Yes I did notice the roped off bits! But the balloons are annoying me I know people do wander around with balloons, I have been known to have one attached to a stroller in fact, but they are just ballooning overload!
I don't know that I've seen that character before, at any of the parks (DLP, DL, WDW). But he looked a little dodgy didn't he, with that bib like thing under his head