Finding Characters in the Magic Kingdom

by: Kyle Jones (Hayden's Dad)

Let’s talk about one of my favourite subjects when it comes to Walt Disney World, CHARACTERS! Even before our son was born, these were a priority for my wife and I. It became even more so when we went with Hayden. We would march from one end of the park to the other like soldiers, all to find a character we hadn’t seen or even a lot of times seeing the same character for the seventh time! But, that is our priority and if it is your child’s priority as well, I hope to help you find that elusive character your child wants to see the most.

I am going to start in the Magic Kingdom and go clockwise from land to land, telling you the characters I have seen there and what the chance is that they will appear. I will not include characters that can be seen in the parades as it is difficult to interact with them. At the end of this series of articles, I will put together an index of where you can find each character and their rarity. In this article on Magic Kingdom characters, I will also tell you how likely it is for you to seen these characters so your kids don't get too excited. I will grade them on a "*" rating system. The more stars by the name, the more often the character will appear.

You will notice sometimes I have given common character a rare marking. This is usually due to the character's attire in that area. For instance: Goofy is very common but Goofy dressed as a cowboy is not and can only be found in Frontierland.

Always pick up a Times Guide from either your hotel or the front gates. They will tell you the times when the most common characters are out. Keep in mind. All the characters that are outside but also participate in the parade will have to go inside shortly before the parade. Then they will come back. Note that this includes the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party's Santa Claus so get in line for him early.

Also, if a CM tells you that the character has to go in but will be right back, don’t leave. They really will be right back.

So as the Genie would say, “Let’s make some Magic!”

Our first stop on our Character Safari is Main Street USA. The best time to find characters here is first thing in the morning while everyone else is rushing past to get their Fastpasses. In Town Square, the first area you find yourself in when you exit the railroad tunnels is the first character stop. There are several places around this area that characters can show up. If you go clockwise, you may find characters tucked beside the left side of Guest Services, or over by the Firehouse and Barber Shop, in the center of Town Square at the flagpole. In front of Tony’s there are usually two and then on the ramp between Exposition Hall and just to the right of the train station. If it is raining check inside Exposition Hall. They will usually have most of the characters in there with little or no wait.

The Characters we have met here so far are:

CHIP****	DALE ****	SNOW WHITE ****	PLUTO ****
JIMINY CRICKET ***	PINNOCHIO ****	GEPPETTO ****	DAISY DUCK ***
HORACE ***	CLARABELLE ***	BERT **	HONEST JOHN **
CHICKEN LITTLE *	MARY POPPINS ***

Any of the above characters may also appear in front of the Mickey Floral arrangement just inside the turnstiles.

As you travel down Main Street USA you will see a small side street on your right. This is where during Christmas time you can meet SANTA CLAUS ** during regular park hours. But keep in mind he is only out during the holidays. Additionally, Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny are also available during the Easter season.

At the end of Main Street USA. if you head to the left, you will enter Adventureland. There are several sets of characters to meet here but keep in mind that this is a long area and typically they are all out at the same time so it may take two rounds or more to find them all.

First, you will come to the Adventureland Plaza just to your right as you cross over the bridge. In this shaded area, you may find:

Timon**** Rafiki**** Baloo**** King Louie****

Big Al** Liver Lips** Wendell **

As you continue up through Adventureland, you will come to The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. To the right of the ride, you will see a covered area decorated like Agrabah this is where you can meet:

ALADDIN ****

PRINCESS JASMINE ****

After you hobnob with Arabian Royalty, it’s time to head to the Pirates of the Caribbean. In this general area there are two definite character locations and a possibility of a third.

If Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial is going on, you may have a chance to meet his helper after the show but you have to be quick as he has to hurry back to the Black Pearl.

MAC *

Across the walkway from Pirates of the Caribbean is the only place where you can consistently meet a Disney Villain:

CAPTAIN HOOK ****

MR SMEE ****

After you cross swords with the Villains of Neverland, it’s time to meet some of its heroes. Passing through the archway into Frontierland on the left hand side beside the shop where you exit Pirates of the Caribbean, you can meet both:

PETER PAN ****

WENDY **

Wendy is very hit or miss here, if you’re child is really wanting to meet her then go to Guest Services and have them call the CHIP hotline to see when she will be out.

After your adventures through Agrabah and the Caribbean it’s time to mosey on over to Frontierland.

There are only a few characters to be found in Frontierland.

Around Splash Mountain, either by the fence to the left side of Splash Mountain, on the bridge crossing over the drop, to the right side of the line into Splash Mountain.

GOOFY****

COWBOY GOOFY**

We have seen Goofy in two different outfits in all of these places. One is his normal clothes and the other is dressed like a cowboy.

Our second frontier buddy is located across the walkway from The Country Bear Jamboree:

DONALD CROCKETT ***

As of right now, Liberty Square doesn’t have any character meet and greets so we will head on over to Fantasyland.

Fantasyland is not set up in a straight line so I am going to try and describe it as I see it on the park guide map. If you get lost, just check there and you should find your way.

As you enter from Liberty Square, you have two character options to pick from. To the right by the castle walkway that leads back down to Frontierland, you can find:

THE FAIRY GODMOTHER **

If you head to the left instead you will come to Ariel’s Grotto. Obviously this is where you can meet:

ARIEL (in her fins) ***

Keep in mind; the line here can get really long, really quickly. Ariel’s Grotto opens at 10:00 and if your little one really wants to meet her, get here early. Ariel is one of those characters that is both easy to find and difficult to meet. The only other place we have seen her is in Epcot at the Princess Storybook Dining but it is not guaranteed.

Now staying to the backside of Dumbo, you will come to Pooh’s Playful Spot. Here, it is possible to meet:

WINNIE THE POOH ****	TIGGER ****	EEYORE ****	PIGLET ****
RABBITT *

After your romp through the Hundred Acre Wood, you can head to Wonderland by the Mad Tea Party. In front of the topiaries, it is possible to meet:

ALICE ***	MAD HATTER ***	WHITE RABBIT *	QUEEN OF HEARTS ***

These meets seem to be hit or miss. We have only seen characters here occasionally and they don’t seem to be out very often, but it never hurts to check.

After your travels through the land of wonder, it’s time to leave Fantasyland and head to the future in Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland has two meet and greets.

If you continue into Tomorrowland, past the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, Astro Orbiter and up on the walkway to the Carousel of Progress, you will be able to meet:

BUZZ LIGHTYEAR ***

Between Carousel of Progress and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is another Tomorrowland star:

STITCH ***

Note: Sometimes Stitch is located near his ride.

For our last character expedition, I am going to backtrack you a little bit to Mickey’s Toontown Fair. This is also where I would recommend starting your character tour in the mornings as the lines here get really long, really fast.

As you enter Toontown, you will pass Minnie’s Country House and come to a large tent. This is the Toontown Hall of Fame Tent. In here it is possible to meet at least six characters. To the right hand side, you will see lines for two different rooms. The one on the right goes to Pixie Hollow where you can meet some of the fairies from Neverland and the other room is full of princesses.

In Pixie Hollow, you will meet three of five fairies:

TINKERBELL ***
IRIDESSA ***
ROSETTA*** SILVERMIST **

FAWN **

From what I have seen, Tinkerbell will always be there while the other two will rotate. From what I have heard, Iridessa and Rosetta appear in the mornings and Fawn and Silvermist are in the afternoons but this is by no way 100% accurate just what we have observed. Right now, the lines for the fairies are extremely long, sometimes over 90 minutes. I would recommend either going here first thing when the rope drops at 10:00 or during the parade or fireworks.

In the princess room, you will meet three of four characters:

SNOW WHITE ****
AURORA ****
CINDERELLA **** BELLE ****

The lines here aren’t as long, but a lot of times families will move to the princess line after they are done with the fairies.

Once you are done with Pixies and Princesses, it’s time to meet the most famous character of them all... and in his own house. Down the road from the Toontown Hall of Fame Tent on the left, you will see Mickey’s Country House. Once you tour the main mouse’s house and go through the backyard, you will come to the Judge’s Tent. In here is where you will meet:

MICKEY MOUSE ****

MINNIE MOUSE ****

Minnie does not always meet with Mickey but she is here most of the time.

The last place in Toontown to check for characters is what is called the Teardrop. This area is actually around the corner between the Judge’s Tent and the Train Station. This area only has characters sometimes but when they do come out, they are usually rare or uncommon ones. I have heard rumours from Maleficent to Darkwing Duck making an appearance here. If characters are going to show, it will be between 10:00 and 1:00. Personally, we have met Pinocchio, Geppetto, and Dopey.

The last couple of places I want to touch base with are the Character meals located within the Magic Kingdom. I will go into more depth about these in another chapter, but here is a quick overview.

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant only for Grand Gatherings for breakfast:

MICKEY MOUSE ****	PLUTO ****	GOOFY ****	TONY *
CHIP****	DALE ****

CrystalPalace, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner:

WINNIE THE POOH ****
TIGGER **** PIGLET ****
EEYORE ****

Cinderella’s Royal Table, Breakfast, Lunch:

CINDERELLA **** AUORA ****
SNOW WHITE **** JASMINE ****

BELLE (Blue Dress) ****

Cinderella’s Royal Table, Dinner:

CINDERELLA ****