Disney’s Animal Kingdom Relocates Two Classic Characters

Character meet-and-greets have always been one of the most memorable parts of a Walt Disney World vacation. While attractions often receive the most attention, many guests leave the parks with their favorite memories coming from a hug, a laugh, or a photo with a beloved Disney character.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, those character experiences have gone through several changes over the past year. Construction projects, land closures, and park-wide transformations have forced Disney to rethink where certain characters appear throughout the day.

Now, two of Disney’s most recognizable characters have quietly settled into a new location, giving guests another opportunity to meet them together during their Animal Kingdom visit.

For Disney fans who enjoy character interactions, the move could make these meet-and-greets easier to find while also creating a more convenient experience for families hoping to check multiple characters off their list.

Character Meet-and-Greets Remain a Major Part of the Disney Experience

Even as Disney continues investing billions of dollars into new attractions, character encounters remain one of the company’s most popular offerings.

Unlike rides, character interactions create unique moments that cannot be duplicated. Every conversation, reaction, and photo opportunity feels slightly different depending on the Cast Members, the guests involved, and the character’s personality.

Children often view these encounters as meeting their favorite Disney friends in real life. Adults, meanwhile, frequently enjoy the nostalgia that comes with spending a few minutes with characters they have known for decades.

That makes changes to character locations noteworthy, especially at a park like Animal Kingdom where meet-and-greets can sometimes be spread across large sections of the park.

Pluto and Goofy Have Relocated

Guests visiting Animal Kingdom this summer may notice that Pluto and Goofy are no longer greeting visitors in the locations many fans had grown accustomed to.

The pair can now be found together in the Asia section of the park, near the back portion of the land. Guests heading toward the area can follow the pathway located near Drinkwallah and the Royal Anandapur Tea Company to find the characters.

The new setup allows guests to meet both characters in the same general area, which can help reduce some of the walking previously required to locate them separately.

While Disney has not formally announced the move as part of a major character initiative, the relocation appears to be another example of how Animal Kingdom continues adjusting operations as several areas of the park evolve.

Why Character Locations Have Been Changing

The changes did not happen in a vacuum.

Animal Kingdom has been undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history. The closure of DinoLand U.S.A. has required Disney to redistribute entertainment offerings, character appearances, and guest activities throughout the park.

Before moving to their current Asia location, Pluto and Goofy were already relocated from previous homes connected to DinoLand’s gradual shutdown.

Pluto had been greeting guests near the Oasis section at the front of the park after being moved from DinoLand in 2025. Goofy also experienced a location change when he was shifted to the Africa section following adjustments connected to DinoLand’s closure.

As Disney continues preparing for the future Tropical Americas expansion, it would not be surprising to see additional entertainment offerings move around the park.

Character locations often serve as flexible operational tools. Disney can adjust them based on crowd flow, construction projects, seasonal demand, and available space.

A Better Location for Guests?

Many guests may actually find the new setup beneficial.

Animal Kingdom’s layout naturally encourages visitors to move in a large loop around the park. Positioning Pluto and Goofy in Asia places them near several popular attractions and pathways that already receive significant guest traffic throughout the day.

Families exploring Expedition Everest, Maharajah Jungle Trek, or nearby dining locations can now encounter the characters without needing to make a separate trip across the park.

The location also offers a more scenic backdrop than some previous meet-and-greet spots.

Animal Kingdom is known for its lush landscaping, detailed architecture, and immersive environments. Character photos taken in the Asia section often feel more integrated into the park’s atmosphere compared with standard greeting locations found elsewhere.

For many guests, that means better vacation photos and a more memorable interaction.

Meeting Times Throughout the Day

One of the most useful aspects of the new arrangement is the frequency of appearances.

According to the current schedule, Pluto and Goofy appear regularly throughout the day, generally meeting guests every 20 minutes. The schedule begins shortly after park opening and continues through the afternoon with a break around 1 p.m.

Frequent appearances can make planning easier for families, especially those trying to balance attractions, dining reservations, and entertainment.

Character meet-and-greets occasionally develop long lines, particularly during busy travel periods. However, consistent appearance windows often help distribute demand more evenly.

Guests interested in meeting the pair may still want to arrive a few minutes early, particularly during peak summer crowds when character lines can build quickly.

Animal Kingdom Continues to Evolve

The relocation of Pluto and Goofy may seem like a relatively small operational adjustment, but it reflects a much larger story unfolding across Animal Kingdom.

The park is currently navigating one of its most transformative periods since opening in 1998. DinoLand’s retirement marks the end of a longtime chapter, while Disney’s planned Tropical Americas expansion will introduce entirely new experiences in the years ahead.

As construction progresses and guest pathways continue evolving, character experiences will likely remain flexible.

Disney understands that characters play an important role in the guest experience, especially for families with young children. Finding the right locations for those interactions becomes increasingly important during major park transitions.

For now, Pluto and Goofy have settled into their new home in Asia, where they continue creating the kind of spontaneous Disney moments that many guests remember long after their vacation ends.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime Annual Passholder, stopping to meet two of Disney’s most beloved characters remains one of the simplest ways to add a little extra magic to a day at Animal Kingdom. And thanks to their new shared location, finding them may now be easier than ever.