CHaRAcTeR GoOf uPs

[Joanna71985]

I know it sounds savage, but if it's not the term "officially" used at Disney, it's the term used by just about any other costumed character/mascot/fursuiter/etc and helper team elsewhere, and friends who are both current and ex characters at both the Land and the World have referred to their "other halfs" as their handlers when I've talked to them, so it's at least acceptable.

Actually I've never heard them referred to as anything but by them, but both friends also do suiting off property so I don't know if it's habit.

Yeah, the "official" term is character attendant. Although it used to be character greeter.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Not breaking character, really, but displaying the character to the wrong person...

I was waiting outside Pirates of the Caribbean for my friend who was still in the gift shop. Across the plaza, Captain Hook was doing a meet and greet. A backstage door opened nearby, and a person in street clothes came out carrying a black bag over his shoulder. (I think this is how the "friends" carry their gear.)

Captain Hook ran from the group and very dramatically chased this person across the plaza until he (the person in street clothes) disappeared into another back stage door near me. Captain Hook then went back to his autographs.

He never really broke character, but it sure made me wonder who the person he was chasing was. I thought perhaps it was a "friend" of Peter Pan.

 

[Sabbie]

My best one was.. well, not best, because it was mostly my fault..

I'm friends with several of the characters there who attend UCF.. and a while back, one use to play Wendy.. and we were stepped off to the side, talking "behind the scenes" for a few seconds. Our language was in tone (aka, Disney language), but she pulls out her apartment keys from inside of her costume (I was staying at her place that night) and a kid walks by, and says, "Wow, does that mean I'm old enough to drive??"

I died in laughter and Wendy went back into character, and had a "make-up" convo with the boy.

 

[dizprincess717]

To all the posters who've used the term "handlers" - The role is actually called a Character Attendant.

Out of all the years I've been to WDW and even during my CP semester when I'd go to play in the parks I've never once seen anyone out of character.

However, backstage and the tunnels are a totally different story. First time in the tunnels my nice little happy go-lucky image of a certain few characters changed quite a bit.

The cool thing is, after your shift is over and you can go play in the parks, you don't even remember it. The first time I saw Princess Aurora I thought it was the real thing, didn't even phase me that it was just dress-up.

That's just the magic of Disney, I guess!

 

[Becky521]

Not out of character but a very "unscripted" part of the "story". A few years back, must have been 1990 we were having breakfast at GG when Minnie and Chip got a little too close. While they were hugging and whatever our kids were just eating it up. Then something on Minnie's glove got caught on chips nose somehow. They spent several seconds trying to get unstuck. They then waved Dale over to assist. All three tried but where having no success. Sooo... while poor Minnie and Chip stumbled along the top tier of the rest,amid lots of snickering coming from inside those heads, looking like some sort of bizare conjoined twins Dale ran along beside with his little chipmunk arms streched out as if to say nothing here to see folks go back to your meals. Eventually three literaly fell into the kitchen door and were gone. Then Mickey came up and motioned to us to say where is everyone. We were all in tears by this point but managed to tell him what had happened. He then also went into the kitchen. Soon Mickie and Dale returned signing that all was OK. Then Minnie and Chip came out and acted all embarrased and hug the kids and then Minnie thanked us for sending her Mickey back to rescue her.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

not out of character in a bad way, but I saw an Imperial Storm Trooper being very gentle and patting an infant on the head, then offering a finger for the little one to grab. It was only out of character because years of watching Star Wars have conditioned me to think of the Storm Troopers as being the "bad guys"

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

not out of character in a bad way, but I saw an Imperial Storm Trooper being very gentle and patting an infant on the head, then offering a finger for the little one to grab. It was only out of character because years of watching Star Wars have conditioned me to think of the Storm Troopers as being the "bad guys"

awwww that would have been a neat photo op!

 

[BlindTyldak]

Yeah, the "official" term is character attendant. Although it used to be character greeter.

I understand that, just saying to the person who thought the term was derogatory or possibly insulting that it is still accurate for the industry in general, if not specifically at Disney. Kind of like "employee" would still be an accurate term for a person who works at Disney, though Disney calls them "cast members". doesn't make them any less of an "employee".

 

[Joanna71985]

I understand that, just saying to the person who thought the term was derogatory or possibly insulting that it is still accurate for the industry in general, if not specifically at Disney. Kind of like "employee" would still be an accurate term for a person who works at Disney, though Disney calls them "cast members". doesn't make them any less of an "employee".

That's fine. I was just saying.

 

[izzys4]

Last year at MGM we were watching the motor car parade....my DD and I were sitting on the ground and she had her stuffed animal "LADY" with her, actually Lady went everywhere with us last year, haha anyway.....Cruella Deville came by and kneeled down in front of DD and picked Lady up by the ear with two fingers like she was disgusted and said "is this your raggedy dog?" and DD says yes and Cruella says "where's his spot? it has no spots, ick, take it away!!"

haha, I have it on video and loved how in character she was !!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I had a bizarre experience in Disneyland Paris a few years back.We were in the queue to meet Mickey who was dressed in a jumpsuit and posing with what looked like a trike (very big motorbike?).While we were stood there Woody walked passed and signalled to Mickey that he was going for a smoke!!! The next thing we knew Mickey was off with him,both of them ignoring all the kids running up to them as they headed backstage.

We waited about 10 minutes for Mickey to come back.Well the one that returned was a whole different Mickey!!To this day we can't decide if he was drunk,stoned or very hungover,he was so laid back that he sat on the trike and just didn't react to anyone who approached him for photos.To this day i have never felt the same about Mickey at Paris-so glad that Mickey in Florida is a happier fellow!!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I have another to share from This year.Mum went up to Minnie in AK for a photo and said to her "Minnie you must be very hot in those boots" (she was in her safari outfit).I didn't hear it but mum swears to this day that Minnie squeeked a yes very quietly!!!!

 

[annakris1973]

My sister just returned from a quick trip last weekend with her goddaughter. She said the princes were out with the princesses, so she got autographs with Cindy and Prince Charming. As she was walking away, she heard him lean over and tell Cindy that he "messed up the G". You know they all have to practice their autographs to get them "just right"