Walt Disney World Character Meet-and-Greets by Park

Each of Walt Disney World’s four parks offers its own special lineup of character meet-and-greets, and it’s one of the best ways to add to both take a break from the parks and add a little extra magic to your trip. From timeless Disney icons like Mickey Mouse to rare and unique characters you can’t find anywhere else, I’ll guide you through each park’s must-do character encounters. Let’s dive into where you can meet your favorites, plus some insider tips on making the most of every interaction.

Magic Kingdom Character Meet and Greets

Magic Kingdom is where the magic truly comes to life, especially for character meet-and-greets. You can find Mickey Mouse right as you enter the park, or head over to Princess Fairytale Hall for visits with beloved Disney princesses like Cinderella, Rapunzel and Tiana.

For a full breakdown of where to find all your favorite characters, check out our ultimate Magic Kingdom character guide.

EPCOT Character Meet and Greets

EPCOT is arguably the best Walt Disney World park for character meets, especially to meet Disney Princesses. With its unique World Showcase, you can meet Mulan in China, Belle in France, or even Snow White in Germany. EPCOT is also home to popular characters like Anna and Elsa in Norway.

EPCOT also has the occasional random characters who roam the parks! For all the details on where to meet characters in EPCOT, explore our comprehensive guide to EPCOT character meet-and-greets.

Hollywood Studios Character Meet and Greets

Hollywood Studios is the go-to park for movie lovers, especially if you’re a Star Wars or Pixar fan. You can encounter Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and BB-8 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or join Woody, Buzz, and Jessie in Toy Story Land. Plus, little ones will love the Disney Junior character greetings in Animation Courtyard.

Discover where to find your favorite film characters by reading our in-depth guide to meeting characters in Hollywood Studios.

Animal Kingdom Character Meet and Greets

At Animal Kingdom, there may not be as many character meets, but they are unique. Guests can Meet Mickey and Minnie in their safari outfits at Adventurers Outpost, or explore Discovery Island to find characters like Pocahontas or Russell and Dug from Up. Animal Kingdom also offers some rare character appearances, like Baloo from The Jungle Book and Rafiki from The Lion King.

To learn more about meeting characters in the great outdoors, visit our detailed guide to Animal Kingdom’s best character meet locations.

Character Dining Experiences

One of the best ways to meet your favorite Disney characters without waiting in long lines is by booking a character dining experience. Not only do you get to enjoy a table-service meal in the air-conditioning, but you also get fun interactions with unique Disney characters that are not always available in the parks.

Below, I’ll break down the character dining options at each park and some of the best resort restaurants to check out during your stay.

Magic Kingdom Character Dining

Magic Kingdom offers several great character dining options. At Cinderella’s Royal Table, located inside the iconic castle, you’ll get to dine like royalty alongside princesses like Cinderella, Ariel, and Snow White. For something a little more casual, head to The Crystal Palace to meet Winnie the Pooh and friends in an adorable Hundred Acre Wood setting.

EPCOT Character Dining

EPCOT is home to two of the most popular character dining spots. At Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion, you can enjoy a royal feast with Disney princesses, similar to Cinderella’s Royal Table but with a unique Scandinavian flavor. If you prefer something more low-key, Garden Grill in Future World offers a rotating restaurant experience where you’ll meet Mickey in a farmer outfit, Chip, Dale, and other Disney pals while enjoying fresh farm-to-table dishes.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Character Dining

Hollywood Studios’ standout character dining experience is at Hollywood & Vine, where you can meet different sets of characters depending on the time of day and season. In the morning, your little ones can have breakfast with their Disney Junior favorites like Vampirina and Doc McStuffins, while lunch and dinner bring Minnie Mouse and friends decked out in seasonal outfits.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Character Dining

At Animal Kingdom, you can dine with Donald Duck, Mickey, and friends in safari gear at Tusker House Restaurant. This buffet-style restaurant offers a mix of African-inspired cuisine and classic family favorites, and the characters make their way around the room to greet guests and pose for photos.

Resort Hotel Character Dining

Some of the best character dining experiences can actually be found outside the parks at Disney’s resort hotels.

At Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you’ll meet Mickey, Minnie, and the gang for a buffet-style meal. Over at ‘Ohana in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Mickey, Lilo and Stitch host a Polynesian-style breakfast that’s perfect for families. If you’re looking for a unique experience, 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian is back and offers one of the most unique character dining options on Disney property with Aladdin, Mirabel, Tiana and Cinderella.

If you’re trying to decide whether a dining plan is right for your trip, use our dining plan calculator to see how character meals can fit into your budget.

Booking Character Meals

To book a character meal, it's best to make reservations well in advance. Popular dining spots can fill up quickly, especially during peak times. You can easily make reservations online through the Disney website or the My Disney Experience app.

When booking, consider the time and location. Some character meals offer breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Meals at places like Chef Mickey’s or Cinderella’s Royal Table are especially popular. Both provide unique experiences with characters. Remember, a credit card may be needed to hold your reservation.

Character Meets During Special Events

Walt Disney World truly goes above and beyond when it comes to character experiences during special events. These limited-time happenings offer some of the most unique and rare character meet-and-greet opportunities, often with characters you won’t see at any other time of the year. Whether it's runDisney races, Halloween, Christmas, or one of Disney’s exclusive after-hours events, special events are a great time to plan character meets, especially with lower crowds.

Here’s a breakdown of the must-do character meets during some of Disney’s most popular events:

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

During this spooktacular event, you’ll find a host of rare and villainous characters. The highlight of the event is the opportunity to meet Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, but there are typically a number of rare characters and characters in special outfits.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Some of our favorite character meets at Walt Disney World are exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, including Jack Skellington in his Sandy Claus outfit with Sally. As with Halloween, many characters don their holiday outfits that typically change each year, offering photos with Mickey, Minnie, and friends in their Christmas attire.

Disney After Hours Events

Disney’s After Hours events provide an opportunity to meet characters in a more exclusive and less crowded setting. These limited-ticket events not only offer shorter wait times for rides, but also feature special characters and rare meet-and-greets that you won’t find during regular park hours.

RunDisney Events

RunDisney events are another time when Disney pulls out all the stops with characters, offering runners the chance to meet some truly rare characters along the race route, before the race and in the post-race parties. Disney keeps these characters close to the vest so it’s difficult to predict who you might see out on the course for each race, but you can be sure there will be rare characters at each event.

It’s also important to plan character meets wisely for these events, as you wouldn’t want to get swept off the course by the Balloon Ladies.

Tips and Tricks for the Best Experience

Knowing how to maximize your character meet and greet experience at Walt Disney World can make your visit even more magical. With effective planning, the right tools, and some insider tips, you can enjoy meeting your favorite characters without the stress.

Autograph Hunting Tips

If you’re looking to collect autographs, bring along an Autograph Book. Choose a book that’s easy to carry, so it doesn’t become a burden during your day.

While waiting in line, talk to other guests. They can share tips on character locations or recent sightings. Arriving early at popular character spots can also help you beat the crowd.

Consider using your My Disney Experience App to check which characters are available for autographs. Some characters have specific meet and greet times, so plan accordingly. Always have a pen ready to go! Characters may be excited to sign for you, so make it quick and fun.

Line Skipping

Walt Disney World removed the opportunity to use Lightning Lane to skip the line for character meet-and-greets when it switched from Genie+ to Multi Pass. Multi Pass allows guests to skip the stand-by line via Lightning Lane for most attractions at Walt Disney World, but does not include character meets.

Photography with Characters

Character meet-and greets are a great opportunity for photos, particularly for families. If character meets are a focus for your Walt Disney World Vacation, Memory Maker is a great value. At $185 pre-trip, Memory Maker ensures you get all of the photos from Disney’s professional Photopass Photographers that are available and taking photos at every character meet-and-greet location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Meeting Disney characters can be a highlight of your trip. Here are answers to some common questions to help you make the most of your experience.

Where can I find a list of characters available for meet and greets at Disney World?

You can find a list of characters by using the My Disney Experience app. Once you open the app, check the park map and select “Characters” to see all available meet-and-greet opportunities. But know that not all of the characters are always included, some are surprise roaming characters.

What are the Disney World character meet and greet times for 2024?

Character meet and greet times may vary throughout the year. It's best to check the My Disney Experience app for up-to-date schedules on specific days.

Can you meet Disney characters outside of the parks, and if so, where?

Yes, you can meet some Disney characters outside of the parks. Sometimes characters will arrive in vans for random resort visits. Occasionally characters are at Disney Springs and you can also meet them at Character Dining experiences at the resorts.

What tips are there for interacting with Disney characters during a visit?

When you meet a character, be friendly and patient. Ask them questions and engage in fun conversations. Bring a camera for pictures (or purchase Memory Maker), and don’t forget to smile. Characters love to pose and have fun!

How can you see which characters will be at Disney World on a specific day?

To see which characters will be present on a specific day, check the My Disney Experience app. This app shows real-time character locations and schedules for meet and greets.