Meeting characters is probably one of my favorite things to do when visiting a Disney park. Sure, going on rides and eating as much Disney food as possible is fantastic, but there is something special about getting to hug and chat with your favorite story characters first hand. I was 18 when I meet my first character at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. I was so overwhelmed with excitement that I cried. That is the kind of magic each character interaction should bring. As a former character attendant, I have compiled a guide to help you make the most of your character experiences!

Go prepared!

At almost every single meet and greet, our friends are allowed to take pictures and get autographs with the characters. A few exceptions to this fact are dance parties and, of course, meeting Lightning McQueen and Mater. While we usually have our fantastic Photopass Photographers with us, it’s always a good idea to have your own method of taking pictures as well. In addition, bring an autograph book. I believe that these are extra special souvenirs for our guests. If you forget any of your meet and greet supplies, don’t panic!! The character attendant (and often times the photographer) will have extra pens, markers, and index cards for you!

Use all of your resources.

Every Disney park you enter will have an immediate supply of times guides and park maps for you to take. The park maps have Mickeys on locations where you can meet characters. The times guides provide the times of every show and parade in the park, including the fireworks. They also have period of time each character will be out and about to meet their friends. In addition to these resources, a must have for your next visit is the MyDisneyExperience smartphone app. This gives you everything you need to know right at your finger tips while it combines park maps, times guides, reservations, fast passes, and even your Photopass pictures!

Pay attention to the attendant.

I think this is the most important thing to understand about meeting your favorite characters. Character attendants, also known as blueberries, go through intense training in order to do our job successfully. We serve as the liaison between the real world and that of fantasy when you visit our character friends. We want to make your experience as seamless and as magical as possible. However, we can’t do that to the best of our ability if our guests can’t follow our instructions. We are the best source of information in regards to meet and greets, I promise that we are never steering you wrong.

Plan accordingly!

Unless you’re planning to visit characters during a parade or firework show, odds are you’re going to spend some time both waiting in line and then finally getting to meet your favorite character. This is not a quick five-minute stop on your Disney adventure, and we wouldn’t want you to walk away feeling underwhelmed about your experience. Please plan out certain times of your day for your meet and greet opportunities.

Be understanding.

While we always try to provide the most magical experience for our guests, there are times where Snow White is called back to the cabin to make a Gooseberry pie for the dwarfs or Tigger needs to help get Pooh unstuck from a honey pot. When these times occur, it is our job as character attendants to inform our guests in a timely fashion and allow our character friends to leave on time. This also occurs if it's raining or we have expectant thunderstorms. It isn't safe for us or you to be outside in that kind of environment, so sometimes, we retreat back to our personal mad tea party to avoid the lightning. I understand that it is frustrating to not see a character you’ve been wanting to, but we always know the next time you can meet them. Please understand that we are doing our best for you as our guest.

Keep an open mind.

I have seen countless character interactions with our younger guests that have been cut too short because mom or dad was simply trying to snap a picture and get to their next Fast Pass or dining reservation. While I completely understand that Disney is a very scheduled visit for most, sometimes it’s okay to be like Elsa, and simply let it go. We have a blast when we can truly play with our guests and it provides the opportunity for some pixie perfect pictures! I promise spending the extra time makes everyone happier. For example, this picture was when I told Chip and Dale I had to leave the Kingdom to come home to New England.

Whether you’re a first time visitor to the Disney Parks or an annual passholder, characters are always going to be an integral part of your experience. It’s very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of all things Disney, but it is truly imperative to take a moment to appreciate the magic of stories coming to life. From one Blueberry to you, stay magical.