Credit: DisneyThe Meet and Greets with the characters at the Disney Parks are an experience beloved by fans and Guests worldwide. From the original Disneyland to Tokyo DisneySEA, mixing and mingling with the studio’s cast of colorful characters is practically a mandatory ritual when visiting any form of Disney property. This week, one of Walt’s original Imagineers recently shared their most recent character encounter.
Whether you’re a young girl wanting to meet your favorite princess or an experienced twenty-something wanting a hug from Goofy, Disney’s Meet and Greets are made for anyone wanting to recapture a piece of that childhood magic. At 91 years young, Disney Legend and Imagineer Bob Gurr shared a touching memory in a recent D23 interview.
For those unfamiliar with that name, Bob Gurr is one of Walt Disney’s original Imagineers, and he is responsible for creating over 100 different attractions for the Disney Parks. Gurr’s notable contributions to the company include the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and Autopia, just to name a few.
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This week, Gurr was interviewed by D23 on his thoughts concerning the Disney100 exhibition, his contributions to the Parks, and his experience on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. In the interview, which can be found here, Gurr shared his most recent encounter with Mickey and Minnie.
Gurr told D23,
“Oh you have no idea what Mickey and Minnie did to me for two days! It was absolutely incredible… They don’t greet me, they run up to me and grab me and crush me in a gigantic hug, it’s incredible!”
“First day, I walk around the corner to be on camera for one of the TV stations. These two mice jumped up, hands out rushed me, and both of them grabbed me, and people were taking pictures and laughing their heads off…
“Minnie is so cute and so sweet and I give her a hug even more sometimes… I just like em’ so much.”
The veteran Imagineer is only one account of how incredibly magical a Disney Meet and Greet can be, especially for someone who has been with the company since the very beginning. Needless to say, Gurr’s experience is just a singular example of the joy Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of their friends bring to Disney Park Guests around the globe and across generations.
What’s your favorite Disney Character memory? Tell us at Inside the Magic in the comments below!