Will Characters Talk in the Near Future?

[Brian_WDW74]

I had read an article about this as well. As I understand it Mr. Potato Head will be able to point out specifics as to child, adult, color/style of clothing and other general attributes of guests in the crowd. While this is not a character that interacts on a one to one level it is an advancement.

This is exactly right. They were testing DCA's Mr. Potato Head today and a person named MintCrocodile has posted video of it. It gives a pretty good idea of the interaction that the character will provide both there and at DHS.

You can see the YouTube video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO119YsCZDQ

Or you can see it in higher-quality QuickTime video here:
http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/gallery/4430037_NehSR#274357350

 

[EltonJohn]

Has anyone heard any rumor or plan where characters would talk to guests?

I doubt that this idea would ever come to fruition.

 

[Jozymouse]

Theirs also the factor that if they were to talk, they would need the animated masks as well. To animate the masks, the performers use their fingers. So I dont know how that would work in conjunction with signing autographs and such. It would be a real nightmare for the cast member. I like the fact that the characters dont talk. A bit out fo topic but when I went to Universal Orlando they had a really freaky character: Donkey. When you were in line to meet Fiona and Shrek their was a Donkey puppet that would talk to you and their was a performer hidden somewhere that could see you. The Puppet was weird looking (only the head sticking out) but the voice was dead on. I personaly hated it. I didnt know what to say to the head talking to me!!!!

 

[WeatherbySwann]

This is exactly right. They were testing DCA's Mr. Potato Head today and a person named MintCrocodile has posted video of it. It gives a pretty good idea of the interaction that the character will provide both there and at DHS.

You can see the YouTube video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO119YsCZDQ

Or you can see it in higher-quality QuickTime video here:
http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/gallery/4430037_NehSR#274357350

That was VERY cool!

 

[lrodk]

Disney has been experimenting with talking and moving character costumes since the 60's. They just haven't hit on a final product that would stand up to the rigors of the daily theme park rounds that these costumes have to contend with. I have no doubt that they will eventually figure it all out. There are working costumes in place currently that have eyes that blink and mouths that move in synch with pre-recorded dialogue. Such costumes are reserved for very special events for wow factor, as well as the Disney traveling Ice Shows. Jim Hill mentioned this in one of his columns a while back. Click on the link below for that write-up in his column.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2006/09/07/5563.aspx

 

[darby01_2007]

It would ruin the magic!!! I talk with them backstage, and it's still weird even though I know most of the entertainers out of costume.

 

[kat777]

I'm sure they could find people with the skills but, like someone else said, finding enough people to do all the characters all the time would be crazy. And if some (non-face) characters talk to the kids and others don't, wouldn't it be confusing for them?

I suppose some kind of voice modifier would be the only way.