It was 1996, I was 6, and it was my first trip to Disney. I was OBSESSED with Pocahontas and being part Native American, thought I looked like her. There was a Pocahontas Character breakfast at Wilderness Lodge (I think), and I was wearing this matching shirt and short set with Pocahontas characters all over it (yes, all over the shorts too- it was the 90s) and had a blue Pocahontas hat with a fake black braid. I met Pocahontas and was slightly disappointed that she neither looked or sounded like the cartoon character I loved so much. John Smith was standing a few feet away from her and as I approached him, he got a shocked expression on his face, looked from me to Pocahontas and said, "Pocahontas, my dear, I think I've found another love!" He then dropped to a knee, grabbed my hand and kissed it.
Pure Disney magic. Absolutely my favorite memory from childhood.
I also met Governor Ratcliffe and Meeko at that breakfast. I met Br'er Bear, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Rabbit that trip as well and having never seen Song of the South and at that point not yet riding Splash had no idea who they were and was a little frightened of them.
I've also met Gepetto, Jafar (great meet), Cruella (another great meet), Clarabelle Cow, Wendy, Abu, Genie, Queen Grimhilde, Queen of Hearts (not the face one), Bullseye, and Jessie, though I'm not sure how rare all of them are. If there were other now rare characters in 1996, I probably met them too and can't remember them as I'm pretty sure I met everyone available because that trip I HAD to get everyone's autograph.
