'Real' conversations with CM's

[chartle]

In TSM we were one of the last groups through from the FP line. As I was waiting for the line to move I looked at their console that tells you how many people to let through from each side. I knew from a conversation with the CM at Soaring that the gate you go through counts how many people pass.

Well as I'm standing there I see a counter count down to 0 and then -1 as one more came out of the FP line. I commented to my son "thats how they figure out how many from each line goes through. The CM handling the Stand By line jokingly covered up the screen with his hands and I say don't worry I won't tell Universal. He then says hey I work there also, the CM handling the FP line chimed in I work there too.

I'm like really, there's not conflict? I told them when I worked at McDonald's 25 years ago you couldn't work for any other food serving establishment not even a full service restaurant.

At that point we moved on.

 

[candielips]

We were at Akershus in May and saw Belle break character.
She was standing in her spot where the 1st pic is taken and after a huge group of kids had finished we saw and heard her turn to the Photographer and say "I can't wait for this night to be over".
A little disappointing as she was in ear shot of several tables.

 

[ElliePeters]

We have talked to so many of them, but noone out of character, I am happy that has never happened.

 

[doconeill]

Back in 2006, we were on the Safari, and were stuck waiting for some animal to clear the path for a while.

The CM started talking about Disneyland - and how every attraction was so much better at Disneyland than WDW...

I've occasionally struck up conversations with CMs while waiting for various things, like Rider Switch. Most I've seen enjoy a good conversation, although most of them weren't necessarily "character" CMs.

I did speak with one of the World Showcase Players briefly out of character - he looked like one of the alums from the Adventurers Club, but he admitted that he was occasionally confused with one of them, but that Carl (one of the others) WAS from there (which I knew, he was often Otis T. Wren, including on the final day when he finally won the Balderdash Cup!), but I didn't get a chance to talk to him.

I did tease a HM CM once who was IN character...shortly after the refurb when we went, it didn't open on time due to difficulties. The CM started quoting Ghostbusters, although merging some lines - "Dimensional cross rip of biblical proportions", etc. - and I had to admonish him for quoting from a competing franchise...

 

[misha-ginger]

bump

 

[Brian Noble]

The closest I've come was chatting with Officer Percival Peabody in DHS, just this past week. If you meet him, you might notice that he bears a striking resemblance to several Adventurers from the now-defunct Adventurers' Club, and in particular one Emil Bleehall, Jr. of Sandusky, Ohio.

Anyway, we were chatting, and I asked him, "Say, Officer Peabody, have you ever worked in Sandusky?" He replied, "Well, I've visited my good friend Mr. Bleehall there often, but not anymore. I sure do miss the place."

Naturally, I told him that I missed it too.

So, all the while in character, but not entirely so. And, I got a great picture with him.

 

[mom2girlsx3]

Not so much an "out of character" experience, but definitely a CM that went out of her way for my child....

We were dining at 1900 Park Fare with my then 2 year old DD. All was well until DD sees the Stepmother come into the room. She was so afraid of her and started to cry. Suddenly from across the room Cinderella made a straight shot for my crying child. She got down eye level with my little girl and told her not to cry because "that old stepmother isn't mean to me anymore," and then gave her a great big hug. Of course, DD smiles and dries up her tears and we even got a really great picture!

This is case in point why I love Disney...... they do everything perfectly.

 

[Missus Toad]

The closest I've come was chatting with Officer Percival Peabody in DHS, just this past week. If you meet him, you might notice that he bears a striking resemblance to several Adventurers from the now-defunct Adventurers' Club, and in particular one Emil Bleehall, Jr. of Sandusky, Ohio.

Anyway, we were chatting, and I asked him, "Say, Officer Peabody, have you ever worked in Sandusky?" He replied, "Well, I've visited my good friend Mr. Bleehall there often, but not anymore. I sure do miss the place."

Naturally, I told him that I missed it too.

So, all the while in character, but not entirely so. And, I got a great picture with him.

Awwww...

 

[es45]

Not a conversation--an overheard comment from a character.

When we went last August we waited in line one morning to talk to the Fairy Godmother. As my girls were walking up to take a photo with her she commented to the photographer, "I'm sweltering in this thing (her costume) and can't wait to get it off. I'm also dying for a cigarette!"

My youngest had just finished a health lesson at school on the dangers of smoking so she spent the rest of the day worrying that FG was going to get cancer.

 

[wdwfan101]

I was at MK in Oct 2009 on the night the Phillies were about to play the deciding game in the NL championship game. I was wearing a Phillies t-shirt. I was walking in front of the Ice Cream shop on Main St, about to cross the street, and an older cast member was directing people to cross the street. He saw my shirt and pointed to his watch, a little disappointed. I knew what he meant -- if I'm such a Phillies fan, why am I still at the park? I saw his badge showed Philadelphia as his home town. I stopped and talked to him briefly. I said I was going to watch Spectromagic from the Barber Shop, then leave the park as soon as it was over so I could make it back to the condo in time to watch the 2nd inning.

 

[LittleMissMusical]

we where in islands of adventure over the weekend and there was no line to meet spiderman... so we did. my mom was wearing her margaritaville sweatshirt and spidy started talking to her about how he was a jimmy buffett fan and saw jimmy preform at city walk 2 weeks prior. i guess they aren't as strict over in universal cause later when we went to meet capt. america we asked about his super toned thighs... foam.

 

[BBQMommy]

We had a lovely buffet breakfast at 1900 Park Fare before taking DD5 to the dock at the GF for her Pirate Cruise. We were winding down and getting ready to head out when Alice came over. She was charming and when DD told her that she was going to go on a pirate ship, Alice asked her if she knew what was a pirate's favorite drink? Alice's "ARRRRRRRRRRRRRange Juice!" was priceless!

 

[Yankeemouse]

My husband and I were in our car at the Beach Club after returning from the MK and I was lingering there, going through my backpack, when suddenly we heard a string of the "F-bomb". Not just once, but at least 10 in a row, screamed out loud! We both got out of the car, and about 3 rows ahead of us, was a male CM, banging on the hood of his car. He was one of the guys that greet you when you pull up to the lobby, either a valet or bell hop. When he saw us, he slammed his car door shut and quickly trotted away.We looked at each other in disbelief and sort of hurried up after him. We told the front desk what we saw, they were apologetic but didn't seem to shocked by it. I guess someone was having a bad day! And I am glad that there weren't any kids around.

 

[Yankeemouse]

Actually now that I think about it, I wonder if he was valet-parking someone's car??

 

[doconeill]

Actually now that I think about it, I wonder if he was valet-parking someone's car??

I hope not, if he was banging his head on the hood...

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We were at MNSSHP and went to see Cruella. DS has autism and was non verbal at the time and for just one quick instant, Cruella dropped character and warmed up to DS to make him feel comfortable. We got a picture at just that moment and her face was angelic. DS went to her and we then got a family picture with her in character. It was truly a priceless moment that melted my heart forever.

 

[gatormommy07]

We have a son and daughter who are 17 months apart. When they were little we got asked quite often if they were twins. When they were approximately 5 and 6 years old we were in Disney getting autographs and photos with Mickey. Mickey turned to another page in the autograph book and wrote "twins?" and we explained that no they weren't!

We have the same thing happen to us with our first 2 all the time, they are 17 and a half months apart, and people always think they are twins!!!

We went to EPCOT in November 09 and went to Akershus for lunch with the princesses and our older son started to get upset (tired, hungry didn't really want to meet princesses) we were trying to get him to get in the pic with Belle and he did not want to. She was so sweet, she bent down and wispered something to him and he cheered right up, then she gave hima kiss!!! It was so sweet now we joke with him all the time about his "girlfriend"!! We never have found out what she said to him, but it sure did work!! Not really breaking character but still really great!! That is why we love Disney so much!!!!

 

[StarLight StarBright]

Not exactly in the breaking character catagory, but last year we caught the tail end of Wishes, behind the castle near a DVC stand. The CM was just sort of hanging out, and at the end of the fireworks, told my husband" Well, there goes 60 grand!"

 

[merfsko]

Not that he was a character, but it was a slow night when we dined at Boatwright's in POR once; and our server felt the need to let us know just how much he hated his job, the high cost of living in Orlando, his long drive to work, the heavy traffic, etc., etc. Whew!
...
One of our bus drivers on the way back to WL did the same thing. Only not so much. One of our bus drivers on the way back to WL did the same thing. Only not so much.

I had a similar one! It was at night during the EMH, and I was getting on the TTA. The CM at the bottom of the movalator did the normal "How are you doing tonight?" We politely respondd that we were well, and how was he?

Apparently, that was a mistake.

 

[Goofster18]

Within reason, it is fine to share some things with Guests. They know we are cold and it sucks to be out in the rain without a poncho. I always did it with a smile and always reworked it into a positive for something they could do or make the day better for them. I NEVER spoke ill of my whole life. It ruins the day of everyone around you and doesn't put you in the right frame of mind to work. As for characters talking about those things, there were inside jokes, but never something out of story line or with guests ANYWHERE in earshot. Those are things the character's friends should discuss offstage.
Have a Magical Day!!!
Goofster18