If you’ve visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the past few weeks, you may have noticed something unusual—guests lining up near the Chinese Theater not for a ride, but to meet some of the rarest characters in the Walt Disney World portfolio.
In what appears to be a strategic move to maintain entertainment offerings during a season of construction and closures, Disney has introduced new daily meet and greets featuring Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Mary Poppins, and Bert—a group of characters rarely seen outside of seasonal events or VIP experiences.
This unexpected character rollout comes amid sweeping changes to Hollywood Studios, including the closure of Animation Courtyard and the transformation of the area into the upcoming Walt Disney Studios Lot, opening in 2026.
Four Classic Characters, Seven Days a Week
The characters now appearing are among the most elusive in the parks. While Mary Poppins occasionally makes the rounds at Epcot’s UK Pavilion, and Bert surfaces even less frequently, both Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio have been practically absent from regular guest interaction for years.
Now, all four can be found near the Chinese Theater, just steps away from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, on a clearly defined rotating schedule:
Character Appearance Times
- Pinocchio: 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:50 PM, 2:50 PM, 3:30 PM
- Mary Poppins: 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:50 PM, 2:50 PM, 3:50 PM
- Jiminy Cricket: 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:20 PM, 3:20 PM
- Bert: 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:20 PM, 3:20 PM
The appearances follow a predictable cadence, giving guests multiple opportunities to plan their day around a meeting with one (or all) of these Disney legends. For die-hard character fans, this is the kind of meet and greet lineup that usually requires a hard-ticket event like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
This marks the first time in recent memory that all four characters have had such consistent and publicly scheduled appearances in a Walt Disney World park.
Why Now?
The timing of these appearances is unlikely to be coincidental. On September 25, 2025, Animation Courtyard officially closed, making way for the next major expansion project at Hollywood Studios: the Walt Disney Studios Lot and a new interactive attraction titled “The Magic of Disney Animation.”
This multi-phase redevelopment is set to reimagine what was once considered one of the more stagnant areas of the park. Along with the closure of Star Wars Launch Bay and the Disney Junior Dance Party, character meet and greets that were previously housed in that area have been displaced.
Rather than simply relocate existing characters, Disney is instead using this transition period to bring back characters that are long overdue for a return. It’s a decision that satisfies several priorities: crowd management, character diversity, and public goodwill.
The Bigger Picture: Star Wars and Animation Realignment
Alongside the rare character rollout, Star Wars meet and greets have been quietly repositioned following the closure of Launch Bay.
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Darth Vader is now meeting guests in a rarely used outdoor overflow queue behind Star Tours, styled after the Endor village. His appearances run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, on a half-hour rotation.
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Chewbacca continues to make unscheduled but frequent appearances in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, typically near the Millennium Falcon.
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Olaf remains available at Celebrity Spotlight, now with a new “exclusive” access option for Disney Visa Cardholders, functioning like a Lightning Lane rather than a unique meet and greet.
So far, Disney has not announced a long-term replacement for the now-defunct Disney Visa Cardholder experience that was previously held in Launch Bay. With space limitations and character priorities shifting, it’s unclear whether this perk will find a new home anytime soon.
“The Magic of Disney Animation” and What’s Next
Set to debut sometime in 2026, the Walt Disney Studios Lot project will introduce new place-making and immersive family experiences to replace the former Animation Courtyard area. At its core will be the all-new “Magic of Disney Animation” attraction, located inside the repurposed Star Wars Launch Bay building.
According to Disney, this attraction will feature:
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Interactive areas inspired by real animation departments
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“Living portraits” like those featured in Once Upon a Studio
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Character sketch stations
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A short film with a comedic twist
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“Drawn to Wonderland,” a whimsical indoor play area for children
The project will be capped off by the return of the Sorcerer’s Hat, reimagined as part of the new show building’s exterior, echoing the architecture of Disney’s Burbank studio.
Elsewhere in the new land, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will remain operational but may be accessed via an alternate entrance as construction fences gradually expand. A new Disney Junior live show is also planned for one of the adjacent soundstages, although no details have been announced.
Will These Character Meet and Greets Stick Around?
While no end date has been confirmed, there’s a strong possibility that these rare character meet and greets are temporary offerings, designed to fill in the entertainment gap while construction is underway.
If past patterns are any indication, guests shouldn’t assume these appearances will remain in place after the Walt Disney Studios Lot opens next year. That makes fall 2025 an ideal time to visit if you’re hoping to cross a few elusive characters off your list.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has struggled for years to balance its attraction-heavy lineup with a robust lineup of character experiences. These new meet and greets are a smart and welcome addition, giving guests something fresh to enjoy while large-scale construction reshapes the park.
Whether you’re a character completionist, a fan of classic Disney animation, or just someone looking to add a bit of old-school magic to your trip, this is one rare lineup that shouldn’t be missed.
As always, stay tuned for official updates from Walt Disney World as the Studios Lot project develops—and keep an eye on those construction walls. Big changes are coming, and this might just be the calm (and charming) before the storm.
