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NEW Details on Favorite Characters Returning to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom might be known for its memorable animal experiences, like Kilimanjaro Safaris, Maharajah Jungle Trek, and Feathered Friends in Flight, just to name a few, but this Disney Park is also one of our favorite places to meet characters.

Among characters Guests can meet in the Park are Mickey and Minnie all dressed up in their safari gear on Discovery Island. Head a few steps further into the Park from there (following the sounds of the punny dinosaur music) and you will come to DinoLand U.S.A., where some our favorite characters are returning very soon!

Donald's Dino Bash

Credit: Disney

Donald’s Dino Bash has been taking place at Animal Kingdom in celebration of Donald discovering that dinosaurs are distantly related to birds. In the past, this festive celebration included added theming to Dinoland U.S.A., dance parties and some of the best character meet and greets in any Disney Park.

While most of these experiences have not yet returned since the Park reopened from the pandemic, Disney just confirmed the date when characters will return to Donald’s Dino Bash, and we’ve got all the details on which characters will soon be back and where you can find them.

donalds-dino-bash-flotilla-discovery-river

Credit: Disney

RELATED: The Surprising Place We Didn’t Expect to See This Animal Kingdom Experience

The Disney Parks Blog shared the news that the character flotillas will continue and select meet and greets will return to DinoLand U.S.A. beginning on September 4, 2022.

If you have visited Donald’s Dino Bash in the past, you will want to note that some of the characters who previously had meet and greets will only be waving to Guests from a distance on a flotilla when they return. Both Launchpad and Scrooge McDuck from Disney’s Ducktales will be seen from afar on the flotilla (along with Russell and Dug from UP) while other characters will return for traditional meet and greets in DinoLand.

Donald's Dino-Bash

Credit: Disney

RELATED: The Secret Entrance Into Disney’s Animal Kingdom

In DinoLand U.S.A. beginning on September 4, Guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will once again be able to meet both Donald and Daisy along with Chip ‘n’ Dale in their adorable dinosaur onesies.

Disney’s character meet and greets across each theme park (and even at Resorts and aboard Disney Cruise Line) have been returning in phases, so it is possible that we will see Scrooge McDuck and Launchpad return for meet and greets at a later date.

In the meantime though, it’s time to get excited because beginning this week, Donald, Daisy, Chip ‘n’ Dale will be back in the middle of DinoLand U.S.A.!

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."