Aloha, Angela! Welcome to planDisney!
First, thank you for being an amazing daughter! I have many memories of visiting
Disneyland Resort with my mom before she passed, so hearing about a mother-daughter trip to the parks warms my heart. And how exciting that this will be her first Disneyland visit! I hope it's filled with magical moments and memories you'll both treasure for years to come.
Experiment 626 also happens to be my daughter's favorite character! Whenever I visit the parks without her, I find myself keeping an eye out for Stitch-themed
merchandise and surprises.
One of your best opportunities to meet Stitch is through the
Disney Visa Cardmember Photo Opportunity in Disney California Adventure Park. You'll find it near Stage 17 in Hollywood Land. There are a couple of things to keep in mind. You'll need to present your
Disney Visa Card for entry, and several different Disney pals rotate through this location throughout the day, so there's no guarantee Stitch will be the character appearing when you visit. That said, I've heard the chances of him being there are often best earlier in the day.
If you
are a Disney Visa Cardmember, there's another fun Stitch experience waiting for you in the
Disneyland app. Open the app, tap the three-line menu, and select PhotoPass Lenses. There you'll find an exclusive Experiment 626 PhotoPass Lens that's available just for cardmembers.
I have one more spot where you can catch a glimpse of everyone's favorite mischievous alien. While riding
"it's a small world", keep your eyes peeled when you enter the South Pacific scene. Lilo and Stitch can be spotted catching a wave and waving hello as you float by.
Finally, there are never any guarantees, but Stitch does occasionally make surprise appearances around the parks. During your visit, open the Disneyland app, switch the map view to Characters, and keep an eye on the updates throughout the day. You never know when Experiment 626 might pop up nearby!
Angela, I'm so excited for your 'ohana to experience The Happiest Place on Earth together. If we can help you navigate any more Disney questions before your visit, let us know!
Mischief, I mean, magic awaits!
Kimberly