Perks of Traveling With Disney Rewards Visa--Character Meet and Greet

 Earlier this Spring we obtained a Disney Rewards Visa, initially to get a discount on tours at Disneyland.  What we have discovered is that there are other perks as well.

 In both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Disney Rewards Visa holders are offered a special character meet and greet opportunity.  I Disneyland, that meet and greet is in California Adventure at the very end of Hollywood Land.

The hours were 10:30-1:30 daily.  And, guests with the Rewards Visa can take advantage of the meet and greet once each day and requires showing your Disney Visa and photo ID.  In addition to the character interaction that includes photos taken by a Photopass photographer, guests are given a voucher to redeem for a free 5 X 7 photo at the photo shop on Buena Vista Street. 

At Disneyland, I was informed by a Cast Member that Daisy, Minnie, and Stitch are the characters in the rotation.

Our experienced was mixed.  We joined the short line before 10:30 am only to hear that Daisy was off shopping and would not be greeting guests.  We were encouraged to wait until 10:45 which is when a character would be available.  Knowing that we had an 11:00 am Advanced Dining Reservation for Ariel's Grotto, which was across the park, I did not feel comfortable waiting until 10:45. 

The empathetic Cast Member gave us the time that Stitch would be greeting guests and told us that even if there was a line that if we returned, we would be granted front of line access.  Deal.  Off to lunch we went and when we returned, we got to see Stitch.

On another day in California Adventure, we tried again at 10:30, as we were in the area.  Again, no Daisy and we were told we could wait.  A return trip to the area wasn't in our touring plan so we did not use this perk again.

We are looking forward to trying out this Disney Rewards Visa perk while at Walt Disney World!

Want to know more about Disney Rewards Visa perks--click here.

Disneyland--Character Interactions

Mary Poppins was near Matterhorn Bobsleds.

During our summer 2015 visit to the Disneyland Resort we spent 7 days in the parks--4 in Disneyland's Magic Kingdom and 3 days in Disney's California Adventure.   What we discovered is that we had many more Photopass photos taken in California Adventure and part of that was due to character interactions.  We met plenty of characters in Disneyland, too, but the Photopass photographers were primarily with the the Fab 5 or designated character meet and greets such as inside Mickey's house in Toontown or at the Royal Hall.

Characters we met at Disneyland:

Captain America and Thor were greeting guests in Tomorrowland.  A character handler told us that both would be out at 2:45 pm, so we waited so that we could meet both characters by waiting in the same line.

Mickey in his 60th Anniversary suit was greeting guests on Town Square.

 Chip 'n Dale and Donald Duck were also greeting guests on Town Square.  Multiple characters were out at once, so we divided and conquered.  The line was longest for Mickey Mouse, so the husband waited in that line, while the boy and I went to see the other characters for autographs and photos.  We were able to manage two lines and then re-join the husband.  The people waiting in line near the husband mentioned that we were pretty clever. 

We found Goofy in Toontown, just to the right of the entrance.

The Royal Hall is one of the best places to meet Disney Princesses.  Snow White, Cinderella, and Belle--picture further below--were greeting guests on the day I visited.  The Princess selection varies and is posted outside the entrance.  P.S.  The tunics that the Cast Members wear here are pretty cool--I wanted one.

Merida had her own shaded spot just outside the Royal Hall.  Here queue is taped off on the ground in a busy walk-way.

We discovered Jesse and Woody in Big Thunder Ranch, along with Farley who plays music and interacts with guests by telling jokes.  He was hilarious!

 

Goofy was also on Town Square.  We wanted to see the sparkles inside his jacket.

 

Cruella DeVille was on Town Square, too.

 

 

 Peter Pan was offering photos and autographs near Matterhorn Bobsleds.

 We had been searching for the Mad Hatter and found him in Fantasyland near the castle.

 I went to the restroom and discovered people waiting in line along with a Cast Member.  When I inquired, the line was for these characters.  What a surprise!

Pluto was on Town Square

W found Captain Hook between Casey Jr. and Storybook Canal boats in Fantasyland.

There were other characters that we met during character dining.  We were pleased with the assortment of characters found in the parks.  No Fastpasses for any of the ones we met, just great timing, good eyes, and asking the right people the right questions.  The boy is the best one for spotting the characters!

We Met 13 "New To Us" Disney Characters!

At some point during our trips to Walt Disney World, finding and meeting new Disney characters became a goal.  I am not sure when it happened, but possibly when we met all seven of the dwarfs along with Snow White during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.  Yeah, that could be when it started.

So before each trip we set out to meet Disney characters that we have yet to meet.  Our most recent trip was a bonanza of “new to us” characters.  Take a look. . .

The Br'er's were greeting guests at Magic Kingdom during Long Lost Friends week, which was a Limited Time Magic theme.  The husband informed me that we have previously met Br'er Fox, so meeting Br'er Bear and Br'er Rabbit were new for us.  New character count:  2

Dr. Facilier and Louis the alligator from The Princess and the Frog were also greeting guests at the Magic Kingdom as a part of Long Lost Friends week.  New character count: 4

Merida from Disney/Pixar's BRAVE was found at the Magic Kingdom, too.  She greets guests at the Fairytale Garden near Cinderella's Castle.  Her bright blue eyes are more vivid than her dress.  It was great to meet her.   New character count:  5.

Abby Mallard, also know as the Ugly Duckling, and Chicken Littler were found at the Magic Kingdom as a part of Long Lost Friends week.  New character count:  7.

Jake, part of the Never Land Pirates was greeting guests inside the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  We took a moment to say hello.  Note:  Jake and his friend Handy Manny can usually be found greeting guests outside near Playhouse Disney, but due to inclement weather, there meet and greet had been moved inside to the nearby Magic of Disney Animation building.  New character count:  8.

Vain as ever, Gaston from Beauty and the Beast was allowing guests to admire him near his new tavern in the expanded Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom.  New character count:  9.

Robin Hood brought along Friar Tuck, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Prince John to meet guests at the Magic Kingdom, which was also part of Disney's Long Lost Friends Limited Time Magic theme.  The husband was beside himself.  New character count:  13!

There you have it.  13 new to us Disney characters found and greeting during our most recent Walt Disney World vacation.

Notice that we didn't take random "drive by" photos of the characters in mid greet with someone else as other guests do, but actually took the time to say an official hello or even a more friendly greeting like a hug.

The characters that were a part of Long Lost Friends week gave out autograph cards rather than signing autographs, which would have taken a long time.  Jake, Merida, and Gaston were all able to sign autographs.

The husband has yet to find what he refers to as his holy grail and that is Big Bad Wolf.  We will keep up the search!

Characters at Universal Studios

We’ve met some pretty “famous” characters at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida.  Do you recognize Doc Brown from Back to The Future?

Just as you exit Shrek 4D and make your way through the store, there is a meet and greet for the Shrek characters just across the street. Donkey comes out every now and again to throw insults or compliments your way. Donkey was then joined by Princess Fiona. Moments later, Shrek appeared for photos and autographs.

There are many street performers circulating throughout the thoroughfares of the park. They are happy to smile for the camera and interact with you “in character.”

Jaws is on display for a photo op just outside the Jaws attraction.

Barney can be found in his Backyard just after the Barney show.

The Simpsons are on hand, as they have a ride at Universal Studios. We saw Bart first at the meet and greet. He was later joined by Marge and Homer. It was the Williams Family meets the Simpson Family!



Remember that Universal Studios is just one park/part of Universal Studios. Islands of Adventure is adjacent as is City Walk which anchors both the parks and all the parking.

More Toy Story Characters

At Disney's Hollywood Studios there are many opportunities to interact with the characters of Toy Story. As seen above, often the Green Army Man is out and about for autographs and photos.

Woody and Jesse pose for photos after Woody's Round-up in Disney's Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately, Woody's Round-up has been removed from the daily festivities.

You can find Ms. Bo Peep at the Block Party Bash held daily at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Mr. Potato Head can be found as the "Carnival Barker" in the queue of Toy Story Mania! at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Toy Story Mania is one of our favorite attractions.

Three Green Army Men were scouting behind the FASTPASS kiosks to Toy Story Mania. Everyone, gather your toys!

Meeting and Greeting the Toy Story Characters

The Williams Family joins Buzz Lightyear and Woody for a photo. We met these two Toy Story Characters at the Meet and Greet location at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The boy gives Woody a hug. I wonder what is written on the bottom of his boot?

Sharing stories of the wild west!

It's all tippin' hats and thumbs up for these pals!

Even Jessie got in on the act at

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney's Magic Kingdom.

It is always fun to meet the characters. Each time we return to Walt Disney World or sail on Disney Cruise Line, we hope to meet characters we haven't met before. And, each time we have!