Question of the Week: Where to meet Disney World characters inside the parks?
These experiences are essential to what makes the Disney parks so special. The Disney character meet-and-greet experiences is what we all look forward to when visiting Disney. It is one of the absolute best things to do at Disney!
Everyone, no matter their age, always recalls how special it is when they meet Mickey Mouse for the very first time.
Every person nostalgically looks back on that moment when they met their favorite princess, Pixar, or Star Wars character in real life in the parks.
This is because these characters are given so much life, personality, and relatability. The ability to be able to see a part of yourself in these characters is what truly makes these such pivotal and iconic moments in the lives of those who visit.
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What’s New with the Disney World Characters?
The best way to stay up to date with Disney character meet-and-greet experiences is to download the My Disney Experience app. It is a great resource to have while planning and visiting Walt Disney World.
For now, we are going to discuss where you can currently find characters throughout Walt Disney World property, along with photo tips and etiquette for meeting them.
So let’s dive in!
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Where to find The Fab Five Disney World Characters?
When you think “Disney World”, you’re first thought is most likely Mickey Mouse! But where can you find Mickey and his friends? Not to worry, I have you covered!
1. Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse continues to be in his meet-and-greet spot in Magic Kingdom at Town Square Theater. When you enter on the right-hand side of Magic Kingdom, it’ll be the first building you see on your immediate right after the tunnel.
If you enter from the left side, after the tunnel, turn to your immediate right and the theater is straight ahead.
He can occasionally be seen after cavalcades in Magic Kingdom on the second floor of the train station and the windows on Hollywood Boulevard at Hollywood Studios.
Mickey is also hanging out with his beloved best friends over World Celebration at EPCOT too.
2. Minnie Mouse
Minnie Mouse has returned to her meet-and-greet spot in Hollywood Studios.
She is located in Red Carpet Dreams on Commissary Lane where you can meet her in a gorgeous pink Hollywood glamour gown.
3. Goofy
Goofy can be found occasionally roaming in Hollywood Studios or Epcot doing some fun activities like fishing or hanging out with his son, Max Goof.
They pop out randomly, so you have to simply keep an eye out for them.
Also, keep a look out over at the Grand Avenue entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge where you can find the father and son duo of Goofy and Max together.
Most times, they can be found near Echo Lake or the hill near Hollywood Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios, or near the Journey to Imagination Lawn.
4. Pluto
You can meet Pluto near the entrance of EPCOT by the famous painted mural.
You can also find him in many of the cavalcades throughout the Disney Parks.
5. Donald Duck
You can meet Donald Duck on many of the Disney Cavalcades, plus he always makes an appearance at some of the character dining breakfast locations such as Cape May, Tusker House, Topolino’s Terrace, and Garden Grill.
If you are hoping to find Donald Duck with Daisy Duck together then you will want to take a look around Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.
More Places to Meet the Fab Five Disney World Characters
A few of the guaranteed ways to see or meet these characters are at the cavalcades and character dining!
Here is a list of the cavalcades, dining experiences, and characters you will see in them. Keep in mind, one option requires paying but it’s a guaranteed meet and greet!
Mickey’s Hollywood Studios Cavalcade
- Mickey Mouse
- Minnie Mouse
- Donald Duck
- Goofy
- Pluto
- Chip ‘n’ Dale
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the following events where you are sure to find your favorite friends.
Meet Disney Stars at Red Carpet Dreams, Fantasmic!, Wonderful World of Animation, and Disney Junior Play and Dance! featuring Mickey Mouse are great options to spot these loveable characters.
Mickey and Friends at Animal Kingdom
- Mickey Mouse
- Minnie Mouse
- Pluto
- Donald Duck
- Daisy Duck
- Goofy
- Chip ‘n’ Dale
The top spots at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park would be the Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost featuring Mickey and Minnie.
Donald’s Dino-Bash! Featuring Donald Duck, Daisy, and Chip ‘n’ Dale are a few others that will guarantee you sightings.
Mickey and Friends Magic Kingdom Cavalcade
- Mickey Mouse
- Minnie Mouse
- Donald Duck
- Daisy Duck
- Pluto
Goofy and Friends Magic Kingdom Cavalcade
- Goofy
- Max Goof
- Clarabelle Cow
Magic Kingdom has a whole host of character experiences to find the Fab Five.
They feature the Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater, Meet Dashing Disney Pals as Circus Stars at Pete’s Silly Sideshow (Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck), and Meet Daring Disney Pals as Circus Stars at Pete’s Silly Sideshow (Donald Duck and Goofy).
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, Let the Magic Begin, and Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire are a few others that you will want to check out.
We can’t forget Epcot! Meet Beloved Disney Pals at Mickey & Friends, Meet Donald Duck in Mexico, Meet Disney Pals near EPCOT Entrance including Pluto and Disney Visa Cardmember Photo Opportunity at EPCOT are the experiences you will want to look out for.
Character Dining Experiences with Fab Five
- Chef Mickey’s
- Tusker House
- Hollywood and Vine (Note: Mickey and Pals are usually available for seasonal events at this location)
- Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends at Topolino’s Terrace
- Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast with Minnie Mouse and some of her friends at Cape May Cafe
- Garden Grill
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Chip ‘n’ Dale at Disney World
Now, where can you meet Chip and Dale at Disney World?
These two rambunctious brothers can be found at Hollywood studios usually hunting for some scrumptious treats on the Hollywood Brown Derby grassy hill.
You can also find them by the Rivers of America in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.
Be sure to offer them treats for a fun experience!
Recommended: 10 BEST Magic Kingdom Shows You Have to See!
Where to Find the Disney Princesses at Walt Disney World?
Next up, well, it wouldn’t be Disney without those dreamy, brave, and fantastic Disney princesses.
You can see the ladies in cavalcades at Magic Kingdom and Epcot’s World Showcase.
Currently, one of the character dining experiences on property featuring Disney Princesses is Storybook Dining at Wilderness Lodge’s Artist Point Restaurant.
Here, you can meet characters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which is one of my most recommended character dining experiences.
At the medieval castle of Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, you may have the chance to run into Princess Tiana, Ariel, Belle, Snow White, and Aurora.
While dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table will have you meeting Cinderella and other Disney princesses in the banquet hall.
So take a further look as to where you can meet some of the ladies!
1. Princess Fairytale Hall
Princess Fairytale Hall is located in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom right near the carousel. This is where you can meet up to 4 Disney princesses. There are two sides to the hall.
One side where you can meet Princess Tiana and Rapunzel and on the other side, it’s Cinderella and Elena of Avalor.
Occasionally, a visiting princess friend will be in the hall, which is all part of the fun and magic of the hall!
2. Anna and Elsa
It’s best to get these two out of the way now haha. By far, amongst the most popular princesses to visit.
In fact, when the film first came out, they would meet in Princess Fairytale Hall causing a wait between 5-7 hours. This is why the Royal Sumerhaus in Norway Pavilion in EPCOT was built for them.
Currently, the first ladies of Arendelle meet outside this location. They also have a sing-along show at Hollywood Studios where you can see them and other friends from the Frozen films.
3. Snow White
As mentioned before, Snow White is one of the characters that you can meet at Storybook Dining at Artist Point.
But this little gooseberry can be met near a wishing well, of course, in Germany Pavilion in EPCOT.
4. Princess Jasmine
Jasmine currently meets on the stage in Morocco Pavilion in the EPCOT theme park.
5. Mulan
Mulan meets at the entrance of the Temple of Heaven replica building and sometimes in the garden near the entrance of the triple arched ceremonial gate.
This is located in the China Pavilion at EPCOT.
6. Belle
Typically, most guests would meet Belle in Enchanted Tales with Belle in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.
However, you can also meet Belle in the France Pavilion in EPCOT.
Belle has her own show in Hollywood Studios in a Broadway-style theater towards the end of Sunset Boulevard.
7. Princess Aurora
Aurora is greeting guests at France Pavilion at EPCOT currently and switches out spots in the same location as Belle.
8. Merida
Merida used to have her own meet and greet location near Cosmic Ray’s where Fantasyland starts.
Currently, she is not meeting here but she can be seen popping up all over in cavalcades, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and even made an appearance at Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom.
It is best to download the My Experience App for your visit and pop into Guest Relations to see if she will be making any appearances on the day of your Disney trip.
9. Ariel
Ariel has her own meet-and-greet area at her Grotto in the back of Fantasyland right next door to the Under the Sea attraction.
You can also meet her at Walt Disney Presents in Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
10. Pocahontas
Pocahontas can usually be found at the very end of the Discovery Island Trails right before you cross the bridge into Dinoland USA at Animal Kingdom.
Rare Disney Character Meet-and-Greets
The princesses do interact with guests from a distance at the end of their cavalcade in Magic Kingdom from the second floor of the train station.
Occasionally, you will see more princess like Moana, Mulan, Elena, and more, but it depends on the day.
On rare occasions, Moana will greet guests at Polynesian Village Resort but it is Character Landing in Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park where you want to go.
Where to find Pixar characters at Walt Disney World?
Pixar characters have become an integral part of the Disney Parks.
We tend to see them more at Disneyland with its Pixar Pier section available.
It is a hub of excitement over at Pixar Pals where on any given day you can see so many of your favorite Pixar characters like Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Edna Mode, Sully from Monsters Inc., The Green Army Men, Jessie, Woody and Buzz from Toy Story.
You can meet Buzz, Woody, and Jessie in Toy Storyland in Hollywood Studios and even get a chance to see the Green Army Men marching around.
If you are looking for Edna Mode she has her own meet-and-greet behind Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Buzz has his own meet and greet area near Buzz Lightyear’s Star Command in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park.
You can see Joy from Inside Out spreading…well Joy and hard at work inside the head of 11-year-old Riley at Pixar Plaza. Or chat it up with Crush from Finding Nemo at the Turtle Talk with Crush in the Seas at EPCOT.
Where to find Star Wars characters at Disney World?
With the introduction of Star Wars: Launch Bay and Galaxy’s Edge, which oddly enough is on complete opposite sides of the park from one another, we have gained quite a few characters that we are able to meet in the expanded world of Star Wars.
Star Wars Launch Bay
At this exhibit/meet and greet/gift shop location in the Animation Courtyard, you have the ability to meet a variety of beloved characters from the franchise.
You can meet BB-8, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, and Chewbacca and occasionally the Stormtroopers will walk around the courtyard area.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Over in Batuu aka Galaxy’s Edge, our Star Wars friends are having fun chatting with guests!
Rey Skywalker and Vi Moradi have been seen recently near some parked ships chatting with visitors. Chewbacca has been wandering around fixing up some transports to get off that godforsaken planet soon hopefully.
Kylo Ren and his stormtroopers have been recruiting on the main stage near the Blue Milk cart so stay clear and have your intergalactic identification ready to show just in case.
Recommended: May the 4th Be with You! 5 Ways To Celebrate Star Wars Day At Home
Where to find Disney Junior characters at Disney World?
Now if you’re like me, you’re fairly accustomed to the Disney Junior characters if you work in childcare or have younger family members. The great thing is they are very easy to find!
As soon as you enter the Animation Courtyard all the way to your immediate right at the end of Hollywood Boulevard, it will be on your immediate right again after you cross the archway.
You can meet Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, and Fancy Nancy at this location and in their own Cavalcade.
You can also join some more Disney Junior characters at the adjacent Dance party.
Hipster Power Tip: You can always book breakfast at Hollywood and Vine and dig in with some of these Disney characters!
10 Tips for Taking Photos with Disney World Characters (Proper Etiquette)
Disney character meet and greets can be exciting and we can lose ourselves in the moments at times.
With that being said, I have spoken to a few pals who are former character attendants to give you the very best tips on taking photos and how to behave during a meet-and-greet experience.
1. Get Familiar with the Characters
The first thing to remember is that these characters are coming straight from the very familiar stories you know and love.
So, to make the experience fun, you would want to talk about things they know about.
For example, we know Anna loves chocolate so ask her about her favorite kinds! Characters won’t really understand things that are not in their world so try to keep conversation topics to things relatable to their story.
If you wanted, you could even bring Anna your favorite kind of chocolate!
2. Keep the Magic Going
If you are around children at a meet-and-greet location and a character is going to check in on something, please don’t say things like “Olaf is going to the bathroom” or “Mickey is taking a smoke break.
Character integrity keeps the magic alive for everyone around.
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3. Don’t be Nervous
Don’t be afraid about being shy or nervous when meeting with characters!
Usually, the characters will engage in the conversation and lead it.
4. Have Your Autograph Book Ready
Have your autograph books open, out, and ready for characters to sign.
This allows more time for the character to give more attention to you.
5. Be Patient
Remember to be patient and use the manners you were raised with.
Doing things like snapping your fingers or yelling at characters is a surefire way to be ignored.
Wait for the Disney character to acknowledge you and be kind to them.
6. Have Your Camera Ready
Have your phone or camera ready to snap during sighting experiences.
Be sure to approach the area so the character knows to eventually acknowledge you and that you are wanting to interact and not just simply standing by and watching.
7. Listen to the Cast Members
It is important to listen to everything the character attendant says.
What they are saying isn’t to be annoying or rude, but to simply make sure ALL GUESTS have a seamless and memorable experience.
8. Ask if It’s Okay to Record
Ask characters and/or attendants if it is okay to video record something. This especially goes for TikTok trends, as characters have to abide by character integrity.
Please do not come up to them with cameras in their face and put them on the spot. Be polite and ask kindly.
9. Solo Travelers are Welcome!
If you are having a solo Disney trip, don’t be afraid to ask someone to take a photo for you. If you go with this option, try to ask before it’s your turn.
Some locations use photo machines to take photos in indoor locations so make sure to ask before your turn comes.
Investing in the Walt Disney World Photo Pass and Memory Maker will make a huge difference in your memories long after your solo trip to Disney.
10. Get Good with Taking Selfies
Perfect your selfie angles because most of the time, that’s the photo you will be taking for yourself!
Recap of Where to Find Disney Characters
Let’s quickly go over where you can find many of your favorite Disney Characters. Please remember that many of the characters and locations can change at ANY TIME.
Disney World Characters at the Magic Kingdom Theme Park
- Aladdin in Adventureland/Liberty Square
- Ariel at Her Grotto in Fantasyland
- Aurora in Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland
- Belle at Enchanted Tales with Belle in Fantasyland
- Buzz Lightyear in Tommorrowland
- Cinderella in Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland
- Country Bears in Frontierland
- Daisy Duck in Fantasyland
- Donald Duck in Fantasyland
- Gaston near his tavern in Fantasyland
- Goofy in Fantasyland
- Jasmine in Adventureland and Liberty Square
- Jessie and Woody in Frontierland
- Mickey Mouse in Town Square
- Minnie Mouse in Town Square
- Mirabel at Fairytale Garden
- Peter Pan near Neverland Map in Fantasyland
- Pluto in Town Square
- Rapunzel in Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland
- Stitch in Tomorrowland
- Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland
- The Beast at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Fantasyland
- Tigger near Winnie the Pooh attraction in Fantasyland
- Tinker Bell in Town Square
- Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland
Disney Characters at Epcot
- Aladdin and Jasmine in Morocco
- Alice in United Kingdom – United Kingdom Garden
- Anna and Elsa in Norway – Norway Royal Sommerhus
- Aurora – France
- Belle in France – France Promenade
- Donald Duck in Mexico – Mexico Promenade
- Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy in the EPCOT Cavalcade
- Mulan in China – China Formal Gardens
- Pluto – Future World (near the entrance)
- Snow White in Germany – Germany Wishing Well
Disney Characters in Hollywood Studios
- Ariel at Animation Courtyard
- Buzz Lightyear and Woody at Toy Story Land
- Rey, Kylo Ren, Stormtroopers, and Chewbacca at Star Wars TM Launch Bay and Galaxy’s Edge
- Darth Vadar at Animation Courtyard
- Disney Junior Pals Vampira, Doc McStuffins and Fancy Nancy in Animation Courtyard
- Edna in Pixar Plaza
- Green Army Men at Toy Story Land
- Joy in Pixar Plaza
- Mickey Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams
- Minnie Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams
- Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone, and Sulley at Pixar Plaza
- Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
- Pluto at Animation Courtyard
- Woody at Toy Story Land
Characters at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Daisy Duck at DinoLand U.S.A.
- Donald Duck at DinoLand U.S.A.
- Dug and Russell sailing along the Discovery River/ Wilderness Explorers Club House
- Mickey Mouse in Adventurers Outpost
- Minnie Mouse in Adventurers Outpost
- Moana at Character Landing
- Pocahontas at Character Landing
- Rafiki and Timon in Conservation Station
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Final Thoughts on Meeting Disney World Characters
This is just a small taste of everything that Disney World has to offer guests when it comes to spotting characters in the parks.
There are other sighting opportunities such as the welcome show at Magic Kingdom. Also, there are the cavalcades like the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade and the return of the Festival of Fantasy parade.
In the end, you are sure to make wonderful memories with these beloved characters.
As these experiences come back, this article will be updated to add them. I hope you have a magical time with these Disney friends on your next visit!
Which characters are your favorite to meet at the parks? Be sure to share with us and your photos in our Facebook Group!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
About the Author
Victoria is a professional solo traveler here to make your solo trips as stress free AND enjoyable as possible for you.
She has over 5 years of Disney and Non-Disney travel experience and was featured by POPSUGAR as one of the Top 50 Black Disney Creators you should follow.
She is a Proud Native to Baltimore, Md but always will call Disney World home. You can find her at Disney Tea with V.
(Original Article Date: February 28, 2018/Updated by Editor on July 3, 2024)
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When will normal traditional pre-pandemic Disney Character meet & greets return to Disneyland & all Disney Parks where all guests are interacting, hugging &/or high-fiving or hand-shaking, & taking pictures with all their favorite Disney Character friends up close in person again?
Hi Jason!
I’m not sure when it will return, but as soon as it does, I will update this guide 🙂