Marijil]

I tried this before but it was buried in another thread. It seems clear to me after my trip last week that the policy of never having two of the same character in the same park at once is no longer in effect. While it was great that the characters where everywhere, there were many times where I had to try to explain to my kids how they "moved" so fast. A couple of examples:

1. After the castle stage show, a bunch of characters come out around the hub to meet and greet, we saw Rafiki signing near the LS/FW bridge with Timon. We walked to Adventureland and there was Rafiki signing next to the DoleWhip stand.

2. We met Snow White behind the Xmas shop in LS with Aurora. We left after our turn and headed towrd Main Street where we saw her (obviously not the same one) signing in front of Tony's.

I think that this makes kids question the authenticity and ruins the illusion. Tiggerman, is there no longer such a policy...was there ever one...any thoughts anyone?

 

[mkt]

there never was such a policy in any park.. but I still don't get how a character could be in more than 1 place at a time... Disney characters are real

 

[sorcerermic01]

DUH!!!

ITS THE MAGIC AND WONDER THAT IS DISNEY!!!!! THATS HOW CHARACTERS MOVE SO FAST!!!

 

[roysta123]

I know exactly what you mean about Rafiki. I saw the one on Main Street and the one in Adventureland. If you really tried, you could almost see both of them at the same time!:lookaroun

 

[DisneyPan]

I agree with you 100%. I know it's nice to be bombarded with tons of characters, but at the same time you lose the magic when you see Mickey in 3 different places.

Disney preaches about being consistent, but after working for them you see lots of inconsistencies, and I'm not being picky. They talk about preserving the magic, but they'll have 2 Cindys or 2 Pans out on set at the same time.

Back in the early 90's you'd only find one head of each character, because they wouldn't allow more than one character out on set. :hammer:

Anyway, I agree with you and there should be specific set locations for specific characters. And the rest can bombard you as you enter or exit in Town Square.

 

[mkt]

umm... HI RODNEY!!

I don't know what you speak of... *injects 2 grams of pixy dust into eyeball* characters are real....

 

[DisneyPan]

Pixie Dust injected . . .

What was I thinking. Disney characters are full of magic and amazement. They can do anything!

By the way Rob, The Spiderman thing was awesome. He loved it. I got the biggest kick playing Spiderman at his birthday party. It was fun being a super hero. The party was at this party, playhouse for kids, and all the kids were coming up to me asking me all kinds of questions about the movie. I kinda had deja vu, but I was a super hero!!!

 

[sorcerermic01]

Wait a min!!!

Was it not the guests who constantly complained about not seeing lots of characters out and about the parks in the past few years. Al Wise at the opening of the 100 years of magic celebration said that this year and years to come we will have more and more disney friends around the parks as you the guests requested??

So help me out here... First guest complain too few characters, then they complain to many?????:hammer:

 

[mkt]

yay! I was wondering how the gift would fly. It's good to know he enjoyed it.

 

[Scar Junior]

All I know is in my 15 trips I've only seen Belle twice. Finally last year I got to meet her and I was in awe... Dang, Gaston was right- that girl IS perfect!

 

[Marijil]

Re: DUH!!!

Originally posted by sorcerermic01
ITS THE MAGIC AND WONDER THAT IS DISNEY!!!!! THATS HOW CHARACTERS MOVE SO FAST!!!

I thought that they were boats...:lookaroun

 

[Marijil]

Re: Wait a min!!!

Originally posted by sorcerermic01
Was it not the guests who constantly complained about not seeing lots of characters out and about the parks in the past few years. Al Wise at the opening of the 100 years of magic celebration said that this year and years to come we will have more and more disney friends around the parks as you the guests requested??

So help me out here... First guest complain too few characters, then they complain to many?????:hammer:

The fact that all the characters were out was great, really great... but I know that there are enough so that we dont need a park filled with Rafikis and confused and suspicious kids

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Look at it from the other point of view - perhaps its the guests moving too quickly around the parks that enables them to see the same character in different locations.
Anyway, the characters must have access to motorised transport to get from one point to another - it just makes them appear to be more than one.

 

[RandeB]

Fast Moving Grinning Guests

Well, we took the train from Toontown after seeing Tweedledum and Tweedledee, then saw them again as we arrived at Main Street. They must have really hoofed it.

 

[Sherm00]

one word:

STUNT DOUBLES...

 

[Holly]

My youngest totally understands how characters can move so quickly - it's "Disney magical" she says.

We saw Goofy and Minnie in the Christmas parade then popped into Liberty Tree for dinner and saw them both. My littlest took it upon herself to explain to all of us how it's done ... they're magical.

Case closed. :animwink:

 

[DisneyPan]

I still feel that they [Disney] just use the same Disney characters, instead of using all kinds of characters. But, that's just my deal. . .

on the other hand. . .

Holly - you're absolutely right, well I mean your daughter is absolutely right. She's the youngest out of all of us, but she's the smartest. Let's take it for what it is: "magical!!!"

 

[Mr. Tom Morrow]

Hi Sorcermic01 :wave: – I’ll take the challenge to help you with your dilemma. The first thing we have to do is make a distinction between the number of characters in the park and the number of different characters available. Treasure Planet marks the 43rd full length animated feature from Disney. Let’s assume that on average there are two characters from each film that could reside in the parks, that makes 86 different characters. Yes some would not have any (Bambi) and some would have many (Lion King – Simba, Nala, Mufassa, Scar, Zazu, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Shenzi, Bamzai and Ed), but we’re talking on average! Now lets add non full length feature animation (Max, Hewie, Dewie and Louie, ect), live action (Marry Poppins), other animated characters that do not appear in film (Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle, ect), Pixar (Toy Story, Bugs Life & Monsters Inc.) and hey even the Muppets and we’re well over 100 different available characters. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that the masses want to see a greater variety of characters not more of the same character in various locations in the same park. I guess, just like Disneypan I would like to see many different characters. Then again, you could spend all day just visiting characters, and that ain't a bad thing either!

Even though Mickey and co. are very capable of appearing on Main Street and then at his house five minutes later, Disney should be very careful about having Mickey and co. bounce around an individual park so quickly! After all, they have an entire world to make appearances in!

 

[dreamer]

It's no different than Santa in every store.


I think too many characters can be counterproductive.

If they're all over the place, then it's not so special to find them. You're not peeking around corners hoping to see them. Because they're everywhere.

I think characters would be a good way to entertain kids in lines.

 

[GenerationX]

I would rather explain to my kids why they saw the same character twice than explain why they didn't see any characters.