Characters at Epcot

[jenniferma]

Hi-- I am just starting to plan our first family stop at Epcot. I haven't been there since 1990, so I am a little clueless.... I saw there was a character bus and show-- does anyone one know what times these are? Is it easy to see characters in the Nations or are the lines pretty long? We are going at a slow time-- week after Thanksgiving and our kids will be 3 and 5 and LOVE the characters.

Thanks in advance!
jen

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

Not sure for the exact bus times in November, but I know in August the character bus is at the main entrance shortly after opening and then right at the start of World Showcase around 11. There are a lot of characters, and they do have reasonably long lines so unfortunately the bus usually needs to leave before the kids get to see all of them. However, throughout the day there are characters in certain countries in WS, Aladdin and Jasmine are usually in Morocco, Belle and Beast are usually in France, Pooh and friends and Mary Poppins are usually in UK. Hope that helps!!

 

[Vickie46]

can anyone tell me what pooh friends are in the toy shop with Pooh in England?

 

[donnajon]

We saw Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet in the Toy Store along with Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland.

 

[liamandcaili]

When we were there in April, the bus came at various times throughout the day...you can ask the CMs when and where the characters will be because time and location changed. There were many characters...Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy, always, and then several others. We found the lines to be rather short, and my children met Goofy, Pluto and Donald all within ten minutes. We also met Minnie in Epcot and didn't have to wait, whereas we waited for Mickey in MK and waited 20 minutes. We certainly wouldn't have waited for him that long at Epcot. In our experience, Epcot is a great place to meet the characters. Just ask for times, or if you're strolling about, look for a sudden increase in camera-toting CMs...the characters can't be far behind!

 

[jrjac]

We just returned 2 weeks ago. Although we spent quite a bit of our vacation at EPCOT, the only character we saw was Pluto.

 

[liammom]

When we visited in Dec and May they had schedules for the characters in the gift shops. Have fun!!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

There are many characters at Epcot, if you know when and where to look! Alot of it is being at the right time in the right place, too.

The Characters on Holiday Bus is great! Usually about 12 characters on it including classics like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale, plus many others! The bus makes it's last stop around 4:00ish, usually. Check the Times Guide (that you get with the park map) for the exact times and locations. The last stop is usually quick and crowded, though!

Through the countries, there are plenty of characters to find. They meet on and off throughout day, from early afternoon until around 6:00ish, maybe at the latest 7:00. In England, definately look inside the Toy Shop and look in the back. Pooh characters meet there often, or Mary Poppins or Alice in Wonderland, too! These characters can also be outside in that courtyard off the main sidewalk.

France is fun - look inside the "library" room, which is connected to a gift shop. Belle and Beast are sometimes there, possible other characters. Also behind the stores near the water is a little garden area, and Beast and Belle and Aurora could be there. Also Hunchback characters like Clopin could be around, though they seem far less common than Belle/Beast/Aurora.

Morocco is cool - look inside the gift shop building directly across from the entrance into Marakkesh restaurant. This location is easy to miss as it is no where near the main sidewalk! Aladdin and Jasmine could be there, also Genie. Once we even saw Jafar on the main sidewalk.

Germany may have Snow White and Dopey, and VERY rarely the other dwarves! I think they are usually near the main sidewalk. I don't usually see any characters in Germany, so I think it is a "less" used country.

Italy could have Pinocchio characters like Geppetto and Pinocchio and VERY rarely Jiminy Cricket. I never seen a character there so not sure where exactly to look!

Mulan and maybe Mushu could be in China. I seen them on the main sidewalk and also against one of the buildings.

The Internation Gateway entrance to Epcot occassionally has characters meeting by the water there. I seen Snow White and Aurora there.

Back in Future World, A "robotic" Nemo character sometimes can be found in front of Living Seas. Also Figment the purple dragon can sometimes be found near Journey into the Imagination ride, or near the jumping fountains by Honey I Shrunk the Audience.

I think Epcot is one of the best places to meet characters, as they seem to hide in out of the way places that reward you for finding them! And the lines seem quite short usually when we stumble upon a character there. Only really long lines I seen were for the well-known characters on the character bus.

Ok, probably way too much info here! Meeting characters can be so much fun for the kids - Enjoy your time at Epcot!!

 

[stschaefer]

We got DD's picture with characters around the World Showcase Plaza. Positioned right you can get characters picture with Ball in background. We saw Mickey, Minnie, Terk, Pinnochio, Gepetto, Gideon, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, and Stitch to name some of them. Also at Mission Space we saw Mickey and Goofy in space outfits.

 

[jenniferma]

thanks everyone-- we plan our trips to please the kids and this has helped me convince my DH that they will actually like Epcot. He's never been to Epcot.

thanks again-
jen