We LOVE finding characters!!! We seen over 130 characters, over the last two years and six different trips! We listed them all and where we seen them in our website at:
wdwautographs.com
As for your specific characters:
We seen Hercules numerous times at MGM, either by the Big Hat or near the entrance. We usually see him in the late mornings/early afternoons on half-hour intrevals. He is out for an half hour, then gone for a half-hour, then out again. His last greeting is somewhere around 2:00. I can't remember if he comes out at the top of the hour (like 12:00, 1:00 etc), or the bottom (11:30, 12:30, 1:30 etc). You can always ask at Guest relations.
I also seen John Smith at MGM near the Big Hat, but only on one trip ever! I did not even know he was a meetable character until I saw him there! He would follow a similar greeting schedule as Hercules (on half-hour intrevals).
Esmeralda we met once in France at Epcot on the main sidewalk. I think she is a really hard one to find, as we only seen her since at the Halloween parties.
Looking for characters can be lots of fun! Finding a rare one just makes our day!!
