Whether or not you’re a personality hunter or experience diehard who has by no means finished a devoted meet & greet, I feel all of us can agree that seeing Minnie & Mickey Mouse or different beloved furry buddies at Walt Disney World is thrilling. That’s doubly true after they’re uncommon characters who seldom make appearances.
Ever since Walt Disney World introduced again Figment’s meet & greet at EPCOT (to traces which are nonetheless lengthy as of 2024!), I’ve been fascinated with how different uncommon characters may make a comeback to Walt Disney World. Regardless that I’m not a hardcore character individual, I do get pleasure from seeing and assembly the distinctive ones, and assume they add so much to the parks.
Seeing uncommon characters at Walt Disney World is one thing particular–no joke. I’m going to cease in need of calling it “magical” as that’s cliche and overused, however recognizing a uncommon character appears like capturing a coveted Charizard from a pack of Pokemon playing cards. It’s slightly victory value savoring, even if in case you have 0 attachment to the character in query. It’s addictive, and makes me perceive how folks get into character looking.
One of many difficulties with bringing again uncommon characters is logistics. Character looking has been “a factor” for many years, nevertheless it’s actually been dialed up a number of notches within the web period. Now, the whole lot is on-line immediately and there are guides for locating uncommon characters. The probabilities of stumbling on all of them alone in random spots throughout coaching periods (as used to occur on a regular basis) looks as if a factor of the distant previous.
Fairly merely, demand is greater for uncommon characters and fan favorites. An excellent instance of that is on the Halloween and Christmas events, the place Jack Skellington continues to fulfill (and different uncommon characters just like the Seven Dwarfs have beforehand appeared). His line is routinely a number of hours lengthy throughout that tough ticket occasion…that means company are paying ~$25 an hour simply to face in line to fulfill him.
We’ve seen this play out in even worse methods previously. The notorious Villains Unleashed particular occasion largely centered round uncommon characters, most of which ended up having multi-hour lengthy traces. As did Visitor Relations on the finish of the night time, with folks requesting refunds as a result of the get together went so badly. (For what it’s value, I really loved Villains Unleashed, however I acknowledge what a spectacular failure it was for many followers.)
Actually, I don’t have a terrific answer for all of this. Villains Unleashed was virtually a decade in the past, at a time when social media was nonetheless in its nascent years. The parks are way more common now and character appearances continuously go viral, fueling much more demand.
Maybe the answer is extra spontaneous appearances of free-roaming characters. That is how Disneyland does issues, with far much less regimented character appearances than at Walt Disney World. Not solely does this eradicate predictability and people multi-hour traces, nevertheless it permits character interactions to unfold organically in memorable and enjoyable methods.
One other various could be having uncommon characters seem not at devoted meet & greets, however within the ‘greeting’ places (a la Winnie the Pooh within the grass over by Journey into Creativeness) which are distanced from company and thus, usually, extra environment friendly (and in addition a whole lot of enjoyable).
However I digress. The purpose right here isn’t sensible options for a way uncommon character appearances may work, operationally, at Walt Disney World. It’s itemizing those we wish to return probably the most!
Roger Rabbit – Who doesn’t love Roger Rabbit? Effectively, it looks as if lots of people. His film is on par with the Rocketeer relating to forgotten Disney masterpieces and his darkish experience is criminally underrated.
Regardless of being a morass of rights points, I’m nonetheless hopeful {that a} sequel–or one thing of substance utilizing Roger Rabbit–will finally minimize via the egos and crimson tape. Roger Rabbit looks as if the right property for a revival in immediately’s popular culture panorama that loves nostalgia, popular culture influences, sharp humor, and meta-references. Maybe I’m biased, however I additionally assume Roger Rabbit could be the right mascot for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Prince Eric & Max – When it first got here out, I beloved The Little Mermaid. I didn’t care a lot in regards to the precise plot or the primary characters–I beloved the songs, undersea setting, and the aquatic creatures and above-water critters. Sebastian, Flounder, Scuttle, and Max have been my favorites; once I reenacted the film as a child, it was actually nearly them.
It’d be cool to see any of them as meet & greets, however Max is basically the one one that may have a enjoyable persona as a fur character who interacts with company. (To be trustworthy, I’ve no want to fulfill Prince Eric. Nonetheless, this listing is a “we” factor and I’m guessing Sarah may disagree barely. Plus, I’ve solely ever seen Max with Prince Eric, so that they may be a bundle deal.)
Ludwig von Drake – If anybody ever made the unwise resolution of permitting me to instruct a course in something, I might enlist the erudite, eccentric, and egotistical professor Ludwig Von Drake to help. (That means I’d play previous episodes of Walt Disney’s Great World of Colour for the category as a substitute of doing any precise educating.) The one main animated character Walt created for tv, Professor Von Drake is Donald Duck’s father’s brother.
I first grew to become a fan of Ludwig von Drake due to D23 occasions again within the day, his theme track, and “An Journey in Colour/Mathmagic Land,” the primary Great World of Colour episode. He’s one of many wittiest and most satirical characters, Ludwig looks as if certainly one of a bygone period. I’d like to see him within the parks extra–and would an academic Disney+ sequence be an excessive amount of to ask for? I would want it sometime.
Aristocats – Considered one of my greatest regrets is just not naming our cat, “Thomas.” Sarah and I have been enormous followers of the Aristocats on the time he determined to stay with us, he seems much like Thomas O’Malley, and a cat with the identical title as me would’ve been the right crime.
Round that point, we additionally observed that Marie from the Aristocats appeared a ton at Walt Disney World. After I requested a Character Attendant about this, they mentioned she was one of many prime character requests they obtained. It’s a kind of issues I didn’t imagine then and don’t imagine now, nevertheless it nonetheless caught with me all these years as one thing that I wish to be true.
As I end penning this, I’m probably not certain why I’ve shared these two random anecdotes. I don’t assume they’ve added something of worth to this submit, and I ought to in all probability delete them. But, I wouldn’t have something higher to say apart from, “I like cats.”
Mickey’s Christmas Carol Characters – Throughout the inaugural (and solely) Merriest Nites at Disneyland, one of many highlights was the meet & greet with Mickey’s Christmas Carol characters. Minnie and Mickey Mouse have been carrying new costumes as Emily and Bob Cratchit, and so they rotated with Ebenezer Scrooge and Goofy Marley (certainly one of my all-time favourite character costumes, ever).
Whereas I’d desire Muppet Christmas Carol characters (think about Statler and Waldorf as Marley & Marley–or higher but, a human-size Rizzo the Rat as Charles Dickens!), these have been fairly superior. That was just one 12 months in the past, so we all know these costumes nonetheless exist someplace. It’d be superior to see them reappear at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Celebration in Magic Kingdom!
Jedi Mickey & Darth Goofy – Star Wars Weekends appears like a fever dream lower than a decade after the final one was held. Simply take into consideration Hyperspace Hoopla, Legends of the Power Parade, the seminars, the loopy merchandise, or character meet & greets. Are you able to think about any of that taking place now? It appears like the traditional previous, despite the fact that it wasn’t that way back.
The get together began to finish when Disney acquired LucasFilm, and determined that Star Wars characters wanted to be handled with extra “integrity.” Nearly instantly, all the wilder character crossovers have been nixed and Hyperspace Hoopla was cancelled. Over time, we additionally misplaced the tamer character costumes, like Jedi Mickey, Darth Goofy, and Stormtrooper Donald Duck.
As somebody who is simply an off-the-cuff curiosity in Star Wars, I miss this. I feel the franchise is inherently absurd, however takes itself method too significantly. Star Wars Weekends have been a time when it may lean into the sillier facet of Star Wars, and the occasion was flat out enjoyable. I nonetheless maintain out hope that sometime Disney will loosen up about Star Wars and this occasion will return. I’d additionally like to see a Vehicles Land overlay, if solely so I can meet Darth Mater.
Scuba Mickey Mouse – This one really isn’t tremendous uncommon or lengthy misplaced. On World Oceans Day, Scuba Mickey Mouse has made appearances within the Dwelling Seas aquarium to commemorate the event occasionally. Seeing him a few years in the past was lifelong want success. The promotional VHS tapes of my childhood all contained footage of two characters in Future World: Figment and Scuba Mickey. Between the Boy Meets World proposal at Coral Reef and photographs of Scuba Mickey, seeing this character would’ve been on my WDW bucket listing as a baby.
Judging by the reactions of each single individual–youngsters and adults–within the Dwelling Seas pavilion who noticed Scuba Mickey, he was the spotlight of everybody’s day at Epcot. Mickey Mouse scuba diving in one of many largest man-made ocean environments on the planet is the form of unforgettable “little factor” that completely defines (or ought to outline) Walt Disney World.
It’s seemingly insignificant, nevertheless it leaves an enduring impression–an indelible reminiscence that company will cherish lengthy after they’ve forgotten which rides they rode or reveals they noticed. Seeing Scuba Mickey Mouse is the form of factor that made so many people Disney followers within the first place, and is the kind of expertise that retains us coming again. Extra company ought to have that have–it’s completely value no matter price there’s in paying Mickey Mouse a bonus to go scuba diving each day.
Disney Afternoon – Like all kids of the Nineteen Nineties, I used to be mainly raised by the Disney Afternoon. (Hey, it’s higher than being raised by YouTube!) I beloved Darkwing Duck, TaleSpin, and DuckTales. Nonetheless, I used to be completely obsessed with Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers as a child. Not solely did I watch the present religiously, however I had a surplus of their toys, and even constructed Rescue Rangers “scenes” out of LEGO. Regrettably, I even had a Rescue Rangers jumpsuit that I wore on a regular basis to highschool. It was the Nineteen Nineties, man, type was wild!
In any case, it has introduced me far more pleasure than I ever would’ve imagined regularly assembly Disney Afternoon characters as an grownup. We used to make journeys to “The Teardrop” in Mickey’s Toontown Truthful at Magic Kingdom simply to see in the event that they have been there. (They by no means have been.) The primary one I ever noticed was Launchpad at EPCOT on one of many random coaching days and I used to be completely overjoyed.
Since then, we’ve met just about all the characters at random Disneyland occasions. I’d like to see all of them at Walt Disney World once more. I can’t be the one millennial who would overpay for a 90s nite at Magic Kingdom. Much more than that, I’d love a Disney Afternoon takeover over Storybook Circus–similar to what occurred in Toontown again through the 90s (to not date myself or something…nevertheless it blew my thoughts as a child).
Cheshire Cat – I like cats.
Orange Hen – Created particularly for Walt Disney World the place he was the consultant of Magic Kingdom’s Sunshine Pavilion, the Orange Hen was an initiative to advertise the Florida Citrus Fee. The character was a staple of Adventureland through the Seventies and 80s, however pale away by the Nineteen Nineties.
Walt Disney World, Imagineering, and the Disney Archives introduced again Orange Hen and the Citrus Swirl throughout Walt Disney World’s fortieth Anniversary. This got here after years of on-line fascination with the Orange Hen, and restricted merchandise releases to check the waters. It was a giant deal for followers on the time, because it felt like Magic Kingdom administration was listening and making an attempt to repair a few of the little issues and restore the “Disney Particulars” that made the parks particular.
Orange Hen might “solely” have been a personality created to advertise the Florida Citrus Fee, however he transcended his position as a easy promoting automobile in his years up within the Sunshine Tree. For me, Orange Hen is symbolically important and that’s precisely why I’d like to see the meet & greet character return. It’d be a welcome sign that Walt Disney World administration cares.
Lagoona Gator – Here’s a character who was born out of a want to promote plushes, however one which failed spectacularly. That is in all probability why I like him a lot. When Blizzard Seashore opened, it had a enjoyable mascot in Ice Gator. Accordingly, Walt Disney World made enhancements to Hurricane Lagoon to provide it associated a mascot: Lagoona Gator, the resident surf ace of Hurricane Lagoon…and he’s additionally a film star, rock star, artist, and extra. He had an entire line of merchandise and a meet & greet character…all of which is now gone. You may say Lagoona Gator did the entire home parks Duffy factor first.
Apparently, water park company circa the early aughts weren’t within the temper to pose of their swimsuits subsequent to an inflatable alligator (that’s what his presumably waterproof costume appeared like). Effectively, the instances have modified, and now I’m sure that company wish to meet an alligator whereas carrying swimsuits. In terms of character meet & greets, Lagoona Gator is my white whale (or alligator, because the case could also be) and I’d actually in all probability be as excited to fulfill him as I might be to see Figment and Dreamfinder once more.
BONUS: Creepy World Showcase Dolls – When you ask me, Walt Disney World doesn’t do practically sufficient to terrify kids. Certain, Haunted Mansion will be scary, however there’s nothing really traumatic. That’s why Walt Disney World ought to carry again the “EPCOT Pageant Dolls” or “Individuals of the World” walk-around characters.
Not a ton is understood about these walk-around characters from the early days of EPCOT Middle, besides that they have been recycled from America on Parade, a bicentennial parade that ran in Magic Kingdom. For causes unknown, somebody thought it’d be a good suggestion to re-outfit these characters for World Showcase, and have some ‘it’s a small world’ characters in actual life. It’s fairly simple to see why this experiment was short-lived. Nonetheless, Walt Disney World ought to carry them again for the comedic/concern issue. As Calvin’s dad would say, it could construct character.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you hunt characters when visiting the parks? Which uncommon characters are your favorites? Any that we missed? Which of them would you prefer to see reappear (or seem for the primary time) at Walt Disney world? Do you agree or disagree with our picks? Listening to your suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas or questions under within the feedback!
