Where are all the characters that stroll through Disneyland?

[Quest4Kingdom]

I was a little disappointed that there seemed to be less characters strolling through the park. I remember this as part of what made the whole atmosphere "Disney" and magical... It just seems as though there was an absence of characters, which used to create that feeling of Disneyland/Fairytales coming alive...

At least, that's how I remember Disneyland in my childhood!
I may be alone in this though? Please tell me I'm not! ??

 

[aurorae]

Characters don't generally wander around by themselves.

They go to a meet and greet area, with a handler to keep an eye on them (especially the furs) and stay there while the guests line up to greet them.

This change happened all over Disney some time ago. I guess it was a safety issue (especially for the characters).

 

[DisneyNicole]

DisneyWorld is now the talk of the town.
People only want to visit DisneyWorld, because DisneyLand is nothing compared to DisneyWorld.
So I guess thats where all the characters are; 1,000 miles away.
I don't blame them; we are going again in November to WDW.

 

[nana50]

Wow, that is kind of rude. This is the DISNEYLAND boards. We love Disney here and we don't bash WDW. If you prefer WDW to the original Disneyland, then perhaps you should stay on the WDW boards.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Also, from what I have heard, DisneyLAND still gets really busy, so I don't know where the "people only want to visit Disney World" thing came from.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Wow, that is kind of rude. This is the DISNEYLAND boards. We love Disney here and we don't bash WDW. If you prefer WDW to the original Disneyland, then perhaps you should stay on the WDW boards.

Agreed, I get a little defensive about DL bashing.

 

[Hound 109]

But if the characters are "1000 miles away".....that would put them in Amarillo.....or Topeka???


hound <-----loves exposing geographically challenged trolls.


Everytime i go, i see my girlfriend Cruella multiple times....near the Fires Station in DL, near the Aladdin Theatre in DCA (Hyperion?)

Gotta love a place where you can see Cruella & King Louie in the same day!!

 

[barefootmomma]

We have always had the best luck seeing them out on and around Main Street in the earlier morning hours.

As far as WDW being better, if you'd rather go there by all means knock yourself out. We'll be happier at DL to see shorter lines and lesser crowds.

 

[sonnyjane]

Hmm...ignoring the troll...

OP, I go pretty frequently and see a lot of characters, but they are usually in the same spots.

I was there yesterday, in fact, and saw Chip and Dale, Cruella, Mary Poppins, a penguin, Bert, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto on Main St. near the flag pole. I commonly see Eeyore, Tigger, and Pooh near Splash Mountain. I saw Captain Hook as well near Plaza Inn, and the Mad Hatter and Alice walking around in Fantasyland.

In DCA, the characters are usually in front of the entrance to the Hollywood area. I saw Mickey, Minnie, and Chip and Dale (again) there yesterday, but wearing different outfits than in DL.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Cruella, Alice and the Mad Hatter come out to Main Street frequently in Disneyland. In the Sunshine Plaza at DCA we've seen Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Lilo, and Stitch. The Fab 5 (although Donald only infrequently in my experience) can be found in ToonTown. Pooh and friends hang out in Critter Country. Tinkerbell and her fairy friends are in Pixie Hollow near Tomorrowland. The princesses are mostly at the princess fantasy fair. Then, of course, there are always character meals, parades, and shows (Disneyland band performances, Drawn to the Magic in DCA, etc.). As for "roaming", I agree it doesn't seem to happen much compared to all these planned appearances, but sometimes you can get lucky. We have come across Peter Pan more than once roaming through Fantasyland and even hiding in bushes and startling passersby. Alice and the Mad Hatter roam often as well. Mary Poppins and Bert come out and perform near Carnation Plaza or Coke Corner. Woody and Jesse wander along the trail in Frontierland and also hang out near Paradise Bay and Toy Story Mania in DCA. We occasionally run into PUSH, the talking trash can, along the Grizzly River trail or near the Little Mermaid ride-to-be. I think our most memorable chance encounter though was with Belle and the Beast near the castle one midday about a year or two ago, but we didn't stop because as soon as other people spotted them, they were mobbed.

 

[spacemermaid]

Must...not...feed...troll...

There are still lots of Characters out & about; not as many as when I was little (the 80s...I miss Space Mickey & Minnie in Tomorrowland!), but they're around if you look.

 

[Califgirl]

I think you can ask at City Hall what characters are going to be out and when and where they will be.

 

[bumbershoot]

Characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Cruella, Alice and the Mad Hatter come out to Main Street frequently in Disneyland. In the Sunshine Plaza at DCA we've seen Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Lilo, and Stitch. The Fab 5 (although Donald only infrequently in my experience) can be found in ToonTown. Pooh and friends hang out in Critter Country. Tinkerbell and her fairy friends are in Pixie Hollow near Tomorrowland. The princesses are mostly at the princess fantasy fair. Then, of course, there are always character meals, parades, and shows (Disneyland band performances, Drawn to the Magic in DCA, etc.). As for "roaming", I agree it doesn't seem to happen much compared to all these planned appearances, but sometimes you can get lucky. We have come across Peter Pan more than once roaming through Fantasyland and even hiding in bushes and startling passersby. Alice and the Mad Hatter roam often as well. Mary Poppins and Bert come out and perform near Carnation Plaza or Coke Corner. Woody and Jesse wander along the trail in Frontierland and also hang out near Paradise Bay and Toy Story Mania in DCA. We occasionally run into PUSH, the talking trash can, along the Grizzly River trail or near the Little Mermaid ride-to-be. I think our most memorable chance encounter though was with Belle and the Beast near the castle one midday about a year or two ago, but we didn't stop because as soon as other people spotted them, they were mobbed.

Everything you said, I'll second it.

Except I've never seen Belle (outside the PFF) or the Beast (outside the holiday parade.


I've seen a princess or two wandering between Drawn to the Magic and the Animation building in DCA. I've seen Sully and the Incredibles characters in around the same place, near the Animation building. I've seen Goofy and Max over between the Aladdin theater and Monsters Inc.

I've seen Chip and Dale all over.

I've seen several princesses all holding their own lines in the area between the turnstiles and the "tunnels" to get to the City Hall area...that was cool. Also saw Jane that day in the same place. Same place, different day, Alice and Mad Hatter.

Buzz Lightyear is mentioned by name in the Entertainment Times Guide, with times for when he's out in the Tomorrowland area. And, unlike the bogus Buzz at WDW, DLR's Buzz signs his name. No sad little stamps for the DLR Buzz! (at least, the last times DS has met him)



And I must tell you...I am NOT into characters at all! My son is and DH is too. After all, as a boy he was lost, and Captain Hook found him and stayed with him until my in laws showed back up. So DH has a soft spot for the characters. But my point is, I noticed allllll these characters when I don't even have ANY interest in meeting them...so they are indeed around!!!!!

 

[bambii]

snow white witch,

tigger

eeroy spell is bad tonigh,

goofy,

woody

and jessie..

 

[WonkaKid]

A few years ago I was at one of the parks and we saw Jiminy Cricket. I was told at the time that it's rare to see him; that Disney doesn't often bring him out. Does anyone agree that it's rare to see JC (excluding parades)?

Rob

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Except I've never seen Belle (outside the PFF) or the Beast (outside the holiday parade.

Yeah. We knew that one was pretty unusual but nevertheless a good example of how once in a while those surprise magical moments happen.

 

[spacemermaid]

A few years ago I was at one of the parks and we saw Jiminy Cricket. I was told at the time that it's rare to see him; that Disney doesn't often bring him out. Does anyone agree that it's rare to see JC (excluding parades)?

Rob

I've never seen him out & about (that I can recall; he could've passed by when I was a little kid, a million years ago ), and I've been to the Park more times than I can count. (Lived nearby until a couple of years ago). So, I'd agree that your sighting was rare!

 

[Foxhound3857]

Universal characters like Mickey, Goofy, etc, can almost always be found around Main Street and any place that's going to be densely populated with tourists and visitors. You practically have to try to not find them. But you're not going to catch them walking amongst the population, especially on a crowded day. They're typically now found in specified meet and greet spots and rarely romp around on their own. They have handlers now to ensure their safety and the safety of others, notably really small children that they could easily trip or bump over without seeing (due to the limited visibility of the costumes).

As I understand it, characters aren't even allowed to pick up or hold children anymore (hug yes, but not hold), and bending down or kneeling for them is also generally recommended against because it's murder on the suit, yet the cast members that really ham it up and show love and affection towards their fans do it anyway. You can always tell a good cast member from a bad one, how they interact with people, how into the character they are. Pluto is usually very good in this regard (and he's also known to be one hell of a dancer).

As far as less known characters, they generally have a time and a specific place. One of my favorites for example, Meeko, the mischievous little raccoon from Pocahontas, can be found occasionally in Adventure Land, but not all the time. In WDW, he is usually found at Animal Kingdom, often at the outside gates, and at the Good Times Gathering Spot. But the point is that some characters are hit or miss, and you have to be in the right place at the right time to spot them.

P.S: Spacemermaid, your signature pic is amazing. lol

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

Is Jack Sparrow out and about or is he gone?

 

[Foxhound3857]

Is Jack Sparrow out and about or is he gone?

According to character finder he only makes special appearances for scheduled shows and events. But he is still around.

Google "Disney character finder." You can use that to get a pretty accurate readout on a characters location and rarity.

I'm actually surprised to find that Bolt has been spotted in odd locations and isn't officially retired like Rhino and Mittens.