When visiting the Walt Disney World Resort, one aspect that Guests look forward to is the opportunity to interact with Disney characters. We love to meet the Disney characters, share hugs, collect autographs and make memories. Character dining is also something we plan for every Disney vacation. There are several Disney character meet and greets in each Disney Park. Walt Disney World characters meet in all the Disney Parks, such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy.
EPCOT offers some excellent Disney character experiences. Some characters only meet Guests in the Disney Park, while others appear in unique costumes you won’t see anywhere else in the Walt Disney World Resort. Here are all the Disney character experiences you should include in your next visit to EPCOT theme park.
Garden Grill
You’ll find Garden Grill in The Land Pavilion in World Nature. The Disney character dining restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. While dining, you’ll slowly rotate, offering views of the Living with the Land attraction. You’ll also get to eat produce from the attraction’s greenhouses. Garden Grill is a family-style dining restaurant where you are served skillets filled with delicious food. If there is anything you need more of, let your server know, and they will bring it out for you.
You’ll be joined by Pluto, Mickey Mouse, Chip and Dale whenever you choose to dine. Dining at Garden Grill lets you see Mickey dressed in his farmer’s outfit and Pluto adorning his plaid collar. Having enjoyed breakfast and dinner at the Disney restaurant, we highly recommend eating there while visiting EPCOT theme park.
Joy & Vanellope von Schweetz
If you’d like to meet some Disney PIXAR characters during your visit to the Walt Disney World Resort, then you’ll want to visit ImageWorks in World Celebration. Joy from Inside Out (2015) and Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph (2012) meet Guests inside the EPCOT attraction. You’ll want to visit ImageWorks throughout the day, as generally, Joy and Vanellope meet Guests between 10:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Check the My Disney Experience App for up-to-date times during your Disney vacation.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Would you like to dine with the Disney princesses? Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT is an excellent alternative to Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Disney restaurant in the Norway Pavilion in World Showcase. Food is served to your table on large platters, offering family-style dining. Meanwhile, the Disney princesses will join you for photos, hugs, autographs, and magical moments.
While the Disney princesses who join you in Akershus Royal Banquet Hall can vary, you can generally expect to see the following princesses during your dining experience:
- Belle, who you can otherwise meet in the France Pavilion
- Aurora, who you can also otherwise encounter in the France Pavilion
- Snow White, who you can otherwise meet in the Germany Pavilion by the wishing well
- Tiana, who otherwise doesn’t meet Guests in EPCOT. Instead, you must visit Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom Park.
- Ariel, who otherwise doesn’t meet Guests in EPCOT. Instead, visiting Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Hollywood Studios to meet her would be best.
Winnie The Pooh
While wandering between Soarin’ Around the World and Journey to Imagination with Figment, visit the gardens near Imagination! Winnie the Pooh appears throughout the day, interacting with Guests from a distance. You may see him trying to catch butterflies with his net or looking for honey around the trees. If you’re patient, he may come closer to the fence so you can get a photo with him nearby. We love to spend some time watching Pooh Bear while spending time at World Celebration.
Mexico Donald
If you love Donald Duck, then you won’t want to miss him at the Mexico Pavilion. Donald dresses for the occasion, wearing a poncho and sombrero. You’ll find him to the right of the Mexico Pavilion, near the Aztec wall. Donald meets Guests throughout the day between 9:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. We love to follow up meeting Donald with a ride on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros.
Anna & Elsa
On your way around World Showcase, you can meet Anna and Elsa in the Royal Sommerhus. Stop by before or after a ride on Frozen Ever After in the Norway Pavilion. Line times vary throughout the day. You can find up-to-date wait times for the Disney attraction on the My Disney Experience App.
Mary Poppins & Alice
You can meet two Disney characters in the United Kingdom Pavilion in EPCOT World Showcase. Alice from Alice in Wonderland (1951) meets Guests at the cottage, across from the Yorkshire Country Fish Shop, between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily. Meanwhile, Mary Poppins meets Guests in the United Kingdom Courtyard daily. Take a stroll down the street of shops to find her. Check the My Disney Experience App during your visit to EPCOT for up-to-date times of Mary Poppins’ appearances.
Mulan & Jasmine
EPCOT is an excellent Disney Park to see Disney princesses. In addition to the Disney princesses who meet Guests in Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, you can also see Mulan and Jasmine. Mulan appears throughout the day in the Great Hall of China in the China Pavilion. Visit World Showcase between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to see her. Across World Showcase Lagoon in the Mexico Pavilion, you can meet Jasmine. Please enter the Moroccan marketplace to find her meeting point between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.
Meeting characters is part of the Disney experience. Include these character experiences in your next visit to EPCOT. Similarly, find out about the Disney character experiences you don’t want to miss in Disney’s Animal Kingdom here.
