Characters and parades

[brandonbr]

I was just curious if anyone knows if the characters in the parks are the same ones as in the parades.

I had a funny encounter in DCA while waiting for the Golden Screams show. My sister had tried to get into a noonish showing on the last day of our trip but it filled up and I went back with her for the next show. The villians including the Queen of Hearts were out so my sister was trying to get an autograph for my nephew but it was busy so to make sure we made the show I started walking away. A few seconds later I got shoved and turned around and it was the Queen of Hearts (I guess she noticed I gave up on waiting?). Kinda taken off guard I asked her what the shove was for (to be funny) and a cast member said she wanted my number and not thinking I replied she was too old for me. Um.... Ooops.. I actually didn't realize what I had said until about 30-40 people Oooood pretty loudly and I knew I was in trouble. It was pretty funny though. My sister also wanted a picture with her and the Queen so I took one but there is a nice fist being held up towards me in the picture.

So later that night I was over by the shops in DL this time for the parade of dreams and the Queen came by. She (or is it a he?) stopped and stared at me or in my direction for about 5 seconds and someone else in the parade bumped into her because she was out of place. The Queen went on and came back about 10 seconds later and just stared towards me again for a while then walked on since the parade was still in the moving sequence still.

So, how likely is it to be the same person? I wonder if I have made a friend or enemy. Still one of the funniest and most memorable parts of this trip.

 

[got2travel]

Oh that's too funny.

I do know they have different people playing the same character. Was in line for Pooh once. He went and took a hunny break and came back a little shorter than when he left.

But it does sound like it was the same person that remembered you.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

It sounds to me like it was the same person in the costume and he/she was just trying to have some fun with you. It does make for a memorable trip when you have an unusual encounter with a character!

 

[mystic_path]

Well.... It depends. There are several people playing one character, but they are all prepared to be in parades and other events.

EX: When I was there in early Oct. of this year, I saw Alice in Wonderland walking in Mainstreet with the Mad Hatter. Alice left after her and the Mad hatter had played Musical Chairs with some kids, and she went off to be in the parade. I saw her on the float, but she was with a completely different Mad Hatter then the one that she was originally playing musical chairs with.

Although previously during that week, I had seen the Mad Hatter who played Musical Chairs in a different parade. So I think they all have to be prepared to be in shows, but they must go by some sort of schedual, as to who has to be where and when.

 

[dizzyami]

We were there a couple weeks ago, and my son loved the Queen of Hearts - gave her a big kiss along with Cpt. Hook. The next day Tigger came up and played with Alec in a very similar manner, and the attendant with him said that she had seen him the day before and both the Queen and Cpt Hook thought he was the cutest thing. We saw the Queen of Hearts that same night, and I know she was the same because of the way she reacted - my son sat her in lap for 5 minutes or so as she talked to him.

 

[mystic_path]

Oh another thing that I had noticed, was that I took a picture of Prince Charming when I was there at DL. He was with Cindrella by the Castle. But then i've also seen pictures of him online where he plays the Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty.

So some characters must also have double roles.

 

[brandonbr]

Interesting. I would think people who had their faces visable would more likely play just the one character, like the princes or princesses, but I guess not. Finding multiple Ariels or Jasmines for fantasmic, parades and so on would be tough since body and face are pretty specific.

Another thought we had about the Golden Screams and how they pick the "best screamer" (for those going to it, if it is still running now) is that the characters who are out before the show probably look for kids names on autograph books. If your childs name is very noticable on the book I think that would increase their chances of being picked. This may be wrong though, but just a thought. That or the cast members with the characters ask the parents while they are waiting.

 

[dizzyami]

I know there are multiple Cinderella's, last year we saw a different one at Ariel's then the one at the little show at DCA (the one with Mickey and Woody)

 

[Alex2kMommy]

So brandonbr, you must be quite a hottie if the Queen remembered you so well! What a hoot!

The funny thing about different CMs playing the same face character is that the kids don't seem to notice! I'm sure there's always some kid who does, but you think how many kids they see and no one notices.

What's really amazing to me is when the CMs remember the kids! We had an interesting encounter with Minnie, who seemed quite taken with DS2, and I wondered if she was the same Minnie we'd seen at Goofy's Kitchen 4 nights before. She just kept hugging and kissing my little guy, and hugging and kissing some more! He was eating it up, but people were "Oh"ing, and I was beginning to wonder if I should break them up!

 

[brandonbr]

What I lack in beauty I make up for in style.

One thing I always found interesting was if if you remember how a character looks in person the first time you see them any character from then on who doesn't look real close just seems wrong. At goofy's kitchen I got a picture with Belle but she was so short it was odd