I enjoy taking pictures with Disney Characters. i imagine that I know something about this process so I wanted to write a little bit about my adventures interacting with characters, what I like, what I don't like, where and when to find characters at Disneyland, Disney California and a little about Disney World.

Places for Faces
Even if you aren't trying very hard when you walk in the gates of Disneyland there are often one or two characters hanging out by the mickey mouse topiary in front of the train station. In my experience this is often Alice and the Mad Hatter or sometimes Goofy or Pluto. Its a great feeling to arrive at Disneyland and be able to walk 5 feet before you see a character.

Once you are past the gates at the you are at the beginning of Main Street. On Main Street you can often see Mickey and Minnie near the Mad Hatter and the Emporium. Pluto and Goofy are sometimes here too and occasionally if you are really lucky Mary Poppins - once in a while with a penguin.

Next is the Castle. I love the castle because that is where the princesses hang out. Seems like they usually have two princesses at a time. Typically Snow White is near her wishing well on the right side of the castle. Aurora or Sleeping Beauty also seems to hang out on the right side of castle but not as far back as the well. Sometimes Evil Queen is also at the well. Belle normally is on the left side of the castle. Once in a while she has Beast with her. When she is at the castle she usually has her yellow ball gown on. Cinderella also usually appears of the left. Sometimes Cindy has her fairy godmother and or Prince Charming.

Not far from the castle in Fantasyland in the Tinker Bell Toy Shop the aforementioned princesses will tell a story and afterward you may be able to take your picture with them, it may be easier to catch them by the castle though.

Our next stop is at Character Corner.This is a raised platform area on your right as you head toward Small World. If you are looking for pictures with characters this is certainly the place to go. I have seen Captain Hook, Tigger, Chip, Dale, Queen of Hearts, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Jafar, Frollo nd tons of others. If you aren't particular about who you want a photo with this is the place for you. Its a kind of a pot luck and you never really know who will be there and frequently they will rotate out a particular character so that if you get in line and you see one character they may be replaced by the time you get there.

If you must have a picture with Minnie and or Mickey then its off to Toon Town for you. Visit Minnie's house where after a short wait in line you can take a pic with her in front of her house. Mickey stays inside where after going through his house you are led into a room with Mickey inside. I am told that there are 4 rooms in which Mickey can be at any one time. Mickey can be in any one of a couple costumes, Sorcerer's Apprentice and Director Mickey among them. You don't have a choice, its whatever Mickey feels like at the time. Goofy, Pluto, and Donald can also be found in Toon Town often roaming around.

If you want to visit Ariel you are in luck. Ariel appears in her own Grotto stuck in between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Ariel, as you know is a mermaid and mermaids do not have legs and cannot walk around. And so Ariel sits on a throne made especially for her.

Mulan in her kimono can sometimes be found in Adventureland or thereabouts. Also in Adventureland Aladdin and Jasmine are often found at Aladdin's Oasis this is a storytelling location where after the characters usually take photographs. Tarzan occasionally can be found in Adventureland by his treehouse.

Frontierland is a place to look for Woody and Jessie from Toy Story 2. I suppose other Toy Story characters might be found here. Except Buzz Lightyear of course. He is to be found in Tomorrowland in Club Buzz.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore are back on Critter Country.

Oh, also there is a Sword in the Stone ceremony in front of the Carousel in Fantasyland led by Merlin. If you are a Merlin fan you gotta show up for that.

I will add more later: Character dining and Characters at Disneyland California.

Tips and Tricks for Taking Pictures with Disney Characters Part IV

Tips and Tricks for Taking Pictures with Disney Characters Part III

Tips and Tricks for Taking Pictures with Disney Characters Part II