Best Mickey Mouse Character Meeting Op

[eclipseSD]

I really have no desire to wait in ten thousand lines for characters I have no interest in meeting. I only wish to meet Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, and one of the Brers. The middle 3 are covered by LTT dinner, and the last is pure luck. However, the first is what peaks my interest most.

We all know that safari Mickey, Chef Mickey, Hawaiian Mickey, and other variations are readily available for pictures. However, original tuxedo Mickey is the rarest to find without long crowds. And it just so happens that original tuxedo Mickey is the Mickey I (and my family incidentally) want to meet.

Here are the 'usual' places where the big mouse can be found, though, he can show up anywhere:

Hub, MK.* Toontown Fair Judge's Tent, MK.* Disney Characters on Holiday bus, Epcot. Mission: Space, Epcot. Garden Grill, Epcot. Soundstage 1, MGM. Oasis, AK. Camp Minnie-Mickey, AK. Dinoland, USA, AK. Breakfastosaurus, AK. Chef Mickey's, Contemporary. 'Ohana breakfast, Polynesian. Mickey's Backyard BBQ, FW.
*Indicates probably tuxedo Mickey\

Am I missing anything?

Now, the fact that I am traveling mid-late in one of the most crowded July's on the books complicates things considerably. Lots of kids, foreign tourists, tour groups, and all the rest flock to tuxedo Mickey because he's the one on all the pictures. Not saying thats wrong, I mean thats great, but it sure doesn't help me.

My thoughts on meeting tuxedo Mickey in the MK hub (my favorite spot) are: very early EMH or even better non-EMH days and very late E-Ride Night days. No mid-afternoon really, except possibly during the parades.

So, to wrap up an already overlong thread, what are your thoughts or experiences on finding that perfectly non-crowded tuxedo Mickey portrait in Mid-Late July?

 

[MouseClubMom]

Best place is Mickey's House in Toontown. We were just there last week and he was wearing his tuxedo. We waited about 10-15 minutes in line at about 3:15pm on a Thursday.

Good luck!

MCMom

 

[Ashes8380]

I went last Jan., and I found the quickest place to meet Mickey is in AK. We waited about 3 minutes at the most to meet him, Minnie, Goofy, and all the Pooh characters. The only drawback is that Mickey and Minnie were in jungle gear, not their standard outfits. They do look awfully cute dressed up for a safari though!!!

 

[Cinderella37]

I agree that the best place to meet Mickey is in the Judge's Tent in Toontown. Go a little before park closing and you'll have a minimal line. At least you're guaranteed to see him as long as you're in line. Good luck!

 

[catnik]

I agree with the other posters that the Judge's Tent is the easiest way to get a picture with Tuxedo Mickey. We went first thing in the a.m. and waited 5 minutes max. There is a professional photographer who will first take an "official" picture with you and Mickey (purchase is optional) but then they are willing to take a picture of your group with your own camera. I'd either go first thing in the morning or last thing at night in order to avoid the longest waits.......

 

[kimwim8]

I think the last time I was there, at DTD there was a photographer that took pics of families with Mickey. I know my sister did it. I think she went there & put her name on a list & then went & did a little shopping & went back at a certain time. I don't remember how much it costs, but I believe she got wallet sized pictures.

Just another option, if it's still there...

 

[pjlla]

We also got TERRIFIC pictures with Tuxedo'ed Mickey at Epcot this past January.... they had the character caravan bus nearby in the vicinity of the Imagination Pavillion near the lagoon. DH got some great pictures of the kids with Mickey and Minnie in her traditional polka-dotted dress!! Wish I could share the but I am computer-challenged. Maybe DH can help me with it tonight.....HTH...............P

BTW.... where did you get the terrific picture in your post??

 

[princesskaelybear]

A couple weeks ago, on our last day in MK, we hadn't found Mickey yet to get his autograph and of course we couldn't leave without it. We passed the character signings in front of the castle and headed to Toontown, only to find a 5 minute wait there for Mickey. This was late in the afternoon and shortly before one of the Cinderella's Surprise shows in front of the castle - which is where everyone else was. We managed to get Mickey's autograph, go through the houses, buy apples, and get to the show right before it started, even snagging great seats.
Mickey was in his tuxedo at the Judge's Tent - and it was by far the shorted line we stood in for autographs (well, except for Gepetto).
Good Luck!