A not so "young" Cinderella

[sssteele]

Last week (Mon., the 12th) we did the Family Magic Tour at MK. At the end of the tour, Peter and Wendy showed up and escorted the group to IASM where we rode with the two of them. Needless to say my 8 year old grandaughter was thrilled to sit in the boat beside Wendy. Peter, who also was in the Spectromagic parade a few nights later, looked to be no more than 13 or 14 years of age. Is that possible? This was "up close and personal" on the tour, and I was amazed how young he looked. Slightly off topic, but I was curious if anybody else has seen this particular Peter.

 

[Marseeya]

Just a little story from our last trip related to this. I'm in no way trying to be mean, but it does connect.

We went to a princess dinner (not saying which one), and I turned around and saw a character kneeling beside a table. Not seeing the full body of the character, I thought, "Ooh! We've got a PRINCE at this meal! Weeee!" Then the character stood up and it was a princESS (again, not saying which one). Oops.

When she came to the table, even DH was taken aback by the harsher features of this character. It's not that she wasn't beautiful, but she seemed like she would more fit the bill for Cruella or Maleficent.

But the girls didn't notice anything amiss. They were perfectly thrilled to meet her.

 

[MyZoeJane]

The only thing that's ever REALLY bummed me out about a princess was the fact that the last time we were there, DD stood by Cindy while waiting for her CRT lunch and THE FREAKING PICTURE CAME OUT BLURRY!!!! UGH!!!

Man, she was STUNNING, too! Check her out! (If you can even SEE her! )

 

[mom2of2]

Last week (Mon., the 12th) we did the Family Magic Tour at MK. At the end of the tour, Peter and Wendy showed up and escorted the group to IASM where we rode with the two of them. Needless to say my 8 year old grandaughter was thrilled to sit in the boat beside Wendy. Peter, who also was in the Spectromagic parade a few nights later, looked to be no more than 13 or 14 years of age. Is that possible? This was "up close and personal" on the tour, and I was amazed how young he looked. Slightly off topic, but I was curious if anybody else has seen this particular Peter.

Yes, I have seen the Peter Pan that you met with, he flew in from Neverland just recently. Although he "appears" to be in his early teens, he is indeed much older then that.

 

[bayoutinksmom]

And I may take heat for this
BUT that statement is just what these Dis boards are NOT supposed to be about!!! These boards were created to help share the magic and our love of WDW not to hurl insults, inflammatory remarks etc. I can't speak for others but that is one of the reasons I love Disney so is to escape the worldly attitudes and sniping, being in a place as the world should be. Getting away from the everyday pettiness and nastiness.

Sorry I am now off my soapbox and asbetos underwear on.

Dave Goofydad Dionne

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

I actually know her and she's in her twenties. Julie Andrews was 24 and pregnant when she filmed the movie. Mary is a nanny so she has to look more mature.

yeah..sure you know her..i'm sure you do

 

[Gangstarr]

yeah..sure you know her..i'm sure you do

Um...ok...HUH!?

 

[Booknut]

I was actually very surprised at how lovely all the characters were, the princesses were so beautiful! Cinderella was perfect and Snow White's demure smile and wave made me feel like I was 6 years old

I was very impressed at how well Disney select their characters. I'm not having a go at your post but i'm shocked that you would think the Cinderella you saw was too old. I guess it depends on what you are looking for in the characters and what standards you are using to judge them. I don't expect (nor want) any of them to look like supermodels or anything from the fashion mags.

I always imagine the characters as 'ageless' and 'timeless' so it's not something I think about too much when I meet them. Usually i'm just chuffed to bits that i've met them

 

[MikeWD]

Honestly, does everyone have to be soooooo sensitive? I am friends with a counsins' mother's brother's daughter who once knew someone who dressed up like Cinderella and who occasionally reads these threads when the barometric pressure is high.

Give me a break. The OP is entitled to her opinion. If someone "potentially" may be offened and that easily upset, they are probably pretty unstable to begin with. If you are in ther entertainment business, that is the name of the game. Expect to be judged if you're putting yourself out there.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Honestly, does everyone have to be soooooo sensitive? I am friends with a counsins' mother's brother's daughter who once knew someone who dressed up like Cinderella and who occasionally reads these threads when the barometric pressure is high.

I have to agree with this. I feel people treated her like she posted a picture of the person and picked her apart.

Putting on Flame suite here.

I would never intentionally hurt someone's feelings, and I don't think the OP meant to do so either. Unless the post was changed I never read the word ugly in there. She was probably just really surprised at what she saw. I have been too before.

If we are to be so sensitive about watching how we hurt feelings because someone involved might be reading then we have to be sensitive about saying what we don't like at all. We can't say we didn't like a ride or a dinner at the World because someone involved with either of those things might be reading...... Most people here wouldn't think twice about saying they didn't like a ride, and they shouldn't have to. I think the OP was totally blown out of proportion.

I have had my picture taken with a few characters that I was totally surprised were characters. You always here that Disney is so strict and picky about hiring their face characters. You wouldn't expect to see Cruella with a mustache, which I have seen on two occasions.

 

[beattyfamily]

I can only speak for myself.

I was only warning those who might post in this thread that there are a few very good "friends" of the face characters here on the DIS so just be aware of that, that's all. One that I'm friendly with is best "friends" with Cinderella.

There was a thread recently that was specifically about 'ugly' face characters with pictures and all, which was pretty offensive to some DISers who, like I said, are very good "friends" of the face characters. They were be very specific with photos included.

Didn't want this thread to turn into that kind of thread.

There is nothing wrong with what the OP posted and I don't think anyone has said that there was.

I don't think anyone is over-reacting regarding the OP's post but there certainly have been a couple of nasty posts since then, IMHO.

 

[abitjaded]

Actually, Julie Andrews wasn't cast as Eliza because Warner Bros. was leary about having a theatrical actress lead a major motion picture. It had little to do with looks and a lot do with the almighty dollar, as always.

So said by Jack Warner in his biography. He should know. But at the time, there was plenty of nasty publicity about the whole decision. (I was alive at the time and fascinated by the whole thing.) None of the other members of the stage play were well known movie characters, either, yet the only one that mattered was Eliza. It was a huge scandal. And over and over statements were made about how JA was a convincing flower girl, but just not pretty enough when transformed. Then everyone dissed Audrey Hepburn for being great transformed but not convincing enough as the flower girl, hence no Academy Award for her.

Carla

 

[cleo]

I was only warning those who might post in this thread that there are a few very good "friends" of the face characters here on the DIS so just be aware of that, that's all. One that I'm friendly with is best "friends" with Cinderella.

I suspect there are a lot of people who may not know what you mean when you say 'friend of' or 'best friend'. Just to clarify without saying it outright to those who don't know this particular Disney-ism, please be aware the people you are talking about see these threads personally. Put yourself in their place and remember, you are not talking to a few people on an internet board, you are talking to a full auditorium, with far more viewers than actaully 'announce' themselves by posting. Some of those viewers are the very people you are slamming. Put yourself in their place, then decide what you want to say 'out loud'.

 

[beattyfamily]

I suspect there are a lot of people who may not know what you mean when you say 'friend of' or 'best friend'. Just to clarify without saying it outright to those who don't know this particular Disney-ism, please be aware the people you are talking about see these threads personally. Put yourself in their place and remember, you are not talking to a few people on an internet board, you are talking to a full auditorium, with far more viewers than actaully 'announce' themselves by posting. Some of those viewers are the very people you are slamming. Put yourself in their place, then decide what you want to say 'out loud'.

Thank you for clarifying what I was getting at!

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

This should be a forum for us to express our feelings about EVERYTHING Disney. Good and Bad. Things can be put in ways that are not mean or "ugly" but if my feeling is that some of the "face" characters really dont look the part, and I have a pic to show that feeling, then i will post it. You would have NO problem if i was posting it for no other reason.
One of the reasons we love the DIS so much is because it is an OPEN forum, and should be kept that way. We all take critisim at work, and if your work is entertainment.....need i say more? MOST of the time the characters look wonderful, and although not EVERYTHING Disney can be perfect, the OP was mearly stating that sometimes characters really dont "look" the part.
I'm totally surprised that this thread hasnt been "locked" or deleted, but being the thread killer that i am, i'm sure it's around the bend....

 

[amy4bruce]

I still maintain that it's not really looks, but acting ability. For example, take the Ariel I met at the grove once. If you ignore the age problem (I figure Ariel for about 14, although she does marry at the end, so let's make her sixteen), the CM looked exactly right. She herself was stunning. Her smile, in the picture taken next to DD6, was perfect.

I think she was a model rather than an actress, because her posing was excellent, but I felt she didn't really project any sincerity. On the other hand, I'm out of the demographics, and DD6 was thoroughly convinced and enchanted.

I have no problem with critiquing someone's performances. An actor or actress had better develop a thick skin, or he or she is in the wrong business. But I don't think it's fair to critique how someone looks, except in context. And there, to me, it's the performance that counts.

Bruce
(Edited immediately to remove some typos. Sorry about any that are left.)

 

[snusnu]

It's amazing to me how much effect the characters have on everyone. I'm not saying this to criticize, but to marvel at the way we've become invested in the magic and illusion. We had a fabulous character breakfast on the Magic with the most wonderful Pluto who stayed at our table until I'd scratch his "nose". It was such a scream. I'll never forget the first time we had our picture taken with Mickey on the ship. I was just thrilled. I remember how thin his arm was, and realizing that it was a petite girl in the costume. Somehow, though, it didn't take anything away, but instead reminded me how hard Disney works to maintain the illusion of Mickey's size. Then there was the Stitch who ran around on his hands and knees and stole my shoe. Such incredible magic.

When we were in DL last year, we saw Mary Poppins for the first time and my friend and I ran like litte kids to get a picture with her, we were so excited. Odldy, I don't even remember what she looked like, only that she was lovely and wore the hat with the crooked flower. One of the Poppins' penguins took my by the hand and led me to the gate at the Castle to take a picture. It was such a glorious feeling.

We've all seen actors in movies and plays who were woefully miscast. God knows I've been in productions where I've wondered who a lead was friends with to get the role. Disney does the best job they can with what resources they possess. They have a lot of ground to cover with their characters and not every one will be the spitting image of the cartoon, which would be impossible anyway. Well, except for the Snow White we saw last year who was seemingly ripped straight from the celluloid. That was just spooky.

 

[lawlesslovewdw]

And I may take heat for this

Sorry I am now off my soapbox and asbetos underwear on.

Dave Goofydad Dionne

You should be flamed..... asbestos is a banned substance.....least your vitals will stay safe

 

[curiouser]

I still maintain that it's not really looks, but acting ability. For example, take the Ariel I met at the grove once. If you ignore the age problem (I figure Ariel for about 14, although she does marry at the end, so let's make her sixteen), the CM looked exactly right. She herself was stunning. Her smile, in the picture taken next to DD6, was perfect.

Ariel is actually 16.. there's a line in the movie she says: "I'm sixteen years old, I'm not a child anymore"

 

[budbeerlady]

double post - sorry!