New To Us Characters

A part of each of our Disney trips is a quest to find and meet characters that we haven't met before. During our last trip to the Walt Disney World Resort, we found the following first time for us characters. . .

Thumper and Ms. Bunny from Bambi were found at Camp Mickey and Minnie character greeting trails at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

While we had previously met Disney's newest princess, Princess Tiana (click here to read more), we had yet to meet Prince Naveen.

At the entrance to what used to be her attraction, we found Pocahantas in Camp Mickey and Minnie in Disney's Animal Kingdom. And, we saw her again that same day at Rafiki's Planet Watch at Animal Kingdom. A few days later, we met her again along with her side-kick Meeko, the racoon, at the Magic of Disney Animation in Disney Hollywood Studios during what we call the "Character Explosion."

Marie, from Aristocats, was greeting fans and guests at the France Pavilion in EPCOT. We later learned that she is a regular here.

We had met several of the Disney Fairies previously, but not Iridessa, a light fairy. We met her in Pixie Hollow, part of Toontown Hall of Fame in Toontown at the Magic Kingdom. Click here to read more about meeting Disney Fairies.

We were exicited to meet so many new to us characters while still finding characters we have met previously. Collecting photos and autographs of Disney characters is just one of the experiences the whole family can participate in at the Walt Disney World Resort, and it can be relatively inexpensive.

Here are a few hints and tips for greeting characters:

• Check the park map and times guide for character meet and greet times and locations. You can also use a mobile app., ask character handlers, or check in guest services for information regarding a specific character you want to find. (Character handlers are dressed in light blue shirts and khaki pants or shorts. If it is chilly, they have navy coats.)
• When you see a character, check to see if a queue has already formed. Most likely it has, so join the queue. The handler may close or end a line if it is time for the character to leave. Don't be disappointed or argue (we've seen it happen!), just ask when the character will return. Sometimes it will be just moments, so you may want to wait in the line.
• It is OK to ask the handler how much longer the character will be out before joining the queue. This allows you to make a decision before joining the line and alleviate potential disappointment.
• When in the character queue, get your autograph book(s), pens, cameras, and photopass cards ready. This allows the line to go much faster. I woud add to that list--take children out of strollers, etc
• If you child is hesitant to meet the character (large costumed creatures can be scary), be Ok with it and try another time. Or, give another adult your camera so you can hold your child in the photo. Sometimes character meals can be a better place to meet characters. Side Note: The boy is so well practiced with posing with characters that we were recently at a local function featuring a dog character. The boy greeted with the name and a hug, then turned to me with a smile ready for a photo. I didn't have my camera, but we pretended to snap a photo anyway.
• Interact with the character(s) briefly. Ask a question they would respond to as their character or say one of their well known lines. For example, when we meet Captain Hook, we say "Tick, Tock." Now, we know this will make him angry, so we wait until after the photos and autographs. Passporter. com has a downloadable e-book-- Character Yearbook The cost is less than $5.00 and it lists all or most of the Disney characters, where they can be found, and other tidbits--well known lines, questions, etc. It can be a good Disney primer.
• Have fun!