Mickey Protocol

[d1gitman]

Wondering what (if any) protocol is involved with Mickey or other characters.

Things like:
- never more than one Mickey out in public at a park at any given time?
- Mickey out at multiple parks at same time?


etc...

i figure there must be a long list of protocol for the worlds most famous icon.

 

[bradk]

how can there be more than one out at any time? physically impossible

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Well I don't think there's a protocol between the parks but I'm sure they've worked it out within the parks. I definitely think there IS more than one on the ready but just not out at the same time. Last year at P&PP, I just missed pirate Mickey in Adventureland and the CM told me he was about to come out in Tomorrowland too. I raced over and just missed him there, too.

 

[mountdew1]

Well, just remember that as you move from place to place in the resort you are dealing with crowds, traffic, waiting for buses/monorails, etc. Mickey and friends have access to the secret transportation at the world and can get to wherever you are going before you do. ; ) Not to mention he can put any quick change artist to shame. That being said, I don't think they schedule any character to be in multiple locations with a park at once. Cause that would just be impossible. (Unless there is Magic involved...)

 

[oasispaul]

So you're telling me when Mickey is in a parade on Main Street, he can't also be in the Judge's Tent in Toontown?

Obviously, there can't be any protocol from park-to-park (ie Mickey can be out and about at AK and MK at the same time). But I always assumed IN-PARK protocol would be to not have the same character within eyeshot of each other (i.e. if Mickey is up on stage for a show in front of the castle, he better not be signing autographs in Town Square). But I always thought there *COULD* be 2 of the same character roaming opposite ends of the park.

Any CM's care to let us know what the actual protocol is?....

 

[bradk]

have you ever witnessed mickey in DAK and MK at the exact same time personally?

there's only one mickey, only one cinderella and only two chips

but.. if i were to entertain the notion that adults could know something the kids can't.. to spoil the magic a bit if you will... i might pay special close attention to the following:

The Legend: Mickey Mouse never appears at two places in Disneyland at the same time.

Behind the Legend: Can you imagine the confusion of a small child who saw Mickey in his movie barn, exited to see Mickey signing autographs in the gazebo at Toontown's center, and then walked past "it's a small world" to catch a glimpse of Mickey on a float in a passing parade? This used to happen quite a bit, forcing parents to make up ridiculous stories like, "that one's Minnie dressed up like Mickey," or "it's one of Mickey's helpers," or "the characters are just people in costumes." Even so, many children had their blind faith in things that are fun but couldn't possibly be true ruined for life.

Fortunately, in January of 2004 Disney took steps to make sure that this kind of problem can never again arise.

A master computer now coordinates all appearances of Mickey Mouse (and, soon, other Disney characters). If Mickey is appearing in a parade, his meet-and-greet in Toontown is closed. If he's signing autographs in Disney's California Adventure, he's not signing them in Disneyland. And just to make sure that the effect is perfect, the computer ensures that there is enough time between appearances for "Mickey's" supposed travel and costume changes.

Although the system works well, there are still a number of bugs. For example, a family that visited Disneyland in the morning and then hopped on a plane and visited Walt Disney World in the afternoon and saw Mickey in both locations could be told that Mickey simply got on a plane at the same time they did. However, if half of the family went to Disneyland and the other half went to Walt Disney World on the same day and brought home time-indexed videos of their trips that both showed Mickey at around the same time, that explanation would not hold water. For this reason, a plan is being hatched (to be rolled out some time next year) to coordinate Mickey's appearances globally so that he does not appear in two places on the planet simultaneously.

source: http://www.disneylies.com/legends/disneyland.html

that's an amazing site btw.. second only to the cast member nametag museum in my book.

 

[oasispaul]

Interesting. I didn't realize they close the Judge's tent during parades & castle stage shows that involve Mickey. Sounds like they have the bases covered..

ps - thanks for the link..

 

[medicgirl911]

I don't know if I would like the "global" idea...seems like it would leave Mickey a lot less time to visit all his friends in the parks!

 

[medicgirl911]

I don't know if I would like the "global" idea...seems like it would leave Mickey a lot less time to visit all his friends in the parks!

ummm maybe I had a ditzy moment and just now realizing the global thing was a joke

 

[d1gitman]

any other protocol measures that people are aware of? besides appearances?

anything like how they select people to don the costume?
is the suite stored in a vault?
is Mickey ever allowed to sit down?
when the suit is not in use, is it ever allowed to touch the floor?


just looking to see if there is anything else that surrounds Mickey. Kind of like the rules of the American flag or something along that line.

 

[Princess MaryPoppins]

any other protocol measures that people are aware of? besides appearances?

anything like how they select people to don the costume?
is the suite stored in a vault?
is Mickey ever allowed to sit down?
when the suit is not in use, is it ever allowed to touch the floor?


just looking to see if there is anything else that surrounds Mickey. Kind of like the rules of the American flag or something along that line.

Is that a genuine question, or sarcasm?

 

[d1gitman]

Is that a genuine question, or sarcasm?

totally genuine. i don't see how any sarcasm can be inferred from my post.

i just figure that Mickey being such a central figure and icon in society and the basis of all things Disney, that there must be rules and protocol that surround the character. maybe it's wishful thinking on my part but i just figure that there must be something by the way of rule or secrecy that surrounds The Mouse.

 

[bradk]

if i'm not mistaken, mickey is even allowed to take up to 3 outfits home with him

 

[mthompson22]

OP, thanks for starting this thread. I have often wondered the same thing. For example, a few years ago I had to explain to DS how we had just left the Land and had seen Mickey in the Garden Grill and then we went to where the Character Connection place is and saw him there through the window. He was very confused. I told him that there are tunnels under Epcot that allow Mickey and his friends to get places quickly b/c if they walked out in the open they would get tackled by all the people wanting pictures with them. (Although, I know tunnels like this do not exist in Epcot, but that's all I could think of at the moment.) Then again, I remember being at DHS and they had temporarily closed Voyage of the Little Mermaid because they said that Ariel was about to be in the parade and when she finished she would come back for the next show. I too have always wondered how they scheduled everything.

 

[oasispaul]

i just figure that Mickey being such a central figure and icon in society and the basis of all things Disney, that there must be rules and protocol that surround the character.

well, i know he's not supposed to punch kids like tigger....


joking people, joking!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

is Mickey ever allowed to sit down?

Mickey sat on the train with my family, so I'd have to say yes.

Also, did you know he can wiggle his nose?

 

[bradk]

he can count up to 16 on his fingers and toes too

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

any other protocol measures that people are aware of? besides appearances?

anything like how they select people to don the costume?
is the suite stored in a vault?
is Mickey ever allowed to sit down?
when the suit is not in use, is it ever allowed to touch the floor?


just looking to see if there is anything else that surrounds Mickey. Kind of like the rules of the American flag or something along that line.

What suit? Mickey only wears clothing (well costumes since he is a CM).

All I can say is I worked with Mickey and he is wonderful boss and I love when he wiggles his nose!

 

[d1gitman]

well, i know he's not supposed to punch kids like tigger....


joking people, joking!

i get it! i saw the video of the tigger incident.