Unexpected Places to Find Characters at Disney World

Disney World is known for its many attractions and entertainment opportunities, including their many character meet and greets. If you are traveling to Disney World then it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with character meet and greets so you know who is available, and where to find them. Most character meet and greets will be posted on the Disney World app with times and locations, however not every character meet and greet is preplanned and scheduled. Sometimes guests find themselves face-to-face with a character in an unexpected location. If you have a trip to Disney World coming up then be sure to check out these unexpected places to find characters.

Disney Resorts

Guests of Disney resorts might be surprised by characters during their visit. On occasion, Disney characters can be found at various resort lobbies and outdoor areas. This doesn’t happen very often, but when it does it is certainly a magical and unexpected experience. Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort has had some characters visit, as well as Disney’s Beach Club and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Guests of any resort have a chance of running into a character, but guests should be aware that a chance encounter with a character outside of a meet and greet is still quite rare.

Disney Visa Cardmember Photo Opportunity at EPCOT

Guests who are Disney Visa credit cardholders have exclusive access to a character photo opportunity at EPCOT. Located near the Magic Eye Theater and Journey Into Your Imagination with Figment, the Disney Visa Cardmember Photo Opportunity allows guests a meet and greet with Disney characters. The characters that appear during this experience are random, and experiences can vary. Guests simply present their Disney Visa and photo ID to the Cast Member at the entrance to gain access. This experience has a Disney Photopass Photographer available to take photos for you as well.

International Gateway at World Showcase

World Showcase is home to several character meet and greets including Winnie the Pooh at the United Kingdom Pavilion, Aurora and Belle at the France pavilion, Jasmine at the Morocco pavilion, and Anna and Elsa at the Norway pavilion. However, guests traveling through International Gateway might be surprised to find some rare character appearances! These appearances are definitely rare, but characters like Daisy, Pluto, and Cinderella’s Stepsisters have made surprise appearances here in the past.

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

Guests of Disney’s beach resort might be surprised to find characters there. Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is located on the east coast of Florida, roughly 2 hours away from Disney World. This DVC resort is home to a beautiful private beach, as well as several other amenities like a heated pool and splash area. Occasionally, characters will appear in Disney’s Vero Beach Resort’s lobby. However, if you are traveling to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and want to guarantee a character experience then you can book a breakfast at Wind & Waves Grill on Saturday mornings. Character breakfast at Wind & Waves Grill takes place on Saturdays only, from 8am to noon. Goofy and Pluto appear during this meal.

Have you ever unexpectedly ran into a character at Disney World? Where did you find them? Let us know in the comments below!

Featured Photo: Emily Murray.