Best Questions to Ask Characters in the Parks
Everyone is so excited to finally be meeting the characters again and not just meeting, but hugging and interacting with them.
Here’s the thing… you get all excited and then you get there and … *crickets*… what do you say?
Whether you’re trying to help a child interact with their favorite character to feel more comfortable or you, as an adult, want better ways to engage, you don’t just want to stand there and feel awkward. You want a memory!
By the way, if you’re an adult, no shame in waiting in a line to meet characters! Disney is all about pure joy and characters are a huge part of that story.
If you want hugs with all of the princesses, we won’t judge! We, ourselves, practically ran over some children at the first sight of Mickey after hugs came back!
Tricks for Engaging Characters
Remember that each character comes from their own story. If you start asking Merida something about a bus, she is going to look confused and the whole interaction will be stilted and awkward.
Face characters can have some of the best interactions because they can engage back and forth, but don’t discount the mascot characters that don’t talk.
Stick to yes or no questions from their story and you can have some fun with them, too.
Anastasia and Drizella
Call us crazy, but meet and greets with “villians” are the most fun! You can find them by hearing their shrieks. The trick is to appeal to their character’s selfish side.
- What are your qualifications for a prince?
- Who’s doing better in music lessons? Anastasia with her singing or Drizella on her flute?
- What’s it like living in Cindy’s castle with the mice?
- Start showering them with dramatically delivered compliments: “Dahhhhling, I just looooove your dress!”
- MEN PLEASE – Just once I want to see a man propose to one of these step sisters because with their antics, it would be the funniest thing ever!
Belle
Currently, Belle is meeting in her countryside dress, it really feels more informal. We love asking her questions about her reading choices.
- What is your favorite book?
- What are you currently reading?
- If you could meet anyone, who would it be?
- What is the most impressive book in Beast’s library?
- What advice would you give Gaston?
- Does Chip still sleep in the cupboard?
Buzz Lightyear
Buzz does his character meet and greets on the Tomorrowland stage, so you can’t get too close to him, and remember, he is not a speaking character so our interaction must rely on body language.
- “ Can you fly?”
- If he responds “No”, then reply, “That’s ok, I also fall with style”
- If “yes” then accuse him of being back in DEMO mode!
- Tell him you helped him defeat Zurg at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Tell him you’re a Zurg supporter and see what he does!
NOTE: Sorry to say that the viral “Andy’s coming! Andy’s coming!” character hack was a hoax. It is not safe for the characters to throw themselves down, plus if people caught wind of it they would just be up down, up down, up down…
Captain Jack Sparrow
Oh! Another favorite meet and greet experience! Can we just giggle at how funny it is that an uber drunk dirty pirate wearing eyeliner is welcomed in the Magic Kingdom.
- Why is all the rum gone?
- Re-enact the scene in the first movie with the scorned women (minus the slapping, of course)
- Jack, I know where you hid the jar of dirt… Hand over the Pearl… (Psssst – the famous jar of dirt is in Tortuga Tavern!)
Chip and Dale
We love meeting these cuties and pitting them against each other to seem in a flurry just like their cartoons. In the past we have had a lot of fun with questions like…
- Who is the cutest chipmunk?
- Who is the smartest chipmunk?
- Who is the better dancer?
Cinderella
You could always impress Cinderella with some of your best dad jokes, like “Why is soccer not your sport? Because you run from the ball!”. Or you can ask about her animal friends!
- Who is in charge of the mice? Jaq?
- Whatever happened to Lucifer?
- What is her favorite hobby now that she doesn’t have to do chores?
Elena
Elena of Avalor is not a traditional, well known character. She is actually the princess from a show on Disney Junior. A great note about her is that she speaks Spanish as well as English which is nice for Disney World’s ESL guests.
- Can you teach me some things in Spanish?
- Tell us about your kingdom!
- Ask about her flying creatures
Mickey Mouse
The main mouse himself, Mickey Mouse is a must see on any visit. Frankly, most meet and greets with him are so emotional and sweet that no one has time to think about what to say.
When my youngest son went to meet him for the first time, he insisted on showing Mickey something with a Mickey on it, so he handed Mickey Mouse my ears and a magic band. He was too afraid to speak but was mesmerized. And I ugly cried…
Princess Tiana
Tiana is a unique meet and greet because even though she’s in her trademark green dress, she is still an average girl.
The other princesses feel more…Pretentious and royal.
A child recently asked me a question about Tiana and now I’m dying to ask her:
- Cajun food is filled with frog and alligator meat, do you still cook with those things?
- Since you were once a frog, which is food, are you a vegetarian now?
- Where is your restaurant?
Rapunzel
Please, for the love of all things good, don’t make a Corona joke or COVID joke. Disney is an escape for people, let’s not relive it. (For those who don’t know, Rapunzel’s Kingdom is actually called Corona.)
- Does she still wear the same crown?
- Does she miss her hair?
- Shoes: love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Stitch
Stitch loves to be complimented! He’s so cute and fluffy… and he likes to hear it!
- Ask him to dance like Elvis
- See what he does when you ask if he’s a dog
Alice
Wonderland is your oyster here!
- Ask what her favorite tea is
- Is the Queen of Hearts a good guy or a bad guy?
- What’s her favorite area in Wonderland?
Anna and Elsa
Anna is now Queen of Arendelle and Elsa is the Fifth Spirit, so if this is your first visit since 2019, this will be like meeting them for the first time!
- Ask her about their traditions in the kingdom
- Ask Elsa if she lives in the castle or in the forest
- Ask both of them about their favorite chocolate treat
Daisy Duck
Daisy is a fashionista and a style icon. Every notice that Daisy has an outfit for every occasion, complete with accessories, and no one can ever get this girl pants?!
- Ask her to vogue with you… You might have to explain this to the young people.
- Teach you how to walk the catwalk
- Overall gush over her accessories to see her reaction
Donald Duck
Is it bad that our favorite Donald is an angry Donald? Too bad they don’t have the angry version walking the parks, because that would be a hoot!
- Want to see him get embarrassed? Ask if he’s going to propose to Daisy!
- Tell him to stand at attention! He was a member of the United States Army until retirement in 1982.
- Tell him you like him better than Mickey Mouse and watch his reaction!
Goofy
Here’s our real question… Why is it that Goofy talks, wears clothes, and owns a home, while Pluto is a pet on four legs that barks and lives in the dog house. They’re both dogs!
- Tell him to say hi to Max for you
- Compliment his dance moves with Powerline and ask him to dance with you! (If you don’t know who Powerline is, you need to watch A Goofy Movie and party like it’s 1995)
- Is Clarabell Cow Max’s mother???
Mulan
Let’s get down to business! She will probably be dressed to meet her matchmaker, let’s be honest, she was a soldier for most of her movie!
- Ask is she prefers armor or dresses
- Why is her dog’s name Little Brother?
- Is cricky really lucky?
Pluto
Who’s our pal? Who’s our pal? Of course it’s the loyal pooch, Pluto!
- Have everyone in your party pose like a dog with your tongue out so you can all be like Pluto!
- Ask if he likes to be pet!
- Does he do any tricks?
Princess Aurora
The princess who so many can relate to, Sleeping Beauty, is a fun princess to meet!
- First things first! Pink or blue!
- Do you go by Rose or Aurora?
Do you prefer living with the Fairies magic or without it?
Snow White
Snow White is Disney’s first princess! You want to have a fun interaction when meeting true Disney royalty.
- Do you still sing into wells?
- Have you eaten an apple since you were poisoned?
- Who is your favorite dwarf?
Vanellope von Schweetz
Buckle up to meet the greatest racer! Lightning McQueen doesn’t count because he is the car.
- Do you miss your game?
- Are you still playing in Slaughter Race?
- Point to your favorite candy!