Not receiving variables from referenced blueprint "Failed to find variable property"

I’m trying to do what I thought would be super simple, I need to pass variables from one blueprint to another.

I have a blueprint called “level” and my character blueprint, 2 variables from the level bp need to be received by the character. I followed this documentation setting up the object reference to my level blueprint from the character: https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/Engine/Blueprints/UserGuide/BlueprintComms/index.html#simplewaytoreferenceatargetblueprint

From within my character bp I can see the level bp and great a “get” node for the 2 variables, however it says “Failed to find variable property”, the 2 variables have default values and are both set to be editable/greeneye, as well as “Expose on Spawn” ticked for the level bp reference in my character bp and on the 2 variables in level bp for good measure.

Here is where I try and access the variables, changing to idle and jumping animations work fine, it just isn’t seeing the variables from level bp:


Below is where the variables are changed, based on user input. The player rotates the map to simulate moving and I need to alternate between left/right moving animation sprites


I’m very new and this is the first time trying to pass variables, and I’m at a loss for what I’m doing wrong.