Who should be top priority on your star search?

Meeting characters is great fun, and everyone has their favorite.  To many Guests, meeting a Disney character is much more than posing for a quick family photo—it’s getting to have a conversation with a childhood hero (whether that said childhood is still happening or was gone decades ago).  There are a handful of characters, though, who pack more bang for your buck, and who really kick things up a notch in giving you quality family memories that you’re surely not going to forget anytime soon.  If you only have time to see a few characters on your Disney trip, make sure you track down a few of the faces on this list.

This countdown is, of course, not definitive.  Everyone has their own favorite characters and is certainly entitled to their own opinions.  These are just the ones that my family has had extra-special encounters with.  I’d like to hear your character stories in the comments!

*Note: All character locations are correct as of when this was posted.  However, Disney changes things up every now and then.  If one of these characters is a must-see for you, check the Times Guide schedule or stop by Guest Relations when you arrive.

12. Mary Poppins

Always having something witty and very nanny-like to say, Ms. Poppins is very fun to meet.

Where to meet her: Town Square in the Magic Kingdom, United Kingdom at Epcot, 1900 Park Fare character breakfast (NOT dinner) at the Grand Floridian Resort.

What to say to her: Ask how Bert is doing and how to say supercalifragil….(yeah, that word) backward.  Also, ask where her carpet bag is.  She’s supposed to tell you she left it in a store at Epcot…and if you go and check, sure enough, it’s exactly where she said it was.

11.  Tigger

Bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, and fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, Tigger is always energetic and adds great spontaneity to the average character greeting.

Where to meet him: Near the Pooh ride in the Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace character breakfast/lunch/dinner in the Magic Kingdom, United Kingdom at Epcot, Sorcerer Hat at Hollywood Studios, Discovery Island Character Landing at Animal Kingdom.

What to say to him: Ask for a bouncing lesson!

10.  Donald Duck

With a temper as feisty as Donald’s, it doesn’t take much to light his fuse, especially if you happen to have anything relating to Mickey Mouse on your person.  Usually Donald remains sedate and cooperative during meet & greets, but if you egg him on, you might be fortunate enough to see him blow his top.

Where to meet him: Near Country Bear Jamboree in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Character Spot at Epcot, Sorcerer Hat at Hollywood Studios, Camp Minnie-Mickey at Animal Kingdom, Tusker House character breakfast/lunch at Animal Kingdom, Chef Mickey’s character breakfast/dinner at the Contemporary Resort, Cape May Café character breakfast at the Beach Club Resort.

What to say to him: Come prepared with a very biased comment about why Mickey Mouse is better than him.  Or, better yet, show off a Mickey toy.  Donald will do the rest.

9.  Snow Queen

The evil queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs probably wouldn’t be a character that would first pop into your mind when thinking of a top-priority character checklist.  My family underestimated her as well, but after one encounter with her, she quickly became one of our all-time favorites.  Her voice is monotone at all times and she always keeps a straight face, but the things she says are hilarious, never breaking character.  When we told her she was the fairest one of all instead of Snow White, instead of thanking us for the compliment, she stated dryly, “Is that a question or a statement?”

Where to meet her: Unfortunately, the Snow Queen doesn’t have a regular greeting location.  If she’s to be found anywhere, it would be inside the Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios in the late afternoon (around 5 or 6), along with a group of other random characters.  The only guaranteed time to see her is during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom in September and October.

What to say to her: Basically anything.  Ask her a question about herself, and she’ll no doubt retort a quick, perfect answer that will bring a smile to your face (but, alas, not to hers).

8.  Goofy

Goofy is just, well, goofy.  He’s always good for a laugh.

Where to meet him: Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Character Spot at Epcot, Sorcerer Hat at Hollywood Studios, Camp Minnie-Mickey at Animal Kingdom, Dinoland USA at Animal Kingdom, Tusker House character breakfast/lunch at Animal Kingdom, Chef Mickey’s character breakfast/dinner at the Contemporary Resort, Cape May Café character breakfast at the Beach Club Resort.

What to say to him: Goofy’s clumsiness is often the result of his own shenanigans, so usually you can count on him to find something funny to get the conversation going.  A prop or toy might help make the encounter even funnier, though.

7.  Cinderella’s Stepfamily: Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella

This trio is a hoot.  They’re still bitter about Prince Charming choosing Cinderella, and they aren’t afraid to express their disdain on the matter.  Because of this, Anastasia and Drizella are a bit desperate to find a prince of their own, so don’t be surprised if they try to make a move!

Where to meet them: Behind the Castle in the Magic Kingdom, 1900 Park Fare character dinner (NOT breakfast) at the Grand Floridian Resort.

What to say to them: It’s quite popular for bachelors in their 20s to propose to Anastasia and Drizella!  If you don’t fall into that category, though, ask them to sing something for you.  They probably perform “Sing Sweet Nightingale” by request all the time, so perhaps think of another Disney song.  Whatever it is, the results are sure to be entertaining.

6.  Chip and Dale

These chipmunks are always in a playful mood.  While their antics might garner a reprimand or two from their Character Handler, they’re a treat to interact with.

Where to meet them: Town Square in the Magic Kingdom, Innoventions Plaza at Epcot, Garden Grill character dinner at Epcot, Sorcerer Hat at Hollywood Studios, Camp Minnie-Mickey at Animal Kingdom

What to say to them: Similar to Goofy, Chip and Dale are able to take anything and run with it (sometimes literally, if you happen to have a toy on your person).  Props help get that interaction going even more.  They’ve probably heard some questions a thousand times, like “How can you tell each other apart?,” but some others might get a fun reaction too, like “Which one of you is Clarice’s girlfriend?” or “Which of you is the oldest brother?”  Or, you could really get them in a tizzy by intentionally calling them squirrels or mistaking them for Alvin (you know…the chipmunk).

5.  Captain Jack Sparrow

He’s a rare find at Walt Disney World, but when you get the chance to meet him, he’s quite the chatty Kathy!

Where to find him: Captain Jack does appear daily in the Pirate Tutorial in the Magic Kingdom, but that’s a scripted show with minimal interaction.  The only way to have a one-on-one meet and greet with him is during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  However, if you take a Disney Cruise, you’ll be able to track down Jack easily, as he makes numerous appearances every voyage.

What to say to him: Watch one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies beforehand and ask him something relating to his story, or come in pirate gear.  My brother wore Captain Jack mouse ears, to which the real Captain Jack noted, “Oh! You’ve got my piece of eight!”  I’d love to see his reaction if you told him Jack the monkey was standing behind him.

4.  Mad Hatter

This guy is just plain kooky.  He’s off the wall and out of control, and can pretty much be counted upon to act completely nuts.

Where to find him: His only regular location is the 1900 Park Fare character breakfast (NOT character dinner) at the Grand Floridian, though he does appear during the Magic Kingdom’s Halloween and Christmas parties.

What to say to him: The better question is what NOT to say to him.  Rather than asking him questions, the Mad Hatter is more likely to ask you a question instead (such as why my sister was wearing guitar-pic earrings, when clearly her ear was not a guitar).  The Mad Hatter also isn’t afraid to be a little rude for the sake of comedy.  My uncle asked the Mad Hatter if English people’s dental health was affected by their constant tea drinking, to which Hatter promptly screamed across the restaurant to ask Alice to show him her teeth.  He’s hilarious.

3.  Stitch

Experiment 626 is all trouble, all the time!  He’s a bit like Chip and Dale, but slightly more mischievous.  Don’t be surprised if he tries to steal your belongings or pick “bugs” out of your hair!

Where to find him: Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, Sorcerer Hat at Hollywood Studios, ‘Ohana character breakfast at the Polynesian Resort.

What to say to him:  Ask him how his badness level is doing…though that might lead him to showing you that it isn’t improving much!  Fun results are probably also found if an Elvis impersonation is requested.

2.  Captain Hook

The bad guys are often really playful to meet in the parks, and Captain Hook is no different.  Though he doesn’t talk, he’s got plenty to say.

Where to find him: Unfortunately, Captain Hook is hard to find these days!  His schedule is the exact same as the Snow Queen—only guaranteed at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but likely to show up sporadically in the late afternoons inside the Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios.

What to say to him: As much as it’s been done, it never gets old to do the classic gator chomp and watch Hook quiver with fury.

1.  Mickey Mouse

Mickey is the face of The Walt Disney Company, and to many people, getting their picture taken with Mickey Mouse is the essence of a Walt Disney World vacation, as mandatory and important as posing in front of the Castle.  What he means to the Disney legacy and what he embodies as a character—honesty, integrity, and a positive attitude—give Mickey his rightful place as the #1 must-see character.

Where to find him: Town Square Theater in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Character Spot at Epcot, Garden Grill character dinner at Epcot, The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios, Camp Minnie-Mickey at Animal Kingdom, Tusker House character breakfast/lunch at Animal Kingdom, Chef Mickey’s character breakfast/dinner at the Contemporary Resort, ‘Ohana character breakfast at the Polynesian Resort.

What to say to him: Mickey has probably been asked the marriage question (“When are you going to propose to Minnie?”) more times than he’d like to count.  Instead, perhaps ask him how Pluto is doing or his memories of working with Walt.  If you’re feeling courageous, ask him how he’s doing now that his house is bulldozed.  But more than anything, soak up your time with the big cheese.  Let’s face it—in the world of celebrities, it doesn’t get much bigger than one-on-one time with Mickey Mouse!

Who is your “MUST SEE” character?  Who else would you add to the list of  “extra magical” characters to meet?  Post your thoughts in the comments below!

Blake recently graduated from high school and has been surrounded by Disney literally since birth, having had a Mickey mobile in his crib.  Blake enjoys helping peers plan WDW vacations and writing for his Disney blog, BlakeOnline.com.

For more ideas of fun ways to interact with characters, check out Makena’s blog, “Make Your Character Meets More Interactive” here.

The post Top 12 Best Walt Disney World Character Greetings–PART 1 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

If you have been to Disney, you must have run into a character at least once or twice. Many people do the usual routine: hug the character, ask for an autograph and take a picture. But you are older now and realize how much magic these characters create in people’s lives. When I went to Disney World in August, I wanted to do something to put magic in the characters life to thank them for what they do every day. I did this by shocking them (not literally!) Here are ways to catch the characters off guard and give them a moment they (and yourself) will never forget.

Some of these ideas I have done before, some I thought of right now and some friends came up with. If I have done it, I will share my experience.  Just remember, like my parents always say, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it”, so make sure you say it with a smile!

Tell Piglet that you smell bacon
My dad always does this to poor Piglet, and he covers his eyes in an embarrassed way and usually walks away! I always respond “Dad! You hurt his feelings!” I get an extra hug from Piglet for that!

Tell Snow White to stop eating apples, they really don’t keep the doctor away
I have never done this before, but I am definitely doing it next time!

Call any villain an Overtaker
Most of you have probably already read the Kingdom Keepers series. If you haven’t, read it ASAP. In all 4 books (In 14 days, the number will be 5!), the “bad guys” are called Overtakers. All villains are Overtakers. If you call, say- Cruella DeVille- an Overtaker and she doesn’t react, she obviously hasn’t read the books. If she does react, you know that you have a fellow Keeper in front of you.

Say to Woody , “There’s a snake in your boot!!!”
This idea is sure to get an amazing reaction!

Give a character a gift
Some ideas could be to present Iago with cracker (or any Disney bird) or Pooh with Honey. But you can also give things a serious note. For example, I have given princesses letters before, explaining how I appreciate the magic they put in little girl’s lives. I even gave Aurora (my favorite princess) a thimble! (It was blue and pink because the fairies couldn’t decide what color to make it!) People are afraid of presenting characters with something because they think,   “How could they hold it with their gloves?” or “They have to hold it the rest of the day.” These are good questions, but you don’t need to worry about them. If you are meeting a “glove-character” (Characters that need the extra big pen to sign autograph books), usually their handler will step in and take it. Sometimes I give my gift to the handler first, then tell the character that *insert name of handler here* has a gift for him/her. If it is a face character, they accept it and then give it to their handler. If you are at a character meal, usually there is one handler for all of the characters. He/she is easy to pick out because they are dressed differently from the servers and regular tourists. If you can’t find the handler at the restaurant you are dining at, ask your server about him/her.

Ask Chip and Dale if they are squirrels
They are sure to be “angry” at you!

Ask Mary Poppins to spell or say “Supercalafragilisticexpealidocious”
Next time, I am going to ask her to spell it forwards and backwards!

Say to Captain Hook “tick tock tick tock!”
This will prove how much of a coward Captain Hook REALLY is!

Bark at Cruella
Another one that is sure to scare the wits out of a true villain!

Ask Buzz “Have you fallen with style yet today?” or tell him “Woody is Andy’s favorite!”
When I told Buzz that Woody is Andy’s favorite, he turned away from me and walked away sulking. Everybody in line awww‘d and I had to practically beg him to take a photo with me.

Ask Donald where Mickey is
I’m sure Donald’s temper will start to show!

Tell a “glove-character” that they blinked
These reactions are hilarious, and scatter from anger to embarrassment (depending on who the character is.)

Ask Mickey “Why haven’t you proposed to Minnie yet?”
I have done this once before, and made everybody laugh. I was in the Garden Grill when Mickey arrived at my table. I finally got up enough courage to ask “Why haven’t you proposed to Minnie yet?” Since Mickey can’t talk, he made a ring motion with his hand and then a shushing motion with his finger. Later that same night, Mickey came by again to our table. I thought this response up myself “I know why you didn’t propose to Minnie yet-you can’t find a ring big enough!”

Remind Captain Hook about how badly he treats Mr. Smee
Before the pirates and Pals cruise, you have the opportunity to meet Captain Hook and Mr. Smee together. This was my first time seeing them together, so I was thinking of something clever to say. When I was at the front of the line I gave Captain Hook my autograph book (yes, I still get autographs) and pen. After he finished his flourish, he handed the book and pen to Mr. Smee like it was a dirty rag. I responded to that action “That wasn’t nice!” Captain Hook turned his back to me, and I turned my back to him. Mr. Smee gave me a thumbs up.

Ask Belle what her favorite book is

Wouldn’t it be funny if her favorite book is yours, too?

Have you done any of these things before? How did they turn out? Do you have any ideas of your own? Leave them in the comments below.

Congratulations to fellow blogger Jen Tremley who got my Where in the World picture correct! This one is a little bit harder.

Where in the World was this picture taken?  Those are my brother’s feet in the upper left corner of the picture.  Obviously they aren’t part of the scene!!

See ya REAL soon!

~Makena

Makena is a 13 year old middle school student who spends much of her free time researching Disney. She enjoys sharing Disney facts and even plans Walt Disney World vacations (including searches for secrets and Hidden Mickeys) for friends and family.

The post WDW Radio Kids & Teens Day: Make Your Greets More Interactive! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

I’ll answer more of your listener email this week, including questions on Pal Mickey, Magic Your Way ticket options, finding specific characters in the parks, attractions for young children, free Disney trading cards, a look back at an extinct character meal, nightlife, restaurants and much more.

I love exploring and sharing the wonderful stories created by Disney Imagineers in every attraction, shop, restaurant, resort, and almost everything you see and experience on property. But I especially enjoy having the opportunity to take a closer look at a location whose story may seem obvious on its face, but is full of wonderful details and history. And this week, such is the case with Fantasyland’s Pinocchio Village Haus. Jim Korkis joins me once again to tell some of the “Stories Behind the Stories” in this DSI: Disney Scene Investigation.

I’ll play more of your voicemails and have some announcements at the end of the show, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail TOLL FREE at 888-703-2171.

Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

INFORMATION AND LINKS FROM THIS WEEK’S SHOW

ConGaloosh 2010! - Oct. 8-10, 2010 – Join the WDW Radio Explorers! (Tribe # 939) – Save $50 by registering before April 30, 2010!

24-hour LIVE video broadcast & chat from Walt Disney World – May 22-23, 2010. Click HERE for more information, including the May Meet of the Month specifics (to take place during the 24-hour show).

For discounted Walt Disney World Resort rates for the 24-hour weekend, visit MouseFan Travel for their exclusive deal! 2-night package from $89 pp/do!

Join us for a very special evening with a private viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, enjoy some tasty treats, and help make a difference during the 24-hour live event!

Date: Saturday – May 22, 2010
Time: 8:15 pm – 9:30 pm
Location: Epcot – Meet location TBA

Cost: $25.00 per person PLUS a minimum $5 –  Dream Team Make-A-Wish donation (Includes select desserts, beverages, tax, gratuity and Paypal fee)

If you would like to attend, here is the link to purchase tickets: http://www.mousefantravel.com/mft/wdw_radio24.php

The post Show # 166 – April 18, 2010 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello my friends and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello and this is show #118 for the week of May 10, 2009. Thank you for tuning in once again and Happy Mothers’ Day to all of the moms listening.

We’ll start off the show with some news from Walt Disney World, including a new pirates experience in the Magic Kingdom, news from Disney’s Hollywood Studios about new meet and greets, a rumor about a possible major change coming to Star Tours and more.

One of the keys to any Walt Disney World vacation is planning ahead – and often times, that part of the fun as well. And planning can and should go beyond just where to stay, when to eat and how to maximize your time in the parks. In fact, there are certain individual aspects of your trip that if planned accordingly, can really enhance your family’s vacation. And for many, finding and obtaining character autographs and pictures is an important part of their trip. Chuck Lionberger joins me this week for some “Practical Planning in Every Way,” as we explore some strategies to help maximize your time, and number of characters in and out of the parks.

Listener Josh sits in the not-so-hot seat this week as we play a round of Walt Disney World Fact or Fiction, where I’ll test his knowledge of some interesting Disney history and trivia. Play along and see if he, and you, is up to the challenge.

I’ll play many more of your voicemails at the end of the show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail TOLL FREE at 888-703-2171.

Talk about the show by visiting and posting in the WDW Radio Show message forums

Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

INFORMATION AND LINKS FROM THIS WEEK’S SHOW

Talk About This Week’s Show in the Forums

Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration

The Pirates League at Walt Disney World - The Pirates League is accepting reservations when you call (407) WDW-CREW (939-2739)

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

Star Wars Weekends 2009 merchandise at StarWars.com

Pacific Northwest NFFC MouseMeet

DisneyDaddy

Be sure to watch Lou’s new Daily Disney Diary videos from his recent trip to Walt Disney World!

Purchase siged copies of Lou’s Walt Disney World Trivia Books and Audio Guides to Walt Disney World in the WDW Radio Store

Please come and join us for an upcoming

WDW Radio Show Meet of the Month!

The post Show #118 – May 10, 2009 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.