Disney characters are a massive part of the magic at Disney Parks. From special meet and greets where guests can get hugs, photographs, and autographs to fabulous parades where so many unique characters are spotted, Disney characters bring magic each day to guests.
In 2023, Disney surprised guests by bringing many new, exciting characters to Walt Disney World. If you haven’t paid attention throughout 2023, you might have missed some outstanding characters at Walt Disney World this year.
Bruno and Mirabel
This fall, guests at Walt Disney World finally saw some of the beloved characters from the popular movie Enchanto (2021). Bruno and Mirabel showed up in Magic Kingdom to the surprise and joy of guests.
Bruno joined various friends as part of Disney’s Adventure Friends Cavalcade. This cavalcade features over 25 Disney and Pixar characters; Bruno joined them in September.
While the only way to see Bruno is by catching the cavalcade, guests can spend one-on-one time with Mirabel in Magic Kingdom. Mirabel meets guests at the Fairytale Garden in Magic Kingdom. She is available throughout the day with appearance times listed in the My Disney Experience.
As popular as Enchanto was and continues to be, it is surprising that it took Disney so long to bring these two viral characters to Walt Disney World, but we are thrilled that they did.
Figment Arrives Again
Another beloved character that finally got the meet and greet he deserved in 2023 was Figment. This small, purple dragon makes his home inside the iconic attraction Journey Into Imagination with Figment.
The love for this adorable dragon has exploded over the years. The combination of being a Walt Disney World original character and his nostalgia for many guests has made Figment a Disney icon.
In 2023, Figment fans got their wish when he returned for a meet and greet in EPCOT in September. Fans waited hours in the sun to get a hug from their favorite purple dragon. He continues to meet guests in ImageWorks throughout the day.
Like with Mirabel, times are listed in the app, but typically, he is available between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 pm and between 1:45 and 3:45 p.m.
Strong Female Characters
It is fantastic to see three new meet and greets at Walt Disney World, all featuring strong females. Moana, Asha, and Ariel from the live-action film are all available throughout Walt Disney World for meet and greets.
Moana found a new home this year in EPCOT. Outside of the new walk-through experience, Journey of Water- Inspired by Moana, she is available to visit with guests during their day. This beautiful new area is perfect for her.
Asha, from the new movie Wish (2023), also meets guests at EPCOT. Guests can meet Asha at the World Showcase Friendship Ambassador Gazebo. As she is a very busy lady, she has specific times listed on the app when she is available.
Seeing Asha arrive at Walt Disney World so quickly was a pleasant surprise. Disney tends to push new characters out in Disneyland before appearing at Walt Disney World. We are thrilled that this wasn’t the case for Asha.
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can meet Ariel in her beautiful blue dress seen in the live-action film. She is waiting for guests in Walt Disney Presents with a gorgeous background perfect for photos.
It is fantastic to see these unforgettable female characters in the parks for little kids (and big) kids to meet during their vacations.
Jollywood Nights
Finally, guests who attended Jollywood Nights were pleasantly surprised to see a host of unique characters out during the evening this holiday season. Powerline Max, Phineas and Ferb, Snow White and Dopey, Santa Duffy, and more made surprise appearances at this special holiday celebration.
Even though these characters were only available to party guests, it is exciting to see that Disney is willing and able to bring some more unique characters out again.
We look forward to seeing what Disney has in store for us in 2024. What beloved character would you like to see appearing at Walt Disney World in the upcoming year?
