Locations and times for character appearances are listed in a brochure that you can pick up at Guest Relations or City Hall as you enter the park. If you can, show up a few minutes before the characters are scheduled to arrive. Here's our advice on how to make the most of your character meet-and-greets:
•Get an autograph book. This could be the best five dollars you'll ever spend. It gives the kids a reason to approach the characters if shyness sets in, and serves as a great souvenir.
•For families with kids under seven, a character meal is well worth the expense. The Magic Kingdom hosts character meals at Cinderella's Royal Table (Cinderella and other "princess" characters), the Crystal Palace (Winnie and friends) and Liberty Tree Tavern (Mickey and the gang in Revolutionary War era garb). The characters come to your table and there is time for autographs and photos. Remember, the popular character meals need to be arranged before you leave home by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
•The characters are quite sensitive and will wait for a timid child to approach them, so don't push your kids forward too quickly in your enthusiasm for the perfect photo.
•Look for characters throughout the park in appropriate locations (i.e., the Lion King and Aladdin gangs are in Adventureland). They can be found across from Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and Alice is often near the Mad Tea Party. Tweedledum actually rode in the cups with us!
•For maximum character density, it's hard to beat Toontown. Meet Mickey in the tent behind his house, and a batch of other characters in the Toontown Hall of Fame tent. Lines are shortest in the first hour after the park opens and the last hour before closing.
Kim Wright Wiley, author of WALT DISNEY WORLD WITH KIDS (Prima), is a contributing editor at DISNEY magazine and is FamilyFun's new Theme Park Expert.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
