What Is "Character Palooza" at EPCOT and Why Is It Kept a Secret?

If you’ve ever wanted to meet some of Disney’s rarest characters, keep your eyes peeled for a Character Palooza at EPCOT.

Hi, Max!

Over my 30+ years of visiting Walt Disney World, I’ve probably met hundreds of different Disney characters. However, to this day, there are some hard-to-find characters I’ve never come across. If you’re in the same boat, you may want to consider taking a trip to EPCOT and hope for a Character Palooza.

A Character Palooza is an unannounced form of character meet & greet that features a large group of characters, usually ones who don’t appear often in the parks.

Big Al!

The group emerges for a short period of time, usually about 20 minutes or less, usually near the World Showcase’s American Adventure pavilion. (Of note, similar Character Palooza events have happened in the past at Hollywood Studios and even some Disney hotels, though EPCOT is more common.)

Look how fun!

So, why does Disney break out these unadvertised mass character greetings from time to time? For training purposes. If you’ve ever attended a character meet & greet at Walt Disney World, you know that each character is accompanied by a Character Attendant Cast Member who helps control crowds, take photos, time their appearance, escort them on and off stage, etc. The Character Paloozas allow these Cast Members to train, while their unannounced nature keeps crowds — and pressure — down.

March of the Penguins?

Bear that Cast Member training in mind if you ever stumble across a Character Palooza. Sure, it can be very exciting to come across that one obscure Disney Afternoon character you’ve wanted to snap a photo with for 30 years, and you absolutely should get that photo. Just be patient with the Cast Members who are literally learning on the job.

Ta-Da

Next time you’re at EPCOT, keep your eyes peeled for a Character Palooza if you’d like to meet some lesser-seen Disney characters. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney World tips!