Magical Character Moments Await

There’s nothing quite like the magic of meeting your favorite Disney characters in person. Whether it’s you, your best friend, or even your 93-year-old grandma, those moments are special. The hugs, the photos, and the chance to relive beloved stories are memories everyone cherishes. But let’s be honest, you’re not the only one who wants that experience, and those standby lines can get really long, really fast! Imagine the disappointment when someone in your travel party misses out on meeting Princess Aurora because you didn’t know where to find her. That heartbreak is totally avoidable when you’re prepared and know where and when to catch those magical character experiences at Disney World!

How to find Characters in the My Disney Experience App

Navigating the My Disney Experience App is key to finding your favorite characters quickly and efficiently. Follow these steps to ensure you never miss a magical moment.

1. Open the My Disney Experience App and select the “pin” icon to open the map. (2 from the left on the bottom).
2. Select the drop down arrow and change “Wait Times” to “Characters.”
3. Select “Show List” in the top right and a list of all current characters will populate.
4. Select “Filter” in the top left to narrow down the location you would like to visit.
5. That’s it! A great tip is to check the app frequently as characters’ times and locations can change.

Check out the video below to see these steps in action!

Impact of No Lightning Lanes for Character Meet and Greets

Lightning Lane Multi Pass has been enacted at Walt Disney World replacing the old Genie+  system. With Genie+ there were options to use a Lightning Lane, a paid way to bypass the standby queue and minimize your time spent in lines. Genie+ is now a thing of the past and Lightning Lane Multi Pass does not offer any options for Character Meet and Greets. You might notice that this will make time spent in the lines for Characters generally longer. This can be a bummer, especially for little ones who are super excited to meet their favorite characters, but don’t have the patience for long waits. Don’t worry! There are still other ways to make the experience enjoyable and efficient.

Best Practices for Minimizing Wait Times

There are a handful of ways to prioritize character meet and greets during your vacation stay:

• Kick off the day by taking advantage of the early morning hours when everyone is rushing to big ticket attractions.
• Save the meet and greets for later in the evening as families start heading out for the night.
• If only part of your group is interested in meeting a character, have the other mobile order you a snack or ride another attraction using standby lines.

By following theses tips, you can make the most of your time at the park and ensure you get those magical moments with Disney characters, even without Lightning Lanes.

Different Options for Character Interactions

In-Park Meet and Greets:

There are a few different ways to meet characters within the parks. The first is through the traditional meet and greets with scheduled times. Examples would include meeting Mickey Mouse at the Town Square Theater in Magic Kingdom and Figment at the Imagination Pavilion in EPCOT. If you’re lucky, you may also encounter roaming characters throughout the park. We’ve seen Kevin meandering her way through Animal Kingdom or the Green Army Men marching through Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios.

Character Cavalcades and Parades:

In Magic Kingdom, you can catch the Festival of Fantasy Parade twice daily where you can have short sightings with less interaction than a traditional meet and greet, but you can see so many characters pass through in a short time. There are also cavalcades, which are similar to a shortened and simpler parade. Both of these events will step off in Frontierland, adventure through Liberty Square and then turn and pass Cinderella’s Castle and down Main Street USA. If the weather on your Magic Kingdom day turns rainy, you may be lucky enough to catch the Rainy Day Cavalcade, which only happens on days where it is raining lightly.

Character Dining:

One of my family’s personal favorite ways to meet characters is through character dining. At a character meal, you will get to enjoy delicious food while the characters for that dining location go table to table to interact with guests personally. You can take photos, get autographs signed, and maybe even learn a dance move (we like to bust out Goofy’s go-to move in the Hot Dog Dance, if you know you know).

Some of the most popular dining experiences are Cinderella’s Royal Table and The Crystal Palace, both in Magic Kingdom. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and Garden Grill in EPCOT. Hollywood and Vine at Hollywood Studios and Tusker House at Animal Kingdom. There are also a handful of character dining experiences in the resorts if you’d like to do that on a rest day or if you’d like to take a break in the middle of your park day. 1900 Park Fare, ‘Ohana, and Chef Mickey’s are some of the most popular. We always recommend to make a reservation. For reservations at these restaurants, be sure to book them 60 days in advance of your check-in day.

If you want more information on character dining, check our our blog post on it here.

Making Your Character Experience Magical

Besides photo ops, collecting autographs can be a fun way to capture the magic! You can go classic with an autograph book or get creative with items like tumblers, bags, or even Christmas ornaments. Just make sure to seal the signatures on those unique items to keep the autographs looking great. Don’t forget to bring a pen or a marker–preferably a larger one that is easy for the characters to hold. Encourage your kids to chat with the characters. Having a few questions or comments ready that tie into their stories can make the encounter truly magical. These small touches can turn your simple meet and greet into a treasured memory.

Conclusion

Planning your character meet and greets has become more important than ever, especially with the Lightning Lane Multi Pass no longer available for these magical moments. Use the tips and information we’ve shared to make the most of your day. If worst comes to worst, be patient and wait in that standby line to meet your favorite characters! Remember, these encounters can be some of the most memorable part of your Disney trip.

For expert help planning your next Disney World vacation, reach out to your favorite Love of the Magic Travel Advisor. Contact us at hello@lotmv.com for more information.