Heading to Disney World and wanting to meet the characters? We’re sharing a full guide to all the Disney World character experiences to know.
When visiting Walt Disney World, you probably have a list of things you’d like to do on your trip. Whether that’s riding the new TRON Lightcycle / Run or eating at ‘Ohana, there’s so much to fill up your trip. One of those activities on your list is also probably meeting characters. That’s right, the Most Magical Place on Earth is home to some of the best character meet and greets around. Whether you are looking to meet the classics like Mickey and Minnie or want to see some more unique characters, you have to know where to look.
That’s why we put together a complete guide to characters at Disney World. This guide will tell you where you can find the characters in each park, which characters you can find, and much more.
Types of Character Encounters at Walt Disney World
Meeting characters at Disney World is not limited to just one type of experience. The best part of these experiences is that they are fashioned so that anyone can meet the characters, no matter how much or how little they want to interact. We all know that sometimes little ones might be scared to go up to characters but would love to see them from a distance. Luckily, Disney has experiences intended just for that.
Meet and Greets
Meet and greets are the most common type of character appearance at Disney World. These experiences are typically permanent and usually attract more people throughout the day. These are more easily found and are usually listed on Genie+ or in the park maps.
Photo by Ilana Robinson
Parades
Parades are another great way to see characters at Disney World. While you aren’t physically going up to them or talking to them, parades allow you to see many, many characters at one time and without any effort.
Character Dining at Walt Disney World
Character dining is one of the best ways to meet characters at Walt Disney World. Character meals allow you to enjoy a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner while also getting to meet some of your favorite characters. While they usually do cost a bit more, they offer great value for dining and meeting characters.
Special Events
Disney World is known for its special events throughout the year. Whether those are runDisney races, DVC Moonlight Magic Events, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, there are so many opportunities to see characters. The best part of these events is that the characters are usually in costume according to the theme, making the characters unique.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Brett Svenson
Roaming Characters
While not as reliably scheduled as some of these other types of character appearances, roaming characters do exist. What are roaming characters? They are just that, they roam around the park without a set schedule and don’t stay in a specific location, making seeing them spontaneous. This is particularly popular at spots like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and at Magic Kingdom.
Character Sightings
Another type of character appearance is character sightings. These offer guests a chance to see the characters roam around or interact in a specific location. These interactions are not one-on-one, although you can take some selfies with the character behind you. This is popular in EPCOT and in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where you may see Pooh trying to catch a butterfly or Donald watering some flowers.
How to Find Characters
There are a few different ways that guests can find characters throughout the parks. Some are a bit more straightforward while the others require a bit more research.
My Disney Experience App
One of the easiest ways to find characters in the parks is through the My Disney Experience app. Open the My Disney Experience app and go to the place marker on the bottom, which is the second icon. Once on the screen where you can see the map, go to the drop-down on top and click “characters.” Here, you’ll be able to see which characters are scheduled to be in what locations and at what time.
Park Maps
While this may seem a bit archaic, a great way to see where scheduled character meet and greets will be is on a printed park map. You can grab a map on your way into the park and at various locations throughout. On maps, these are designated as small Mickey silhouettes.
WDW Magazine Site
Stay tuned to WDW Magazine to see where new characters are scheduled to pop up and where we know current characters are located. We stay up-to-date with new character news so that you have the most current information.
Characters at Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Characters at Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Park is home to some fan-favorite character meet and greets. Keep in mind the list we will provide is subject to change based on the day.
Meet and Greets
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- Mickey Mouse: Town Square Theater, Main Street, U.S.A.
- Snow White: Town Square Theater, Main Street, U.S.A.
- Cinderella: Princess Fairytale Hall, Fantasyland
- Elena of Avalor: Princess Fairytale Hall, Fantasyland
- Princess Tiana: Princess Fairytale Hall, Fantasyland
- Rapunzel: Princess Fairytale Hall, Fantasyland
- Belle: Enchanted Tales with Belle, Fantasyland
- Ariel (From the Animated Story): Ariel’s Grotto, Fantasyland
- Daisy Duck: Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Fantasyland
- Donald Duck: Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Fantasyland
- Goofy: Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Fantasyland
- Minnie Mouse: Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Fantasyland
- Chip n’ Dale: Storybook Circus, Fantasyland
- Peter Pan- Near Peter Pan’s Flight, Fantasyland
- Anastasia and Drizella: Cinderella Fountain, Fantasyland
- Mirabel (Coming Fall 2023): Fairytale Garden, Fantasyland
- Winnie the Pooh and Tigger: The Thotful Spot, Fantasyland
- Aladdin and Jasmine: Agrabah Bazaar, Adventureland
- Captain Jack Sparrow: Adventureland Stage, Adventureland
- Buzz Lightyear: Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Exit, Tomorrowland
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Parades/Stage Shows
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- Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire: You’re invited to the kingdom, the Magic Kingdom, that is with all of your favorite characters. You can find characters such as Tiana, Rapunzel and Flynn, Mickey Mouse, Olaf, Elsa and Anna. (Times: 10 AM, 11:10 AM, and 12:50 PM)
- Festival of Fantasy Parade: Find your favorite characters from movies such as Tangled, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and more. (Times: 12 PM and 3 PM)
- Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade: Dare to take an adventure as you watch characters embark on a journey down Main Street, U.S.A., such as Mirabel and Miguel. (Times 5:10 PM and 6:25 PM)
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Character Dining
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- Cinderella’s Royal Table: A visit to Cinderella’s Royal Table gives guests the chance to meet Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, Cinderella, and Jasmine, all for the prix-fixe price of $65 per adult and $39 per child for breakfast and $79 per adult and $47 per child for lunch and dinner.
- The Crystal Palace: Meet your favorite characters from the Hundred Acre Woods with breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Crystal Palace. This buffet meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner allows guests to meet Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. Breakfast costs $45 per adult and $29 for children and $59 per adult, and $38 per child for lunch and dinner.
- Be Our Guest: While Be Our Guest isn’t an official character meal, guests can often catch a glimpse at the Beast during dinner. This prix-fixe meal costs $67 per adult and $39 per child for lunch and dinner.
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Sightings/Roaming Characters
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- The Country Bears: Country Bear Jamboree, Frontierland
- Stitch: Rocket Tower Stage Area, Tomorrowland
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Characters at EPCOT
EPCOT is a great place to find some unique characters during your park day. Keep in mind the list we will provide is subject to change based on the day.
Character Dining at Garden Grill. Photo by Brett Svenson
Meet and Greets
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- Minnie Mouse: Park Entrance, World Celebration
- Goofy: Park Entrance, World Celebration
- Joy: ImageWorks, World Celebration
- Vanellope Von Schweetz: ImageWorks, World Celebration (Soon will be Figment Meet and Greet)
- Mickey Mouse: Disney Pixar Short Film Festival, World Celebration
- Mickey Mouse: Disney Visa Card Member Spot, World Celebration
- Minnie Mouse: Disney Visa Card Member Spot, World Celebration
- Goofy: Disney Visa Card Member Spot, World Celebration
- Pluto: Disney Visa Card Member Spot, World Celebration
- Pluto: World Showcase Friendship Ambassador Gazebo, World Showcase
- Donald Duck: Mexico Promenade in Mexico, World Showcase
- Anna: Royal Sommerhus in Norway, World Showcase
- Elsa: Royal Sommerhus in Norway, World Showcase
- Mulan: Great Hall of China in China, World Showcase
- Snow White: Wishing Well in Germany, World Showcase
- Jasmine: Lamps of Wonder in Morocco, World Showcase
- Belle: Water’s Edge in France, World Showcase
- Aurora: France Gazebo in France, World Showcase
- Daisy Duck: International Gateway, World Showcase
- Alice in Wonderland: Tea Garden in the UK, World Showcase
- Mary Poppins: Garden Archway in the UK, World Showcase
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Character Dining
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- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall: Here ye, here ye, it’s time for a royal feast with some of your favorite Disney Princesses. At Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, you’ll be able to meet Ariel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Jasmine. The Akershus prixe-fixe breakfast costs $53 per adult and $34 per child. Lunch and dinner will cost $63 per adult and $41 per child.
- Garden Grill: Become one with “The Land” while visiting Garden Grill. Meet Mickey, Chip, Dale, and their friends for a family-style delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Garden Grill is $42 per adult, $27 per child for breakfast, $55 per adult, and $36 per child for lunch and dinner.
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Sightings/Roaming Characters
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- Winnie the Pooh: Gardens near Imagination, World Celebration
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Characters at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Lights, Camera, Action! Visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios to find all of your favorite characters ready to strike a pose! Keep in mind the list we will provide is subject to change based on the day.
Meet and Greets
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- Donald Duck: Near Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Echo Lake
- Olaf: Celebrity Spotlight, Echo Lake
- Mickey Mouse: Red Carpet Dreams, Commissary Lane
- Minnie Mouse: Red Carpet Dreams, Commissary Lane
- Goofy: Grand Avenue
- Jessie: Toy Story Land Entrance, Toy Story Land
- Woody: Toy Story Land Entrance, Toy Story Land
- Buzz Lightyear: Toy Story Land Entrance, Toy Story Land
- Mr. Incredible: Pixar Plaza Gate West, Pixar Plaza
- Mrs. Incredible: Pixar Plaza Gate West, Pixar Plaza
- Edna Mode: Edna Mode Experience, Pixar Plaza
- Frozone: Pixar Plaza Palette, Pixar Plaza
- Sulley: Pixar Plaza
- Ariel (From the Live-Action Story: Inside Walt Disney Presents, Animation Courtyard
- Doc McStuffins: Animation Courtyard
- Fancy Nancy: Animation Courtyard
- Pluto: Animation Courtyard
- Vampirina: Animation Courtyard
- BB-8: Star Wars Launch Bay, Animation Courtyard
- Chewbacca: Star Wars Launch Bay, Animation Courtyard
- Darth Vader: Star Wars Launch Bay, Animation Courtyard
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Parades/Stage Shows
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- Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage- Spot Belle, Beast, Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and the whole gang at the Stage Show of Beauty and the Beast. (Times: 11 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM, and 5 PM.)
- Disney Junior Play and Dance!: See Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, Timon, and Mickey for a musical celebration party that the whole family will love. (Times: 9:55 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:15 AM, 11:55 AM, 12:35 PM, 2:10 PM, 2:50 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:15 PM, and 4:55 PM.)
- Fantasmic!: Watch Mickey’s dream take flight as good battles evil. This nighttime spectacular allows you to see your favorite characters from Moana, Frozen 2, Mulan, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King. Plus, you’ll be able to see all of your favorite Disney Villains, including Maleficent. (Times: 8:30 PM)
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-along: The Royal Historians of Arendelle will recount the tale of Frozen, with Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff on hand to sing along with some fan-favorite songs from the film. (Times: 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM)
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular: Learn the secrets behind Indiana Jones and his stunts during this live action stage show. Here, you’ll get to see Indy and Marion perform their stunts. (Times: 10:45 AM, 12 PM, 1:15 PM, 3:15 PM, 4:30 PM)
- Lightning McQueens Riding Academy: Want to learn how to ride like Lightning McQueen? Visit the Riding Academy, where you’ll get to see Tow Mater, Cruz Ramirez, and Lightning himself. (Runs between 9 AM and 8 PM)
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Character Dining
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- Hollywood and Vine: Whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner is your preference, you’ll be met with a plethora of characters at Hollywood and Vine. At breakfast, guests can meet their Disney Junior favorites. Meanwhile, at lunch and dinner, you’ll get to see Minnie and her friends in seasonal decor and outfits. Breakfast for adults is $42 and $27 for children. Lunch and dinner come in at $59 per adult and $38 per child.
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Sightings/Roaming Characters
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- Max: Echo Lake
- Chip: Brown Derby Lawn, Hollywood Boulevard
- Dale: Brown Derby Lawn, Hollywood Boulevard
- First Order Stormtrooper: Batuu, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Kylo Ren: Batuu, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Vi Moradi: Batuu, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- R2-D2: Batuu, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Rey: Batuu, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Green Army Men: Toy Story Land
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Characters at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Hakuna Matata is the wonderful phrase you’ll be saying as you greet your favorite characters at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Keep in mind the list we will provide is subject to change based on the day.
Photo by Laurie Sapp
Meet and Greets
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- Mickey Mouse: Adventurers Outpost, Discovery Island
- Minnie Mouse: Adventurers Outpost, Discovery Island
- Daisy Duck: Daisy’s Design Studio, DinoLand U.S.A.
- Chip: Upper Cretaceous Trail, DinoLand U.S.A.
- Dale: Upper Cretaceous Trail, DinoLand U.S.A.
- Donald Duck: Welcome Center, DinoLand U.S.A.
- Donald Duck: Donalds Dino Bash, DinoLand U.S.A.
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Parades/Stage Shows
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- Festival of the Lion King: Join in on the fun while singing along and watching the ornate puppetry at the Festival of the Lion King Show. You’ll get to see depictions of your favorite characters at the show. (Times: 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, 4 PM, 5 PM)
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!- See puppets of your favorite characters from Finding Nemo during this stage show. (Times: 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM)
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Character Dining
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- Tusker House: Embark on a culinary safari with flavors inspired by Africa. Meet your host Donald Duck and his friends, Mickey and Goofy. Either enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at this location with all of these characters. Breakfast costs $45 per adult and $29 per child, while lunch and dinner costs $59 per adult and $38 per child.
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Sightings/Roaming Characters
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- Kevin: Discovery Island
- DiVine: The Oasis
- Goofy: Discovery Island Lagoon Flotilla, Discovery Island
- Launchpad McQuack: Discovery Island Lagoon Flotilla, Discovery Island
- Pluto: Discovery Island Lagoon Flotilla, Discovery Island
- Pocahontas: Discovery Island Lagoon Flotilla, Discovery Island
- Rafiki: Discovery Island Lagoon Flotilla, Discovery Island
- Scrooge McDuck: Discovery Island Lagoon Flotilla, Discovery Island
- Timon: Discovery Island Lagoon Flotilla, Discovery Island
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Character Dining at Walt Disney World
As we mentioned at each park, besides classic meet and greets, there are character dining experiences available. These experiences include the cost of your meal and feature different characters who walk around the restaurant and interact with you.
The parks aren’t the only place where you can enjoy these character dining experiences. They are around the hotels too! Places like Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and StoryBook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are some great options to see characters that don’t require a park ticket!
Want to see some of our favorite character dining spots? Check out these other posts:
Other Character Experiences
Along with the character experiences at the theme parks, you also potentially have the opportunity to meet characters at the Disney World Resort hotels — albeit less reliably.
Walt Disney World Resorts
In addition to the parks, you will also find the opportunity to meet characters around the resorts. While these aren’t scheduled regularly, if you keep an eye open, you’ll find some surprise characters at the resort. Characters have often been seen at Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and other locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know which characters will be at Walt Disney World?
Keeping track of which characters will be out and about in Disney World can be a bit overwhelming. There are a few different ways you can go about tracking them down.
The first way is to use the My Disney Experience App. If you navigate to the pinpoint button on the bottom, you’ll be directed to the map, where you can look for characters specifically meeting that day.
Another way you can find characters is by picking up a park map. That’s right! While the information won’t be in real-time and be the most updated, you can find most of the classic meet-and-greet locations on the map.
Do Disney World Characters sign autographs?
For most of the character experiences we listed above, the answer is yes! If you are meeting at a designated spot or at a dining location, you can 100% grab those autograph books and have your favorite characters sign them. If you are at a stage show or encounter a sighting, they will not be signing autographs, given the nature of the experience.
What are the rarest characters at Walt Disney World?
This is a fun topic! Rare characters! While they aren’t always the easiest to find, when you do, it’s so much fun! Rare characters are usually found at special events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Moonlight Magic, among other events.
Wondering who the rarest characters are at Disney World? These include Flick and Princess Anna from A Bug’s Life, Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable from Kim Possible, and even Hades from Hercules. Want to learn where to find even more? We compiled a list of where to find rare characters at WDW that you need to check out.
Do you need a reservation to meet characters at Disney World?
Again, this answer depends on the type of experience you’d like to have. If you are just looking to do a regular meet and greet, you do not need a reservation. Some of these experiences are available on Disney Genie+ if you decide to upgrade, but no, you do not need a reservation. Reservations are also not needed for character sightings or roaming characters.
Reservations are usually recommended for any character dining experience you would be interested in. Places like Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort for breakfast, Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom for any meal, and Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are extremely hard reservations to come by. That’s why we recommend you make your dining reservations at 60 days out from check-in to ensure you get what you are looking for. What happens if you can’t get those ADRs? We’ve got some helpful tips for those situations too!
Can you offer any tips for making the most of your time with the characters?
Absolutely! Given the short amount of time you have with the characters during a meet and greet, you’ll want to make sure you are doing a few things. Make sure you have a plan in place, have those autograph books and cameras ready and have fun! Visit our full list of our top tips for meeting characters at Walt Disney World.
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