Epcot characterpalooza?

[hiroMYhero]

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.

Angi - they train in any character costume that is available especially if many are of the same height-range. It's for them to work on basic skills and to get used to being unbearably hot.

 

[slbgnb]

But they still have to learn the signature (if they sign) and the characteristics of the character. You would think they would want them training as the character they will be. I'm happy they do it because it's a great chance to see unusual ones, I just think it's a bit strange. But, if it's for an upcoming event, like MNSHHP, that makes sense. Although the characters I saw weren't really special event characters. More just not seen that often characters. Whatever the reason, I love that they do it!

 

[hiroMYhero]

But they still have to learn the signature (if they sign) and the characteristics of the character. You would think they would want them training as the character they will be. I'm happy they do it because it's a great chance to see unusual ones, I just think it's a bit strange. But, if it's for an upcoming event, like MNSHHP, that makes sense. Although the characters I saw weren't really special event characters. More just not seen that often characters. Whatever the reason, I love that they do it!

The CM friends do learn all the signatures within their character height-range.

They can't have 4 Mickeys out at one time so they use costumes that don't conflict with the meet and greets that are closeby. Donald isn't usually part of the training because he's over in Mexico.

 

[slbgnb]

The CM friends do learn all the signatures within their character height-range.

Wow! Really?? I couldn't even learn one signature probably. I kind of thought the characters only played 1 specific character! Very interesting.

 

[asbyrneva]

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??

Newbies are being trained to handle M&G. Today they may be a rare character with limited time and limited crowds. It prepares them to become another "friend" after training in regular meet and greets. Think of training the CM in general not the specific character. The handlers are also being trained. How to handle crowds, guiding the characters, quickly taking photos for guests etc.

This is a controlled area with limited crowds that allow newbies to practice M&G activities

 

[ktlm]

Wow! Really?? I couldn't even learn one signature probably. I kind of thought the characters only played 1 specific character! Very interesting.

Nope-- when DD was little she had a fantastic playtime with Rosetta at Pixie Hollow. They really hit it off and played hide and seek for a while and even got Tink involved. The next day Ariel was yelling Hello to DD by name from a float in the afternoon parade. I must have gotten a confused look on my face because I saw that moment of recognition when Ariel realized that DD might not have met Ariel.

We also had one time when DD was little where she met Snow White's Prince at MVMCP and he danced with her gave her a kiss on the cheek (she was dressed as Snow) and the next day she met Prince Eric with Ariel and he asked her if she was the little girl that Snow White's Prince had told him about meeting the night before. For the life of me, I could not figure out how he knew about that. I was a bit slow on the uptake on that one! I don't think I figured it out until we got home and took a close look at the pictures.

 

[mountdew1]

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.

Two different types of training. The runDisney training is usually for Face characters. As face you need to be able to speak and carry yourself like the character. So it's a bit more involved than simply practicing your name and putting on different clothes. Fur characters need to simply train as being fur. So when new friends are onboarded, they break out whatever ones fit so they can practice things like simply having big shoes on, four fingered gloves, etc. It lets a large group practice at once without having to take lots of turns.

Think of it like training a whole bunch of new Subway employees. You want them to simply be making subs, you don't necessary care what type, but want them to get used to cutting the bread, toasting the bread, placing the veggies etc. Then when you need them to make a new sub of the month, they are used to the process so can adapt to the new sub pretty fast.

 

[Disney71]

We happened upon this last September... it was a first, and it was AWESOME!!! We met : Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Pooh, Tigger, Chip & Dale. It was such a fun experience - while the handlers were keeping things in control - it was like a character free for all!!