Meeting The Walt Disney World Characters

Meeting the characters in Walt Disney World is more important to some young children, than the theme park attractions.  Use the links above to discover where to locate your child's favourite characters.  Use the tips below, to maximise your child's experience.

Buy your child an autograph book and a thick pen.  You will find these in all onsite hotel shops, and most shops within the Disney World themeparks.  Do remember to get a thick pen - as many of the characters will struggle to hold a thin one.  Children generally love collecting autographs from the characters, and the autograph book makes a great souvenir for them to take home.

Do try to reserve at least one character meal.  These events are fun, and they save time waiting in line to meet your child's favourite character.  Most character meals are buffet service, and characters will visit each table at least once.  Hint - try to schedule a character breakfast for the latest seating possible, at one of the Magic Kingdom area hotels, on extra magic hours morning.  We usually try to schedule a breakfast at Chef Mickey's for around 11.15am, after extra magic hours in the Magic Kingdom.  This way, we get a jump on the crowds, and hit many of our favourite attractions before the park begins to fill up.  By late morning, we are ready for brunch, and the Magic Kingdom area hotel character meals are generally quieter by then, so the children get to spend more time with the characters.

Do take a camera with you to take some great snaps of your children with the characters.  At character meet and greets, Disney will have someone taking photos, but the cost can add up.  If you're not great with a camera, and would like some photos taken by Disney, ask the photographer for a photopass card when you have the first ones taken.  Then, you simply present the card each time your child has a picture taken, and when you get home, you can browse them all on your pc, via the Internet, and choose which ones you would like to purchase. 

 Do remember that some very small children may be terrified of the characters close up, as some of them are much bigger than they appear on the TV.  Our daughter was petrified of the Disney characters when she was only two.  She would wave at them from the distance, but has soon as they came up close, she would burst into tears.  Don't worry, Disney cast members are trained to deal with this.  We were lucky enough to meet Goofy in Ohana one morning.  When he realised my daughters fear, he was able to put her at ease, and once she realised she was safe, she loved meeting the characters.