It’s not every day you get to see Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket just hanging out at Walt Disney World, but this week they’ve been making daily appearances — and no, it’s not a Halloween Party or some limited-time celebration.
This isn’t some social media stunt or secret VIP event either. It’s real, it’s scheduled, and it’s happening right now at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
In a move that’s turning heads (and attracting hardcore Disney character hunters), four legacy characters have suddenly landed on the regular meet-and-greet lineup — and they’re meeting guests daily just steps away from the Chinese Theater. Meanwhile, Disney quietly shut the doors on Animation Courtyard this week and launched construction on one of the biggest transformations the park has seen in years.
Coincidence? Not even a little bit.
Who’s Out There?
As of this week, guests visiting Hollywood Studios can meet:
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Pinocchio
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Jiminy Cricket
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Mary Poppins
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Bert
That’s right — Jiminy Cricket. The same Jiminy who only pops up during anniversary events or the occasional rare sighting at Magic Kingdom. And Pinocchio, who’s been mostly relegated to parade floats or the background of promotional materials for the last decade. Both are now making seven scheduled appearances per day in a high-traffic area of the park.
Here’s how the full schedule breaks down, per WDW Magic.
Pinocchio
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9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM
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1:50 PM, 2:50 PM, 3:30 PM
Mary Poppins
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9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM
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1:50 PM, 2:50 PM, 3:50 PM
Jiminy Cricket
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9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM
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2:20 PM, 3:20 PM
Bert
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9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM
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2:20 PM, 3:20 PM
They’re meeting outdoors near the Chinese Theater, a smart move that guarantees visibility and keeps crowds circulating through the center of the park.
It’s been years since Jiminy or Bert were available for regular meet and greets in any Walt Disney World park, and guests are already lining up early to snag selfies with these rare throwback icons.
But Why Now?
Let’s be honest — Disney doesn’t do anything like this without a reason. And in this case, the reason is clear: Animation Courtyard is officially dead.
On September 25, 2025, Disney permanently shut down the section of the park that once housed Star Wars Launch Bay, Disney Junior Play and Dance, and multiple meet and greet experiences. That corner of the park had been a dead zone for years — more “ghost town” than “animation central.” So, Disney finally pulled the plug.
Now, the area is being reworked into something completely new: the Walt Disney Studios Lot, which will feature the upcoming attraction “The Magic of Disney Animation.” It’s set to open in 2026, and construction is already underway. Walls are up, pathways are blocked, and guests can now only access The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, with entry rerouted behind Toy Story Land.
So what do you do when you’re removing multiple character interactions and replacing them with a year-long construction site? You roll out the A-listers — and in this case, that means Mary, Bert, and a couple of puppets with major nostalgia power.
Star Wars Shuffle
This isn’t just a reshuffle for classic characters. The Star Wars roster is also getting a relocation — and some fans are calling the new setups “makeshift at best.”
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Darth Vader is now holding court in the Star Tours overflow queue — yes, the one with the dusty Endor trees no one’s walked through in a decade. His meet-and-greet times are packed into half-hour blocks from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and if it rains? Good luck. It’s outside.
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Chewbacca is still roaming Galaxy’s Edge, doing his usual rounds near the Millennium Falcon. His appearances are listed between 11:50 AM and 6:50 PM, though he’s never really gone away.
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And the Disney Visa Cardholder exclusive meet-and-greet? That’s basically just a Lightning Lane for Olaf now. Guests can check in at Celebrity Spotlight, but there’s nothing “exclusive” about it anymore. It’s just another line — and not even a character exclusive to this shake-up.
What’s Replacing Animation Courtyard?
Once all the dust settles, Walt Disney Studios Lot will be the new name for this area of the park — and if the concept art holds true, it’s shaping up to be a cross between a studio backlot, an indoor play space, and a nostalgia bomb for Disney animation fans.
The centerpiece is the new “Magic of Disney Animation” attraction, housed in the old Launch Bay building. Details are limited, but Disney has confirmed it will include:
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Interactive studio-style walkthroughs
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An animated short film “with a twist”
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Sketch stations to draw your own characters
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A large-scale indoor playground, “Drawn to Wonderland”, inspired by Mary Blair’s original concept art for Alice in Wonderland
The whole area is supposed to feel like a working animation studio that’s been taken over by characters. That means living portraits, physical gags, and the kind of playful energy that Once Upon a Studio hinted at.
And yes — the Sorcerer Hat is coming back, at least in visual form, topping the building in a nod to the OG Disney-MGM Studios aesthetic.
Are These Rare Characters Here to Stay?
Here’s the reality: probably not.
If Disney history has taught us anything, it’s that limited character meet and greets rarely stick around once construction wraps. This feels like a well-timed filler — a crowd-pleasing tactic to offset a major closure.
But that doesn’t mean you should skip it.
If you’re in the parks this fall or early next year, this might be your only chance to get these photos without shelling out for a special event. Especially Jiminy Cricket — who, let’s be honest, might as well be a cryptid the way he disappears between appearances.
Hollywood Studios is in transition again. With the end of Animation Courtyard, the uncertain future of Star Wars character experiences, and this surprise drop of legacy meet and greets, it’s clear that Disney is trying to rebalance the park — and keep guests happy while construction walls rise.
So if you want that Pinocchio selfie, or need to finally check Bert off your character list, now’s the time to hustle.
Because in true Disney fashion, they’re not saying how long this will last — and when it ends, it’ll be without warning.
Follow for more updates as we track the construction at Hollywood Studios, the character shake-ups, and every snack we try along the way. You know we’ll be there when the walls come down.
