Prioritizing the Animal Kingdom Characters – Locations, Pictures, Wait Times, Best Times to Meet etc.

5/24/12 Update: Updated meet times for all characters.

This is the fourth part in the Character Prioritization Series.  Epcot is here.  Hollywood Studios is here.  And Magic Kingdom here.

The following would not be possible without the help of Kenny over at KennyThePirate.com.  At his site, you’ll find printable charts that list the characters and their meet times in a much more organized format.  Make sure to check out the Master List, which lists each of the locations a character meets.

The Magic Kingdom edition provides a little color about what you’re looking at below as well if you haven’t read over the previous articles. Basically, the point of this article is to identify where the various characters are located and create a plan to minimize waits as much as possible. While even the “lowest priority” characters will have afternoon waits of 10 to 15 minutes, it simply isn’t possible to meet every character in the morning when waits will generally be shortest. Because of that, we need to identify the characters that will have the longest afternoon waits and visit them first. Then we can move on to the “less popular” characters later in the morning or whenever we can expect their waits to be shortest.

Overall Strategy: Camp Minnie-Mickey is the major priority at Animal Kingdom.  And specifically, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse see the longest lines.  Unlike the other three major theme parks, there really aren’t any characters that must be done in the morning or you’re doomed to find a 40+ minute wait.  At Magic Kingdom, we have Rapunzel, Tinker Bell, and Ariel, each of which can see 45+ minute waits virtually from Park open.  At Epcot, it’s the Character Spot that can easily see 40 to 60+ minute waits.  At the Studios, we have the Toy Story characters and Phineas/Ferb.  At Animal Kingdom, we’ll still want to prioritize Mickey and Minnie at Camp Minnie-Mickey, but it isn’t the end of the world if we don’t get over there in the early morning.  Other than that, there are fewer character meet and greets in Animal Kingdom than the other major theme parks and no characters see absurd wait times.  Let’s have a look at what we’re dealing with.

Character Greeting Trails – Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Chip, Dale, Pluto, Pocahontas, Meeko, Rafiki, Thumper, Miss Bunny, and Possibly Others – Wilderness/Normal Attire

Priority: Highest, assuming you’d like to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald.  These characters have the longest lines.  The other characters see shorter lines throughout most of the day and you aren’t necessarily in a hurry to get over here if you don’t want to meet the “biggies.”

Location:

The Character Greeting Trails are located in Camp Minnie-Mickey near the entrance and exit to Festival of the Lion King.  Above is the bridge that connects the area with Discovery Island.  Pocahontas is located up here on the left.  The other Characters are to the right.

Pocahontas is the first character you’ll see on your left after crossing the bridge and arriving in Camp Minnie-Mickey.  Where she’s looking is where the other characters are located.

Usual Meet Times:

Meet times in parentheses indicate the earlier meet time when Animal Kingdom is opening at 8am to the general public. If Animal Kingdom opens at 9am (even when it’s hosting an 8am morning Extra Magic Hour), ignore the times in parentheses.

Chip and Dale:

• 9:45am – 11:50am
• 12:30pm – 2:10pm

Donald:

• 10am – 1pm
• 1:40pm – Park Close

Goofy:

• 10am – Park Close

Meeko:

• 9:45am – 1:40pm

Mickey:

• 10am – Park Close

Minnie:

• 10am – Park Close

Miss Bunny:

• 9:45am – 1:20pm
• 2pm – 2:40pm
• 4pm – 4:40pm
• 5pm – 5:40pm

Pluto:

• 10am – Park Close

Pocahontas:

• 9:30am – 10:15am
• 10:45am – 11:45am
• 1pm – 1:45pm
• 2pm – 2:45pm
• 3pm – 3:40pm
• 4:15pm – 5pm

Thumper:

• 9:45am – 1:20pm
• 2pm – 2:20pm
• 4:40pm – 5:20pm
• 5:40pm – 6pm

Process: Each of the characters has a separate line.  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy meet guests in covered gazebos and have a queue out in front of their respective huts.  The other characters will have lines that simply veer off in various directions.  In all cases, you simply wait your turn and proceed to meet/greet the character.

Holiday Overlay: From around the second week in November through a couple days after New Year’s, Camp Minnie-Mickey transforms into Santa Goofy’s Wild Wonderland.  More info about it here and to a lesser extent here.  During that time, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip, Dale, and Pluto will be in festive outfits for the holiday.

During Goofy’s Wonderland, lines to the characters dressed up for the holidays are usually about twice as long as they would be otherwise.  Outside of Mickey’s Christmas Party and Magic Kingdom over Christmas Week, this is your only chance to get pictures with the major characters in their holiday outfits.

Interaction: Average to great.  The interaction with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and other non-speaking characters is about what you can expect from other Meet and Greets.  You usually get a little more time with each character than you would get at a Meet and Greet like the Character Spot because lines are usually shorter, giving the characters more opportunity to spend time with guests.  Pocahontas spends a lot of time with guests and is extremely personable.

Wait Times: Mickey and Minnie have the longest waits.  Even then, you can expect to wait less than 20 minutes most days.  Goofy and Donald have the second longest waits, though it isn’t uncommon for both to have less than fifteen people in their respective lines.  Chip and Dale can also see lines that extend to around 20 people when it’s busy.  Pocahontas, Thumper, Miss Bunny, and others usually see virtually no lines.

Best Times to Meet: Arriving about five minutes before Mickey and Minnie are scheduled to appear should guarantee the shortest overall waits.  Mickey and Minnie are the two priorities here.  The other characters will see much shorter lines.  If you have other priorities in the morning, like riding Kilimanjaro Safaris and/or Expedition Everest, then you’ll want to avoid arriving after a Festival of the Lion King show.  The exit to the show is right near the Character Trails and the show lets about 1,000 people out into the area once per hour.  If possible, try to arrive before the first Lion King concludes and waits should still be short.  After that, try to arrive about five minutes before a Lion King show begins.  Most people that exited from the previous show will have moved on and you’ll have about 40 minutes to spend with the characters before another wave hits.  Other than that, the best time to visit is in the final hour that the characters appear.  A lot of people leave Animal Kingdom in the afternoon after the 3:45pm Parade because they feel like they’ve run out of things to do.  Lines at the Character Trails and everywhere else will only get shorter as it approaches the official close.

The scene outside the Character Trails immediately after a Festival of the Lion King show gets out.

Other Meet Locations: The list would be too long for Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, Dale, and Pluto.  See the Magic Kingdom Edition for a detailed list.  This is the only location where you can ordinarily meet Pocahontas, Meeko, Thumper, and Miss Bunny.  Rafiki also meets at Animal Kingdom at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

Russel and Dug – Wilderness Adventurers

Priority: Moderate Low

Location:

Russel and Dug meet in Discovery Island to the left of the entrance to It’s Tough To Be A Bug.

Usual Meet Times:

• 9am – 2pm Continuously

Process:

Russel and Dug’s queue is located directly to the left of them.

Interaction: Above Average. Russel and Dug are a lot of fun and because their line is usually short, the interaction is usually long and varied. These wilderness adventurers definitely know how to have a good time.

Best Times to Meet: There isn’t necessarily an outstanding time to meet them because they appear first thing in the morning and leave in the early afternoon. Most people will be headed somewhere more important first thing in the morning, so you don’t want to visit first thing.   I recommend visiting sometime between 1pm and 2pm.  Because this is located near the entrance, most people will already be inside Animal Kingdom and in line for another attraction or show by that time.

Other Meet Locations: None at this time.

Goofy and Pluto – Crazy Outfit and a Collar, Respectively

Priority: Moderate Low

Location:

Goofy and Pluto meet in DinoLand USA in between the large Chester and Hester Store and Restaurantosaurus.  TriceraTop Spin and Primeval Whirl are just behind us.  Here, their gas station is spruced up for the holidays.

Usual Meet Times:

• 10am – Close with Intermittent Breaks

Process: The queue is located to the right of where the characters greet guests.  Hop in line and wait your turn.

Interaction: Average.  It’s about what you can expect from these two.  Both are always ecstatic to see you and will try to fight over which one of them gets to try to knock you over.

Wait Times: Waits that exceed 15 minutes are rare.  It’s not the most obvious meet and greet location and the characters are available all over Walt Disney World.

Best Times to Meet: Arriving about five minutes before the characters are scheduled should guarantee the shortest waits and allow you to meet both characters at the same time.  Arriving around 1:35pm for their 1:40pm set would be your next best bet.  Otherwise, visit in the last hour they’re scheduled to appear.

Other Meet Locations:

Goofy:

1. Animal Kingdom – In a safari outfit at Camp Minnie-Mickey Character Greeting Trails.  His lines are usually a bit longer there, though it varies.  From mid-November through December, he meets in a Santa Claus suit.  As Santa Goofy, his lines are ordinarily much longer than there.
2. Animal Kingdom – Goofy meets guests outside the main entrance near bag check.  His appearances here can be spotty, so it isn’t your best choice.
3. Animal Kingdom – For guests dining at Tusker House Restaurant in Africa, he appears in a  third safari outfit.
4. Epcot – He meets in his classic outfit at the Character Spot in Future World.  Afternoon wait times can hit as high as 40 to 60 minutes here, but you do have the bonus of meeting Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto one after the next all in their traditional garb.
5. Hollywood Studios – Goofy meets at the Sorcerer’s Hat intermittently until 11:30am in blue pants and a blue top hat.  He normally appears with Pluto.  Lines are variable, but usually longer than here.
6. Magic Kingdom – Goofy meets in a pirate outfit.  Lines are similarly short.
7. Beach Club Resort – Goofy meets diners at Cape May Cafe’s breakfast in a lifejacket and otherwise ridiculous beach outfit.
8. Contemporary Resort – Goofy meets at Chef Mickey’s in a chef outfit.
9. Fort Wilderness – Goofy meets at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ in a cowboy-ish outfit.
10. Mickey’s Halloween Party 2011 – Goofy hosted a dance party along with Stitch, Pluto, Chip, and Dale in his space pilot outfit in Tomorrowland.
11. Mickey’s Christmas Party 2011 – Goofy hosted a dance party along with Pluto, Chip, and Dale in his Santa outfit at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe.

Pluto:

1. Animal Kingdom – Pluto may also meet in the Oasis or out in front of Animal Kingdom in his usual outfit, but this is rarer.
2. Epcot – Pluto meets at the Character Spot along with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy in their classic outfits.  Afternoon waits are much longer, but you do have the benefit of meeting five characters individually one after the other.
3. Epcot – Pluto greets diners at Garden Grill in Future World alongside Mickey, Chip, and Dale.  He appears in a slightly different collar.
4. Hollywood Studios – Pluto meets at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat in the morning with a slightly different collar.  He usually appears with Goofy.
5. Magic Kingdom – Pluto meets in a similar state of nudity just inside the main entrance.  Waits are usually the same or slightly longer there.
6. Contemporary Resort – Pluto greets diners at Chef Mickey’s in a chef hat and apron.
7. Polynesian Resort – Pluto meet alongside Lilo, Stitch, and Mickey at ‘Ohana Breakfast.
8. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2011 – Pluto hosted a dance party with Chip, Dale, Goofy, and Stitch.  He appeared in his space goggles and jetpack.
9. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2011 – Pluto hosted a dance party alongside Chip, Dale, and Goofy at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in his jingle collar.

Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger – Classic Outfits

Priority: Low

Location:

This is an odd one because the entrance to meet the characters is so far away from where the characters seemingly meet.  We’re looking at the characters from the bridge that connects the Oasis and Discovery Island.  In other words, Animal Kingdom’s entrance is to our right and the Tree of Life is to our left.

The queue entrance is located directly across from Flame Tree Barbecue on the walkway that connects Discovery Island and DinoLand USA.

Usual Meet Times:

• 10am – 1:35pm with intermittent breaks
• 1:40pm – Park Close with intermittent breaks

The end of this meet can vary depending on when Animal Kingdom closes.  Ordinarily, the characters will appear until at least 7pm if Animal Kingdom closes at 7pm or later.  When Animal Kingdom closes earlier than 7pm, the characters usually appear right up until official close.

Process: Find the entrance to the queue as pictured above.  Once it’s your turn, you’ll meet each of the Pooh characters individually one after the next.

You may find one, two, or all three characters appearing depending on the time of day and who’s taking a break.  The characters currently appearing are listed on this sign in front of the entrance to the queue.  In the picture with the arrows above, it’s sitting behind the custodial staff.  Note that this isn’t necessarily a guarantee that those characters will be present when it’s your turn.

Interaction: Below average to average.  It’s the same gig as you’ll find at most of the other Winnie the Pooh meet and greets.  At several of their other meet and greets, you’ll have the opportunity to meet two characters together rather than separately, which usually adds to the fun a bit.

Wait Times: Because it isn’t at all obvious, wait times are ordinarily less than fifteen minutes regardless of crowd level.

Best Times to Meet: Sometime in the afternoon is best.  Most people won’t be in any hurry to get here and will have higher priorities like the Character Greeting Trails, Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, etc.

Other Meet Locations:

1. Epcot – Winnie the Pooh and Tigger meet in the Toy Solider shop in the United Kingdom Pavilion.  It’s way in the back of the store, which is way in the back of the Pavilion.  Lines are ordinarily less than five minutes.
2. Hollywood Studios – Winnie the Pooh meets in the Animation Building in front of a cute honey pot backdrop.  His waits are usually short there too – in the 5 to 15 minute range.
3. Hollywood Studios – Eeyore greets guests until noon near Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat either alone or with another of the Pooh characters.  Lines are usually longer after 10am.
4. Magic Kingdom – Winnie the Pooh and Tigger greet guests somewhere around Magic Kingdom.  With the construction in Fantasyland, their exact location has been moving around.  Wait times are usually in the 10 to 20 minute range, if that.
5. Magic Kingdom – Winnie the Pooh meets diners at Crystal Palace on Main Street with Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore.
6. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2011 – Winnie the Pooh met with Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger in their Halloween costumes at the Flag Pole.
7. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2011 – Winnie the Pooh met with Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger in scarfs in Fantasyland.

Baloo, King Louie, and Meeko – Tastefully Nude

Priority: Lowest

Location:

Baloo, King Louie, and Meeko meet along the path that connects Africa and Asia in the back of the Animal Kingdom.  There are basically two ways to reach the area:

From Africa, the walkway will be on your left just after you exit Africa.

From Asia, the walkway is located just past the Safari Egg Roll kiosk on your right.

Usual Meet Times:

Baloo and King Louie:

• 9:20am – 1:20pm
• 1:40pm – 2pm

Process:

The characters are located underneath a small hut and their queue juts off to the left of them.

Interaction: Baloo and King Louie are among the best non-speaking characters.  Meeko is less awesome, but tries (I would guess?).

Baloo and King Louie are a lot of fun because both have so much personality and lines are so short.

Best Times to Meet: There is virtually never more than three or four groups in line here because it’s one of the least obvious Meet and Greets on Disney property.  Add in the fact that they might not be the most relevant characters these days and you have a recipe for an unpopular meet.  Most people will want to visit in the late morning or during their second set from 12:40pm to 2:30pm.  There’s no rush to get over here.  If you’d like to visit Meeko, the meet and greet with Pocahontas at Camp Minnie-Mickey would be better because you’ll also get Pocahontas in the shot.

Other Meet Locations: Meeko is the only character that regularly meets elsewhere.  You can find him in Camp Minnie-Mickey with Pocahontas in the morning.

Rafiki – Baboon Tail Affixed

Priority: Lowest

Location:

Rafiki meets in the middle of the Conservation Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.  The only way to access this area is by the Wildlife Express Train in Africa and then continue walking up to the Conservation Station.

Usual Meet Times:

• 10:15am – 2:15pm
• 2:55pm – 5:15pm

Process:

Rafiki appears casually in the middle of the Conservation Station.  His line, which is usually just a handful of people, patiently waits off to the side.

Interaction: Average.  It would be better if he had a stick to hit people with, but he does his best with the tools provided for him.

Wait Times: It’s extremely rare to see waits any longer than ten minutes.  Usually, there are just eight or so people in line.

Best Times to Meet: Unless you’re headed to Rafiki’s Planet Watch early in the morning to have a better opportunity at seeing some of the veterinary procedures, most people will want to save this one for after lunch.  Getting out here on the Wildlife Express is time consuming and nothing here really warrants an early visit for most guests.

Other Meet Locations: Rafiki can pop up at Camp Minnie-Mickey, but he does not ordinarily meet elsewhere.  In 2011, he appeared at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Goofy and Timon – Goofy Is (Arguably) Dressed Slightly Better

Priority: Lowest

Location:

Goofy and Timon meet just inside bag check and outside of Animal Kingdom.  In other words, you’ll see them to the right before you pass through the turnstiles to enter the Park, but after they’ve confiscated all of your weapons.

Usual Meet Times:

• 9:50am – 10:20am
• 10:50am – 11:20am

Process:

Both characters have individual lines that run directly in front of them.

Interaction: Average.  They don’t talk much, but they try their hardest to let you know that they’re happy to see you.

Wait Times: Waits are generally 15 minutes or less.  Most people bypass the characters on their way inside Animal Kingdom, either assuming they’ll be there when they exit or will be able to meet them inside or elsewhere.  While that’s true for Goofy, Timon does not ordinarily appear elsewhere.

Best Times to Meet: This is a difficult one because most people will want to arrive before the characters begin appearing at 9:50am.  Should you arrive earlier, you’ll have to travel all the way back to the front of Animal Kingdom if you want to meet Goofy or Timon out here.  It’s probably not worth it for Goofy since he is easily available in two locations inside Animal Kingdom, but some people may want to take the time to head back out here for Timon.  If that’s the case, I recommend arriving at 11:45am for the 11:50am meet.  This way the fewest number of people will be arriving at Animal Kingdom.  You’ll see the majority arriving between 10am and 11am, which makes the 9:50am and 10:50am meets see longer waits.  Otherwise, it’s really about whenever the walk will be shortest.  If you’re near It’s Tough To Be A Bug or another attraction relatively close to the entrance/exit, consider heading out to meet Goofy and/or Timon.

Other Meet Locations:

Timon:

This is the only location to meet Timon during regular theme park hours.  In 2011, Timon did meet guests during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Goofy:

1. Animal Kingdom – In a safari outfit at Camp Minnie-Mickey Character Greeting Trails.  His lines are usually a bit longer there, though it varies.  From mid-November through December, he meets in a Santa Claus suit.  As Santa Goofy, his lines are ordinarily much longer than here.
2. Animal Kingdom – Goofy meets guests alongside Pluto in DinoLand USA in a similarly crazy outfit.
3. Animal Kingdom – For guests dining at Tusker House Restaurant in Africa, he appears in a  third safari outfit.
4. Epcot – He meets in his classic outfit at the Character Spot in Future World.  Afternoon wait times can hit as high as 40 to 60 minutes here, but you do have the bonus of meeting Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto one after the next all in their traditional garb.
5. Hollywood Studios – Goofy meets at the Sorcerer’s Hat intermittently until 11:30am in blue pants and a blue top hat.  He normally appears with Pluto.  Lines are variable, but usually longer than here.
6. Magic Kingdom – Goofy meets in a pirate outfit.  Lines are similarly short.
7. Beach Club Resort – Goofy meets diners at Cape May Cafe’s breakfast in a lifejacket and otherwise ridiculous beach outfit.
8. Contemporary Resort – Goofy meets at Chef Mickey’s in a chef outfit.
9. Fort Wilderness – Goofy meets at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ in a cowboy-ish outfit.
10. Mickey’s Halloween Party 2011 – Goofy hosted a dance party along with Stitch, Pluto, Chip, and Dale in his space pilot outfit in Tomorrowland.
11. Mickey’s Christmas Party 2011 – Goofy hosted a dance party along with Pluto, Chip, and Dale in his Santa outfit at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe.