January Character Round-Up

It may only be January but I've already met lots of great characters this year. I'm hoping to meet many more throughout the rest of the year.

Day Report 36 - Epcot - September 2012

I arrived at opening and went to The Seas With Nemo and Friends.

Long Lost Friends Week

This week (January 21-27) is Long Lost Friends week at Magic Kingdom. You can meet Robin Hood, Prince John, Sheriff of Nottingham, Friar Tuck, 3 Little Pigs, Big Bad Wolf, Clarabelle, Horace, Ludwig Von Drake, Scrooge, Pinocchio, Geppetto, and Jiminy Cricket. All the characters are located in Town Square and their set times are 9:00, 9:55, 10:55, 1:35, 2:30 and 3:30. None of the characters are signing autographs but they are giving out cards with their autographs on them. They're also only allowing one picture per group; no individual pictures.

Limited Time Magic -Winter Wonderland

There's a Winter Wonderland in Canada for the current Limited Time Magic promotion. There's an area set up with trees and "snow" where you can meet Donald, Daisy, Chip, and Dale. Winter Wonderland ends today and Long Lost Friends will begin tomorrow at Magic Kingdom.

Long Lost Friends Week

 

Rumors have been circulating that January21-27 will be Long Lost Friends Week at Magic Kingdom for Limited Time Magic. Rumored to appear are Ludwig Von Drake, Robin Hood unit, Pinocchio unit, Clarabelle, Horace, Scrooge, Big Bad Wolf, and the Three Little Pigs.

The list is much better than what I expected. I really didn't expect them to have any really rare characters. I'll be very interested to see how many characters are included in each 'unit'. I'm disappointed that no face characters were mentioned but I'm really excited to meet some characters that I haven't met yet.

Limited Time Disappointments

When I first heard about Limited Time Magic, I got excited. I thought there were going to be new and exciting things to do at Walt Disney World on a weekly basis. I have been proven wrong. Their first announcement was a dance party in Tomorrowland. There are dance parties in Tomorrowland all the time. It was nothing new, exciting, or even fun. (I say it's not fun because all the dance parties consist of are people shoving their kids next to the characters for pictures.)

The only announcement today has been the mention of  "new" ear hats. Ear hats that have been on sale since last year but now they are being called "new" and "limited edition".

When Limited Time Magic was first announced, I was excited for a few of the things that they mentioned. But then, I read the details, and I was much less excited. Then comes these boring announcements to kick off a year long campaign and, well, I just don't care anymore.

Long Lost Friends Week was announced but no date has been set. It sounded great until I read what characters they were going to bring out.
Lesser-known Disney characters will move from the shadows to the spotlight meet-and-greets on both coasts. Photo ops with characters that could include Flik, Clarabelle Cow, Remy, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will surprise and delight guests. And Disney guests even have the chance to vote online for which characters they want to see.
Will I go to this event? Of course but I honestly don't want to meet any of them. I've met them all and they can all be seen (not met) daily. To me, Long Lost Friends Week would include characters like Hercules, Megara, Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Darkwing Duck, Robin Hood, Stromboli, Pain, Panic, Hades, Wilbur, Lewis, Bowler Hat Guy, and many others. I can't wait to see the list of characters we'll get to vote on. I'm sure it'll include characters like Captain Hook, Pinocchio, and Lilo.

True Love Week has also been announced.
Celebrate romance and enchantment throughout Valentine’s Week with special moments and entertainment geared to lovebirds. Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park guests in special settings, prix fixe menus turn up at select restaurants and Valentine’s collectibles will be offered for the week.
This also sounded good to me because I'd love to meet the royal couples. I envisioned Cinderella & Prince Charming, Belle & Beast, Rapunzel & Flynn, Tiana & Naveen. But now, I can't help but think that it will still only be Prince Phillip and the Snow Prince at Epcot, like previous years.

Unleash the Villains has been announced with a date.
Friday the 13th in September 2013 is a special day, so Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are staying open until the 13th hour (1 a.m.). Maleficent, Captain Hook, Jafar and other Disney Villains host a dance party, complete with limited-edition collectibles and other nighttime mischief.
I love the idea of a Villains event but of course it has to be a dance party which will consist of people just trying to get pictures with the Villains. They should just bring a lot of Villains out for meet and greets.

Disney really needs to step up their game. Disneyland got The Golden Horseshoe Revue (for almost a month long) and a Three Kings Celebration. Walt Disney World got a dance party and ear hats. It would be nice if the parks were treated equally.

Favorite Moments from 2012

I had a lot of fun at Disney World in 2012. I met lots of characters, watched numerous shows and parades, rode lots of rides, attended parties, celebrated One More Disney Day, and experienced new Fantasyland. I thought I'd share some of my favorite moments from 2012.

Meeting characters at Millennium Village at Epcot.


Valentine's Day at Epcot.


Meeting Mickey and Minnie in their pajamas during One More Disney Day.