May 06

Character Meet and Greets

photo 1We all know that there are so many things that make a trip to Disney World magical, far too many to count yet enough to keep a Disney addict and writer busy for a very long time.  One of the most magical parts of visiting the parks for kids, and adults too, are the character meet and greets.  In all honesty, it still thrills me to pieces, especially a meet and greet with my main man, Mickey.  I can remember being a young kid and getting so excited as the characters wandered about the parks and you could walk up to them for photo ops and autographs.   Nothing was more exciting as a kid for me and now I love to see my daughter giggle and meet her favorite characters.

mk40Meeting characters has become an attraction all in itself.  While character dining is one of the more popular ways to meet your favorites, it is also very difficult to secure reservations for the limited character dining venues during the busy times, unless you arrange 180 days in advance.   In order to provide an opportunity for more guests to experience a meet and greet with the characters, the parks offer designated areas and even buildings specifically for character experiences.  Keep in mind that waiting in line for character meet and greets can take up a lot of your park time, but the moment it’s your child’s turn and you see your child run up to his or her favorite character to get a big hug, it will make all the time you waited worthwhile.

mk28Here are some of the places in the Magic Kingdom where you can meet your favorite characters:

  • Mickey Mouse at the Town Square Theater – Main Street, US
  • Donald, Pluto and Goofy in Town Square – Main Street, USA
  • Alice in Wonderland and friends at the Mad Tea Party – Fantasyland
  • Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Anna, and Elsa at Fairytale Hall – Fantasyland
  • Ariel and friends at Ariel’s Grotto – Fantasyland
  • Fairy Godmother at the Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique – Fantasyland
  • Gaston near Gaston’s Tavern – Fantasyland
  • Tigger, Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore at the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – Fantasyland
  • Merida at Fairytale Garden – Fantasyland
  • Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy & Donald at Pete’s Silly Sideshow – Fantasyland
  • Tinker Bell and her fairy friends at Tinker Bell’s Magical Nook – Adventureland
  • Captain Jack Sparrow at The Pirates of the Carribean – Adventureland
  • Princess Jasmine and Aladdin near the Frontier Trading Post – Adventureland
  • Woody, Jessie and other Toy Story friends at Splash Mountain in Frontierland
  • Tiana at the forest gazebo in Liberty Square
  • Chip n’ Dale at the Diamond Horseshoe – Liberty Square
  • Buzz Lightyear near the Carousel of Progress – Tomorrowland
  • Incredibles at the Super Dance Party – Tomorrowland
Holly Wiencek
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Holly Wiencek

Holly Wiencek is the author of Capturing the Magic: A Photographic Journey Through the Walt Disney World Parks. A Florida native and lifelong Disney enthusiast, Holly has been visiting Disney Parks since she was a toddler. With countless visits to both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, she has spent a lifetime exploring and learning about the history and legacy Walt Disney left behind and the details created by Disney Imagineering. She spends her spare time making Disney magic in her everyday life and enjoys sharing that magic with her husband and her daughter, Abby.

Visit www.capturing-the-magic.com for a preview of the stunning coffee table book, Capturing the Magic and purchase your copy today.

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