Characterpalooza

[robinb]

Looks like it continues through December 23rd. Fantasmic switches to 3 shows on the 24th for the rest of the month.

So there are no Characterpalooza when there are 3 Fantasmics? If that's the case, I'll make sure we make it to one of them before the 24th. We arrive on the 19th and we'll be in Tampa on the 21st for the Packers game so we will plan to be there on one of the other days.

 

[OHDisneyMom]

Kenny the Pirate does not show Character Palooza on his December calendar past December 23rd.

 

[KimBean]

I can't believe I get to see this on 12/18!!! I have been looking for SO many years.

 

[Itinkso]

Extending without stopping, except for the nights with 3 Fantasmics, for the first time in years!

For nights with 3 Fantasmics, there isn't any down time for the CMs where they would need a filler (Palooza). The 3 Fant nights usually last through the first few days of January. Keep checking Kenny's app or Crowd calendar for specific details and times.

 

[robinb]

Extending without stopping, except for the nights with 3 Fantasmics, for the first time in years! For nights with 3 Fantasmics, there isn't any down time for the CMs where they would need a filler (Palooza). The 3 Fant nights usually last through the first few days of January. Keep checking Kenny's app or Crowd calendar for specific details and times.

thanks, that's what I thought about there not being enough time when there are 3 Fantasmics. I'll just make sure to see it early in our trip.

 

[bjakmom]

We did this on Tuesday, 11/18 and it was awesome! Many thanks to Kenny the Pirate and fellow DISers for all the info/updates. We had FP+ for ToT 2:30-3:30, so DD sat with napping DGrS6mos and DGrD3 in the quiet area by the doors, then we joined her. At exactly 3:35 they opened the gates to let everyone through and the walkway was lined with characters: DGrD3 met Snow White, Rafiki, Aladdin and Jasmine and Mulan. The time goes quickly and the lines got a bit long, so she didn't have time to meet Mary Poppins and Bert or the Evil Queen. If we didn't have TSMM FP+ from 3:30-4:30, we could have waited for the 4:20 Characterpalooza and gotten the others. They were announcing to come back at 4:20 as they were herding us out and closing the gates. It was a great way to meet characters!
They open the big gates and you go in to them, they don't come out to you, so get in line at the gate before they open it. When we were there the lines formed quickly, especially for the Evil Queen.

 

[disneydanni]

I was also there at 3:35 on 11/18 and it was so great! My daughter was absolutely thrilled to meet the evil queen, among others. I was standing next to someone who said she couldn't believe how the word got out on this bc she thought there were so many people compared to previous visits, but besides the queen, we met Tiana, Pocahantos & Jasmine/Aladdin so I can't complain at all about getting through 4 character lines in 20 min.

 

[bjakmom]

I was also there at 3:35 on 11/18 and it was so great! My daughter was absolutely thrilled to meet the evil queen, among others. I was standing next to someone who said she couldn't believe how the word got out on this bc she thought there were so many people compared to previous visits, but besides the queen, we met Tiana, Pocahantos & Jasmine/Aladdin so I can't complain at all about getting through 4 character lines in 20 min.

I thought it got crowded very quickly too, disneydanni. And that's who I forgot to list, Tiana and Pocahantas! I know I thought if we waited for the next one we'd get 4 more.
We also had the feeling they were training the handlers - they seemed to be a little 'new' at handling the lines, books, etc. No problem, just interesting that we all noticed it and there seemed to be a lot of CMs watching other CMs as in maybe evaluating them. No complaint from us either. I would have happily hung out for the next round to see 8 characters in an hour.

 

[Itinkso]

We also had the feeling they were training the handlers - they seemed to be a little 'new' at handling the lines, books, etc. No problem, just interesting that we all noticed it and there seemed to be a lot of CMs watching other CMs...

Most of the "Attendants" (they are not handlers) who are out during Palooza are actually Fantasmic show performers who can't be out in full costume and they get sent out wearing Attendant attire. Their main job is to make sure Palooza ends on time so their fellow show performers are allowed their full mandatory break and get off set in time.

Palooza is not a meet and greet. It's an unstructured way to meet some characters while at the same time giving the Fant CMs a full shift for that day.

 

[bjakmom]

Most of the "Attendants" (they are not handlers) who are out during Palooza are actually Fantasmic show performers who can't be out in full costume and they get sent out wearing Attendant attire. Their main job is to make sure Palooza ends on time so their fellow show performers are allowed their full mandatory break and get off set in time.

Palooza is not a meet and greet. It's an unstructured way to meet some characters while at the same time giving the Fant CMs a full shift for that day.

Thanks for clarifying Itinkso - don't know where I chose the term handler from - somewhere in my mind it sounded like the right job description LOL
I also somehow thought Palooza was a training spot for 'new' characters (like you sometimes come across in Epcot)- whatever it is, it was great fun - and glad they found a way to make guests happy and give CMs a full shift - win/win!

 

[Itinkso]

Thanks for clarifying Itinkso - don't know where I chose the term handler from - somewhere in my mind it sounded like the right job description LOL
I also somehow thought Palooza was a training spot for 'new' characters (like you sometimes come across in Epcot)- whatever it is, it was great fun - and glad they found a way to make guests happy and give CMs a full shift - win/win!

It's all good, bjakmom! Palooza is the only time you can interact with show caliber CMs! DD is a Fant performer so I have to put out PSAs so she won't ban me from the boards!

 

[xjay]

If there are 2 character paloozas, are the characters from the first palooza the same as the second palooza?

 

[Itinkso]

If there are 2 character paloozas, are the characters from the first palooza the same as the second palooza?

Yes. The characters remain the same.

 

[lillygator]

is this only on certain days? we went friday and it didn't happen,

 

[jtowntoflorida]

is this only on certain days? we went friday and it didn't happen,

Was it raining, or threatening to rain? What time did you try?

 

[lillygator]

no it was a beautiful day, we were there before 2 until 2:30, I thought it was 4.5 hours before the first fantasmic at 6:30 but wasn;t sure if it was 4 so I stayed past 2:30 just in case.

 

[Itinkso]

no it was a beautiful day, we were there before 2 until 2:30, I thought it was 4.5 hours before the first fantasmic at 6:30 but wasn;t sure if it was 4 so I stayed past 2:30 just in case.

You were there at the wrong time. Palooza is 4.5 hours before the last Fantasmic. Kenny has the correct times on his crowd calendars... Palooza was at 3:35 that day.

 

[lillygator]

You were there at the wrong time. Palooza is 4.5 hours before the last Fantasmic. Kenny has the correct times on his crowd calendars... Palooza was at 3:35 that day.

well I feel stupid!!!

my husband and kids thought I was nuts.....I thought it was before the first!!

 

[Uncle Donald Wess]

This is great news that Characterpalooza is still going on in December! We've never gotten to do it so looking forward to hopefully getting to next week!

 

[pmaurer74]

This is great news that Characterpalooza is still going on in December! We've never gotten to do it so looking forward to hopefully getting to next week!

me too. We will be there next Wednesday!