Anyone else feel awkward around characters and don't know what to say?

[Linxzy]

I feel very awkward next to a character if I am alone. I just think about the actual real person, not the character. I tend to ignore them anyway. The only character that I "interacted" with was with Mickey and it was because of mom wanting a picture.
But I love seeing others interacting with them.

 

[allshookup]

This thread is so funny. I thought I was the only one who cringed whenever the characters come around. I always say something stupid like, "Look kids it's Chip....or is it Dale? um say hello to the nice chipmunk!"

 

[connie254]

Originally posted by Cinderella37
I agree to thank the characters. We've never had to think about it, as we've always thanked them automatically. It's strange to think that many people don't.

I always thank the characters. My son has autism and loves to interact with them, just not in the usual way(see my posts in the disabilities forum)-he "bounces" with Tigger, "directs" Director Mickey to sit down, and they never have a problem with him doing it, and he always gives them a hug. They always nod at him and pat me on the back, like they know he's special.

My son insisted upon bringing in those small boxes of cereal, empty, into the parks. I was trying to get them away from him and throw them away without one bit of luck. Well, we get in line for Chip and Dale's autographs, he still has those darn boxes and he hands them to Chip and Dale. Both of them pretend to eat from the boxes. The human with them scolded them for snacking. I finally tossed them two days later.
I never know what to say, but I still love the characters.

 

[HollyJoy]

Not really! I just look at the whole thing as a fun experience, but do the photo taking quickly! LOL If you get a good CM (inside the suit), then the experience will be a lot of fun! This year will be totally different with the girls meeting all the characters. Kind of breaks the ice!

 

[flipturngirl]

I am always scared too!! or can not figure out what to say. I get nervouse because they touch you and you do not know who it is. I dunno though

 

[perdidobay]

I'm 47 and I love the characters. I always try to say something that relates to them, example: Stitch "How's your badness level today Stitch?"
Stitch motions with him thumb down to show it's low.
"That's good Stitch, nice seeing you again!"

Robin Hood:
"How are things going with Maid Marion, Robin?"
Robin Hood puffs his chest out and stands with his legs apart and does a sweeping thumbs up and nods.

"That's great Robin, she's a sweetie!"

I keep it short so they can move on to the next person if they need to.

 

[JenLynn]

It depends on my mood and which character it is. I do tend to play it up when i am with my children because they have been known to be quite timid around them.

DH still laughs about our Pooh and friends character breakfast several years ago. I was so excited to see Eeyore who looked so forelorn that i kept yelling "I love you Eeyore!"

Tell any of the princesses how lovely they look and they eat it up!

Have fun with it,
JenLynn

 

[MsLeFever]

<<DH and I love interacting with the fur characters and have lots of fun with that. However, with the face characters it's a different story.>>
On our last trip my DS was 3 and would give lots of hugs and kisses to anyone in a suit that covered their faces.

Come time to hug Cinderella he clung to my legs...he really wanted to hug her but took about 5 minutes to work up his nerve...luckilywe got it all on video.

And poor Cinderella kind of broke character and laughed when my husband said "Sure kid, hug any serial killer in a big furry suit but refuse to hug the beautifu girl!"

 

[Disneyfanatic01]

I do tend to not know what to say to a character, but usually say "Can we get a picture with you?". Recently, though, we haven't done too much character interacting.

The absolute best person to watch with characters is my Uncle Jeff, 46 yrs old. (He is developmentally disabled with the funtioning level of a 12 year old) He just hams it up with the characters, covering his mouth like he is laughing, giving high fives, dancing with them! It is pure heaven when he is around the characters!

I will try out some of the others suggestions here when we are in WDW in June!

Korey

 

[maine_jennifer]

Originally posted by jimmytammy
My kids told Capt Hook recently that they thought they heard the crcodile tick tocking close by. He reacted by grabbing me and putting me in front of him.

I read a great "tip" somewhere along the linesof what you said. I'm going to try it with my nephew on our upcoming trip. "Sneak up" behind Captain Hook and actually say TICK TOCK TICK TOCK really loud behind him or if I really feel brave, sing "Never Smile at a Crocodile" at the top of my voice while my nephew does the TICK TOCK bit.


I, too, feel a bit awkward around the characters, but I still try to interact with them. My biggest thing is I don't know what to say. Acting like they're the characters I can handle, but I just don't know what to say.

Most of the time, when I've walked by and they haven't had a line up, they usually just wave and I start to ACT more shy than I really feel. They act shy, too, and then try to get me to open up and give them a hug.

 

[marcyinPA]

I am admittedly not very good with this either, even though I have kids and they usually take up most of the time. When we saw Aladdin and friends in the MK a few weeks ago, I told the Genie I liked the movie and thought he was a "hoot"...he gave me the thumbs up...

Then I felt stupid...Duh, Robin Williams was the Genie and HE was the funny one...

Oh, well. My kids thought it was neat!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We love meeting the characters, but still feel a little silly conversing with them.
My kids get too giggly to talk really.

Last summer when we met Captain Hook, my son was too shy to call him a Codfish. He tried to get his four year old sister to do it. When she wouldn't (to busy giggling!), he walked near me holding the camera and said it quietly "codfish".
I told him he would have to speak louder if he wanted anyone to hear, but he wouldn't.

My dad, at the ice cream social---Chip came up behind my brother, surprising him. Then he started to "eat" my brothers sundae. Brother(24yrs old) says you better not eat too much of that stuff. Not healthy for you. They get into a bit of an altercation over who is chubbier (very funny). Then my dad responds with "Oh yeah, Chip here likes ice cream, carrots, nuts, berries, acorns." My dad has a real dry sense of humor, thick Texas accent, and is also fairly serious.

Chip looked at my dad like he was nuts and walked off.
I had to tell my dad that Chip likes chocolate chip cookies.........

Same brother also started singing "Who let the dogs out" when Pluto came around.................................Pluto threw his paws in the air and started dancing and waving them around.

There should be a Conversing with Characters 101 course.

 

[dgaston]

I too usually ask questions about the character--things like "Eeyore, how's your tail? Is anyone noticing you?" I wear character shirts and show them --Tigger especially likes that. My DH always wears Donald when we go to Donald's Breakfastoaurus. (It's his name too!) We got Donald to tell us his big enemy was Mickey, by telling him how much we liked Philharmagic. But I have more trouble with the face characters. I told Malificent I like dragons and got a chilly "How fortunate for you." And worst of all I embarrassed poor Mary Poppins at CRT on Dec 26. It was Boxing Day and I asked Mary to tell us about it. She said "Oh it is Boxing Day isn't it?" Cinderella came to her rescue and mentioned Epcot and how they could tell us all about holiday traditions. Since then I found out it was traditional for employers to give servants things from the house "boxed" up, and the day became known as Boxing Day. I really didn't mean to stump Mary I promise, but my brother thought it was really funny.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

At least you talk to them. If I see a character, I run the other direction. Ever since I was little, I was scared of people in costume. Clowns too. Since dd3 has been born, I've gotten a bit better, but they still give me the heebie-jeebies at times.

I remember when I was about 10, we walked through Mickey's dressing room at Mickey's Birthdayland (I think that's what it was called back then) and I hid behind my mom. I practically ran out the door. It's a sickness, I tell ya.

 

[threeboysmom]

I think the villains are somewhat easier to converse with - maybe because they are so fun to "pick on"

I once muttered "off with her head" when the Queen of Hearts was nearby. She immediately left the few people surrounding her for autographs and came after me! Ever see a grown woman RUN from a character?

I've also been chased by Captain Hook who wanted to cut my head off! I think all I was doing at the time was talking, but he wanted me to be quiet while waiting in line and I wouldn't

Another time, I saw the Evil Queen from Snow White. She was off in the distance, but she still noticed when I started pretending to primp in front of a mirror. She stared me down something awful and would not break contact. I looked away first because she was making my heart pound

I've always wanted to find Cruella and sing the Cruella song from the movie in front of her and see what she does

The villains seem to be more "real" to me I guess. I tend to forget that they're just ordinary people dressed up playing with me. I tend to believe that they're really evil and that's was so fun about them.

 

[liznboys]

Originally posted by threeboysmom
I once muttered "off with her head" when the Queen of Hearts was nearby. She immediately left the few people surrounding her for autographs and came after me! Ever see a grown woman RUN from a character?

I've also been chased by Captain Hook who wanted to cut my head off! I think all I was doing at the time was talking, but he wanted me to be quiet while waiting in line and I wouldn't

Another time, I saw the Evil Queen from Snow White. She was off in the distance, but she still noticed when I started pretending to primp in front of a mirror. She stared me down something awful and would not break contact. I looked away first because she was making my heart pound

LOL!! Those are great stories!!! That Evil Queen one gives me chills! Yikes!!!