>Go on a Character Hunt

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Everybody has a favorite animated Disney movie. My son’s used to be Lilo and Stitch. I think now it is Finding Nemo. My wife’s is Toy Story (with Monsters Inc. a close second) and mine is probably Chicken Little (with Jungle Book a close second). The stories of the great Disney movies are wonderful and they stand the test of time. Finding a favorite character in Walt Disney World can be such a big thrill for you and your children that it may make a Magical Experience that you will talk about for years to come. So, today I offer to you, the Unknown Magic of Meeting your Favorite Character.

A lot of people love Disney’s Fab Five, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. Of course a lot of times Daisy is included with these five so I guess it’s actually the sensational six. Because of this, these six are available to be seen and met throughout the Walt Disney World Complex. Probably the next group with the biggest following is the Hundred Acre Woods gang; Pooh, Tigger and the rest. They can also be found throughout Disney World and host Buffets and character meals.

Another group that in recent years has become very popular and has actually spawned the refurbishment of Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom is the Princesses. They seem to be everywhere anymore, which is wonderful for little girls. There are a few different Character meals that feature the Princesses or some of them. Of course Dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table is the biggest, but there are also others; Princess Storybook Dining at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway in Epcot, and Cinderella’s Gala Feast at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian. Of course you don’t have to go to a character meal to see or meet the Princesses, they are always somewhere in the parks to be met. For example Princess Jasmine can usually be found in Epcot near the Morocco Pavilion.

So finding the big name Disney Characters is easy. But what if your favorite isn’t a Princess or one of the others mention? You still night be able to find your character
somewhere in Disney. We were excited this past year, because friends of ours went to Disney World before us in the spring and they told us they met Jiminy Cricket. I was floored. He is one of my favorite characters, and I had never seen him except in a parade, which I always excepted as good enough. They told us that he can be seen out at the Conservation Station in the Animal Kingdom. So, we made sure we went out to the Conservation Station this trip and visited with Jiminy Cricket. Another great find in the Animal Kingdom was Flik. Both of these sightings

make sense, since they are insects and the Animal Kingdom would seem like a likely home for them. As I wrote about before a great place for Character Meets in the Animal Kingdom is in Camp Minnie Mickey (if you haven’t seen this article, check it out here.)

Some other great characters that we have found throughout Disney World were some smaller characters but made us very happy to find. Seeing a Green Army Man from Toy Story was very cool and of course seeing Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc was a Magical Experience as was meeting Woody (from Toy Story). In Disney Hollywood Studios, they make it easy to see these guys, as they have set up meet and greet areas for them.

Over in the Magic Kingdom there are so many different places to meet the characters from the front of the park to the Special meet and greet areas throughout the park. We had a great experience finding Timon for example from Lion King over near the entrance to Adventureland, which is where we also found another one of my favorites, King Louie from the Jungle Book.

Over in Tomorrowland they have a set area to meet Buzz LightYear, which is very cool. As is meeting up with Brer’ Bear and Brer’ Rabbit near Splash Mountain.

As of today there have been 49 different Animated Features released by the Walt Disney Company. With so many Disney characters, you may need to ask a cast member if your favorite is available to be met. Sometimes you won’t be able to find your favorite character to meet and get an autograph or a picture, but if you don’t you may still be able to see them in a parade or show. There are many Characters that are seen in the parades and shows that aren’t around for meet and greets. So make sure you take the time to enjoy a parade or show.

Another great place to meet a character, especially the newest ones are in the animation Courtyard, in the Disney Hollywood Studios. They have a meet and greet area here that changes with the newest movies. It is a very neat thing to get a picture an autograph

with a character before their movie has even been released, or has just been released. This is a really Magical Experience for the kids to go so the movie and then to get the autograph of a star whose movie they just saw.

In the same area of the Hollywood Studios, the playhouse Disney Characters are available for pictures also; a great spot for the little ones to meet some favorites.

So, know you now, there are plenty of places and chances to meet or see your favorite characters in Disney. Even if your character isn’t one of the “big” ones right now, you still may be able to have a Magical Experience by getting an autograph or jut a picture. So figure out who your favorite is and when you’re in Disney, go on a Character Hunt.