As we get further away from the height of the COVID pandemic, I find that many people in my circle are much more introverted than before 2020, including myself (shockingly). I’ve never been much of an attention-seeker, but I wouldn’t call myself an introvert, either. I’m also not particularly the type of person who likes to be in the spotlight or on display, if you will. With that being said, I know that I can’t possibly be alone in this, so I thought we’d talk about some experiences at Walt Disney World that you may want to avoid if you’re anything like me.
Interactive Restaurants
Before I visited Walt Disney World, I didn’t know that some restaurants have silly antics going on that often involve their guests. The first one that comes to mind is 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I’ll start by saying that I absolutely love this restaurant, but I haven’t eaten there since 2018. The vibe of the dining establishment is a 1950s house with “mom” in the kitchen and “cousins” serving you classic American comfort food. There are rules that some might remember from their childhood, such as no elbows on the table and finishing all your vegetables. There are also new-ish rules too, like no looking at cell phones while at the table. If you’re caught doing any of these things, your “cousin” will likely call you on it. I have been there 3 or 4 times in the past, and I’ve enjoyed the shenanigans immensely, but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has an equivalent vibe in that the waiters perform silly antics throughout the dining room. Hilarity ensues when you ask for ketchup, straws, and even the size of drink you may order. Like 50’s Prime Time Cafe, your server plays a significant role in the experience and can make or break it. If you’re looking for a quiet and peaceful meal, this is not the restaurant choice you’ll want to make. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness is a dinner show that happens during your meal, and the performers involve the whole crowd.
Attractions With Heavy Audience Participation
We all have something about ourselves that we were better at, and for me, I wish I was more witty. My husband always keeps me laughing because of how quick he can be with a witty comeback on just about any topic. There are two attractions at Walt Disney World that I can think of off the top of my head that get the audience involved, and your sense of humor and wittiness play a big part in both, in my opinion.
The first is Monster’s, Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. The show itself is hilarious as Roz and Mike Wazowski are onstage telling all the jokes, but when it’s time for that guy to be chosen, I can always feel my heart race with fear that I’ll be chosen and my face will be up there on the massive screen for the whole audience to see. Eeeek! So, while I still go, there’s always that little bit of fear of being picked to participate.
The other attraction is Turtle Talk with Crush in the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT. This one tends to have more involvement with the children in the audience than the adults. The kiddos get to sit on the floor very close to the screen where Crush is, but cast members with microphones approach adults in the audience to participate too.
Character Dining and Meet-and-Greets
Meeting Disney characters at the character dining locations is so much fun, but it can be awkward if you’re uncomfortable trying to think of what to say. I’ve seen interactions that are so fun with non-speaking characters when guests know just what to say, like this example below from Erica. What a fun interaction!
The characters who do speak will often ask you questions about your jewelry or what you’re wearing or holding. They like to try to incorporate their movies somehow as well, and if you don’t know their films, you might struggle. We have an informative series here on the DIS with recommendations on movies to watch while you await your upcoming Disney vacation. Zoë is updating her movie recommendations to include Disney’s newest films; you can already find The New Stories of Magic Kingdom all set, and the other theme parks will follow.
Meeting characters while you’re dining can be a little less intimidating as they don’t spend a ton of time at your table. The characters in the restaurants are typically really good at reading the table and recognizing how much interaction guests are looking for. It’s one of those times where if there are kids who want to spend time getting autograph books signed, interacting, or taking photos, they’ll stay a bit longer, whereas if it’s a group of adults, they might move on to the following table faster.
Above all, remember that Disney theme parks are magical places for people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and personalities. You don’t have to experience everything that the park offers. Do what you want, have fun, and soak in all the magic at your own pace!