Talking live Mickey Mouse character could mark beginning of new interactive Disney meet and greets

[Ian David]

Talking live Mickey Mouse character could mark beginning of new interactive Disney meet and greets
by
Ricky Brigante
Posted on May 5, 2010

Character meet and greets have been around since Disneyland first opened in 1955, offering guests a chance to interact with their favorite Disney characters. But characters, such as Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck have never been able to actually have a conversation with guests because of their (Disney magic spoiler here!) elaborate costumes. But after 55 years of guests shrugging this off and posing for photos with the silent stars, it appears that Disney is on the verge of unveiling a much more interactive meet and greet experience.

Two videos, posted on YouTube by user lrharrisjr, appear to depict a costumed Mickey Mouse character fully interacting with guests at a meet and greet in Disneyland’s Toontown. Not only is Mickey smiling and waving, but he’s also blinking, moving his mouth, and -- wait for it -- talking with guests. He even refers to them by name.

Need to see it to believe it? Here are the videos:



More:
http://www.insidethemagic.net/2010/05/talking-live-mickey-mouse-character-could-mark-beginning-of-new-interactive-disney-meet-and-greets/

[MilesColtrane]

1. ?

I can see how this works if the person wearing the costume is supplying the voice.

But, Mickey's voice doesn't sound like it's coming from someone with a large helmet on.

That leaves the scenario of the voice actor working by remote. But, how would the person in the suit know what was going to be said, and how would they synch their movements to the words?

Curious.

[blueraven95]

2. haven't watched the video,

but my bet is the actor is speaking into a mic inside the costume, which runs it through a computer program to get the right "Mickey Mouse" sound. Or something similar.

[MilesColtrane]

3. After another listen...

Yeah, the guy in the suit has to be speaking. I can hear pronounced sibilance like he's being miked very close.

The helmet must have a lot of sound absorbing material inside to mask any reverb or noises from the machines working the mouth and eyes.

Now Disney just has to find workers who will wear a hot costume for very little pay....and who sound exactly like Mickey Mouse.

Maybe that's why this is still in the developmental stage.

[Flipper999]

4. Well, at least this is better than the robotic characters at Chuck E Cheese's

Those robot bastards terrified me when I was five.

It would suck to walk around in the Florida sun with giant machine mask on, but in this economy I guess it's good that jobs like this are available for people who are willing to do them.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Nevada brothels counter by installing life-like models of your favorite stars

and personalities. Guess who will have the most guests?

[Blue-Jay]

6. My likely reaction:

[OmahaBlueDog]

7. This has been an on-going project for several years

Two current WDW attractions (The Monster's Inc. themed "Laugh Floor" and "Turtle Talk With Crush") grew out of the Mickey project.

[Ian David]

10. Also, I'd suspect that The Bear In The Big Blue House stage show was a testbed for the face tech. nt

[Bucky]

8. Is DisneyWorld Florida & DisneyLand California, or is it the other way around?

I still miss Astroworld.

[Ian David]

9. Land is CA, World is Fla. n/t