Meeting rare characters can be quite a unique experience, and it’s one that many visitors to Disney World miss out on. But fear not—we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll share nine wonderful ways to meet rare characters at Disney World!

9 Ways to Meet Rare Characters at Disney World in 2024

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, meeting your favorite Disney characters is probably high on your list of priorities. But what about the rare characters? Those elusive figures that only make occasional appearances and can be difficult to track down?

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Let’s check out the 9 Best Ways to Meet Rare Characters at Disney World in 2024

Attend Special Events for Unique Encounters

If you’re looking for a truly magical experience at Disney World, attending a special event is something to consider. These events offer the chance to meet some of the rarest characters in the Disney parks.

One of the most popular special events is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which takes place during the Halloween season. At this event, you can see some of Disney’s most iconic villains and even some Nightmare Before Christmas stars!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party is another event at which you can meet rare characters, particularly if you are in the right place at the right time. And the best part, after of course meeting these iconic characters, is the free hot chocolate and cookies!

Jollywood Nights is a brand new event as of 2023, and the most recent addition to the lineup of magical experiences there are character meet and greets- including a few rare characters.

At any of these special events, it’s best to check the My Disney Experience app times guide to find locations throughout the park for meeting characters.

1. Halloween Fun with Rare Characters at Disney World

Halloween is a special occasion at Disney World, and what better way to celebrate than by meeting some rare characters? The Mickey’s Not So-Scary Halloween Party is a must-attend event during the Halloween season, and it features some of the rarest characters in the park.

One of the most popular characters you’ll encounter at the the Not So-Scary Halloween Party is Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas. This beloved Disney character is not easy to find during regular park hours, so take advantage of this opportunity to snap a photo with him during the event- but be prepared for VERY long lines.

Rare Characters at the So-Scary Halloween Party	Meet-and-Greet Location
Jack Skellington	Town Square Theater
Sally	Town Square Theater
Disney Villains	Main Street, U.S.A.
Special Characters	Throughout the park

In addition to Jack Skellington, the Not So-Scary Halloween Party also features appearances by popular Disney villains in the popular Boo to You parade. Be sure to see them on Main Street, U.S.A. or even in Frontierland. This crew of Disney baddies, can include Maleficent, Ursula, Jafar, the Evil Queen, and Cruella de Vil.

You can also meet unique characters to the Haunted Mansion that many Disney fans love. Madame Carlotta or Madame Renatta, the ghosts in the graveyard, puts on quite a show, but you have to wait in the Haunted Mansion line to interact with either of them. But trust me it’s worth it!

Besides the rare encounters, Mickey’s Not So-Scary Halloween Party also includes special character appearances throughout the park. You never know who you might run into during the event. Some of the regulars include ALL of the Seven Dwarfs, Elvis Stitch, Aladdin and Abu, and Prince Eric and Ariel together.

2. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Every year during the holiday season the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort is home to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party. This magical holiday celebration features special appearances by many rare characters including

This is one of my favorite things to do when visiting Disney parks during the holidays. This special event features not only rare characters but also all-you-can-eat free (well included) holiday cookies and hot cocoa! And trust me these are GOOD cookies. I recommend bringing a storage container and freezing some after the party.

Some of those rare characters found at the Halloween party can also be found at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. These include Jack and Sally again- but Jack is dressed as Sandy Claws. You can also find:

Mary Poppins
Jasmine and Genie
Peter Pan
Rare character couples like Snow White and her Prince, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Aurora and Prince Phillip, and Ariel and Prince Eric again.

You can also find the classic Disney iconic characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy in adorable Christmas outfits! And the Hundred Acre Wood characters like Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet in cute winter outfits. They can be found at the Halloween party too in super cute Halloween costumes.

3. Jollywood Nights (new in 2023)

This event had a rough start on opening night but since has shaped up to be a super fun holiday party. One way Disney World enhanced this party was by adding special and rare characters which include:

Santa Duffy
Jiminy Cricket decked out in his holiday attire
Mary Poppins and Penguins
Pinocchio and Gepetto
Dopey and Snow White

As of this writing, this special occasion event still has a relatively low crowd volume (not the first night of course) making it easier to meet your favorite characters!

4. After Hours Events

After Hours Disney Events allow guests the chance to experience Disney World like it was back in the old days- low crowds, exciting parades, and short lines for even the most popular attractions. These special occasion style events are paid separate ticket events at the Disney World resort (and sometimes Disneyland but not currently) that offer rare and popular Disney characters. They are also a great way to avoid, or at least limit, the long lines you will usually face when trying to meet these rare Disney World characters. The After Hours events start at 7 PM and give guests an extra three hours in the park with unlimited snacks of popcorn and ice cream, drinks, and more. These events are available at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Typhoon Lagoon.

Walt Disney World Events With Rare Characters

5. Moonlight Magic (DVC)

Eligible DVC (Disney Vacation Club) members and their guests can attend a free event called Moonlight Magic which often features rare characters. During these special events, guests can enjoy free snacks, low wait times, and exclusive character meetings. Such rare characters have included Princess Anna, Baloo and Mowgli, Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable, Flick from A Bug’s Life, Kenai and Koda from Brother Bear, and even Tarzan. The lines are always very short making it even more fun, and you can have more time with these awesome characters. However DVC is a paid time-share membership and not cheap, but it makes great sense for those Disney fans who visit often and stay at moderate or deluxe resorts.

6. Holidays like Easter or Valentine’s Day

If you head to Walt Disney World on Easter or Valentine’s Day you can meet some special characters or even iconic characters in special themed outfits.

On Easter at Disney World you can of course meet the most famous bunny the Easter Bunny, and even his partner Mrs. Bunny! THe Magic Kingdom also offers a special Easter Parade with your favorite characters decked out in their Easter bonnets!

If you are at Disney World on Valentine’s Day you can also enjoy special meet and greets with characters at Hollywood Studios like Max Goof, and Chip and Dale with special Valentine’s Day touches. At Epcot around Valentine’s day you also get the chance to meet the Disney Princes and Princesses together.

7. Earth Day

On Earth Day, April 22nd, Disney’s Animal Kingdom always puts on quite the celebration and this includes special rare characters too! You can meet Tinker Bell and Fawn, Jane and Terk from Tarzan, Baloo and King Louie, and even A Bug’s Life characters like Princess Atta.

8. Disney World Parks with Special Character Encounters

While special events offer unique character encounters, you can also find rare characters at various Disney theme parks throughout the year.

Park	Rare Characters to Meet
Magic Kingdom	Wandering characters like Anastasia and Drizella, Big Al, and other Country Bears members
Epcot	Winnie the Pooh catching butterflies, Joy from Inside Out, and more (see below)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios	Kylo Ren, Chewy, Ray, BB-8, and even Olaf from Frozen
Animal Kingdom	Pocahontas, Scrooge McDuck, Baloo from The Jungle Book, and DUG and Mr. Frederickson

No matter when you visit Disney World, there is always a chance to meet rare characters. Keep an eye out for special character appearances and events throughout the parks, and you may just have an unforgettable encounter with your favorite Disney character!

Insider’s Tip

Epcot has an area where characters in training appear spontaneously in World Showcase between the American Adventure and Regal Eagle Smokehouse. There is no schedule so don’t plan your trip around this experience BUT if you are in the right place at the right time you may just catch a glimpse of your favorite character without facing a long line!

9. Disney World Character Dining

Another fun and delicious way to meet characters, and sometimes rare characters, is to enjoy a character meal. These character dining experiences feature your favorite characters coming right to your table- no line required.

Each of the four Orlando Disney parks has at least one character meal. They include:

Magic Kingdom

Crystal Palace- a buffet restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner and featuring the Hundred Acre Wood family of characters. You will meet Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore.

Cinderella’s Royal Table– this iconic character meal is located at- you guessed it- Cinderella’s Castle and features Cinderella and a rotating guest list of other Disney Princesses.

Disney Resorts Close to the Magic Kingdom

‘Ohana (breakfast)– Ohana at the Polynesia has a wonderful breakfast experience featuring Lilo and Stitch, and some great food!

Chef Mickey’s– Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort features breakfast and dinner starring Mickey and his pals serving up a yummy buffet.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point- this fantastic dinner at the Wilderness Lodge Resort features Snow White, Dopey, and the Evil Queen.

Epcot

Garden Grill- Garden Grill at the Land Pavilion in Epcot showcases locally grown food (literally, much of it is grown in the Land Pavilion) for breakfast or lunch, served family style, and featuring visits from Farmer Mickey, Chip and Dale, and Pluto.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall- this Norwegian-style restaurant at Epcot stars Disney Princesses often including Belle, Aurora, Tiana and Snow White (though this can change just like Cinderella’s Royal Table).

Disney Resort Hotels Near Epcot

Topolino’s Terrace- Topolino’s is located at the lovely Riviera resort off the Disney Skyliner path. This restaurant features an artist themed breakfast and classic Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy.

Cape May Cafe– Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club resort near Epcot is an American Style Buffet character meal starring Minnie Mouse herself, aptly titled Minnie’s Beach Bash.

Animal Kingdom

Tusker House– This African-style buffet (don’t worry there are lots of choices for those who like more American buffet classics) stars Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Daisy dressed up in adorable safari gear!

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood and Vine– This glitzy table service restaurant offers a Disney Junior Play n Dine breakfast, and a Hollywood Minnie Mouse (and friends) hosted lunch and dinner.

Explore the Magic Kingdom for Rare Characters

The Magic Kingdom can sometimes surprise guests with rare character meet and greets. New additions like Mirabel from Encanto have popped up in 2023. You may also see Robin Hood and his friends outside Tony’s Town Square Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom.

Uncover Rare Characters in Other Disney Parks

While the Magic Kingdom may be the main attraction for some, other Disney parks are full of rare characters just waiting to be discovered. Here are some of the characters you can find outside of the Magic Kingdom:

Park	Rare Characters	Regular Appearances
Disney’s Animal Kingdom	Meeko and Pocahontas from “Pocahontas,” Baloo and King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” and Flik from “A Bug’s Life” (and many other characters)	Daily
Disney’s Hollywood Studios	Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie from “Toy Story,” Mike and Sulley from “Monsters, Inc.,” and Mary Poppins from “Mary Poppins” (and many other characters)	Daily
Epcot	Aladdin and Jasmine from “Aladdin,” Belle from “Beauty and the Beast,” and Mulan from “Mulan” (and many many other characters)	Rotating schedules

Make the Most of Meet-and-Greets with Rare Characters

Meeting rare Disney characters is a highlight of any trip to Disney World. These characters make only occasional appearances, so it’s crucial to make the most of every meet-and-greet opportunity. Be sure to:

Check the My Disney Experience to look for the times and locations of scheduled character meet and greets
Arrive early, especially for the rare character meet and greets at the Holiday Parties- there are very long lines
If you or your kids collect autographs be sure to bring your autograph books and pens, Sharpies work very well. Some characters, especially very popular ones, will give you a card instead of signing
You can use genie + (Disney Parks paid skip-the-line service that replaced Fast Pass) for a few character meet and greets so be sure to check this on the app
If you want to capture the perfect photo you may want to plan what you are going to say or a pose ahead of time. Disney characters are always happy to strike a pose and the talking characters always love to answer questions about their stories!

Meeting rare characters at Disney World is a magical and unforgettable experience that requires some planning and strategy. By following the nine tips we’ve shared, you’ll increase your chances of encountering your favorite Disney characters, from exploring the Magic Kingdom to attending special events.