Character Interaction Tips

[militarymama]

So when it comes to magical character interaction, my 3 year old is a very capable participant.

His mother, on the other hand, is a piece of work! I have a hard time coming up with anything to say. I try to treat it as any other social situation, but I usually completely blank out. Then, in my scramble to have something to say, the only thing that pops into my mind is a bunch of cheesey pick up lines. "Come here often?" "What's your sign?"

It's truly ridiculous because 1) these cliche pick up lines stored in my head are taking up valuable space that could be used for something useful, and 2) I'm not trying to pick up Snow White, or Goofy, or anyone else, so why are pick up lines the only conversation-starters popping into my head?!

You know how in sitcoms sometimes they show the little people over the person's shoulder respresenting the person's conscience? The little person on my shoulder is often rolling her eyes at my awkward and sometimes spastic social interactions.

I think I'd be able to chill out and enjoy the moment if I had a few tried-and-true questions in my back pocket. Are there any suggestions out there?

 

[kkymmy]

have a bottle of water at the ready (obviously with the lid on or with a straw) and say "gee [character name] it's awfully hot today....would you like a nice drink?"....more often than not you'll get an enthusiastic nod and they'll take the bottle off you and have a drink however this can be slightly mean if its a furry character and they have been out for a while!

 

[stacy6552]

My interaction with charactures is mostly, "Hey!" and after my child has had his turn is, "Thanks!"

Not sure there's much else to it. Although one time when our son met Mary Poppins, he hadn't seen the movie, but lovvvved the Supercali......song. So we said that this was the woman who sang it. I think my Dh and I stole a bit of her thunder, when she asked our son if he could say it backwards and we both did it right on cue, only I think it was HER cue. Woops.

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

I do not have children and like taking pics and interacting as well, but I have the same problem, I don't say anything embarassing, but I usually just kind of clam up. I guess I feel like people will think I am stupid if I start acting like a kid with the characters. i want to be more fun with them though...any tips on what fun things to say to specific characters???

 

[MayButterfly]

well, I dont have much advice..but last year was my first trip and I thought I wouldnt get into at all, but I did once I saw that first princess..lol..I was still a little shy about the interaction but after a couple of days I loosened up! when I saw Tigger I said he was tiggeriffic and I "bounced" with him... and we asked Eeyore if he had his tail.. we just started asking questions or saying things that are from the movies,etc. We asked Friar Tuck if he's seen Robin Hood; asked King John if he's collecting tax money AND we said something about Robin Hood.... o k. enough rambling.. but that's my story!!!

 

[jennbug]

How would you say that backwards?

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Whatever you do, DON'T knock on Mickey's head and ask if anyone is home. Just...trust me.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

Whatever you do, DON'T knock on Mickey's head and ask if anyone is home. Just...trust me.

Well now I am curious about this. We go next month so what'll happen if I put one of my DS's up to this?

 

[bbangel]

How would you say that backwards?

Dociousalaexpiliciousfragicalirupus

But that's going a bit too far don't you think?

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

I am going to be eating at 3 character meals (CRT, LTT, and Chef Mickey's). I REALLY want to do more than just "can we take a pic with you". I am ok with the non-face characters, but get more tongue tied with face characters. Any fun ideas for me and my DBF (boyfriend) while we are eating at CRT??? I want to be fun...really

 

[BeckyEsq]

I understand this issue b/c we are interacting with characters with no kids around to use as a buffer! I think it's a little easier with the non-talking characters, less awkward than talking to the "face" characters.

Usually I just say, "Hi, Snow White! Can we have a picture with you?" and then, "Thank you!!"

Once at a character meal Goofy came over while we were looking at our map. We asked him what to ride first, and he pointed to Haunted Mansion, then mimed being scared. That was cute!

On our honeymoon DH told Peter Pan we were here on our honeymoon and he said, "Eeww, that's for grown ups!" That same day I told Snow White "he's MY prince charming" (pointing to DH) and she said "Every princess has one!" (took her a minute though to come up with that!)

 

[kkymmy]

Dociousalaexpiliciousfragicalirupus

But that's going a bit too far don't you think?

indupitably.....so when the cat has got your tongue there's no need for dismay, just summon up this word and then you've got a lot to say!!!!!!

When I met Lilo and Stitch we went surfing! twas grand! course we just stood there wobbling around with our arms out like we were on surf boards but it was great fun!

Mary Poppins was funny....i was wearing my birthday badge at epcot and she asked how old I was, when I said 18 she asked if they were throwing me out of the house!!!! (now that I was grown up!)

Also in EPCOT I had a game of tag between the princess....basically aurora told me to tell belle "tag you're it" then belle told me to go tell jasmine...that was great fun! I was running around between princesses like there was no tomorrow!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Well now I am curious about this. We go next month so what'll happen if I put one of my DS's up to this?

Well...my cousin did it...he and Mickey had a fistfight. Of course, he was maybe 7 at the time...

 

[SnwflkCts]

Great thread! Count me as socially impaired when it comes to the Characters. I just avoided them (no kids) ... not that I wanted to but I felt kinda shy!!! I admired them from a distance ... watched the kids interact with them. Sooo ... I am reading all the advice for interaction with them!

DH (even shyer!!!) and I got a pic with Cinderella at CRT (dinner). I just grinned goofily (at least Goofy is a good WDW character!) ... and my husband grinned goofily ... and we said not a word and just us grinning in the pic with Cinderella in the middle. Well ... maybe I said "hi" -- I am just STAR STRUCK with any non-regular person.

Help me think of something to say if I see "The Beast" -- Beauty and the Beast are my fav characters!!!

 

[militarymama]

I'm not the only one.

 

[Nancyg56]

My DH is content to stay in the background and wnjoy our little DGD's reaction to all of the characters. We were having lunch at the castle, and the Princesses were making their rounds, stopping to visit with our little princess first. It did not take them long to see that my DH was "star struck" by the celebrities, actually it started with Cindy insisting he pose with her. "Prince Charming" style. Well, Snow White stopped by his chair, and all he could think of to say to her was that he had been "reading about her all of his life" He was rewarded with her trademark kiss on the cheek. He is still getting teased about it.

 

[willis37862]

I actually have more trouble talking to the face characters than the costumed ones. With Alice, I had on an Alice shirt so we talked about where I got it. Usually to the face characters I tell them how pretty there costume is and if they really look like the character I tell them that. The Mad Hatter was a little different, he wanted to know why I didn't have a shirt with him on it. And told me the next time he saw me I better have one with him on it. It was funny, he is a fun character.

With the furry/costumed characters I usually give them hugs and tell them how happy I am to have found them in the parks. I told Buzz Lightyear that Woody was my fave and then he gave me the cold shoulder. I was laughing so hard. We made up and got our picture taken together. I know they are just cms in costumes but the kid in me gets so excited to see them !!!

 

[Princess Mindy]

costumes?? WHAT Costumes?

 

[Diznotyzed]

Now that our daughters are busy with college and jobs, my husband and I take more couples only trips than family trips. We enjoy the buffet breakfasts but without kids it can be a little awkward without something to focus on. Since we're not really into autograph books we started taking a few postcards for the characters to sign, and then we send them from the characters to friends and family. Gives us something to talk to the characters about, and they always act so proud to see their own pictures!

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Since we're not really into autograph books we started taking a few postcards for the characters to sign, and then we send them from the characters to friends and family. Gives us something to talk to the characters about, and they always act so proud to see their own pictures!

What a great idea! I love it.