Are characters good?

[TakeMeToFlorida]

Theres a lot of different accents of the characters at DLP which I find strange like I saw a video with Princess Tiana having an English accent and the same with Cinderella. Does this ruin the experience for anybody or is it just me being fussy?

 

[mikneyspackson]

bump

 

[DLPdaft]

I think you are being very fussy to be honest - in all my trips to DLP I've only met a handful of characters with American accents, and we've met hundreds of characters over the years. In DLP it sounds out-of-the-ordinary if they do have American accents .

You do know Mickey himself speaks French at DLP?

 

[jillrobinson]

Im intrigued why this might ruin the experience when DLP is such a multi cultural resort catering for many languages?

I've seen a youtube video of a WDW Mary Poppins with an American accent and I'm quite sure not every/any Burt has an "American trying to do cockney and getting it wrong" accent in any of the parks, but it doesn't spoil anything for me.

What impresses me at DLP is just how many of the characters and cast members are multi lingual and able to communicate with children (and adults) from many countries and how easily they switch from one to another.

I met a CM at Hakuna Matata who was Spanish, spoke fluent English French and Italian and was learning Welsh !

 

[Mum to Belle]

The only time this ever made a character meet "odd" for me (not for DD) was when we met Tiana who had a Brummy accent! Didn't spoil it though?

 

[ShrumpUK]

After meeting Cinderella a couple of weeks ago, my GD Amber, looked a little puzzled and said "Nannie, She talks with a funny accent"
I told her it was because Cinderella tries very hard to speak to all the children in their own language and sometimes gets confused. LOL! Amber seemed happy enough with that!
I have to say that both Snow White and Cinderella (both French) were absolutely amazing when my granddaughters met them. They made the whole trip for us all!!

 

[DLPDreams]

I think the point is, DLRP is in Europe and therefore has to cater to many different languages (perhaps more than US - I'm not sure of the make up of their guests?). I also admire some of the CMs and cast that can literally speak several different languages - puts us to shame!

Also, you must remember that the majority of Walt's fairytales - Beauty & the Beast, Peter Pan, Pinocchio - the list goes on, originated from Europe! So, (can feel myself about to get shot down in flames here) to have a European accent is actually more authentic actually .

It doesn't spoil it at all. I can see the point with Tiana as she clearly originates from the US and has that southern drawl, but honestly, it's not an issue. Most people are just in awe of having met the character .

 

[ShrumpUK]

It never ceases to amaze me how effortlessly most of the staff can slip into speaking whatever language they get greeted with by a guest.
Can you imagine a shop assistant at, say, Asda, being able to do that!? Most of the staff at my local store have trouble with basic English.

 

[rachbelle]

To be honest it doesn't make any difference to me. And my kiddies weren't bothered either! xx

 

[tinks_1989]

I don't think it ruins the experience! Alice in wonderland at WDW fake accent is ruining!

 

[MissSkellington]

On our last trip we met a Mary Poppins at WDW 1900 Park Fare for breakfast....and she had her regular old American accent...what was she thinking, or the person that hired her?

She was dreadful, and we adults at the table just made faces at each other in wonder, since the kids didn't seem to notice.... But she didn't ruin things...if nothing else, she gave us a good laugh at how bad she was.

 

[Julesdis]

In August we saw a British Snow White in the Princess Pavilion, my kids were delighted!

I'd rather a genuine English accent than a poor attempt at an American accent anyway.

 

[DLPDreams]

On our last trip we met a Mary Poppins at WDW 1900 Park Fare for breakfast....and she had her regular old American accent...what was she thinking, or the person that hired her?

She was dreadful, and we adults at the table just made faces at each other in wonder, since the kids didn't seem to notice.... But she didn't ruin things...if nothing else, she gave us a good laugh at how bad she was.

Now, you see. My DD1 (she is 7) adores Mary Poppins - one of her favourites, and I think that although she would have been in her element to meet her, she would have found her accent odd and would have commented without a doubt! Where was Julie Andrews anyway?

Also an American Alice.... .

I can see it from both points. It doesn't ruin it, but there are certain characters you would want to meet who sound 'authentic'. When we met Wendy & Peter in the Paris park a few years back, Wendy was British (and so was Peter) and they were amazing with my DD (as we are British I felt they made a huge fuss of her!). Wendy imo was just as she should be. One of the best times we've ever had at DLRP .

Overall though it doesn't ruin the experience to some extent as character meets are normally so short lived anyway (unless at a meal), and normally people are just happy to see them!

I'm sure someone else has said it, you see many less American sounding characters in the Paris park - more British and French (or at least that is how they sound!). I think the only one we have met was Ariel, which sounded great and authentic - don't think my DDs even noticed though .

I have bigger issues trying to calm down my DDs' questioning on why Mickey et pals don't speak! Or, the latest one is why there appears to be Cinderella (or whomever) in the US as well as Paris.... Aha.... you see, when characters need a holiday, they switch to the US or vice versa - that is why you can't see them in every Disney park.....

 

[Vala]

Do the accents bother me... no. My own is too weird I guess.

What did bother me though is that I bumped into Alice last year... and she only spoke French. Yes, I know I am in France. But for a face character in a Disney park I would at least expect some basic knowledge in English.