Hello there, Holly, and welcome to planDisney! I'm currently in the Bluegrass State, so I hope you're enjoying the gorgeous late-summer weather, too. You'll be heading south to
Walt Disney World Resort any moment, so let's talk about how you can meet the true stars of the parks,
the characters!
If you're planning your day in advance, you can get a good idea of who you can meet in the
My Disney Experience mobile app. Tap on the location pin icon at the bottom of the screen to see a property map. Swipe along the top and select "Characters." You can filter by location, and I prefer to tap "Show List" in the bottom-right corner to see an alphabetical list. Choose any character to see their location and meeting times for that day. Grab your autograph book and get ready for some hugs!
For a more day-of approach, you can check signs near meeting locations at the theme parks to see what times your favorite pal will be meeting guests. You can also ask Cast Members stationed there for more details.
Have you considered booking a
character meal to meet your besties? This is a guaranteed way to meet friends AND have delicious food. Reservations often fill up for these experiences, but I've had good luck using my mobile app to join the Walk-Up List at
Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT. It never hurts to try, and seeing Chip 'n' Dale in their farmer best makes me grin so big!
My final tip is to keep your eyes open for roaming characters or surprise meetups. On a recent
EPCOT visit, we spied Pinocchio, Geppetto, Mr. Smee, and Captain Hook at an unannounced meetup in the World Showcase! Sometimes those unplanned moments are the most memorable.
Holly, I hope your upcoming visit is as fun and exciting as a basketball game in Kentucky! Have a wonderful time, and please stop by
planDisney again. I'd love to help you make some magical memories!
Magic awaits,
Elaine