I Meet Characters in Disney World Alone. These Are My 7 Best Tips for Making It Awesome Instead of Awkward

We try to help you avoid some weird and awkward situations you can encounter while visiting Disney World, but some of these things you have the power to truly be in control of.

It’s not hard to gather that a lot of the time, we’re out in the Disney World parks by ourselves and have had to learn to adapt how we go about our day to make it less weird. So, we’ve decided to shed some light on one of the most divisive situations you could face in Disney World (but also share a few tips to set you up for success)!

One of the best experiences you can have while visiting Disney World is meeting with old friends and making some new ones. But, you’ll never be able to accomplish this until you try!

Meeting with the characters at Disney World doesn’t have to be an awkward experience. We’re sharing a few tips and tricks that have helped us have some stellar character meet and greets even when we were by ourselves. Let’s take a look at a few of them now!

Keep It Casual

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and don’t overcomplicate your meeting and greets. It won’t matter if you’re meeting with a fur or face character for this tip, just remember to be yourself and keep the conversation flowing however it comes out naturally.

By taking off the weight of so much pressure to have the BEST character interaction, you’ll be free to think quicker and react in the moment to how the character is choosing to react and respond to you.

Set The Scene

Make sure you’ve got your camera, autograph book, or thing you want to be signed AND pen/marker/etc ready to go before you’re next in line.

Being prepared before the character walks over to you in the line helps keep your mind at ease (and helps keep the meet-and-greet line flowing as swiftly as possible). And you’re wasting precious time you could be interacting with the character fumbling around with getting things in and out of your bag and thumbing through pages of where you’d like them to sign in your books.

Think beyond the autograph book. Here are 3 ways to upgrade your Disney character autographs!

Be Mindful Of…

Know when it’s good to hop in the line! Sometimes lines for popular characters will form well in advance of their next meet-and-greet time and we’ve even seen a few character lines reach a maximum for their current meet-and-greet set shortly after walking out to their spot.

However, if you don’t make the cut-off, don’t be too shy to ask when the next time this character will be out again or where you might be able to find them in another park!

Now’s Your Moment

Think about what you want to say, try to stick to the character’s storyline, and get the characters to talk about themselves if you want to really be the one to initiate or continue to carry the conversation past initial pleasantries.

It’s ok if a full-blown conversation happens or if you just want something signed, or need a hug or a high five (It is totally cool for just a pic and walk away if that’s what you want). You can make this interaction what you want it to be!

Who’s Taking The Pictures?

Look around for a PhotoPass photographer at the meet and greet location…

…or know your options about taking your own photos and having your plan in place before your turn starts. This will vary by meet and greet and character so you may even have a combination of a PhotoPass photographer who will take a few photos of you with their camera AND be willing to take a few photos of your experience on your own phone or camera.

You’ll also want to be aware of any photo box photos that automatically take photos intermittently and know where those are so you’ve got the best chance to have your photos turn out as nicely as possible.

Try Not To Do These Things

The meet and greets don’t just have to be weird and awkward to you for it to be a less-than-ideal experience, so there are a few things Disney will ask you not to do.

Don’t ask weird questions about the characters, don’t ask face characters to sing, and if a character seems uncomfortable about something, don’t push It.

Gratitude Goes A Long Way

Remember to thank the character (and your photographer) for your interaction…

… and you’ll have a great parting from this one and be on your way quickly to the next!

And there you have them! These are just a few simple things to keep in mind the next time you’re looking to meet with characters while taking on the Disney World parks solo.

We’re always sharing tips, tricks, helpful hints, and ways to make your next Disney World trip even better than the last! Be sure to stay tuned with us for all the latest!

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Do you have any tips for meeting characters at Disney World? Spill your favorites in the comments below!

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