Countdown - 55 Days to Go!

Jillian Wallin
Oct 15
2 min read

🦁 55 Days to Go!!! More Characters to Meet and Greet at Animal Kingdom 🎉

Animal Kingdom is one of those parks where character meet-and-greets always seem to slip through the cracks for me—unless it’s someone I’ve never seen anywhere else! So here’s your friendly (and slightly annoying) reminder: some characters have very short windows of availability, and others only appear during special events. Be sure to check the Walt Disney World app for the latest character schedules!

⏰ Keep in mind: Animal Kingdom has shorter operating hours, which means your chances to meet characters can feel even more limited. But don’t worry—you can still catch some great ones if you plan ahead!

🌿 Right at the Entrance

Pocahontas is often tucked away near the entrance. This is the only park I’ve ever seen her in, and because of her hidden location, she’s often overlooked—hello, shorter lines!
Photo Credit: Jillian Wallin
Pluto occasionally pops up here too!

🗺️ Discovery Island

Meet the classic explorers: Mickey and Minnie.
Spot the crew from Up: Dug, Russell, and the fabulous Kevin (my personal fave—so quirky and fun!).
Photo Credit: Jillian Wallin
There’s a tucked-away spot where you can meet Moana.
Photo Credit: Jillian Wallin
Keep your eyes peeled for DeVine, who blends into the foliage like a true forest spirit.

🌍 Africa

Goofy is listed here, but I’ve never managed to catch him—maybe I just have bad timing!

🦕 Dinoland (Catch It Before It’s Gone!)

Before it’s replaced, you might still find Donald, Daisy, Chip, and Dale roaming around.

🧭 Rafiki’s Planet Watch (Hidden Gem Alert!)

This was a total surprise to me—I went three visits without even knowing it existed! Check the My Disney Experience app, and you might see characters floating in the middle of nowhere. That’s Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and it’s part of Animal Kingdom!

Meet Rafiki himself (watch out for that walking stick!).
Say hi to Timon—though I still think it’s a crime that Pumbaa isn’t there too.

🎄 This spot is high on our list for our December trip!

What other amazing characters have you spotted at Animal Kingdom? And seriously—why are there no character meet-and-greets in Pandora? Feels like a missed opportunity! Also, the photos don't lie, I have a lot of characters to catch up with next visit!