Getting to see Disney characters is a truly magical experience at the Disney parks. With the recent times, Disney has had to adjust these experiences so that they can be done safely to protect their guests and cast members. The solution to that – Disney World character cavalcades! This is a new type of experience that has been happening in the parks since they re-opened in July. I think Disney did a really good job with this, and I have been impressed with what I have seen so far.
What Are Character Cavalcades?
Essentially, they have single parade floats/motorcades/boats that pass through the parks at unscheduled times throughout the day. Some characters also walk on foot, or a select few ride horseback. There is no way to know exactly when one will come by, but they do seem to pass through often. If you spend a good amount of hours in the parks in a day, you will most likely encounter many of them.
Even though it is not the same experience as a meet & greet, it seems like you get to see a much wider variety of characters with the cavalcades. No more having to stand in lines and you will definitely see a LONG list of characters on these cavalcades.
Who will you get to see on these character cavalcades? Well, we’ve got the full list at each park for you…
Magic Kingdom
From September 15 to October 31, 2020, the Halloween schedule will be in effect. After that, they will have Christmas themed floats for the rest of the year. We don’t yet know the details of the Christmas cavalcades, those will begin on November 6th.
For the time being, these are the cavalcades that you can currently find at Magic Kingdom:
The Royal Princess Processional
- Merida
- Belle
- Cinderella
- Tiana
- Snow White
- Rapunzel
- Jasmine
- Elena
- Fairy Godmother
Nightmare Before Christmas Cavalcade
- Jack Skellington
- Sally
- Oogie Boogie
Mickey & Friends Boo To You (Dressed in their Halloween costumes)
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Pluto
- Donald
- Daisy
Disney Villains
- Evil Queen
- Malificient
- Queen of Hearts
- Gaston
- Captain Hook
- Jafar
Winnie the Pooh Cavalcade (Dressed in their Halloween costumes)
- Winnie the Pooh
- Tigger
- Eeyore
- Piglet
A Goofy Cavalcade
- Goofy
- Max
- Clarabelle Cow
- Jose Carioca
Before the Halloween themed cavalcades began, there were other themed ones that were passing through the park. It is possible that they will resume once all the holidays are over if the character cavalcades are still in effect by then. Here are the other ones that could see a return in early 2021:
Mickey & Friends Cavalcade
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Donald
- Daisy
- Pluto
Fantasyland Friends Cavalcade
- Gaston
- Alice
- Mary Poppins
- Peter Pan
- Winnie the Pooh
- Tigger
- Aladdin
Tinkerbell & The Lost Treasure
- Tinkerbell
Hundred Acre Wood Characters
- Rabbit
- Piglet
- Eeyore
Epcot
The Epcot character cavalcades run around the World Showcase, so make sure to keep an eye out for them in that area of the park.
Frozen Promenade
- Anna
- Queen Elsa
Princess Promenade
- Snow White
- Belle
- Aurora
- Jasmine
Mickey & Friends World Tour
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Pluto
- Goofy
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios has several motorcades that run from the front of the park down Hollywood Boulevard. The motorcades are these fun convertible cars that are themed to their characters. One character will sit in the backseat, while the rest will walk along with the motorcade.
Mickey & Friends Motorcade
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Chip
- Dale
- Pluto
Disney Junior Stars Motorcade
- Vampirina,
- Doc McStuffins
- Fancy Nancy
Pixar Pals Motorcade
- Buzz Lightyear
- Woody
- Jessie
- Mr. & Mrs. Incredible
- Edna Mode
- Sulley
- Green Army Men
Animal Kingdom
At Animal Kingdom, none of the cavalcades run through the paths of the park since their paths are not wide enough to do it safely. Instead, they appear on boats. You can keep an eye out for them sailing down Discovery River. Anywhere you can see the river is a great spot to wait and watch. Find a place on a bridge for the best and closest look at these character cavalcades.
Discovery River Character Cruise
- Timon
- Rafiki
- Pocahontas
- Meeko
Donald’s Dino Boat Bash!
- Donald
- Daisy
- Launchpad McQuack
Mickey & Friends Flotilla
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Pluto
Goofy & Pals Set Sail
- Goofy
- Chip
- Dale
Other Character Appearances
Other than the character cavalcades that you can catch throughout the parks, there are also other opportunities to see characters. Disney has stationed characters at specific locations in the parks where they can be seen from a distance safely. These are great opportunities for you to get a selfie from a distance with your favourite character! Here is where they can be found:
Magic Kingdom
- Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland
- Stitch in Tomorrowland
- Captain Jack Sparrow in Adventureland
- Anastasia & Drizella on Cinderella Castle Balcony (back of castle)
- Big Al & Liver Lips in Frontierland on Country Bear Jamboree balcony
Epcot
- Winnie the Pooh in the Future World Gardens
- Joy from Inside Out in the Future World Gardens
- Mary Poppins and Alice in the UK pavilion gazebo
Hollywood Studios
- Kylo Ren, Stormtroopers, Rey, Chewbacca, and Vi Moradi in Galaxy’s Edge
How do you feel about the new character cavalcades? Do you think Disney has done a good job to keep character appearances safe for their guests? Tell us in the comments below!
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Get a Quote from CLICK THE MOUSELaura is a mom of one adorable girl with a love of all things Disney. She traveled to Disney World with her family in 2010 and was hooked. They have since been a total of over 15 times. With all her knowledge of planning Disney trips, she now wants to share that with others. She loves giving guidance, tips and advice to others planning their magical vacation!