Heigh-ho! No matter how old you are, you'll never get tired of hugging your favorite Disney characters in the parks. The trick is knowing where to find them, especially since things can change all the time at Disneyland.
The great thing about Disneyland is that characters unexpectedly appear, and that is pure Disney magic. They do, however, tend to frequent their favorite spots in the parks. If you know where characters might be, you can increase the likelihood of meeting your favorite Disneyland characters on your next trip! We'll go over the places you should look when meeting characters at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure so you do not miss out.
Be sure to keep an eye out for characters at Disneyland at all times. We are still surprised by characters when we least expect to see them! If you hang out in the stretch between Pixie Hollow and "It's a small world," you'll run into all kinds of characters from princesses to pirates to Alice and The Mad Hatter, villains and so many more!
What's better than meeting characters at Disneyland? Playing with them! We saw Alice and the Mad Hatter jump on the teacups ride and stop to have a tea party with guests in Fantasyland one morning, and then they played games near Refreshment Corner with park guests another afternoon. In Toontown, you can play with the roaming characters!
If you like to plan your character visits, you can sometimes view general times and locations in the Disneyland app. You can go to the teardrop on the bottom of the app screen to pull up the park map, and at the top pull-down menu, select "Characters." The selection in the app is more limited than in reality though. The Mickey icons on the map will show you character locations. You can tap them to see who is there and the time range. This does not cover all the characters and their locations, but it's a good start! You can type "meet" into the app and it will pull up some popular character groups you can meet.
On the other hand, you may be able to search for some specific characters by name. Some days you can. Some days you can't. The app is always changing, and we expect it to evolve over time.
Unlike at Disney World, you cannot use Lightning Lane to skip the lines to meet characters. You'll have to hop in line or ask a traveling character for a photo. The lines to meet characters at Disneyland are, for the most, part much shorter than at Disney World. For characters that walk around, they don't allow lines to form, but you can walk with them or ask them for a photo. Remember that characters in full costume, such as Goofy or Pluto, can only see right in front of them. Speak clearly and be where they can see you if you'd like them to take a photo with you.
If you are going all the way to Disneyland, you can’t get by without meeting the big cheese himself: M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E! Mickey and his friends Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, Chip 'n' Dale are often at the top of everyone’s must-see list. You can find these classic characters at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
Our Guide to Meeting Characters at Disneyland Park
We frogs love the unexpected. It's what makes Disneyland so magical to us! Disneyland has general areas where you can expect to meet certain characters. And then there are surprise moments when you find yourself walking next to a character in Fantasyland or see them playing with guests in new ways.
In Disneyland Park, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, Daisy and Chip 'n' Dale are almost always near the entrance to the park in Town Square. After you walk through the tunnels, you can find them in the middle of the circle in front of the train station, by City Hall, near the Mad Hatter and in front of other stores and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. The morning and early afternoon are popular times to find them here greeting all the guests coming into the park. Avoid times around parades, since the characters are in the performances instead of being out and about meeting guests.
On Main Street and in Town Square, the characters wear festival outfits (such as the now passed Disney 100) or holiday clothing (especially during Holiday Time) or are in costumes at Halloween Time. If you are looking for a timeless photo with them, those same characters usually wear their traditional clothes in Toontown. However, Mickey has several different outfits you might catch him in at Toontown.
We love seeing the characters perform with the Disneyland Band and march from the castle to the Main Street U.S.A. train station at about 11:45 a.m. Our post on how to spot unscheduled Disneyland character cavalcades & performances will help you find more of those frogciting character appearances.
Play with Them in Mickey's Toontown
Another area these Disneyland characters frequent is Toontown. Mickey and Minnie greet guests and pose for pictures in their houses, and their friends are often out and about on the streets of Toontown. Since the land reopened March 19, 2023, there are new characters roaming the streets of Toontown, such as Steamboat Pete! You'll see them emerge near Minnie's house.
These characters wander around, play with guests and interact in the land. It is so much fun! We saw Pluto playing duck, duck goose with a group of kids and Clarabelle Cow playing hopscotch and running around the dreaming tree, followed by children. Goofy came by to help a child blow up some explosives. Pluto photobombed our picnic one day. You'll find them in the green spaces, streets and yards of Toontown!
At California Adventure Park, you can meet these same classic characters on Buena Vista Street. They'll be dressed in vintage wear. Keep an eye out for Horace Horsecollar or Clarabelle Cow along the street in doorways and other characters on the covered sidewalk to the right of Carthay Circle. Pluto is sometimes near the airplane by Soarin'. At times, we have run into Oswald the Lucky Rabbit near the park entrance. When he's out, he's usually the first or last character you see when you either come in or exit the park.
Summon "Star Wars" Characters
You can meet "Star Wars" characters in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, but sometimes they also appear in Tomorrowland. Darth Vader is sometimes in Tomorrowland for limited hours. Captain Phasma and the Stormtroopers are on patrol in Tomorrowland for a limited time as well during Star Wars Month. But the rest of them are in Batuu.
Stormtroopers regularly patrol all of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Sometimes Supreme Leader Kylo Ren joins them. They will decide if they want to stop and talk to citizens (unlike other characters in the park who can’t wait for guests to visit them). There is no official line or location or greet for the characters in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. This is their world and they have things to do. You can hop over to our guide to the roaming characters of Galaxy's Edge for more details on where to meet Chewbacca, Rey, Vi Moradi, R2-D2, stormtroopers, Kylo Ren and more.
If you want a warm and fuzzy meet and greet, look for Chewbacca. He's always good for a hug! The First Order characters are a bit more intimidating but can also be hilariously rude.
Newer "Star Wars" characters have entered the land, including Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand. You can find them in the Marketplace, or Boba Fett near the speeder garage, Droid Depot or First Order Cargo. Sometimes he stays on the move. The Mandalorian, Grogu, and Ashoka Tano also greet guests in those same areas.
With the release of new Disney+ Star Wars shows usually comes new limited time characters. We've seen Hera, Chopper and Sabine a few times!
There are many more rare characters to be met such as Jawas, Ewoks, Luke and Leia, Padme and Anakin, Darth Maul, Ezra and Captain Rex during the Star Wars Nite after hours event at Disneyland in May.
Meet the Princesses in Several Disneyland Locations
Lily recently shared how to meet the Disneyland princesses (and even some of their friends, such as Flynn Rider). You can find all that detailed information in her tips for meeting princesses at Disneyland. Most princesses stay in Disneyland Park. Several can be found in or near the Royal Hall in Fantasy Faire. Look up, "Meet princesses at Royal Hall" in the Disneyland app for the hours. We have seen so many different princesses in this location. We like to hop by early before it opens or just before it closes for the shortest wait.
Pocahontas is sometimes near the Rivers of America, but we've also met her at the Royal Hall. She says she is usually off exploring with John Smith, but when she is in the area, she visits guests at Disneyland. You might run into princesses near "it's a small world," Pixie Hollow or the Wishing Well. Guests can meet Ariel from the live-action "The Little Mermaid" along the promenade. Tiana frequents New Orleans Square and the Mark Twain Riverboat.
You can also find princesses wandering right up to the gates of Disneyland. We've seen Belle, Cinderella, Ariel and Mulan greeting guests as they enter the park.
Find Fairies
Tinker Bell and her fairy friends flit about in Pixie Hollow. Beware! Captain Hook has been known to lurk about near Fantasyland. Keep an eye out for Tinker Bell’s friend, Peter Pan. He rarely stays still but is awfully fun if you do find him running and skipping around Fantasyland.
Where Are Winnie the Pooh and Friends?
You can usually meet Winnie the Pooh (plus Eeyore and Tigger too) in Pooh Corner after exiting The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride or Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Bayou Country. If more than one character is out, you get multiple character interactions by waiting in one line. The hours are in the Disneyland app, but we've seen them hop in place earlier than posted.
Meeting Characters at Disney California Adventure Park
At Disney California Adventure, look for characters at:
- Carthay Circle and the surrounding area of Buena Vista Street — You never know who might show up here, from Mickey and Minnie (and pals) to Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is near the park entrance and exit.
- Animation Building — Anna and Elsa are back!
- Pixar Pier Bandshell
- Toy Story characters in front of Toy Story Midway Mania!
- The Incredibles across from the Incredicoaster entrance
- Cars Land — Lightning McQueen, Mater and Red "brake" for photos at the Cozy Cone Motel.
- Judy Hopps and Nick Wild greet guests near The Little Mermaid — Ariel's Undersea Adventure
- If you see some pots and pans on a cast member pathway to the Grand Californian, look for one of the Country Bears.
- The airplane near Soarin' — You might find Pluto or Chip 'n' Dale there.
- Avengers Campus — Meet Super Heroes such as Black Widow, Captain America, Thor, Loki, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, The Wasp and others as they strike heroic poses. Catch shows with Spider-Man, the Dora Milaje and Doctor Strange. See the Super Heroes jump into action and leap from the rooftops!
Meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto
Mickey and his friends Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Daisy are dressed for the time period in which Walt Disney came to California and started the Walt Disney Co., about 1923. You can find the gang scattered around Buena Vista Street throughout the day.
Pose with Super Heroes
You’ll find Captain America, Spider-Man and other Super Heroes in Disney California Adventure. Hop over to our super guide to Avengers Campus to learn where to meet the following Avengers:
- Members of the Guardians of the Galaxy (Star-Lord, Gamora and Groot)
- Ant-Man and The Wasp
- Spider-Man
- Thor and Loki
- Doctor Strange
- Iron Man
- Captain America
- Captain Marvel
- Black Widow
- Black Panther and his Dora Milaje, including General Okoye
- Shang Chi
Characters who have dropped by (usually for a limited time after the release of a new movie or Disney+ show) include:
- America Chavez
- The Eternals
- Hawkeye and Kate Bishop
- The Scarlet Witch
- Moon Knight (Steven and Marc in their suits)
- Ms. Marvel
- Kang
- Mantis
- Deadpool
- Wolverine
You never know who you might see. During the Oogie Boogie Bash, Agatha was out.
Characters are fun to see, but even more fun to interact with. We saw Loki take someone by the arm and walk off with them! Avengers Campus was built on the former A Bug's Land, so sometimes Ant-Man carries around a miniaturized Bug's Land to show us that it's still there. The characters are now all over the land, so you never know where you might spot them.
Meet the Princesses
There are not as many princesses in Disney California Adventure as there are in Disneyland. But there are two popular ones: Anna and Elsa (sometimes along with Olaf and Kristoff). Their meeting area is in the Animation Building.
Other princesses do make special appearances at Disney California Adventure during certain holidays. Mulan visits guests with Mushu during Lunar New Year. Raya can be found in Redwood Creek Challenge Trail during Lunar New Year as well.
Meet Pixar Pals at Pixar Pier
Throughout the day, various Pixar pals pop in to see visitors to Pixar Pier. They tend to stay in their neighborhoods.
- You might encounter Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone or Edna Mode near the entrance to the Incredicoaster.
- Woody, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear and Bo Peep welcome friends in front of Toy Story Midway Mania!
- You might Meet Joy and Sadness, Mike Wazowski and Sulley, Mr. Fredricksen, Russell and Dug, Ian and Barley or other Pixar Pals across from the Pixar Pal-A-Round. We even saw Anger during Pixar Fest!
You can also find Joe Gardner playing piano and Bing Bong hanging out in the lobby of the Pixar Place Hotel.
Where to Find Wandering Characters
Most other Disneyland characters can be found scattered throughout the parks. Here are a few favorites you might see. The rarest and most unusual characters are often wandering about in Fantasyland. We’ve run into Geppetto and John Worthington Foulfellow from "Pinocchio."
Fantasyland has the most wandering characters. You never know who you'll see. The parade route from "it's a small world" to Pixie Hollow is a popular spot to find them, but they can show up anywhere in Fantasyland! There are photo backdrops near "it's a small world" to get posed photos with varying characters.
Here are a few favorites you might see:
- We cannot say this enough. Hang out near the Wishing Well to the side of the castle. We have bumped into the most interesting and diverse assortment of characters there!
- Alice and the Mad Hatter make appearances near the Tea Cups and the Alice in Wonderland ride. This duo is quite humorous, and the two love to have comical chats with guests. We've hopped by to play games with them in front of "it's a small world" or at Refreshment Corner, as well.
- Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother flits around Fantasyland near the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (inside you can be magically transformed into a princess or other Fantasyland attractions
- Gaston and the Beast have been known to wander all around Fantasyland. Gaston also frequents Fantasy Faire, always on the lookout for Belle. If you run into Gaston looking for Belle, shhh … don’t give her location away. She is usually safe inside the Royal Hall with her princess friends. Sometimes she (or Rapunzel) will greet audience members after certain respective shows at the Royal Theatre. Belle also likes to wander about and has been known to hop on a horse to take a spin around the King Arthur Carrousel.
- Aladdin and Jasmine have been spotted in Fantasy Faire and near the Wishing Well. But we also spent some time with Bert there as well.
- The residents of Radiator Springs also drive out to meet people in Cars Land at California Adventure. You'll find them driving down Route 66 or parked in front of the Cozy Cone Motel.
- Pirates Captain Jack Sparrow and Redd may wander about New Orleans Square. We've also had a run-in with Jack at Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.
- Dr. Facilier and Tiana greet guests in New Orleans near the Rivers of America.
- The Evil Queen from Snow White has been lurking about near Fantasyland, often between Pixie Hollow and Alice in Wonderland. But she also frequents the Wishing Well. Sometimes she's near the castle entrances or Fantasy Faire. She's wonderfully wicked. Be sure to bow before greeting her!
- The Citizens of Buena Vista Street in California Adventure are hidden gems that might not be your traditional Disney characters, but they are a lot of fun, and quite chatty.
- Do you have a Chase Disney Visa card? You can meet characters at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure that others cannot access. The location at Disneyland is in Star Wars Launch Bay (it's usually Darth Vader). In Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure, you can usually meet Stitch or Daisy or Pluto. It's always a surprise, and it is fun getting private time with the character. Hours are limited, so check online.
There are always other characters popping up. Mary Poppins — the best nanny ever — sometimes appears near the castle and Pixie Hollow. You'll also find her and Bert strolling past the castle, around Main Street and through Fantasyland. They do not stop for photos, but they welcome guests to stroll along and chat with them! We have also caught them posing with guests near the entrance or at Refreshment Corner before it opens. Some days, they dance along with the Pearly Band in front of the castle. At times, Mary and Bert will hop on the King Arthur Carrousel for a spin. They like to keep you guessing, and that is part of their magic.
There are often other characters just inside the park entrance, but you never know who you will find there. It could be a princess, a villain, a classic favorite or a surprise obscure character. It is always best to look around when entering or exiting the park to see if you can spy a special character.
You never know which Disneyland characters you are going to meet in either of the parks. The parks update character experiences all the time. Disneyland is much more spontaneous than Disney World when it comes to characters, and we've noticed a growing number of wandering characters. Disneyland is full of surprises — all the better to keep you hopping and entertained! Be sure to keep your eyes open for opportunities to meet characters. You may find them simply walking next to you!
It is fun when you come across a toadally unexpected character. You just can’t plan this type of thing, but when it happens just go with it and enjoy the magic.
Make a Plan to Find Seasonal Disneyland Characters
Some characters only make appearances during certain seasons.
Jack Skellington and Sally are some of the more popular “villains” to greet during Halloween Time. You can find the pair in between Port Royal Curios and Curiosities and Pieces of Eight in New Orleans Square. This line gets long quickly, so make sure to go early if meeting Jack and Sally is a priority. You can also find Cruella de Vil, Jafar, the Queen of Hearts, the Evil Queen, Maleficent, Dr. Faciller and others during the Halloween season. We've met a few hitchhiking ghosts and other prominent ghosts from the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Halloween Time, as well. Additional villains appear during the Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween party like Lotso, Mother Gothel, Madam Mim, Ernesto de la Cruz and Sid. Mickey and friends roam Town Square in their Halloween costumes for the whole season, and they are different each year!
During ¡Viva Navidad! in California Adventure, you may see members of the Three Caballeros, Mirabel or Mickey, Minnie and Goofy in their festive 'fits.
Mulan, Mushu, Mickey, Minnie, Chip 'n' Dale celebrate Lunar New Year in California Adventure by taking photos with guests. Classic characters will also be wearing their New Year’s best during this celebration.
During the Holidays at Disneyland you can meet Santa Claus in either park. He just might be replaced with Santa Goofy after Christmas — Santa does need to rest. You can also meet Santa Jack Skellington in New Orleans Square during these months. Like with Halloween, Mickey and friends dress in their best Holiday attire to greet guests in Town Square.
While Pixar Fest is going on you can meet a bunch of characters at the Fantasyland Theatre like Woody, Jessie, Bo Peep, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Edna Mode, Joy, Sadness and Russell. For the first time ever you can also meet Ember and Wade from "Elemental," as well as Luca and Alberto from "Luca." You may see Ian and Barley from "Onward" over by their can Guinevere. You might catch Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl in their retro super suits over at the Hollywood Backlot. At Grizzly Peak Meilin Lee and her mother are known to make appearances.
Dance Parties
A really fun way to interact with characters is at the seasonal dance parties in Tomorrowland between 7 and 11 p.m. The themed parties have various characters dancing in along with an energetic DJ to keep the party going.
More Tips for Finding Characters at Disneyland
Most characters are out (on and off — they do need to take breaks) from the park openings until late afternoon. If you are having trouble finding your favorite character, check the Disneyland app.
The best sources of information about characters are the Disney cast members wearing buttons that say, “Ask Me About Characters,” or the cast member at the end of the closed line. They might be able to help you, or may even consult the Toon Finder to find out when and where you can meet them. They may offer tips for when to hop in line for a really popular character.
If you see a character cast member standing still and there is no character nearby, remain close. A character is usually on their way to this exact location, and you can be one of the first in line to greet them. Keep that camera and autograph book handy!
Small Children and Disneyland Characters
Sometimes meeting a character is overwhelming for toddlers and small children. Lily loved hugging some characters as a baby, and then suddenly the idea of posing for a picture with Mickey Mouse at age two made her cry. Now she is back at it, always searching for her favorite princesses. This is completely normal and very common.
If your child suddenly fears a life-size Mickey, don’t worry. A little stranger anxiety is a healthy and normal stage, and it can be very emotional meeting your favorite Disney star. The characters are much bigger in person than on TV. You will find many characters get down on the ground to greet their smallest guests eye to eye for this reason but don’t force it if your child is afraid. Wave to the character from afar (visiting from the stroller always feels safer) and limit your character experiences to rides and parades. You can also go with your child and hold them to help make them feel secure. We promise they will grow out of it and will be happy to meet them again soon.
Another way to meet Disneyland characters either in or out of the parks is to make a reservation through Disney Dining for a character dining experience. You will be sure to meet many different characters at Disneyland this way without having to look for them or wait in lines. Eating a delicious meal and letting the characters come to you is a smart use of your time.
No matter where your character experiences take place, they will make for hoppy special memories indeed. Have questions about meeting Disneyland characters? Share them in the comments below!
Related: Our Spooky-Good Guide to Disneyland Halloween Time
Related: Disneyland Character Dining
Keep hopping!
