Hidden Character Hunts: Find a Friend at These Disney Deluxe Resorts
By: Anna Trosper
June 18, 2024
An adorable new activity has been popping up at select Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort Hotels lately! Cute character cut-outs are hiding around the Resorts, and they’re moved to a new hiding place every day. Guests are invited to search the Resort and find these characters to receive a prize! The character cut-outs are easy to see (they’re about a foot tall), and it’s a perfect “starter” hunt for younger children who aren’t quite ready for a more advanced Hidden Mickey hunt. Characters can be found hiding in any Resort public space, so while it’s not difficult to see the character once you’re close to it, it may take some time to explore most of the Resort’s public spaces until you find the right location. It is possible they could be outside, but they’ll most likely be found in indoor spaces – making this a fun activity for a rainy day or a really hot day when you’re in need of an air-conditioned activity. These hidden characters can currently be found at the Deluxe resorts listed below.
Below is the character you will be looking for at each of these Deluxe Resort hotels.
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
At Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, you can find yet another popular character from The Little Mermaid! Guests can search for Prince Eric’s adorable dog, Max, all around the lobby area. Take a photo with him and then stop by the Front Desk for your free button. If you happen to have a fan of The Little Mermaid in your family, be sure to find Max at Yacht Club, Flounder at Beach Club, then take a quick Skyliner ride over to Caribbean Beach to find Sebastian so you can add all 3 buttons to your collection!
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Over at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Guests should be on the lookout for Ariel’s best buddy, Flounder! He could be hiding anywhere around the lobby or Beach Club Marketplace area, so look high and low and try to find him. Since he’s bright yellow, I actually found Flounder easier to spot than most other characters. Once you find him, take a selfie with him and show it to a Front Desk Cast Member to earn a button.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort
While you’re visiting Wilderness Lodge, keep an eye out for Chip ‘n’ Dale! They’re hiding around the Resort and move around daily, so when you find them, take a selfie with them and then visit the Front Desk for your free button and sticker. Once you’ve collected all four stickers, present your completed button to a Front Desk Cast Member to claim your prize!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort
Animal Kingdom Lodge offers double the fun - there are actually two character cut-outs to be found at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and guests are encouraged to look for both!
Pumbaa will be hiding out at Jambo House, so Guests can search places like the Lobby, The Mara, Simba’s Activity Center, Sunset Lounge, Zawadi Marketplace, Pumbaa’s Fun & Games Arcade, and more. When you find him and take your photo, visit Simba’s Activity Center to show your photo to a Cast Member and obtain your button and stickers.
Timon can be found playing hide-and-seek at Kidani Village. Look for him hiding in various locations throughout the Resort, and he could be in any of the Kidani Village public spaces like the Lobby, Community Hall, Palace Library, Johari Treasures, or Safari So Good Arcade. Once Timon has been found, visit Community Hall to show the Cast Member your photo and earn your button and daily sticker.
Once you find one of those cute hidden character cut-outs, there are just a few simple steps needed to collect your reward:
Take a photo. This can either be a photo of the character or a selfie with the character, but make sure you can see some background in the photo so a Cast Member can easily confirm the location. Do not move the character or take it away from its hiding spot - doing so will ruin the game for other Guests!
Get your button. Visit the nearest Front Desk, Community Hall, or Activity Center and show a Cast Member your photo. They’ll confirm that it’s a current photo of the character in today’s specific hiding place, and then they’ll give you a button as a prize.
Collect daily stickers. Each button has four dedicated spots for stickers. Find the hidden character on four separate days to collect all four stickers and complete your button!
Keep in mind that this activity doesn’t need to be completed over four consecutive days, so if you happen to be visiting a resort for a meal or only at a resort for a very short stay, you can still participate! You’re welcome to start your button on one visit, then bring it back later to finish up on your next visit.
This is a great fun thing to do with the kids, and lets you explore your Resort.
As a Concierge Agent with Wishes Family Travel, I will help you plan your dream vacation, assist you with your My Disney Experience, create a personalized itinerary, make your dining reservations, and load you up with tips like this and tricks to make the most out of your stay! My goal is to help you create the perfect vacation package that suits all of your needs and wants. The best part is that my services are included in the price of your vacation with no extra cost to you! You pay the same whether you do all the research and book on your own or if you let my expertise and experience do all the work for you.
I hope to hear from you soon to start planning your next adventure. Contact me at annat@wishesfamilytravel.com, you can also find me on Facebook, Please like and follow my page and share with friends and family.
Let’s start planning today! Happy Hunting!
Note: This information is accurate as of April 30, 2024. Check with the Resort when you arrive to be sure the program is still active and to learn about any changes that may have been made to these hunts.