Summary
Whether you’re a tadpole or a grown-up frog, meeting and seeing your favorite Disney characters brought to life is a memorable and magical experience. I’ll never forget the looks on Tad and Lily’s faces when they each met Mickey and Minnie for the first time! A quick chat and photo can brighten anyone’s day — and even become a major highlight of the entire trip. While spending the day at the parks, the traditional meet-and-greet (back in most locations, as of April 18, 2022!) is easily the most popular photo-op and personalized interaction. However, it’s not the only way to have fun with the characters! In this guide, we’ll reveal the different types of characters, which characters you'll find in each park and tips for making the most out of these special moments.
Character experiences have been limited over the past two years, but are continuing to return back to normal. Besides cavalcades, boat flotillas, character dining and surprise sightings, traditional meet-and-greets are making a comeback! As of April 18, 2022, Disney World has reintroduced traditional character greetings, so you can now go in for the hug with many of your favorite characters!
Locations continue to reopen in phases — recently returned is Star Wars Launch Bay in Disney's Hollywood Studios, as well as the debut of the ever-popular Mirabel from "Encanto" in a Magic Kingdom cavalcade! As of Sept. 4, "Donald's Dino-Bash" at Disney's Animal Kingdom returns with Donald, Daisy and Chip 'n' Dale in their adorable Dino outfits! Debuting on the same day is a new Adventure Flotilla, featuring either Launchpad McQuack and Scrooge McDuck or Russell and Dug.
This guide dives into all of the deets about traditional character greetings and experiences, as well as all the locations to see your favorite character.
Types of Disney World Characters
At the Disney World theme parks and resorts, you’ll find two types of characters: face characters and fur characters. Face characters take on a fully-human form and look like real people, complete with wigs and makeup, while fur characters have a mascot-style costume with oversized heads. Face characters include all of the Disney princesses and princes, as well as live-action characters including Jack Sparrow and Mary Poppins — just to name a few. Fur characters are typically animal or nonhuman characters, such as Disney’s Fab Five, the Toy Story gang and Chewbacca. But there are some "human" fur characters, most notably the Incredible family and Carl and Russell from "Up." Pretty self-explanatory, right?
It’s important to point out that face characters can talk, but fur characters can only communicate through body language, gestures and actions. Consequently, the interactions will be quite different. Because the fur characters can’t engage in conversation, some tadpoles could find them more intimidating than the face characters. Not to fear! We have an entire post with additional tips to help tadpoles overcome those initial hesitations and fears.
Once Lily got over her shyness, she then hit me with the big question: "Mickey talks on TV. Why won’t he talk to me?" It can be a tough one to answer, but it’s toadally up to you (and you'll want to consider your tadpole’s age and maturity level). Lily was still pretty young when she asked, so to keep the Disney magic going, I simply told her that Mickey would lose his voice if he talked to everyone. But with Tad, who was older when he first asked, I turned it into more of a "teachable moment" that actions speak louder than words. I explained how Mickey prefers not to talk so he can show how much he enjoys spending time with guests.
Traditional Meet-and-Greets with Disney World Characters
The traditional meet-and-greet is by far the most personal way to interact with Disney World characters. Even though it only lasts for a few moments, the character has all of their attention on you. Plus, you get the best photo-op whether you use your own camera or the Disney PhotoPass service. Since you’ll be taking lots of pictures, get creative with poses. Pretend you’re surfing with Stitch or shooting an arrow with Merida. As of April 18, traditional character greetings are back in most locations, so you can get that Mickey hug in!
Don’t be afraid to engage with them! The Disney characters want to participate in the experience of a meet-and-greet, and they'll find ways to get you involved. We've found that making the most of the experience comes with being prepared. This is as simple as asking Mickey, "Where's Pluto?" Or saying to Snow White, "Who is your favorite of the dwarves?" Taking it up a level, ask Chip 'n' Dale, "Which one of you is Chip?" Or say to the ever-jealous Donald, "I've wanted to ask you this for a while ... where can I find Goofy?" Ask Belle for book recommendations, or quiz Jasmine about what Raja is up to. When Mommy Frog once commented on Flynn Rider's tall height, he told us his stature was extra hopful in his former life as a thief (and did a live demonstration of how it helped him reach trinkets on the tippy-top shelf). Think about what would get a Disney character to play along, and get ready to ask some questions. It will truly be more memorable than the photo or autograph!
For the more popular Disney characters, you’ll typically find them in a designated spot, and the Times Guide and My Disney Experience app will list the times they show up so that you can always double-check the day of your trip. If it’s an inside location, the characters will stay for longer periods of time. If it’s an outdoor location, the characters will be there intermittently throughout the day. Here’s a brief breakdown of the character sightings and the traditional greeting locations by theme park so you don’t miss them!
Disney World Characters at Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom hosts the most variety of characters, with many of the Disney princesses, members of the Fab Five and Winnie the Pooh and friends. The characters can be seen traveling down Main Street in the Festival of Fantasy parade or cavalcades or greeting from throughout the park. Check the My Disney Experience app for showtimes. Many characters returned to their regular locations over the summer, and we even have the Disney World debut of Mirabel in the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade (Time to listen to "Encanto for the thousandth time)!
Indoor traditional meet-and-greets:
- Mickey and Minnie at Town Square Theater (in their new EARidescent outfits)
- Cinderella and Elena at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Rapunzel and Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Belle at Maurice's Cottage in Fantasyland
Outdoor character sightings (intermittently):
- Snow White near Town Square Theater
- Buzz Lightyear or Stitch at the Rocket Tower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland
- Chip 'n' Dale in Storybook Circus
- Merida at Fairytale Garden
- Winnie the Pooh and Tigger next to the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Peter Pan by the Peter Pan's Flight queue
- Anastasia and Drizella near Cinderella Castle
- Country Bears in Frontierland
- Captain Jack Sparrow across from Pirates of the Caribbean
- Aladdin and Jasmine by The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Parade and cavalcades:
- Festival of Fantasy parade: Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Tiana, Naveen, Elsa, Anna, Rapunzel, Flynn, Ariel, Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, Tinker Bell, Mr. Smee, Prince Phillip, Maleficent dragon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mad Hatter, Alice, Jimmy Cricket, Pinocchio, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy, Chip, Dale, Minnie, Mickey
- Mickey & Friends 50th Celebration Cavalcade: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Chip, Dale and parade dancers
- Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade: Mirabel, Merida, Moana, Elena, Pocahontas, Mulan, Mr. and Mrs Incredible, Woody and Jessie, Miguel from "Coco," Timon, Turk, Meeko, Baloo and King Louie from "The Jungle Book," Genie, Aladdin and Jasmine, Nick and Judy from "Zootopia," Clarabelle, José and Panchito from "The Three Caballeros," Marie, Max Goof, Stitch, Mary Poppins and Bert
Currently unavailable:
- Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto
- Mary Poppins at Liberty Square Gazebo
- Minnie, Goofy and Donald Duck at Pete's Silly Side Show
Disney World Characters at Disney's Animal Kingdom
At Animal Kingdom, you’ll find a couple of unique character greetings, with lots of characters that can only be seen at this park! On Sept. 4, Donald and friends return to "Donald's Dino-Bash!" in DinoLand U.S.A., as well as a new Adventure Flotilla featuring either Launchpad McQuack and Scrooge McDuck or Russell and Dug.
Indoor traditional meet-and-greets:
- Mickey and Minnie (in safari gear) at Adventurers Outpost
Character flotillas:
- Timon and Rafiki
- Pocahontas with John Smith or Meeko
- Donald, Daisy, Launchpad McQuack
- Goofy and Chip 'n' Dale
- Mickey, Minnie and Pluto
Outdoor character sightings (intermittently):
- Kevin from "Up" at Discovery Island
Traditional character greetings (currently unavailable):
- Chip ‘n' Dale at DinoLand
- Donald Duck at DinoLand
- Goofy at DinoLand
- Pluto at DinoLand
- Launchpad McQuack at DinoLand
- Scrooge McDuck at DinoLand
- Rafiki and Timon at Character Landing on Discovery Island
Disney World Characters at EPCOT
We love meeting the characters at EPCOT because you can find many of them in World Showcase stationed at the countries they’re originally from! Plus EPCOT is the only park with a character greeting location for Anna and Elsa from "Frozen" at Royal Sommerhus in Norway.
Indoor traditional meet-and-greets:
- Mickey Mouse at the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Joy at ImageWorks
- Vanellope at ImageWorks
- Elsa and Anna in Norway
- Jasmine in Morocco
- Disney Visa Cardmember Character Spot near Journey into Imagination
Outdoor character sightings (intermittently):
- Goofy and Pluto near Spaceship Earth
- Winnie the Pooh near Journey into the Imagination with Figment
- Minnie Mouse in gazebo across from Disney Traders store
- Donald Duck in Mexico
- Mulan in China
- Snow White in Germany
- Belle in France by the lagoon
- Aurora in France gazebo
- Daisy by International Gateway
- Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins in the United Kingdom (alternating)
Currently unavailable:
- Ralph at ImageWorks
Disney World Characters at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Listen up, "Toy Story" and "Star Wars" fans! With the additions of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Hollywood Studios is the best park to interact with a lot of your favorite characters. Star Wars Launch Bay recently reopened where you can meet Chewbacca, BB-8 and Darth Vader. And soon characters will return to Toy Story Land! Plus, characters in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge are back to roaming around, so you never know who you'll see in Black Spire Outpost.
Indoor traditional meet-and-greets:
- Mickey and Minnie at Red Carpet Dreams
- Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
- Sulley at Walt Disney Presents
- Chewbacca, BB-8 and Darth Vadar in Star Wars Launch Bay
Outdoor character sightings (intermittently):
- Donald and Daisy on balcony near Oscar's Super Service
- Goofy on balcony at Tower of Terror
- Chip 'n' Dale next to The Hollywood Brown Derby
- Doc McStuffins, Fancy Nancy, Vampirina and Pluto in Animation Courtyard
- Kylo Ren and Stormtroopers near First Order Cargo
- Rey, Chewbacca and Vi Moradi throughout Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Character motorcades:
- Pixar Motorcade: Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Edna Mode, Sulley, Green Army Soldiers, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear
Currently unavailable:
- Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Edna Mode at Pixar Place
Dining with Disney World Characters
For a large selection of characters in one stop, it’s worth considering a character dining experience. These meals offer you a slight time advantage. Why wait 45 minutes for one character when the same amount of time at a character meal could get you multiple greeting opportunities? Plus you have mealtime covered, and for some spots, you don’t even have to leave your resort if you’re staying on-site!
The downside is the price tag, which is definitely more than counter-service dining. Your time with the characters is also limited. With 40+ tables to cover, they can't linger with you for too long. Some character dining locations are not currently offering characters, while others have returned to traditional greetings, such as Topolino's Terrace at Disney's Riviera Resort.
If you decide to dine with Disney World characters, we’ve ranked our favorite Disney World character dining experiences, as there are plenty of options to choose from. Once you pick out your own favorite, be sure to make reservations in advance! Some locations, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table, are very popular and may even be booked out a full 60 days ahead.
Other Unique Experiences with Disney World Characters
So, maybe your tadpole is shy or you’d rather wait in lines for rides, but you still think the trip would be incomplete without Disney World characters. The parks have plenty of other opportunities to see them in action!
Parades
Daily parades at Magic Kingdom have been going on since the opening of the park, and Disney switches it up every few years to bring in new characters and festive floats. The most recent daily parade is the Festival of Fantasy Parade, which debuted in 2014. Lily absolutely loves waving to the Disney princesses and beloved characters, including the Fab Five, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland and more. Special events, such as the Halloween and holiday parties, offer fun, party-exclusive parades to celebrate the holidays.
The Festival of Fantasy parade recently returned to Magic Kingdom. Check out our guide for the best parade viewing spots!
Shows
With an abundance of rides and meet-and-greets, sometimes the shows get overlooked, but they can be perfect for a much-needed break in the day (trust me, your feet get tired!). Of course, our favorites usually star a Disney character or two.
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at Disney's Hollywood Studios — It’s time to belt out "Let It Go!" The Royal Historians of Arendelle recount the story of their kingdom with a little bit of help from Anna, Kristoff and Elsa. (Even Olaf makes a special appearance during the holiday season!)
- Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage also at Disney's Hollywood Studios takes you through a tale as old as time. This Broadway-style show takes you through Belle's iconic story, with plenty of musical fun!
- Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire at Magic Kingdom — This outdoor musical stage show in front of Cinderella Castle brings many characters together, including Mickey, Minnie, Rapunzel, Flynn, Tiana, Anna, Elsa and Olaf.
Currently unavailable:
- Enchanted Tales with Belle at Magic Kingdom — While more of an interactive experience than a show, Enchanted Tales with Belle is a good pick for tadpoles who want to live their own "Beauty and the Beast" story. Guests are invited into Belle's cottage, where they're given the chance to play a role in a live re-enactment of her story, culminating in the chance for each guest to meet Belle herself. PhotoPass photographers are on-site to capture the enchanted moments.
- UP! A Great Bird Adventure at Disney's Animal Kingdom — Learn all about exotic birds with Russell and Dug from "Up." Just be prepared to duck your head when the birds fly into the audience!
More Tips for Interacting with Disney World Characters
Now that you know all of the different ways you can interact with Disney characters and where to find them, here are some extra tips to make the actual process of finding and meeting them as smooth and efficient as possible.
- It can be tempting to leap at the first sign of a Disney character your little one needs to see. Many people will stop and see the characters when they first pass by earlier in the day, causing long lines. For those characters who have all-day meeting times (i.e. Mickey Mouse and the princesses at Magic Kingdom), consider waiting until later in the afternoon or evening. By waiting until later, fewer people are passing these areas for the first time and are more apt to carry on with their magical day.
- If there’s a character you want to see and you know where the meeting place and time will be, line up before the character arrives. Nothing draws a crowd (and a line) at Disney like a character. Arriving a few minutes early and hanging around or waiting in line before the character appears can save you time later. This worked well for us when we met Alice at the United Kingdom pavilion in EPCOT. The fact that Mary Poppins was still out nearby helped to further draw people away from the Alice meeting spot.
- Watch for “unlisted” characters. Not all of the Disney characters or character meeting spots are listed in the Times Guide. We hoppened to find Fairy Godmother along with Anastasia and Drizella next to Cinderella Castle, near the Cinderella fountain. These characters were only available to meet until around 1 p.m. that day. Score!
- If there are two characters using the same meeting spot but switching off every half-hour, you can be the first in line to see the next character if you tell the cast member assisting the characters that you want to do this. For example, while other guests were seeing Anastasia and Drizella, I checked with the assisting cast member about being the first to see Fairy Godmother, who would be coming out next. She told me just to wait at the end of the line and to let people go ahead of me until she gave me the signal. Like magic, we were able to see Fairy Godmother at the start of her last appearance of the day.
- An often-overlooked Disney character interaction is taking the time to chat with the various Streetmosphere characters (currently unavailable). Part improv and part scripted show, these performers give the park a “lived-in” feel. In Magic Kingdom, you'd normally find the Citizens of Main Street — the Mayor, Socialite, Suffragette and Fire Chief. At Disney's Hollywood Studios, rub elbows with the Citizens of Hollywood — aspiring stars, directors, acting coaches and more from Hollywood's Golden Era. These citizens have much more flexibility and time for interactions, so striking up a conversation is well worth your time.
These are our Frog Family-tested Disney World character meeting tips, but we're sure there are more. What was your Disney World character meeting experience like? Do you have any favorite tips? Share in the comments below.
Related: All of the ~Frogtastic~ Places to Find Mickey at Disney World
Related: Your Royally Good Guide to Finding Princesses at Disney World
Hoppy planning!
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