Hi Melissa,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and thank you for your question. I completely understand your daughter’s love of the Beast - from the moment he surprised Belle with that magnificent library, I was completely lovestruck myself!
You’re right that the Beast’s current exclusive meeting place is at Be Our Guest Restaurant, and only at dinner time. I’ve got my fingers crossed that things might change and there will be “something there that wasn’t there before” – and by "something there," I mean a new Beast character experience. The best way to find out about new character experiences is by following the
Disney Parks Blog. You can also search for characters using the My Disney Experience app; when you open the app you will see “Characters” listed in the top menu bar.
Your Beast-loving daughter can certainly catch a glimpse of her favorite grouchy guy around the theme parks. In Magic Kingdom Park, he appears with Belle in the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, and he can also be spotted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage and in Fantasmic! Certain as the sun, she can enjoy some Beauty and the Beast magic at these attractions.
My very favorite Beauty and the Beast character experience is meeting Gaston near Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom Park. Pose for an adorable picture in front of the fountain, and then head over to the character meet and greet, where your princess can have a chance to tell Gaston that she’s on Team Beast. If she’s not sure about that (my animal-loving daughter refuses to meet him because he uses antlers in all of his decorating), Belle is also wonderful to meet, and I’m sure she could have a great discussion with your daughter about all of the Beast’s lovable attributes.
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn