Hidden Character Hunts: Find a Friend at these Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts
By: Anna Trosper
June 6, 2024
An adorable new activity has been popping up at select Walt Disney World 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 that they could be outside, but they will 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.
Below is the character you will be looking for at each of these Deluxe Villa Resorts.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Saratoga Springs recently announced their own Tangled-themed character hunt with a cute story! The activity calendar explains: “The guards under Maximus’ command are playing a prank on him and have hidden his favorite snack from him - apples! Maximus is searching multiple locations around the Resort for his favorite snack.” Guests are invited to search the Resort daily to find the Maximus prop, take a photo with it, and stop by Community Hall to collect your daily sticker. If you have a Tangled fan in your family, it would be fun to spend a day hunting for both Maximus at Saratoga Springs and Pascal over at Riviera!
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Keeping in theme with Riviera’s gorgeous Tangled tile mosaic, Guests can search the Resort to find a hidden Pascal! Disney has updated this hunt to include a backstory: “Pascal is exploring the Riviera, but wants to stay hidden from Mother Gothel.” He could be anywhere within Riviera’s public spaces, and he’s often found in places like the Eventi Room, Le Petit Café, La Boutique, Voyageurs' Lounge, and Athlétique Fitness Center. Once you’ve located Pascal and taken a photo of him, visit a Cast Member in the Eventi Room (next to Primo Piatto) to collect your button and daily stickers.
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Orange Bird is exploring Old Key West Resort! Disney says that “Orange Bird is flying South and has stopped by Conch Flats for some rest and relaxation.” This happy little Orange Bird can be found anywhere within the Hospitality House area, so spaces like the Lobby, Olivia’s, Community Hall, Conch Flats General Store, Gurling Suitcase, Electric Eel Game Room, Turtle Krawl, and more are all fair game. Once you find him and take your photo, visit a Community Hall or Front Desk Cast Member to receive your button and daily stickers. When you have all four stickers on your button, bring it to Community Hall for a prize!
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 account, 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 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.