I'm curious about characters...

[HopLow1968]

Characters are popular. Some characters are VERY popular (I'm thinking about the lines for Villains at the Parties).

Characters seem as popular as rides and shows...and much much cheaper.

Its curious to me that Disney doesn't have more characters and more obscure characters out and about. My gf is enamored with Pocahontas. We are doing storytellers cafe specifically because Meeko might be there. I know that my gf would rate a meeting with Pocahontas as one of the highlights of the trip.

An outfit, three or four employee's salaries, some training time, and thats it.

Anybody know why so many characters aren't in the parks, or rarely in the parks?

 

[chickapin parterre]

where would you stage the characters?

 

[HopLow1968]

where would you stage the characters?

Wherever and whenever I needed to draw people into (and away from crowded spots). The old motorboat dock comes to mind.

Since it is so cheap (relatively) and so obvious, I'm guessing they have a good reason for it. I'm just curious what it is.

 

[taniahappy]

To keep it interesting when they actually are there?

 

[chickapin parterre]

In 2000, when my 5 year old son was scared of everything I like doing in the park, I compromised and purchased an autograph book and an hounding we stepped. Over by Small World they had a stage (close to Motor Boat) to meet and greet such characters of mask you seek and it .........created a line....... Now this was in October when halloween was more Thanksgiving then Halloween, so no big deal to visit the park. 15 years later, more people, more money functioning events, less unoccupied space and it is a big deal to be in the park except for January, February and September . So it does not seem to make sense or cents to bring out non-generational non classic characters, and we are encouraged to watch a parade and hope to catch the character on a float. Or pay the bucks to meet those folks!!! Yeah, I am disappointed that I can't fill that book with autographs, but then at this point in the crowding, I probably would not stand in line for a meet and greet.

 

[HopLow1968]

To keep it interesting when they actually are there?

That would make sense for the AP folks. But regular tourists aren't going to be comparing.

 

[chickapin parterre]

regular tourists are not going to know the difference to a Mickey Mouse on Main street, evil queen below her window or Woody in front of the stump. Us folks here can buy a breakfast or I can buy a Halloween ticket during my regular tourist visitor I am and add to my villain collection a rash of autographs and photos. But I read somewhere where the rides are basically empty during the MHPs, so .....when I come to the fork in the road, I will take it...

 

[figment_jii]

That would make sense for the AP folks. But regular tourists aren't going to be comparing.

I think that's probably the exact reason why the rare characters only come out for special events or promotions. It will bring in the AP/local crowds to see those characters when they're out. The rest of the time, it's the fairly standard set of characters will be out and about. For the most part, I think they're the most popular characters, so they're the ones that the non-AP/non-local/one-time visitors will be happy to see. While I do think guests would be happy to see less common characters, I think plenty of guests are happy to see the Fab 5, the princesses, and other well-known characters. Also, it's worth keeping in mind that what is standard to those of us that are used to DLR, may still be "rare" for a WDW visitor (and vice-a-versa). For example, you rarely see Flik, Kenai, Koda, and Bert at WDW, but they're a common site at DLR. Same with Jack and Sally; they meet guests for a little over four months each year at DLR, but are only at the MNSSHP in WDW. So, it's a matter of what you're used to. For DLR, they've probably found that they could bring out some other characters, but the demand might not be high enough to warrant a permanent addition of them to the line up. So they do things like the Long Lost Friends promotion or have them available during special events.

 

[4Mickeys]

regular tourists are not going to know the difference to a Mickey Mouse on Main street, evil queen below her window or Woody in front of the stump.

I'm not sure what this comment is supposed to mean exactly???

Are you saying the don't know the difference between the different characters or that they don't care who they meet as long as its a character?

Are you referring to a regular tourist as opposed to an AP holder?

I disagree regular tourists do lots of research into their trips and seek ways to find the characters they want to meet - a multitude of posts on this form attests to that.

 

[Berlioz70]

An outfit, three or four employee's salaries, some training time, and thats it.

An outfit the someone has to design, shop fabric at a vendor, then source for construction, then pay to build. You can't build just 1, you've got to have back ups (lots of back ups). That's just the prep work.

Then each day... someone has to preset it, someone has to break it down, someone (typically multiple) need to wash it & press/steam it. So the maintaining of 1 outfit takes a minimum of 4 people a day of backstage support and that doesn't include Cosmetology.

Relatively speaking, I can only assume it would be less expensive than an attraction, but it's certainly more expensive than just a couple people.

 

[HopLow1968]

Relatively speaking, I can only assume it would be less expensive than an attraction, but it's certainly more expensive than just a couple people.

I was speaking relatively. Considering that the right characters draw lines that match the attractions, its a huge difference in price.
Figmen_jii has a good point about the Fab 5 n such. But there does seem to be some popular-but-rare-in-the-parks characters. Pocahontas being an example. Or the Beast.
Now I admit, I would love to see HopLow at Disneyland, but I'm not holding my breath, lol.

I once heard (maybe an urban legend) that Disneyland has up to 300 non-uniformed security scattered throughout the park. If that is even close to true, then the expense of adding an additional 10 or 20 characters (on a rotating basis) seems small. Especially considering the potential draw. Again, for me its such a (relatively) cheap and obvious option that there has to be reason for it. Maybe they're taking Figment_jii's reasoning and running with it?

 

[chickapin parterre]

.... My pixie dust Webster dictionary would define the following: Brand New Tourist-has no clue until they read the book or read here, but even then the first visit will be overwhelming. If on this site dispensing insight not as an AP, then we and I, are examples of veteran tourist. As a veteran tourist we have knowledge and pretty much know where to find the repetitive characters. If we want beyond the in the park characters, then we ask here on this site which breakfast has the best offering. As for a regular tourist, I have no idea what that maybe, The OP was making a distinction between AP admission and ticket admission neither of which are irregular. But as a veteran visitor I would ask her about Breakfast to fill my book, but unlikely to ask here about pluto, because pluto always comes bounding out onto Main street first thing in the morning.

 

[chickapin parterre]

...so what is the potential draw of The Beast, in the park , unannounced?

 

[violentlyserene]

.... My pixie dust Webster dictionary would define the following: Brand New Tourist-has no clue until they read the book or read here, but even then the first visit will be overwhelming. If on this site dispensing insight not as an AP, then we and I, are examples of veteran tourist. As a veteran tourist we have knowledge and pretty much know where to find the repetitive characters. If we want beyond the in the park characters, then we ask here on this site which breakfast has the best offering. As for a regular tourist, I have no idea what that maybe, The OP was making a distinction between AP admission and ticket admission neither of which are irregular. But as a veteran visitor I would ask her about Breakfast to fill my book, but unlikely to ask here about pluto, because pluto always comes bounding out onto Main street first thing in the morning.

And this means that I, as essentially a brand new tourist, am unable to tell the difference between different characters or that I don't have preferences? That makes zero sense.

 

[goldmay]

I saw a reddit post saying that costumes can sometimes cost thousands of dollars each.

I think some of it might come down to space. They can't place characters just anywhere because they need to fit in the theme, so adding characters might mean taking away onstage time from regular characters who might be more popular.

Another thing to consider is that some characters have very specific looks that can be hard to cast; not only do people have to look like the characters, but they have to look at least somewhat similar to the other cast members in their role.

 

[HopLow1968]

I think some of it might come down to space. They can't place characters just anywhere because they need to fit in the theme, so adding characters might mean taking away onstage time from regular characters who might be more popular.

Another thing to consider is that some characters have very specific looks that can be hard to cast; not only do people have to look like the characters, but they have to look at least somewhat similar to the other cast members in their role.

Could be, could be. I'm sure they have a reason. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in some of those meetings.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Yes indeed, it does make zero sense.
Disney keeps giving us all types of bones to lure us to open our wallets to expand our character horizon of buffets, meet and greets, photos and autographs.

Yes, an unread and non lurker brand new tourist will have no preferences to meeting characters. What's a character?? You can see Mickey Mouse here?? Sure haven't you seen him on TV with all those tender moments. Because about all that brand new tourist expects of characters is Buzz Lightyear and then not sure if it is just a goofy Disney character exploring an uncharted land, much like their uncharted trip if they decided to go to Disneyland and ride all those rides!!!

Characters are peripheral and not an admission draw, unless you know where they play musical chairs, where the fire station piano is located and that all that sticky honey is waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy on the west side. Bump into Woody at the wood stump, walk by Jack, your choice, when headed to the next ride. And don't trip over Peter pan and beware of the evil Queen, there is a reason there is not a line!!!

 

[chickapin parterre]

....It is not even Halloween and all the tickets are gone......that must be some great candy!!!!

 

[figment_jii]

I once heard (maybe an urban legend) that Disneyland has up to 300 non-uniformed security scattered throughout the park. If that is even close to true, then the expense of adding an additional 10 or 20 characters (on a rotating basis) seems small. Especially considering the potential draw. Again, for me its such a (relatively) cheap and obvious option that there has to be reason for it. Maybe they're taking Figment_jii's reasoning and running with it?

I think you're comparing apples to oranges in this case because the security officers are going to be in a different department, with its own budgets (and labor group), than character performers. It would closer to say that there are tens of thousands of cast members throughout the resort, so what would be a few more be in the overall scheme of things. That being said, I think they do provide characters somewhat based on what is popular and would appeal to the largest number of guests. To some degree, I do think any character will have guests willing to line up to meet them because every character is someone's favorite. Still, some characters are more popular than others and I think DLR tries to provide the characters that will appeal to the largest number of guests.

They did have Pocahontas meeting guests at one point, but they've discontinued her meet and greet. So this would tell me that the demand for her (on a daily or semi-daily basis at least) probably decreased to the point where they felt it was no longer practical to have her meet guests. Still, if you want to see a character return, the only way DLR is going to know there is a demand for that character is to write/call/email them and let them know.

 

[brb1006]

Does anyone remember the "Dancing With Disney" event at DCA from 2012 - 2014? It contained alot of rarely seen characters at the Disneyland resort. Including Clarice and especially Marie from The Aristocats. This was also the first time Marie was ever seen at the Disneyland Resort and hasn't been seen since the event ended. Judging by the videos, she was popular with children and other guests. I wish Disneyland would bring her out more often.