Character Meet and Greets…just one of those magical moments that make even the most “sophisticated” adult revert back to a child, even for just a moment.
Yes, you will find adults happily (or not so happily) waiting in line for many characters, even if they don’t have children!
Character Meet and Greets can take up so much time of your day, especially since these Characters need to take frequent breaks. Every 15 minutes or so, Characters need to step away for a moment to get a snack, go check on Andy, graze in the yard, etc… A Cast Member will always let you know where the Character is going and approximately when they will be back. But these frequent breaks, along with chatty Guests, can really make even the shortest of lines seem like an eternity.
Cut down on the time it takes to wait for a Disney Character
Fastpass+
Along with rides and shows, Characters have Fastpasses, reducing your wait. Combine them with the next tip and you’ll be on your way to your next Attraction in no time!
Related Post: Character Autographs – Alternatives To The Autograph Book
Meet Multiple Characters At Once
If you can, try doing Meet and Greets that include multiple Characters at once. You’ll get 2 or 3 autographs,multiple pictures, and you’ll only stand in line once.
My favorite place is at the Epcot Character Spot. You will meet Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, one right after the other. Plus they have some awesome backdrops!
Another favorite of mine is Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom. My boys wouldn’t exactly agree with this one, but you can find my favorite Princess, Cinderella, as well as Tiana, Rapunzel, and Elena here. There are 2 lines, one for Cinderella and Elena and one for Tiana and Rapunzel. The Character interactions are great since these Characters can actually talk to you. I’d definitely recommend meeting them if you have a fastpass or you catch them when the line is low. We went during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We had maybe 2 families ahead of us, so we were in and out in a flash.
Character Dining
This is an awesome way to meet many Characters in a relatively short period of time. Not only do you meet many characters, even if there’s a wait, you’re eating so you don’t notice it as much. You need to eat anyway, so you may as well kill 2 birds with one stone.
Although more expensive than Quick Service, the experience you get at these Restaurants like no other. The buffets are great for picky eaters since there tends to be a wide variety of food. Some also have Family-Style Dining. These Restaurants are All You Care To Eat. But unlike Buffets, the food will be brought to your table in large bowls to distribute and they will be refilled as needed.
Some of the all time favorite Character Dining Experiences are either Buffet or All You Care To Eat like Tusker House in Animal Kingdom and Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel.
Disney Chase Visa Card Holders – Only Line
Among other Perks, if you have one of these cards, you’re entitled to enter a special entrance to meet and take pictures with some of your favorite Characters. Just show your card at the entrance.
We don’t have this card, so I’m not sure how long or short this line actually is, but I can’t imagine it being extremely long. If you have ever gone though this line, feel free to comment on how the lines are.
