Email Show-Riding with Character Question

[kpadalik]

I just finished listening to this week's email show. Great show, as always! In response to the question about riding with characters - I have a story! We were in Disney for a few days in mid-July and my DD7 and I went to the MK EMH one night. EMH was until 3am and we headed into the park around 11pm or so. Not long after EMH started, we were in Fantasyland walking over by Snow White. We saw some excitement over between The Friar's Nook and Dumbo, so we headed over that way to see what was going on. Some of the characters were coming from backstage for some meet n greets - Donald headed over to Philharmagic, Goofy by the Carousel, Chip n Dale by The Friar's Nook, and Mickey and Minnie were together and headed to Dumbo. We followed M and M to Dumbo and were surprised by what we saw. They each pulled a child OUT OF THE LINE and boarded a Dumbo ride vehicle with them. Words can't express the look on those childrens' faces - or their parents! It was so awesome to see such a "magical moment" happen for these kids. Then the CM who was standing next to us told us that Mickey and Minnie would be taking pictures by Sir Mickey's after they got off Dumbo. So we headed over there and were the second people in line. Sure enough, after the Dumbo ride was over, Mickey and Minnie (holding the hands of those kids) came over to Sir Mickey's for pictures. And the crowd that followed them - OMG! Let's just say that I am glad we were the second people in line! We had some great character interaction with Mickey and Minnie and got some cute pictures. We only live a couple of hours away from Orlando and go to Disney quite often, but we have NEVER seen Mickey and Minnie together like that for pictures (except on DCL). It was a great experience!

I have also seen some other character ride-alongs through the years - Mary Poppins on the Carousel, Alice and the Mad Hatter on the Teacups, Goofy on the Barnstormer and on the Tomorrowland Speedway. So it does happen, but rarely.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

That is really, really awesome.

I'm beginning to think my sole purpose at MNSSHP is to get a picture with Mickey Mouse.

 

[jimmaher69]

Last December Alice took my daughter on the tea cups.

 

[Michele]

Also, hard ticket events seem to increase the chance for character ride-alongs. We saw Toy Story characters, Buzz, Jessie and Bullseye riding at BTMRR during MVMCP.

 

[thunderbird1]

Those really late EMH's seem to be the best time for riding with characters. We were at MK until 3 am on December 30 last year, and my 6 yo son was able to ride the carousel with Pluto, and Dumbo with Goofy. We also saw several other characters out mingling with the few people that were left between 2:45 and 3:00 am. If you can hold out that long, it's quite a magical time!

The characters used to be out riding the attractions and playing with kids in the early mornings a few years ago. It was in the fall, when they had a promotion for preschoolers called "magical beginnings." 3 mornings a week, Fantasyland only was open an hour early to give little kids a chance to interact with the characters. It wasn't restricted just to preschoolers, but the characters wouldn't sign autographs or pose for photos, and focused their attention on the little ones. And there were a lot of characters out--the fab five, the Winnie the Pooh gang, Alice and the Mad Hatter, etc. The interactions were very playful; for example, Wendy and Peter would play follow the leader with groups of children. It was really unique, and I was disappointed when they discontinued it.

 

[disney4dan]

We were in the MK for MNSSHP in 2006 when our little ones were 6 and 7 years old. Around midnight we were strolling past Pirates on our way to Main Street looking pretty worn out after a long day, but we were all decked out in our Pirate costumes and had a good time.

Along came Peter Pan in a flash (that guy has to be on some serious pixie dust to be that happy and energetic at midnight) who literally jumped right in front of Matt and Rachel, got down on their level and asked if they liked Pirates of the Caribbean. Obviously one of our favorite rides, the kids just grinned from ear to ear and were speechless. He called over to Captain Hook and the two of them brought us backstage, around through a special entrance to the front of the line and we got to ride with them, just them with no other riders in the boats in front or behind us. Rachel kept leaning forward to "sniff" Captain Hook and turned to DW to say that Captain Hook smelled too nice to be a boy!

The cast members had to keep telling Peter and Captain Hook to behave themselves and sit still for the ride. We really enjoyed that, I need to go see if I can find any photos of them from this, I think we were too shocked to think about pictures.

 

[SrisonS]

Here was a surprising moment I just happened to walk up on one morning. This was the first and only time I've personally seen a character on a ride. And what could be more fitting than this?!?!?!!?



(click pic for its Flickr page)

 

[mainegal]

Love the photo of Mary Poppins.
I hope the person inside the character was having a fabulous time.

(When I wanted to be Mary Poppins, that was the dress I was going to wear.)

 

[niccikatie]

We actually just had this happen at our last visit. We were there on 8/1/10. After rope drop, we rode dumbo and the carousel. We were headed to the teacups when I saw Alice and the White Rabbit. I pointed her out to my 5 yo DD and Alice gestured us over. She said that she was looking for a little girl to ride the teacups with and would DD like to ride? Of course, DD said yes. It created quite the stir on the ride, for sure!

Here's a picture:

 

[rotlex]

Got me thinking when I listened to the podcast as well. I think I have seen Alice and the Madhatter on the tea cups at least once every trip. One time, my daughter and I happened to be riding at the same time. Very cool for her, as she was 6 at the time I believe.

Other than that, I have seen Cinderella on the Carousel, and also Mary Poppins. I don't know if I have ever seen any others, or any of them on any other rides. Will have to think about it some more, and scour my thousands of photo's from the past years, LOL.

 

[jeanigor]

I was just at WDW this past weekend, and on two different occasions found characters riding with guests. And not necessarily little kids, either.

Pluto riding Dumbo with a gentleman during EMH on Sunday, 9/5/10.

Provincial Belle and her hand maidens riding the Mad Tea Party with a young girl during the late morning on Tuesday, 9/7/10.

 

[BriarRosie]

And that cast member looks like she's "diggin' for gold", Todd. Nice photo skills.