Celebrities are a common occurrence at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and other theme parks. Most Cast Members have at least once story of putting someone famous on an attraction, or spotting a big name celebrity in the streets. If you’re excited to try your hand at celebrity in the Disney theme parks, keep these tips in mind.
Special events always draw celebrities in
Jenna Ortega greeting Princess Elena at Magic Kingdom
Image: Disney | ABC Television Group, Flickr (license)
If there’s a special event on the calendar, you can bank on a slew of celebrities hitting the theme parks. This is particularly true of new attraction openings. Attractions always go through a soft opening before they’re open to regular guests. This typically features a few weeks of Cast Member-only access leading up to the grand opening. The attraction will then open to exclusive press and celebrity parties before it’s unveiled to regular park visitors.
If an attraction’s grand opening is on the horizon, you’ll probably find numerous celebrities in the park for the occasion. This usually includes the Disney Channel kid-stars of the moment and top stars from any trending Disney Channel or Disney brand movies. If the attraction in question has its own set of stars, this is the best time to find them in the park. The opening ceremony for Pandora – The World of Avatar saw the likes of Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, and James Cameron.
You might spot celebrities in unusual places
The vast majority of celebrities in the theme parks look like ordinary guests. Though they may pose for a few press photos and attend the occasional special event, most of their day is just like yours. Most of the time.
However, there are some extremely rare occasions where you’ll see a celebrity playing another role entirely. Johnny Depp is known for visiting the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland, but he recently took his visits to a whole new level when he donned his entire Jack Sparrow costume and hopped into the attraction to make a live appearance, interacting with guests as they floated by on the river.
Though it’s not exactly likely, it pays to keep your eyes open for surprises like this one.
Most of the rich and famous use a tour guide
Disneyland Tour Guides
Image: Loren Javier, Flickr (license)
If you’re trying to spot celebrities in the street at Disney, one of the best strategies isn’t to look for the famous individuals themselves, but to look instead for their tour guides. Thought not all celebrities employ professional tour guides, many do.
Disney’s personal tour guides are available for anyone who can afford their services. Your professional VIP Tour Guide can give you access to preferred seating for shows, expedited entry to attractions, and convenient door-to-door transportation from your hotel to the theme parks. Your average visitor to Walt Disney World doesn’t shell out the extra $400 to $600 for a day of personalized service. However, the majority of celebrities do.
VIP Tour Guides wear the same costume as the Guest Services Cast Members you’ll find at any Guest Service desk. Their sharp attire and prominent name tags make them easier to spot than the celebrities themselves. Just keep in mind that guests with a tour guide aren’t necessarily VIPs in the celebrity sense. They may just have a lot of money to burn.
They’re treated just like you
Joey Fatone queuing up for the Doc Mobile
Image: Disney | ABC Television Group, Flickr (license)
Disney Cast Members at all theme parks are trained to treat celebrities no differently than any other guest. They’re not to give them any special services beyond what their tour guides can provide. Celebrities without a tour guide really are no different than other guests. They’ll wait in line, buckle their seat belt, and scream or smile along with everyone else on the attractions.
Most importantly, Cast Members are carefully instructed not to acknowledge the identity of any celebrity. Even if you’re positive that you’re face-to-face with Natalie Portman, you can’t greet her by name, tell you love her films, or otherwise act as though you have any idea who she is. Celebrities get the same experience as everyone else, so don’t look for Cast Members to react any differently. Their treatment of a guest can neither confirm nor deny that you have someone famous in your midst.
Celebrities are on vacation too
Image: Star Wars, Flickr (license)
If you spot a celebrity in the open streets and want to say hello, it’s usually fine. However, you should always be respectful of the people that you meet in the parks. A quick hello might be ok, but you don’t want to mob them with your party of 20 people or whip up a frenzy by sitting two tables away and loudly telling everyone else in the restaurant who you’ve seen.
Remember that celebrities in the theme parks are usually there for the very same reason as you. They’re on vacation, typically with their families, looking to enjoy some of the magical delights of Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Don’t ruin their stay by shadowing them around the parks or insisting they join you as you’re about to board an attraction.
If you choose to say something, do so quietly so you don’t alert everyone around you to a visitor who’s trying to go unnoticed. Be quick and discreet for the best chance of getting an autograph or photo, and don’t make a scene if the celebrity politely declines. After all, they deserve a day of normalcy, too.
Celebrities are often easy to spot around the theme parks, but it’s more difficult to decide what to do when you see them. Keep a low profile and enjoy the rarity of the moment if you get to have a brief interaction with a favorite star at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or another park.
