One of the best parts of a Disney vacation is![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.carouselandrockinghorses.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Mickey-Mouse-at-Town-Hall1-300x199.jpg\" "\\"Mickey")
meeting the main mouse himself\u2014but Mickey can be hard to find if you don\u2019t know where (and when) to look. Walt Disney World offers several different ways that you can meet Mickey, so you can choose the location that best suits your schedule\u2014or visit them all.<\/p>\n
Head into the Magic Kingdom, and veer to your right as you pass under the train station. You will see a stationary, indoor Mickey Mouse greeting station that is open all day. You\u2019ll get a little tour, then the chance to meet Mickey himself. The best part? This location features a Fastpass option, so you can grab a ticket on your way in and see Mickey at an appointed time without waiting in a long line. This location is open daily.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.carouselandrockinghorses.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Chef-Mickeys-300x198.jpg\" "\\"Chef")
<\/h2>\nChef Mickey\u2019s restaurant is located in the Contemporary Resort \u2013 you can\u2019t miss it if you arrive or pass through by monorail. Chef Mickey\u2019s offers breakfast, lunch or dinner with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto. The food is good and there are plenty of options, regardless of the time of day you visit. Each family can get a photo with Mickey upon arrival, and each character will visit your table during the meal. You\u2019ll get a little more time with Mickey at the character meal than you will at a meeting location, so choose this option if you want to relax, enjoy a good meal and meet the characters at your leisure. Prefer to meet Mickey in a theme park? He also appears daily, in farmer garb, at the Garden Grill in the Land Pavilion in Epcot.<\/p>\n
While you can occasionally spot Mickey in different parts of Epcot, including the American Adventure, you are sure to meet him if you visit the Character Spot in Future World. This location runs most of the day, and is easy to find\u2014just take the right hand path around Spaceship Earth, then stay to the right of the big fountain\u2014you\u2019ll pass right by the Character Spot. You\u2019ll usually find Mickey here, but expect to see Minnie, Donald, Goofy or Chip and Dale as well.<\/p>\n
Head to Camp Minnie-Mickey for a safari-themed greeting area, complete with Minnie, Mickey Donald and\/or Goofy. The characters greet guests daily on the trails just outside of the Festival of the Lion King show. Follow the map or directions to the Festival of the Lion King, and then head to your right; the character greetings are held in little gazebos along the trails. If you can time things just right, you\u2019ll meet Mickey without waiting in line. The only time this area has a significant wait is when the Festival of the Lion King show lets out and releases about 1,000 guests at once.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.carouselandrockinghorses.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Camp-Minnie-Mickey.jpg\" "\\"Camp")
<\/p>\n
This location is only for Disney Visa cardholders, so check your wallet! If you have a Disney Visa, head to Innoventions in the Future World section of Epcot. The Visa character greeting location is not heavily advertised, so it can be tough to find. It is sandwiched between the Segway demo area and the firetruck\/fire safety display. Look for the roped of area by the blue wall\u2014you\u2019ll often see a small line here. Show your card and you\u2019ll be ushered to a private greeting with several characters. Mickey is usually (but not always) here, making it a great spot to try. The best part of all is that you can get a free 5×7 photo of your meeting \u2013 just pick it up at the camera shop on your way out of the park.<\/p>\n
Samantha McNesby is a freelance writer who covers a variety of topics, including parenting, travel and the home. An Orlando theme park expert, and can currently be found writing for <\/em>Theme Park Tourist<\/em><\/a>, where you can find all the latest <\/em>theme park reviews and guides<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n All photos: Walt Disney World media site<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credits<\/h2>\n