On the positive side, there are dozens of characters to meet at Disney World from princesses to Mickey Mouse to Simba to popular Pixar characters. On the down side, some are just at one park, it can be tricky finding your children's favorites, and the timing can be especially challenging.
Be Ready for Characters
One major issue is you want to be ready to greet characters. It is disappointing to have your kid spot Mickey Mouse only to be without an autograph book and a pen, or you without a camera. In most cases, you will find the Disney photographers who can give you a Photopass. Still, it's good to have your own photos as well if for no other reason than to have the CD of Disney pictures at $100-plus a pop be merely an option.
Disney Characters Can Scare Children
Even if your child has done nothing but talk about meeting the Faeries or Cinderella or Tigger for weeks before the trip, don't be surprised if the reality of it is just too frightening. There are a few ways to handle this:
- Ease them into the characters. Look for characters that you can walk by and point them out to your child. Note how the character is very friendly and hugs other children. If your child is nervous, don't pressure them to meet the character yet. Just get your child used to the idea and size of the characters.
- You meet the characters instead, and see if your child wants to join you. Carrying a small child can ease the fear.
- Keep the pressure low and keep offering the option to meet characters. Most children will get increasingly used to the idea and become eager to meet characters.
- If all else fails, don't force a child. The point is that it's fun for the kid, not a photo op.
Watch Out for Long Character Lines
A long character line can equate to a nasty experience for a child if the character leaves while the child is in line. If you see a long line, be sure to ask a Disney worker whether your child will get to the front in time. In some cases, characters are at a spot for just a few minutes at a time. You can also get a better shot by getting tickets to after-hours events that have lower attendance.
Finding the Disney Characters
At each park, you will typically find a different cast of regular characters. If your child has one particular favorite, check which park has which characters. For meeting the princesses and the classic Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy, Magic Kingdom and Epcot are two good choices. For Pixar characters, Disney Hollywood Studios is best. The Pooh characters, Lion King and Pocahontas can be found at Animal Kingdom.
As you enter a park, be sure to grab the one-sheet schedule for the day. It will list just when and where to find several Disney characters. Also don't be shy about asking Disney employees where to find certain characters when you enter a park.
Don't let character greeting overwhelm you or your child. It should be fun, and it can be, but it can also be very stressful for kids and parents. If all else fails, consider splurging for a character meal where kids will have easier access to characters.
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