This reminds me of the time I was on Main Street in Disneyland during a parade. In front of me was a woman with her three kids and holding a camera. As Mickey approached on a float, she was muttering, “Wave at the kids, Mickey. I want to take your picture waving at the kids. Turn around and wave at the kids, Mickey, wave at the kids. Turn around and wave, Mickey! Turn around and wave at the kids! Turn around!Turn around, you damned Irish rat, turn around!”
Mickey never turned around. She never got her picture. The kids did not seem to hear what Mommy said, but I heard every word. It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud.
I think you might be thinking of an old urban legend, in which a visiting child is so traumatized by seeing Mickey without his head (the person inside the costume had just taken the ‘head’ off) that the parents sued and the park disallowed the actors to take off their costume heads.
It is an urban legend, which I believe you can find info on at www.snopes.com under the ‘Disney’ section…
Wow, what a great way to spend your birthday. I hope you’ll share your experience.
I am also a certified Disney freak. I go about twice a month.
Concerning the costumed characters, there are also very strict rules about duplicates. There can be two or more Mickeys in the park at the same time, for instance. There might be one on Main St. and one at Mickey’s house in Toontown. But they are never allowed to be in the same vicinity at the same time. They must be far enough away from each other so that it seems like you are seeing the same character if you happen upon them later in the day.