Meeting Disney characters is a popular pastime for theme park guests. This is a great way to spend part of your day because it often offers big rewards for a relatively short wait time. Character meet and greets are a fun option that everyone in the family can enjoy. There’s no height requirement and a minimal thrill factor (though some particularly small children may still shy away.)
Many characters, like Mickey and the gang or major princesses, are easy to find. However, there are just as many – if not more – rare characters that you won’t see with as much regularity. If you’re bored with the regular circuit of characters like Pluto, Goofy, Jasmine, and Belle, try spotting these more elusive options.
1. All Seven Dwarfs
The elusive Seven Dwarfs at Magic Kingdom
Image: Loren Javier, Flickr (license)
A shot with all seven of Snow White’s dwarf friends is highly coveted by fans of the film. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first animated feature film produced by Disney. Released in 1937, it marked a historic turning point for the company. The classic still generates ample enthusiasm.
There are only two places where you can reliably get a photo with the Seven Dwarfs. All seven appear near the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. These are separately ticketed events so it will take some advance planning to make sure you get your shot.
2. Snow White’s Evil Witch
The Evil Witch and her tempting apple
Image: Loren Javier, Flickr (license)
The Evil Queen, though somewhat rare, is still a fairly common appearance at Disney World. The same can’t be said for her witchy alter ego. This character only lurks about at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. As another part of the Snow White tale, she’s most commonly sighted around the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The fun part of this character is that she tends to sulk out quietly, and you may not notice her in the black cloak until you stumble right upon her.
3. Honest John Worthington Foulfellow
Honest John and his pal Gideon
Image: Loren Javier, Flickr (license)
This character is so rare, most people won’t even recognize his name. His face, however, may seem a bit more familiar. Honest John is the sly fox from Pinocchio. He’s often accompanied by Gepetto, Gideon, and Pinocchio himself. Though he doesn’t typically have a scheduled time or location for his appearances, he’s usually spotted around Magic Kingdom’s Main Street.
The area around the flagpole occasionally hosts unusual and unexpected meet and greets. These characters may spill over into the area on the opposite side, near the entrance gates. This tends to happen on particularly slow days, when character appearances here won’t hinder the flow of traffic.
4. Pocahontas
Pocahontas makes her home in Animal Kingdom. Though she used to appear for regular meet and greets, she’s since relocated, and many people miss her. Pocahontas does a meet and greet on Discovery Island’s character landing. On rare occasions, you may still spot her at Conservation Station, though these will be few and far between since her move.
5. Jiminy Cricket
Make your wishes of meeting Jiminy come true
Image: Jeff Christiansen, Flickr (license)
Jiminy Cricket is almost exclusive to Conservation Station. This is his home away from home, and the place where he likes to make his signature appearances. It used to be that you could almost always find Jiminy if you hung around long enough. His appearances have become more scattered over time. Rafiki is a more reliable find here now, but you may still spot Jiminy if you wish hard enough on that star.
6. Robin Hood
Catch Robin Hood for a rare picture
Image: Jeff Christiansen, Flickr (license)
Robin Hood is a frequent participant in the Character Palooza. This unpublished event takes place in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, typically around the time of the evening’s Fantasmic performances. Characters may pop up on the Streets of America, around Echo Lake, and near the Tower of Terror. There are usually between 5 and 10 characters, many of which only appear for this pop-up meet and greet. Robin Hood is among the “regulars,” though the selection is always random so you can’t anticipate who you’ll get.
7. Tarzan
Tarzan is a particularly entertaining face character because of the silly interactions that he has with guests. His wild and curious nature makes him extremely fun if you enjoy having conversations with Disney characters during your meet and greet. You’ll find Tarzan on Discovery Island in various locations. He’s usually tucked off to the side, so you may not spot him if you aren’t looking carefully. He typically comes out near the cotton-top tamarin enclosure, so you may get a curious sniff from him as he passes you on the way out if you’re in the right place at the right time.
Tarzan also makes the occasional appearance with Jane in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. This is more common during ticketed events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
8. The Wicked Stepsisters
Cinderella’s wicked step-family
Image: Jeff Christiansen, Flickr (license)
Naturally, Cinderella and Prince Charming take up most of the spotlight in this classic fairy tale, but Cinderella’s step-sisters have their place in the story as well. Not quite devious enough to be traditional villains, but far too mean-spirited for anything else, they seem to linger in a bit of a grey area in character lore.
The two cruel step-sisters go by the names of Anastasia and Drizella. Their wicked mother is the cold-hearted Lady Tremaine. You can occasionally see the step-sisters in the Magic Kingdom near the castle. They meander around various parts of the courtyard, and are most easily recognized by their shrill tones and gaudy dresses. The step-mother may or may not appear with them. You can also find these characters at the Grand Floridian’s 1900 Park Fare restaurant at dinner time.
Cast Members have access to a special character hotline that will help you track down many meet and greets throughout the parks. However, it’s important to note that the hotline is not completely inclusive. It’s always worthwhile to ask a Cast Member for help, but keep in mind that you may still spot a rare a character due to sheer luck, even if you were told that they weren’t on the schedule.
