Characterpalooza at Hollywood Studios

In the past year, Noland and I have been going to Walt Disney World a lot. We both have learned so much about how to navigate the parks and meet characters that we can even have a full day with several rides and character meet and greets during the busy times. We've also gone for an afternoon and accomplished more than some people do in a whole day.

Have you ever watched the TV Show called The Middle on ABC? Well, on their 2014 season finale, they won a trip to Disney World. It's a long story and I don't want to ruin the episode but the first day they go to Disney, they run into many misfortunes and don't end up riding anything. In fact by the time they agree to get into one of the many long lines, they jump into a line of people who happen to be walking out of the park. It made me laugh so hard because I know that I've been to Disney and felt that way before. Have you  ever gone to Disney World and felt completely overwhelmed? I know that the first few times I went to Disney's Magic Kingdom, my mom only managed to get me to ride a couple of rides. I met a few characters too but that may have been around the times when characters would just walk around. And according to the pictures, my brother and I rode Dumbo...

And here we are in front of the castle.

It can be hard to navigate a place if it is your first time going or you have only been one or two times before. After all, each park is large, it's hot outside, crowded, you are trying to read this large map to figure out where to go, and what is the best way to get there, all while your toddler/ little one is (or multiple kiddos are) crying because he/she is hungry or thirsty. Okay so that is a little bit over-dramatic, but it can be challenging. I get it. Since we've managed to figure it out, we have decided to start sharing some Disney World tips and tricks on this blog occasionally.

Today we are going to talk about Characterpalooza at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios (previously known as MGM). I'm starting to believe that Hollywood Studios could be one of the best places to meet characters. As an adult, it has two of the best rides (in my opinion) in all of Walt Disney World Resort: Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller coaster) and it has a TON of characters and a secret meet and greet that I'm going to telly you about called CHARACTERPALOOZA.

What is Characterpalooza? Well it is a gathering of characters that happens at Hollywood Studios! It will not be listed on the map or times guide but it happens almost every day.

Up: Noland and Noland Jr. meeting Stitch Below: The Evil Queen from Snow White, and Pocahontas.

What characters will be at Characterpalooza? There is no telling which characters will show up at Characterpalooza, I hear it changes from time to time but, we did see some characters that you could not see anywhere else. We happened to run into Characterpalooza on Tuesday, July 24, 2014. They had about 14-15 characters out. Here are the list of characters that were out when we arrived: Stitch, Evil Queen (from Snow White), Pinocchio, Gepetto, Queen of Hearts, Mary Poppins, Penguin (from Mary Poppins), Chip, Dale, Pocahontas, Meeko, Minnie Mouse, Mulan, and a couple of Army Men from Toy Story.

Above: Here is Minnie Mouse interacting with some people in line and the Queen of Hearts posing for a picture. Below: Mulan ran out of time to meet with all her fans so she went by and talked to each of them before she left. We met Chip. Noland Jr. didn't look at the camera but he was smiling!

 










When is Characterpalooza? According to Kenny the Pirate, it all depends on Fantasmic (a nighttime extravaganza featuring music, pyrotechnics, video projected on water, fiber optics, lasers and many more effects at Disney's Hollywood Studios).

• If Fantasmic isn't scheduled, Characterpalooza will NOT happen.


• If one Fantasmic show is scheduled, Characterpalooza will occur at 4:30 p.m. near Echo Lake, and 5:30 p.m. on the Streets of America.


• If two Fantasmic shows are scheduled, Characterpalooza will happen only at 6:00 p.m. on the Streets of America.

So the next time you travel to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, make sure to check out Characterpalooza and meet some characters that you may not see anywhere else in the parks. 

Below is Noland Jr and I meeting Pinocchio. Gepetto was there too but stepped away by the time is was our turn in line.

How long is Characterpalooza? Characterpalooza is usually in about half hour increments. When we met the characters, they were out for about 30 minutes. We didn't get pictures with every character but we did get to interact, meet and take pictures with about 4-5 of them. 

Hollywood Studios has many other characters that can be found on the park's times guides such as: Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Green Army Men, Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Sophia from Sophia the First, Phineas and Ferb, Wreck-it-Ralph, Vanellope von Sweets, Woody, Buzz, Sorcerer Mickey, Mr. Incredible and Frozone from The Incredibles, Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars, Sully, Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc/Monsters U.

This is outside of Toy Story's Midway Mania. The green army men hang out there.








Here are the Nolands meeting Jake from Jake & the Never land Pirates by the Disney Junior Stage show.

Hope that helps in planning your vacation!

-Jen

The Top 101 Disney Characters of All-Time (30-21)

After today's portion of the countdown, it is 3/4 of the way done. We are getting into the cream of the crop in the Disney Universe. Enjoy this recap if you have missed a day or two.

101-91

90-81

80-71
70-61

60-51
50-41

40-31

30. Stitch

Stitch is a top 30 character who would be in many people's top 25. There are a few that would have him in their top 10s and my brother thinks he is coolest character in all of Disney. I don't have him that high, but he just misses the top 25 for me at 30. This guy has a lasting impact on the Disney Universe. He is the star of a great movie and one of the few characters that can succeed in their own movie. A great start to the top 30 here.

29. James P. Sullivan

James P. Sullivan is the lovable blue monster in Monsters Inc. and Monsters University. He starts out as a top scarer before becoming the genius behind using laughs as power. A very useful character, he just misses the top 25. #29 is an excellent spot for Sully who is the star of two movies. His popularity over Mike is what makes him land ahead of him on the countdown.

27, 28. Chip & Dale

This pair is so rarely apart that they need to appear together. They are both fantastic characters and appear all over the Disney Universe. The duo is best known for the Rescue Ranger show. These guys also harass Donald Duck and are frequent visitors on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse among other things. As great as they are though, many don't know which is which and they don't have the same appeal as the other characters coming up in my eyes. For the record though, Chip is the cooler one, and the brains with the black nose. Dale has large buck teeth, a red nose and is seen as the more foolish of the pair.

26. King Louie

King Louie is the 2nd most popular character in The Jungle Book and Jungle Cubs. He is also one of the top characters in the hit TV cartoon Talespin. Finally, he is one of the fixtures of Disney's Animal Kingdom. This guy earned his spot in the Top 30 and just missed the top 25 due to some stiff competition. The most entertaining musician in the Disney Universe belongs here at #26. He is my personal 5th favorite character, and deserves this spot, but even I can't put him ahead of what is to come.

25. Scar

One of the many characters that could be argued for Top 10 status, Scar is the perfect start of our top 25. He is arguably the best Disney Villain and is the top Disney Villain on this countdown. He is the perfect villain for a near perfect movie. This guy is scary awesome in The Lion King. How those characters rank is up to the individual, but it definitely has the most top notch characters when it comes to Disney movies.

24. Crush

This turtle is the best character from the movie and perhaps the most loved. Unlike the two fishes ahead of him, everytime someone sees a turtle they don't say its crush, but he has inspired the Disney Universe. He has more attractions named after him personally at Disney than any character in that movie and most characters period. There are 4 different versions of Turtle Talk With Crush across Disney Parks (Epcot, Disneyland: California Adventure, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Sea) there is also a Crush Coaster at Disneyland Paris that I would love to go on. He is right on par with Nemo and Dory, but I do have him behind them on the countdown because of the kiddos and what they say.

23. Nemo

Nemo is the title character in Pixar's second best movie and every little kid in the world now refers to clownfish as Nemo. Those facts make it pretty impossible to keep Nemo out of the Top 25. Many people, including my mom, have Nemo in their top 10s. I don't have him quite that high, but understand people who do. This guy is cream of the crop.

22. Olaf

The best seen of the movie Frozen is the one pictured above with Olaf. What a great line in a fantastic song. So hilarious. It was impossible to not laugh the 1st time I saw this. People might say the princesses or Kristoff were the most important characters, but let me ask a question. What made you see Frozen? For me it was the hype behind a snowman that I predicted would be one of the most beloved characters of all-time. I predicted based on the preview with him and Sven that he would be a priceless character.

21. Eeyore

Eeyore is always sad and he doesn't seem to ever smile, but he should after being ranked #21 on this countdown. This donkey should not be in a gloomy place much longer as he is in Winnie the Pooh. Eeyore is the 4th most popular from the franchise and the perfect balance to the incredibly cheerful Tigger. These characters from this franchise are nothing short of brilliant. Eeyore is a prime example of that brilliance and belongs at this spot on the list.

-Noland