Thinking back to days of old in Walt Disney World, there are many things that Doctor Disney truly misses and remembers. Dreamflight was one of my favorite attractions over in Tomorrowland. I could never get enough of Kitchen Kabaret.
But, the things that I miss aren’t always just “lost” attractions or restaurants or characters. Sometimes, it’s just the essence or aura or magic that has disappeared over the years.
WARNING: Some of this may not be the best to read for those that don’t want to lose a touch of magic here and there. It is most likely nothing that you don’t already know, but talking about some sensitive topics here.
Remember when characters used to be in only one place at a time in a Disney park? Doctor Disney does.
Back in the day, characters would be in their certain areas for meet-and-greets. If the time for the three o’clock or nighttime parade came about, that meet-and-greet would shut down for 45 minutes to an hour if that character was in the parade.
You’ve got to think about the magic here.
If you’re visiting Mickey Mouse in his house over in Mickey’s Toon Town Fair; he can’t very well be on a float in the parade as well now, can he?
Things have certainly changed over the years, and it doesn’t appear as if that magic is something that is being held true. It became obviously noticeable to me last year during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
While waiting for the nighttime parade to begin, I ran to get a drink by the Diamond Horseshoe Revue where Woody was inside having a dance party. The line for drinks was a 
little long so the parade started passing by while I waited and along came a float…that had Woody on it waving to everyone. I glanced back inside the Diamond Horseshoe and there dancing away…was Woody.
There are numerous instances now, mostly at the Magic Kingdom, where characters are in multiple locations at the same time.
Editor’s Note: This article was written before the “Festival of Fantasy” Parade took over for “Celebrate A Dream Come True.” Now, Merida’s meet-and-greet at the Magic Kingdom actually does close when it’s time for her to be in the parade, but some other instances still remain.
- Ariel is in her grotto for meet-and-greets at the same time she is in the “Celebrate A Dream Come True” parade
- Belle is in Belle’s Enchanted Tales at the same time she is in the “Celebrate A Dream Come True” parade
- The same can be said for Mickey and Minnie and other Disney Princesses up in the Town Square Theater
- Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Minnie over in Pete’s Silly Sideshow and the parades, Town Square, etc…
- Things are really going to get weird when Cinderella is in Princess Fairytale Hall, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and “Celebrate a Dream Come True” all at the same time
Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it doesn’t bother anyone else. Maybe I’m making something out of nothing.
To me, it is an important part of the magic and something that a lot of people don’t think of a whole lot. Maybe that’s a good thing because then they won’t realize it.
As for me, it pains me to see it every single time.
As a cast member who worked at TST(town square theater) for over a year, it bothered most of us too. I get why they don’t shut it down because truth be told most guests don’t have a clue and don’t think about characters being in two places.
Thanks for saying your part, Ben. It has bothered me for a long time, but I’m not an idiot. I’m a former CM as well and I know how feasible it is now to keep characters out all over the place for meet-and-greets, attractions, parades, etc… It just still gets to me because I’m a naturalist in many ways when it comes to Disney, and this one bugs me a lot.
At AK yesterday they closed the Mickey/Minnie meet and greet because they were in the parade. I watched it across from adventures outpost and they were telling people to come back after the parade because they were in it.
Really? That’s actually quite phenomenal in my book, and I had no idea that this was still practiced anywhere on property. Thank you for the heads-up, Carly.
Well, I’m not a former CM, and it bothers me. I remember my first visit to Mickeys Toon Town Fair. It was my family and my sisters family. We were split when we went to meet Mickey. At the time I didn’t understand, until we were leaving and I saw another Mickey. I was shocked. I remember saying it out loud and a suit dress CM, shhhh’d me and told me not to ruin the magic for the kids. When I went on the Behind the Scene Tour last year, I asked the cast member what happen to only one Mickey out at a time? They told me its like Santa, Mickey has a lot of helpers.
No matter how many people tell me that “times have changed” or “it’s good for business” or “it is better for the kids” nowadays…that doesn’t matter to me. The magic behind it all has always been that there is ONE Mickey Mouse…ONE Donald Duck…etc…
My parents had to have their kids wait when the parades were going on so that we could go in and see Mickey or other characters. I don’t see why the half an hour here and there would hurt anyone now.
Shame on the CM who told you there isnt only one mickey, its in our training. It doesnt really bother me most people dont notice it, i certainly didnt as a kid.
To me, proximity is key. You shoudln’t be able to be with a character in a building and look out a window and see the character outside. I don’t mind as much if they are in Fantasyland and Main Street at the same time.