Charcter Spot Guide! Disney's Animal Kingdom

This guide has all the advice you need for meeting characters at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Walk through the wilderness and nature of Animal Kingdom and see which characters you may find through your adventure...
First, some important rules and tips you should have prepared before starting your day at the park.

1. Be there as early as you can!

That way you will totally seize the day and take advantage of timing.

2. Plot your route wisely

According to the things you want to do and characters you want to meet, search for maps online and find their locations and timings if they have. That way you won't be walking to and fro between park areas, therefore you won't get extremely tired or have your feet sore and you won't lose time.

3. Prioritize

Make a list of the characters you HAVE to meet and you just can't leave the park without meeting. Then check for the hours they're showing and check your watch constantly.

4. Have everything ready

When you're in line, have at hand your autograph book, (preferably on the page you want them to sign) along with your pen or Sharpie marker, (for the character's convenience and comfort, bring thick pens and Sharpies because it's easier for the ones that have full costumes like Baloo to hold them instead of thin ones) and always carry your park ticket in handy for the moment the photographer scan the code so you can have your picture with the Disney's Photopass (or if you purchased the Memory Maker.)
Optional: If you want pictures with your camera, give it to a Cast Member so they can snap some pics with your camera. When I met characters this trip, I did it on my own so I had no one with me to take them and I had almost no trouble with giving my camera to the Cast Members (and some very rare times even to the  own photographer, but I like to have with both cameras, so they took with mine and theirs) I only had troubles with Enchanted Tales With Belle because the photographer said No and the Cast Member said she couldn't do that, so I had to give my camera to a women in public (if you're reading this, really THANK YOU, I was really desperate.)

5. Have fun!

You made such a long line to wait for them, so talk to them, ask them anything about their stories, they love to do that and most of the time they are always willing to chat and just BE their characters, play with them, dance along, bring them gifts if you want to. Make the experience memorable for both they and you!
Oh, I almost forgot!

6. Grab the Times Guide Sheet or check out if its inside your map

This paper had EVERYTHING from where to find characters and their greeting times to Show times and Restaurants. This sheet is updated weekly.

Down bellow I'll leave a Park Map I have modified and highlighted with the specific character (s) that meet there so you don't get lost or confused with all the Character Signs in the original maps.

Characters you can meet

Wilderness Explorers: Russell and Dug from UP

Where To find them?

I found them near DinoLand U.S.A, really close to the entrance of It's Tough To Be A Bug in the Wilderness Explorers club house. (Check the Times Guide just in case)

Autographs:

Yes.

Experience:

We were about to leave for Asia when these two showed up and I just had to make line to meet them. I waited like 10 minutes and they were extremely cute! Russell is adorable, and they both received us with hugs and lots of love. Then we posed for our pictures and left to continue our adventure!
This meeting was really short and not with a lot of interaction because they were the very first characters I was meeting on this trip, so I think I got a bit nervous. But it was really nice anyway.

Tips and Recommendations:

-Tell Dug he's a really good boy!
-Ask Russell if he ever got his GPS back
-Ask them if you can join the Wilderness Explorers
-Congratulate Russell for filling his W.E band
-Or ask them anything that comes to your mind! Just have fun.

Pocahontas from Pocahontas

This gorgeous and adventurous princess took some time in her tight agenda of picking corn, painting with the colors of the wind and canoeing just to meet you!

Where to find her?

Discovery Island. Make your way as if you were headed to enter in DinoLand U.S.A and just before crossing the bridge, at your right hand, you'll see a sign that says Meet Pocahontas. (Check Times Guide in case of any changes)
Just for you to know!
The waiting line has two parts, you'll wait some minutes near where you entered (which is plain ground), and then the Cast Members will let the guest pass per groups down a little ramp walkway (they do this for safety and comfort; imagine carry a stroller and waiting in line in a declivitous land), once down you'll see a little hut where Pocahontas meets and you have to continue your line until you meet her.

Autographs:

Yes.

My experience:

I totally recommend you to meet her! She was so fun and amazing to me I couldn't stop smiling.
She greeted us with a welcoming 'Wingapo' and so did I, she said she loved my friendship necklace (and I was so happy because it was made by me!) and she said I was a beautiful artist. She asked if we had been exploring a lot and I said YES (lots of emphasis because I walked A.K like you have no idea) and she said 'Oh, you're explorers... just like my friend John Smith' and I couldn't help but ask how was he (because I LOVE the couple of Pocahontas and John Smith) and she said 'he's fine, really good.' Then she signed my book (and loved her drawing!) and had our pictures taken.
P.S. Sometimes, if you're lucky, she meets with Meeko!

Tips and Recommendations:

-Greet her with a heartwarming 'Wingapo'
-Ask her who is she married to
-Ask her which is her favorite animal
-Ask her about her friends Meeko and Flik
-Ask her what does she think about Kocoum
-Ask her about Grandmother Willow

Baloo and King Louie from The Jungle Book

Learn about the bare necessities of life and how to be the dancing king of the monkeys with this two!
Where to find them?
Upcountry Asia, next to the restaurant Mr. Kamal's and in front of Warung Outpost. (Check Times Guide in case of any changes)

Autographs:

Now Baloo does sign autographs! but King Louie doesn't. Sometimes Baloo signs for him.
Anyway, just in case, ask the Cast Members if they do sign because things change, and maybe we'll see King Louie signing soon, who knows!

Tips and Recommendations:

-Call Baloo 'Papa Bear'
-Tell King Louie you want to be like him!
-Ask Baloo where Bagheera is
-Dance with King Louie!

Rafiki from The Lion King

Asane sata! Meet this funny and very wise friend.

Where to find him?

Rafiki's Planet Watch. To get there, you must take the Wildlife Express Train (trains depart every 5-7 minutes) to get to that place.
There's not much to do in there unless you'd like to look inside the animal care center.
He meets next to the Conservation Station. (Check Times Guide in case of any changes)

Autographs:

Yes.

Tips and Recommendations:

-Ask him how's Simba
-Ask him what does he sees about your destiny

Goofy and Pluto

Meet this too loving characters from Mickey's gang!

Where to find them?

Go to DinoLand U.S.A and locate TriceraTop Spin, their meeting spot is across from there. (Check Times Guide in case of any changes)

Autographs:

Yes. 

Tips and Recommendations:

-Ask them why Pluto walks of four legs and Goofy on two if they're both dogs. (And message me later what the responded because I forgot to ask that and I regret it!)

Mickey and Minnie

The golden couple! They've stopped in their very scheduled trips to share with you and make you smile.

Where to find them?

Adventurers Outpost in Discovery Island. Just in front the Eight Spoon Café. (Check Times Guide in case of any changes)
Just for you to know!
This place is BEAUTIFUL inside because it has pictures of Mickey and Minnie and all their adventures together and you can pass the waiting time looking around the place. And they meet in these cute explorer outfits!

Autographs:

Yes.

Tips and Recommendations:

-Ask them which is their favorite trip they've done together

 

Tarzan from Tarzan

He wants to know about the strangers like him!

Where to find him?

Discovery Island. Between Island Mercantile shop and the Pizzafari restaurant. (Check Times Guide in case of any changes)

Autographs:

Yes.

Tips and Recommendations :

-Ask her how's Jane
-Ask him about Kala
-Ask about Terk and Thantor

Flik from A Bug's Life

This witty hardworking ant is taking a little break and is visiting from his ant island, prepare to live the biggest miniature meeting!

Where to find him?

Discovery Island. Between Pizzafari and Creature Comforts restaurants. (Check Times Guide in case of any changes)

Autographs:

Yes.

Tips and Recommendations:

-Ask how's Atta.
-Ask him if he's built any new invention
-Ask him about his Pete's Circus friends

Donald Duck

The #1 Duck is here!

Where to find him?

Go to DinoLand U.S.A and locate TriceraTop Spin, he meets right across from it. He's very very close to where Goofy and Pluto meet, just that he's behind where they are.

Autographs:

Yes

Tips and Recommendations:

-Tell him he's your favorite character
-Or tell him Mickey's your favorite to see how he reacts!
-Ask him if he had anger management problems to see what he does
-Ask him if Hewie, Dewie and Louie are causing lots of trouble for him

Chip 'n Dale

This adorable duo is just waiting in the wilderness to greet some visitors.

Where to find them?

Rafiki's Planet Watch. Next to the Conversation Center, right where Rafiki meets.

Autographs:

Yes.

Tips and Recommendations:

-Tell them which one of them is your favorite.
Oh, and don't try to ask things like 'are you friends with Alvin and the chipmunks?' They're in their character, in that world, nothing outside Disney exists.

Divine

Tho she's not a Disney character, seeing her move with that grace and daintiness is just mesmerizing. Hope you're lucky to spot her, she's always moving through the Oasis near the entrance but past the stroller rental.

I spotted on:

The entrance of the park, passing the Garden Gate Gifts shop.

Autographs:

No.





Thanks for reading and I hope you find this helpful on your upcoming Disney travel.
Character Spotting Map:

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Love

-V-

Want to know more of my meeting with characters? Check out my post about it!
Post about it soon to come...