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12 Best Places to See Disney Characters at Hollywood Studios

One of my absolute favorite (and must do) experiences on my list of ‘things to do’ each time I go to Disney, is meet characters. They are so much fun to interact with and provide unique and wonderful picture opportunities. Watching the little ones interact with them is also heart warming and it always brings a smile to my face. Next time you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios, be sure to check out these twelve places to see or meet and greet characters!

12. Muppet Vision 3-D

The Muppets have been quite the iconic bunch for several decades now, and there is no stopping them! At the Muppet Vision 3-D attraction, you will see Kermit and Miss Piggy along with the whole crew as they deliver a hilarious show. There are FastPasses available for this attraction, and it has continuous shows throughout the day!

11. Woody’s Picture Shootin’ Corral

Right across the Toy Story Mania ride at Pixar Place, you can meet the most beloved cowboy and his Space Ranger pal, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, along with their green army man crew! The backgrounds when meeting these characters are amazing because they resemble scenes from the Toy Story movies, which we all know and love. There are no FastPasses for this meet and greet, so try to arrive early to avoid long lines. The good thing about this location is that the characters are continuously available to meet (usually from the opening until closing of the park), so you don’t have to worry about scheduling an exact time to meet them since you can swing by whenever you’d like.

10. Sorcerer Hat Courtyard

While the Sorcerer Hat may be gone, the courtyard (also known as Hollywood Boulevard on the park map) is still host to many
classic characters such as Goofy, Chip & Dale, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Pluto. There are also street performers, acting troupes, and celebrities from on screen films like High School Musical. What I love about having a photo and autograph session with these characters is that they always have unique attire resembling classic style from several decades in the 1900’s. The dapper Goofy and Donald don hats, vests, and jackets and Daisy is usually wearing a classy little dress. It’s a great way to incorporate some diverse shots into your photographs since the characters aren’t wearing their everyday looks. Check your times guide or My Disney Experience app for appearance times.

9. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Courtyard

Just past Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano restaurant and close to the Streets of America, you will find Phineas and Ferb! These treasured Disney Channel stars are waiting for you with some great backgrounds for your candid pictures and meet and greet. Be sure to check your times guide or My Disney Experience app for greeting times since there are no FastPasses available for this event.

8. The Magic of Disney Animation

Located in the Animation Courtyard, The Magic of Disney Animation is home to an amazing hands-on exhibit that allows guests to see how animation is brought to life. Here, you can meet some pretty cool characters including Mr. Incredible and Frozone from The Incredibles movie, and Mickey Mouse himself! What I love about meeting Mickey here is that he is dressed in his sorcerer’s apprentice robe from his appearance in the classic Fantasia film. Make sure to check the times guide or My Disney Experience app for the appearances of these characters. There are no FastPasses available for these characters.

7. Princess Shows

Who doesn’t love a princess? They’re beautiful, royal, and full of class. There are some great shows at Hollywood Studios that feature a few beloved princesses: The Voyage of the Little Mermaid (in the Animation Courtyard) is a fantastic show that incorporates Ariel and all of her friends, Beauty and the Beast-Live (on Sunset Boulevard) tells the classic film of Belle and all of the classic characters from the movie, and the most recent show, For the First Time in Forever: Frozen Sing-Along Celebration (in the Streets of America) features Princess Anna and Queen Elsa along with Kristoff in a hilarious and fun filled performance. Fast passes are available for all of these shows!

6. Animation Courtyard

Directly inside the Animation Courtyard, you will find Disney Junior’s coolest pirate, Jake, along with the royal princess herself, Sophia the First. This is a great place to take your wee-little ones to enjoy meeting some familiar TV faces. Check your times guide or My Disney Experience app for appearances since there are no FastPasses offered here.

5. Team McQueen Headquarters

Just passed the Streets of America at Team McQueen Headquarters, Lightning McQueen and Mater are waiting to take some totally awesome photos! You will be amazed at how large and detailed they are! These two loveable cars are available to meet you from the moment the gates of the park open until the moment they close. There are no FastPasses being offered for this attraction.

4. Monsters, Inc. (Across from Honey, I shrunk the kids playground)

Just beyond the Streets of America and across from the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground, Sulley and Mike Wazowski are available to meet and greet. There are no FastPasses for this attraction, so be sure to check the times guide or My Disney Experience app for showings.

3. Jedi Training Academy

Star Wars Characters have been around for decades, and have continued to wow audiences through each generation. If you or your family love Star Wars as much as I do, you are not going to want to miss out on Darth Vader and the storm troopers! Jedi training is available in Echo Lake at the Star Tours ride location. Your little ones will train with a Jedi master to become Jedi Knights and defeat the evil Darth Vader. They even get their own lightsabers! There are no FastPasses available for this show. Check out your times guide or My Disney Experience app for performance times, and sign up early as these spaces get reserved quickly.

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2. Hollywood and Vine Character Dining

Hollywood and Vine is one of my absolute favorite places to dine. If you have little ones that love Disney Junior, you will want to put this restaurant at the top of your to-do list for character dining. For breakfast and Lunch only, you can dine and meet Doc McStuffins, Sophia the First, Jake (the Never Land Pirate) and Handy Manny. What’s great about character dining is that you don’t have to wait in long lines. The characters come to your table while you eat. Reservations are highly recommended.

1. Fantasmic!

Hands down, the best show on Disney property has to be Fantasmic!, Hollywood Studios premier nighttime spectacular on Sunset Boulevard. This iconic show incorporates characters from so many classic and modern films, so much so, that you’re not going to want to blink and miss out on the action. Not only will you be enlightened and floored at the beauty and incorporation of all of the characters, but the final scene will have your eyes wide and jaw on the floor with the amount of characters that you will see. This is a must see for my family and I every visit! FastPasses are highly recommended for this show since it reached capacity quickly. You won’t regret making this a priority on your next visit!

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About Natalie

Natalie is an elementary school teacher and a native Floridian who lives and breathes all things Disney. Her love for Disney started at the age of two during her first visit, and has continued to flourish into her adult life. She loves to share her Disney passion with her students and believes Disney is so special because there is no other place to forget about your worries and be a kid again, which is why she refuses to ‘grow up’.

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