Your little princess is lined up, autograph book in hand. This is the moment she has been waiting for! She has watched her favorite Disney film an uncountable (and exhausting!) number of times, and knows her favorite characters inside out.
The minutes tick by – ten turns into thirty – now it’s nearly been an hour. Princess no more, your kiddo is antsy and irritated, and she’s about had it with the people in front of her. Ugh, let me tell you, nothing will dash the excitement of a character meet and greet like a long wait!
Fear not, my fellow magical mama! The lines in the Disney parks can be stressful and daunting, but there are workarounds to getting that picture with Mickey, Pluto, or Pooh without waiting hours. Try one of these more unique workarounds and avoid any unpleasant line!
Disney Genie +
The absolute easiest option that is available to any guest is utilizing the newer service Disney has been offering this year called Genie Plus, an add-on to any Disney day that allows guests to bypass many of the normal standby lines for only $15 per person per day. If you are heading to a park that not only has a sizable number of character meet and greets but also offers attractions and rides your family is interested in, it is absolutely worth the value of this purchase to save you hours of your day.
The most important components of using Genie + include:
- It mimics Disney’s old FastPass system, where guests selected rides or attractions they wanted to eliminate wait times on by opting for specific ride times.
- Guests who have this service added to their day can select their first ride beginning at 7:00 AM EST the day of their visit and one one ride reservation can be made at a time.
- Guests can make their next Genie+ ride selection as soon as they scan in for that ride OR 2 hours later – whichever comes first.
It may feel frustrating to consider paying for this feature, but on a vacation like Disney, time is money, and the more time you have to maximize your enjoyment in the parks, the better! We used Genie + for a total of 8 rides and attractions (including a character meet and greet) during our last visit in Magic Kingdom. That comes out to only $1.88 per person for each attraction we jumped the line for. In my book, that is a bargain to save us thirty, sixty, or more minutes.
Early Entry or Extended Hours
If you are already working with a Disney planning specialist from our sister company, Smart Moms Travel, they have probably already told you a bit about the terrific onsite perks guests at the Disney resorts enjoy. One of the best, in my opinion, is early entry into the parks and extended hours on select nights if you are staying at a deluxe Disney resort.
On my family’s recent trip this past September, this was exactly when we capitalized the most time for some character meet and greets. Again, in Magic Kingdom, the line for the princesses at Fairytale Hall never dwindled under sixty minutes. We kept waiting and waiting to see if it would lessen, but it was not until much, much later in the evening, after the regular park hours had wrapped, that we finally skyrocketed to the front to meet Rapunzel, Tiana, and Cinderella. Had I known it would be this easy in advance, I would have stopped worrying and checking those wait times all day!
Click here to get connected with a Smart Moms Travel agent if you would like to further discuss the potential benefits of booking as an onsite guest with Disney!
Character Dining
Sure, a character meal, even breakfast, can be pricey, but I want to remind you again what I said earlier – on a Disney vacation, you spend dollars on time wasted, and if there may be an expense in meeting characters anyways (re: Disney Genie +), why not enjoy some delicious food while you’re at it?
At these meals, characters will come directly to your table for hugs, autographs, and special one on one time to accompany pictures. They also frequently have fun interactive dance routines they perform, too, getting kiddos up and grooving. One of my favorite memories from our past trip was my daughter upstaging Goofy at Chef Mickeys; she had the entire room laughing and Goofy’s reaction to her moves was priceless!
In addition, my family’s very best interactions have also been at two of my favorites: Topolino’s Terrace, located in Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I would happily pay the expense for both these delicious meals over and over again if it means quickly checking these characters off our “list” and freeing up time for us to enjoy other attractions in the parks.
Disney Visa Cardholder Photo Opportunity
A much lesser known secret location in Epcot to meet characters is directly to the left of the Journey into Imagination ride, in a small pavilion that houses the Disney Visa Photo Spot. Guests can typically meet two of the Fab Five characters here by taking advantage of the exclusive meet and greet packages offered if they are cardholders. The experience even comes with free professional photos by the Disney PhotoPass team that are loaded directly into a guest’s My Disney Experience (regardless if they have purchased Memory Maker or not).
There is no annual fee for the card, and the meet and greet is typically available from 1:00 – 6:00 PM daily. It is one of many fun perks to being a Disney Visa cardholder, and something that is rarely taken advantage of – thus, we have never had to wait more than five minutes for our turn with the mystery friends waiting for us!
Cruising with Disney
The last suggestion may come as a surprise, and it may not be the best fit if you have your heart set on a Disney parks’ vacation, but I have never met nor seen as many characters as I did on the February Disney cruise we embarked on. Seriously, it was an overwhelming amount!
On the Disney Cruise ships, it feels like practically every hour there is a new character encounter, and there is truly no waiting! In the atrium, on the pool deck, disembarking the ship on their private island…Mickey, Minnie, princesses, and loads of friends are found in abundance!
If you also know your children particularly dig specific characters that come from Pixar, Marvel, or the Star Wars enterprise, then you may want to look into the special themed days at sea that are offered on select sailings where guests enjoy one-of-a-kind entertainment, unforgettable character meet and greets, and additional special offerings.
Not sure if a Disney cruise would be the best fit for your family? Check out our recent blog article that explains the Top Ten Reasons a Disney Cruise is Worth Every Penny.
Hopefully by now you are realizing there are far better ways to optimize your vacation than waiting in lines all day, and you do not need to sacrifice a thing in the process. Just try using one of the aforementioned “hacks” and you’ll have some character lovin’ kids with happy hearts and an autograph book brimming with signatures!
Surprised by these tips at all? It is these types of strategies and tricks you receive regularly when you work with an expert vacation planner who is knowledgeable on Disney. I am an agent with Smart Moms Travel, and it is totally free for you to book your Disney vacation through me.Ready to get started? Click here to get connected today! Allow me to handle the logistical pieces of your trip so you can just enjoy the planning process and magic! Or, if you are already booked with a Smart Moms travel planner, you’re in excellent hands, so be sure to reach out to them with questions, and they will happily guide you in any question that may arise.
