Written by Jessica Johnson
Hello, class. My name is Professor Johnson and today I will be teaching you a step by step guide in expert celebrity sleuthing (SLEUTHING, not stalking! There’s a fine line in the difference between the two, and we’ll cover that in a later lesson!).
Celebrities—they’re just like us except they have way more money, they need security, they have entourages of people following them around, their appearances are constantly being judged, they live in the public light, every word they say gets documented in video or text form, they have fan clubs dedicated to them...
...okay, comment rescinded. Celebrities—they’re nothing like us.
But one similarity between many celebrities and Club 55 members is that they love going to The Happiest Place on Earth! I myself have encountered a grand total of eleven celebrities in Disneyland. Finding a celebrity in the Park requires a certain skill set: a mastery of social media, crowd scanning abilities, quick pace, a knowledge of park layout and key attraction points, and a great deal of luck. Let’s start with the first lesson!
Celebrities—they’re just like us except they have way more money, they need security, they have entourages of people following them around, their appearances are constantly being judged, they live in the public light, every word they say gets documented in video or text form, they have fan clubs dedicated to them...
...okay, comment rescinded. Celebrities—they’re nothing like us.
But one similarity between many celebrities and Club 55 members is that they love going to The Happiest Place on Earth! I myself have encountered a grand total of eleven celebrities in Disneyland. Finding a celebrity in the Park requires a certain skill set: a mastery of social media, crowd scanning abilities, quick pace, a knowledge of park layout and key attraction points, and a great deal of luck. Let’s start with the first lesson!
Lesson 1: How to Find Out about Celebrity Presence in the Parks
"What's the sitch?"
I find out that celebrities are in the park 90% of the time via social media. This is through Twitter @DisneylandStars and Instagram through @DisneylandCelebrities and @DisneylandCelebs. When I was a novice sleuth, I relied on Instagram only, and the two accounts I used were very different. It seems like the latter of these two newer accounts I listed is used and updated far more than the former. If you find a celebrity out of the blue, you can send your photo proof to these accounts and they will post them to let other sleuths out there know!
Furthermore, if you know a celebrity is in the park, search their name on Twitter or Instagram and look at the latest posts about them. Sometimes, you can figure out a star’s location based on other sightings.
Furthermore, if you know a celebrity is in the park, search their name on Twitter or Instagram and look at the latest posts about them. Sometimes, you can figure out a star’s location based on other sightings.
Sometimes, there will be a surprise event happening in the parks that celebrities will arrive to, such as the unannounced Tomorrowland red carpet premiere in Downtown Disney where I saw George Clooney and the cast, or a filming for some sort of television special. Other times, you’ll hear about celebrities via word of mouth. But the vast majority of the time, you will simply be in the right place in the right time and will happen upon a celeb entirely by chance! You never know!
Lesson 2: Key Times for Celebrity Visits
Off peak season during the winter months used to be the best time for celebrities to go to Disneyland, simply because of the lack of crowds and therefore the less chance to be recognized. Now with Disneyland’s recently implemented surge pricing, even the off season is still very busy. The more crowded the park is, the less likely celebrities will be there.
For example, only a few days ago, Emma Watson and Dan Stevens from the upcoming Beauty and the Beast live action reboot were seen in the park. Two years ago, if they were coming at this time, a Friday in early March, it would be incredibly likely that I would have found them. However, with surge pricing, the park was at near capacity that day, and therefore it was nearly impossible to find either of them. Every time of the year is pretty fair game now, except I usually see a dip in celebrity presence during in the always busy and always sweltering summer months.
Also look for upcoming important premieres or special events to gauge celebrities who might make a presence in the parks. For example, after Beauty and the Beast made its premiere in Los Angeles, the next day was when Stevens and Watson came to Disneyland. During the D23 Expo every other year during the summer is also a key time that draws a lot of celebrities who attend the convention to walk across the street and go to the parks. I spotted Lily James and Richard Madden from the live action Cinderella took photos in front of the castle during an Annual Passholder night in the park, when the park had significantly lower attendance.
In terms of time of day when celebrities arrive, you will most assuredly find them during the day time. Not only are they easier to spot in the daylight, but more often than not, the celebrity will make a day trip and will be gone by the evening.
For example, only a few days ago, Emma Watson and Dan Stevens from the upcoming Beauty and the Beast live action reboot were seen in the park. Two years ago, if they were coming at this time, a Friday in early March, it would be incredibly likely that I would have found them. However, with surge pricing, the park was at near capacity that day, and therefore it was nearly impossible to find either of them. Every time of the year is pretty fair game now, except I usually see a dip in celebrity presence during in the always busy and always sweltering summer months.
Also look for upcoming important premieres or special events to gauge celebrities who might make a presence in the parks. For example, after Beauty and the Beast made its premiere in Los Angeles, the next day was when Stevens and Watson came to Disneyland. During the D23 Expo every other year during the summer is also a key time that draws a lot of celebrities who attend the convention to walk across the street and go to the parks. I spotted Lily James and Richard Madden from the live action Cinderella took photos in front of the castle during an Annual Passholder night in the park, when the park had significantly lower attendance.
In terms of time of day when celebrities arrive, you will most assuredly find them during the day time. Not only are they easier to spot in the daylight, but more often than not, the celebrity will make a day trip and will be gone by the evening.
Lesson 3: Park Layout
Here’s a few things to keep in mind about the area you’ll be scouring.
Disneyland has an unseen area where Cast Members traverse, go on break, move goods, and load in equipment called, “Backstage.” There are many entrances and exits in these areas, which I’m sure you have seen marked with signs reading, “Cast Members Only.” Backstage areas can also be used to move celebrities. The less lag time between attractions, the less likely it is for a celebrity to be noticed by fans passing by. So the more famous the celeb you’re hunting for is, the more likely that they are going to use the Backstage pathways.
The main entrances and exits that I have seen used by celebrities are By the Rancho del Zocalo, by the New Orleans Square train station, by Coke Corner, and by the Plaza Inn bathrooms bordering Tomorrowland. Don’t spend too much time looking on Main Street, as many times celebrities will bypass it altogether using the Backstage.
Also consider key attractions that your celebrity might flock to. The most popular spots I have noticed that the most popular locations inside Disneyland are the castle, Pirates, and Fantasyland in general. In Downtown Disney, the Grand Californian is the finest hotel in the area, and is the most likely place for celebrities to be staying if they are visiting for several days. Sometimes, you can find one hanging in the Grand Californian lobby. California Adventure is pretty random. There are still Backstage areas, but as the park is more spread out, celebs can really be anywhere at any time.
Disneyland has an unseen area where Cast Members traverse, go on break, move goods, and load in equipment called, “Backstage.” There are many entrances and exits in these areas, which I’m sure you have seen marked with signs reading, “Cast Members Only.” Backstage areas can also be used to move celebrities. The less lag time between attractions, the less likely it is for a celebrity to be noticed by fans passing by. So the more famous the celeb you’re hunting for is, the more likely that they are going to use the Backstage pathways.
The main entrances and exits that I have seen used by celebrities are By the Rancho del Zocalo, by the New Orleans Square train station, by Coke Corner, and by the Plaza Inn bathrooms bordering Tomorrowland. Don’t spend too much time looking on Main Street, as many times celebrities will bypass it altogether using the Backstage.
Also consider key attractions that your celebrity might flock to. The most popular spots I have noticed that the most popular locations inside Disneyland are the castle, Pirates, and Fantasyland in general. In Downtown Disney, the Grand Californian is the finest hotel in the area, and is the most likely place for celebrities to be staying if they are visiting for several days. Sometimes, you can find one hanging in the Grand Californian lobby. California Adventure is pretty random. There are still Backstage areas, but as the park is more spread out, celebs can really be anywhere at any time.
Lesson 4: Plaids
The easiest way to find a celebrity is by honing what I like to call your “Plaid Radar.” Many celebs will utilize Cast Member guidance around the park from Guest Services. These are the Cast Members (or, as I call them, “Plaids”) you see wearing brightly colored red plaid vests and carrying black satchels. The Plaid is responsible for guiding the celebrity safely throughout the Park, backstage, and make sure that all interactions with other guests are safe and friendly.
Keep your eyes peeled for these guys every time you’re in the park! You never know who they may be leading around!
Keep your eyes peeled for these guys every time you’re in the park! You never know who they may be leading around!
Lesson 5: Etiquette
Here's how not to be a Bimbette!
Okay, here’s the most important lesson, folks, because I want to keep you, the celebrity, and their family all safe and happy while at the Disneyland Resort; Yes, using a variety of tactics to locate a single person is also the textbook definition of stalking. HOWEVER, Disneyland Celebrity Sleuthing is NOT stalking, and we’re going to make sure that there’s a clear difference between the two based on following a certain etiquette:
- Photo ops:
Know your celebrity: Do they take pictures with fans? For Emma Watson, the answer is never. Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo will often, but not when he’s with his kids.
A rule of thumb I use: Don’t take a photo with them (meaning a surprise selfie) unless they invite you to do so. For example, the one photo I have with a celebrity a friend and I found at Disneyland, Zachary Levi, the voice of Tangled’s Flynn Rider, invited us to jump in a photo with him. Pirates of the Caribbean’s Orlando Bloom will just straight up stand outside of the Pirates attraction and wait for people to recognize him!
- If they said no...
If they refuse to talk with you or take a picture with you, don’t speak ill of them or fight their wishes. 1) It will most likely end in you getting thrown out of the park. 2) They’re not here to gratify you, they’re here to gratify themselves. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you want everyone in Disneyland stopping you from getting to your preferred destination in the park every few steps?
- If you do find them...
Don’t continue to follow them once you find them. That really is stalking, and it’s not okay. Also, don’t chase them, draw attention to them, or shriek at them: At the end of the day, celebrities are like us in that they’re human beings. They just want to have a good time. Don’t make a scene and ruin their vacation.
Here’s another rule of thumb I use: I never approach a celebrity if they’re with their kids. That means that the celebrity is there for their kids. I let them have their time together as a family.
Here’s another rule of thumb I use: I never approach a celebrity if they’re with their kids. That means that the celebrity is there for their kids. I let them have their time together as a family.
- Keep it short and sweet. Be ready:
When sleuthing, keep your phone in hand, ready to turn on the camera if need be. Speed is everything, as your celebrity might just keep walking if you interact with them. To make the moment as quick as possible and still be heard by your celebrity, think of one brief sentence that you can quickly say to them that will get your point across.
For example:
For example:
- If I encountered Dan Stevens (the Beast) in the park the other day, I was ready to say, “I’m so sorry to bother you, sir, but I just wanted to say that you’re great at what you do and I appreciate your work. Have a great day!”
- A friend of mine saw Once Upon a Time actress Jennifer Morrison in California Adventure while in line for California Screamin’. He knew she was getting bombarded by OUAT fans, so he decided to reference a lesser film role of hers. “I loved you in Star Trek!” he cried. She turned and looked at him and laughed, and later found him in Disneyland, thanking him for the comment.
- It doesn’t even need to be a sentence. For the life of me, when I saw Lily James from Cinderella, I could NOT remember her name! All I could think of was her character’s name from Downton Abbey. “LADY ROSE!” I cried. She spun around and looked straight at me and smiled.
- It doesn’t even have to be verbal! Sometimes, just a look is enough! James Franco passed by me and a friend and filmed us on his phone camera as he passed by. We didn’t say a word! One time, I was passing over the Pirates bridge and I spotted John Stamos walking in the opposite direction towards me. Me, him and his Plaid were the only people on the bridge, so he turned his head away from me when he saw me see him, as to not be recognized. Finally, when I wouldn’t break my gaze, he turned and looked at me at the last minute before he passed, so I just smiled at him and kept walking. He smiled back! Sometimes, words aren’t even necessary.
- Final rule of thumb: Refer to them formally.
A Disneyland Cast Member once told me about a time she was working one of the Pirates of the Caribbean red carpets in Disneyland. She was in the back of the crowd on Main Street to make sure the fans would remain at bay. She was so excited to see Johnny Depp, however, that she couldn’t help but call out, “MR. DEPP!” Her voice rang out over the screams of the other fans, and especially the yells of just, “JOHNNY!” Depp, hearing her, then approached the fence where she stood, reached over the crowd to shake her hand personally. Moral of the story? Being a little formal is never a bad thing.
Finding a celebrity in Disneyland is not easy. The majority of the time, you will not be able to locate them. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the needle has legs. You could be in one area of the park while they are in another, they could be on an attraction as you hunt for them, they could be in another park entirely, or maybe they literally passed you and you had no idea (which is what happened with me and Emma Watson the other day. RIP me). I have gone on four sleuthing missions and was successful only once. The remaining nine encounters were by sheer happenstance only, as I was in the right place at the right time. So don’t get discouraged! Celebrity hunting is a difficult task, but it’s just another factor making Disneyland a fun, magical place when you do happen upon someone famous!
Go forth, my pupils! Class dismissed, and happy sleuthing!
Go forth, my pupils! Class dismissed, and happy sleuthing!
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