What are you really thinking?

[Stduck]

I'm a Donald nut. Anyone who knows me gives me a good hard time about this. I have a back stage character story that made my day. It was raining and everything was canceled. I ERed cause I was wet and wanted to go home. I was walking back to go clock out and a Character Host, Mickey, Minnie, and Donald were walking towards CFA with 1 umbrella. I asked if they could use a hand and offered my umbrella. Donald rushed to my side to get under the umbrella. It made my day, I walked them to where they needed to go, got a hug from Donald and then felt on top of the world for the rest of the day. I still talk about this. What can I say Donald makes my day even just seeing him in the parade.

[tenprincess]

I loved working timekeeper because I got to see stitch! My favorite moment though was one time stitch wanted to ride buzz lightyear, so I escorted him through the back door, and I joking told one of my coworkers he (stitch) was my boyfriend, and at that time stitch took my arm and gave me a *kiss* on the cheek. After he got on the ride, I said "call me"! the guests around for the situation laughed and it still makes me smile..

[lady ulrike]

I get kind of the same thing...I have many characters I like, but when any character gets on my boat, (at Storybook they ride all the time, especially the Princesses) I get a little giddy inside. I know they're just doing a job, but still it's fun and the guests are always excited.

[dlaurora1955]

Same thing with me and storybook. If I get a character on my boat that I really like (Alice, Wendy, Aurora, or Cinderella) I get giddy inside and theme a little to them with my narration or an introduction to them. Once we had Snow White, Aurora, Cinderella, and Belle come on with a 45 minute span and it was chaos, but still great fun!

It's just always fun to see people be the characters and many do a wonderful job of it!

[leftcoaster]

It really depends on the guest. I have no problem with fanatics who are so overjoyed to see the character. They're actually a lot of fun! -because they're much more appreciative of what you do. It's like they know what we're going through. (We hear the phrase "God, You must be so hot in there!" about 75 times a day.)
So when I see a middle aged woman who is wearing a t-shirt with the character I'm portraying waiting in line (usually hopping up & down with excitement) I simply smile and say to myself, "Okay... here we go."
I'll usually do a little more animation with the guest, because they'd understand & get it. When they are that much of a fan, you know it will be the highlight of their trip. They probably spent a lot of time asking where they could find you and what time. So they always get a little extra magic from me. (-I won't speak for everybody in the department, though.)
But there are guests who are just obnoxious. These are the same ones who crack themselves up by posing in those wooden characiture murals with holes to stick your face through. You don't want to do too much around them, cause they'll never leave. Extra animation, hugs, and kisses just encourages them to do more. More pics, more not-so-funny comments about who they think is inside, more dancing... eventually they start ticking off the other guests who are patiently waiting their turn.
You just have to gauge the audience and know when to play and when to go on auto-pilot.
And as far as the question "what are you really thinking?" goes....
I'm usually thinking "Oh god, why do guys who have hair all over their body and don't shower wear tank-tops???"

What about adults who just want to give a hug to Pooh, Tigger, or Eeyore? ;) Last Christmastime, my wife and I spotted them coming on stage in the UK. They entered the last shop, where the picture area was. They had their Chistmas wear on, so we got a picture with them that we will use for our Christmas cards next year. We're adults that act like kids at heart. We are rather subdued, but getting a hug from a character puts a smile on our faces and a smile in our hearts. No jumping around while in line, no pushing kids out of the way - in fact, we have even allowed some (nice) "impatient" kids in front of us :) No, we don't stick our heads through wooden cutouts. We don't ask the characters "out of character" questions. We just enjoy what you - ALL YOU CM's - do. :)

[sandravb79]

Frankly, I think the OP is rather rude. When I (26) go to Disney, it is almost always with my mom (56)(in two days she'll be 56 actually). We both absolutely adore Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and being able to get a picture with them is about the number one reason why we pay huge amounts of money to spend a vacation in a theme park, instead of on a tropical beach with sexy waiters bringing exotic cocktails.

I think it's great when adults get all exited about characters, because it shows that Disney succeeded in its magic, Disney succeeded in the make-belief it's all real (of course it's real, that's really Mickey Mouse, duh-uh, who else has such big ears, except from Minnie??????? )

Sorry, just had to say that :)

[PirateJohn]

I get kind of the same thing...I have many characters I like, but when any character gets on my boat, (at Storybook they ride all the time, especially the Princesses) I get a little giddy inside. I know they're just doing a job, but still it's fun and the guests are always excited.

I almost had to laugh when I was in the wheelhouse of the Mark Twain and Woody and Jesse boarded the boat. They do this a lot, but on this particualr occasion, Jesse showed up int he wheelhouse to take the trip up there.

When she got to the top with her host, I heard a muffled voice inside say, "nice to meet you, my name is..."

One of those things you just don't expect...

[Sweetums]

Frankly, I think the OP is rather rude.

Hmmmm...I didn't sense anything rude in the post. I think she was just curious about what people in the costumes felt about adults who get the same kind of child-like glee as our younger patrons of the park when they meet a character. As I stated before, I don't mind it at all. But I don't speak for everybody. I know there are a few tempermental people in costume who would consider an overly-excited adult hugging a character as a freak. Not saying that I haven't met my share of actual freaks, (anyone who legally changes their name to their favorite Star Wars character is asking for their boarding pass to freakdom) but I have a no problems with extroverts. It makes the job interesting! And if you're on vacation and get a chance to act like a kid again, what better place to do it than DisneyWorld?

[mentu]

^Linda Skywalker? We all know her.

[Sweetums]

You said it. I didn't. -but she really freaked out our Luke's & Leia's on more than one occasion. :c3p0: