Character interactions at WDW vs DL

[luisov]

So I was watching a couple of videos of character interactions at Disneyland CA (there are tons of them!) and I just kept smiling at how interactive and fun to watch they are. Characters walk around most of the areas of the park and they interact with each other. They play musical chairs and even prank CM's and guests all the time.

I was just wondering what happened to that in WDW? It seems like you always have to be in a line to meet a character, and it's just not as fun. I know that on rare ocassions some characters will be walking around and interacting, but overall it looks like you have to be lucky for that.

Of course you also have to wait to meet some popular characters or princesses at DL, but overall it just feels like they have a lot more freedom to do whatever they want as long as they stay in character. So... Are there any particular reasons for WDW to stop doing this?

If you are not familiarized with character interactions at DL, I'll leave a couple of really fun videos:

Peter Pan, Alice and Mad Hatter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1eoSPvkL8c

Valentine's Day 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cneTNa5rYTI#t=07m53s

Alice vs. Mad Hatter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVj6z6QlxPs

 

[mesaboy2]

I would guess the demographics affect this more than anything. WDW sees more infrequent visitors as a whole, which suggests to me that those visitors may want more certainty in meeting a character--see Jasmine by the carpets from 12:00-3:00. With DLR's more local base, that suggests to me a more carefree environment (missed a character? Catch 'em next time!).

But that's just a huge guess on my part.

 

[CassieF]

DL has more characters "out" but they are scheduled and have a certain location. The ones that do have more freedom to wander are Alice and the Mad Hatter, Peter Pan, and on occasion Hook. They tend to wander (or run for Peter) around and don't stay in one spot long enough to form much of a line. The interactions seen in the videos are not the norm, yes, they happen on occasion, but most interactions are just "regular" ones.

I'm sure the AP population has something to do with the more casual aspect as well, since they aren't usually mobbed.

 

[luisov]

I would guess the demographics affect this more than anything. WDW sees more infrequent visitors as a whole, which suggests to me that those visitors may want more certainty in meeting a character--see Jasmine by the carpets from 12:00-3:00. With DLR's more local base, that suggests to me a more carefree environment (missed a character? Catch 'em next time!).

But that's just a huge guess on my part.

That has sense. Perhaps WDW also tries to distribute crowds more evenly outside the attractions. If they place waiting lines to meet characters, that means less people are making line to get on a ride.

 

[deakam]

My daughter ran into Tinkerbell at EPCOT last year. She got a free flying lesson. And Rapunzel taught my little great nephew how to swing a frying pan. Not sure if that was a good idea. "You really got to wind up"

 

[jrjankowski8]

Most of the DL characters also roam without handlers or photogs.

When we were there last June, jasmine came up to us and told us "we were the last family and to tell the others".... Umm... That lasted 2 tries.

Wasn't fun for us or her.

Though we did like it once we found the character entrance just sitting and waiting. When they came out you got to walk with them a little

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I have a video from some years back of Stitch at WDW. My daughter was 5 years old and brought her autograph book to him. (which was naturally princess themed)

He started to sign an autograph....and then he kept writing...and laughing...and writing and laughing. My daughter was kind of smiling but also starting to get impatient. (Stitch's handler was also seeming to get impatient)

Then he showed my daughter the page and she started giggling. We were all giggling too, but we didn't really know why, just that Stitch was bring funny. It wasn't until we stepped away and looked that we saw he had drawn all over the princesses on the autograph page. Snow White had a mustache, Sleeping beauty had a beard, Ariel had devil-horns. etc etc. (it must have been very difficult for him to do that level of tiny detail with his giant character hands, which is why it was taking a long time)

We were laughing so hard, and the next kid to walk up was a little boy. Stitch grabbed the book out of the boy's hands and threw it at his handler!!!

Was one of the best WDW interactions we've had.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Oh and on the very first morning of the same trip we were in MK, and my daughter was in a Cinderella dress.

We happened to walk past Cinderella's step-mother and sisters, and they proceeded to tease her for like 10 minutes. She was pretty terrified!!!! LOL

 

[luisov]

DL has more characters "out" but they are scheduled and have a certain location. The ones that do have more freedom to wander are Alice and the Mad Hatter, Peter Pan, and on occasion Hook. They tend to wander (or run for Peter) around and don't stay in one spot long enough to form much of a line. The interactions seen in the videos are not the norm, yes, they happen on occasion, but most interactions are just "regular" ones.

I'm sure the AP population has something to do with the more casual aspect as well, since they aren't usually mobbed.

Well, it's true that if you want to meet the classic princesses, Merida, Anna or Elsa you have to get in line as well. It's also true that they have certain areas designated, but I still feel like it's much easier to interact with a character when they are just hanging around as opposed to feel pressured of having a long line behind you.

I do think that maybe the current system is the best idea for WDW given the crowd levels, demographics and whatnot though.

 

[surferdave]

Oh and on the very first morning of the same trip we were in MK, and my daughter was in a Cinderella dress.

We happened to walk past Cinderella's step-mother and sisters, and they proceeded to tease her for like 10 minutes. She was pretty terrified!!!! LOL

The Tremaines are some of the few characters that wander the park (or at least Fantasyland) pretty freely during their M&G time, probably because face characters aren't as restricted for vision & movement, and they aren't so popular that they'll get mobbed.

 

[luisov]

I have a video from some years back of Stitch at WDW. My daughter was 5 years old and brought her autograph book to him. (which was naturally princess themed)

He started to sign an autograph....and then he kept writing...and laughing...and writing and laughing. My daughter was kind of smiling but also starting to get impatient. (Stitch's handler was also seeming to get impatient)

Then he showed my daughter the page and she started giggling. We were all giggling too, but we didn't really know why, just that Stitch was bring funny. It wasn't until we stepped away and looked that we saw he had drawn all over the princesses on the autograph page. Snow White had a mustache, Sleeping beauty had a beard, Ariel had devil-horns. etc etc. (it must have been very difficult for him to do that level of tiny detail with his giant character hands, which is why it was taking a long time)

We were laughing so hard, and the next kid to walk up was a little boy. Stitch grabbed the book out of the boy's hands and threw it at his handler!!!

Was one of the best WDW interactions we've had.

Glad to hear you had a fun experience. Those little details are what make your vacation truly special

 

[ccvh]

We are just leaving WDW, but had gone to DL at Thanksgiving, and were just talking about the differences. In DL there are tons of characters just wandering. Dug from Up is supposed to be in the kids playground area at California Adventure, but my son and I were in another area, and he ran up and nearly accosted us, because of the tshirts we were wearing. Phineus and Ferb were just going through a crowd high-fiving everyone. Stitch was carousing around pranking everyone. Thing is, they were posing for pictures some, but generally not autographing. It was much more fun. My boys wouldn't line up for any characters this trip to WDW. They are "over it". The closest we found this trip was Goofy in beachwear walking through Blizzard Beach; we just randomly ran into him and did a family pic.

 

[juliebug1997]

At DL, there did seem to be less handlers, but they were still present at many of the meet and greets.

While we were there, we had a great time (at DL). We saw Alice on our way out, and she had a conversation with my husband about his Donald Duck t-shirt.

Alice: Is Donald Duck your favorite character?
DH: Yes.
Alice: Is that because your feisty?

I got a huge case of the giggles on that.

I still don't know how to explain it, but I really seemed to understand why DL was called a locals park. There was a lot of racing from here to there.

 

[Foxhound3857]

They do. I've seen characters roam the grounds of the parks and even the resorts, but it's almost always with a handler, and more often then not they're swarmed by tourists and kids.

You mostly have to be in the right place at the right time.

 

[coneygoil]

There is character interaction outside of lines. It's just not as prominent. I've had Mr. Smee steal my sunglasses as he was passing by me and skip off with them. I literally had to chase him down! Another time Dale completely randomly tickle attacked my dad into a corner. It was hilarious! On our last trip Gaston walked away from his line to "flirt" with my dad. I have other stories, but can't think of them at the moment. I think the characters most of the time get to interact freely when they're traveling to and from line spots, but that's better than having no interaction at all!

 

[dramadrew]

I have seen quite a few videos of the characters in DL. Although it's wonderful to watch their antics and to interact with one another, I wonder if guest get impatient when they want to meet them one on one. It's almost like it can be impossible.

 

[EnchantedTales]

The person to mention the Demographics have it down 100%. California have mostly AP holders that come in frequently. The people that visit the park have a different mentality and more than likely would be back soon or tomorrow. WDW have huge crowds. Have anyone seen Minnie's line at WDW in the morning. It's ridiculously huge! The same line in Disneyland consists of maybe 6 families? To be honest I prefer the specific line and location. I like to plan but not too much and characters are not something it's high on our list. So if I want to see one I don't want to be chasing it. I want to go in see it and be done. However, that's not to say that characters that are at specific locations don't have fun. I have been part of some of the most fun and beautiful interactions at specific locations.