Character hunting has always been one of my favorite things about living near the parks. I was fortunate to move to Orlando the year Disney was running their “Limited Time Magic” promotion, where each week they had a different sort of event going on. A lot of the time these events involved rare, hard to find characters. Since I was on my college program, I almost always was closing, so I would just get to work early to see some characters, and then head into work. Sadly, Limited Time Magic ended with 2013, and I don’t see Disney bringing it back, since it was great for annual pass members and cast members, but not so great for your average guest. There were so many events, but unfortunately, they weren’t announced far enough in advance for anyone to plan accordingly. However, I still try to jump at the chance to meet hard to find characters or characters with special outfits whenever I can. They show up from time to time like holidays and special events. Luckily for me, Independence Day is one they like to feature.
On Independence Day last year, I was heartbroken when I saw pictures of Patriotic Mickey Mouse in Liberty Square. I hadn’t heard anything about special characters being out, and hadn’t seen anything in my previous two summers in Florida. So this year, I hunted around the Disney blogs and decided to brave Epcot on the Fourth of July to try to catch some characters in their patriotic best near the American Adventure. Foolish perhaps, since I had to be at work at 2:30, but I was determined.
I arrived at Epcot around eleven since that’s when World Showcase actually opens. I probably should have gotten there sooner, but my cat was extremely cuddly this morning. Duffy and I breezed through security and started the long walk back to the American Pavilion, literally on the farthest side of the park. I was actually surprised how empty the park seemed, Canada and the UK were almost empty. Even Belle in France had only a short line.
I jumped in the first line I saw when I hit America. I didn’t even check which characters they were, mostly because I assumed they would be rotating. I’m too used to Disney’s game of swapping characters out so it’s next to impossible to get the one you want. (Like a lot of the time at Hollywood Studios you stand in line for Pluto and then he changes places with Donald and you get stuck with the #1 Duck instead.) To my shock, I was wrong and I was in line for my favorite chipmunks! Chip and Dale kept scurrying off for a bite of ice cream, but then they came right back. The line itself wasn’t actually that long, but it still took almost forty minutes because of all the groups that also took individual photos. I talked to the character attendant as he walked up and down the line about who else was out, and where to find them. Mickey, Goofy and Pluto were down at the other end where they sometimes do character training.
I love my new camera but I will say Photopass still comes in handy. I got those photos almost instantly instead of having to wait until I get home to hook up my camera and dump the photos to my computer. Even if the Disney My Experience app doesn’t seem to work half the time.
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[/lgc_column][lgc_column grid=”50″ tablet_grid=”50″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”true”]Chip and Dale were super interactive. I was pleasantly surprised with how much they took their time with everyone. It made the long line so worth it. I’m used to Magic Kingdom where they rush everyone through and it’s basically: hug, photo, GO! I had my photo taken with them, and then took a photo of them holding Duffy without me. I had a hard time getting him back from Chip, “No, no, you can’t keep him!” [/lgc_column]
I had someone ask me to give Duffy back to them so they could take a photo and I apologized, but kept going. I literally ran to find the line for Mickey. He, Goofy and Pluto were sharing one big long line where you met Mickey then Goofy then Pluto individually.
Wearing my hair down is a horrible decision that I make all too often. It was starting to look like I’d gone swimming, and I knew I had at least an hour’s wait in front of me. I made a deal with the girl in line behind me, she would hold my spot and I would bring us both waters. When I came back the girl in front of me asked if I would hold her spot so she could do the same thing, and of course I said yes.
The line honestly wasn’t that bad and moved relatively quickly, but I was constantly staring at my watch. I alternated between thinking it was going well and worrying it was taking too long. I must have calculated and recalculated how much time I needed to get changed, grab food and get to work ten times. I finally decided the absolute latest I could stay was 1:15, and every tick closer worried me.
I watched Pluto make dog paws with people and play with their Independence Day ears, I watched Goofy pretend to be an eagle, and I watched Mickey sit on the ground with a toddler in a star spangled dress. When she got to Goofy, her mom couldn’t get her to look at the camera for anything, so I hopped behind the photographer and waved Duffy over her head. At least a few people said “awwwwwwwww” out loud. Then someone said, “Now she’ll want the bear.” “Nope, that’s not happening.”
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[/lgc_column][lgc_column grid=”25″ tablet_grid=”25″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”true”]Finally, at 12:57, it was my turn to see Mickey. He fussed over Duffy and I got a hug before the photo and after. Sweaty, stressed about time, I don’t care. The park could be on fire and I would still hug Mickey Mouse.[/lgc_column]
One of my favorite pictures pretty much ever.
I moved on to wait my turn for Goofy and they pulled the characters for apple pie. I checked my watch again, 1:03. I still had time, but not a lot of it. The characters were back by 1:08 and I got a hurried photo with Goofy. I didn’t have time for Pluto. I tore off towards the front of the park, and ran as much as I thought I could get away with. I hit my car at 1:20 and boy was it a sauna. I hate having a black interior.
I’m a little sad I didn’t get to meet Pluto, but I am extremely happy with my Independence Day. I won’t be watching the fireworks tonight, but that’s okay. It’s Orlando. We have fireworks every night!
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