Hi Tracey!
Thanks for your question and Happy New Year!
The beauty of visiting Walt Disney Resort nowadays is that there is an abundance of character encounters that take place each day in each of the four theme parks AND at select resort dining facilities. Checking a particular theme park's Times Guide and map will ensure you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with your favorite Disney characters!
That said, it is not commonplace for private character encounters to take place. I'm not saying it is impossible, because nothing is impossible. And I say this with confidence because I have actually had a private family gathering with Snow White, who was my mother's favorite character. She was gravely ill and I called
Guest Services months before our scheduled trip to explain the situation and ask if anything could be done. The Cast Member was incredibly compassionate and understanding and took all of my information. They then said they would get back to me. Within a day, I received a return phone call with a plan to meet with Snow White during our vacation. It was amazing and my Mom was brought to tears (well, we all were, I guess). I share this story to illustrate the possible, but please keep in mind that this was 20 years ago, so I am not certain what current protocols are for character encounters. My best advice is to contact
Guest Services directly and make your request. At the very least, you are sure to find your favorite characters out there in the parks. Good Luck and I wish you a Magical trip!
Chris