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Best Ways to Have a Classic Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Experience at Walt Disney World

Photo: Disney

“I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.”  Well, technically mice since Mickey & Minnie debuted on the same day with Steamboat Willie’s release on November 18, 1928.  This famous quote by Walt Disney is a hallmark of the Disney Company and now the Walt Disney World parks have lots of ways that you can have a classic Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse experience on your next vacation.  Here are my 10 favorite ways to experience our favorite mice!

 

10.  Dinner at Chef Mickey’s

Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is always a favorite meal for guests.  Here you normally will meet the “Fab 5” which includes Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto & Goofy all dressed as chefs to fit the theme.  My recommendation is to schedule this dinner on your arrival night at Walt Disney World (if you are arriving early enough in the day).  This way you get to kick off your vacation with a fun and festive meal (the atmosphere at the Contemporary Resort with the monorail gliding by over head is oh so Disney), and you get to meet both Mickey and Minnie right off the bat!

9.  Mickey Shorts Theater at Hollywood Studios

This brand-new attraction just opened in a recently renovated theater in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  My kids love the Mickey short cartoons that show on the various Disney networks, and this theater is a great place to watch them.  You’ll find both Mickey & Minnie featured in a brand new, original short “Vacation Fun.”  You’ll also some super fun photo ops inside that place you inside some of your favorite Mickey Shorts—anyone want to visit Potatoland?  The theater itself is all Mickey with seats that look like his iconic red shorts with buttons.

8.  Meet Mickey & Minnie at Animal Kingdom

All 4 parks get in on the Mickey & Minnie fun these days.  There are lots of spots where you can meet Mickey, or you can meet Minnie, but not many where you can meet them together for one photo opportunity.  At Animal Kingdom’s Adventurer’s Outpost Mickey & Minnie appear together in their Safari Adventure gear for a great meet and greet.  We always have a good experience here.  If you can fit in a FastPass for this location it cuts down on your wait time significantly.  This is a must do on your Animal Kingdom day to fit in some classic Mickey & Minnie fun.

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7.  Shows & Entertainment

Mickey Mouse is the star of a lot of shows around Walt Disney World, his biggest role is in Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios.  Here Mickey helps us battle evil and never stops dreaming.  Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse have key roles in the parades at Magic Kingdom, the daily Festival of Fantasy Parade and the special event parades.  They appear on the stage to welcome us to the Magic Kingdom at the beginning of our day, and during the daily stage shows.  Our favorite mice stay busy keeping us entertained on vacation, and they do a great job of it!

6.  Mickey’s Philharmagic

While Donald Duck becomes the true star of Mickey’s Philharmagic in the Magic Kingdom, we do get to see Maestro Mickey Mouse at the beginning and the end of the show.  And Minnie makes an appearance from backstage as well.  This 4D experience featuring songs from the Disney movies we all grew up with is one of my favorite attractions. 

5.  Mouse Shaped Food!

There are so many delicious snacks at Walt Disney World, and several of them are Mickey shaped!  You can eat a Mickey Bar, a Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich, a Mickey Waffle, a Mickey Pretzel, Mickey Beignets . . . the list goes on & on.  There are apples decorated like Mickey or Minnie, or themed cupcakes to our favorite mouse.  When it is time to take a snack break in the parks you can find lots of options that keep that classic Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse experience going.

4.  Hollywood Studios Meet & Greet

One of my favorite spots to meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse is in Hollywood Studios.  They don’t greet guests together, but their costumes here are so fabulous and classic that you must add it to your list.  Minnie Mouse appears as a Hollywood starlet in the heyday of Tinsel Town, and then Mickey reprises his famous role as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice with a Fantasia backdrop. 

3.  Stay at All Star or Pop Century

If you want to experience Mickey and Minnie throughout your vacation experience you will want to think about where you are staying as well.  Several of the resorts have some touches of Mickey or Minnie in the rooms (like the fold down beds at Caribbean Beach Resort, or some of the art in Bay Lake Tower).  The resorts that have the most Mickey & Minnie are the value resorts:  Pop Century and the All Stars.  As these rooms were refurbished Disney designers added in lots of details featuring our favorite cartoon characters.  Artwork on the walls and on the Murphy beds bring classic characters into our rooms.  Around the resort you will find larger than life icons as well like the Mickey Mouse Phone in the 1970s section of Pop Century resort.  Even if you aren’t staying at one of these resorts, check out your Disney stations on the resort TV, you can find Mickey shorts pretty much 24/7 to watch . . . but really you should be enjoying the parks!

2.  Breakfast (or Brunch) at Topolino’s Terrace

Topolino is the Italian word for Mickey Mouse.  And high atop the brand-new Riviera Resort is a rooftop restaurant bearing his name, Topolino’s Terrace.  This gorgeous restaurant offers panoramic views of the Walt Disney World property.  It is bright and sunny, and the perfect setting for the themed character meal that is hosted there for breakfast.  The food here is outstanding, it is now my favorite character meal at Disney, and is probably my favorite MEAL at Disney—it was that good.  You are served a selection of pastries and have the choice of multiple plated entrees from the menu.  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy circulate the restaurant dressed as creative artists inspired by the Riviera.  Mickey is a painter, and Minnie is a writer.  Their costumes are amazing.  And the character interaction here is great.  Since the Riviera is on the Skyliner Gondola line it is easy to access from multiple resorts, and it is definitely worth a visit to dine here.  While you are at the resort stop in the lounge/library on the lobby level for a look at some great classic Mickey & Minnie memorabilia. 

1.  Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

The ultimate way to experience the best of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse is to take a spin on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  My son and I rode this newest attraction twice last week, and it is sure to be a hit with children, families, and pretty much everyone.  I don’t want to give away too many spoilers before you get a chance to ride, but while you wait in the queue keep your eyes open for lots of Hidden Mickeys.  There are so many cool effects that are part of the experience, and the Imagineers did a fantastic job making you feel as though you have entered a cartoon world, and have become a cartoon yourself right along with Mickey & Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, Donald, and all of your favorite friends. There is even a nod to the Great Movie Ride (RIP).  Be sure to get a FastPass for this attraction if it is a must-do, it will be in high demand.  Another great time to ride it is later in the evening during a Fantastmic show and while other guests are staking out their fireworks spots.  I hope that you get a chance to ride soon and enjoy this classic Mickey & Minnie experience as much as we did.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad (Photo: Disney)

What are your favorite ways to experience Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World?

About Sarah Chapman

I am a long time Disney fan since I was hooked on Walt Disney World with my first trip in 1987. Since that time I’ve tried experiencing everything I can in the parks, with a total of 30 visits and counting (I’m always planning my next trip) to Walt Disney World—not to mention Disney Cruise Line and even (shhh!) Universal Orlando and Sea World. I’ve turned my Disney obsession into a profession helping others plan their magical vacations as a Dream Vacation Maker at LBAC Travel. I am a work at home mom to three wonderful boys, and each one has been properly indoctrinated with all things Disney. Walt Disney World is definitely our “Laughing Place.” Look for me on Facebook at Facebook.com/SarahLBAC for updates, discount announcements, tips, tricks and planning advice for your next vacation. You can also find me on Instagram (sarahdreamvacationmaker) and Pinterest (sarahlbactravel).