Most Fun Character Meets/Interactions for Boys

[FallsChurchDad]

We are leaving soon on a trip on what will be our first "full" WDW visit in 7 years. (We've tacked on 1-2 days in the past few years, with sports competitions and Universal trips, but not a 'real' Disney trip. We did a couple of big trips that our oldest two boys can't even remember.)

This trip will be very ride-focused. We have 3 boys, now ages 13, 9 and 6, and they basically said they are not interested in doing any character meets, they are interested in rides and snacks. Based on that, we're not planning any character meals, and we won't do much in terms of meeting characters. But I still want to work in a handful of character meets that might be interesting / create good memories. Our boys are familiar with all the IP in the parks.

With that background, what would you rank as top character meets, especially focused on a 6-year-old boy who is very outgoing (and a 13 year old and 9 year old who are not shy, but who may be disinterested...)?? Looking for character meets that will be unpredictable, fun, interesting, etc.

My current plan would be to work in one princess meet (maybe Anna & Elsa in Epcot? or Tiana in MK?) plus maybe some Star Wars characters and/or Olaf in HS? But I am probably missing some stuff. My tendency is that the big Disney characters (Mickey, Donald, etc.) are more photo ops than interactions, but maybe not?

If there is a meal that has the most fun interactions, please mention it! We still have flexibility with our plans.

Thanks!

 

[sponica]

I like Garden Grill for a character meal, farmer mickey, farmer pluto, and chip and dale. I prefer the breakfast to lunch/dinner but that's just my stance on most character meals. I'm pretty sure I went with my 12 and 9 year old boy cousins about 20 years ago. I think they liked it.

Pooh (and/or friends) in the UK in Epcot is a riot.

The line for Anna and Elsa can be pretty long, so unless they're Frozen fans, I wouldn't necessarily go out of the way for it.

 

[BrianL]

I would think they might prefer the Star Wars characters, though they don't do true meet & greets at Galaxy's Edge. Still, you can run into the characters and snap quick pics with them. Maybe watch for the Country Bears hoedown thing in Frontierland - it's very casual and fun.

I do like the idea of Garden Grill - the food there is excellent and the 13 year-old can surely do some damage at an all-you-can-eat! The characters will come by, but make it about the food. They can interact as much or as little as they want. Chances are they will enjoy it without feeling like you're making them do some "lame character meets." The steak with chiichurri makes up for any embarassment they may suffer!

If you really want to emabrass them though take them into Enchanted Tales with Belle and don't tell them what it is!

 

[FallsChurchDad]

If you really want to emabrass them though take them into Enchanted Tales with Belle and don't tell them what it is!

Nice, I didn't think about that, we will now definitely do Enchanted Tales with Belle.

We do have pictures from many years ago where our middle son was the Beast and our oldest was Chip (visually the reverse of what would have looked right).... that's one where I really wish we took a video that we could show them now!

 

[HopperFan]

We always have fun interactions with Goofy & Donald in the Big Top Pete's Silly Sideshow in "Storyland" in Magic Kingdom. One line to meet both of them but they have their own sets. Kid with them and they are there for it. Minnie & Daisy have a line too.

 

[FallsChurchDad]

I like Garden Grill for a character meal, farmer mickey, farmer pluto, and chip and dale. I prefer the breakfast to lunch/dinner but that's just my stance on most character meals. I'm pretty sure I went with my 12 and 9 year old boy cousins about 20 years ago. I think they liked it.

Pooh (and/or friends) in the UK in Epcot is a riot.

The line for Anna and Elsa can be pretty long, so unless they're Frozen fans, I wouldn't necessarily go out of the way for it.

I put Pooh on the list. That might be one where the older boys and I just watch the 6-year-old Thanks!

 

[ST1TCH]

As an adult I've really enjoyed the interactions with Chewbacca and Baymax. Would recommend both of those for boys. Assuming they're both still a thing...

 

[sponica]

I put Pooh on the list. That might be one where the older boys and I just watch the 6-year-old Thanks!

Donald from the Three Caballeros over in Mexico was also fun, but I haven't done that meet and greet in years because the line is always bonkers long whenever I pass it.

Hands down my favorite M&G was when Chip and Dale were in their Rescue Rangers outfits over at Hollywood Studios last year.

We also walked by Kevin in AK last year.

 

[loislane]

If you add a character meal - Tusker House has some great character interactions with Mickey, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy. And I 2nd, 3rd, 4th, the recommendation for Garden Grill. Super fun interactions there. We went in June and Chip - or was it Dale? - tried to steal our cornbread! Plus the food is good at both.

Donald in any setting is always a fun interaction - especially if you tell him that Mickey Mouse (or anyone else) is #1. Just say it and stand back for the reaction. LOL!

Just wandering in Frontierland, the Country Bears aren't really a meet and greet, but they are pretty fun to interact with. Peter Pan is also fun. If you see the stepsisters out and about, definitely suggest your boys as possible princes for them.

In Hollywood, I think any of the Toy Story and Pixar characters are fun meets. In Galaxy's Edge, there aren't really meet and greets, but you can meet usually Darth Vader and Chewbacca for a photo over in the launch bay.

 

[tinkerjo]

I have 3 boys(2 grown and one older teen) if they don’t want to meet characters I wouldn’t push it. But if interested You can meet the Star Wars ones at the Launching Bay in HS which they may like. I sure enough wouldn’t embarrass them by making them do a princess meet if they didn’t want to. My boys would have still enjoyed a handful of characters at those ages (buzz/woody, monster Inc, green army men, and may surprise you with some classics) and since boys love to eat, Ohana breakfast was a favorite with Stitch. As they get older, the draw is more/bigger rides and food!!! Embrace it.

 

[pterp]

Thanks for the great tips. We have a 7 and almost 3 yr old and they will love some of these tips. I hope to tell some princesses we have princes for them, and we will definitely egg on Donald.

We went last year and our oldest was still 5. We stayed at Coronado Springs and got lucky with meeting Daisy, Chip & Dale in the lobby. C&D we great and messed with him and me quite a bit, he had a blast.

 

[FallsChurchDad]

I have 3 boys(2 grown and one older teen) if they don’t want to meet characters I wouldn’t push it. But if interested You can meet the Star Wars ones at the Launching Bay in HS which they may like. I sure enough wouldn’t embarrass them by making them do a princess meet if they didn’t want to. My boys would have still enjoyed a handful of characters at those ages (buzz/woody, monster Inc, green army men, and may surprise you with some classics) and since boys love to eat, Ohana breakfast was a favorite with Stitch. As they get older, the draw is more/bigger rides and food!!! Embrace it.

100% this is our plan -- the trip will still be very ride-focused -- but I feel like it will make it more fun for everyone if we do a couple of interactions over the course of a weeklong trip, even if that's not what they would pick in the moment. Right now, it might just be Enchanted Tales with Belle (maybe with only the 6 year old participating; we'll see), Winnie the Pooh in UK-Epcot, and Chewbacca in HS.
I really appreciate everyone's suggestions!

 

[godfather927]

This is one advantage California Adventure has over WDW. I have two daughters, but they're big marvel fans, and they loved meeting spiderman, ant-man, wasp, starlord, gamora, etc.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

We always have fun interactions with Goofy & Donald in the Big Top Pete's Silly Sideshow in "Storyland" in Magic Kingdom. One line to meet both of them but they have their own sets. Kid with them and they are there for it.

This x10. My boys are now 18 and 14 and they have a ton of memories of joking with these two. Make sure you tell Donald that you are #1 and he is #2.