Every once in a while a Disney parks-centered story breaches containment and is picked up by a cross-section of non-Disney media. Generally this is triggered by some form of bad behavior, real or perceived. The kerfuffle currently making the rounds surrounds an awkward girl and Disney face characters.
I’m not going to pass judgment on this situation as I don’t necessarily think we have enough information to determine whether or not all this bad press is necessary (and, consequently, will not be referencing it directly; iykyk). But it did make me think about my own character interactions in the past as an awkward girl,* and how I’ve learned to avoid some of the more obvious pitfalls of this particular subsection of Disney attractions. I’d like to think that none of us are so awkward as to be beyond rehabilitation, so let’s talk it through, shall we?
* Whereby “Awkward Girl” I of course mean “Awkward Gender of Your Choice”
WAIT, WHAT ARE FACE CHARACTERS?
Firstly, I’d like to clarify what I mean by face character, as this is largely Disney – or at least theme park – lexicon.
Regardless of your level of Disney fandom, you are doubtless aware that many character meet and greets are available at the theme parks. These range from Mickey and Minnie Mouse in various specialized outfits to princesses to villains to Marvel heroes. All are obviously portrayed by actors; what separates them is their style of costume.
Fur characters have full, often plush suits that cover the head. Disney tends to use fur characters for animals as well as some stylistic human characters, such as Miguel from Coco or Frozone from The Incredibles. These characters do not speak.
Face characters, on the other hand, are basically just people with elaborate outfits, wigs, and makeup that make them resemble a human film character. I think just about every princess falls into this category, as do many villains. These characters can and do speak directly to guests in unique conversation.
WHY IS THAT AWKWARD?
For those of us with social anxiety, interacting with people – even nice Disney people – can be a bit nerve-wracking. Sometimes the vibes get off, we don’t know how to get them back on, and we panic… or we even just anticipate them being off, start to pre-panic, and the vibes go off because of the negative feedback loop.
This goes double for face characters, as not only are we expected to read body language, we now also have to talk. Eek! What to do?! What to say?!
Again, if you’re the naturally charismatic type, this might all sound like nonsense. Fair enough; you don’t need this post. Fly free!
If you’re nodding along, however, fear not – Disney character interactions are actually pretty easy to navigate with a little forethought. Read on for some of my best Awkward Girl tips for coming out of your next meet and greet feeling good, as well as some Instagram reader submissions. You’ll be a Disney extrovert yet!
WITH FACE CHARACTERS, PREPARATION IS KEY
Face characters are actors, so you know they rehearsed a bunch before they starting greeting guests. It’s only fair that you rehearse to meet them too.
I’m not suggesting you script out your conversation in advance, as that could ultimately send you into a tailspin if your conversation partner goes off book. However, I find it extremely helpful to have a topic at the ready. Identify some common ground and break the ice with it.
For example, during my visit to Disney’s California Adventure I met with Hiro from Big Hero Six. I noticed while in line that his sneakers were somewhat similar to mine. As I walked up for my turn I immediately pointed this out to him. We briefly discussed our respective outfits, I requested my Baymax-style fist bump, and I walked away without feeling like too much of a weirdo. The key is to know where you want to start, and the rest can flow from there.
Not sure where to begin? No problem! How about you
STEP INTO THEIR WORLD
Disney character performers don’t just look the part – they also have an exhaustive understanding of their own lore. They stand ready to respond to questions about their specific worlds, including characters and plot points from their movies.
Therefore a character’s movie is always a perfect jumping off point for conversation. Pose a sufficiently layered question and it might just get them talking – in which case all you have to do is nod, smile, and laugh at the right moments.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to ask after a canon friend or family member. You could inquire of Cinderella whether her mice are working on any new dresses. See if Pocahontas has any sage wisdom to share from Grandmother Willow. Ask Ariel how often she sees Flounder now that she lives on land. You get the idea.
Can’t think of a good question on your own? The internet can help! Ask your favorite social media grouping what character inquiries got them to fun responses and steal the best ones.
CONSIDER MORAL SUPPORT
Hey, Disney won’t make you meet characters alone – bring a buddy!
This can’t just be any buddy, though. It needs to be someone who is more comfortable with character interactions than you are, lest you cling to each other and drown. Some might argue that bringing a child is a cheat code to meet and greets, but I don’t know about that; a lot of kids are scared of characters. Unless you’re touring with a confident and friendly child, a young companion might help more than hurt.
Naturally a friend is best for this situation, ideally someone in whom you can confide your nerves and who can subsequently steer the conversational ship. Let them lead, and interject when you feel ready. Or not at all! Dopey is mute; why can’t you be? Just don’t forget to smile so everyone knows you’re having fun. 🙂
Park touring solo? Talk to one of the Cast Members manning the meet and greet. Ask them if there’s a particular line of questioning or activity that the character performer enjoys and give that a shot. You may also request that, should they sense the energy flagging, they suggest jumping to the photo op as a means of ending the moment.
Which leads me to
HAVE AN EXIT STRATEGY
It is generally well established that when a character suggests you take a photo together they mean to wind down your time together. If they bring it up first, don’t fight it, even if you still had more planned. Take your picture, thank them for their time, and try again another day.
Alternatively, if they haven’t brought it up and you feel like you’re ready to get out, there’s no rule that you can’t politely request the photo yourself! Snap the picture, thank them for their time, and mosey on out of there.
Either way, it’s a better idea to err on the side of understaying your welcome rather than overstaying it. There are other people waiting, and you don’t want to take up too much time. This is especially important in Disneyland, where characters are often free-roaming as opposed to Walt Disney World’s more formal, queued up attractions. If you’re not always good at picking up on social cues, let a character walk away from you unless they expressly invite you along. Better safe than overbearing!
Incidentally, you may want to plan your photo pose in advance. Emphasis on YOUR – don’t try to force the character actor into anything.
MAYBE TRY THESE… OR MAYBE DON’T
Some strategies are a bit riskier. They could pay off, or they could go south. Proceed with caution with the following.
You may wish to bring something for a character to sign, such as an autograph book, picture frame, or poster. The autograph book is solid. For other items, there may be some instances where a character will refuse for their own reasons. Accept it and move on.
Similarly, if you request that a character dance with you, sing with you, hug you, or anything else physical, they may say no. Again, accept it and move on.
Breaking the fourth wall is almost never going to land. Character actors are locked into their portrayal. I mean, yes, everybody there knows that Anna and Elsa aren’t really Anna and Elsa, on account of because the “real” Anna and Elsa are animated, fictional characters. But per Disney policy, they’re not about to admit it. Don’t ask them how long they’ve lived in Orlando or what other jobs they’ve worked or anything else that references The Real World. I did run into an Aladdin once who mentioned working the WDW Marathon course the day before, so it’s not impossible that they might bring it up themselves. In that case, roll with it! But don’t try to pop the Disney bubble yourself.
I’m fairly confident you should not attempt to offer a character any kind of tangible gift. I wouldn’t risk it myself.
Remember, if you ever feel uncertain if you’re understanding something correctly, you can always ask!
A QUICK NOTE ON runDISNEY CHARACTER STOPS
Meeting characters on a runDisney race course? Unclench! The nature of character photo stops is completely different. In most cases you jump in for your photo, say thank you, and leave. Nothing else to it; there isn’t time. You might exchange a sentence or two but in my experience that’s like 10% of cases. All you need to remember is
RESPECT IS THE WATCHWORD
I probably don’t even have to say this, but remember, the most important thing about all of this is to be respectful, polite, and appropriate.
Awkward feels icky while it’s happening, but it’s ultimately okay. No one gets hurt with awkward. Being rude? Rude! Trying to get a princess’s phone number? Gross! Unwanted physical contact? A great way to get yourself banned with Disneyland! Keep your hands to yourself and your words family-friendly and you’ll be fine.
HEY, YOU’RE AN ADULT! WHY ARE YOU EVEN MEETING CHARACTERS?
By now I hope you’re feeling a bit more confident about your next face character meet and greet at the Disney park of your choice. There’s one final note I want to address: why are adults meeting characters, anyway?
I’ve seen this point brought up many times in reference to cringe Disney behavior. And from some angles I get it. Children love characters because they believe that they’re meeting the real deal. Adults don’t believe that, so why are they even there?
I can only speak from my perspective, but here’s what I like about character encounters: they’re kind of a combination of interactive theater and performance art. Character actors are professionals, and a good one deftly guides guests through a short improv. For a fleeting moment, you become a part of their performance. A standard character encounter is a fun little diversion. In superlative cases, when the chemistry is just right, you can walk away with a hilarious or heartfelt tale to tell. Maybe both.
So don’t let the killjoys get you down. Use these tips, comport yourself well, and you’ll be a-okay. Now go make yourself a Disney memory!
Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!