Latest: Long Lost Disney Characters to Return to the Magic Kingdom for Limited Time Magic

Originally Posted By AutoPost

This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest-ID-81423.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Long Lost Disney Characters to Return to the Magic Kingdom for Limited Time Magic</b></a>
<p>From the Official Disney Parks Blog...</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>Long-lost Disney friends are returning to the Magic Kingdom Park just to meet you and your family. For one week, January 21&ndash;27, be sure to have your camera ready for a rare chance to possibly brush shoulders with classic characters like Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar, Robin Hood and Friar Tuck.&nbsp;</span><span>There&rsquo;s also a chance you&rsquo;ll see The Three Little Pigs and more surprises at Magic Kingdom Park.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span><img height="274" width="218" src="http://laughingplace.com/files/latest/20130118-1.jpg" /><br />{big}</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span><img height="275" width="182" src="http://laughingplace.com/files/latest/20130118-2.jpg" /><br />{big}</span></p>

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

3 events, 3 meet and greets.

 

Originally Posted By hopemax

When I saw the announcement about LTM, I did like the part about rare characters returning. But I expected that to be the "filler" type stuff. Not basically all WDW is doing, "headliner" stuff. I also expected that they'd be around for more than just a week, and maybe a way to gauge which of these characters should stick around because they're more popular than WDW realized. But a week in dead January is not going to reveal anything.

And more and more this is reminding me of the post-9/11 nonsense where they tried to spin that replacing early entry with character cavalcades at the resorts was in response to guest demand. Cheap replacements instead of anything really interesting.

 

Originally Posted By sjhym333

A week 3 yawn.

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

Since when are Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar and the Three Little Pigs "long lost?" They have been at Disneyland as recently as the last couple of months. And I know I've seen Robin Hood characters within the last year or so. I don't even seek these guys out. Does Florida stick to a "top 40" format when it comes to characters?

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

Years ago at Annual Passholder parties at Disneyland they would bring out characters like Breathless Mahoney and the Rocketeer. Florida could bring out former parade characters (like those psychedelic chickens) or show performers that haven't been seen in a long time but are fondly remembered.

The Three Little Pigs? Really?

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA

Maybe the rubberhead walk-arounds of "The Aristocats"or "Oliver & Co." or "The Great Mouse Detective" or even "The Rescuers"

Or really go crazy and bring back Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum from the original "Alice in Wonderland"

 

Originally Posted By hopemax

Clarabelle and Horace were around a few years ago. The Robin Hood characters I haven't really seen much since the late90s/early 2000s. And I've never seen the pigs at WDW at all. So yeah, for FL they are rare.

Fab 5, Princesses is pretty much it. There's more variety at Hollywood Studios, but still not great.

When I first started visiting WDW it was commonplace to have all the dwarfs available, now you're lucky if you get Dopey.

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

Disneyland gets the Tweedles from time to time. They are scary.

 

Originally Posted By sjhym333

Got a email from Disney. Here are some upcoming other limited magic events :

True Love Week Feb 11-17, 2013 Magic Kingdom Cinderella Castle will blush pink and red while lovebirds celebrate a week filled with royal Prince and Princess Meet 'N' Greets and limited-edition Disney Valentine collectibles.

Independence Week July 1-7, 2013 Magic Kingdom The 4th of July is seven days long this year as Walt Disney World salutes America with a spectacular 4th of July Fireworks Party. Everything will be red, white and blue, from the fireworks and Cinderella Castle down to special-edition U.S.A. shirts, ear hats and other patriotic souvenirs.

Unleash the Villains Friday, Sep 13, 2013 Disney's Hollywood Studios® The Disney villains are so excited about Friday the 13th, they're taking over Disney's Hollywood Studios®! Join in the fun for a night of mischief and a villainous dance party that will last until the 13th hour

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

I'm disappointed. The July 4 celebration doesn't include a Meet 'n Greet...

...yet.

 

Originally Posted By hopemax

On our first trip in 1995, they had Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto in Revolutionary War type costumes for a M&G. Those costumes should be somewhere. Or the costumes from the Liberty Tree Tavern character dinner.

 

Originally Posted By brotherdave

Our family had our picture taken with the Tweedles and the Walrus from Alice in Wonderland back in the early 80s at the Magic Kingdom. They also had a rubber-head Mad Hatter then, too. And the Three Pigs were also about during that period.

Although it is "kind of" cool to bring out some of the lesser known characters for those who like that, it shouldn't be a special event. They should just "do it" all the time for all guests showcasing different characters every day from different films/shorts.

Personally, I could care less. It was one of those "Disney moments" when we'd stumble upon a character and get our picture with them with your family. But I know others who would really enjoy activities like this. And I would NEVER stand in a long line just to meet any of them. I'd rather they just roamed the parks like they used to.

 

Originally Posted By gurgitoy2

It always seems like the same bunch of "rare" characters that show up too. Sure, maybe the Robin Hood characters haven't been seen for a while, but whenever they do things like this, it seems they are the first ones they use.

Why not use extremely rare ones? Like any of the Aristocats, Rescuers, etc. There were even costumes for Gurgi and Creeper from the Black Cauldron during the film's launch. Unless those costumes are just lost forever. In that case, bring back the "underperformers" like characters from Atlantis, Treasure Planet, Emperor's New Groove, etc. There are plenty of characters that appeared in the parks for a very limited time, never to be seen again. Bring those back.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

"Or really go crazy and bring back Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum from the original "Alice in Wonderland""

I saw them on one of our trips within the last 5 years.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

^^^ At Disneyland.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<The Robin Hood characters I haven't really seen much since the late90s/early 2000s.>>

Wow - that long? Tokyo Disneyland has them out all the time - they are on the secondary character list so are often out front of World Bazaar.

Hasn't King John been in a MK parade more recently?

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<Maybe the rubberhead walk-arounds of "The Aristocats"or "Oliver & Co." or "The Great Mouse Detective" or even "The Rescuers">>

Be careful what you wish for - TDS uses Marie A lot and both Bernard and Bianca are also deemed New York-ish so do meet 'n' greets in the American Waterfront section.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<Our family had our picture taken with the Tweedles and the Walrus from Alice in Wonderland back in the early 80s at the Magic Kingdom.>>

Had to Google the Walrus! What an awesome walk-around costume! Don't think I've ever seen him before.

 

Originally Posted By tonyanton

I guess no love for Maid Marian or Little John. The Robin Hood gang even had a whole parade unit in the early '80s at WDW.

Lee...are you talking about King Leonidas from "Bedknobs and Broomsticks?" He typically appears in the Electrical Parade in the Dumbo section.