Welcome to planDisney, Megan. It brought a smile to my face to see that you're visiting
Walt Disney World for the first time in... well, forever! With the
50th Anniversary Celebration well underway, you've chosen a practically perfect time to visit. It's not long now until you'll be arriving at the place where laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.
You'll be glad to know that Micky and his pals are so excited to meet you. There are currently plenty of opportunities to meet beloved Disney characters. Probably my favorite is to make a
character dining reservation. If you're staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, you'll have the
benefit of making dining reservations 60 days in advance of your trip.
Chef Mickey's is a huge favorite for kids and is a perfect way to start the day at Magic Kingdom Park.
Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera combines character dining with exquisite flavors of Italian and French cuisine. It also provides a truly spectacular vantage point for watching
Harmonious.
There are also opportunities to meet the characters in the Theme Parks. You can meet
Mickey Mouse at Town Square in Magic Kingdom Park and
Minnie Mouse near World Showcase in EPCOT. On my most recent visits, I've also seen characters like Princess Aurora, Winnie-the-Pooh and friends, Chip 'n' Dale, and Stitch magically appear to meet Guests. So keep an eye out for those enchanting surprises. I should mention that, for health and safety reasons, the experience of meeting characters is currently modified. In my own experience, the characters are usually socially distanced and, if you meet them indoors, you'll be required to wear a mask (unless you're sat at your dining table). Since policies are subject to change without notice, by the time you visit in June things might be different. Even so, just be aware of those current modifications.
One other great opportunity to see characters – and my daughter's favorite – is in the parades. So make sure you grab a
DOLE Whip, find a spot on Main Street, USA, and watch
Mickey's Celebration Cavalcade.
I hope your vacation creates lots of core memory days, Megan. See ya real soon!
Mike