How to Meet Characters in Disneyland Paris

Want to know how to meet characters in Disneyland Paris? In this guide we will give you the Disneyland Paris characters list so you know who you can expect to meet, where you can meet them, the costumes they will wear and tips for making the most out of your character interactions at Disneyland Paris. 

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How to Meet Disneyland Paris Characters 

Character meet and greets are one of the highlights of any trip to Disneyland Paris. In this section of the guide we round up how to meet Disneyland Paris characters and the locations of popular meet and greets. 

Character Dining at Disneyland Paris

There are two character dining restaurants at Disneyland Paris:

• Plaza Gardens 
• Auberge de Cendrillon
• Royal Banquet and 
• Table Lumiere

These are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the characters that you meet will vary depend on the time of day you are visiting.

Please note: characters do not appear at Plaza Gardens at lunch time.

Plaza Gardens 

Plaza Gardens is a buffet style restaurant that is open for breakfast lunch and dinner. You will find that the characters you meet here change depending on whether you go for breakfast vs lunch or dinner.

The truth is when you visit Plaza Garden, or Auberge de Cendrillon for that matter, you are never guaranteed a specific character. Therefore the below character list is only for guidance. 

For instance usually if you are attending dinner or breakfast at Plaza then you can usually expect a combination from the characters below:

• Mickey Mouse – common but never guaranteed. 
• Minnie Mouse – has become more infrequent 
• Pinocchio 
• Gepetto
• Captain Hook
• Smee
• Eeyore
• Tigger
• Rabbit
• Daisy Duck
• Donald Duck
• Pluto
• Goofy

Based on research and ancedotal evidence from our 50K strong facebook group we have found that the following characters are most frequently seen at breakfast at Plaza Gardens. 

• Captain Hook from Peter Pan
• Mr Smee from Peter Pan
• Pinocchio from Pinocchio
• Gepetto from Pinocchio
• Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh 
• Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh
• Pluto
• Goofy

Note: if you are wanting to meet characters and have a great interaction try checking out our best questions to ask Disney charachers. 

If you do decide to visit for breakfast, the first seating is usually at 8:15am. This is usually reserved for on site guests at Disneyland Paris. This is a great time to go as well for those that want to have unobstructed photographs in front of the Disneyland Castle. 

To get in for breakfast while staying off site you will need to enter the park in the separate breakfast line, usually in the middle of the entrance but not always. 

We always recommend staying on site where your Disneyland Paris Budget allows. To check out prices of the Disneyland Paris hotels for the dates you are considering traveling click here! 

The later seating is usually reserved for off site guests. 

Personally when I visit I don’t want to lose out on Early Magic Hours for rides if I am only at the parks for a limited time. For this reason when staying on site I usually book character dining experiences for lunch or dinner. 

So if you are wanting to do character dining at Plaza Gardens how do you book? Well as with many things at Disneyland Paris I recommend staying at an on-site hotel. The reason for this is that you are able to book tables when you stay onsite and book directly at Disney 12 months in advance.

The off site guests only get reservations open up 2 month before travel so it is much harder to get a reservation. Therefore we recommend staying on site if you can afford it. 

However even if you aren’t able to make reservations we recommend heading to the restaurant when you arrive at the park and see if there are any openings. Cancellations do happen and this is your best chance of getting on the day reservations. DLP tables is also great for snagging cancellations. 

Breakfast on the other hand can only be booked 3 days prior to your visit. 

Auberge de Cendrillon

But if you want to do character dining and meet a princess instead of classic Disney characters we recommend booking a meal at Auberge de Cendrillon. 

Auberge de Cendrillon is the princess character dining experience and the only other guaranteed way of meeting princesses at Disneyland Paris other than queuing at the Princess Pavillon. 

Now this definitely isn’t something you want to consider if you are visiting Disneyland Paris on a budget as there are no cheap eats here. In fact it is one of the most expensive places to eat at Disneyland Paris at 95 Euros for adults and 50 for children 3-11 (prices correct at time of writing). 

Auberge de Cendrillon effectively translates to Cinderella’s Restaurant in English and serves some exquisite French food. It is located just through the castle in the Fantasyland area of Disneyland Paris. 

Normally when you visit Auberge de Cendrillon you will see between 3-4 princesses plus Cinderella’s two mice friends Perla and Suzy except for at breakfast when you will usually see just 3 princesses. 

When we were at Auberge for a late lunch, we met Snow White, Merida, Cinderella and the mice Perla and Suzy. However from what I have read online most people normally get 4 princesses so maybe we were a bit unlucky. 

As I said above, you are never guarunteed any particularly princess and they change frequently. However out of all the characters you are most likely to see Cinderella as she is most frequently seen. This should come as no surprise as Cinderella / Cendrillon, her name is actually in the title of this restaurant. 

Of the other Princesses I would say their commonality is as below: 

• Sleeping Beauty – quite common. She is very popular in Disneyland Paris as it has the Sleeping Beauty Castle. 
• Snow White – quite common. 
• Ariel – relatively common
• Belle – relatively common
• Rapunzel – relatively common
• Jasmine – rare
• Tiana – rare
• Merida – Rare
• Mulan –  VERY RARE – most people I know who have seen Mulan have visited around Chinese New Year but it is never guaranteed. 
• Minnie Mouse in her Princess Costume – VERY RARE. 

For a full review of the food and experience at Auberge de Cendrillon check out our full review here. 

It is worth noting that if you are vegan at Disneyland Paris that Auberge actually has some fantastic options. 

For more information on Disneyland Paris food check out this post. 

As with Plaza Gardens, breakfast is only bookable 3 days before. We hope to have breakfast with the princesses on our next visit and will update with our breakfast experience after. 

Royal Banquet 

Royal Banquet is one of the new character dining options at the Disneyland Hotel. This is a buffet and has a great selection and variety of food. 

At this experience you can meet usually meet Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald and Goofy in their royal attire. It is one of the more expensive dining experiences at the park but you meet a great range of characters here. 

Please note: you can only book this experience for dinner if you are staying at the Disneyland hotel. Guests at other on site hotels may book for lunch. 

Table de Lumiere

This one is definitely the most expensive dining experience on site at 120 euros for Adults and 60 for kids. . Here you are served a set menu which probably isn’t the best for fussy eater but is the most gourmet experience on site. 

On top of which you get to meet princesses, unusually with their princes. Again you are never guarunteed as to which princesses you will see but Belle is a common one probably as the restaurant is named after a character in her film. 

Note: this guest is exclusively for those staying on site at the Disneyland  hotel. 

Disneyland Paris Hotel Meet and Greets.

The only downside to wanting to meet characters at Disneyland Paris is the queues. For instance the Princess Pavillion often tops 2 hours and Mickey is usually between 1-2 hours depending on the time of year you visit Disneyland Paris and the time of day you visit. 

However there is a hack to cut down on the queues for meet and greets at Disneyland Paris, and that is to stay at an on-site hotel. 

Note: if you are staying on-site there is no reason that you can’t move between hotels to do meet and greets. However please note this is not possible at New York Art of Marvel or at the new Disneyland hotelz as the meet and greets here have to be booked on the app for residents only up to 7 days in advance.

If you are at a Disneyland resort hotel there is one meet and greet a night. It depends on which hotel you are staying at as to what character and what outfit they are dressed. You are never guarunteed a specific character and you just have to turn up and see who is there. 

Please note: the rotation of characters at each hotel is not guarunteed and they do change. The characters below are mereely an indication. Also we recommend checking at check in what time your hotel meet and greet is as they sometimes change from morning to evening and vice verse. 

Santa Fe Hotel 

Hotel Santa Fe is the cars themed hotel and great for Cars fans at Disneyland Paris. However you do not meet cars characters here as you would expect. Instead you tend to meet classic Disney characters in racing style / 1950s outfits.

Characters that have been seen here previously are:

• Pluto
• Goofy
• Mickey – in his racing outfit
• Minnie – in her blue 1950s dress with sun glasses

to book Hotel Santa Fe click here

Hotel Cheyenne

When my daughter was obsessed with Toy Story this was the hotel we would stay at. The reason for this is that the rooms are Toy Story.

But also the character meet and greets at this wild west themed hotel are Woody and Jessie. 

This hotel is definitely the best pick if you love Toy Story. 

to book Hotel Cheyenne click here

Sequoia Hotel 

Sequoia is a mid range hotel at Disneyland Paris and is themed off the National Parks in the US. 

At this hotel you can see Classic characters in their National Park outdoor wear. 

When we stayed at Sequoia we met:

• Goofy, 
• Donald and
• Max. 

I am told that this is the only hotel where Max sometimes appears but I will update this if I get any updates. 

And although we he didn’t appear for us apparently you can also sometimes see Mickey Mouse at this hotel. 

to book Sequoia Lodge click here

Newport Bay Club

Newport Bay Club theming is based on New England waterfront mansions which although beautiful isn’t out and out Disney. But one thing I love about this hotel is the outfits you meet characters in. 

All the classic characters you meet here are in nautical themed outfits. Mickey tends to wear a blue blazer with a captains hat, and the other characters sailor type outfits usually with blue and white stripes and a red trim. 

to book Newport Bay Club click here

New York New York

New York New York is the most recently renovated hotel and is themed to Marvel. It has great theming being based on all of the Marvel characters that Disney now owns and coincides with the opening with the opening of the Avengers Campus. And as you would expect you can meet Marvel characters here.  

Now while at the other hotels you just queue at the allocated meet and greet time, the system is different at New York New York. 

The meet and greets here have to be booked via the app in specific timeslots. Characters such as Thor and Iron Man can be met here. But you must be a guest at THIS hotel to book these meet and greets. 

to book New York New York click here

Disneyland hotel 

The Disneyland hotel is princess central. If you are a guest at the hotel then you can book to do the princess meet and greet. 

However if you aren’t a guest then you can still enter the hotel and see the princesses as they walk around you just wont be allowed to do meet and greets and collect autographs / photos. 

Meets And Greets 

Perhaps the most common way people will meet characters at Disneyland Paris is through the traditional meet and greets. 

There are a few styles of meet and greets at Disneyland Paris – these are

• Classic scheduled indoor meet and greets i.e. Mickey, princesses and Marvel characters
• outdoor meet and greets  i.e. Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins, toy story characters
• unscheduled meet and greets – i.e. characters out that are not on the app

Mickey Meet and Greet 

Mickey is one of the most popular meet and greets around and being the most famous Disney characters it should come as no surprise he has his own permanent meet and greet. 

This permanent meet and greet is in Fantasyland in the Mickey Mouse theatre. This is not usually open for Extra Magic Hours and usually runs 10am and 5pm. 

The queue is usually over an hour long usually but the queue does at least have some cartoons on to while away the time and it is indoors so it is a good way to escape heat or rain. 

He is also sometimes at Meet and greet at the hotels too. 

There is also an option to meet Mickey in his Phantom Manor costume in the pagoda next to Phantom Manor ride. This is usually a morning meet and greet but be sure to check for your travel dates. 

The Hero Training Centre

Unlike the Princesses and meeting Mickey Mouse, the hero training centre is not a queue but a virtual queue!

To join the virtual queue at Avengers Campus you use the Disneyland Paris app. The booking system is opened up in the morning and afternoon (currently at 10 and 1:30 but check on the app for your day as the time is liable to change and you don’t want to be disappointed and miss your chance). They will also sometimes open an additional slot in the afternoon so do check. 

The booking can only be done when you are in the park for the MARVEL Super Hero Heroic Encounter so be sure to get to the park in good time. 

Usually the three people who are available to meet at the Heroic Encounter in the Training Center are: 

• Spider-Man
• Iron Man and 
• Captain Marvel 

There is usually an option for another character too but the identity isn’t revealed so you can take a chance and get a surprise. 

Princess Pavillon

The Princess Pavillon is the dedicated place at Disneyland Paris to meet princesses. And is the only guaranteed place where you can meet a princess without paying a supplement for character dining. 

The Princess Pavillon is an indoor experience and a great thing to do at Disneyland Paris on a rainy day or even a hot day to get out of the sun, but you will find that the queues swell when it is like this. 

Outside Meet and Greets 

As well as the indoor meet and greets there are scheduled outdoor meet and greets for instance we have met the following characters in outdoor scheduled meet and greets at Disneyland Paris :

• Winnie the Pooh
• Toy Story characters
• Aladin characters
• Peter Pan
• Cowboy Minnie and Goofy
• Pinnochio. 

Unscheduled Meet and Greets

As well as the scheduled on app meet and greets there are sometimes unscheduled meet and greets that you just have to be lucky with. 

We have met Jafar and the Genie this way as well as the Ugly Sisters. 

And we were once lucky enough to see Mary Poppins and Burt on the carousel.

Seasonal Meet and Greets

On top of these meet and greets you can also see regular characters in different outfits and seasonal characters especially when you are traveling to Disneyland Paris at Christmas. 

The Classic Disney characters are usually out during Mickey’s Enchanted Christmas (in November, DEcember and January) in their Christmas attire. And during Halloween and Christmas Jack Skellington and Sticth are usually out and about.

Other way to see characters

Places to Spot Characters

This place used to be secret but since Tiktok it has become a quite well known secret. But for those that don’t know, there is a secret princess spot at Disneyland Paris.

Once you arrive in Fantasyland after passing through the castle turn right and head towards the Cinderella carriage next to Auberge. There is a metal gate here where you can see princesses going and coming to the restaurant and sometimes waiting for the shows to begin that take place on the right hand castle stage. 

If you are going to see them you need to be there around the start or end of Auberge service or 15 minutes before a show starts. 

There is also sometimes an opportunity to see characters at the gates near Bella Notte where the parade starts from. 

Parades

The Disneyland Paris parades are another way of seeing Disney Characters. Although you won’t be able to get an autograph or a hug from a character you will be able to see them.

Usually there will be a princess float, a classic character float alongside Toy Story, Nemo and other fan favorites. 

Also the new Million Splashes of Color Para now also includes Stitch, who unfortunately is not a regular scheduled meet and greet currently. 

Shows

Disneyland Paris has some great shows such as Mickey and the Magician, The Festival of the Lion King and the Frozen Musical Singalong. As well as seasonal shoes at Christmas. 

At Mickey and the Magician you can usually see:

• Mickey
• Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother
• Rafiki
• Lumiere, Belle and the beast
• The Genie
• Elsa and Olaf

While in the Lion King Show you can obviously see Lion King Characters and in the Frozen singalong you will see Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff. 

Note:In this show you will hear some of the movie’s biggest hit songs, however it is also worth noting that Let It Go is sung in French rather than English at Disneyland Paris so that can be a little off putting for some children. 

Tips for Character Meet and Greets at Disneyland Paris. 

So now you know where to meet characters at Disneyland Paris here are our tips for making the most out of character interations. 

Dress Up 

We recommend dressing your little ones as up as their favorite Disney chgaracter or Disney Princess or Prince for better interaction. Children in costumes make for better photographs and you get even better interactions.

This is true for meet and greets, character dining and parades. 

However please note that Disneyland Paris what to wear rules say children 12 and over can’t wear costumes. If you turn up in costume as an adult you will not be granted admission. 

Instead however you consider 

Disneybounding

This is where you dress in homage to your favorite Disney characters without wearing a costume.

For more information on how to Disneybound check out this post. 

Capture Memories

The best way to capture memories of your meet and greets is with photos and autographs.But if you want an alternative to a Disney autograph book check out this post. 

Ask Questions

A great way to get a better character interaction is to ask questions, even for head characters. 

For some inspiration check out our best questions to ask Disney Princesses. and best questions to ask Disney characters posts here.

FAQs about meeting characters at Disneyland Paris

Is there a Disneyland Paris characters list?

THere is no definitive Disneyland Paris character list. That is because you are never guaranteed a character meeting in the park. 

However below is the Disneyland Paris character list based off people we have seen regularly in the park

• Mickey Mouse
• Minnie Mouse
• Donald Duck
• Daisy Duck
• Goofy
• Max
• Chip and Dale
• Winnie the Pooh characters – Winnie, Pigliet, Tigger, Eeyore and Rabbit
• Aladdin Characters – Aladdin, Jasmine, Jafar
• Pinnochio characters – Pinnochio and Gepetto
• Olaf
• Peter Pan Characters – Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook and Smee
• Mary Poppins Characters – Mary and Burt 
• Toy Story Characters – Woody, Buzz, Jessie and Bo Peep. 
• Alice in Wonderland characters – Alice, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
• Princesses – CInderella, Sleeping BEauty, Merida, Snow White, Rapunzel, Mulan, Moana, Tiana, Belle 
• Cars characters – Lightening Mcqueen and Cruz Ramirez. 
• STar Wars – Darth Vader 
• Stitch and Jack Skellington at Christmas. 
• Jack Sparrow 
• Marvel Characters

As I stated above this list is indicative but not a guaruntee of characters who will be there during your stay. 

Is Disneyland or Walt Disneyland Studios better for characters? 

If Princesses are your priority for your Disneyland Paris visit then you need to head to the Disneyland Park. This park has the princess Pavillon, parades and the princess dining. 

For Mickey, again you will have more opportunities to meet Mickey at the Disneyland Park.

However if you like Toy Story, MArvel and CArs then you should head to the Walt Studios Park. 

Overall however I think there are more daily meet and greets in the original Disneyland Paris park. 

Do I have to book to meet characters at Disneyland Paris

Generally speaking you do not need to book to meet characters at Disneyland Paris. However there are exceptions. 

• Character dining needs reservations which can be done a year in advance for onsite guests.
• Marvel Training Centre needs booking on the day
• Marvel Hotel Meet and Greets – needs to be done up to 7 days before stay. 

Can you hug characters at Disneyland Paris?

Since covid restrictions have been lifter you can once again hug characters at Disneyland Paris.

Do characters sign autographs at Disneyland Paris?

If you are at character dining or a confirmed meet and greet characters will of course sign autographs. 

But if you see characters walking between locations or during the parade they will be unable to sign autographs.

How long do character interactions last?

How long a character interaction lasts depends on where you are seeing the characters and how you interact with them. 

Typically we find the character dining experiences to be longer than other meet and greets. 

However if you are asking questions and doing silly poses we tend to find the characters stay with you longer. 

We tend to find the shortest interactions to be at the hotels however the queues for these are shorter so it doesn’t feel like a waste. 

Where to meet Stitch at Disneyland Paris?

Stitch was one of the most popular meet and greets in Paris. In fact people would start queuing for this meet and greet during Early Magic as the queue once open would often exceed an hour or even 2. 

However with the new Million splashes of Colour parade which Stitch is in, this permanent meet and greet is no longer available, to the disappointment of many Stitch fans. However sometimes he is an occasional pop up meet and greet in Fantasyland. It is worth checking this area on the day of travel or asking cast members if he will be a pop up meet and greet. 

Can you See Anna and Elsa at Disneyland Paris?