When your kids are a certain age (you know what I’m talking about), sometimes I think that all the rides could be shut down at the Magic Kingdom and they would never notice….as long as the characters were still there!
Hunting characters down can become a full time Disney occupation, but if you know the right places to look, you can avoid a lot of long lines and empty autograph books 
Having a little girl, the princesses are paramount. And with Disney redesigning the entire area that used to be Ariel’s Grotto and Mickey’s Toon Town, finding these ladies can be difficult. The main princess viewing area that used to be located in Toon Town is now at the Adventureland Veranda near the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. There are typically three princesses here and usually include some combination of the following: Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella, Belle & The Fairy Godmother (but they’ll never guarantee which ones will be there!). It’s not uncommon to have to wait 45-60 min depending on when you go.
If your little mermaid loves Ariel like mine does, then you’ll want to look under the gazebo as soon as you cross over the Adventureland Bridge. That’s where you’ll find her (and sometimes Prince Eric) while her grotto is under renovation. Unlike the grotto where she sat on her rock with her fin, she’ll great you in her ball gown with her land legs here!
There are two new princesses to meet at the Magic Kingdom as well: Rapunzel and Tiana. If you even hope to wait less than two hours to see Rapunzel, then you’ll have to get there right when the park opens and head over to the Fairytale Garden (to the right of Cinderella’s Castle). They only let in a certain amount of guests for each experience and if you don’t make it, you have to wait for the next hour to start (hence the two hour wait). From what I’ve heard, you get to color/play with Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder and, of course, get your picture taken.
Tiana is a little easier to see. She and Prince Naveen are just off the path from the Liberty Bell under their own gazebo. While still popular, the wait time is drastically less for this dynamic duo.
You’ll also want to keep your eye open as soon as you pass under the train station by Tony’s Town Square restaurant on Main Street (we’ve seen Snow White there). Even if you have to wait in line for your favorite princess, the look on your child’s face will be priceless in the picture you get to keep for eternity!
Blogger Malise Terrell will visit Kissimmee next week! Want to share your Kissimmee story? 
roll on November when we,ll be there.xx
Some luck we have had with characters at Animal Kingdom: twice, we have attended the first Lion King show of the day and it lets out right where the fab four are signing in safari attire. They show up about ten minutes after the show lets out, so it is an easy ten munute wait. We always start with Mickey because he is always the longest line. One year, Koda even showed up when the crowds were big.
Later at Animal Kingdom, just down from Flame Tree BBQ before the bridge to Dinoland, there is a path off to the right where Pooh and friends greet guests. We wait until the cast member closes the entrance and then either my wife or I wait right there while the kids play or get a snack or something. Basically, the characters are taking a break, but we wait them out for 15 or 20 minutes and are in front of the line when they return rather than an hour in line with nothing to do!
Much of this information is incorrect, Frontierland is not where to meet Princesses, and Ariel is foun in Adventureland, not Frontierland.
Thanks, Rachel! We corrected that error…way to keep us on top of things! Jenny – Kissimmee CVB