Good Character

New program to keep
characters from getting clobbered

Mickey has had enough. In
an effort to protect its battered costumed characters, the Disneyland
Resort has launched a pilot program to educate guests on how to treat the
characters and to facilitate smoother “meet and greets.” Called
Mickey Mouse’s “Good Character” Club, the test began in Critter
Country at the end of September, with plans eventually to implement the
program resortwide.

This idea, explains one cast member, is to “hopefully give guests
an idea of what to expect and how to visit when they are with the
characters.” Currently, visitors are given a little handout booklet
at three locations: Pooh’s Thoughtful Spot in Critter Country, the
Information Board in the Hub, and Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel.
The booklets ask that the guests have their autograph books open and their
pens and cameras ready before it is their turn to visit the characters,
and that they be patient with the characters and other guests.

Guests are encouraged to be gentle
with the characters (“Mickey and his pals love hugs, not
tugs”), to stand in front of them so that they can see you, and to
leave them some room to move around.

On the back of the booklet is a blank space to put a “I Have Good
Character” sticker showing that they are “a member of the
club.” Stickers can be received from the Toonfinder at the
Information board.

In time, the booklets may be distributed to guests as they enter the
Main Gate. “The program is still in testing phase, but if successful,
will probably extend to all the locations, and maybe a few atmosphere
areas (Town Square, Frontierland, Adventureland, etc.),” he said.
“I definitely think they chose to test it in Critter Country because
it’s a set location, which means all the guests you’re going to see are in
line, and it’s easier to hand them out to a line, rather than a crazed mob
ganging up on Mickey in Town Square.”

Cast members in the Character
Department have mixed feelings, but overall seem optimistic.
“I hope it works” is a common refrain. More critical reaction
included:

“I think we are expecting too much from the guests.”

“It’s about time!”

“These things should also be printed in Spanish.”

“I didn’t think the guests could read!”

“Another effort by the company to dumb down to the guests’
level.”

“The program does seem good in theory, but I’m not sure if it will
work as well as they want it to,” said another employee. “The
cast members will now have the responsibility of handing the booklets out
while also trying to keep an eye open for the characters, and the guests
who don’t have autographs books just use the blank space as a scrap paper
for an autograph. Hopefully the program will get people to give the
characters (and their hosts!) a little more courtesy and understanding
when things don’t go EXACTLY as planned.”

A co-worker agreed: “I personally got a little excited when I read
about it in a mini-memo, but after working Critter Country, it’s hard to
remember to hand out the booklets as well as take care of pictures with
Pooh, and keep an eye out for kids trying to sneak in, etc. It will
definitely take a little work to get the cast members to actually remember
to hand the things out, but hopefully it will be a success.”

Promotional art © MLB

Response to last month’s article
on the success of Disney’s Anaheim Angels (“Heaven
Sent“) generated a now-moot chorus of “Go A’s!,”
“Go Yankees!” and “Go Mariners!”

More sober-minded readers included Darryl Musick, who wrote:

Great story about the hottest Disney property going. I’m one of
those hapless souls that have been an Angels fan all my life. My mom
went to school with Albie Pearson, Jim Fregosi owned a small soda
bottling plant next to my grandmother’s house in the ’60s (and sometimes
gave us a few free bottles), and Fred Lynn graduated from my high
school.

You’re right. It’s great entertainment, exciting, and a very
pleasant, inexpensive (compared to Disneyland) place to spend a few
hours.

Here are some things I really enjoy there…

The cast members (yes, they’re called that here too) are very
friendly and helpful.

Disney fireworks after every Friday home game.

Edison Field renovations is a vast improvement over the dismal
fortress of the Rams days.

The halo on the Big A lights up after every win.

Orlando Mercado, the bullpen catcher, always has time to say hi,
smile at the fans, and sign a quick autograph.

The All Star dogs (grilled on a BBQ at Autry’s behind the rockpile
in center field) put Dodger Dogs to shame.

Our fellow long-suffering Angel fans are really fun to hang out
with.

And last, but definitely not least, this record breaking winning
season. The Halos have won more games this year than any other year in
the franchise.

See you at the Ed.

Doug cheered:

THE RALLY MONKEY LIVES!!!!

Promotional photo © MLB

Angels in six (ONLY because I want to see them win the series at
home!) and that’s all I have to say about that!! Of course a sweep would
be nice!!

If (when) the Angels win, will the victory rally be held at
Disneyland or will Disney once again force a team to go to DCA? Enjoy
the Series!

I, too, would love to see the Angels over the Giants in six because
that brings the celebration to Anaheim.

I’m confident that if the Angels win, a victory rally would be held at
Downtown Disney with a parade through DCA. The question, though, is if the
Giants win, will they parade down DCA — or does Disney pay their fare to
Disney World to keep them from being assaulted by Thunder Stix???

Ed groused:

Uhm, yeah, that’s nice… but what do you tell those who simply
don’t care about baseball such as myself? Don’t get me wrong, with so
much that has been failing with the Walt Disney Company I am glad
something is going great. But I fail to see this as part of Walt
Disney’s Dream.

Nice points, but I doubt I’ll be going to Edison Field any time
soon.

Asked to explain this mysterious “Dream,” Ed continued:

Walt’s Dream that I refer to is Disneyland, what I was trying to
point out was that I highly doubt that Disney ever had in mind of having
a baseball team as part of the Disneyland vision (Walt’s Dream). I
understand what your point is, which is an offering that the modern
Disney Company having a thrill aside from Disneyland that’s close by and
the need to not worry about paint, cheesy expansions, etc…

But like I said, I am not a baseball fan and I don’t see myself
turning into one anytime soon. That’s why I said what do you have as an
alternative for those who simply don’t care about this option
(baseball).

To me, “Walt Disney’s Dream” — better yet, his ongoing
vision, was to present the highest quality entertainment for the whole
family at a reasonable price. Certainly a day at Edison Field would
qualify more than just about anything else Disney has served up in Anaheim
over the last half-dozen years.

Relief pitcher Scott Schoeneweis pumps his fist after striking out Rich
Aurilia to end Game 3 (Justin Sullivan/MLB.com)
Promotional photo © MLB

Just because some Disneyland fans don’t like baseball is no reason not
to celebrate the Angels’ spectacular season. Walt wasn’t deterred from
building Disneyland by the fact that many people who loved his movies
hated amusement parks.

I don’t think Disney has an obligation to please everyone with
everything it does. It should have the goal of providing maximum enjoyment
to the maximum number of people. And hopefully it will succeed so often
that if Product A doesn’t appeal to you, hopefully Product B or Product C
will.

Next time:
Reader reaction to last week’s article, “Ways of the World.”

Promotional photo © MLB

Hopefully the ringing in
my ears from Thunder Stix will subside by then.

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Send your comments to David here.