DL Guide - Characters

Belle signs an autograph

One of the highlights of any trip to a Disney theme park is meeting with the characters. Mickey, Goofy and many of your favorite Disney characters - classic and recent - can be found in various random and designated spots around the parks.

Characters in the Parks
The simplest way to find the characters at Disneyland is to ask the Toon Finder located at the Information Board at the northwest end of Main Street (right in front of the entrance to Adventureland). Tell them which character you're looking for and they'll be able to tell you where to find him. The Guest Relations booth inside Disney's California Adventure can help you find specific characters as well.

General character schedules for both parks can also be found inside the Disneyland Today map you pick up when you enter Disneyland. Characters can also often be found in the following locations:

Disneyland

• Town Square, the area on Main Street where the flagpole is located and in front of Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln
• The Castle Forecourt has princesses
• Fantasyland, near ear the entrance to Casey Jr. Circus Train
• Fantasyland, meet Ariel: The Little Mermaid at Ariel's Grotto near the backside of the Matterhorn
• Small World Mall, the area between the Matterhorn and 'it's a small world"
• Frontierland, in the courtyard by Big Thunder Mountain and the Rancho Del Zocalo restaurant.
• Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear at Club Buzz Stage after his show
• Critter Country, Pooh and his friends outside The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Toontown, Classic Disney characters all around and you can always Meet and Greet Mickey at his house
• Storytelling: Aladdin and Jasmine in Aladdin's Oasis in Adventure and Princesses at the Once Upon a Time shop in the Castle Courtyard

Disney's California Adventure

• A Bug's Land: Meet Flik at "The Ugly Bug Ball" after the show
• Hollywood Pictures Backlot main street
• Hollywood Pictures Backlot Stage, after Goofy's Beach Party Bash meet the stars of the show
• Condor Flats, meet Minnie near the airplane
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail Ahwahnee Camp Circle

Note: These are common areas to find characters, but by no means can characters be found there at all times.

You found a character, now what?
Characters are available for pictures, autographs and - of course - hugs and kisses. Autograph books can be picked up at many shops including Disneyland. Don't forget to use a large pen to make it easier for the characters to grip.

Meet and Greets
To make it easier to get that perfect picture, most Disneyland character meets are now done as "Meet and Greets". At a meet and character guests form a line to meet the character and only one child or family visits with the character at a time. Sometimes a Disneyland photographer is on hand to take pictures for later purchase. You are, of course, free to take pictures with your own camera as well.

Other ways to see characters
There are also a few other ways to see and/or meet characters at Disneyland

• Characters appear in most Disneyland parades and shows including Parade of the Stars, Fantasmic! and Mickey's Detective School
• On certain days Disney princesses do storytelling in Fantasyland at the Once Upon a Time... shop and the Aladdin and Jasmine Storytelling performs at Aladdin's Oasis in Adventureland.
• Mickey Mouse can always be found at his house in Toontown and Minnie can often be found at her house as well.
• Characters can occassionly be seen doing just about anything including riding attractions, playing musical chairs at Coke Corner or leading a band.
• Character Dining: Eat breakfast, lunch or dinner with the characters. They'll come around to your table for visits. The following resaurants currently offer character dining when indicated:

  Disneyland

  • Plaza Inn (breakfast only)

  Disney's California Adventure

  • Ariel's Grotto (lunch and dinner)

  Hotels

  • Goofy's Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel, all meals when open. Not always open for lunch)
  • PCH Grill (Paradise Pier Hotel, breakfast only)
  • Storyteller's Cafe (Grand Californian Hotel, breakfast only)

 
left: Eeyore leads the Disneyland Band. right: Mickey greets guests waiting for a parade

Storytelling with Belle at the Once Upon a Time... shop

Reader Tips and Comments

Below are tips and comments from readers on
visiting characters at Disneyland

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If you are lucky and hanging around the seating area for Fantasmic you might just see none other than Captain Jack himself! We have seen him on our last 2 trips!
-- Amynleroy (10/16/2006)

If you are lucky and hanging around the seating area for Fantasmic you might just see none other than Captain Jack himself! We have seen him on our last 2 trips!
-- Amynleroy (10/16/2006)

I like seeing Peter Pan, Wendy, Mickey, Chip, Goofy, Mulan, Alice, Goofy, and Stitch. Some characters that I want to see that are in the park, but I haven't seen them are: Roger Rabbit, Brer Rabbit, Jiminy Cricket, and Tarzan. I once saw on Tom Sawyer Island, none other than Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn! They are usually at the stage for Fantasmic, playing games with the kids on the island. It would be awesome if there were an Indiana Jones character!
-- davdaman (8/29/2005)

I like seeing Peter Pan, Wendy, Mickey, Chip, Goofy, Mulan, Alice, Goofy, and Stitch. Some characters that I want to see that are in the park, but I haven't seen them are: Roger Rabbit, Brer Rabbit, Jiminy Cricket, and Tarzan. I once saw on Tom Sawyer Island, none other than Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn! They are usually at the stage for Fantasmic, playing games with the kids on the island. It would be awesome if there were an Indiana Jones character!
-- davdaman (8/29/2005)

We went last yr and my daughter got pics with pretty much every character in the park we printed off here were they would be at what time and we were there. The lines went fast and they take their time with you not just rush you through.my daughter wore her princes dress and alot of them bent down and kissed her hand.like mikey..she loved that.had a pic done with her sitting on the porch with minnie at her house.it was nice.we seen alot more characters over at california adventure just walking around.lots of them.we will be going back this yr again so watch for our pics!!
-- BC Canadian (4/9/2005)

I went to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure and in one day I saw 22 characters. It was on the ABC Primetime Preview Weekend so everyone was out! If you want to see a lot of characters, go when theres a big celebration going on!
-- iamtheBeauty (10/2/2004)

I went to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure and in one day I saw 22 characters. It was on the ABC Primetime Preview Weekend so everyone was out! If you want to see a lot of characters, go when theres a big celebration going on!
-- iamtheBeauty (10/2/2004)

Love to see more of characters at disneyland like Baloo and King Louie, Timon and pumba, the 7 dwarfs, and others! Heres a tip! If you want to see any of the popular characters get there early and often!
-- martyh_11 (6/21/2004)

Love to see more of characters at disneyland like Baloo and King Louie, Timon and pumba, the 7 dwarfs, and others! Heres a tip! If you want to see any of the popular characters get there early and often!
-- martyh_11 (6/21/2004)

Love to see more of characters at disneyland like Baloo and King Louie, Timon and pumba, the 7 dwarfs, and others! Heres a tip! If you want to see any of the popular characters get there early and often!
-- martyh_11 (6/21/2004)

just to let you all know.... chip and dale seem to be in mickey's house (in the area that used to be the waiting line inside). for the past 2 times i went to d-land, they were they. be warned if you have little kids- they peek around the corners and play a little game of come get me! my best friend that was with my last time got all freeked out. lol it was soo funny!! and if you don't like the lines- go early in the morning, when i went there in January (still had all the christmas decorations around), i probably waited in line for about 20 minuets. and go to Roger rabit after minnie's house! you will be soo happy you did... i waited about 20 minuets for that also!!!
-- jenny887 (6/15/2004)

Kinda funny, I've been to Disney many times in my life and I've only seen...ehh......about 4 characters out. Hmph.
-- deloreangirl (9/29/2003)

Kinda funny, I've been to Disney many times in my life and I've only seen...ehh......about 4 characters out. Hmph.
-- deloreangirl (9/29/2003)

If you ever see the disney characters and want your picture taken with them, do it when you have the chance.
-- Brewinkle (8/26/2003)

Here's some advice - when at Disneyand,(especially on crowded days) look for the characters in "off the beaten path" places. Characters like the princess who are in hot demand will keep themselves out of the real high-traffic areas. Also, get plan to get your pictures in the early afternoon, when most of them are out. Following this plan is how we got pictures with all 7 princesses in one day!
-- tinkerbellgoose (8/23/2002)

i think tarzan should be availiable to visit more, he is only seen in the parade of the stars. and mickey and minnie should be easier to see as well; you shouldn't need to wait in line for hours just to see them inside their house. they should constantly be all around the park. their should also be some character interactment in the fireworks show, mickey fireworks..
-- whitney (6/15/2002)

Storytelling in the toy shoppe is not to be missed if you have little kids. Ties with getting magic dust from the fairy godmother as the best character interaction your kids will ever have.
-- CapnNemo (5/15/2002)

I like characters, puppies, and Ice Cream. When i goto Disneyland i hug the characters, they hug me back. We are friends.
-- Donald Duckman (4/15/2001)

Note: Information in reader comments is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Reader comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

-- Last Updated May 13, 2003

 

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