Meeting Characters

[GoofEeyore26]

Can anyone provide advice, suggestion, or tips for meeting different characters in the parks?

I've been to Disney a few times recently but only with my DGF. As young adults we have typically skipped over this aspect of the parks. This January I'm going to WDW with my DGF and her family, which includes her 6 year old niece. I've kinda taken the lead in the planning aspect of the trip, and I have most things in order but one thing I'm very lost on is the character meet and greets. I have ADRs for Akershus and Cape May character breakfasts so i know we'll get some quality time there but i know nothing about meeting characters in the parks.

Where are the best places to meet the characters? MK Toon Town, the Epcot Character Spot, or AK Camp Minni-Mickey? When are the best times to go to avoid lines, do the CMs herd you through quickly, what other areas are there to meet characters, etc.?

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Berlioz70]

Check out my website! It has the characters categorized into Genres (VIPS, Animated, Live Action, etc) and will tell you where you can meet each one!

Lines for the characters vary in size depending on how popular they are. Most interactions tend to be about a minute - if the line is long the characters may try to move quicker, but sometimes you'll get characters that prefer to spend more time with one family. If you're looking to see a bunch at one spot here are the best spots, you get in one line and see multiple characters:

Princesses - Judge's Tent in Toontown Magic Kingdom
Fairies - Judge's Tent in Toontown Magic Kingdom
VIPS (Mickey, Pluto, Minnie, Donald, Goofy) - Character Spot in Future World Epcot
Pooh Characters (Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger) - Boat Dock in DAK

Multiple lines here, but one centralized location:
VIPS (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip/Dale) - Camp Minnie/Mickey in DAK

[Commando2319]

The best thing you can do is to talk to the cast members who assist the characters. They are the cast members with the Mickey hand on their uniform.

They will give you insight for places and times to find various characters. Talk to as many as you can because they usually only know the schedule in their area of the park.

[sassy2000]

We have always had great luck at the entrance to AK. They usually have 5-6 characters out there at a time and the lines are not long. Also, @ Camp Minnie & Mickey @ AK you can see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy and sometimes Chip & Dale and Brother Bear
The sorcerers hat at HS has set times for characters and you can see alot of different ones there.
On the fantasyland side of the castle I've seen the Fairy Godmother and the Stepsisters often with short lines.
At Epcot, pick up a guide and it will show character spots around the world. We've seen Mary Poppins at UK, Belle and Beast at France, Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie in Morocco, and Mulan and Mushu in China.

[Berlioz70]

Originally Posted by sassy2000

...Brother Bear

Kenai and Koda have been retired, Thumper and Miss Bunny have replaced them.

[squirrel]

Another tip for the fairies and princesses is to arrive at 9:30am at the enterance of Toontown. They usually walk everyone in earlier than the 10 am opening. If you have an older child that doesn't need to ride in the stroller it will save you time by parking it outside Toontown. Get in line for the fairies first and then join the line to the princesses after.

We found the line up for the characters at AK in Camp Minnie-Mickey short later in the day around 4:30-5pm. We were next in line and there wasn't anyone after us.

[Amy162]

I think the character meals are the greatest (easiest) for meeting the characters, we loved the breakfast at Akershus to meet the princesses (have your neice bring a costume and dress like a princess, makes for great interaction) and also dinner at Chef Mickeys to meet the VIPs. You'll meet the fairies in toontown, I recommend being at rope drop for toontown to avoid the lines. We rarely go to the meet and greet spots, we just keep our eyes out and have our autograph books handy. We met all of the Pooh characters at the toy store in the UK at Epcot, also met Jasmine & Alladin, Belle and The Beast in their countries at Epcot. We came across Pinocchio, Daisy Duck and Chip/Dale at the entrance hub at MK. I would just find out the main characters she wants to meet and find out where they are, and then just keep your eyes out for whoever else you may come across.
Enjoy your trip!

[mountdew1]

Several good suggestions have already been made. Character meals are a sure bet way to meet a handful of characters in a period of time. The interactions are usually different than those you get from waiting in line as the characters come to you, instead of you coming to them.

Most characters do have a set general location for M&G's now. As mentioned, Toontown has the fairies and princesses, Epcot Character Spot usually has the fab 5 or some variation thereof, Camp Minnie Mickey ditto, and Animation Tour in DHS usually has some PIXAR characters.

Checking the park times can also occasionally give some other times, but not always. If there is a specific character you want to see, any CM should be able to call the character hotline and fine out when and where they should be. If you have Disney Visa, the cardholder M&G is usually a good way for some quality time with a few members of the fab 5.

If you do get in line, but the character leaves, or if you see them leaving, politely ask their handler when they will be back as there is a decent change they will be right back. Often times many people leave the line so it may be much quicker to way a few minutes for them to return then getting in line later.

Most of all, have fun with it. Don't be shy around the characters. Feel free to join your DGF's niece in the pictures as its fun!

[rndmr2]

When I have been there in the past, they always had characters in MK at City Hall or the Town Square Exposition Hall, it's usually Chip and Dale, Goofy or Pluto. These are to the far left (CH) and Right (TSq) as you come into MK under the train station. It wasn't always advertised.

[ARbug]

We did a lot of character meals this time because of the free dining.

Chef Mickeys we saw Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald
Crystal Palace - Pooh, Tigger, Eyore, and Piglet
1900 Park Faire - Cinderalla, Prince Charming, Drusella, Anastasia and the Fairy God Mother
Garden Grill - Mickey, Chip & Dale and Pluto

Other Characters we saw:
At entrance of MK - Snow White, Donald Duck, Pinoccio
Toontown - Mickey at his house, Minnie at her house, Cinderella & Prince Charming, Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) & Prince Phillip, Tinkerbell
At entrance of Epcot - Daisy Duck, Stitch
Marie & Sleeping Beauty in France
Belle in Germany
In DHS - Character from UP and Sorcer Mickey, Frozone, Mr & Mrs Incredible

Hope this helps!