Meeting Mickey Mouse and all of the characters has to be the best part of Disneyland for my daughter and millions of children around the world! This week, we will be going over where and when to meet Disney Characters, and tips for meeting your favorite Disney characters at Disneyland!
Characters on the Disneyland App
First things first we will talk about the Disneyland app. The Disneyland app will be a guests best friend when finding characters and seeing who is out and about. Unlike Disney World, Disneyland’s characters are mostly free roaming. Disney characters can be hard to find inside of the parks. Luckily the Disneyland app is pretty good at showing guests where the characters are at and how long they will be there. All guests have to do is download the app, turn on location, and tap on the characters tab in the app. The Disneyland map will then load the characters in the location they are at and have times listed of when to meet them. While the Disneyland app is incredibly useful it does sometimes stop or doesn’t show the correct characters, so your next bet is to find a Cast member.
Characters and Cast Members
Cast members are guests friends in the Disney parks. If guests can’t find a character or missed them, they can go ask a cast member where to find the character. Cast members will give you times and locations of the characters and most importantly, might even have some insider tips on meeting them.
Character Autographs
When guests finally catch up to your character of choice make sure to have an autograph book! Autograph books give you a little more time with your new character friend, plus you will have a fun souvenir to put by your picture. Guests can purchase autograph books in the park or online before leaving on vacation. Each Disney character has their very own signature style and the signature will always be the same for every child.
Several Disney Characters will not sign autographs in the park for unknown reasons at this moment. Star wars characters in the launch bay and Marvel characters over in Hollywood lot do not sign autographs. Cast Members will be sure to tell guests before meeting a character whether they do or do not sign autographs.
Character Who Sign Autographs
Disney Characters that do sign autographs are the fab five: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy. Guests can find Mickey and his friends on Main Street U.S.A. Guests can also find Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Chip and Dale at their houses in Toon Town. Toon Town is located in Disneyland behind Fantasyland and It’s a Small World.
Disney Princesses will sign autographs. Guests can meet Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, Cinderella, and Rapunzel at the Royal Hall at the Princess Fantasy Faire. Guests can find the Fantasy Faire location between Fantasyland and Frontierland. Families can also enjoy meeting Merida in this location and attend one of the many storybook shows at the Theatre.
Tinker Bell and the fairies over at Pixie Hollow also sign autographs. Pixie Hollow is located just between Fantasy Land and Tomorrow Land in Disneyland Park. Guests can only meet the fairies during the day, they don’t usually have evening meeting times and the fairies rotate throughout the day.
If guests want to get some fun candid shots of characters, you can park yourself on the path right across from pixie hollow. Characters use this location in the afternoon to travel to shows, and to exit the “stage” so to speak. Disney characters can’t stop here but will wave and say hello. Characters will not stop for pictures in this spot or sign autographs but guests can enjoy an up close look at some of their favorite Disney characters and snap some fun movement shots.
Character Dining
Another fun place to meet characters is at the character dining locations. There are four character dining locations in the Disneyland resort. Goofy’s Kitchen is over at the Disneyland Hotel and offers character breakfast and Dinner buffet style. Storyteller Café is another restaurant at the Grand Californian Hotel that has a character breakfast. Guests can meet characters like Chip and Dale, Doug, and other animal friends. Over at Paradise Pier Hotel guests can eat alongside friends like Donald and Daisy at PCH Grill for breakfast and lunch. Inside Disneyland Park guests can dine with Minnie and friends at the Plaza Inn for a breakfast buffet. You can check out the prices at the Disneyland website and make reservations online.
If you are a fan of meeting the Disneyland characters, what is your favorite part and why? Share and tips or tricks you might have below! See you real soon!
Talyah is a Cosplayer/ Seamstress, artist, blogger, and avid Disney fan.
