Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando has a decidedly movie and television theme to it, and this is reflected quite nicely in the characters you’ll meet here. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into answering the question – What characters can you meet at Hollywood Studios?
From Darth Vader, R2D2, BB8, and Chewbacca from Star Wars to Woody and friends from Toy Story, from Sully and Mike from Monsters Inc. to the family of undercover heroes from The Incredibles, Hollywood Studios characters are some of the most popular Disney creations of all time. Like all the Disney theme parks, the Fab 5 (Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, and Goofy) make regular appearances here as well.
Unlike Magic Kingdom which is big on princesses, Animal Kingdom which is focused on our four-legged friends, and Epcot which features international characters, the characters at Hollywood Studios are unapologetically, well… Hollywood. Which is great news for movie and television fans. If your family has a favorite movie that you’ve watched hundreds of times, Hollywood Studios is your chance to encounter life-size versions of your beloved characters.
There are various opportunities for formal meet-and-greets with characters at Hollywood Studios. Check the Times Guide or the My Disney Experience app for exact locations and hours on the day of your visit (these vary seasonally and change from day to day). But in addition to the formal interactions, keep your eyes peeled for Hollywood Studios characters that are just hanging around. Sometimes, impromptu encounters turn out to be the most fun.
Official Disney photographers are always on hand at formal meet-and-greets to take photos of your family. This is a great way to get everyone in the picture. However, if you don’t want to sign up for Disney’s PhotoPass service, just hand over your camera or phone to the Disney photographers and they’ll be happy to take a photo for you.
Characters you can only meet at Hollywood Studios for free
A few moments with a favorite Disney character can often turn out to be the highlight of your Disney vacation. There are some characters that you can only meet at Hollywood Studios. Some of these characters make appearances at paid events, for example, character meals in some of the other Disney theme parks or resort hotels, but the only opportunity to meet them for free is at Hollywood Studios. Go ahead and quickly skim our list of exclusive Hollywood Studios characters below, and if you spot a favorite, be sure you see them when you visit, for it could be your only chance.
- Characters from the Star Wars franchise, including Darth Vader, Chewbacca, BB8, R2D2, Rey, and Kylo Ren.
- Characters from the Toy Story franchise, including Woody, Bo Peep, the Green Army Men, and Jessie the cowgirl doll.
- Doc McStuffins from the Disney series about a 7-year-old girl who fixes broken toys with the help of her stuffed animal friends.
- Characters from The Incredibles including Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Edna Mode.
- Fancy Nancy, the little girl who loves everything French and fancy.
- Olaf, the friendly snowman from Frozen.
- Sully and his one-eyed partner and best friend Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc.
- Vampirina, the little vampire girl whose family moved from Transylvania to Pennsylvania.
Remember, that while the Times Guide may show these characters will be available continuously for several hours, they do need to take periodic breaks, so be patient. Everyone needs a bathroom break now and then and sporting some of those costumes in the Florida humidity and heat can’t be easy.
Hollywood Studios characters by location
If you’re in a specific part of the Hollywood Studios theme park, you may want to do a quick scan of the characters you can find there. Here’s an overview of the locations where characters interact with guests at Hollywood Studios.
Hollywood Boulevard
The Sorcerer Hat (it’s hard to miss when you walk into the park) is where many Disney characters hang out in Hollywood Studios. Look out for Chip ‘n’ Dale, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Mickey and Minnie, Piglet, and Tigger here.
Animation Courtyard
This is the place you’re most likely to meet stars from the latest Disney movies. The characters change all the time, so you could get lucky and meet someone unusual.
Echo Lake
Star Wars characters frequently roam the areas near the Star Wars attractions, so be on the lookout for Darth Vader or perhaps a Stormtrooper.
Commissary Lane & Streets of America
Buzz Lightyear, Woody, the Green Army Men, the Power Ranges, and Sully and Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. make regular appearances here.
Mickey Avenue
This is a favorite hangout spot for characters from Disney television shows, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Quincy from Little Einstein, and Dora the Explorer.
Alphabetical list of characters at Hollywood Studios
BB-8
Where: Star Wars Launch Bay (Animation Courtyard)
When: From park opening to closing
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None
Bo Peep
Where: Toy Story Land
When: Daylight hours
Other Accompanying Characters: Woody
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Buzz Lightyear
Where: Near the giant Woody statue at the entrance of Toy Story Land
When: From park opening to closing
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: Near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom and at the Pixar Play Zone in Disney’s Contemporary Resort during evening play events (these are kids-only events and cost $65 per kid).
Chewbacca
Where: Star Wars Launch Bay (Animation Courtyard)
When: From park opening to closing.
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: He makes appearances off and on throughout the day near Galaxy’s Edge.
Chip ‘n’ Dale
Where: Park entrance near Sid Cahuenga
When: From park opening to around 4 pm
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: Campfire sing-a-long at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, character meals at Garden Grill in Epcot, Town Square on Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom, Donald’s Dino-Bash in Animal Kingdom.
Darth Vader
Where: Star Wars Launch Bay (Animation Courtyard)
When: All day from park opening to closing.
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: Chase Disney Visa meet-and-greet (for cardmembers only through a separate entrance in Star Wars Launch Bay).
Doc McStuffins
Where: Animation Courtyard in front of Disney Junior Dance Party
When: From park opening to around 6 pm.
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: Hollywood and Vine character meal (breakfast only).
Daisy Duck
Where: Hollywood and Vine character meal (paid event)
When: Lunch and dinner with seasonal costume changes
Other Accompanying Characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: All the Disney parks plus character meals at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom.
Donald Duck
Where: Hollywood and Vine character meal (paid event)
When: Lunch and dinner with seasonal costume changes
Other Accompanying Characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: All the Disney parks.
Edna Mode
Where: The Incredibles Municiberg
When: 10 am to 6 pm
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Fancy Nancy
Where: Animation Courtyard in front of Disney Junior Dance Party
When: From park opening to around 6 pm.
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: Hollywood and Vine character meal (breakfast only).
Goofy
Where: Near the Miss Piggy statue on Grand Avenue
When: Throughout the day
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: All the Disney parks. He also makes appearances at Hollywood and Vine character breakfasts in Hollywood Studios and Tusker House character meals in Animal Kingdom.
Green Army Men
Where: Throughout Toy Story Land (no specific spot)
When: Throughout the day
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Jessie
Where: In front of the Alien Swinging Saucers in Toy Story Land
When: Daylight hours
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Kylo Ren
Where: Throughout Galaxy’s Edge
When: Throughout the day
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Mickey Mouse
Where: Commissary Lane (quick service restaurant)
When: All day
Other Accompanying Characters: Minnie Mouse
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: All the Disney parks. Mickey also makes appearances at the Hollywood and Vine character meals in Hollywood Studios (lunch and dinner) and at the Tusker House character meals in Animal Kingdom.
Minnie Mouse
Where: Commissary Lane (quick service restaurant)
When: All day
Other Accompanying Characters: Mickey Mouse
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: All the Disney parks. You might also catch Minnie at the character meals at Hollywood and Vine.
Mr. and Mrs. Incredible
Where: The Incredibles Municiberg (informal interactions)
When: Late morning to late afternoon
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Olaf
Where: Echo Lake Celebrity Spotlight (takes photos, signs autographs, and gives hugs)
When: All day
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Pluto
Where: Animation Courtyard in front of Disney Junior Dance Party
When: From park opening to around 6 pm.
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: All the Disney Parks.
R2-D2
Where: Galaxy’s Edge and Star Wars Launch Bay
When: Daylight hours
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Rey
Where: Galaxy’s Edge (no specific location)
When: Throughout the day
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None
Stormtroopers
Where: Galaxy’s Edge and Star Wars Launch Bay (informal interaction)
When: Throughout the day
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Sully and Mike Wazowski
Where: Between Toy Story Land and Animation Courtyard (in Walt Disney Presents)
When: 10 am to 6 pm
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Vampirina
Where: Animation Courtyard in front of Disney Junior Dance Party
When: From park opening to around 6 pm.
Other Accompanying Characters: None
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: Hollywood and Vine character meal (breakfast only – she does not meet for lunch or dinner).
Woody
Where: Toy Story Land
When: Daylight hours
Other Accompanying Characters: Bo Peep
FastPass+: No
Other Opportunities to Meet This Character: None.
Character Palooza at Hollywood Studios
You may not have heard about it. The reason is simple. Character Palooza is a hush-hush event that Disney likes to keep secret. This is to prevent guests swarming to the area and causing delays in Fantasmic. It’s essentially an unpublished character meet-and-greet that happens on the days there is a Fantasmic performance at Hollywood Studios. The usual hours are between 4 pm and 7 pm and the usual locations are near the Tower of Terror, around Echo Lake, or at the Streets of America. You just have to get lucky in catching this bunch of random 5-10 characters for a dose of pure delight. It’s a chance to see characters from the final sequence of Fantasmic, characters you cannot encounter at meet-and-greets in the rest of the Disney parks.
Character dining at Hollywood Studios
There is only one character dining experience at Hollywood Studios – the Hollywood and Vine at Echo Lake. Breakfast costs $42 plus tax and gratuity for adults and $27 per kid. The menu includes a pastry basket, entrees, and sides (allergy-friendly food is available). For the adults, there are specialty cocktails including mimosas, Bloody Mary’s, and screwdrivers. Lunch and dinner are $55 per adult and $36 per kid. You can choose one appetizer, one entrée, and one dessert. There are cocktails, wines, and beers available as well. Beloved Disney Junior characters such as Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Handy Manny make regular appearances here.
You can also enjoy a character meal at nearby resort hotels. Cape May Café at the Beach Club Resort offers a buffet breakfast where Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy make appearances. This is one of the easier character dining experiences to get a table at because it is relatively expensive and a bit out of the way for most Disney guests. So, if you’re looking for a last-minute reservation, be sure to check it out.
Other opportunities to see characters at Hollywood Studios
Muppet*Vision 3D in Grand Avenue at Hollywood Studios is a hilarious live-action stage show that typically runs from 9 am to 7 pm. Enjoy a menagerie of characters from The Muppet Show including Miss Piggy and Kermit as they take you on a zany tour of their movie-making lab. No prizes for guessing – what ensues is a disastrous string of events that people of all ages love.
Toy Story Mania in Toy Story Land features many characters from the popular franchise in an exhilarating shooting game. This spinning ride allows guests to blast away wearing 3D glasses as they make their way through a toy chest in a carnival-inspired tram. There are 5 fast-paced games and your tram slides from one to the next as your points pile up when you hit the targets.
Hollywood Studios characters – the bottom line
Hollywood Studios gives guests unique opportunities to interact with and pose for photos with a bunch of beloved Disney characters from the movies and television. Many of the characters at Hollywood Studios are exclusive to the park, so you shouldn’t miss the chance to catch them if you can.
We’re going to sign off with a reminder – locations and timings for character meet and greets change with the season. Be sure you check the Times Guide or My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit to Hollywood Studios to see the exact locations and times.