Uh oh! We don't support IE due to its failure to integrate new web standards.
For the best browsing experience, please use

More Info →

  • Podcast
  • Become a WDW Prep Patron
  • About
  • Get a Quote
  • Things We Recommend
  • Contact
  • Search
MENUMENU
  • Crowd Calendars
        • January Crowd Calendar
        • February Crowd Calendar
        • March Crowd Calendar
        • April Crowd Calendar
        • May Crowd Calendar
        • June Crowd Calendar
        • July Crowd Calendar
        • August Crowd Calendar
        • September Crowd Calendar
        • October Crowd Calendar
        • November Crowd Calendar
        • December Crowd Calendar
  • Parks
        • Magic Kingdom
        • Epcot
        • Disney World Tickets
        • Hollywood Studios
        • Slinky Dog Dash
        • Animal Kingdom
        • Typhoon Lagoon
        • Blizzard Beach
        • Disney Springs
        • Featured: Planning Tips for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
  • Resorts
        • On-Site
        • Off-Site
        • Disney World Value Resorts
        • Disney World Moderate Resorts
        • Disney World Deluxe Resorts
        • Disney World Villa Resorts
  • Dining
        • Dining Basics
        • Disney World Dining Plan Satuli Canteen
        • Disney Dining Plan
        • Animal Kingdom Disney World Dining Plan
        • Our top Table Service restaurants
        • Our top Quick Service restaurants
        • Guide to all Disney World character meals
        • Best restaurants for fireworks views
  • Planning and Tips
        • 6 Step Planning Process
        • Disney binder planning workskeet
        • Planning Basics
        • Big Thunder Mountain exterior
        • What is coming to Walt Disney World in 2021 (and beyond!)
        • Disney Movie Magic
        • Trip Planning for Families
        • Special Needs
        • Money and Shopping
        • Downloadables
  • 2021 Planner
        • Mask tips for Disney World trips
        • Cast Member with a mask
        • Step-by-step guide to the Disney Park Pass System
        • Disney Park Pass choose day
        • Where to find characters right now
        • Joy
        • 13 ways Disney World planning has changed
        • How to tour Disney World right now
        • Budgeting for food (without using the Disney Dining Plan)
        • Mask-Free Relaxation Stations (w/maps & comparisons)
        • Choosing when to visit in 2021
        • Where to dine outdoors at Walt Disney World
        • How transportation works now
  • Mobile
      • Podcast
      • Become a WDW Prep Patron
      • About
      • Get a Quote
      • Things We Recommend
      • Contact
      • Search

Character Palooza: A How-To Guide

Share on pinterest
PIN
Share on facebook
FB
WDW Prep School → By Interest → Characters → Featured → Character Palooza: A How-To Guide
  • Dustin Hayes
  • May 15, 2015
  • June 19, 2019
Character Palooza

This is a post by Dustin “The Character Queen” Hayes. Be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram for a dose of pure character joy. Now, here’s Dustin…

During the afternoon at Hollywood Studios, you might see a group of people waiting like they were getting a glimpse at Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

While these people aren’t actually waiting to see Oompa Loompas and a crazy chocolatier in a top hat, they are in fact waiting for something just as magical: the fabled Character Palooza meet and greet.

What is Character Palooza?

Character Palooza is an unpublished character meet and greet that occurs on any day that Hollywood Studios holds performances of Fantasmic, between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., depending upon crowd levels. Anywhere between 5 and 10 random characters will be out for a 20-minute set of meets, composed entirely of characters you see in the finale sequence of Fantasmic. This means you might get the chance to see characters you won’t see out for meet and greets in the rest of the parks!

Character Palooza occurs at random times throughout the day in various locations including Streets of America, Echo Lake, and the gates near Tower of Terror in order to keep with its theme of surprise.

Character Palooza has become increasingly popular in the last year as the word has gotten out, but you still won’t find any times listed for it on park maps, nor will many Cast Members acknowledge its existence if you were to ask them about it. Those in the know, however, will be waiting at various spots, and if you see a group gathered, chances are they are going to open very soon!

Character Palooza tips

Now that I’ve broken the Fight Club-esque rules of this secret (shhh), I’m here to fill you in on how you can make the most of your experience should you happen to be there when it begins.

  1. Leave your strollers in a nearby stroller parking area or ask a Cast Member to park it for you. Strollers are not allowed in the area.
  2. Have your autograph books and cameras ready. There are no PhotoPass photographers at this event, so you’re on your own for pictures, though a character attendant will be happy to take pictures for you with your camera or phone.
  3. DO NOT RUN. Yes, you might see a character at the end of the trail that you REALLY want to meet first, but safety is key. You will get the chance to meet them along with everyone else, and it isn’t worth getting yelled at by a Cast Member.(Note: these last 2 tips apply when this event is held behind the Tower gates. When the event is held on Streets of America or Echo Lake, attendants will be on hand with each character dispersed around the area.)
  4. The set up consists of a mini walking trail with characters all the way up a slight incline on the left hand side. The best strategy is to head to the top of the trail and work your way down. Lines for characters at the front of the gates form the fastest, and the rarer characters are typically at the top. Character attendants will cut off lines for meets as they see fit, so if you don’t want to follow this strategy, make sure you get in line for which characters you really want to see first.
  5. The gates close almost as soon as they open. Be prepared for this and make sure you are in the crowd of people waiting.

The characters

Now that you’ve gotten the basics of how to make the best of your Character Palooza experience, I’m sure you’re wondering which characters will be there. That’s the most fun part about it: it changes daily! I’d like to share with you some of my favorites I’ve found so far.

 

A photo posted by Dustin (@dustin_b_hayes) on Apr 21, 2015 at 2:35pm PDT

The Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is often out to throw some shade. She decided my sunglasses looked better on her than they did me.

 

A photo posted by Dustin (@dustin_b_hayes) on Apr 22, 2015 at 10:14am PDT

Mary Poppins is often out at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but sometimes Bert joins her at the Palooza! We all let our inner penguin shine through.

 

A photo posted by Dustin (@dustin_b_hayes) on Mar 21, 2015 at 3:32pm PDT

This is the ONLY place at WDW I’ve ever found Donald in his classic sailor outfit. 

 

 

A photo posted by Dustin (@dustin_b_hayes) on Jul 21, 2015 at 2:32pm PDT

MUSHU! If he’s out to meet, he’ll typically be standing with Mulan. I might’ve asked her to step out of the frame. Oops.

 

A photo posted by Dustin (@dustin_b_hayes) on May 6, 2015 at 3:35am PDT

Pinocchio is one one of the rarest characters to meet, and I’ve only seen him once at this event out of the several times I’ve gone. His line was longer than everyone else’s so he was the only one I got to meet, but so worth it.

And now, my favorite find of all…

 

A photo posted by Dustin (@dustin_b_hayes) on May 6, 2015 at 3:26pm PDT

ROBIN HOOD! He was tucked away at the top of the hill and his line got long FAST. If you happen upon him, be prepared for him to be the only one you meet depending on the length of other characters’ lines.

If you’re a die hard character hunting fan like myself and you find yourself at Hollywood Studios in the afternoon, be sure to check out Character Palooza! It might just be an experience you’ll never forget. Happy Hunting!

 

(NOTE: Character Palooza is now often found outside the park’s entrance near the far right gates.)

Read this next

Popular Related Articles

Related Posts:

  • Budgeting for food at Disney (without using the Disney Dining Plan)
  • The Character Queen's top 5 favorite character meet and greets
  • The Character Queen takes on Universal Orlando
  • Nassau, Bahamas (Disney Cruise Line Port of Call)
  • Character meets at Disney World without FastPass+ (that are worth your wait!)
  • Disney Dining Plan (cost, best credits, and is it worth it?)
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Character Queen's top 5 most underrated character meet and greet experiences at Disney World

In this category

More Tips and Tricks

  • By Interest
    • Babies and Toddlers
    • Characters
    • General Reference
    • Group Travel
    • Luxury
    • Saving Money
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • By Park
    • Animal Kingdom
    • Epcot
    • Hollywood Studios
    • Magic Kingdom
    • Water Parks

Ready to book a trip for 2021?

The team at Small World Vacations is ready to help get you started.

Get a quote now

13 Comments

  1. Tracy April 5, 2019 Reply

    Is this Character Palooza info still current? We’d love to try this, but I see it was last updated 2016. Any info is appreciated!

  2. Ann February 19, 2016 Reply

    Wow, I never realized that we have actually experience Character Palooza before and did not know what hit us!!

    We were on Streets of America a few years back and bam!!

    The characters were out fast and furious and moving quickly.

    Before we knew what hit us, they were gone.

    We got a few pics and autographs.

    We saw the Evil Queen, but she was too fast for us.

    Is Streets of America still open?

    We will be at HS on 3/15/16.

    I do not understand where gates by Tower of Terror are?? Please explain.

    Also read on another site that sometimes they pop up near front entrance near security? Or in Animation Courtyard. Not sure about these though.

    Thanks for the great post

    • Amy April 6, 2016

      So, did you experience Character Palooza? Sounds so random. Isn’t Streets of America closed now? Maybe that will help narrow down locations. We don’t go until June and this is going to be the mission of my 3 teenage kiddos! Any info would be greatly appreciated!

  3. Emily August 22, 2015 Reply

    Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me how often Robin Hood appears at the Palooza. I will be searching for the Palooza between 9/22 and 9/28 mainly because my 4 year old daughter is insistent she meet him no matter how many times I tell her he is not at Disney World. She just loves him. Also, is he always featured in Fantasmic? If so, then at least she will see him, even if she can’t meet him! Thanks! 🙂 -Emily

  4. Jenny July 31, 2015 Reply

    “Those in the know, however, will be waiting at various spots, and if you see a group gathered, chances are they are going to open very soon!” So what’s the best way to go about this? Wander from point to point to point between the 3 areas from 4-7 until you see a gathering? And how do people KNOW? Like, what’s the clue or hint or sign or whatever to people to start gathering at whichever point? Thanks!

    • Lindsey November 5, 2015

      That’s what I’m wondering! It seems like something you’d have to come upon by accident. I’ll be at HS those hours but with a 2 and 4 year old and I doubt they’ll be up for waiting in random places hoping others gather as well..

  5. Evy July 14, 2015 Reply

    Hello

    I can’t wait to spot this event!
    But isn’t there anyway we could get a warning or something about where and when the event will occur?
    Like an app or text? 🙂

    Great infrmation btw 😉

    Evy
    x!

  6. Angel June 1, 2015 Reply

    We got to do this back in February and it was awesome! We got to meet all of the characters that were there because there were hardly any guests there! We met Mary Poppins & Bert, Princess Tiana, Pocahontas, Dopey, ROBIN HOOD! and Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie!! My 3 year old was in heaven!

  7. Jeanne Bancroft May 15, 2015 Reply

    Ahhhh, you just answered something I was asking myself (a sure-fire way NOT to get an answer to a questions is to ask yourself… :/ ) a few days ago… I was trying to figure out where, if anywhere, Donald Duck meets in his sailor suit! Apparently, Characterpalooza!! Thanks Dustin!

  8. Ashley May 15, 2015 Reply

    I had the chance to do character palooza behind the tower of terror when I was in HS on 5/5/15. I got to meet Pinocchio and the Genie before the lines got too long and were closed off! I found a schedule for it on Kenny the pirate’s website. I highly recommend the experience for anyone who wants to meet rare characters!

  9. Morgan May 15, 2015 Reply

    Love this! Hollywood Studios has consistently been a “take it or leave it” park for me, but as a fellow meet and greet character hunter this post just bumped it up to a Take It! One question, when you mentioned the time is dependent on crowd levels, does that mean bigger crowds = early time, say closer to 4pm? I guess two questions!! Are all the characters out for only 20 minutes or do they meet for a block of time, say 4pm until 5pm, but just in 20 minute increments like other characters? Thank you again! I can’t wait to plan our next trip.

  10. Casey May 15, 2015 Reply

    We have one day at HS and we will be looking for them! I hope we get lucky 🙂 Dustin, you’re one of my favorite Facebookers. Thanks for spreading the joy!

  11. Dawn May 15, 2015 Reply

    Our family loves Character Palooza! We’ve only ever seen them in the Streets of America but have met several great characters, including the elusive Pinocchio. There were no required lines to get in to meet each character and let’s just say it can get a little competitive when trying to jump in and get your turn. The evil queen was the only one that had a line and that’s because she commanded everyone stand before her then summoned you as she deemed fit. Loved her! Character Palooza is the best!

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Start here

  • Crowd Calendars
    • January Crowd Calendar
    • February Crowd Calendar
    • March Crowd Calendar
    • April Crowd Calendar
    • May Crowd Calendar
    • June Crowd Calendar
    • July Crowd Calendar
    • August Crowd Calendar
    • September Crowd Calendar
    • October Crowd Calendar
    • November Crowd Calendar
    • December Crowd Calendar
  • Parks
    • Magic Kingdom
    • Epcot
    • Hollywood Studios
    • Animal Kingdom
    • Typhoon Lagoon
    • Blizzard Beach
    • Disney Springs
    • Featured: Planning Tips for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
  • Resorts
    • On-Site
    • Off-Site
    • Disney World Value Resorts
    • Disney World Moderate Resorts
    • Disney World Deluxe Resorts
    • Disney World Villa Resorts
  • Dining
    • Dining Basics
    • Disney Dining Plan
    • Our top Table Service restaurants
    • Our top Quick Service restaurants
    • Guide to all Disney World character meals
    • Best restaurants for fireworks views
  • Planning and Tips
    • 6 Step Planning Process
    • Planning Basics
    • What is coming to Walt Disney World in 2021 (and beyond!)
    • Trip Planning for Families
    • Special Needs
    • Money and Shopping
    • Downloadables
  • 2021 Planner
    • 13 ways Disney World planning has changed
    • Mask tips for Disney World trips
    • Budgeting for food (without using the Disney Dining Plan)
    • Step-by-step guide to the Disney Park Pass System
    • Choosing when to visit in 2021
    • How to tour Disney World right now
    • Mask-Free Relaxation Stations (w/maps & comparisons)
    • Where to dine outdoors at Walt Disney World
    • Where to find characters right now
    • How transportation works now
  • Mobile

More Goodies

  • Podcast
  • Become a WDW Prep Patron
  • About
  • Get a Quote
  • Things We Recommend
  • Contact
  • Search

I just got back from a five night stay at Coronado Springs and had the best time! Even though I went during the busy season I barely waited in any lines and was able to do everything I wanted!

Jonathan C.

Meet us there


IG

FB

PI

TW

YT

EM

WDWprepschool.com is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with, the Walt Disney Company.

PRIVACY POLICY

© 2021 PREP SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS, INC.

WDW PREP SCHOOL ON INSTAGRAM​

Scroll ➡️ for pano of Epcot entrance lighting. Scroll ➡️ for pano of Epcot entrance lighting. 😍
Goofy and Pluto being cute in front of Bay Lake To Goofy and Pluto being cute in front of Bay Lake Tower this afternoon. 🧡✨
This super zoom pic is available near the Milk Sta This super zoom pic is available near the Milk Stand in Galaxy’s Edge. 📸 Look for the Cast Member holding an iPad to take yours.
Hello from Flower and Garden Festival! 🌸 Follow Hello from Flower and Garden Festival! 🌸 Follow our stories on this beautiful day at Epcot.
Load More... Follow on Instagram