Have characters always had a CM with them?

[julieannbabe]

I was looking at some pictures of Magic Kingdom, 1972 and it just seems as if the characters would walk about unchaperoned.

Was this the case back in the early seventies? If so when did Disney get wise to the fact that each character needed a chaperone (CM)?

Thanks

 

[meeko_33785]

The first time I recall seeing chaperoned characters was around the early 90s or so, other than Mickey's location in Toontown Fair/ Starland/ Birthday land which has always had a chaperone there since the late 80s.

 

[julieannbabe]

so they never had CM'S with them in the seventies or eighties?

is this true? if so it must have been scary at times

 

[Simba's Mom]

I remember when we first went, back in 1987, characters (at least the ones we saw) weren't chaperoned. Even now, I still remember a Goofy starting to come out from behind a building in Town Square, and there was already a Goofy there, so a snuck back. I was right there, but fortunately I don't think anyone else saw him. There weren't organized lines, and we've got several pictures of our (then) young son rushing past everyone to hug a character. To this day, we wonder how many family pictures he got himself into by showing up so suddenly.

 

[julieannbabe]

wow - i can't believe Disney waited this long to put CM's with the characters.

 

[ToTLaugher]

I remember seeing characters just wondering around in the 70's. My parents have some pictures (maybe they're in a pile they gave to me) of Donald and Pluto wandering around by the pool area at the CR, just goofing around (Pluto jumped up so that 2 guys were holding him horizontally for a picture).

But I also remember that characters weren't quite as big a deal back then - Disney didn't hype it as much. There weren't character meals, you didn't buy character autograph books. I think Disney has manufactured the character mania well for profit.

 

[Earstou]

I remember the unchaperoned days well! Once you've seen Mickey attacked by a mob of kids, you don't forget it! One even had a hold of his nose and was yanking him downwards. Others were shoving him from behind. Where were the parents?
Another time, my 3 yr old dd was crying because she couldn't fight the mob to see Mickey (her first time). A grandmotherly type woman stepped in and escorted her to Mickey so I could take a picture! One of my most treasured pictures, Mickey, my dd and this woman I didn't know who saved the day for us!!!

 

[corky805]

ToTLaugher,

While I will agree that Disney has capitalized on characters for profit (as well as everything else)......Disney polled people and that is what people resoundingly responded with as a reqest. I know for our family that this makes Disney a lot more fun than it was in the 70's-80's.