What's the deal with the characters?

[DisneyAddict_M]

Why are there so many characters walking around nowadays? I went in November and it was like being in a horror film (color me crazy, but I'm scared of people in costume. Stop laughing. However, I did have conversations with both Minnie and Donald. I'm so proud of myself). My trip before that was in 1996 and you could spend an entire day without seeing a character.

I think it's a good idea for the kids, but I was just wondering what brought this about?

Luckily (I think?), dd is scared of people in costume too (the face characters were okay), so I didn't have to spend too much time in character lines.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I think it's just that - For the kids.

To be honest, it just makes sense. It spreads people out better, shortens lines, brings more attention to food carts the characters are near. I applaud Disney for doing this.

Hmmm...good point. I guess I'm just too old to understand the fascination, lol.

 

[pezpam]

I am **so** not laughing at you - when I was younger, people in odd costumes just terrified me. I liked parades, but if the characters were interacting with people (clowns, parade folks, or just performers moving around a fair, etc) I was OUTTA there! I can handle it all now, so long as I'm not the one picked out of the crowd to be in the spotlight - I have polite avoidance down to a science. LOL

That said, I have to say that asking why there are so many characters walking around WDW is kinda like asking why there are veggies on a salad bar...... The characters are such an integral part of the experience that it just wouldn't be the same without them. My DD (now 7 and over her character-shyness, mostly) loves it when we're walking around and just happen to run into a character - it adds a little bit of fun surprise to the meeting that lining up just doesn't have.

 

[Michael623]

I have to say that people in costume freak me out too, especially the light up characters in Spectromagic. I never stand any closer than 30 ft away from the rest of the crowd during Spectro.