In your experience, what character has given your kids (or YOU) the best interaction?

[kbkids]

Chip and Dale are always good for a laugh. On our last trip, Alice in Wonderland walked over to my very shy DS during the parade at Animal Kingdom and was attempting to shake his hand. I had backed up and was trying to take a picture of it. Just as I snapped the picture, one of the pesky chipmunks was right next to me and waved his hand in front of the camera! It annoyed me for a second as I was afraid I had missed my picture but previewed it real quick, and it did take (turned out to be a great picture!) Anyway, when I walked back to my group, my mom asked if I got it, and I said, "Yes, but I'd like to choke me a chipmunk!" DD, age 6, hears everything. The next day we're at The Garden Grill for the Ice Cream Social. When the chipmunks come around, my DD hugs Dale and said, "You know what? My Mom said she was going to choke her a chipmunk!" Dale looked over at me, held his hands up to his face and sidestepped over to the next table. It was really cute!!

A couple of trips before then, my DD had lost her first top tooth. We were at MK getting autographs from the chipmunks. As Chip was signing the book, Dale tapped me on the shoulder, pointed at my daughter, pointed at Chip, and then pointed at his teeth. I realized what he was trying to say and told me daughter. She acted all embarrassed and started walking off. Then as the next child started to come up behind us, she turned around real quick and ran back to Chip and gave him a big hug! Guess she empathized with him!

Oh yeh! Same trip at The Garden Grill, I had my hair all up and tucked in - it was so hot!! One of the chipmunks, as he was visiting with the table behind me, reached up and undid the clasp, and it all came tumbling down. My kids were rolling on the floor laughing!

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd and I were patiently waiting for ToonTown to open. At 10 she wasn't all jumpy and really excited when Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore came strolling out to open the area. So, as she is hanging back, letting the younger kids get to the front, up comes the bouncy one and grabs her hand. Off they go, dancing and skipping down the street. Tigger had her arm all the way to the end of the street...being bouncy trouncy, fun, fun, fun,fun all the way. When they got to the photo spot, Katie tried to get in the middle of the trio but Tigger was having none of it. He pushed Pooh out of the way, shook his paw at him. Evidently Tigger felt that katie was his personal kid for the moment. It was just hysterical. Katie couldn't believe it happened to her. She still talks about it.

 

[Karibeth19]

We've had a lot of great character experiences, but meeting Aladdin in Morocco was the best. We were going to eat dinner at Marrakesh when I happened to glance in the room across the way. I saw a handler standing in there so I told my husband I was going to see who was inside. It was Aladdin, all by himself, with no other families in there. We spent a good five minutes in there with him talking and playing with my DD, who was 6 at the time. He was a very cute Aladdin, with a great personality, and my daughter loved the attention he gave her. She especially loved it when he insisted she must be Snow White, because she was wearing her dress! We got several great pictures, including the one below, which is my favorite.

 

[meeko_33785]

I think Pocahontas has given me more interaction that just about any other character I can think of. I met her back in 1995 at American Adventure. Not only did she sign my autograph book, but we also had a conversation about her movie and then she taught me how to say "win-gap-o" (hello in her language) just like she taught John Smith in the movie.

 

[graygables]

In Dec, my autistic DD met the Fairy Godmother at 1900 Park Fare and got her autograph, but wouldn't interact, just posed for a picture. In Jan, during the parade, the FGM rode by, pointed and waved right at DD as she said, "I remember you!" to which DD shyly smiled and waved back, making eye-contact and everything! I was boo-hooing!

Also in Dec, we were in the Canada Kidcot station and DDs were making their masks when Koda came in wreaking havoc! He tossed markers and mask charms everywhere while making his own mask. Had everyone laughing their heads off, even the CMs who were picking up after him. He saw DD, signed his mask and gave it to her with a big kiss on the top of her head. I didn't have my camera ready of course, but she remembers it clearly and loves to tell the story of her "Koda Kiss".

 

[slo]

The girl in 2001 & 2002 who played Cinderella was absolutly spectacular at her job. In fact, we had such a magical experience with her that after our breakfast at the castle I asked to talk to her boss so I could praise her. Her boss was very appreciative of the compliment and said that she would pass it along to the girl (boy I wish I knew her name).

In a nut shell, we went to the castle in 2001 for breakfast and my DD was 3 - she loves Cinderella. In 2002 we accidentally ran into Cinderella in the back of a gift shop and she was with several other characters. We were the only ones there so Cinderella and the other characters spent an enormous amount of time talking with DD and taking photos. Cinderella said to DD "have you been here before because you look familiar?" I said, "yes last year". Cinderella asked DD her name and we told Cindy that we were eating breakfast at the castle the next day. The next day came and at the castle Cindy remembered DD by name and called some of the other characters over to our table (same ones from the past day) by saying, "hey Belle, Stephanie's here or hey Snow White, Stephanie's here". I can't even begin to tell you how excited DD was and how flattered I was that they remembered her name. These people who play the characters see hundreds of kids a day and they remembered my childs name - AMAZING!!! This is why I talked to her boss and this is why we return to WDW every year!!! I could never thank this girl enough for making my DD's vacation a truly magical experience!!!

 

[The Sweetness]

A couple of times, C&D were very playfull with DD. Also, when the Soundstage was a buffet restaurant, I remember Meeko being very entertaining

 

[horner5]

I have had 3 standout experiences:

1) Meg from Hercules was signing my DD's (7) autograph book and since there was no one else in line, she asked my daughter if she wanted to take a great posed picture and my daughter positively responed, so Meg took her to a nearby tree and had my daughter peek from one side and Meg peeked out the other side-it was an adorable picture and probably one of my favorites.

2) When we were at Chef Mickey's for breakfast, my DS (12) returned from the bathroom to our table and Pluto was visiting with my 2 DD's at the time. My son went to sit down in his chair and totally missed the chair and fell flat on the ground. Pluto turned around and 'laughed' with my son and helped him back to his seat and kept licking my son's head to make him feel better. It was so funny.

3) At MK, my daughter gave Jasmine her t-shirt to sign and Jasmine noticed that Aladdin already signed it and since Aladdin wasn't with her at the time, she questioned where he was and my daughter responded, at CRT with Cinderella. Jasmine was not happy and acted completely jealous and kept talking to my daughter about how mad she was that he was spending time with the other princesses. They had an in-depth conversation about this and my daughter still talks about it.

I'm sure there's many more, though. Every character we meet is 'special' in his or her own right. That's what makes us keep coming back.

 

[robinb]

We had a great interaction with Mickey. My DD cut her finger on the frame of her silhouette from Liberty Square and we went to the first aid station to get a band-aid. Mickey came into the room and held my DD's hand while the nurse helped her. He was so nice and my DD was thrilled. That was 2 years ago and she still talks about meeting Mickey at the first aid station . Since then, I have seen Mickey exiting the first aid station more than once.

 

[kimmy-man]

I guess we have two.

1) 2002 Our daughter's 1st trip. She was 3 at the time. We were at the Character lunch in Epcot's Garden Grill. There was hardly anyone there. So, Mickey, Pluto, Chip & Dale spent tons of time with us. Chip even fed my daughter most of her lunch! It was so wonderful for her to get that special attention.

2) June 2004 My daughter is now 5 and love Ariel and Mulan. We went to the Princess breakfast in Norway's castle. She dressed in her Mulan costume and wouldn't eat until Mulan came to our table. Mulan signed her card and spent extra time talking to my girl about her dress, Mushu etc. She even said, "Come see me in China later today." So, of course we went straight to China and found out that Mulan would be there at noon. We got there and waited for an hour. (they were running late.) But my little girl wouldn't budge. When Mulan did get there she held out her arms and hugged my DD and and said, "Thanks for waiting for me Madison! I was hoping to see you again." My DD couldn't believe that Mulan knew who she was. She talks about it all the time. No wonder we're going back again next year!!

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

Well, Aladdin called me "Princess" which made me giddy as a school girl!!!

Also, once I was wearing a shirt with Pluto on it and during the parade at AK, Pluto pointed to my shirt and gave me a high five and a "lick"! I loved it!!

I will never grow up

 

[Walt]

This goes back 8 years when my son was 3 1/2 -- it was his first trip to Disney World and first time to see Mickey. There was a pretty good sized group of people getting pictures, etc. of Mickey and he was second in line when it was time for the Mickey to take his break. Being 3 1/2 he didn't understand why Mickey was leaving. The castmember playing Mickey must have seen his disappointed look, because he came back to the line just to give him a hug.

 

[Del]

She "made" my 2 dd curtsey to her and then reviewed their autograph books. She noticed a picture of Mickey from a previous trip and "questioned" my girls how come her picture wasn't in there. She was amazing--my girls still talk about her.

Del

 

[lovesdumbo]

I too can't narrow it down to just one.

On my DD's first trip at 3 I worried how she'd react to the characters. She was painfully shy-barely spoke at preschool and wouldn't watch the Disney movies only Monsters Inc. over and over so I didn't think she'd really know any of them but somehow she did. Her first sighting were the Penguins from Mary Poppins-went running right up to them-"the Penguins need to give me a hug." A few days later I had purchased her a balloon-her first ever-I know bad Mom- and she just wouldn't put that thing down. She saw the Penquins again and one of them had to hold the balloon down with his wing so I could take the very cute photo.

Also on that trip I was 6 months pregnant and as this was my 3rd in 3 years I looked very pregnant. Chip (or was it Dale) "asked" me if I was pregnant by pretending to rock a baby. When I said yes he kissed my belly.

In Jan my then 1 year old baby was very leary of the characters. Wouldn't make eye contact with the princeses at CRT. But she loved Tigger and he must have spent 5 minutes with her as she gave him a high 5 and tried to eat him. My friend with us said it could have been a commercial! I can't wait to see what she thinks in October since she's not nearly as shy since she started walking.

 

[undertheseas]

At MGM during the stars and cars parade, my daughter say Cruella de Ville and DD yelled "don't steal the puppies!" Cruella came over with her hands on her hips and said "You are this small compared to me and I can squish you like a bug!" I have the cutest picture of those two squared off with their hands on their hips, it was hiliarious.

At Epcot we saw Aladdin and Jasmine so we ran over. When it was our turn, they started to walk off. I was about to say something when Aladdin bent over and told DS "Do you want to help us say hi to our friends?" He picked up DS so they could walk over and wave to the passing holiday double decker bus. I have a great picture of Aladdin holding DS and Jasmine holding DD's hand.

 

[OhMickey]

I have two stories that I have posted before...

The first incident happened several trips ago, when AP holders had a lounge in the Land in Epcot. It was the last day of our trip and we decided to visit Epcot (our favorite park) before beginning our long drive back home. We went to the Land and decided to take advantage of the AP lounge. We had been at Disney 10 days and we did not enter a lounge. We went to the lounge and proceeded to get our free cokes. We were the only family in the lounge and so we began to watch some TV. Within minutes Chip and Dale come in. My kids (DD 12, DS 10, DD 7, DS 7) were surprised. They had about 30 minutes of private time with Chip and Dale. They played games, charades, and teased eachother. What a great way to end a vacation!!!!!

My second story happened during a trip we almost cancelled. My daughter broke her ankle just 2 days before we were leaving for Florida. But we decided to go. During our meal at the Garden Grill, Pluto picks up my daughter (now 13) and carries her around the restaurant. They visit other tables and my DD has to explain how she broke her ankle to every table they stop by.

 

[kellyb2000]

We love Peter Pan and Capt. Hook. On the cruise last year, Peter was on one level of the atrium and Hook was up above him. Peter told us that if we went to see Hook to "crow" at him and shout "we love Peter Pan" so of course we did. Hook came after my nephew (7) with his hook like he was going to "get him". Then when Hunter wanted an autograph, Hook took his book and threw it on the floor and stomped on it. He put his hand to his ear until Hunter said "I love Capt. Hook" and then gave him an autograph. We had great fun with him for a few minutes because no one else was around.

Also, in the MK we saw Mary Poppins. My son at the time was 9 months old and was chewing on his Dad's sunglasses. When Mary saw him she said "if you like those, you should try a spoonful of sugar, it's much better" After the photo she said, "if you ever need a nanny, you call me"

This was my first character interaction and after this a gained a new found respect for these CM's and their "jobs"

 

[The Sweetness]

is Spiderman. He loves Spidey so much, he has a tattoo of Spidey that takes up about 1/3 of his back. He also has a couple of very well deatiled Spidey shirts. I know that this was at USF, not WDW, but it was to cute and I must share. After riding Spidey for about the 3rd time of our 6 day vacation, Spiderman was outside for photos and autographs. DD12 saw him and got muchly excited for DH(40). She yelled at him across the little Spidey shop that Spiderman was outside. DH couldnt have gotten to him fast enough to take a few pics, but not before he pulled up his shirt, proudly displaying his loyalty to his favie. "Now thats true dedication!" Spiderman told him, and I dont think DH has ever been happier than that moment

 

[Snoopymom]

My top 3

Goofy leading ds around Ohanas for the parade at the end of the breakfast. (Thanks to someone here for telling me about it so that I could schedule our meal accordingly.)

Tigger and ds with his big sponge tiger paw on his hand pawing at each other in AK, too cute!

DS chasing Baloo early in the morning of an empty AK and having Baloo turn around and catch him in his arms, my favorite!

 

[SomeSayImGoofy]

Never been to WDW, but have had lots of great times here in SoCal at Walt's ORIGINAL park!

At the end of the night, after park closing, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto were all hanging out in the Mr Lincoln lobby. My two boys (8 and 3) walked in there nad they played with all four of them...rolling around on the floor....(great pictures) for 10-15 minutes... Good Times...

And then just about two weeks ago, or so, My wife was riding the carousel with Lukas (3 year-old) and Mary Poppins got on right next to them.... Great photos and great laughs...

I just love DL (and can't wait for WDW)!

See ya