Character meet and greets are a big part of what makes a trip to Walt Disney World so special, and in recent months Disney has taken it upon themselves to make a number of improvements and changes to each park’s character line-up. While not all of these changes are always popular with guests, Disney is constantly making adjustments to try and make character offerings as diverse as possible while still keeping things running efficiently around the parks.
This month, Epcot set to get several character shuffles this fall, the Magic Kingdom set to lose several long lost friends, plus a vintage character is set to come to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
1. Baymax, Joy and Sadness meet and greets closing
Image: Disney
As part of the transformation of Epcot’s Future World, three characters are moving out of Walt Disney World permanently: Inside Out duo Joy and Sadness, and Baymax from Big Hero 6 will also be having their last day at Epcot on September 7, 2019
2. Minnie, Minnie, Daisy and Goofy being relocated at Epcot
Image: Disney
Also at Epcot, the following characters are moving out of the various Character Spot locations and into these new locations:
- Minnie Mouse will move to the World Showcase Gazebo
- Daisy Duck will move to the American Adventure
- Mickey and Goofy will meet temporarily in Innoventions West, but will have a permanent location in the Imagination Pavilion
3. Winnie the Pooh is returning to the UK Pavilion
Image: Disney
In yet another character change at Epcot, longtime favorite Winnie the Pooh is moving back into the UK pavilion after more than three years. Guests who stop by this September will be able to once again meet this beloved character who will meet guests in front of the Christopher Robin’s Bedroom backdrop at the back of the pavilion.
4. Limited Time friends leaving the Magic Kingdom this September
Image: Disney
Surprise characters have been meeting guests at the flagpole on Main Street USA this year as part of Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Celebration, including Nick and Judy from Zootopia, Remy and Emile from Ratatouille, and Robin Hood and Friar Tuck from Robin Hood. However, as this celebration draws to a close, this special limited-time offering will be coming to a close as well on September 30, 2019.
5. Minnie to leave Main Street USA meet and greet
Image: Disney
Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom, will officially come to an end on September 30, which means guests only have a few more weeks to experience the Mickey and Minnie surprise celebration meet and greet inside Town Square Theater. After this date, this space will go back to being a Mickey-only meet and greet, and Minnie Mouse will return to Fantasyland’s Toontown Fair.
6. Darth Vader returns to Star Wars Launch Bay
Image: Disney
On August 29, the same day next month that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens Disney will be closing the Kylo Ren character meet and greet at the Star Wars Launch Bay, presumably due to Kylo Ren’s presence inside this new land. Kylo Ren will then be replaced at the Star Wars Launch Bay by original trilogy villain Darth Vader.
