Are you planning a trip to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Along with some thrilling rides, and animals, there are some favorite Animal Kingdom Characters at Disney that you won’t want to miss!
Animal Kingdom doesn’t have as many characters as some of the other parks, but the ones that are there are so unique and fun. A visit to Animal Kingdom is a great opportunity to meet some rare characters in custom costumes and themed backgrounds.
Guide on Where to Find Animal Kingdom Characters at Disney World
Some of the Animal Kingdom characters that you can find in the park can not be seen anywhere else on Disney property! Some of them have a traditional meet, while other character appearances may be limited time, there are even special roaming characters to interact with.
This guide will show you which characters you can see at Animal Kingdom as well as character meets and the lands they can be found in.
What Characters Can You See at Animal Kingdom?
Animal Kingdom does not have parades, cavalcades or flotillas where you can see characters, but they do have some amazing Broadway style musical shows. These shows are full of talent and some amazing puppetry and float characters from your favorite movies.
Festival of the Lion King
The Festival of the Lion King is a live stage show with Broadway style musical performers, dancers, acrobats, giant floats and characters. You will see: Simba, Timon and Pumba in this show.
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond
This is an amazing musical and puppet stage show and a great place to see some amazing puppets from Finding Nemo. You will see: Bruce, Crush, Dory, Marlin, Nemo and Gill in giant puppet form.
What Characters Can You Meet at Animal Kingdom?
I’ve included a list of all of the characters you can currently meet at Animal Kingdom in alphabetical order. Some of these characters have an assigned photo pass photographer while for others you’ll have to ask a cast member or family member to take a photo on your phone.
This list is subject to change at any given time. Disney loves to surprise guests, and it is possible that you may stumble across a character not listed .
Chip ‘N” Dale – They are so cute dressed up in dinosaur costumes for Donald’s Dino-Bash prehistoric party, with a cute themed background on the Cretaceous Trail.
Daisy Duck – Daisy Duck is dressed up as a fashion designer for the Dino Bash. She has an adorable background with fashion designs hanging up. You can find her on the Cretaceous Trail on the way to Dinosaur. You can also meet Daisy dressed in her Safari costume at Tusker House character meal.
Donald Duck – Donald is the host of his very own prehistoric party in Dinoland USA. He is dressed up in his Dino Host Costume for the Dino Bash Party. You can also meet Donald dressed in a Safari costume at Tusker House character meal.
Dug – Dug no longer meets at the Wilderness Explorers Club House, because he is now a roaming character and he has gotten an update! Dug is now Talking Dug, with the help of his translation collar he can talk to you as he roams around! You can find him on Discovery Island.
Divine – Divine is a beautiful and mysterious character that can be found hiding among the greenery on Discovery Island. It is always a special treat to find her slinking around the trees.
Goofy – Goofy has a brand new outfit. He is now Bird Watching Goofy! You can meet him behind Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures with an adorable outfit and bird watching set up. You can also meet him in his Safari outfit at Tusker House Restaurant.
Kevin – The colorful and quirky bird from Disney-Pixar’s UP is a delightful character that doesn’t have a traditional meet. You can find her roaming around Discovery Island interacting with guests.
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse – Meet Mickey and Minnie in their safari outfits at Adventurers Outpost on Discovery Island and also at the Tusker House character meal.
Moana – Moana has her very owned themed meet and greet at Character Landing on Discovery Island.
Pluto – Pluto can be found behind Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures. He alternates meeting in the same spot that Goofy meets in.
Pocahantas – Pocahantas is no longer on a Flotilla, and she can be found in the Oasis at the front of Animal Kingdom, as you walk straight towards the Tree of Life.
Rafiki – Rafiki is meeting for a limited time outside of the Conservation Station where the Animation Experience and Veterinary Care windows are.
Russell – Russell is such a fun interaction, he meets by himself at the Wilderness Explorers Club House on Discovery Island.
Timon – Timon is meeting for a limited time for the 30th anniversary of the Lion King. He rotates out with Rafiki right outside of the Conservation Station.
Character Meets by Land
Animal Kingdom has some unique lands/areas that have characters that fit the theme of the land. Let’s take a look at which characters you can meet in the different areas of Animal Kingdom.
The Oasis
The Oasis is a beautiful area at the very front of Animal Kingdom. It is a tropical paradise with waterfalls, shady trails, lush greenery and animal habitats. There are two characters that you can meet here.
- Divine – Divine is the mysterious hidden character that lives among the lush walkways in the Oasis. She does not have a meet and greet time on the My Disney Experience app. We have found her in the morning hours. You can always ask a cast member if they know where she is hiding.
- Pocahantas – Pocahantas can be found in her own meet and greet tucked into a rocky area at the Oasis. She can be one of the first characters you meet on your way into Animal Kingdom
Dinoland U.S.A.
Dinoland U.S.A. has always been home to some unique meet and greets with rare characters and characters in unique costumes. See Chip and Dale in their dinosaur costumes, Donald dressed as the host of his Dinosaur Bash party and Daisy as a costume designer. Goofy and Pluto alternate meeting as well, and Goofy is dressed as a bird watcher!
- Chip – can be found on Cretaceous Trail meeting with Dale
- Dale – can be found on the Cretaceous Trail meeting with Chip
- Donald Duck – across from the TriceraTop Spin in Dinoland.
- Daisy Duck – can be found on the Cretaceous Trail
- Pluto – alternates meeting in the same spot Goofy meets behind Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures.
- Goofy – alternates meeting with Pluto Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures.
Discovery Island
Discovery Island is the main hub of Animal Kingdom with the Tree of Life in the middle. There are many characters you can encounter here on your way to the different lands in the park.
- Kevin – This colorful bird is a roaming character that walks up and down and around Discovery Island.
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse – Meet this cute couple in their safari outfits in their own meet and greet location at Adventurers Outpost.
- Russell – Russell meets by himself at the Wilderness Explorers Club House.
- Talking Dug – Dug has received an upgrade with a new translation collar that allows him to talk! He now is a roaming character.
- Moana – Moana has her very own meet and greet location at Character Landing.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Rafiki’s Planet Watch can only be traveled to on a special train. It is a great relaxing place away from the hustle and bustle. There is an animal petting area, the Animation Experience where you can learn to draw a Disney animal character. You may even get to see veterinarians treating animals inside the Conservation Experience.
The meet and greets change often here, but right now you can meet Rafiki and Timon for Lion King’s 30th anniversary.
- Rafiki -This is a limited time meet and greet outside of the Conservation Experience.
- Timon – Timon meets in the same spot as Rafiki outside of the Conservation Experience. They alternate when they meet.
Animal Kingdom Character Dining
Character Meals are the perfect place to meet many of your favorite Disney characters at one time. This is a great way to get that autograph book filled up quickly.
Tusker House Restaurant
Tusker House Restaurant is a character dining buffet meal. Reservations need to be made 60 days in advance. This is a very popular dining reservation as it is the only character dining in Animal Kingdom. You can choose breakfast, lunch or dinner, and the menu is full of African inspired flavors.
Here you can meet: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy dressed in their adventure Safari outfits. This is such a fun meal and interaction. They will even take the kids on a parade around the restaurant with African instruments.
Do Characters Walk Around Animal Kingdom?
There are two roaming characters that walk around at Animal Kingdom, and they are both from the movie Up! They have cast members with them and may even pose to take a quick photo with you if you are lucky!
Kevin – Kevin is a fun and playful character that wanders around Discovery Island playing with guests. She will not stop for a tradition meet and greet, but she may lean down and pose for a photo.
Talking Dug – The sweetest dog with a translation collar that allows him to talk to guests! He walks around Discovery Island with a cast member playing with guests. He also does not stop for a formal meet and greet, but will have the sweetest interactions with you.
What happened to the Flotillas?
The flotillas have officially been retired in May 2024. They were a favorite for our family. These were floating boats with many different rare characters on them!
Music would play, and the characters would be announced as they floated down Discovery River. You could wave at them from the bridges and walkways. The only flotilla left is the drummer band that plays live music.
How Do You Know Where the Characters are at Animal Kingdom?
The My Disney Experience app makes it very easy to find characters. It has everything from wait times for attractions, to where to find character meet-and-greets with their appearance time listed.
To find characters using the application, simply open the Disney World app to the page that has a map on it. You can filter out what you’re looking for, so change “Wait Times” to “Characters.” It will provide you with a large list of characters, where they come out to meet guests, and what times you can expect to see them.
Tips for Meeting Characters at Animal Kingdom
You will be delighted by tall of the unique characters that you can meet at Animal Kingdom. It truly is the best place to meet your favorite characters in cute costumes and themed areas. These tips will help you make the most out of your time at the park.
- Check the My Disney Experience app for appearance times and locations. It’s the best way to plan your day around meeting your favorite characters.
- Look for characters with shorter wait times and plan to visit during these periods.
- Look for roaming characters on Discovery Island. The best time to interact with Divine at the Oasis, or Kevin and Dug is in the mornings.
- Wait times are shorter in the mornings, so make visiting characters one of the first things you do, for shorter lines.
- Bring a sharpie or thick pen, and an autograph book to get signatures from your favorite characters.
- Bring snacks and water for waiting in line.
- Don’t forget to ask the characters unique questions directly related to them, and the location they are in.
Who is your favorite Animal Kingdom Character to meet?
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