Character Meets: Where and When?

[jrjankowski8]

Hi All,

We're leaving for Disneyland on Friday and I'm curious what the best hang out spots are for characters.

Obviously the ones listed on the website are the most common and are clearly marked on the map, but I'm looking for the best spots to find roaming characters in DL and DCA. Perhaps a good spot to find the characters that don't show up on the app even.

Anyone have any good spots or suggestions?

 

[mom2rtk]

Make friends with the app. It's not 100% reliable, but it's a great place to start.

 

[figment_jii]

I think most all of the characters are listed on the app these days, even the roaming one. I saw that the app lists Dr. Facilier as a roaming character in NOS and that's where I saw him. It didn't list the Stormtroopers and they sometimes are in Tomorrowland, but I don't know if that's because they won't be out today or not.

 

[jrjankowski8]

Thanks for the input thus far. The app and I are good pals already (since I'm used to stalking it before going to WDW).

Last time we went to DL, we had some time to kill and we hung out in Town Square where we saw lots of the classic characters (Mickey, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Goofy, etc.) and Pinocchio/Gepetto as well as Cruella. I also hear that near the Teacups is a good spot.

Just wondering if there are any other good places to start if you want to grab a snack and hang out for a little to see if characters show up.

 

[ch46]

You could always find one of the cast members that are wearing the "ask me about the characters" button. They have a paper schedule with the character times/locations on it.

 

[hootey]

If you are looking for a specific character, try asking in City Hall. They usually have the character schedule and know about where all the characters are supposed to be at what time.

 

[KBinCO]

As far as random appearances, I believe town square and fantasyland are your best bet.

 

[jrjankowski8]

You could always find one of the cast members that are wearing the "ask me about the characters" button. They have a paper schedule with the character times/locations on it.

If you are looking for a specific character, try asking in City Hall. They usually have the character schedule and know about where all the characters are supposed to be at what time.

Thank you! I'll keep an eye out when we are there. Here's an example of a little more what I'm speaking about. A few weeks ago I saw the Tweedles were out by the Teacups for no reason. I'm sure they weren't on the app or map. Same with Gideon and Foulfellow. I'm thinking WDW examples like Epcot training spots and Characterpalooza. While I think the volume for DL isn't the same, I am just curious if there are similar spots.

KB - I think what you mentioned about Town Square and Fantasyland makes the most sense as that's where the random characters can be spotted.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree that Fantasyland (generally in the area of the Tea Cups and Dumbo) is probably a likely spot for some unannounced characters (that's where the Pinnochio bunch seem to appear most often), but Town Square probably won't have that many unannounced characters. It's one of the main character locations in DL (usually you'll see some mixture of the the main/common characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto), Cruella, Chip, and Dale) in that area throughout the day (except during parades and fireworks) - it's kind of like Buena Vista Street over in DCA. Sometimes there are characters out near the ticket gate to DL (just before you go under the train track); those seem kind of random (though, most often they're one of the princesses).

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I agree about asking a character CM. You're correct that while the roaming characters are sometimes on the app, they often are not. In Fantasyland, they Alice characters and sometimes Pinocchio characters are often in between the Alice ride and the Tinkerbell meet and greet (where the King and Queen bathrooms are), but really they can all be anywhere in Fantasyland.

Thor roams around Hollywoodland at DCA quite a bit lately, too. On Saturday he stopped and read my daughter her Avengers book; it was really an amazing interaction!

 

[KBinCO]

I said Town Square because a lot of characters meet there but that's also where we've seen random characters play hide and seek with each other (and my kids joining in)

 

[figment_jii]

That sounds cute; I've never seen them do that! Whenever I've gone through Town Square, the characters are all meeting guests in fairly fixed locations scattered throughout the area.

 

[The Lucky Bug]

We don't do character autographs much but we enjoy seeing the characters around the park.

When we were there on Monday, August 21st we came across Peter Pan playing hide-n-go-seek with a bunch of kids in front of Red Rose Tavern around 11:30 or so.

I know that Alice and the Mad Hatter play Musical chairs at the Coke Corner location I believe but I am not sure at what time.

And at 12:15 or 12:30 (check the app for what time the Disneyland band plays) you can watch the characters come down the path between the Plaza Inn and the Wishing well side of the castle on their way to the front of the castle to start the "happiest march on earth". This is when the band and characters march from the castle down to main street station then they do a little song and dance in front of the station. It is very cute. Twice we have been waiting by the path for the show to start and have seen the Alice in Wonderland characters coming back from over by the Wonderland bathrooms so I am guessing they meet a little before noon or around noon over there.

Another fun thing we like to do is wait over by Hungry bear during fantasmic because you can see all the characters waving at you from the Mark Twain at the end of the show as they stay in character all the way to the back of the island. It is a little dark but with the path lighting it is easy enough to see them all and Captain Jack on the Pirate Ship too.

 

[Pat Gaik]

I've been reviewing the app but can't find anywhere in any park to meet Donald in his traditional sailor middy. Anyone know of anywhere?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I've been reviewing the app but can't find anywhere in any park to meet Donald in his traditional sailor middy. Anyone know of anywhere?

I would love to know this. I have never seen Donald in DL since I've been going this year. I've only seen him in DCA and he's wearing a different outfit.

 

[Disneyland 1951]

He is

I've been reviewing the app but can't find anywhere in any park to meet Donald in his traditional sailor middy. Anyone know of anywhere?

Donald is in Town Square everyday. This is from Wednesday of this week.

However, yesterday they changed the character outfits to Halloween costumes. They will not change back until the middle of January.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

He is

Donald is in Town Square everyday. This is from Wednesday of this week.

However, yesterday they changed the character outfits to Halloween costumes. They will not change back until the middle of January.

It is sometimes possible to catch him in his traditional outfit back in Toontown during Halloweentime, but it's rare. Pluto and Goofy are frequently back there in their regular clothes, though. I would possibly ask a character handler specifically in Toontown about your chances of bumping into him.