Ok, you’re probably wondering, “What is a Disney World Blueberry?” Fair question. Every time you meet a character in Disney World, whether it’s the big cheese himself, Mickey Mouse, or a Disney princess, there’s going to be a Character Attendant Cast Member nearby. They wear blue polo tops and khaki pants, hence the name “Blueberry.”  (Admittedly, the outfits aren’t nearly as cool as the polka dot dresses or sombreros that Minnie and pals get to wear, but that’s another story for another day)

Basically, Character Attendants are like the sidekicks to all your favorite characters. Mickey needs a pen to sign his autograph? Ask a Blueberry! Need someone to snap a photo? Ask a Blueberry! Want to know when Goofy will be back from his phone call with his son Max? Ask a Blueberry! You get the idea. Now that we’ve got the introductions out of the way, let’s discuss five things a Disney World Blueberry wants you to know. 

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, you may want to meet a few characters! Luckily, there are TONS of characters to meet — from Captain Jack Sparrow to Princess Cinderella, you’ve got plenty of options. But meeting characters isn’t always as easy as you might expect. But, we’ve seen and done it all, so we know exactly what mistakes you can avoid.

Check the schedule!

Speaking from experience, the lines to meet characters in Disney World can get pretty long, pretty fast. In fact, in some cases, the line gets so long that Character Attendants must “close” the line before the character is even out meeting guests.

Now trust us, we know there’s nothing worse than walking up to a character, only to learn that the line is closed and no one else can meet the character. Turning away guests is one of the WORST parts of the job. But if the line is closed, do not panic. Unless you’re trying to meet a character at the end of the day (usually 5PM or later), odds are they will be back later. 

If you’re not sure when and where you can meet all the characters in Disney World, we’ve got you covered. First, go to the My Disney Experience app, then tap on the map icon to the left of the home icon at the bottom of the screen.

From here, tap “Filter” in the top left corner, then select the park you plan to visit and hit “Apply.”

Now, this is the most important part! At the top of the screen, you should see some text that says, “Wait Times,” “Attractions,” or “Dining.” Tap on the drop-down arrow by the text at the top of the screen, then tap “Characters.”

Finally, at the top right corner of your screen, tap “Show list.” Any characters that are in the parks that day will show up on the list, and if you tap on a character, you can see all the times that they will be out meeting guests.

If meeting Princess Belle, Vanellope von Schweetz, Goofy, or any other character is a priority, check those times and try to arrive 5-10 minutes ahead of the character’s scheduled appearance. 

Do not rope-drop the Royal Sommerhus in EPCOT!

Okay, this may seem a bit contradictory to the last point we just made, but there is one spot in EPCOT where the line (and the wait time) can sometimes be deceiving. For many families, meeting Anna and Elsa is HIGH on the list of must-do activities in EPCOT. That said, the line to meet these characters tends to get super long first thing in the morning, then slows down around 2PM (a.k.a. nap time for many little ones).

Speaking from experience, the line is normally a little shorter in the late afternoon. That said, there are some days when the wait time doesn’t go down all day, so keep that in mind. But generally, we recommend visiting Anna and Elsa sometime between 2PM and 5:30PM for the best chance at a lower wait. This same advice may work over in Magic Kingdom at Princess Fairytale Hall, too!

Don’t ask Mickey to hold your baby.

We know, we know — wouldn’t it be adorable if Mickey Mouse could hold your baby? Well, he can’t. It’s a safety concern, and it’s best to leave the babies in the hands of a responsible HUMAN, not a mouse.

And before you ask, all those human characters like Princess Cinderella can’t hold your baby either. Mickey loves meeting babies, though, so don’t be afraid to bring your little ones by for a meet and greet!

Adults can meet characters, too!

On the other hand, Mickey (and all the Disney characters) love meeting adults, too! Don’t feel ashamed — we’re all kids in Disney World, and Cast Members will NEVER judge an adult for stopping by to say hello.

Whether you’re stopping by for a quick chat, hoping to snag an autograph, or just want a cute picture, Blueberries have seen TONS of adults come to meet the Disney characters. Trust us, you won’t be the only one.

Don’t be afraid to ask some fun questions!

Finally, don’t be afraid to think up some FUN questions! Character Attendants often see kids and adults alike happily waiting in line to meet the characters, only for guests to freeze up and get “starstruck” when it’s their turn to meet the characters. Meeting Minnie doesn’t have to be awkward! All you have to do is plan one simple question or comment to get the conversation started.

For example, if you’re meeting Goofy, you can ask him if he’s been fishing lately. Did he catch any big fish? Or you could ask Daisy about her bow collection. What’s Princess Belle’s favorite book? Obviously, keep the questions appropriate, and make sure that the character will be able to answer your question (don’t try to trick them!). But generally, your interaction will be super memorable if you have something to talk about!

Meeting characters is one of the best parts of going to Disney World! As long as you’re prepared, positive, and ready for a good time, everyone will have a blast. And don’t forget to be kind to Cast Members — they’ve got a tough job, after all! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

Psst! We’re Revealing the SECRET Tip To Get a Popular Souvenir in Disney World

 

Do you have a favorite character interaction story? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Things a Disney World Blueberry Wants You To Know first appeared on the disney food blog.