As a Walt Disney World fan first and foremost, I love that Imagineering has created unique characters for the theme parks. This is a salute to those characters with no connection to Disney’s animated or live action films, but are instead original intellectual property created for the parks. (Updated June 22, 2024.)
Don’t get me wrong–I enjoy Disney and Pixar animated films. I just have a much greater affinity for the theme parks, and the worlds Imagineers build within them. A lot of this probably stems from the attractions I enjoyed as a kid, and how several of them featured glimpses of characters and kernels of personality, allowing me fill in the rest with my imagination.
As an adult, I still really appreciate the characters that exist solely (or at least primarily, as there is now some crossover) for the parks. At Walt Disney World, there are a number of characters like this. These original theme park IP characters do the best job of conveying the theme, mood, and emotion of a particular attraction or land, probably because their whole existence is predicated upon furthering the experience–as compared to characters from the animated films, often injected into parks for the sake of synergy…
When I first sat down to make this list, I had about 25 ideas bouncing around in my head, so I made a few arbitrary “rules” to narrow things down. First, one entry per attraction. That’s necessary so half the spots on this list aren’t Country Bears.
Second, only characters presently in use in the parks. No extinct attractions or retired characters. (Sorry, Dreamfinder.) Finally, the character must be seen–no omniscient narrators. (Sorry, Ghost Host.) Even then, we have a few honorable mentions and this list will probably become a top 15 in the not-too-distant future.
I think that about covers it, so let’s get started on the 10 (or so) best original theme park characters at Walt Disney World…
T10. Mom – With a list like this, it’d be easy to say “the Cast Members” as a cop out. While they undoubtedly (along with guests, I suppose) play an integral role in the experience, they are not a single, defined role. Except when they are. Mom at 50’s Prime Time Cafe is the best example of a clearly-defined Cast Member ‘character.’
While the various Moms have the ability to ad lib to enhance the experience, you know that Mom is a stickler for rules and a strict disciplinarian, but with a bit of a wry humor plus a smidgen of cynicism (probably from dealing with all of us whippersnappers). Without Mom, 50’s Prime Time Cafe would just be an overpriced, fairly “meh” restaurant that consistently wouldn’t be fully booked. Mom does the heavily lifting, which earns her a spot on this list.
T10. Old Bill – Pirates of the Caribbean is an iconic attraction that’s a fan favorite because of its characters, and how quickly Imagineers manage to convey their personalities via voices, gags, and little lines of dialogues. If you think about it, it’s actually remarkable how much you glean just from fleeting encounters.
At its heart, Pirates of the Caribbean is also an ensemble act–like several of the attractions on this list, actually–making it difficult to choose a single character because there’s no star of the show, it’s all supporting players. (Kinda like a P.T. Anderson or Robert Altman movie, but in ride form.)
Obvious choices would be the Redhead or the Auctioneer, and I wouldn’t fault anyone for choosing the latter. He probably has the most good dialogue in the attraction, along with the most other pirates interacting with him. (I personally think the new Redhead’s dialogue leaves a lot to be desired; I wouldn’t choose her or Jack Sparrow/Johnny Depp for the same reason.)
Instead, I’ll go for a deeper cut here: Old Bill. For those unfamiliar with the character, Old Bill is the pirate trying to persuade a kitten to have rum with him, and then subsequently admonishing said cat for being too feisty. It’s such a brief and fleeting vignette, and yet it encompasses everything that’s great about Pirates of the Caribbean.
The funny gags, lightheartedness, and the way it (mostly) spoofs the shenanigans of pirates in an innocuous way. Even though he’s “only” a supporting player, I’d argue there are several bit parts in Pirates of the Caribbean that give the attraction its heart and levity.
T10. Lari the Armadillo or Mondo the Frog – As discussed in our Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride Review: Failure, Flawed or Fantastic?, this is proving to be the most polarizing and controversial attraction in Walt Disney World history. For a number of reasons beyond the scope of this post, it’s bound to be divisive for years to come, with some fans hating it and others loving it.
Two things about it around which the fandom can unite are Lari the Armadillo and Mondo the Frog. While it’s still early, these scene-stealing characters have already emerged as fan favorites. Both appear three times in the ride and leave guests wanting more. Mondo is a size-shifting musician, playing bongos and just vibing out, general. Lari is a kleptomaniac who is unbothered by it all, and just wants to steal in peace.
While there are plenty of valid complaints about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, character design certainly is not one of them. The attraction is brimming with cute critters, several of which could’ve made this list. Their worldbuilding extends to the nearby gift shops, but we’re still left wanting even more of them all.
(Since Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is still brand-new and the dust hasn’t yet settled, I’m making an exception and including both Lari and Mondo for now. Over time, I’ll hone my opinion and choose a favorite among the two. Mondo is currently the frontrunner.)
9. Lagoona Gator – Here is a character who was born out of a desire to sell plushies…but one that failed spectacularly. This is probably why I love him so much. When Blizzard Beach opened, it had a fun mascot in Ice Gator. Accordingly, Walt Disney World made enhancements to Typhoon Lagoon to give it related a mascot: Lagoona Gator. He had a whole line of merchandise and a meet & greet character…all of which is now gone. Apparently, water park guests are not in the mood to drag alligator plushes into the sand or wave pool? Who could’ve known?!
While the profit motive for Lagoona Gator might’ve been a bust, a ton of details were added to the park to justify his existence. (Some might call this Disney pulling a “Reverse Duffy.”) Lagoona Gator is the resident surf ace of Typhoon Lagoon…and he’s also a movie star, rock star, artist, and more. You can still visit his beach shack in the Board Room under the clock tower, where his bedroom and kitchen remain fully-furnished.
8. Orange Bird – The Florida Orange Bird was created specifically for the Walt Disney World where he was the representative of the Sunshine Pavilion, which included the Tropical Serenade (known today as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room) and the Sunshine Tree Terrace, from the opening of Walt Disney World until the mid-1980s. Around that time, everything that made the Sunshine Tree Terrace special began to disappear.
Unlike a lot of Walt Disney World history that involves removing unique and original concepts for movie IP (or nothing at all), this one has a happy ending. Within the last decade or so, all of this damage has started to be undone. It started with a fortuitous fire damaging the ‘Under New Management’ Tiki Room. From there, the original version was restored. Little vestiges of the old Adventureland started being fixed. (There’s still work to be done on this one.)
Orange Bird was not only brought back, but his presence was expanded beyond Magic Kingdom to EPCOT festivals. He’s now in Disney Springs and on a wealth of merchandise, and even has books about his cute little pursuits. Orange Bird has a bubbly personality, childlike curiosity, and innocence–much like the #1 character on this list. Now let’s hope his meet & greet character is the next thing to return!
7. José – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is a legendary show that’s one of the most historically-significant attractions at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland. Choosing a bird to highlight from Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is truly a tough task, as it’s an ensemble act with four hosts plus other memorable characters. There’s also the fact that the music by the Sherman Brothers does a lot of the heavy lifting in the attraction.
Nevertheless, we’ll go with José. He’s voiced by Disney Legend Wally Boag, the “Clown Prince of Disneyland.” José is the funniest bird and the one with the most personality. His performance contains a ton of range, from tongue in cheek zingers to a respectable Bing Crosby impersonation.
6. Madame Leota – Once the Ghost Host is ruled out, it’s a bit more difficult to choose a ghost that defines Haunted Mansion. They’re really all over the place in tone and design, and many have no dialogue. Cases could be made for the singing busts or any of the hitchhiking ghosts, but I think those appear so late in the attraction and are less fleshed out that they are not as impactful.
On the other hand, Madame Leota is a character encountered near the beginning of Haunted Mansion, and she resets expectations for what’s to come. She’s also just flat out cool, offering some personality that is showcased in a captivating practical effect–so captivating that you focus on her longer than any other ghost in Haunted Mansion.
If this were a Disneyland list, we’d be inclined to give consideration to Hatbox Ghost. But it’s not and his presence in Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion doesn’t make much sense. Once you get past the excitement of the new Audio Animatronics, there’s little to love about that addition.
5. Lieutenant Bek – Created for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this character is a Mon Calamari Communications Officer in charge of Resistance recruits who operates from a secret base inside ancient ruins on Batuu. You are the “main character” of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance as you live out your own ‘Star Wars’ story, and Lieutenant Bek is essentially the Obi-Wan Kenobi to your Luke Skywalker.
Lieutenant Bek is your sage mentor, the one who guides you throughout the experience–and the steady hand when stuff’s hitting the fan. He’s wise beyond his years (no clue how old he is), but also adds humor to the experience. There are a ton of big-name Star Wars characters in the attraction, but Lieutenant Bek is its emotional core.
By the end, there’s a certain camaraderie with him, because we’ve been through some stuff together. This is why we’ve been saying that Lieutenant Bek is the True Hero of Star Wars Land. Sorry, Chewie and co., but it’s true.
4. Sonny Eclipse – For the longest time, I feverishly defended Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, and it was our most-visited restaurant in all of Walt Disney World for years. That was for one reason: Sonny Eclipse. (Really, two reasons: Sonny Eclipse and the toppings bar.) While the menu leaves something (okay, a lot of things) to be desired, entertainment-wise, no other restaurant in Walt Disney World can compete with Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, and that’s all thanks to Sonny Eclipse.
Mr. Eclipse is from the planet Zork (Yew Nork, specifically) and he plays the Astro Organ, with back-up vocals from his amazing Space Angels. He performs a twenty-some minute loop of music that is infused with corny jokes that is really entertaining, during which time there’s a ton of character development. Even if sometimes they’re sometimes courtesy laughs, it’s a fun and funny set. For me, Sonny Eclipse like a cross between Uncle Joey and someone from the Max Rebo Band. What’s not to love about that?!
3. Progress Dad – Another attraction with a cast deserving of recognition for its ensemble work, Carousel of Progress resonates with so many long-time Walt Disney World fans because the Carousel of Progress family feels like actual family. The characters are not just boring MacGuffins for showcasing technology–if anything, the technology highlighted is almost immaterial to the attraction. Carousel of Progress is beloved because its characters have so much character.
Of these characters, Progress Dad (John) is the one with whom audiences are most familiar. His sometimes cringe-worthy jokes give new meaning to “dad jokes,” but audiences love him just the same. Other characters, including Rover and Uncle Orville, steal some scenes, but John guides the audience towards what Carousel of Progress is actually about: growing old with a family over the course of a condensed amount of time. Yep, Walt Disney did the whole Boyhood concept decades before Linklater, and didn’t earn a single Academy Award nomination for his efforts.
2. Big Al – A lot of the things said about Carousel of Progress could be said about Country Bear Jamboree. Both are obviously ensemble attractions, and if I didn’t limited myself, at least 4-5 characters from Country Bear Jamboree would have made this list. Not only do each have personalities evident through the music, but they all present entertaining gags and have brilliant character design.
Ultimately, it’s easy to choose Big Al as the best Country Bear. When viewing Country Bear Jamboree through the prism of social satire or parody, Big Al’s appearance is what seals the deal. His performance is such a hoot that you cannot help but laugh out loud. Even if earlier musical numbers hit a little too close to home (and as a reformed hillbilly, I can relate), Big Al is the point at which the show enters a certain realm of absurdity–if you have even a morsel of a sense of humor, he gets to you.
Here’s hoping that Imagineers recognize this and Big Al doesn’t fall from the #2 spot once the reimagined Country Bear Musical Jamboree debuts.
1. Figment – Figment is my favorite Walt Disney World character. Always has been, and always will be. If you only know the present-day version of Figment, you might find it perplexing that so many EPCOT Center fans still adore Figment. Why is that grating character from such a dull attraction so beloved?!
Quite simply, Figment is not the same character today that he was during the 1980s through the mid-1990s. Then, Figment was Dreamfinder’s sidekick on their Flight of Imagination, with the latter being the literal embodiment of a childlike sense of wonder, curiosity, and (yes) imagination. If you were a child of the 1980s who visited EPCOT Center, you identified with this character. It really was as simple as that. Not only did he bring out the best in you, but he was just really cool. He got to be an artist, performer, astronaut, and more–all while being a friendly purple dragon.
The Figment of 1983 would be #1 on this list by such a large margin that the gap between #1 and #2 could be measured in Grand Canyons (sorry, Big Al). The Figment of today manages to maintain the top slot, even if he largely coasts on nostalgia. Still, those of us who knew him before see those flashes of childlike wonder in him today, and desperately cling to the notion that someday, just maybe, the real Figment–and Dreamfinder–will return. The way these two characters resonate with so many lifelong fans and lightning-in-a-bottle quality of the original ride is why It’s Time to Reimagine Journey into Imagination.
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Your Thoughts
Which park-specific Disney characters are your favorites? Any that we missed? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!
