The Best Donald Duck Experiences

[peteywarren0829]

So we are about to being our 11 plus hour drive to Disney for our 7 nights at Art of Animation. We will be visiting the four major Disney theme parks. So my question is this: outside of character meals (not in the budget this time) what are the best experiences with Donald Duck at the parks? I LOVE the Duck, and would love for any advice on the best ways to see him while at Disney. Thank you all!

 

[soniam]

There's a Donald meet and greet in Animal Kingdom. I think it's Safari Donald. There's also a meet and greet with Stormtrooper Donald in Hollywood Studios Fri-Sun for Star Wars Weekends. I don't know the location or time, but I think the MDX app is up to date.

 

[Nhebron]

He also meets with Goofy in MK and in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot.

 

[tesslor]

Donald used to appear in the Mexico pavilion in a sombrero and poncho. Not sure if this still happens though.

 

[Sarahbelle341]

Donald meets in the circus tent at MK, in Mexico at Epcot, around where the hat used to be at Hollywood Studios, and Tusker House at Animal Kingdom.

 

[ksinniger]

We've found that the bestway to get a good interaction with Donald is to make it obvious that you know HE'S the #1 attraction at any WDW park. Shirts or hats with him on it, hair bows in his colors, etc. He will play off of it and you'll get great photos.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Donald used to appear in the Mexico pavilion in a sombrero and poncho. Not sure if this still happens though.

He does. We saw him last week and he was great. He made me and my wife cover our eyes while he knelt and kissed our daughter's hand. She loved it!

And yes, as pp said, tell him he's #1 and he will love it.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Btw - we also drew him at the DHS animation gallery. Learned a lot!

He's the only Disney character ever to star in back to back full length features (3 Caballero's and Saludas Amigos)

He was instrumental is helping the allies win WW2 - no joke! Walt did a goodwill trip down to South America at the request of the US Dept of State to use propaganda (the good kind) to keep them from entering the war on the Axis side. All true!

He is still enormously popular overseas in comic books. Much more so then in the US where many feel comics are just for kiddies.

Walt once said he was the star of the stable of characters...his most valuable property.

#1 indeed!

 

[Bluegrrl]

Yeah, he's had many series devoted to him and his extended family, and even lives in Duckburg. Ask him about Chip and Dale, his chipmunk rivals.
And of course, his nephews who drive him crazy. And that catchy theme for Duck tales!
But the most sure fire location to find him is in the circus area at MK.

 

[missangelalexis]

We've found that the bestway to get a good interaction with Donald is to make it obvious that you know HE'S the #1 attraction at any WDW park. Shirts or hats with him on it, hair bows in his colors, etc. He will play off of it and you'll get great photos.

THIS! Donald loves being told he's #1! We got some great interaction from telling him that

 

[Jannephotog]

THIS! Donald loves being told he's #1! We got some great interaction from telling him that

Yeah, Somebrero Donald was pitching a fit because of my Mickey shirt....he was a good one & the line wasn't too long when we were there, seeing as it was epcot (probably better than finding him at MK)

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Mexico Donald is awesome. We share a birthday (Although he has some years on me) so when they released a limited edition T-shirt commemorating his 80th b-day last year I had to get it. When he saw it and I informed him of our shared b-day, let's just say he "reacted"

 

[Carnator]

To get a good reaction out of Donald, refer to him as "the Afflac duck". I did this last Oct. at AK. It was great.

 

[peteywarren0829]

Thank you all so much! We tried to see him at Hollywood today, but he kept having to leave because of the rain. Periodic rain plus no Rock-in-Roller Coaster plus inconsistent Tower of Terror plus a wife running a fever equals a slightly disappointing day at Hollywood.

 

[eyehartdisney]

Thank you all so much! We tried to see him at Hollywood today, but he kept having to leave because of the rain. Periodic rain plus no Rock-in-Roller Coaster plus inconsistent Tower of Terror plus a wife running a fever equals a slightly disappointing day at Hollywood.

Sounds like a very disappointing day. The MK meet is indoors, and it usually has next to nothing for a wait.

 

[twoplustwins]

We were able to spend quite a lot of time with him in AK over by the Lion King show. While greeting my children, he turned around and with his oversized bottom he knocked one of them to the ground. As my son (then aged 2) started crying, Donald helped him up and hugged him. Donald spent many minutes trying to console my son. It was very sweet.
We also had a good visit with him at Tusker House.

 

[mrsclark]

My favorite spot to meet Donald is outside of Mexico at Epcot. Donald once made DH go away so Donald could get a photo with just me and him! I also have two Three Caballeros shirts that I have worn while meeting Donald and he loves them. If you get a chance to meet Daisy while wearing a Donald t shirt that is great too!

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Not a meet and greet, but make sure to see philharmagic at Mk. It's a fun show that heavily features Donald.

 

[Jfsag123]

We are also a family of Donald lovers! Just let him know that you are and he will be all over it. We have found Donald to regularly be quite interactive and to play off whatever we present.

This was his idea for how to pose when DD and DS showed up as Mary Poppins and Bert. DS wasn't quite sure what was happening. He later also pretended to be one of the penguins.

And here he is with DH, who is a HUGE Donald fan. Of course, they proudly proclaim him as #1.

Both of these are from the MK meet, though we have also met him in Mexico at Epcot. I hope you have better luck meeting him at some point in your trip, as he is a hoot.

 

[burberryplaid]

He's always been great at the meet in Mexico!