Walt Disney World has SO much to offer every member of your family: thrilling attractions, amazing shows, delicious food, fun shopping, unique themed resorts, beautifully imagined parks, CHARACTERS, and so much more!
I can’t imagine visiting Walt Disney World without saying hello to some of our best Disney friends! It’s always fun going “home” and giving them hugs & just catching up with them again. They feel like family, but also celebrities…since we see them in all of the Disney movies and TV shows!
There are MANY places to meet them, and I’ll go over some of those now!
One of my FAVORITE ways to meet characters is by reserving a character breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s the easiest option too, since you don’t have to stand in line, and you get to see multiple at one meal. They come to you, while you enjoy a tasty meal. When we are at Disney World with the kids, we usually choose several character meals. But, even on adult only trips…I’ve been known to visit with some friends. I love looking back at pictures from my Disney trips growing up. We always enjoyed character meals, and in one particular photo from my first Disney vacation where we stayed at the Polynesian Resort, the picture actually shows the prices. Boy oh boy, have times (& prices) changed…
Magic Kingdom character meals
- The Crystal Palace (a buffet where you can meet Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore & Piglet)
- Cinderella’s Royal Table (inside Cinderella’s Castle with Cinderella & a few other princess)
- Be Our Guest (while technically not a character meal, at dinner…you are able to meet the Beast on your way out of the restaurant)
Epcot character meals
- Garden Grill (family style restaurant that rotates through the land pavilion where you can meet Chip, Dale, Farmer Mickey & Pluto)
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (in Norway with a few princesses)
Animal Kingdom character meals
- Tusker House (a buffet where you can meet Donald, Daisy, Mickey & Goofy in their safari gear)
Hollywood Studios character meals
- Hollywood & Vine (a buffet with two different character dining experiences. Breakfast has a few Disney Junior characters: Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Jake from the Neverland Pirates & Roadster Goofy. Lunch & Dinner has Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Daisy & Goofy in seasonal outfits)
Resort character meals
- 1900 Park Fare (a buffet at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. The Supercalifragilistic Breakfast usually has Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, Mad Hatter, Winnie the Pooh & Tigger. Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner usually has Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine & the Ugly Stepsisters)
- Chef Mickey’s (a buffet at Disney’s Contemporary Resort with Chef Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, & Goofy)
- ‘Ohana (Best Friends Breakfast is a family style experience at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey & Pluto)
- Cape May Cafe (Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast is a buffet breakfast at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. You usually meet Minnie, Donald, Daisy & Goofy in their beach wear.)
- Trattoria al Forno (The Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast is at Trattoria al Forno, on Disney’s Boardwalk. You will meet Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, Ariel, and Prince Eric.)
Another place to meet characters is at their “homes” in each park. There are many characters that are ALWAYS in the same places, and their meeting locations are often themed very well to them. You’ll notice some of them in my pictures…that are just so FUN! Some of these permanent meeting locations even have Fast Passes, which make the waits not so long. If they are on a park map, it’s a pretty sure thing that they meet the entire time the parks are open. Changes are made sometimes, and characters come and go!!! But, hopefully your favorites will be around to meet on your next Disney vacation!
Magic Kingdom Character Greetings
- Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
- Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater
- Ariel in her Grotto
- Pete’s Silly Sideshow with Donald, Daisy, Minnie & Goofy
- Princess Fairytale Hall with Cinderella, Tiana, Rapunzel & Elena
Epcot Character Greetings
- Epcot Character Spot with Baymax, Joy, Sadness, Mickey, Minnie & Goofy
- Anna & Elsa in their Royal Sommerhus
Animal Kingdom Character Greetings
- Mickey & Minnie at the Adventurers Outpost
Hollywood Studios Character Greetings
- Olaf at the Celebrity Spotlight
- Mickey & Minnie in Red Carpet Dreams
- Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie in Toy Story Land
- Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and BB-8 at Star Wars Launch Bay
And, finally…there are various Disney characters located all over the parks! Some are always in the same places. Some are roaming around. Some are surprise pop up characters. HOWEVER…they are not always there. So, when you go into the park each day, it is always important to pick up a current Times Guide. This will tell you the times that the characters are going to be in what location. Sometimes, they are there for 20 or 30 minute chunks of time. They do close the line at some point, so it is important to watch the clock if there is someone you really want to meet. Characters come and go, but here are some of the ones I have seen at each park from time to time.
Magic Kingdom Character Sightings
- Merida
- Peter Pan
- Suzy & Pearla (Cinderella’s Mouse friends)
- The Ugly Stepsisters & Lady Tremaine
- Mike & Sully
- Mr Incredible & Frozone
- Marie
- Snow White
- Daisy
- Pluto
- Fairy Godmother
- White Rabbit
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mary Poppins
- Chip & Dale
- Stitch
- Buzz Lightyear
- Winnie the Pooh & Tigger
- Aladdin & Jasmine
Epcot Character Sightings
- Daisy
- Pluto
- Chip & Dale
- Donald
- Mulan
- Snow White
- Belle
- Aurora
- Mary Poppins
- Alice in Wonderland
- Aladdin & Jasmine
Animal Kingdom Character Sightings
- Baloo & King Louie
- Pocahantas
- Doc McStuffins
- Rafiki
- Russell & Dug
- Goofy & Pluto
- Timon
Hollywood Studios Character Sightings
- Donald
- Chip & Dale
- Goofy
- Doc McStuffins
- Pluto
- Jake
- Sofia
- Star Lord & Baby Groot
Beyond the above, there are very special events where more unique characters come out. Unique in the fact that they are rarely seen…which makes them more special! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party & Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are two ticketed events where the “special” ones come out. There are also special character training events & something called Character Palooza that happen without any warning. Another fun thing is when they truly just pop up randomly. On our most recent family trip, Wendi & I were walking to the lobby for something, and we saw Pinocchio. We had to stop and say hello! Here are some pictures from our more unique characters, and some that aren’t even meeting anymore…
Lisa loves ALL things Disney 