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Characters. If it seems like there are more of them than ever before at Walt Disney World Resort, it's because those cuddly fun-lovers are being showcased in all sorts of new entertainment at the Vacation Kingdom.

Springtime '02 visitors are being treated to 10 new shows, attractions and events that have debuted since last summer – all part of the yearlong 100 Years of Magic celebration commemorating the centennial of walt Disney's birth. And seven of the new extravaganzas feature Disney characters.

There are characters that have popped out of storybooks. Characters that have emerged from motion pictures and TV to perform three-dimensional theme park roles. And characters that have been fashioned from fantasy just to play parts in theme park entertainment productions. There are characters on parade and characters on stage. For the first time, characters are even greeting the morning at Disney hotels.

"We hear from our Guests, young and old, every day, that a special kind of magic happens when they see our Disney characters," says Rich Taylor, vice president of entertainment at the Walt Disney World Resort. "So it only seemed appropriate that we intensify that magic during the 100 Years of Magic celebration by feturing more Disney characters than ever before."

The character fun begins before the theme parks even open – at Disney hotels. The new "Disney's Character Caravan" is an opportunity for the popular Disney characters to help put early-morning smiles on the faces of Walt Disney World resort guests during surprise visits to lobbies, transportation stops, and other guest areas.

"It's Disney characters up close and personal," Taylor says.

There are other new opportunities for guests to interact with the famous Disney characters.

"In the Magic Kingdom, the new 'Cinderella's Surprise Celebration' features two dozen Disney characters in a show presenting gifts for our guests," says Taylor. "We've never done a show of this magnitude about our characters – and we are using Cinderella Castle as a huge scenic piece."

The new show concludes with an extended informal character greeting in the Cinderella Castle forecourt – more "up close and personal." And children are selected to step into the street and participate with the characters in special segments of the new "Share a Dream Come True" parade in the Magic Kingdom.

Familiar characters also play feature roles in the "Disney Stars and Motor Cars" parade and "Playhouse Disney–Live on Stage" show at Disney–MGM Studios and "Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Safari" parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom. A new cadrew of characters and puppeteers has been created for the Epcot procession, "Tapestry of Dreams."

Not that anybody is actually counting while they are enjoying the new 100 Years of Magic entertainment, but: The total is more than 200 character appearances in performances of the new shows, parades, and events.

"And that's just the entertainment that's brand new," Taylor says. "There are literally dozens of other opportunities in all four of our theme parks for our guests to have a magical Disney character experience."