what do you say to the characters...?

[jubileegirl]

Going to Disney for the 4th time in July but just with our youngest -15, gorgeous girl but SO stroppy at times (then plonks herself on your lap and asks for a cuddle and you have a real problem knowing where to put your hands to avoid another strop! Anyone relate?)
Anyway, on all our other 3 trips we were heavily into meeting the characters, getting autographs etc so I asked our gorgeous daughter who she wanted to meet this time and what she would say. She said without any hesitation that she wants to meet Mulan, who is her absolute heroine, but just as much as Mulan she wants to meet Mary Poppins to say that she too is 'practically perfect in every way'.
This made me wonder what people say to the characters to provoke a really good reaction eg creeping up behind Capt. Hook saying 'tick tock'. Any good stories?

 

[HollyJoy]

This is one area that we are doing our homework in! I've heard that if you ask the characters questions pertaining to them... i.e... ask Cinderella how the mice are... they'll go right into character. So, my girls are actually coming up with a list of questions or comments to make to each of their favorite characters.

When we were on our honeymoon, we ran into Snow White, and she kept fawing all over DH because he had on a Tshirt with Dopey on the front. It was quite funny to see her "flirting" with him due to his shirt.

 

[Joan S.]

HI, You can really have fun with Chip and Dale. Try telling Dale that Chip is CRAZY! Or tell Chip that HE is YOUR favorite when Dale can hear you! When My son was about 4 he wanted to take Chip home with us and kept telling him we had room in the car for him! This got a GREAT reaction and BIG hugs from Chip. Joan

 

[wdwdvcdad]

as a father of 3 girls, I am dying to know: What does "stroppy" mean?

 

[wannabee princess]

One of our all-time memories was from when ds (7yo at the time) went up to Cruella DeVil and went "ruff-ruff". It is not a memory he (at 9) likes to have me refresh! She grabbed his arm and told him to apologize. He got very suprised! He wouldn't cry in front of her, but the minute we left the greeting area, the tears came. A couple of years ago, a Cruella saw this same ds in a shirt with a dog on it and she was not happy! She acted like she wasn't going to take his autograph book to sign.

When he was about 3, we had Snow White giving us an autograph and the Queen was right there making horrid faces at her - ds would not get close to her for the picture!

 

[mmbrown386]

Originally posted by wannabee princess
One of our all-time memories was from when ds (7yo at the time) went up to Cruella DeVil and went "ruff-ruff". It is not a memory he (at 9) likes to have me refresh! She grabbed his arm and told him to apologize. He got very suprised! He wouldn't cry in front of her, but the minute we left the greeting area, the tears came. A couple of years ago, a Cruella saw this same ds in a shirt with a dog on it and she was not happy! She acted like she wasn't going to take his autograph book to sign.

When he was about 3, we had Snow White giving us an autograph and the Queen was right there making horrid faces at her - ds would not get close to her for the picture!

That's horrible! I know they are in character, but go easy. If my 5 yr DD walked away crying after talking to a character, I'd have to say something to that character. It would break my heart to see her upset over something a character said to her, not realizing it's just an act.

 

[ravengirl]

OOOH! a Disney lover from Bristol!!!!! and we thought we were the only ones in the neighbourhood!!

We have had so many fantastic reactions from characters over the years from a flirting belle who left lots of lipstick kisses on DH's face during the princess breakfast which he loved every moment of, to Dale hiding my back pack in the bushes pretending he had lost it, to Eeyore who gave me my engagement ring!!

One of my all time favourite moments was on Sept. 12th 2001, Epcot understandably was near empty, we were wandering around world showcase where we encountered the Beast in France with not a soul around him, so we walked up to him and he kissed my hand, I said to him that he could take me to his enchanted castle any time he liked, he pointed to my DH as to say well, what about him, I said "Oh don't worry about him, he will be the candlestick" and I swear I heard a giggle!

We are going back next December for 21 days and we are counting them down!!
Cheers!
elle

 

[flessan]

strop·py
adj. Chiefly British strop·pi·er, strop·pi·est

Easily offended or annoyed; ill-tempered or belligerent.

 

[Cast Member B]

Just like the Joan S. reply above, we talk to the chipmunks. We like to tell Dale that he and his sidekick should be called "Dale and Chip," not "Chip and Dale." We explain that Dale is the real talent and has been carrying Chip for years. Dale usually likes this!

 

[Fire14]

My Dh was wearing a Grumpy Tee and snow white loved it. On our honeymoon we ran into Dopey and he was admiring my Diamond and my Dh goes right into saying it was from Drawfs Diamond mine. That made Dopeys day.

 

[jubileegirl]

wdwdvcdad,
when I say my daughter is 'stroppy' I mean that she can't help herself and goes into a - well, a strop actually! - over the silliest thing. So you think you're having a reasonable conversation about something like homework, the time she's due in, the time she spends on her mobile phone etc. and suddenly you're in the middle of a world war! It often involves stamping feet up the stairs, a door somewhere slamming, maybe tears . I expect you get the picture. The golden rule is 'do not laugh'. No matter how ridiculous the scenario or how funny it all suddenly seems, if you laugh you will really hurt your daughter's feelings, and the important thing is to allow her to calm down and come round and make her peace. I can remember my own teenage years and the tornado of emotions I could feel, often out of nowhere, and I'm fairly normal now! Our daughter has these 'stroppy' moments and then just as suddenly she's our baby again wanting a cuddle!

And hi, ravengirl! Great to hear from someone close to home! We live on the A4 as you head out of Bristol towards Bath (Brislington) and I often shop in Bath!

 

[Azune]

I realise that this is a disney site but since I am a bloke there has never been as much appeal to stand with mickey though I have waved to him in the parade and been waved to. I have stood next ariel for a pic though....
However I did speak to Doctor Doom when i went to islands of adventure and said he must be hot, and in a hammed up voiced he simply said
"yes, yes I am" I thought that was cool because they never normally speak!

 

[Daxx]

Funny you should mention sneaking up on Cpt. Hook w/ "Tick Tock" b/c that is exactly what I (a 30+ yo adult) did when we were at WDW. He chased me a little, wagging his hook at me. DS thought it was hysterical!!!!

When we were at Park Faire, DS asked Alice in Wonderland how Dinah (her cat) was and she went into this wonderful diatribe on how and what Dinah was doing. DS was fascinated!

Also, at Chef Mickey's, Goofy came up and "chatted" w/us through pantomime. DS asked him how Max was and he received a "thumbs up" sign. DS asked where Max was and Goofy pantomimed a day of fishing and then, bed (since it was past 8 pm). I asked if Max did well in school (summer break just started) and Goofy did the "So-So" w/his hand. DS was enthralled that Goofy spent so much time w/us!

DS loves to ask the characters something about "themselves" or the other characters in the movies. He's always delighted when he gets a reply!

During Star Wars week, the characters were in top form. DS and I went to meet Darth Maul ... let me tell you, this guy had the look down pat. I said to him "I bet you're a real softie!" and he just *glared* at me like he could see right through me!!! Creepy!! DS was pretty intimidated by him. Did not say a word to him!! Queen Amidala, upon meeting DS, stated "Why, you must know my friend, Anakin Skywalker!" and he was just charmed!!! And, when DS met Leia and Luke, as he left, he said "May the force be with you!" and they replied the same back.

When we went to HM, DH asked the greeter if Master Gracey was "hangin' in the attic" today and the greeter said "Master Gracey always hangs in the attic" in that oh-so-creepy voice.

I'm always amazed at how well the characters keep it together and can play upon things w/children and adults alike!

 

[jubileegirl]

Quick claim to fame here as we're talking about Star Wars!! The guy who plays Darth Vader (Dave Prowse I think) comes from my town and his nephew was my son's best friend at Junior school! This is nothing to do with this thread - I'm just showing off slightly!!

 

[wdwdvcdad]

Originally posted by flessan
strop·py
adj. Chiefly British strop·pi·er, strop·pi·est

Easily offended or annoyed; ill-tempered or belligerent.

AH, thank you so much...I didn't even think to look it up (I'm an english teacher, I should know better). I thought it was a coloquialism or something.

 

[wdwdvcdad]

Originally posted by jubileegirl
wdwdvcdad,
when I say my daughter is 'stroppy' I mean that she can't help herself and goes into a - well, a strop actually! - over the silliest thing. So you think you're having a reasonable conversation about something like homework, the time she's due in, the time she spends on her mobile phone etc. and suddenly you're in the middle of a world war! It often involves stamping feet up the stairs, a door somewhere slamming, maybe tears . I expect you get the picture. The golden rule is 'do not laugh'. No matter how ridiculous the scenario or how funny it all suddenly seems, if you laugh you will really hurt your daughter's feelings, and the important thing is to allow her to calm down and come round and make her peace. I can remember my own teenage years and the tornado of emotions I could feel, often out of nowhere, and I'm fairly normal now! Our daughter has these 'stroppy' moments and then just as suddenly she's our baby again wanting a cuddle!

And hi, ravengirl! Great to hear from someone close to home! We live on the A4 as you head out of Bristol towards Bath (Brislington) and I often shop in Bath!

I teach high school....I see this every day! I have a hard time following that "golden rule", though. On the first day of class, they learn that my "golden rule" is "no whining!" I am usually able to diffuse the situation quite quickly....I am sure it will be far more difficult when my own lovely princesses start to get "stroppy". Hopefully I have a few more years, as they are 8, 6, & 2 ! thank you for clarifying!

 

[liznboys]

I made sure to say a big thank you to all the characters after getting pix taken. And they would nod (the ones that can't talk). They probably don't get thanked enough.

That's so cool about the Star Wars characters! We would love to see them someday...we are huge Star Wars fans!!

 

[hightown]

Fun thread! I'm taking note as we'll be there very soon! Next Sat we'll be at SWW bright and early.

A couple of years ago, my DD then 8 asked Chip and Dale "who's stronger". They went into a 5 minute routine! One mimed lifting her up. It was really cute and she asks them that still. Or we tell them "you're our favorite Squirrel" to see if we get a rise.

It's not a WDW trip for her unless she sees Chip and Dale!

Sharon

 

[lenshanem]

Yes, I ALWAYS tell them thank you and they always nod back.

Best experience was with Mary Poppins and Bert. They took my girls by the hand in Fantasyland and took them on the carousel for a ride with them. I had a good time talking with both of them asking them questions pertaining to the movie. They both had it down perfectly. I asked Mary if she could take my daughters off the carousel for a ride around the park on the horses and she told us Cinderella gets upset with her when she does that! And rolled her eyes... LOL

I tend to find Tigger the best to interact with, no problems with him grabbing me if you know what I mean! The girls seem to enjoy seeing him.

 

[bballmom56]

Thanks for explaining "stroppy". What a great word to describe teen age girls! The first time I read through the post.... well, I, too, should have just looked it up ! Mine wasn't too bad and is now past "stroppy" stage - she turned 20. You learn something new everyday here .