character crowds

[Freyja]

Hi guys!

I was wondering, we'll be at WDW in the beginning of October, how bad are the crowds usually around the characters? Do you have to wait in line to get autographs and pics? Are the characters in many places or are they hard to find? Can I assure my kids that we will get pics with Mickey, Minnie and Donald (not all at once)? I am getting bombarded with questions and I don´t really have the answers, so I´m relying on you guys.

Bye
Freyja

 

[disney queen]

the charcters are very visible in the parks. hopefully, there are lines of waiting guests and usually there is, but sometimes there are those who barge to the front of the line. ugh!! a good place to see mickey is in toontown. check the map of MK for the exact location. donald is a little harder to find. we have seen him several times at AK, but the best place to see him is at the breakfast he "host" at AK at donald's breakfastasarous. you should be able to find the characters at all the parks. the only place i have seen woody and buzz is at MGM near al's toy barn. and i have only seen miss piggy once and that was in mgm near the muppets.

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

We've gone to WDW in October for the past several years and, prior to last year, had to really look for the characters. Last year, they increased the number of different characters that appeared and most of them "just appeared". It wasn't like prior years where there was a list of times and you could only see them at those times. I think there are probably exceptions for the more popular characters like Mickey, etc. where you can see them only at certain times but I'm not sure.

The lines weren't long and the CM's with the characters kept everything orderly. We also went to Toontown to see Mickey and Minnie and when we went into the area, there was no line at all and we actually stayed and visited with Mickey and Minnie (thru the CM's) and saw Chip and Dale at the same time. We were there about 10 or 15 minutes before other people came in for photos.

This year with the FTP that might all change. From previous posts, the parks have been more crowded than in previous years so I'm not sure how October's going to be. Hopefully, you'll see be able to see all the characters you want and not have to wait in long lines.

 

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

What is FTP???

We had a blast seeing the characters when we went. There are quite a few over by Toon Town when the park first opens, we got there an hour early ( this was while they weren't doing the early hours for guests anymore) we hopped right on the Train to Toon Town, tons of characters were outside. Then when they open the ropes we were first on line for Mickey, Minnie and Ariel and Cinderella.


There are also opportunities if you go in to Exposition Hall ( where the photos are developed ) and go around the back. We got to meet Mary Poppons, Belle, Jasmine and Daisy Duck there. It was like our own secret cove, my ds got to spend quite a bit of time talking to these ladies, as there was NOONE around!

 

[disney queen]

FTP is a package that disney is offering this fall and is quite popular.