What do you say to characters?

[esrade]

I always feel stupid talking to the character "in character" even though I want my picture taken with them. I don't know if I feel stupider if they're in a head costume because the conversation is one-sided or if the person is allowed to talk. It was easier when we took my nephew a couple of years ago. Usually it's like this:

"Hi Eeyore! Can I get my picture with you?"
[Eeyore nods. We face the camera and smile.]
"Thank you Eeyore!"
[Walk away.]

I also felt stupid when talking to Hercules and Meg. What to say? I told "Meg" that I couldn't believe how much she looked like the animated Meg. It was like she was a kid at Halloween. I suppose it would be easier if I were with other adults that got into it but my husband is a very literal person (I am too, but he's worse) so he would never "play along" with stuff like, "Oh, I just loved the movie you were in. So, what's it like in Ancient Greece?"

So, what do you guys say to characters? Do you just do the short picture conversation or do you have more character interaction? I always feel badly for the characters too, since I see them treated like pieces of meat by picture/autograph seekers so I feel like I should interact with them more to make their day nicer.

 

[pearlieq]

It usually goes about the way you described. "Hi, Sully! Can I take a picture with you?" Character waves & nods. We take the picture. "Thanks! Bye, Sully" Character waves, maybe a quick hug. End of story. Pleasant, polite, and to the point!

I figure they appreciate it being polite and friendly, and it leaves them extra time to interact with the kids who actually think they're real.

Most of the time we're not particularly interested in interacting. So, if we're at a character meal we usually just wave and say hi then get back to whatever we were doing. The characters are usually pretty perceptive and just wave back, maybe offer a quick hug and move on. It works out for us!

 

[lil.disney.princess]

i guess its easier with kids there!we didnt really have this 'problem' last time we went as we only had a couple of photos taken with sully and mike,piglet eyeore and pooh bear.........so didnt really interact but we saw Belle at MGM and B&B is mine and dd1's favourite film so i thought it would be nice to have a photo with her for dd-i just asked may i have a photo taken with you please for my daughter and she smiled and said of course-and put her arm round me and had a lovely picture taken-it is one of my favourites from the trip!!

 

[WIcruizer]

One time I told Jasmine my hotel and room number, and she got a kick out of that. DW...not so much.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

One time I told Jasmine my hotel and room number, and she got a kick out of that. DW...not so much.

awesome!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I usually just have a regular conversation with them. Although they can't respond verbally, they're very good at pantomiming. Had an interesting conversation with Pluto the other day about leftover Halloween candy.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Well, at one character dinner my daughter mentioned that she was making a mess, and Jasmine said (perfectly in character), well, don't you have servants to clean that up?

And I shot back, "that would be me." She had an almighty time not cracking up and coming out of character.

We've sort of perfected talking to the 'face' characters in double entendres, so the kids are none the wiser but the grownups still get to converse

The characters inside the heads, well, I just imagine I'm talking to Goofy, just like the kids.

 

[SandraVB79]

Characters in head: can I have my picture with you - thank you for the picture

Minnie Mouse: Minnie, I love your dress!! Minnie, you have such a nice bow!!! Minnie, you have the prettiest ears!! (I know, I am crazy, who cares...)
Once in a while, when I'm at Disney, wearing my red dress with white dots, it's Minie herself who will start conversation, I just love that!! (20 mor epounds to loose, and I'll fit in the darn dress again!)

Last week, I had a wonderful conversation with the Cinderella-fairy at a character breakfast, it was really funny!! I had already my breakfast, my mom didn't and we asked if she could bibbedibobbediboo my mom's breakfast, and then we had this conversation about her not finding her magic wand...

Ahhh... it's so good to be able to act as a kid again!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I walked up to Maleficent at MNSSHP and told her I was in awe of her and her powers. Her response was, "You should be."

I had a nice conversation with Minnie at Cape May Cafe. I told her how nice she looked in her beach outfit, and proceeded to mention that she always looks nice. I had a Pal Mickey with me, and she pointed to him and held her hands against her heart.

At Ariel's Grotto (a restaurant at Disney's California Adventure) my husband was in the men's room when Mickey came to our table. I invited him to sit down and we "chatted" until my husband returned.

At a character breakfast in Disneyland Resort Paris, I asked Mr. Smee (in French) where Captain Hook was, and Mr. Smee pantomimed that he was off sleeping someplace.

At MNSSHP, I walked up to Captain Hook and asked him if he would do the honor of being the first to sign my autograph book. He responded by signing "The First and Only Captain Hook".

While you're waiting in line for pictures, just come up with something to start the conversation. The characters will happily respond.

 

[RumpleMom]

While at AK Breakfastsaurus, DH asked Donald Duck why the whole park wasn't named after him, if the first bone that had been found on the dig had been a duck bone and not a mouse bone. This really set Donald off! It was great and one of DH favorite memories.

 

[SaraMc]

On our honeymoon Dh and I saw lots and lots of Characters, I always speak to them. I always ask Pooh bear where the secret stash of hunny is etc. My husband loves all things to do with Pirates. Low and behold in MK Captain Hook is taking photo's and autograph's. In line we go. In front of us is about 6 little boys all about 5-8 years old. DH 26 at the time. He gets up to Captain Hook and hook steps back a bit. Points to the little boys and says with his hand little pointing to how tall they were, then puts his hand to DH who is not so little. So DH gets down on his knee's to be the same height as the little boys who just left. Hook then makes the motion with his hands to scrub. So DH starts to pretend to scrub. ( He say's he was scrubbing the deck) He then was told to get up by Hook touching his shoulder. The picture was of DH saluting with Hook beside him. It was great fun, I was laughing the whole way through. I went up to leave with DH and Hook takes me and puts his arm around me for pictures and there was that lovely kissing noise some of the characters make. DH said, oh no she's with me. It was great fun.

 

[Amphigorey]

As someone who is friends with the characters, I can say that they love it when adults interact with them. I think sometimes adults are shy about the characters and don't want to take time away from kids, but trust me, the characters are just as happy spending time with adults as they are with the kids!

Remember - as guests, you make magic for the characters as much as the characters make magic for you! Go ahead and curtsy to the Queen of Hearts, or tell Suzy & Perla what great seamstresses they are, or tell Donald Duck that you're his #1 fan. The key to the characters is that they love to play.

 

[SandraVB79]

As someone who is friends with the characters, I can say that they love it when adults interact with them. I think sometimes adults are shy about the characters and don't want to take time away from kids, but trust me, the characters are just as happy spending time with adults as they are with the kids!

Remember - as guests, you make magic for the characters as much as the characters make magic for you! Go ahead and curtsy to the Queen of Hearts, or tell Suzy & Perla what great seamstresses they are, or tell Donald Duck that you're his #1 fan. The key to the characters is that they love to play.

Yes, as you mention, I am sometimes "shy" about the characters. Many times when you are in line waiting to get a picture, the charater host tells you that Mickey or Donald or Cinderella have only 5 minutes left. At that point, I just want my picture taken and go on, so that many others can have their picture taken too with the character. It always makes me mad when the character has only a couple of minutes left, and in front of me are 4 children with an autograph book. Yes, they have the ight to ask for an autograph, but I still don't like those books! lol

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

One time I told Jasmine my hotel and room number, and she got a kick out of that. DW...not so much.

 

[alabamagirl]

Definitely talk to the characters, the interaction is what makes their jobs fun. I wouldn't try to monopolize their time, especially if there is a long line of kids behind you, but a funny question or comment to them that might spark a brief conversation is great.

 

[oybolshoi]

On our last disney cruise I kept missing my chance to get a picture taken with Goofy, who is my favorite. I finally caught up with him at Castaway Cay and when it was time for DH and me to have a picture I walked up to the Goofster and I said, "Where have you been all my life?"

He gave me a huge hug and then he dipped me! It was a hoot and we got some great pictures!

B.

 

[curiouser]

I get a bit shy around the characters, too.. not so much shy, as awkward. Anyway, on this last trip I decided to play around a bit and see what happened.

I was with my SO and we walked up to Donald and Daisy. I went straight to Daisy and asked her if we could swap boyfriends. SO looked shocked since I didn't tell him my plan!! Daisy grabbed on to SO and Donald started getting ready to "fight" him when I told Donald that he was getting a deal because he was getting me. It was really cute and we ended up getting a great photo of Donald hugging me and Daisy cuddling up to SO.

A few minutes later we were in the line for Lilo and Stitch. I LOVE Lilo and Stitch and have seen the movie about a billion times. I asked Stitch if he'd had his morning coffee, what his badness level was, etc.. I asked Lilo how she was and how Noni (her sister) was. Lilo grabbed my autograph book back, turned to the last page and wrote "I locked her out of the house again". We read it when she gave it back to us and had the biggest laugh. It was such a great moment!

 

[yellowfish78]

You know, I was also wondering about this! This is a great topic of discussion! I remember seeing Minnie, Chip and Dale Character Barn (if that's what it's called.) They shut the door behind us, and I kinda freaked...not because we were "locked in" but because I didn't know what to do... Soon all three of them were playing tag and I still didn't know what to do because they didn't include us! So thanks for the great ideas everyone!!! I'll be prepared for the next time I go!

 

[MainStreetFan]

I asked the Fairy Godmother if she was aware of any other princesses that needed a Fairy Godmother. Or if she needed a Stunt Double.

 

[pxlbarrel]

At one character dining dinner, my brother and I were feeling mischievous. We were adults surrounded by tables and tables of children. Anyway, we tried to solve a mystery...we asked Max (Goofy's son), who and where is mother was. hehe Max backed away from the table and shook his finger at us. hehe I dunno...we always wondered y'know.