Why some characters more than others?

[martyshoney]

I have been reading the thread about where to find characters and the such and it got me to thinking, why are some characters easy to find and others so hard? If Disney goes to the trouble of getting a character then why not utilize it more?
Anyway, just something that has me curious and wanted to know what others thought about it, too!

 

[mla2177]

Subcribing.......................I would like to know this as well. Any Cm out there that can comment????

 

[Dan Murphy]

That is an interesting question.

 

[DisneyDadof3]

Well - I'm guessing but.... they do have to train the characters (to sign autographs the same way, appropriate way to act, to be in character, etc.) - that being said, when many people, newbies, come to the parks, they would expect to see Mickey, Minnie (the usual cast) - thus they are everywhere. People like me who character hunt wish they would put all of the characters out. However, I understand the difficulties in doing so. I would just like them to rotate the rarer one through a little more regularly.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I wonder why it is relatively easy to see Robin Hood or Firar Tuck (saw both in August in Adventureland signing autographs and posing for pics) when (a) it is an older cartoon, and more importantly (b) there is no Robin Hood ride. I am not complaining, but I just find it odd.

 

[outlander]

Finding a good Tarzan is harder than you think

 

[lillygator]

also the different heights and body sizes required for different costumes comes into play as well.

 

[martyshoney]

Well - I'm guessing but.... they do have to train the characters (to sign autographs the same way, appropriate way to act, to be in character, etc.) - that being said, when many people, newbies, come to the parks, they would expect to see Mickey, Minnie (the usual cast) - thus they are everywhere. People like me who character hunt wish they would put all of the characters out. However, I understand the difficulties in doing so. I would just like them to rotate the rarer one through a little more regularly.

I know what you are referring to, I was part of a grand opening team of a Disney Store here in La. and during our training we were told that learning how to be a character at Disney World is probably one of the hardest jobs to train for. The man who was doing our training said when in character they have to act exactly like the character, nothing can be done wrong. So with that stand I go by my original question, why go through all of this learning and than not utilize what that person has learned? I also know like someone else just posted about the size requirements but I can't see that being too big of a problem, do you???
I have no idea why but this question really has always stumped me so I am so glad to be getting others opinions on the subject!! Thanks for your comments and keep them coming!

 

[mla2177]

Subcribing.......................I would like to know this as well. Any Cm out there that can comment????

I'm answering my own question!!!! WDW probably does it so we all keep coming back to try and search for ones we haven't seen!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hniki234]

I wish they'd use more characters, too. While I know others have seen Daisy, I have yet to see her! I would consider her one of the main group. She is Donald's girl, after all. Also, what with Darkwing Duck and DuckTales being released on DVD, I'm hoping that WDW will have Darkwing Duck and Launchpad out more. I don't know why they don't change it up more often. I always see several Pinnochio and Robin Hood characters. Why not more of the recent characters? (I am not saying they should not use the Pinnochio or Robin Hood characters. Robin Hood is one of my all-time fave Disney movies!)

 

[angel's momma]

I wish they'd use more characters, too. While I know others have seen Daisy, I have yet to see her!

On our trip 9/26-10/3, we saw Daisy out frequently at MK & MGM.

We didn't see her at all during a 2 week trip last fall.

Hope you find her!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I have a question. Do the younger kids even know who the older characters are. (Like Friar Tuck and Little John.) There's very few Robin Hood things around WDW, (though the special edition is coming to DVD soon.) So do kids know who they are?

I remember last year, there was a family in line in front of me for Meeko, and they didn't know who he was.

 

[Joanna71985]

I have a question. Do the younger kids even know who the older characters are. (Like Friar Tuck and Little John.) There's very few Robin Hood things around WDW, (though the special edition is coming to DVD soon.) So do kids know who they are?

I remember last year, there was a family in line in front of me for Meeko, and they didn't know who he was.

Ha ha ha...no. A LOT of people do not know who Friar Tuck is. I feel so bad for him. I have not had one day go by when I am with him and someone will ask "Um, who is this?".

 

[David R]

I also know like someone else just posted about the size requirements but I can't see that being too big of a problem, do you???

Actually it kind of is. Like you said, there is a lot of training involved and only so many people that meet certain body size requirements available for X number of shifts at 4 parks.

A good friend of mine was Buzz, Pluto, Eeyore and green army man. Obviously he can only play one at a time in one park at a time, even with Disney magic and for X number of shifts a week.

Think of all of the body sizes required to play all the different characters. And then there's the face characters, those are even harder to find, train and have available at all times in multiple parks.

 

[martyshoney]

Actually it kind of is. Like you said, there is a lot of training involved and only so many people that meet certain body size requirements available for X number of shifts at 4 parks.

A good friend of mine was Buzz, Pluto, Eeyore and green army man. Obviously he can only play one at a time in one park at a time, even with Disney magic and for X number of shifts a week.

Think of all of the body sizes required to play all the different characters. And then there's the face characters, those are even harder to find, train and have available at all times in multiple parks.

Aaaahhh, yes, I do see your point, you are soooo right, I have never looked at it that way before!!! I guess I just assumed that they had to turn people away left and right who would love to be characters at WDW!!! I also said my dream job would be to be a Princess at Disney World, how wonderful of a job would that be??????

 

[lillygator]

and some are really tiny and thin.....think of Mushu (sp).....next time you see characters really look at the size of the body. I never noticed until my sister was a CM and all the training and such she went through.

 

[Fire14]

Ha ha ha...no. A LOT of people do not know who Friar Tuck is. I feel so bad for him. I have not had one day go by when I am with him and someone will ask "Um, who is this?".

I had this happen in Toontown where my Dh and I were only ones that knew who he was and his helper said to Frair when it was our turn "here's some friends who know who you are".

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I always wonder why some characters are everywhere, and some are nowhere! I would assume the easiest costumes to fit - medium/tall fur ones - would be most common. Short people (like me!) are hard to find! And face characters who look the part must not be too easy to cast. And it seems some costumes they have many of, and some they don't! (I think Disney owns tons of Gideons! ) And it seems the "Fab 7" (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Chip and Dale) needs to be filled first before the other less-known characters. So I bet there are a variety of reasons. But like another said, it makes us come to Disney repeatedly to find them all!