Epcot characterpalooza?

[cigar95]

Apologies if this is reported before - Theme Park Board is not my usual hangout.

This afternoon at Epcot, I happened to come across what was clearly a "characterpalooza-like" event over at the walkway into World Showplace. (Rare to see this gate open, so it got my attention.) There were about seven not-so-common characters. King Louie was one, drawing blanks on the rest.

I saw it just as it was ending - about 3:15 in the afternoon, as I recall. So it may be another case of "keep your eyes open", though there aren't that many out-of-the-way places at Epcot, so the number of places to watch figures to be fairly small.

 

[hiroMYhero]

It's the main training area for new character performers. January is when the College Program CMs arrive. All performing entertainment CMs begin in fur and train in Epcot. You were lucky to catch 7 characters!

 

[asbyrneva]

Yes this happens in August as well. As new "friends of Characters" from the College program learn about character meets. Sometimes they are in gate near the american pavilion too.

 

[katt789]

It happens pretty much every 3-4 months for cp's and then there's all the full timer ones too. You can also catch face characters around international gateway, between america & italy or at showplace.

 

[Disney_Alli]

We found it several times on our trip in August. A great way to meet some of the more obscure characters too!

 

[BudgieMama]

Must remember to look out for this in August! Whereabouts is this gateway please?

 

[mom2rtk]

I've heard about this for years but just never travel at the right time of year for it. I'm so jealous of everyone who gets to experience it!

 

[JReneeW]

How long does the training last? A few weeks? And are there any regular times they are there or is it just random?

 

[mshanson3121]

Apologies if this is reported before - Theme Park Board is not my usual hangout.

This afternoon at Epcot, I happened to come across what was clearly a "characterpalooza-like" event over at the walkway into World Showplace. (Rare to see this gate open, so it got my attention.) There were about seven not-so-common characters. King Louie was one, drawing blanks on the rest.

I saw it just as it was ending - about 3:15 in the afternoon, as I recall. So it may be another case of "keep your eyes open", though there aren't that many out-of-the-way places at Epcot, so the number of places to watch figures to be fairly small.

We met two there this summer when we went it was around 11:00 in the morning.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Another training area is the walkway between the Land and Imagination, closer to Imagination.

 

[han22735]

This took place last week for us as well. We got to meet Gipetto, Smee, Rafiki, Stitch, mickey, minnie, donald and pluto it was awesome and my DD4 loved it.

It was in the walkway between canada and england. There's a blue building that the path leads up to that i think is used for corporate events.

 

[AngiTN]

I got to see Mr Smee last Oct on the bridge to International Gateway. It was about 4:00 in the afternoon

A couple years ago in March we got a slew of beside the American Pavilion. It is a great way to meet rare characters. Which is rather odd too since sometimes these characters rarely do M&G. Makes one wonder what they are training for exactly.
I know sometimes it's the handler that is in training, not just the "friend"

How long does the training last? A few weeks? And are there any regular times they are there or is it just random?

It's really very random. No set times.

 

[AngiTN]

I've heard about this for years but just never travel at the right time of year for it. I'm so jealous of everyone who gets to experience it!

When we've encountered it it was neither Aug or Jan. We found them in March and Oct. I'm not sure there is a Time of Year for it.

 

[mom2rtk]

When we've encountered it it was neither Aug or Jan. We found them in March and Oct. I'm not sure there is a Time of Year for it.

We typically have been there in December. I've never seen reports of it that time of year. I they train whenever they need to, but certain times of year are more likely than others.

 

[showers2flowers]

We ran into this last Monday and saw Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Chip and Dale, Stitch, Baloo, and Max. It was a nice little surprise.

 

[slbgnb]

We came across this too in Oct. 2012. So unexpected and fun. They let a few families in and then shut the gate. So, there were no lines and we got to visit like 6-7 different characters. And I totally agree...they were all random and rare characters that are not usually out and about, so what are they training for??

 

[ktlm]

We were lucky enough to run into it one afternoon in October 2014. We only had time for 1 character before it ended and we picked Dopey. DD was so excited to see him. I think Minnie was also out there, but I can't remember what other characters were there that day. Seems like Dopey and one other one were the only ones that did not have regular meet and greets somewhere in the parks.

 

[Wood Nymph]

This took place last week for us as well. We got to meet Gipetto, Smee, Rafiki, Stitch, mickey, minnie, donald and pluto it was awesome and my DD4 loved it.

It was in the walkway between canada and england. There's a blue building that the path leads up to that i think is used for corporate events.

We saw Characterpalooza in this location when we were there two weekends ago. We also had a CM come up to us and ask us if we wanted to meet Rapunzel in this location last October. I never thought of it as training for new cast members, but it does make sense.

 

[hiroMYhero]

We came across this too in Oct. 2012. So unexpected and fun. They let a few families in and then shut the gate. So, there were no lines and we got to visit like 6-7 different characters. And I totally agree...they were all random and rare characters that are not usually out and about, so what are they training for??

The friends of the characters are training to go out into the World of Dining and meet and greets.

If you are really lucky and are there a few weeks before a runDisney event weekend or a special event, some very rare characters will be out training for the upcoming events. Hercules, Megara, etc. are a few who can be spotted during those periods.

 

[AngiTN]

The friends of the characters are training to go out into the World of Dining and meet and greets.

If you are really lucky and are there a few weeks before a runDisney event weekend or a special event, some very rare characters will be out training for the upcoming events. Hercules, Megara, etc. are a few who can be spotted during those periods.

The question isn't about the characters that are going to dining or meet and greets.
It's about the ones that are not at any meal or at any meet and greet.
For a Run Disney event would make sense.