For young guests, the chance to see their favorite characters will be a highlight of their Walt Disney World vacation. If you want to meet classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and Tiana, Magic Kingdom should be your first stop.
Disney World has three main ways you can experience characters: Meet&Greets, Sightings, and Cavalcades.
Traditional Meet & Greets are back at Disney World. When guests get their picture taken with a character, they are now allowed to hug and get autographs. PhotoPass photographers will now also take a picture with your phone if you’d like.
Sightings are similar to meet and greets, but they are distanced and do not include autographs or hugs. These are chances to see characters as you roam around the park, and they really add to the atmosphere.
Cavalcades are mini-parades, usually with one or two vehicles and with some characters on foot. These run throughout the day, so they feel more spontaneous than a parade.
Tip: Check the times guide or the Walt Disney World app to see an up to date list of which characters are appearing during you day in the park.
Tip: You don’t need PhotoPass to get pictures with the characters. While PhotoPass can be a great enhancement to your trip, you can ask one of Disney’s photographers to take a picture with your phone. You are also always welcome to take a selfie, which is your best option for sightings.
Magic Kingdom Character Cavalcades
These mini-parades run throughout the day. Check the My Disney Experience app to find the showtimes. These cavalcades run along the parade route, which starts near Splash Mountain and runs toward the castle and then down Main Street.
A Royal Princess Processional – See Disney Princesses galore: Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Elena, Jasmine, Snow White, Mulan, Merida, Rapunzel, Tiana, and the Fairy Godmother.
Disney Friends Cavalcade – See Stitch, Clarabelle Cow, Panchito, José, and Max.
Magic Kingdom Cavalcade – See Peter Pan, Moana, Alice, Aladdin, and Mary Poppins
Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade (50th Anniversary) – See Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Chip, Dale, and Pluto
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure – See Tinkerbell ride on a large treasure chest
Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade – See Mirabel from Encanto, The Incredibles, Moana, Merida, Panchito, José, Nick, Judy, Baloo, and King Louie
Magic Kingdom Character Meet & Greets
- Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse – Town Square Theater (Lightning Lane Available with Genie+)
- Cinderella & A Visiting Princess (Usually Elena of Avalor) – Princess Fairytale Hall (Lightning Lane Available with Genie+)
- Tiana & A Visiting Princess (Usually Rapunzel) – Princess Fairytale Hall (Lightning Lane Available with Genie+)
- Belle – Fantasyland
- Peter Pan – Fantasyland
- Snow White – Fantasyland
- Winnie the Pooh & Tigger (Coming Back Soon) – Fantasyland
- Merida (Coming Back Soon) – Near Cinderella Castle
- Chip and Dale – Storybook Circus
- The Great Goofini and Friends – Storybook Circus
- Anastasia and Drizella – Cinderella Fountain in Fantasyland
- Aladdin & Jasmine – Adventureland
- Jack Sparrow – Adventureland
Magic Kingdom Character Sightings
Tomorrowland Character Sightings
- Buzz Lightyear – Sighting at Rocket Tower Plaza Stage
- Stitch – Sighting at Rocket Tower Plaza Stage
Frontierland Character Sightings
- Wendell – Sighting on Country Bear Jamboree Balcony
