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 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 are often the highlight of our Disney days, and we are so hoppy more characters continue to appear. Recent additions to EPCOT include Moana in World Nature, Figment inside ImageWorks and Asha from "Wish" at the World Showcase Plaza. Plus, Star-Lord now makes appearances near Guardians of the Galaxy. Over at Magic Kingdom, Mirabel now greets guests at Fairytale Garden.
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.
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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. Fur characters have mascot-style costumes 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 getting ready to build a snowman with Elsa!
Also, 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. The My Disney Experience app will list the times and places 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! Keep in mind that these appearances and locations are always subject to change.
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 available for meet-and-greets. The characters can be seen traveling down Main Street, U.S.A. in the Festival of Fantasy parade, in a cavalcade or greeting guests throughout the park. Check the My Disney Experience app for showtimes.
The Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade is a great way to see new and rare characters, such as Bruno from "Encanto" or Miguel from "Coco." You can catch the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade once or twice a day, usually starting around 10:30 a.m.
Indoor traditional meet-and-greets:
- Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
- Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Elena at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto
- Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck and Goofy at Pete's Silly Side Show
Outdoor character sightings (intermittently):
- Snow White near Town Square Theater
- Chip 'n' Dale in Frontierland near the Rivers of America River Walk
- Mirabel in Fairytale Garden
- Winnie the Pooh and Tigger next to the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Peter Pan (and sometimes Wendy) by the Peter Pan's Flight queue
- Anastasia, Drizella, and Lady Tremaine near Cinderella Fountain
- Fairy Godmother in Fantasyland, near Cinderella Fountain
- Country Bears in Frontierland — including the iconic Romeo McGrowl
- Captain Jack Sparrow across from Pirates of the Caribbean
- Aladdin and Jasmine by The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Mulan at the Town Square Theater Porch
- Stitch in Tomorrowland — don't miss a chance to dance with Stitch at the Rocket Tower Plaza Stage during Cool Kid Summer.
- Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland near Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Note that both Cinderella and Tiana make appearances with a visiting princess, which varies. Furthermore, some character appearances, such as the Fairy Godmother and Stitch, aren't scheduled. So just keep an eye out — you never know who you may stumble upon (even rare characters, including Jiminy Cricket and Little John).
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, Flora, Fauna, Merryweather, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mad Hatter, Alice, the White Rabbit, Jimmy Cricket, Pinocchio, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy, Chip, Dale, Minnie, Mickey
- Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade: Bruno, Merida, Moana, Raya, 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 from "Aladdin," Nick and Judy from "Zootopia," Clarabelle, José and Panchito from "The Three Caballeros," Marie, Max Goof, Stitch, Mary Poppins and Bert
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, such as Donald Duck and friends at "Donald's Dino-Bash!" in DinoLand U.S.A. Note, this meet-and-greet will be closing at some point to make way for the new Tropical Americas — check back for dates.
Indoor traditional meet-and-greets:
- Mickey and Minnie (in safari gear) at Adventurers Outpost
Outdoor character sightings (intermittently):
- Moana at Character Landing
- Chip ‘n' Dale at DinoLand (Upper Cretaceous Trail)
- Donald Duck at DinoLand (Welcome Center)
- Daisy Duck in DinoLand (Upper Cretaceous Trail)
- Goofy in DinoLand (Near Restaurantosaurus)
- Pluto in The Oasis
- Kevin from "Up" at Discovery Island
- Dug from "Up" at the Wilderness Explorers Club House
- Russell from "Up" at the Wilderness Explorers Club House
- Pocahontas at Discovery Island
- Rafiki at Conservation Station
- Timon at Conservation Station
Disney World Characters at EPCOT
We love meeting the characters at EPCOT because you can find many of them in World Showcase, stationed in 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 with Mickey & friends at CommuniCore Hall
- Goofy with Mickey & Friends at CommuniCore Hall — aka GoofyCore for Cool Kid Summer, happening May 27 - Sept. 1, 2025!
- Figment inside ImageWorks
- Winnie the Pooh in the United Kingdom
- Elsa and Anna in Norway
- Mulan in China
- Rotating characters inside the Disney Visa Cardmember Character Spot near Journey into Imagination
Outdoor character sightings (intermittently):
- Daisy and Pluto by Dreamer's Point; Pluto is also seen near the main entrance
- Moana in World Nature
- Asha in the gazebo across from the Disney Traders store
- Donald Duck in Mexico
- Snow White in Germany
- Belle in France by the lagoon
- Aurora in the France gazebo
- Jasmine in Morocco
- Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins in the United Kingdom (alternating)
- Star Lord outside of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Phineas and Ferb (as part of Cool Kid Summer, starting June 1 at the main entrance)
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. Characters in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge roam around, so you never know who you'll see in Black Spire Outpost. Plus, with Fantasmic!, you can see lots of your favorite characters, including a new sequence featuring Moana, Elsa, Aladdin and more!
Indoor traditional meet-and-greets:
- Mickey and Minnie at Red Carpet Dreams
- Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
- Edna Mode at Pixar Plaza
- Chewbacca, BB-8 and Darth Vader in Star Wars Launch Bay
- Ariel from the live-action "The Little Mermaid" at Walt Disney Presents
Outdoor character sightings (intermittently):
- Donald & Daisy in Animation Courtyard
- Max Goof on Grand Avenue
- Goofy at Grand Avenue
- Chip 'n' Dale on Brown Derby Lawn
- Doc McStuffins, Fancy Nancy, Vampirina in Animation Courtyard
- Mr. and Mrs. Incredible at Pixar Plaza
- Frozone and Edna Mode at Pixar Plaza
- Joy at Pixar Plaza
- Sulley at Pixar Place
- Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story Land
- Kylo Ren and Stormtroopers near First Order Cargo
- Rey, Chewbacca and Vi Moradi throughout Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- The Mandalorian and Grogu near Black Spire Market
Watch for surprise characters inside Animation Courtyard during Cool Kid Summer!
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. You don’t even have to leave your resort for some spots if you stay 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, but you can still have a quick conversation and pose for a photo.
If you decide to dine with Disney World characters, check out our complete guide to Disney World character dining experiences. There are plenty of options to choose from (here's a list of our favorites!). 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 park opened, 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.
This summer, catch even more characters, including Isabela from "Encanto" and Aurora and Prince Phillip from "Sleeping Beauty" in the new Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away parade.
And, as mentioned above, there is also a Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade that features 30+ additional characters, including some that are new or rarely seen! Special events, such as the Halloween and holiday parties, offer fun, party-exclusive parades to celebrate the holidays. For example, though not a traditional meet-and-greet, you can take a selfie with Constance Hatchaway "floating" behind you in Mickey's Boo-To-You parade during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween-Party.
Check out our Festival of Fantasy 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.
- 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.
- Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios — This nighttime show celebrates the power of imagination. Join Mickey Mouse on a whirlwind adventure as he must conquer evil. You'll see Disney villains as well as heroes from classic films such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Pocahontas," "Aladdin" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," as well as newer films including "Moana" and "Frozen 2."
- (New) The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure — Spend time with Ariel, Prince Eric and their under-the-sea friends in this dazzling stage production featuring classic songs and state-of-the-art puppetry. It's now open as of May 27, 2025, at Hollywood Studios.
- (New) Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After — Listen to Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent make their case for who has been the most unfairly treated. It's now open as of May 27, 2025, at Hollywood Studios.
Hotels
Though it's not as often, some Disney characters appear at the resorts. These are not scheduled, nor are they the same characters every time.
However, during Cool Kid Summer, there will be scheduled character appearances at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.
After Hours Events
While traditional meet-and-greets are generally available for After Hours at EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, you'll want to check out H20 Glow at Typhoon Lagoon to snap a selfie with Rex from "Toy Story."
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.
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!
