One question many Disney visitors have is how to find characters at the Disney Parks. This post is a guide to where to find your favorite characters at Magic Kingdom.
Even though character interactions may seem like they’re just for children, they’re fun for people of all ages – including full-grown Disney adults like me! So don’t be afraid to grab a photo with Mickey, Minnie, or any of your favorite characters, even if you’re traveling without kids.
Different Types of Character Interactions
There are several different types of character interactions you can experience at each of the Disney theme parks.
- Traditional Character Meet and Greets – You’ll get to talk to the characters, take photos, and often they will sign autographs.
- Character Sightings- These are typically distanced interactions where you will not be able to get autographs.
- Parades and Cavalcades – You’ll see many characters but won’t get much individual interaction.
- Character Dining- You’ll get plenty of quality time with the characters at your dining experience, but these can be expensive.
Character Meet and Greets and Character Sightings
Magic Kingdom has a lot of different characters you’ll have a chance to see during your visit. Most of the character meet & greets can be found in the My Disney Experience App, so you’ll be able to see the characters available that day and where they will be located.
Below are some screenshots to show how you can use the app to see what characters are available on the day of your visit.
Here is a breakdown of the different characters located in each of the other lands of Magic Kingdom.
Main Street USA
First up is meeting the one and only Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater. Bear in mind that without using Lightning Lane, this attraction’s wait time can be long. This is the perfect opportunity to snap some photos and collect autographs from the mouse that started it all.
Not only can you meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater, but you can also meet a Disney Princess right on the front porch. Although Snow White is a frequent visitor, other princesses may also make an appearance.
Adventureland
You can spot Captain Jack Sparrow in Adventureland, where he can usually be found wandering around. Look for him across from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Additionally, you can find Aladdin and Jasmine across from the Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride.
Frontierland
Although there are no usual Meet & Greets, you can still see the country bears from the Country Bear Jamboree show from a distance in Frontierland.
Liberty Square
Liberty square doesn’t have any meet & greets or character sightings at this time.
Fantasyland
Fantasyland has the most characters, and Princess Fairytale Hall is a Princess Fairytale Hall is very popular stop when it comes to characters On one side, you’ll be able to see Cinderella and a visiting princess, and on the other side, you’ll see Tiana and a visiting princess. The matchups are usually Cinderella and Elena of Avalor and Tiana and Rapunzel. But there have been other princesses from time to time.
Another popular meet and greet that offers a lightning lane is Meet Ariel at Her Grotto. This is located right next to Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid.
You can find another character experience at Enchanted Tales with Belle, located near the Be Our Guest restaurant at Maurice’s cottage. This walk-through experience allows guests to participate in the Beauty and the Beast story. There is a brief photo opportunity with Belle at the end, with a photo pass photographer available.
If you’re heading towards the Mad Tea Party from Cinderella’s castle, you can stop at the Fairytale Garden to meet Merida, take a photo, and snag an autograph. However, starting this fall, the Merida meet and greet will be replaced by Mirabel from Encanto.
Peter Pan can often be spotted wandering around Fantasyland, close to the Peter Pan’s Flight attraction.
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger can be found in Fantasyland near the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction, where they occasionally sign autographs.
And you can also meet Anastasia and Drizella behind Cinderella’s castle. They sign autographs, and there is sometimes a photo pass photographer available as well.
At Fantasyland’s Storybook Circus, head over to Pete’s Silly Side Show to catch Goofy and Donald on one side and Minnie and Daisy on the other. Don’t forget to visit Chip and Dale, who are signing autographs toward the back of Storybook Circus.
Tomorrowland
In Tomorrowland there are a couple of character sightings. Buzz Lightyear and Stitch can be found at the Rocket Tower Plaza stage. You can interact with them and snap some photos, but they don’t do autographs.
Parades and Cavalcades
Parades and cavalcades are a great way to see a lot of characters at once. You won’t be able to get an autograph or have much individual interaction, but you’ll have an opportunity to see many of your Disney favorites in one place.
You can check out the parade and cavalcade times in your My Disney Experience app. Instead of choosing characters from the top of your map screen, you’ll select entertainment from the drop-down menu.
Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade
The Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade features nearly 30 different characters. Here are some of the characters you’ll find.
- Moana
- Pocohantas
- Elena of Avalor
- Merida
- Characters from the Incredibles
- Mirabel
- Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps from Zootopia
And many others!
Festival of Fantasy Parade
The Festival of Fantasy parade is currently Magic Kingdom’s featured parade. You can view the parade route in your My Disney Experience app. Keep in mind that Main Street isn’t the only location to watch the parade from, so take advantage of the other options available to you.
You can also use Genie+ to reserve a lightning lane for the specially reserved parade viewing area near the hub in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
The parade features bright and elaborate floats as well as many different characters. Some of the characters that can be found are:
- Beauty and the Beast
- Cinderella and Prince Charming
- Anna and Elsa
- Tiana and Prince Naveen
- Characters from Tangled
- Characters from The Little Mermaid
- Characters from Peter Pan
- Merida
- Characters from Sleeping Beauty
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Characters from Alice in Wonderland
- Goofy, Pluto, Daisy, and Donald
- Mickey and Minnie
Character Dining
Character dining is a great option for those who want to spend quality time with specific characters. Luckily, Magic Kingdom offers several popular character dining experiences to choose from.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Cinderella’s Royal Table is a popular character dining location inside the castle, which is pretty amazing. You will have the chance to meet Cinderella and other princesses, which can vary but may include Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine, and Snow White. Keep in mind that this is a highly sought-after reservation, so be sure to mark your calendar for the 60-day booking window if you hope to secure a spot.
Be Our Guest
Another popular dining experience is Be Our Guest, where you can dine at the Beast’s castle. Although Beast makes an appearance, it’s not considered character dining since he doesn’t visit individual tables.
The French cuisine may not be a hit for picky eaters, and it can be expensive. However, enjoying the castle’s ambiance and trying the famous grey stuff makes for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Crystal Palace
Last up is Crystal Palace, where you can dine with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet. They have a lunch and dinner buffet, and this is a great option if you are a fan of these characters.
There are also several character dining options outside the Magic Kingdom in the surrounding area resorts. You can find a post with all the current character dining options here.
Conclusion
Magic Kingdom never fails to inspire wonder and magic. One of the most exciting aspects of exploring the park is discovering characters along the way.
Whether it’s your favorite princess, or the lovable Mickey Mouse, there’s something for everyone. So embrace your inner child and enjoy meeting these characters on your next visit to Magic Kingdom.
Leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite character at Magic Kingdom is.
