Character Connection at Epcot

[Maridw]

We (DH & I) just got back from a week trip at WDW and tried the Character Connection at Epcot. We had finished walking the WS and were on our way out and I wanted to get two postcards signed to send to friends. I decided to stop in there to see what the line was like.

There was practically no one in there. I waited behind one family and was able to get Mickey & Minnie's signature on the postcards. I could have gotten Pluto's & Chip & Dale's but DH didn't want to wait around too long.

This is really great. We had even glanced in there while we were checking out the Flower & Garden Festival Center and it wasn't that busy. I guess because it is fairly new, not many people know about it.

 

[Vickie46]

thanks for letting us know! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!! ºoº

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

What is this? Is this like Toontown where characters are in rooms?

 

[Belle0101]

I'm gonna bump this and add 2 questions.

Sounds like it's in a building but where or what in Epcot is this near (i.e., gift shop, attraction?). Is it signed, marked on the map?

Thanks!!

 

[donaldtutter]

great info. thanks.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

The Character Connection is easy to find. It's on the Epcot map (at least it was last time I checked!). If you enter Epcot and walk to the big Fountain, you then turn right to head towards the Land through an open hallway (breezeway) area. The Character Connection is right off this hallway, and it's well marked. It's technically part of Innoventions, I believe. The entrance is very close to the kiosk where they sell those giant big balls!

It's similiar to the ToonTown rooms, but far less busy. And the characters are clearly visable from the line, so you know what characters are there! Inside the main room area, usually it's Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, Dale, and sometimes Donald and I think Goofy, too. After greeting the characters, the room exits into a large hallway, where sometimes there are some more characters.

I wish they still had the Big Red Epcot Holiday Bus, but the Character Connection replaced it. But it's certainly a good place to find some characters at Epcot!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We visited there in Jan. and I don't think we waited more than 1 minute for any character. We even had time to have adults take pix with characters too! Much better than the rush for the bus before-the best we ever got without too much wait was 2 characters. We liked it.

 

[dzorn]

Did they have a photopass photographer there?

We've decied to buy the CD and would like (finally) to have all our family in Pic.


DEnise

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Did they have a photopass photographer there?

We've decied to buy the CD and would like (finally) to have all our family in Pic.


DEnise

Yes, there were photopass photographers when I was there (in January). Got alot of nice pictures!

 

[daisyduck123]

Mary Poppins was also there in January when we were.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Thanks for the info. We will definitely check this out in November.

 

[DarlingDumbo]

Is this the area where disney visa customers get free pictures with the characters?

 

[rlovew]

It is a different area from the Visa Carholder pictures.

 

[angelsmom920]

I was there in April and we saw Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Goofy and Chip and Dale. We were traveling with 6 kids and this was the first thing we did on our vacation! We were behind one family, so there was virtually no line! It was a great way to start our vacation! All the kids got pictures with characters and so did a couple of adults! There are photopass photographers and the great thing was we had enough time so that we could take like 3-4 picutres of our own! Definately a must see for the autograph/character seeker!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

We (DH & I) just got back from a week trip at WDW and tried the Character Connection at Epcot. We had finished walking the WS and were on our way out and I wanted to get two postcards signed to send to friends. I decided to stop in there to see what the line was like.

There was practically no one in there. I waited behind one family and was able to get Mickey & Minnie's signature on the postcards. I could have gotten Pluto's & Chip & Dale's but DH didn't want to wait around too long.

This is really great. We had even glanced in there while we were checking out the Flower & Garden Festival Center and it wasn't that busy. I guess because it is fairly new, not many people know about it.

We had nearly the same experience back in December. It was my dh's birthday and I wanted to make certain he got to see Donald Duck, since that is his favorite. He had already selected Epcot as his park of choice for the day, and we had ADRs for Akershus, so as soon as we entered the park I got the guide and checked for character information. After determining when/where Donald would be, I put it out of my mind and enjoyed the day (the time was in the evening). Much later on, I panicked a little when I realized that it was almost time for Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto to appear at Character Connection, and we hadn't even stood in line! Oh no! The crowds would be enormous! Well, we made our way over there, and...crickets. I mean, NO ONE. We were absolutely the only people there...we even had to let a few people who came in shortly afterwards go ahead of us so we could take our son out of the stroller and coordinate the cameras with my mother and figure out who was taking pictures of whom with which one. So much for the mob scene I had envisioned! GO TO CHARACTER CONNECTION!!!! It's great (and apparently no one else really reads those guides)!!!!!!!!!

 

[gianna2006]

Can't wait to check it out!!! In all our visits to the world, we have no pictures with Donald...I would love to get one this trip!! EPCOT will be the first park we visit (by my DS(7) request!). What a great way to start a vacation!!!

 

[Maridw]

The Character Connection is easy to find. It's on the Epcot map (at least it was last time I checked!). If you enter Epcot and walk to the big Fountain, you then turn right to head towards the Land through an open hallway (breezeway) area. The Character Connection is right off this hallway, and it's well marked. It's technically part of Innoventions, I believe. The entrance is very close to the kiosk where they sell those giant big balls!

It's similiar to the ToonTown rooms, but far less busy. And the characters are clearly visable from the line, so you know what characters are there! Inside the main room area, usually it's Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, Dale, and sometimes Donald and I think Goofy, too. After greeting the characters, the room exits into a large hallway, where sometimes there are some more characters.

Another thing to look for as you turn toward The Land walkway is the Fountainview Espesso & Bakery. The Character Connection is right next to this. It is great that they have the Photopass Photographers as I was able to give them my Photopass and they took about 3 or 4 pics of me with each character. It was so nice to be able to just walk in and get the autographs. I know DH was thankful. We were both hot & tired and were on our way back to the resort for a rest before dinner that night. We had actually stayed longer than we had originally planned on staying. If we go again, I might try and do this again.

In fact my DD told me that DH is thinking about another trip before our passes expire at the end of the month. But I can't tell him that she told me.

 

[j-ariel]

Thanks for the info. I go in 35 days. And i will definately be going there. I have to see Mickey, one can never have too many pictures of him.

 

[lorli]

We'll be checking this out when we go in August. Thanks for sharing.