Spontaneity in the Parks

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Was talking to my cousin before about our trip and he said something to the effect of "Yeah but now that you have to schedule exactly where and when a character will be, there's nothing spontaneous about going to the parks anymore."
I can see people feeling that way, as there was nothing better as a kid than turning a corner and BAM! there's the mouse, however knowing WDW it seems there are opportunities for some magic all around. Just curious from anyone who's been there since they started set times/locations for character M&Gs if you've still had any spontaneous memories created? (Also the board's been a bit gloomy today, need a cheerful thread )

 

[FLchick415]

Was talking to my cousin before about our trip and he said something to the effect of "Yeah but now that you have to schedule exactly where and when a character will be, there's nothing spontaneous about going to the parks anymore."
I can see people feeling that way, as there was nothing better as a kid than turning a corner and BAM! there's the mouse, however knowing WDW it seems there are opportunities for some magic all around. Just curious from anyone who's been there since they started set times/locations for character M&Gs if you've still had any spontaneous memories created? (Also the board's been a bit gloomy today, need a cheerful thread )

Absolutely, and it's one of my most favorite memories to date.

It was back in December, and I was there with my aunt, sister, and nieces. It was still fairly early in the morning after park open, and we had just gotten off Peter Pan's Flight. We were walking through the Tangled restroom area towards Liberty Square, and HELLO...there were Peter Pan and Wendy looking for Pascal. So, we decided to join them and spent a good 10 minutes just having fun. Nobody else was around. Peter and Wendy then happily told my nieces to skip behind them towards their M&G spot, got them to sing I'm A Little Teapot and swore them in as Lost Girls for life. No plans, no fastpasses, no schedule. Just a pure spur of the moment magic.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I have - at Disneyland, not Disney World. While they are still scheduled M&Gs in DLR, they are not quite as strict. I remember running across the princesses as they were coming out from backstage heading to their places in front of the floral Mickey Head - we were totally surprised. We also saw Alice and the Mad Hatter in Fantasyland while we were in line for the Matterhorn..I think they took someone with them to go ride on the tea cups? I don't entirely remember.

But at WDW, the only character interactions we've had are ones we plan for - whether at meals or at M&G locations.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Absolutely, and it's one of my most favorite memories to date.

It was back in December, and I was there with my aunt, sister, and nieces. It was still fairly early in the morning after park open, and we had just gotten off Peter Pan's Flight. We were walking through the Tangled restroom area towards Liberty Square, and HELLO...there were Peter Pan and Wendy looking for Pascal. So, we decided to join them and spent a good 10 minutes just having fun. Nobody else was around. Peter and Wendy then happily told my nieces to skip behind them towards their M&G spot, got them to sing I'm A Little Teapot and swore them in as Lost Girls for life. No plans, no fastpasses, no schedule. Just a pure spur of the moment magic.

I LOVE this story!!! Particularly because I just showed my lil' guy Peter Pan for the first time and now he's obsessed. Meeting Peter has moved sky high on the priority list. What a great memory for you!

 

[FLchick415]

I LOVE this story!!! Particularly because I just showed my lil' guy Peter Pan for the first time and now he's obsessed. Meeting Peter has moved sky high on the priority list. What a great memory for you!

And the best part, IMO, is that my nieces are 14 and 16 and were still able to abandon real life and just go with it

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

And the best part, IMO, is that my nieces are 14 and 16 and were still able to abandon real life and just go with it

BEst part of WDW is the ability to let your Disney Flag Fly as high as you want!

 

[jiminykrikkit]

On our trip last year, DH wasn't able to join us the first day (work thing came up) so DS and I ventured out to Epcot via the IG as our very first park of our trip. We were bummed that DH wasn't with us, but we weren't gonna waste a park day. Figured touring WS would be tame enough that DH wouldn't miss out on anything "big".

So we're just strolling up the IG pathway once inside and up walks Merida and her friend. DS was just so excited that they actually stopped and interacted with us for a good long time before other guests started noticing and the friend had to get Merida to wherever she was going before a line formed. They talked and talked about curly hair and castles and bears. It's one of my favorite memories of that trip.

 

[jiminykrikkit]

Absolutely, and it's one of my most favorite memories to date.

It was back in December, and I was there with my aunt, sister, and nieces. It was still fairly early in the morning after park open, and we had just gotten off Peter Pan's Flight. We were walking through the Tangled restroom area towards Liberty Square, and HELLO...there were Peter Pan and Wendy looking for Pascal. So, we decided to join them and spent a good 10 minutes just having fun. Nobody else was around. Peter and Wendy then happily told my nieces to skip behind them towards their M&G spot, got them to sing I'm A Little Teapot and swore them in as Lost Girls for life. No plans, no fastpasses, no schedule. Just a pure spur of the moment magic.

Awwww, this story got even better when you filled us in on their ages. Love it.

 

[FLchick415]

 

[scchristo]

My husband's experience was not as "fantastic" as the others, but on our Jan '13 trip, he saw Peter Pan carrying Wendy (on the way to a Cast Entrance) and was given a creamer by Pooh (near another Cast Entrance).
I was in the bathroom both times. Two different restrooms even!!

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

My husband's experience was not as "fantastic" as the others, but on our Jan '13 trip, he saw Peter Pan carrying Wendy (on the way to a Cast Entrance) and was given a creamer by Pooh (near another Cast Entrance).
I was in the bathroom both times. Two different restrooms even!!

Haha I love when characters interact with each other like that.

 

[Mouseteacher]

Several years ago at the Studios I was standing in the area just to the side of the hat. It was fairly quiet with no one near me and DH was taking a picture of me. Jafar came up behind me and then stood menacingly next to me. So funny and a great photo.

Back in the mid 1980s, I was waiting for my friend to come back from the restroom next to Town Hall in the MK. I was standing near the bench and Goofy came and laid across the bench. Another great photo taken when my friend returned from the rest room.

Wonderful memories.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

I have - at Disneyland, not Disney World. While they are still scheduled M&Gs in DLR, they are not quite as strict. I remember running across the princesses as they were coming out from backstage heading to their places in front of the floral Mickey Head - we were totally surprised. We also saw Alice and the Mad Hatter in Fantasyland while we were in line for the Matterhorn..I think they took someone with them to go ride on the tea cups? I don't entirely remember.

But at WDW, the only character interactions we've had are ones we plan for - whether at meals or at M&G locations.

I had a similar experience at DLR while the rest of the family was in the restrooms, to the right just beyond the right tunnel. I'm sure I was wide-eyed as Belle, Cinderella and Snow White came out of the backstage area at the end of the alley, all smiled and said hello to me, then continued out to Town Square.

I also wanted to bump this thread, as I'd love to hear more stories from WDW.

 

[katt789]

I've still had some spontaneous things happen in the parks, I mean, some of them are instigated by us, and some are technically planned through by Disney, but you can still run across them!

"Characterpalooza" as we call it here, happens daily at Dhs, and yes it's always around the same time in the same place, but to the untrained eye, it's a bunch of random characters milling about!

Characters also train over in Epcot, in certain spots of future world, between Uk & Canada, the International gateway and of course between Italy & USA, they're scheduled, but no one's going to be able to tell you when unless they are training and you're friends with them kinda thing, they're completely random and you can even find some rare characters (ie, hercules was out and training before the 24 hour event occurred)

Frontierland hoedown is technically scheduled, though it's not on the times guide at all, there's random characters, a flash mob style dance, and performers

Spontaneity is still there in the parks, I still think so, it's just you have to take the time to do it, if you're too busy rushing from fast pass to fast pass to dining reservation, then you're missing out!

 

[ammag]

Sometimes I am the only one who knows about something,,characterpalooza perfect example! I just acted surprised and the kids were thrilled. So even if someone is in the know we can still try to make it a happy accident for others .

 

[ammag]

We've had nice surprises with Peter Pan (didn't see wendy though!) the stepsisters and fairy godmother just little conversations, all near the castle in the afternoon.

 

[kaybird]

We had a short surprise interaction on 24 hour day just a couple of weeks ago!

Hubby was Disney bounding Smee, and as we came around the corner, Peter Pan was heading back to Neverland, (I assume. He hollers out, points at DH and yells "SMEE!!!" Just way cool to be acknowledged!!

 

[Missyrose]

I've had two (extraordinarily fun) run-ins with characters. The first was in 2012. My family and I were meeting Tiana when we heard someone yell: "Hey! Over here!"

We looked and saw it was Peter Pan waving at us. He said "Why don't you want to meet me?"

I replied, "Of course we'd like to meet you, we were just meeting Princess Tiana first."

Tiana chimed in with "Don't worry Peter, we're just about finish. They're all yours"

So Peter locked arms with a couple of us and led us to his M&G location, personally.

The second awesome adventure came just a few weeks ago (Memorial Day week). I was walking through Fantasyland when I saw Alice and White Rabbit appear. I asked their attendant if they were headed for their usual M&G location. He said they were, but first they would ride the teacups. He also mentioned that if I asked Alice, there was a very good chance I could ride with them. So I did!

 

[SpringSprite]

this thread is giving me hope for our upcoming trip! The only interaction I remember as a kid was the spontaneous, hands-on, FUN kind. I've kind of been a little bummed about M&G's as I'm not that into waiting on a line to meet, it just seems so much less magical.

Glad there is a still a chance for my boys to experience what I did as a child

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I've had two (extraordinarily fun) run-ins with characters. The first was in 2012. My family and I were meeting Tiana when we heard someone yell: "Hey! Over here!"

We looked and saw it was Peter Pan waving at us. He said "Why don't you want to meet me?"

I replied, "Of course we'd like to meet you, we were just meeting Princess Tiana first."

Tiana chimed in with "Don't worry Peter, we're just about finish. They're all yours"

So Peter locked arms with a couple of us and led us to his M&G location, personally.

The second awesome adventure came just a few weeks ago (Memorial Day week). I was walking through Fantasyland when I saw Alice and White Rabbit appear. I asked their attendant if they were headed for their usual M&G location. He said they were, but first they would ride the teacups. He also mentioned that if I asked Alice, there was a very good chance I could ride with them. So I did!

Wow, wow, wow on riding the teacups with Alice! Such a cool experience! Did you "chat" with her?

Also I'm picking up a familiar theme here.....the CM portraying Peter Pan are phenomenal.