CATCHING
MICKEY:
Want a photo with the
head cheese himself and don't want to crawl over acres of strollers and
fight camcorder-crazy parents to get to him? Head over to MICKEY'S
TOONTOWN in the evening hours when the crowds thin out (before they
close early) and visit Mickey's house.
At the end (after
watching a few cartoon trailers) you will be ushered into a room as a
small group and get a chance to meet and take photos with Mickey. A CM
there will gladly help with your camera, so you can all get in the shot.
(Or they can take a photo for you with their camera which you can
purchase on the way out of the park.) So civilized.
There are four Mickeys
actually, in four different outfits and "movie set" rooms: a) FANTASIA,
b) BAND CONCERT, c) STEAMBOAT WILLIE, and d) THROUGH
THE MIRROR. Three of the rooms are hidden behind movable shelves
full of film cans before you enter, so you don't get to choose since not
every Mickey may be available at the time of your visit. Collect them
all!
(Mickey also appears for
up close photos on Main St. near the Opera House, on weekends just before
the parade, and in the FANTASMIC! show.)
MICKEY
& ME, POOH, AND PRINCESS PHOTOS:
Photos with Mickey may
also be taken for you by a DL photographer when you visit Mickey in his
house, Pooh over in CRITTER COUNTRY, or any of the Disney Princesses in
Fantasyland, or ARIEL in her new grotto between the Castle and
TOMORROWLAND. There is also a photographer in the entry plaza for
SLEEPING BEAUTY'S CASTLE (weather and attendance permitting).
After one of these guys takes the shots, they
are developed in the next two hours and may then be picked up as you
exit the park at the MAIN ST. PHOTO SUPPLY next to the PLAZA INN and the
BABY CENTER located at in the HUB area.
They make one 8x10 and one 6x8 and offer a Value Package price of $20
plus tax (for a $21.55 total) or you can purchase them separately for
$10.00 for the 6x8 and $15.00 for the 8x10. The photographers are
provided, and the processing is done by a Disney Lessee, the Spectrum
company. Be sure to ask
the CM attending to your visit with Mickey for any further details.
NICK MORGAN
contributed the following terrific advice about photos:
When you get
character photos done by the Disney folks, it is a better deal to buy
BOTH of the pre-packages photos. You might want to recommend these to
people. They always turn out better than pics taken by the guests, and
they are embossed with a DL seal (ours had a seal of the castle, with
the date under it).
You are not obligated
to purchase the photos if you don't like them - and if you wish you may
try several visits and then choose between the different shots before
you leave DL for good, as they are kept on file for a few days. (Un-sold
photos are recycled.)
CHARACTER
PHOTOS:
There several areas
during the day where you can almost always count on finding Characters to
take photos with:
1) GREAT MOMENTS
WITH MR. LINCOLN: (Mickey, Goofy, Mad Hatter, Tigger, Pooh, to name
a few, right in front near the MAD HATTER.)
2) TOONTOWN:
(Mickey & Minnie in their houses, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and others at
the TOONTOWN BANDSTAND. Remember this land may close early!)
3) Between TOMORROWLAND
and FANTASYLAND, off of the hub area is ARIEL'S GROTTO,
where you can meet the LITTLE MERMAID. 10 AM to 6 PM most days.
4) FANTASYLAND:
(Princesses Snow White & Aurora, Belle & Beast, Merlin during
the SWORD IN THE STONE CEREMONY in the Castle courtyard in front of KING
ARTHUR'S CAROUSEL.)
5) SMALL WORLD
WAY: (Look for various characters between the STORYBOOK BOATS
and MATTERHORN.)
6) FRONTIERLAND:
(Cowboy Chip & Dale, plus Goofy near the MARK TWAIN landing.)
7) CRITTER COUNTRY:
(Pooh, Tigger & Eeyore at the exit of COUNTRY BEAR JAMBOREE.)
8) ALADDIN'S OASIS:
(Aladdin & Jasmine among others.)
All locations will
usually be totally mobbed, with characters clearing out just before
parades to avoid congestion. At night you will usually only find
characters available at the first two listed spots.
CHARACTERS TODAY
is a new section that has been added to the DISNEYLAND TODAY
brochure given to you when you enter the park. Be sure to take a look at
it for details as to where and when favorites may be located in the park
at that day. A nice new addition!
If you (or a little one)
are determined to find a specific character, you can ask at CITY HALL
on MAIN ST. or the TOONFINDER at the chalkboard in the
hub where they keep more detailed schedules of who will be out that day so
you improve your chances of meeting your favorite.
ALSO: Deactivated
AUTOPIA cars are placed outside of the Autopia queues for photo
opps. A DUMBO ride unit is placed behind the ride, and a MR.
TOAD unit sits outside for photo opps.
CHARACTER MEALS, (at
the park and hotels) where you can meet, greet and take photos are
detailed in the MEALS section of this
guide. |
